HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 1995/07/25 (2) I~I1NUTES OF A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING/~NORKSIIOP OF TIlE CITY COUNCIL,
GROWTH MANAGEMENT OVERSIGItT COMMISSION, AND
PLANNING COMMISSION OF TIlE CITY OF CItULA VISTA
Tuesday, July 25, 1995 Council Chambers
6:12 p.m. Public Services Building
CALL TO ORDER
1. ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Conncihnembers Al~vy, Moot, Padilia (arrived at 6:18 p.m.), Rindone, and
Mayor Hortlm
ABSENT: None
PRESENT: Grt~wth Management Oversight Commissllmers Allen, Armbrust, Dull, Hyde,
Peter, Kell, and Chair Hnbbard
ABSENT: Growth Management Ovt. rsight CtmunisGoner Ray
PRESENT: Planning Commissioners Davis, Salas, Thomas, and Willett,
ABSENT: Planning Commissioners Ray, Tarantino. and Chair Tuchscher
BUSINESS
2. PUBLIC HEARING: PCM-95-15; REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT COMMISSION'S (GMOC) 1994 ANNUAL REPORT - The GMOC's 1994
Annual Report on compl lance with the City's Quality-of-Life Threshold Standards lilcnses on the period from 7/1/93
to 6/30/94. Pertinent issues identified in later 1094 and early 1095 are also included. The workshop atlbrds an
opportunity to review the Reports findings and recommendations. Staff reconunends Council: ( 1 ) accept the Report
and recommendations contained therein: (2) direct staff to underlake actions n~cessary to implement those
recommendations; (3) direct staff to prepare the necessary Statement of Concern regarding the Air Quality
Threshold, and to finalize fi~r adoption the proposed revisitms to the Air Quality Threshold Standard; (4) direct staff
to return within six months with specific work program proposals lin' preparing master plan Updates for police, fire,
and library facilities: and, (5) Direct staff to fnalize prllpllst'd r,zvisions ttl the Growth Management Program's
development phasing and monitoring policies.
Mayor Horton gave a brief review of the Growth Management O:'crsight Ciimmission. The City adopted the
Threshold Standards Policy li3r Chuht Vista in 1987. The policy addressed eleven public facilities and services.
The standards formed the backbone of an overall growth management program IBr the City through a growth
management element of the General Plan in 1989 and growth management program document an implementing
ordinance in 1991. The GMOC resp{msibilities included whether compliance was al~propriate and had been
achieved, a determination whether the thresholds had been compiled with both on a prqiect and cumulative basis
over the prior year, whether compliance was likely to he maintained based ¢ln short term and long ternl development
forecasts, whether each threshold was appropriate fi>r its goal. whether any new threshold should be adopted tbr
any new issue that could arise, and whether any new issue sbonld be added or deleted.
Robert Leiter, Director of Planning, reviewed the slalt rectmm~endations to: (I) accept the Report and
recommendations contained therein; (2) direct ~,taff to undertake actruns necessary to implement those
recommendations; (3) direct staff to prepare the necessary Statement of Concern regarding the Air Quality
Threshold, and to finalize li3r adoption the proposed revisions to tbe Air Quality Threshold Standard; (4) direct staff
to return within six months with specific wl~rk program proposals lilt preparing master plan updates fi>r police, fire,
and library facilities; and, (5) Direct staff to finatize proposed revisilms to the Growth Management Program's
development phasing and monitoring policies.
Ed Batcheider, Senior Planner, reviewed the Summary ol Findings of the GMOC report. Three thresholds were
/i>und to not be in fidl compliance, i.e. Police, Fire/EMS. and air quality. The non-compliance Ii~r Police was
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July 25, 1995
Page 2
related to one of two measures tier priority one calls lilt solvice alld the toni-compliance was slight and the Police
Department pr~iected that it would h~ m conlpliance Iklr the next reporting period. In addition there was a
recommendation in the GMOC report regarding the computer aided dispatch and records managements system
(CAD/RMS). Based on that system the GMOC reclmnnended that one year aller installation that the structure of
both the Police Department and Fire/EMS thrt~sh{l[ds be levisitel, I to see if any changes were warranted. The non-
compliance ~br air quality was because the City was not in compliance with State and Federal standards, even
though 1994 was the best year on record in the region. Therefilre, the statement of concern. The GMOC was
recommending that APCD amend the threshold standard. All the rcnmining thresholds were ti~und to be in
cmnpliance. With the opening of the South Chula Vista Library the Library threshold would be in compliance
through the year 2000 and likely beyond. Tile GMOC had talked about installation of drainage monitoring in the
flitnee. It was important to note that it was the first year that the GMOC was not recomn~ending a letter of concern
to the local water agencies. There were reconm~endatilms regarding traffic regarding east "H" Street and "H" Street
west of I-805 with respect to long ternl theeshield p~rlilrmance based on devel,,~pment and traffic modeling. The
main recommendation ti~r Palks & Recreation was that there was a drat~ of a revised threshold standard, with the
fbcus to apply city-wide rather than just east o1' 1-805 as the present standard was written. Part of the completion
of that standard had been endorsed by the GMOC, however~ its finalization was dependent upon on outcomes on
infk>rmation in the Parks Implementation Plan which was slated ti~r completion in late 1995 or early 1996.
Tris Hubbard, Chair, GMOC, reviewed Attachment D of the report which outlined the detailed recommendations.
He emphasized the areas the Commission lblt were important filr Council consideration.
Police
Chair Hubbard stated it had been an tnlgomg nlln ct~mpl lance issue and in 1093 the Commission recommended that
the City continue to explore the l~asibility o1 purchasing a computer aided dispatch and records management system
(CAD/RMS). The GMOC was inlpr~.ssed with the pl,tt'ntial that the system wrulld provide to the Police Department
as well as the Fire Department. Therctilre, the Cimmnssilm stlongly recounnended that Council review with the
Police Department the purchase and inlplementatilm tit the system in the next fiscal year. The GMOC recommended
that the City's master plan fi~r pillice Ihcilities be reviewed in the next year. With the City's expansion in the East
they t~lt it imperative that thcilities be planned file the increasing needs of the growing geographic area of the City.
Fire/EMS
Chair Hobbard stated the previlms rcc{inunendatilnl lilt the CAD/RMS system was also included ti:)r Fire/EMS.
The GMOC also reconunendcd review o1 the Fire Master Plan.
Councilmember Alevy questi,,med if the deficiency m response time fi~r Police and Fire was city-wide or for a
specific area.
Chair Hubbard responded the deficiency in response time was generally city-wide.
Air Quality
Chair Hubbard stated the GMOC was supporting the revised draft threshold standard before Council. They were
recommending that the City work with the Otay Ranch Developer and the Metropolitan Transit Development Board
to evaluate the redesignation of the pr{~iects mass transit corridor to other than sole limitation to light rail.
Councilmember Rindone requested clarification iln tile reclmm~endation.
Chair Hubbard stated the reconmlendatilm was a direct result iff comments made l'ron~ the Air Quality report which
stated it should not be limited to just light rail because there could be other potential corridor type of modes of
transportation which would accoml~lish the r~ductilm of' air quality standards.
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July 25, 1995
Page 3
Libraries
Chair Hubbard stated with the addition of the new library the' thresh{lid standards had been met. The GMOC was
recommending that in the future that with tile increased techmdl>gy availahle that the l~asihility of changing the
threshold for libraries be explored, only at~er techntllll~ies had been impl¢nlented.
Councilmember Rindone t~lt with the changing of technol{igies there was an opportunity to bring the community
to the various learning centers, adult education programs, libraries, outreach centers, etc. He hoped the GMOC
would look at providing linkages for those pr,,igrams.
Sewer
Chair Hubbard stated the GMOC recommendation was that Cormoil and the Public Works Department continue to
fund staff and emphasize monitoring, lipgrades, and replacement programs.
Drainage
Chair Hubbard stated one of the concerns of file GMOC was tile nnpact of the eastern development on the western
portion of the City. They were pleased that the Public Works Department had been monitoring that situation with
stations. They recommended that the monitoring ctmtmae as the eastern sections of the City were built ont.
Mayor Hotton questioned if it included data t~'l>m the heavy rains m late 1994.
Chair Hubbard stated the monitoring wnuld not hav~ inchtd~d that data.
Fiscal
Chair Hubbard stated the GMOC reconunended the incorporati{in of the five year development projections into the
Facilities DIF which had been done fi~r the other DIF's.
Water
Chair Hubbard stated the Commission was very pleased that ~t was one ill the first years that the threshold was met.
Both the water agencies and City had worked cot/peratively in seeing that there were plans being implemented to
become more self-sufticient regardin,d local water resonrces and not so dependent lipon purchased water.
Councilmember Alevy questioned if the GMOC had looked at the anticipated growth in the eastern part of the City
and whether the thresholds wonId be met.
Chair Hubbard replied that the review was filr the illlure as well as current thresholds.
Schools
Chair Hubbard stated one of th~ concerns was that the western portion ill the City was ovacrowded with students
and, as a consequence, students were being bused to eastern i',l}rtittns of tile Cily. There were snfficient schools,
but children were not allnwed to attend schools iu their own ncighht~rhol~ds in all instances. The GMOC
recommended that the Council appoint a task Ii~rce to work with the school boards to lotlk at the options available
to resolve that issue.
Commissioner Allen stated the issue related nlore hi the cft~cts lm the elementary schools rather than the high
school.
Councihnember Alevy stated there had been legislation in Sacramento which w{luld directly at'f~ct school issues.
Commissioner Allen replied that Councilmember Alevy was letcrrin~ to AB1066 which wonld have disallowed cities
from considering the educational aspects of growth when issuing permits. It was her understanding that it had been
stalled in Committee.
Minutes
July 25, 1995
Page 4
Chair Hnbbard stated he had a letter fi'om Kate Shearson, Director of Planning, Chula Vista Elementary School
District, which indicated that the District had a Student Placement Instructions Program Committee that had been
~mctioning since November to look al t3ptions so sindents would not have to bused out of their neighborhoods.
Maynr Horton questinned if they were h~okmg at multi-track programming in the elementary schools.
Cotmissioner Hyde stated there was sorer. muhi-tracking at the present time. Physically the elementary school
district did have adequate capacity liu' schools that were considered to be overcrowded provided they operated on
a year-round basis. There were some schools ctu~rntly t~mctioning year-round. However, because of social
acceptance of year-round schools that ~ptioll had not been completely exercised. It was evidently not acceptable
m the school board and they had t<, proceed m a delicate manner.
Traffic
Chair Hubbard stated there were two signi ticant areas of concern that the Commission had IBr several years, i.e.
"H" Street both east and west of l -805 and the prop{meal SR125 ihcility. They were appreciative of the monitoring
and reports provided to the Commission. Steps had been taken to alleviate some of the traffic congestion in that
corridor and there were pr{~iections fi~r remedial action that could be taken in the l~ture. However. the GMOC,
based on the reports, was concerned that there was ~t'eat potential li~r not meeting the threshold standards in the
~ture along "H" Street. In particular, "H" Street west o[ I-805 and the area between I-805 and Hilltop. There
were limitations as to what could be doue and the C~mm~ission did not have answers as to what could be done to
alleviate the situation hut wanted to poinl out the potential to not maintain th~ threshold standards. Regarding
SRI25, the Commission was aware that if it was [i~lly developed the potential would be to relieve some of the
east/west traffic currently being experienced xvhich w<mld increase with the build <mr in the eastern part of the City.
Councilmenlber Moot questi<med it tile cause ol prt~h[cul <~n "H" Sireel was known. i.e. was it a function of the
width of the road or traffic patterns that d~eh~ped.
Chair Hubbard responded that it was the width ot the road and the lhct that it cnuld not be built out greater th~
it currently was.
CliflBrd Swanson, Deputy Director ~I Public Works/City Engineer. stated the primary cause of problems along East
"H" Street between I-805 and Hilltop was dn¢ to interscell<ms. When a highway was long and straight with no
stops, driveways, or side fricti~ms it could carry a much greater vohune of traffic. The straight sections would m~t
the thresholds. The problem was at the approach <~[ th~ intersection tff Hilltup with cars trying to make tnms. ~at
was the primary area where the capacity of the highway was atticted. The City had put in dual left turn lanes to
try to meet the threshold standards.
Mayor Horton questioned if there would be an increase or decrease in traffic in the area when the hospital was built
out. She noted that there were several businesses that would be closed.
Mr. Swanson replied that the prc~iectious indicated that it w<mld increase the traffic in the area. Much of the land
in the area was currently vacant.
Co~issioner Salas questironed if the rcducti~m of traffic on "H" Street was a result of drivers bypassing
inters~tions of "H" Street, meaning that they were traveling on "G" or "F" Streets or "I" and "J" Streets going
west to avoid the traffic on "H" Street.
Mr. Swanson responded that the vo[unles ~11 "E" and "H" Streets had decreased due to the opening of Route 54
because traffic diverted to the freeway. Staff had checked the traffic counts on "E", "F", "G"~ and "J" Streets and
it had not increased appreciably. In addition. cnlph~yn~ent al Rohr was down fi'om 1991. Staff t~lt the opening of
the l~eeway ~d reduction in employment at Rohr made the primary dif/~rence.
Cmmissioner Hyde stated the traf/ic threshold was in compliance, but the GMOC wanted to point out that there
was a "time bomb" on "H" Street primarily west of 1-805, but also east of 1-805 depending upon how the
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July 25, 1995
Page 5
development to the east of I-805 build out. There were six lanes on the east side of 1-805 funneling into four lanes
west of I-805 which created a problem and the freeway interchange only aggravated the situation.
Councilmember Alevy questioned if Orange Avenue was reviewed as to the impacts of the development proposed
out to the Olympic Training Center.
Chair Hubbard stated that had been looked at hut the tratt'ic rcll~nts dM not indicate a problem. It would he closely
monitored in the future.
Parks & Recreation
Chair Hubbard stated the GMOC had been concerned fin' sevcral years over the threshold cast of I-805 and not west
of I-805. They were pleased that there was a proposed revised standard and they recommended that Council
approve the revised threshold standard. To make it an operahie threshold standard it was important that the Parks
Implementation Plan (PIP) be completed. They were concerned that the PIP be completed along with the revised
threshold which would provide file equitable recreatitm thcilities both east and west of 1-805. They also
recommended that the proposed green-belt area master plan he dratted and deveh~ped as soon as possible. If not
in place, as the City continued to ~xpand the land costs would become nrl~re expensive and it would then be almost
impossible to implement.
Commissioner Davis stated her concern regarddig a revised threshold was that so many of the parcels on the west
side xvere limited because they were in-fill. She questioned if it wonld be econonlically t~asible to anyone to do
that if there were stringent reqnirements, i.e. if a duplex was constructed it a mini-park or recreational facilities
were required. She wanted to see afti~rdahle htmsin~ in the' western side and especially close to mass transit which
would help relieve congestion on "H " Street. Would thelc bc entltt.~h hind on tile west side to do what the City was
requiring and would the impact t~e programs prevent sl)lBeonc from providing housing. She requested that staff
review those issues when tbrmulating tile threshold.
Councihnember Padilia agreed with Conlnlissioner Davis' comments. He requested clarification of the
Commission's coneellis.
Chair Hubbard stated becanse the western side yeas litlly dexehll~¢d it made it ,:cry difficult to purchase sizeable
parcels for parks and recreati,.m fiicilities. There were other t~ptlons in terms of providing park and recreation
facilities other than large spaces, i.e. swimming pl~ols, gymnasiums, etc. Part of the concept would be that as mnch
space would not be needed if programs ctluld be prt~vided that allowed tilr maxinmm park and recreation activities
in limited space. One of the reasons riley recommended that the PIP he adopted was because it was their
understanding that the Plan would address some of the issues raised.
Councilmember Alevy questioned the stains of joint use of recreational thcilities with the school districts.
Commissioner Allen responded that in an infimnal way it was currently being done. There was a joint use
agreement with EastLake High School but that was {in the ea';t side of I-805. The concern was that if they
continued to say that they were looking at the whole City and not look at tile specifics they conld be in the position
where the parks were on the east side of I-805 and tile libraries were on the west side of I-805. The schools in the
City were open to the citizens when they were not ill st,~ssilln without any typ~ of ti)rnla[ agreement.
Mr. Batcheider stated it was statt"s intent, as part ol the PIP, ttl/ook at conOnumg and expanding joint use
agreements with the school districts.
Councilmember Rindone stated the Youth Sports Council cotn'dmated the nse or' all the athletic fields when the
schools were not utilizing them.
Mr. Goss stated the more vacant space, in terms of large ttul'citgc, was tnore on the periphery on the west side ,.ff
the community, i.e. along the Sweetwater River Valley, Bayfront, and Otay River Valley. In terms of collecting
impact f~es that may be developed in terms tff the PlP Ihal clearly ,.titlid he areas where larger recreational facilities
could be developed. Sights had been identified by the Montgomery Planning Commission fi~r smaller parks, one
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July 25, 1995
Page 6
of which was at Third Avenne and "L" Street acr{lss lronl the Country Club. In addition, there were recreational
spaces in terms of schools and the Youth Community Center at Chula Vista High School. Staff was currently
planning input tier the Otay Gym at the Otay Elementary School. The City had also utilized Block Grant monies
in the past fi.~r t:acilities at Harbor Side School and otha schools on the western side of the City. Even though there
were problems identified in terms of lack iff ilpen space and difficulties in condemning and buying property, there
were other options that could he developed.
UtiliT, atiun of a Checklist
Chair Hubbard stated the GMOC suppolted lh~ concept ot a checklist and presented it fbr Council consideration.
Draft Development Phasing and Monitoring Policy
Chair Hubbard stated they had reviewed the issue and suplmrted the revision developed by the Planning Department.
Chair Hubbard stated the charge of the Comnlissi{m was t{I begin their activities in October of each year which was
dependent upon stat't's availability to prepare the varillus reports necessary ~r the review process. They supported
that time line with the anticipation that their wllrk w{luld hc conchided in March or April and present that
inlbrmation to Council so that it c{luld be part iff the annual budget review process. They t~lt that for maximum
benefit of the GMOC report that it should be hr{lught to Connell in that time frame. They requested the Council's
suppurl of that time table.
Mayor Horton thanked th~ Commissilm ti~l their tim,z and efti~rts and she was pleased with the recommendations.
She felt the proposed time line wlmld help the Cimncil prepare the hudget.
Mr. Letter requested that Council tak~ lmal nell{in on the start reconull~lldation.
MSUC (Alevy/Padilla) tu approve the staff reconnnendutinn: (1) accept the Report and recommendations
curtrained therein; (2) direct staff to undertake acttires necessary to implement those recommendations; (3)
direct staff tn prepare the necessary Statement of Concern regarding the Air Quality Threshold, and to
finalize for adopttun the prnposed revisimls to the Air Quality Threshold Standard; (4) direct staff to return
within six mnnths with specif c ',vl~rk program prapl~sals for preparing master plan updates br police, fire,
and library facilities; uod, (5) Direct slatflu finalize prupused revisioos to the Grn',vth Management Program's
development phasing and monitoring policies.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None
AD.IOURNMENT
ADJOURNMENT AT 7:05 P.M. to the Regular City Council Meeting of July 25, 1995 immediately following in
the City Council Chambers.
Respecttidly suhn~itted,
BEVERLY A. AUTHELET, CMC/AAE, City Clerk
by: VTcki C. S<~de~quist, CM~ity Clerk