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Home My WebLink AboutRCC MIN 2005/01/31MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION January 31, 2005 Public Services Building Conference Rooms 2 and 3 276 Fourth Avenue MEETING CALLED TO ORDER by Chair Doug Reid at 6:05 p.m. ROLL CALL/MOTION TO EXCUSE MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Doug Reid, Vice-Chair John Chavez, Commissioners Teresa Thomas, Juan Diaz, Stanley Jasek, Pamela Bensoussan and Tracy Means (6:13 p.m.) STAFF PRESENT: Marilyn Ponseggi, Environmental Review Coordinator Paul Hellman, Environmental Projects Manager Ed Batchelder, Advance Planning/General Plan Manager Alex AI-Agha, City Engineer Linda Bond, Recording Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: Charles Bull. RECON Patricia Aguilar, Crossroads II Laura Hunter, Environmental Health Coalition Earl Jentz, Chula Vista resident Gerald Scott, Chula Vista resident Susan Watry, Chula Vista resident Sandy Duncan, Chula Vista resident Peter Watry, Chula Vista resident Lorna Barrett, Chula Vista resident Steve Buchholz, Chula Vista resident Verena M. Fleming, Chula Vista resident Karen Jentz, Chula Vista resident Georgie Stillman, Chula Vista resident Sharon Floyd, Chula Vista resident Theresa Acerro, Chula Vista resident Kent Lansing, Chula Vista resident Malena Lansing, Chula Vista resident APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. RCC Minutes - 2 - January 31, 2005 NEW BUSINESS 1. EIR-05-01 -City of Chula Vista General Plan Update Draft EIR Ms. Marilyn Ponseggi (Environmental Review Coordinator) stated that staff would give two presentations, one on the General Plan Update and the other on the General Plan Update EIR. Mr. Ed Batchelder (Advance Planning/General Plan Manager) presented an overview of the Draft General Plan Update. Mr. Paul Hellman (Environmental Projects Manager) presented an overview of the General Plan Update Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR-OS-01). Public Comments Mr. Earl Jentz (397-A Third Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910) distributed a comment letter and attachments to the Commissioners (see Attachment 1) and read his comment letter verbatim. Mr. Kent Lansing (374 Roosevelt Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910) read his comment letter verbatim that had been previously submitted to staff (see Attachment 2). Ms. Patricia Aguilar (representing Crossroads 11 - 262 Second Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910) stated that Crossroads II would be submitting detailed written comments prior to February 14`h. Her comments to the RCC focused on the fallowing issues: • Socio-economic impact report to address displacement of residents among other issues • Community Character Alternative • Southern terminus of La Media Road • Proposed Transit Focus Areas Ms. Georgie Stillman (580 Twin Oaks Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910) commented on the following issues: • Negative community character impacts/Community Character Alternative • Lack of Cummings Initiative consistency Ms. Laura Hunter (Environmental Health Coalition, 401 Mile of Cars Way, National City, CA 91950) distributed and summarized the Environmental Health Coalition's draft outline for their draft EIR comment letter (see Attachment 3) . Ms. Sharon Floyd (273 D Street, Chula Visfa, CA 91910) commented on the following issues: • Chula Vista's northern City boundary • Fourth Avenue as the historic gateway to Chula Vista RCC Minutes - 3 - January 31, 2005 Mr. Peter Watry (81 Second Avenue, Chula Visfa, CA 91910) asked questions and commented on the following issues, which were responded to my Mr. Alex AI-Agha (City Engineer): • Proposed Urban Core traffic level of service • Proposed classification of Third Avenue between "E" and "F" Streets Ms. Lorna Barrett (181 Halsey Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910) asked if the amount of traffic that would be generated by the proposed additional population in the downtown area was considered in the traffic analysis? Mr. AI-Agha responded in the affirmative. Ms. Hunter requested that the RCC include all the public comments made during this meeting as part of their comments. Chair Reid stated that it is important that commentors submit a written comment letter or provide oral comments at the Planning Commission public hearing so their comments and staff's responses will be included in the Final EIR for consideration by the Planning Commission and City Council. Ms. Aguilar asked why the extension of La Media Road across the Otay River is part of the Preferred Plan? Mr. AI-Agha responded that, as a result of impacts projected with the Preferred Plan and proposed foreseeable projects on Otay Mesa in the City of San Diego, staff was unable to demonstrate that this extension can be deleted from the adopted General Plan. Vice-Chair Chavez stated that a number of comments made by the Environment, Open Space and Sustainable Development Subcommittee on the draft General Plan Update have not been incorporated into the plan or the EIR, and that he would like a summary table of the Subcommittee's recommendations and how they have been addressed to be provided to the RCC. MSUC (Chavez/Means) to continue this item to 4:00 p.m. on February 7, 2005. Vote: (7-0) ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COORDINATOR COMMENTS: None. CHAIR COMMENTS: Chair Reid indicated that he has a conflict for the Planning Commission meeting on February 14'h and that Vice-Chair Chavez will represent the RCC at this meeting. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Vice-Chair Chavez indicated that during the last two RCC meetings questions have been raised about the Brown Act and the RCC being able to address items that are not specifically on their agendas. He stated that he would like the record to reflect that Ms. Nancy Lytle (Assistant Planning Director), oer the Citv Attorney, informed him that it is appropriate for the RCC or any other Commission to make advisory comments as long as they do not entail an action, whether or not their comments pertain to an item on the agenda. Commissioner Bensoussan indicated that the RCC voted to reconvene the tri-Commission (Planning Commission, Design Review Committee and Resource Conservation Commission) meeting, and she wondered if staff had done anything to communicate with the other RCC Minutes - 4 - January 31 2005 Commissions to find a date for that meeting. Ms. Ponseggi responded that she would have to check into that. Commissioner Means wanted to make sure that the public was notified of the continuation meeting on February 7"'. Chair Reid stated that people who turned in speaker slips should be sent an agenda. Ms. Ponseggi agreed. Commissioner Thomas indicated that the completed draft Environmental Element was not available at the last meeting of the Environment, Open Space and Sustainable Development Subcommittee and that she would like to be able to discuss the current version of this element. Ms. Ponseggi responded that there is a date certain when the public review period for the General Plan Update Draft EIR closes, which is why the RCC needs to focus on providing their comments on the EIR prior to commenting on the General Plan Update itself. Staff might be able to put the General Plan Update on a future RCC agenda prior to the Planning Commission and City Council public hearing. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Reid adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m. to a regular meeting on Monday, February 7, 2005 at 4:00 p.m. in the Public Services Building, Conference Rooms 2 and 3, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Prepared by: ~ ~ Linda Bond Recording Secretary Attachments: 1. Mr. Earl Jentz Comments 2. Mr. Kent Lansing Comments 3. Ms. Laura Hunter Draft Comments (J: \P la nn i ng\RCC\2005\RCC013105Mi ns. doc)