HomeMy WebLinkAboutSoutheast Area Committee meets Re: Proposed Coastal Redevelo I ( ) tmk I ADM It/
CITY OF HUNTINGT N BE
ACH
EAC H
City Council Interoffice Communication o
To: Honorable Mayor and CityCouncil Members a''� �S t
From: Ralph Bauer, City Council Member �� 23
Date: December 12, 2001
CL
Subject: "H"ITEM FOR DECEMBER 17, 2001 CITY COUNCIL MEETING- -C"
REDEVELOPMENT AREA IN SOUTHEAST HUNTINGTON s
BEACH a
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
At the community meeting on December 11, related to a redevelopment area in
southeast Huntington Beach, the ambiguous responses by the community continue to
be apparent despite the many meetings on this subject.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Because of this, I move that the Mayor write a letter to the Southeast Huntington Beach
Neighborhood Association requesting a letter which unequivocally supports the
redevelopment area in southeast Huntington Beach as proposed by Huntington Beach
staff. ( Ai aN A*OVA Am)
'n the absence of sueh a letteF, 1 would suggest that at the meeting ef FebFUaFy 4, ,
RB:cf
xc: Ray Silver
Connie Brockway
David Biggs
4 «
(23) 9 December 17, 2001 - ncil/Agency Agenda - Page 23
(<Sdt�p
H. City Council/Redevelopment Agency Items �N
H-1a. Submitted By Mayor Pro Tern Ralph Bauer
1�
(City Council) Request Mayor to Write a Letter in Favor of the Formation of a
Redevelopment Project Area in Southeast Huntington Beach ( . )
Communication from Mayor Pro Tern Ralph Bauer transmitting the following Statement
of Issue: At the community meeting on December 11, 2001 related to a redevelopment
area in Southeast Huntington Beach, the ambiguous responses by the community
continue to be apparent despite the many meetings on this subject.
Recommended Action:
Because of this, I move that the Mayor write a letter to the Southeast Huntington Beach
Neighborhood Association requesting a letter which unequivocally supports the
redevelopment area in southeast Huntington Beach as proposed by Huntington Beach
staff.
Said letter to be written only after the Council has had the
opportunity to review the EIR (Environmental Impact Report)
around March 2002. Approved as amended (7-0)
OR
In the abbse-mr--ee of a letter, 1 would rwggest that -;;t the Fneeting of February , ,
the Gity P`n„nnil relent the form-ation of- redevelopment area in the cn„the;;ct ;;rAR of
HURtiRgtG
H-1b. Submitted By Mayor Pro Tern Ral h er
(City Counci irect Staff to Conduct a Fea 'billtv Studv in I Jd)i with the
U.S. Naval Wea ns Station in Seal Beach fo he Complete Reopening Water
Access to Huntington Harbour ( )
Communication from Mi4yor Pro Tern Ralph Bauer tra mitting the following State ent
�.�of Issue: The events of te ptember 11, 2001 have lead restricton in the water ac ss
to Huntington Harbour throuO the U.S. Naval Weapons S tion in Seal Beach.
R ommended Action:
I mo that the City of Huntington each make contact with the ommander of the Seal
Beach val Weapons Station to d rm what resources migh a needed to increase
the time i�dows during which water cessine to Huntington Harbour an occur.
Approve 6-0-1 (Garofalo out room)
410, 0 5
f
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
�D
TO: Mayor Houchen and City Council Members
FROM; Connie Boardman, City Council Memberc,(�-
DATE: January 24, 2001
SUBJECT: "C" Item — February 5, 2001 City Council! Meeting
Southeast Area Community Meeting
On January 18, 2001, approximately 120 persons attended the second
community meeting for the Southeast Coastal Redevelopment Plan. This was
also the second meeting of the newly formed Southeast Area Committee
consisting of Mayor Pro Tern Cook, Council Member Bauer, and myself.
Twenty-six persons provided public comments at the meeting. Concern was
expressed about redevelopment as the most appropriate tool to improve the
area. Questions were also raised about alternatives to redevelopment. Many
inquiries concerned the status of projects in the area, particularly the Ascon
Landfill, the A.E.S. Power Plant, and the demolition of the CENCO tanks.
Residents expressed concern about the appropriateness of using taxpayer
money to subsidize the clean up and development of the Ascon-Nesi site.
Residents of the Cabrillo Mobile Home Park were worried about future plans
CalTrans might have for the site and how redevelopment would affect them. A
representative from the Surfside Homeowner's Association expressed his
organization's concerns over the industrial zoning of the CENCO site. The
homeowner organization would like the zoning on the site changed from
industrial to residential.
Mr. Frank Spevacek of Rosenow Spevacek Group, provided an overview of the
redevelopment process and various staff members provided updates on the
following projects: CENCO Tanks demolition, the A.E.S. Power Plant, the
methane gas issue, zoning requirements for various properties, and the Hamilton
Avenue extension.
Judging from the questions raised at the meeting, there is still a great deal of
concern and uncertainty among the public regarding redevelopment.
C
"C" Item — Southeast Area Community Meeting
Page 2
January 24, 2001
The City Council agenda includes an item this evening to approve a survey area
as one of the initial steps to allow for the continued evaluation of redevelopment
for the Southeast Coastal area.
Attachment: Community Meeting Notes, 1/18/01
MEETING NOTES
Southeast Area Committee
Community Meeting
January 18, 2001
7:00 PM
Edison High School Cafeteria
In Attendance: Mayor Pro Tern Debbie Cook, Council Members Ralph Bauer
and Connie Boardman
City Staff: Ray Silver, City Administrator; David Biggs, Director of Economic
Development; Gus Duran, Housing & Redevelopment
Manager; Scott Hess, Principal Planner; Mary Beth Broeren,
Senior Planner; Duane Olson, Fire Marshall; Carol Runzel,
Assistant Project Manager; Dave Dominguez, Recreation
Supervisor Sr./Development; and Tom Brohard, Interim
Transportation Manager
Guests: Frank Spevacek of Rosenow Spevacek Group (RSG);
Roll Call: Cook, Boardman, Bauer (all present).
The Chair convened the meeting at 7:08 PM. Boardman welcomed
Councilmember Garofalo who was in the audience and indicated that due to
the requirements of the Bown Act, that he will not be participating in the
meeting.
Ray Silver, City Administrator, announced that staff is present to answer
questions as the meeting progresses. Silver noted the availability of the
handouts including the Community Meeting Summary, the fact sheet, the Plan
Adoption Schedule, the Draft Preliminary Plan, and a brochure on
redevelopment. Silver summarized the three main points of the Preliminary Plan:
1) Eminent domain is not being proposed, 2) the existing General Plan and
Zoning will be followed, and 3) the plan must be community driven. Silver
introduced Mr. Frank Spevacek of Rosenow Spevacek Group, the
redevelopment consultant for the Southeast Coastal Area Redevelopment Plan.
l
0
Presentation by Frank J. Spevacek, Rosenow Spevacek Group, Inc.
Mr. Spevacek presented an overview of the first community meeting and
provided information on the handouts. In a brief introduction on
redevelopment he reported that 60% of cities and 40% of counties in California
have active redevelopment programs. An explanation of Tax Increment was
given. A wall exhibit depicting a diagram on the redevelopment plan adoption
process was used to show the significant benchmarks in the schedule. He
reported that the process really begins when City Council approves the survey
area, designating the boundaries of the proposed area. A review of the goals
and objectives of the proposed plan was given. He noted that successful
redevelopment programs consist of three elements: 1) market demand, 2)
financial resources, and 3) community acceptance. Spevacek answered
several questions regarding the process.
Project Updates based upon citizen inquiries during public comments.
1 . Duane Olson, Fire Marshall -- Cenco Tank demolition. On January 3, 2001,
staff met with the managers of Cenco and requested that their demolition
program begin sooner than originally proposed. Cenco is currently
cleaning the tanks.before the demolition begins.
2. Ray Silver- A.E.S Update. The California Energy Commission is considering
the A.E.S. application again next week. The City is involved in the
discussions. He reported that there are 16 areas in the City that may
experience rolling blackouts and that the P.U.C. has extended the Citys
agreement for the interruptible schedule for an additional year. This will
drastically increase the electrical costs for the city from six cents per
kilowatt-hour to nine dollars per kilowatt-hour for the City Hall and Central
Library facilities.
3. Duane Olson, Fire Marshall- Methane Gas Issue in the Southeast Area. A
site assessment is completed on the street side of Bredon and Stillwell and
that there are no detectable levels of methane gas. Methane was found
on the parkside. A consultant has been hired work on a program-to allow
the Methane to dissipate.
4. Mary Beth Broeren, Senior Planner, on the Santa Ana River Trail-Staff is
expecting to formally receive the plan in the near future.
5. Tom Brohard, Interim Transportation Manager, on the Hamilton extension -
Hamilton is still on the overall Orange County Master Plan for Arterial
Highways. The street is not a mitigation measure for the Waterfront hotel
property.
Public Comments
1 . Topper Horak - Inquired about how the State of California is dealing with
A.E.S. and the status of the Waterfront project.
2
2. Dr. Vincent Novak - Wants less industrial space within the proposed
Redevelopment Project Area. Inquired about the zoning for the Cenco
property.
3. Shawn Thompson - Interested in having the Huntington By the Sea Mobile
Home park as part of the proposed Redevelopment Project,Area. Inquired
about the use of the Housing-Set-Aside funds. I would like to see, as one of
the issues addressed, some of the affordable housing set-aside used to
bring the mobile home park closer to existing building standards.
4. Gary Gorman - Inquired about any precedents of having coastal wetlands
within Redevelopment Project Areas.
5. Dean Albright - Wants an evaluation of the success of the existing
redevelopment efforts before embarking on a new endeavor. Suggested
having the Cenco Tank Farm used as an urban runoff area.
6. Pete Minko - Is interested in having the Nesi site rezoned for park usage.
7. Alice Loftas - Asked why do anything about the Cenco property and to
leave the power plant alone.
8. George Mason - Is in favor of proceeding with the study to get the facts
together regarding redevelopment. SE Huntington Beach needs the area
within the redevelopment area improved. If this is the best way to
accomplish that goal, then we need to move forward.
9. David Guido, President of the HB Coastal Communities Association -- Is
interested in going forward with the Plan Adoption Process.
10. Lynn Cipres, resident of Cabrillo Mobile Home Park -- Inquired about any
contact with Caltrans. Wants information on Caltrans decision forwarded
to her.
11 . Armida Brashears - Concerned about methane gas that will be under the
Ascon Dump. Wants some insurance paid for by the developer/owner so
the taxpayer does not get stuck with the cost 20 to 30 years from now.
12. Chuck Kelber - Has reservations regarding Cabrillo Mobile Home Park and
wanted to know if the PCH strip is a key site.
13. Charlotte Mason - Wanted to know if there is a development agreement in
place for the Ascon-Nesi site.
14. Roy Woolsey - Made inquiries about zoning. Will owners of areq zoned,OS-
C be allowed to use such property? If not will they be compensated fairly?
If not has any consideration been given to liability to those owners?
15. John Scott - Wants to evaluate if redevelopment is the most effective way
to assist the area and that it is hard to make a decision when there are few
specifics at this time. Inquired about the Hamilton extension and wanted
specifics on the Nesi development.
16. Tim Geddes - Asked about what point in the process would the site
assessment and all estimates of clean-up and associated costs be a factor
in determining the appropriate uses within the project area?
17. Dina Yokum, resident at Cabrillo Mobile Home Park - Asked for an
explanation of the resolution process, including an estimated time-frame,
relative to the discrepancy of the existing zoning and that of the General
Plan of the land on which Cabrillo is located.
3
18. Ron Yokum, inquired about the amount of property that is within the City's
control.
19. Chuck Schied - Interested in having the Huntington By the Sea Mobile
Home Park within the project area boundaries.
20. Jerry VanDerMark- Inquired when would development begin, homeowners
be displaced, and if the Redevelopment Agency is going to purchase the
mobile home park.
21. Jim Wright --- Noted that trucks and buses shake his property and that more
children are moving into the area. Wanted to know how the mobile home
park would fit into the future.
22. Jeff Reardon - Officer in the Surfside Homeowners Association (330 units) -
Concerned about future industrial uses on the Cenco property. Wanted to
know if developers regarding properties in the proposed area had
approached the City.
23. Robin Taylor - Surfside Homeowner - Inquired about the time-frame to
clean up the Nesi dumpsite. Wanted to know more about the definition of
properties considered as blighted. Asked about the value of having land
zoned industrial within the coastal area.
24. Lou Baker - Inquired about what other developments could be done and
had concern about water quality issues.
25. Elizabeth Novak - Wants clean up of the area and believes in no growth.
Stated that it is difficult to evaluate the Redevelopment Plan when it is very
general.
26. Maureen Mills - Inquired about methane at the Cenco site.
27. Frank Marshall - Inquired if Caltrans has been contacted about their interest
in selling the Cabrillo/Action boat property to the Redevelopment Agency?
28. Bert Robinson, from Whittier, addressed the committee.
Closing Statements
• Councilmember Cook - Confirmed a cautionary view regarding
redevelopment and wants public comments throughout the process.
• Councilmember Bauer - In the absence of redevelopment there is no
incentive to improve the property. It is recognized that some cWzens,want
the zoning to change in the area.
• Councilmember Boardman - Would like to hear of other alternatives to
redevelopment to improve the area.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM.
Meeting Notes taken by: Carol Runzel, Assistant Project Manager, (714) 536-5224
4