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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-01-05Minutes City Council/Redevelopment Agency/Public Financing Authority Special Meeting City of Huntington Beach Thursday, January 5, 2012 7:00 PM — Eader Elementary School Auditorium 9291 Banning Avenue Huntington Beach, California 92646 A video and audio recording of the 7:00 PM portion of this meeting are on file in the Office of the City Clerk CALL TO ORDER — the meeting was called to order by Mayor Hansen at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL BY MAYOR HANSEN Present: Shaw, Harper, Dwyer, Hansen, Carchio, Boardman Absent: Bohr Councilmember Dwyer arrived at 7:00 but was outside the auditorium until 8:00; Councilmember Harper arrived at 7:05 and was outside the auditorium until 8:15 Councilmember Bohr had requested and was granted permission to be absent pursuant to Resolution No. 2001-54 Huntington Beach Mayor Don Hansen and County Supervisor John Moorlach hosted a community open house regarding the proposed 19th Street Bridge. The bridge would span the Santa Ana River between Banning Street in Huntington Beach and 19th Street in Costa Mesa. Mayor Hansen introduced himself and Orange County Supervisor, 2"d District, John Moorlach. He then gave other local and regional elected officials an opportunity to introduce themselves. Members of City of Huntington Beach and OCTA staff were also present at the meeting. Mayor Hansen welcomed the public to the meeting, and indicated that to have the most transparent review of this issue the full Council was invited, and due to the majority attending, a quorum was created. The meeting was officially noticed and agendized to meet the Brown Act requirements. He also reiterated that the City is on record as opposing the 19th Street bridge, and that the Council has not taken any other position. Mayor Hansen and Supervisor Moorlach presented a PowerPoint with slides entitled: 19th Street Bridge Discussion, Agenda, 19th Street Bridge Area, Concept 1 — Current Status, Concept 2 — Bridge with Cul-de-sac or Pocket Park, Concept 3 — Bridge with Turn Lanes, Neighborhood Opportunities for Concepts 2 and 3, Required Approvals, Benefits, Completion — Service Area 2035 Daily Peak, Challenges, Public Circulation and Questions. Mayor Hansen presented the three concepts: Concept 1: Do nothing. The bridge concept remains on the Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH) OR, request amendment to remove the bridge from the MPAH which would require Council/RDA/PFA Minutes January 5, 2012 Page 2 of 4 concurrency by Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, as well as mitigation measures. Concept 2: Build the bridge with right and left turn only from the bridge onto Brookhurst Street. This would eliminate Banning Avenue access from the bridge. Banning would then be either made into a cul-de-sac or a greenbelt park. Concept 3: Build the bridge with right or left turn lanes from the bridge onto Brookhurst Street, restricting Banning Avenue access from the bridge. Banning Avenue would continue to have right turn ability onto southbound Brookhurst Street and southbound Brookhurst Street traffic would have right turn ability onto Banning Avenue. Mayor Hansen highlighted both the benefits and challenges a completed bridge could bring to the area as well as what approvals would be required. RECESS — The meeting was recessed at approximately 7:30 p.m. to allow the audience an opportunity to show their interest and disinterest in the three concepts which were provided via conversations with staff and elected officials, by voting using stickers, and by voicing their concerns using comment cards. RECONVENE MEETING — The meeting was reconvened by Mayor Hansen at approximately 8:05 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS (3 Minute Time Limit) More than 50 individuals spoke in opposition to the bridge. No one spoke in support of the bridge. The consensus was that the bridge needed to be not only opposed, but also removed from the MPAH. Other points mentioned were: Eminent domain issues — individuals did not want to be displaced and especially were concerned about the market value of their properties in this economic climate. Those whose homes were not in peril of eminent domain suggested they would experience lower property values due to the presence of the bridge. The quality of neighborhoods would be affected, and individuals stated they moved to their homes specifically due to the quality of life and compatibility of their neighborhoods. They also wanted a safe traffic environment for their children to walk to Eader Elementary School. People stated the loss of open space and the detrimental affects on the wildlife in the Banning Ranch area should be avoided. Members of the Banning Ranch Conservancy spoke and suggested the public visit their website at www.banningranchconservancy.org. Speakers noted increased traffic, noise, dirt, congestion, emissions, and construction effects make this an undesirable project. Concerns regarding the bridge and earthquakes were also voiced. If a bridge has to be built, placing the bridge at another cross -over point would make more sense to the speakers. Speakers also expressed dissatisfaction with the format of the meeting and the venue. The room was filled to capacity with many people left outside without the ability to hear or participate in the meeting. Comments were also made regarding the length of the recess and the position Council/RDA/PFA Minutes January 5, 2012 Page 3 of 4 of public comments on the agenda after the presentation. Residents spoke about the re- occurring meetings which leave them with the fear that this bridge will continue to be discussed as a viable cross -over for the Santa Ana River. The belief that this bridge is not needed by Huntington Beach residents was expressed multiple times. Speakers expressed hope that the participants at this meeting would stay politically invested by attending meetings in the three cities and speaking against the project at Council meetings, urging the bridge removal from the MPAH. A meeting at a time when bridge construction costs are prohibitive, and when our local and state budgets have been slashed, was spoken of as a waste of taxpayer money. There was a concern that this bridge was being driven by developers. It was suggested that the County needs a policy in the General Plan that prevents using the proposed bridge to justify future developments or to be used in future traffic studies. A speaker requested that Supervisor Moorlach direct County staff to provide clean up of the Talbert Nature Preserve and removal of the fence so residents can enjoy the area. The following speakers shared their thoughts/concerns (speaker sheets were not filled out, so the correct spelling of names may not be represented, and others did not identify themselves): • Allison Rosenberg • Terry Coken • Mia Buck and Mother • Ron Rossburg • John Eally • Ron Frankowitz • Brian Burnett Debbie Coken 0 Michelle Simpson • Rick Price • Sue Lester • Carol Yanken • Steve Ray 0 Roy McCord 0 Frank Melgooza 0 Quinn Pace • Shawn Macka • Shelby • Talbert Lee • Karen Jackel • Kathleen Mooney • Bonnie Copeland • Sharon Meeks • Terry Welsh • Kim Farthing • Jay Humphrey • Kevin Nelson • Giselle Array • Austin • Sheila Pathlyn • Eleanor Egan • Richard Tangey • Laurie Haden • Tim Geddes • Larry Schnutzer • Stephanie Staffis • Phil Marks • Jason Miles • Rochelle Searcy • Brian Clue • Todd Colombo • Tom Agins • Marilyn Golden • Joyce ADJOURNMENT — the meeting was adjourned at 9:22 p.m. ATTEST: APA10-d -41 Cityy Clerk, Agency Clerk, Authority Secretary Council/RDA/PFA Minutes January 5, 2012 Page 4 of 4 City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk 63fthe City Council of the City of Huntington Beach, Clerk of the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Huntington Beach, and Secretary of the Huntington Beach Public Finance Authority of the City of Huntington Beach, California Mayor -Chair