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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 2000/01/18 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA January 18, 2000 6:00 p.m. A Regular Meeting of the Chula Vista City Council was called to order by Mayor Horton at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located in the Public Services Building, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, California. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Councilmembers Davis, Moot, Padilia, Salas, and Mayor Horton (Councilmember Padilla arrived at 6:10 p.m.) ABSENT: Councilmembers: None PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, MOMENT OF SILENCE SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY Presentation by Supervisor Greg Cox recognizing local companies for supporting the welfare-to-work program. Supervisor Cox thanked Maximus of South County, the City, the Chamber of Commerce, and the business community for support received for the welfare-to-work program. David Heney, Project Manager for Maximus in South County, stated that the program has been very successful during the past 18 months, and he commended businesses and agencies who have worked in partnership, as well as the City and Board of Supervisors for help in moving families from dependency to self-sufficiency. CONSENT CALENDAR (Items 1 through 3) Mayor Horton stated that Consent Item #2 would be continued to the meeting of January 25, 2000, at the recommendation of staff. 1. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS A. Letter from the City Attorney stating that to the best of his knowledge from observance of actions taken in Closed Session on January 11, 2000, there were no actions which are required under the Brown Act to be reported. Staff recommendation: The letter be received and filed. CONSENT CALENDAR (Continued) 2. REPORT DENYING THE APPEAL OF AN ALL-WAY STOP AT THE INTERSECTION OF EAST J STREET AND LASENDA WAY Mayor Horton requested a report to Council after a request to appeal was made by David Krogh, a member of the public, at the Council meeting of Tuesday, December 7, 1999. Based on the provisions of the Safety Commission Policy, adopted by resolution of the City Council on March 14, 1995, whenever the Safety Commission and the City Engineer concur on the implementation of a traffic safety improvement, the resolution of the issue is considered final unless appealed by a member of the Council within 10 days of the decision of the Safety Commission. The Safety Commission decision was reached at its meeting of Thursday, November 11, 1999. Staff recommendation: Continue to the meeting of January 25, 2000. (Director of Public Works) 3. RESOLUTION NO. 2000-019, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ACCEPTING CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY, PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION FUNDS AWARDED TO THE CHULA VISTA PUBLIC LIBRARY, APPROPRIATING THE UNANTICIPATED REVENUE, AMENDING FISCAL YEAR 1999/2000 BUDGET, AND RECLASSIFYING TWO CURRENT POSITIONS (4/5THS VOTE REQUIRED) As a result of the Govemor's authorized increase in the Public Library Foundation (PLF) fund, the Chula Vista Public Library's share of the PLF allocation has risen by $90,810 to $281,187 this year. When the City Council approved the FY 99/00 budget, a transfer of $190,377 from PLF to the General Fund was included in the City Manager's budget. The State Library has now formally issued this year's PLF payment with the augmented funds. The Library requests that the unanticipated $90,810 be appropriated in the Library's General Fund to support the circulating book collection, compact disc shelving, upgrades of two existing positions, and enhance the security guard allocation. Staff recommendation: Council adopt the resolution. (Library & Recreation Director) ACTION: Mayor Horton moved to approve staff recommendations, noting that Item #2 was continued, and offered the Consent Calendar, headings read, texts waived. The motion canled 5-0. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were none. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND RELATED RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES 4. CONSIDERATION OF ESTABLISHING UTILITY UNDERGROUNDING DISTRICT NO. 128 ALONG BROADWAY FROM C STREET TO E STREET Page 2 - Council Minutes 1/18/2000 PUBLIC HEARINGS (Continued) RESOLUTION NO. 2000-020, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ESTABLISHING UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 128 ALONG BROADWAY FROM "C" STREET TO "E" STREET AND AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF UTILITY ALLOCATION FUNDS TO SUBSIDIZE PRIVATE SERVICE LATERAL CONVERSION On November 30, 1999, by Resolution No. 19680, the City Council ordered a public hearing to be held on January 18, 2000 to determine whether the public health, safety or general welfare requires the formation of a utility undergrounding district along Broadway from C Street to E Street. The purpose of forming the district is to require the utility companies to underground all overhead lines and to remove all existing wooden utility poles within the proposed district. The proposed utility undergrounding district is about 2,600 feet long and is estimated to cost approximately $513,000. SDG&E's allocation funds (Rule 20-A) will be used to cover the cost of the project, including reimbursements to affected property owners for their respective trenching costs. Notice of the hearing was given in accordance with legal requirements, and the heating was held on the date and at the time specified in the notice. Mayor Horton asked that this work be coordinated with that planned in the near future to avoid further inconvenience to businesses and residents. Councilmember Salas confirmed that the subject area would have better street lighting as a result of the project. Mayor Horton opened the public hearing and asked if anyone from the audience wished to speak. There was no response, and she closed the heating. ACTION: Mayor Horton offered Resolution No. 2000-020, heading mad, text waived. The motion carded 5-0. 5. CONSIDERATION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE RANCHO DEL REY SECTIONAL PLANNING AREA I (PCM-00-06) RESOLUTION NO. 2000-021, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AMENDING THE RANCHO DEL REY SECTIONAL PLANNING AREA (SPA) DESIGN GUIDELINES IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE PLACEMENT OF THREE MONUMENT SIGNS WITHIN A PUBLIC OPEN SPACE AREA SITUATED ALONG EAST H STREET AT THE RANCHO DEL REY BUSiNESS/COMMERCIAL CENTER, AND PLACE DIRECTIONAL SIGNS WITHIN THE CENTER The City of Chula Vista has been working for the past several months with the management of the Rancho del Rey Business/Commercial Center toward the creation of a Page 3 -Council Minutes 1/18/2000 PUBLIC HEARINGS (Continued) sign program. Tenants of the Center feel that their businesses are not visible from East H Street, and that signage situated along this street is necessary in order to attract customers. The applicants are proposing to place three monument signs along East H Street. They are also requesting that new directional signs be allowed within the center in order to facilitate vehicular circulation and parking. The proposed signage requires the modification of the Rancho del Rey SPA I design guidelines. Mayor Horton noted that this heating was continued from the meeting of November 30, 1999. Planning & Building Department staff presented the revised sign designs, noting that the movie marquee had been eliminated, the number was reduced from four signs to three, and the applicant was requesting an increase in height of the monument signs in order to allow space to advertise a future tenant. Jeff Rogers, representing C.W. Clark, a major tenant in the center, stated that the applicant has brought forward a balanced perspective on the issue of accommodating the needs of the businesses while preserving the aesthetic landscaping along H Street. He stated that there are three rather than four signs proposed. Regal Cinemas has been incorporated onto one of them, requiting an increase in height. Black shadowing was also added to the lettering. He then presented images of the proposed signs superimposed on the site. Bfian Caster, representing A-1 Self Storage, asked the Council to approve the request. Jerry Navarra, representing Jerome's Furniture, stated that the signage is needed to accommodate fast-moving traffic and indecisive drivers looking for the businesses. There being no further public comments, Mayor Horton closed the public hearing. Mayor Horton questioned the current sign height regulations. Planning & Building Director Leiter responded that current regulations allow a 6' sign, however, those proposed are 9'6" in order to allow visibility from both sides of H Street. David Cowan, representing Motivational Designs, explained the formula for sign visibility. Mayor Horton objected to the height of the proposed signs, stating that she had been contacted by several homeowner associations that adamantly objected to large signage that would interfere with the arabianee of the area. Cotmcilmember Salas commented that she had been contacted as well, however, a previous Council had made a decision to change the property from industrial to retail several years ago, and the City now has a responsibility to make sure that businesses can succeed in the Center. Councilmember Davis stated that signs are needed for the businesses and for the safety of drivers looking for the businesses. Councilmember Padilla stated that the Council needs to balance competing interests and that he was willing to compromise on the request. He suggested that a uniform, subtle color be used on Page 4 - Council Minutes 1/18/2000 the lettering for the signs. PUBLIC HEARINGS (Continued) Mayor Horton stated that while she felt some signage would be helpful, it should not be as large as proposed and she opposed a 10' sign on H Street, which she believed would be invasive and would violate the scenic corridor. She also objected to the color ranges and suggested the use of more subtle colors. Mayor Horton then moved to change the lettering of the proposed signs to a uniform, subtle color and to limit the signs to 9 feet. Councilmember Padilla seconded the motion. To the question, Councilmember Salas commented that corporate sign designs, including the color of the lettering, are registered trademarks so that people can readily identify the businesses. Mayor Hotton responded that the applicant could then change to uniform lettering rather than using corporate logos and icons. Deputy Mayor Moot asked the criteria for deciding which businesses would be represented on the signs. Mr. Rogers responded that the City is involved only in the sign design, and the developer would decide which businesses would have signage. Councilmember Davis stated that corporate designs and logos are necessary so that drivers can easily and quickly identify businesses. Mayor Hotton then called for a vote on her motion, and it failed 2-3, with Councilmembers Davis, Moot and Salas voting in opposition. ACTION: Deputy Mayor Moot offered Resolution No. 2000-021 as presented, heading read, text waived. The motion carried 3-2, with Councilmember Padilla and Mayor Hotton opposing. OTHER BUSINESS 6. CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS There were none. 7. MAYOR' S REPORTS There were none. 8. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Davis reported on the discussion of the definition of "smart growth" at a recent League Policy Committee meeting. At 7:49 p.m., Mayor Hotton recessed the meeting to Closed Session. Page 5 - Council Minutes 1/18/2000 CLOSED SESSION 9. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.8 Property: Approximately seven acres located on Bonita Road adjacent to the Chula Vista Municipal Golf Course Negotiating Parties: City of Chula Vista (Chris Salomone/Sid Morals), The Phair Co., and American Golf Under Negotiation: Purchase price/lease rate and other terms and conditions for possible disposition of City-owned property This item was not discussed. 10. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(13) Two cases No reportable action was taken. ADJOURNMENT At 9:50 p.m., Mayor Horton adjoumed the meeting to an Adjourned Regular Meeting to be held January 20, 2000 at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Conference Room. Respectfully submitted, Susan Bigelow, CMC/AAE, City Clerk Page 6 - Council Minutes 1/18/2000 17 T