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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 1985/12/12 MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR COUNCIL CONFERENCE OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA Thursday, December 12, 1985 Council Conference Room 4:00 p.m. City Hall ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Cox, Councilmembers Scott, McCandliss, Malcolm, Moore MEMBERS ABSENT: NONE STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Goss, Assistant City Manager Asmus, Assistant City Attorney Gill 1. REPORT SWEETWATER VALLEY MASTER PLAN (Director of Parks & Recreation) Mayor Cox stated he is a member of the Optimist Club and therefore may have a potential conflict of interest. City Manager Goss made the opening comments stating Rohr Park, the Optimist Club and adjacent property, and the Sweetwater Park are being integrated into one Master Plan. The consultants have addressed the traffic and parking problems in the area and will be presenting their recommendations. Director of Parks and Recreation Manuel Mollinedo introduced the Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission, Robert Strahl. Mr. Strahl said he attended two out of the three meetings held by the consultants and was impressed with the process. He did not even know there was such a thing as an Environmental Psychologist. All of the views of the residents attending the meetings were taken into account and blended into the Master Plan. Director Mollinedo introduced Joe Yamada of the firm of Wimmer, Yamada & Associates, and gave the Council a background on this firm's experience in park developments. Director Mollinedo remarked that the consultants have developed several conceptual plans for the Sweetwater Valley properties. Several meetings have been held with local park residents, general park users, service clubs and special interest groups. The Parks & Recreation Commission, Commission on Aging, and the Planning Commission were all presented with this plan and have all endorsed the "D" Master Plan concept as will be presented. The Planning Commission recommended that the environmental review be done on the proposed Council Conference Minutes - 2 - December 12, 1985 night-lighted ballfields and that the department investigate the feasibility of moving the ducks along Bonita Road to the lake adjacent to the ballfields. Also recommended was that the interior railroad loop be taken out and only the railroad tracks along the golf course perimeter fence be kept, creating additional open park space. Director Mollinedo noted that the Bonita Optimist Club has proposed their own plans for development of the property to the east of their facility. This plan was not submitted to any of the staff or the commissions and therefore, staff has no input on it. Mr. Joe Yamada, President of Wimmer, Yamada & Associates, 516 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, presented the Master Plan concept stating the consultants took into account the budget constraints, signing, size of the property, scheduling, and phasing. The 65 acre park is surrounded by a beautiful golf course. Mr. Yamada stressed that this is flexible plan. The high priorities facing the Council today may not be that high in years to come. One of which may be the swimming pool - this may be low on the priority list right now. Mr. Yamada stated that the Environmental Psychologist spent many days in Chula Vista. She attended the meetings with the residents at which 30 to 40 people attended. Deborah Rhoades, PhD, Human Space Associates, 801 East McKellips Road, Tempe, AZ, is the Environmental Psychologist. Her report has been submitted to Council. Mr. Yamada further explained that one of the serious considerations was the water conservation. They hired Mr. Richard Blanchard, a top consultant in this field to work on this concept. Mr. Keith Simon, Project Manager, showed a number of slides depicting the different concepts and renderings of the proposed Master Plan. He noted the following issues which were addressed: 1. Security for the park; 2. Inadequate and improper location of the present ballfields; 3. Respect for the surrounding residential neighborhood; 4. The parking problem; 5. The four alternate plans that were presented including Plan "D", which is recommended; 6. Passive picnic areas; 7. The central (heart) of the park; Council Conference Minutes 3 - December 12, 1985 8. The athletj. c complex and; 9. The maintenance center. Mr. Simon noted only one main entry to the park is being proposed, with a smaller entrance for emergency vehicles. Presently~ there are 550 parking spaces proposed with 375 presently existing. Mr. Simon noted there will be some changes to Sweetwater Road: the curves will be smoothed out; the Provence House will remain because the County Park Authority wants to keep it as a historical house; many of the trees will be relocated in the picnic areas; there will be four large shelters in the picnic area which can house up to 20 or 30 people in one party; many concrete pathways are being proposed (also jogging paths); there will be open areas for kite flying and small games; new playground equipment will be proposed; the sports complex will include lighted ballfields, there will be four or five fields in this complex which can be used for baseball or soccer. A central building will house a supervisor who can monitor all the activities; 240 additional parking spaces are being proposed for the athletic fields. If the Provence house is removed, it will add an additional 100 parking spaces. An equestrian ring will remain in this complex. The maintenance center is being proposed for the triangular piece of land west of Central, south of Sweetwater Road. This maintenance center can serve other parks in the City as well and will also be used for storage of equipment. The Rohr Manor and other buildings will be used for events such as art shows, dinners, bar-b-ques and so forth. There is a fountain proposed for the end of Rohr Manor Road near the Sunrise Building. There is a swimming center proposed at the request of the residents in the area - the consultants feel this is a long-term item. A theatrical area is proposed with outdoor seating and a stage. A Rohr Mall is proposed which can accommodate vendors, jugglers, and an enclosed botanical garden. Mr. Simon added the key point of the Master Plan is that it be a flexible one. Councilwoman McCandliss referred to the four or five baseball fields being proposed in this Master Plan and asked whether the consultants looked at the overall picture of the entire Chula Vista area to see if the needs are now adequate. Director Mollinedo commented the County is building a park further east of this one. The City's General Plan element is very outdated. He feels there is still a need for three or more ballparks to be placed throughout the City. The City of Chula Vista is deficient as far as ballfields and lighted ballfields are concerned. In answer to Councilman Malcolm's query, Director Council Conference Minutes 4 - December 12, 1985 Mollinedo stated that approximately 7% of the players using the athletic fields must be residents from the City. The ballfields are used extensively throughout the entire year with extended hours at the lighted ballfields. It starts generally about 5:30 p.m. and goes to 10:00 p.m. As to the noise factor, Director Mollinedo contended that the noise factor is an important element on athletic fields. The best proposal would be to have them in industrial areas where the people leave at night and the lights will not bother any residential areas. This can be done with the Getsten properties to the east. Mayor Cox noted the shortage of lighted ballfields in the City. At one time the City talked about having one in the Reinstra Park. Councilwoman McCandliss expressed her concerns with the Rohr Mall. She does not want to see it get too commercial because it would destroy the rural atmosphere of the park. Mr. Simon noted it is not designated to be commercial it would just house botanical gardens, museums, art shows, and the like. Mr. Dale Willett representing the Optimist Foundation presented their plan for the athletic field (east of their facility). They agree it should be the center of all the sports activities in the park. They have put in a great deal of money to improve the area and have some specific concerns which are: 1. They agree the plan must be flexible; 2. The Optimist Club wants to proceed with improvement of their lower field area and want to get started on this now; 3. Presently they have a large area for picnickers - this plan will remove that area; 4. There are some serious safety factors to be considered such as setting up for the various uses of the athletic fields; 5. The consultants' plan isolates the area for recreational purposes; therefore, they are requesting the Council not approve the proposed Master Plan tonight. Mr. Dale Willett and Mr. Dino Polselli then presented the plan as proposed by the Optimist Club showing two ballfields, one of which can be used for a soccer field, six youth recreation fields; two baseball diamonds; a horseshoe ring; shuffleboards; jogging trail; parking for 130 cars; the triangular piece of property will house about 74-78 more cars; the building will be a meeting place; and there will be a provision for storage of equipment. Council Conference Minutes - 5 - December 12, 1985 Mr. George Kost, representing Sweetwater Valley Civic Association said the plan has not been presented to the Association - they would like to have some input since they are the people who have to live with it. Mr. Kost declared the traffic is a major problem and with five athletic fields being proposed, Sweetwater Road will become overloaded. Mayor Cox indicated the proposal should be presented to the Sweetwater Valley Civic Association and suggested the Council take a tour of this area. The Mayor expressed his concern that the park does remain a rural area. Mr. Ace Wischstadt , President of the "Live Steamers" miniature railroad track in the park, stated he had attended all of the sessions and reviewed the plans as presented. They are very much in favor of the whole idea as something needs to be done for the Chula Vista Live Steamers in that park. He expressed his surprise to hear that their railway loop was to be taken out and have it just go along the picnic area. Councilman Moore expressed his concerns with: 1. The Parks & Recreation maintenance yard at the triangular piece of property at the east end of the park; 2. The mixed use of the paved pathways; 3. The County Parks & Recreation structure (Provence House); 4. The botanical garden structure, Rohr Mall, adobe houses, and the theater can be in a different phase; 5. The lighted ballfields the concern here being youth vs. adult, baseball vs. soccer; 6. Likes the idea of the parking lots being expanded close to Sweetwater Road; 7. Favoring the large picnic areas but is concerned with the covered shelters and how they would be monitored. Director Mollinedo explained that in other cities in the State, these shelters have been in use. People call in and make reservations however; an attendant (Parks & Recreation personnel) must be on hand to be sure that no one else takes the shelter and that it goes to the person who reserves it. MS (Malcolm/McCandliss) to move the Live Steamers railroad as they presently exist and allow them to expand down to the west end of the park. Council Conference Minutes - 6 - December 12, 1985 SUBSTITUTE MOTION (re: Sweetwater Valley Master Plan) MSUC ( Cox/McCandl iss ) to refer this plan to staff to come back with a recommendation: to evaluate the Optimist Club plan which may necessitate a need for another community meeting; the concern with the maintenance area for the present golf course proposed to be moved to the triangle-shaped property along with the Parks and Recreation maintenance yard; the possibility of extending the contract with Wimmer, Yamada & Associates, if necessary; the utilization of the Provence House area and possible relocation of structure/users contact the County on this; include the mixed uses on the pathways; no action to be taken today on the location of the ballfields, its configuration and the lighted fields. Councilman Scott stated that the plan was a good plan; however, he does not want to see a plan that will attract more people into this area. This may come about by the intensity of the use of the recreational fields. It takes away from the rural characteristics. Councilman Scott also noted his concerns over the control of the recreational fields adjacent to the Optimist Club indicating he does not want to give this to the Optimist Club who only pay $1 a year to the City for use of their property. He also suggested one lighted ballfield be proposed in the EastLake area. 2. REPORT ON ACCESSIBLE CHULA VISTA TRANSIT (CVT) BUS STOP PROGRAM (Director of Public Works/City Engineer) Transit Coordinator Gustafson presented a written report to the Council in which he stated that at its meeting of June 18, 1985, Council directed staff to develop a program to make a greater number of CVT bus stops accessible to non-ambulatory passengers in wheelchairs. Presently, there are 289 CVT bus stops in the City. A wheelchair lift can operate at 117 of these stops but only 31 are "fully accessible" - those are the bus stops which have a concrete pad and 12 curb cuts associated with that bus stop. Mr. Gustafson noted that to make all of the CVT bus stops accessible would cost would be approximately ~563,000. A first phase program could be implemented at a cost of $61,600. In answer to Councilwoman McCandliss ' query, Mr. Gustafson explained the need for the wheelchair stops noting that the ridership averaged one per day in October and two per day in September. He has received no complaints from the community of handicapped persons, and recommends that nothing be done at this time. MSUC (Scott/McCandliss) that no accessibility improvements be made at this time. ADJOURNMENT AT 6:15 p.m. ~ ~/~ to the meeting of December 14, 1985 at 9:00 a.m. /. nnie M. Fulasz, Clerk MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR ~ETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA Held December 12, 1985 Conference Room The City Council met in the Council ~3~xa~a~Y~ at the City Hall, 276 Fourth Avenue on the above date at 4:00 p.m. with the following: Councilmen present: Scott, McCandliss, Cox, Malcolm, Moore Councilmen absent: None ADJOURNMENT The Mayor adjourned the meeting until Saturday, December 14, 1985 hambe C mme ce 233 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, California. I, JENNIE M. FULASZ, City Clerk of the City of Chula Vista, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that this is a full, true and correct copy of an order by the City Council at the meeting of _Thursday, December 12, 1985 ~ULAS~Z,C~MC,~rk City of Chula Vista, California STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING ORDER COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ) ss OF ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING CITY OF CHULA VISTA ) I, Jennie M. Fulasz, being first duly sworn depose and say: That I am the duly chosen, qualified and acting City Clerk of the City Council of the City of Chula Vista; That the Counc11 Conferencemeeting of the Council of the City of Chula Vista was held Thursday, December 12, 1985 and said meeting was adjourned to the time and place specified in the order of adjournment ATTACHED HERETO: That on Friday, December 13, 1985 at the hour of 9:45 a.m. I posted a copy of said order at a conspicuous place on or near the door of the place at which said meeting of December 12, 1985 was held.