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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 1994/08/10 MINUTES OF A JOINT MEETING OF THE CHULA VISTA CITY COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNING BOARD OF SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT Wednesday, August 10, 1994 Southwestern College 6:05 p.m. 900 0ray Lakes Road, Room 801 CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Councilmembers: Robea Fox (arrived at 6:20 p.m.), Shirley Hotton, Leonard Moore,. Jerry Rindone, and Mayor Tim Nader. Board Members: Augie Bareno, G. Gordon Browning, Judy Schulenberg, and Pre6ident Maria Neves-Perman ALSO PRESENT: City Staff: City Manager, John D. Goss; Deputy City Manager, George Krempl; City Attorney, Bruce M. Boogaard; Public Works Director, John Lippitt; Transit Coordinator, William Gustarson; Assistant Transit Coordinator, Greg Alabado; and City Clerk, Beverly A. Authelet College Staff.' Superintendent/President & Secretary, Joseph Conte. susn~r~8$ JOINT DISCUSSION REGARDING LOCATION OF TRANSIT CENTER AT SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE Mayor Neder staW, d that the reason for the meeting is so that the Council could meet directly with the Board and receive input from the community regarding the Transit Facility. President Neves-Perman stated their p~imary concern was the students and college and to listen to everyone' s input. City Manager Goss stated that since all members of the Board and City Council may not have been on their respective policy boards when the transit center issue began, he presented the following background information: June 9, 1992: The City Council considered a transit facility location at Southwestern College on Otay Lakes Road between Gotham and Elmhurst. Many local residents object~l to the location for a variety of reasons; therefore, the City Council directed staff to look at other locations which would not impact the existing landscaping on the college campus. October 5, 1992: Representatives from the City, County, Southwestern College, and neighborhood residents met to discuss the transit facility location. It was concluded that the City and County staffs would identify other possible alternatives, both on and off the college campus, which might be suitable for a transit center. Eleven alternative sites were identified and evaluated on: cost, patronage potential, traffic impact, neighborhood impact, security, student access, disabled access, aesthetics, impact on the campus and neighborhood, impact on college parking, bus operations, compliance with the College Master Plan, and compliance with APCD regulations. Each factor was scored with two points for good, one point for fair, and zero points for poor. Based on this, Alternative 6-A, the ring road option which would involve I r Minutes August 10, 1994 Page 2 expanding the existing bus area with a dropoff at the administration building, was ranked No. 1 with a total of 22 points. The lowest rated option was Option No. 5, coming off "H" Street using the Southwestern College stadium entrance, with a total of 8 points. October 30, 1992: At this meeting, the group reached a consensus on Alternatives 6A, 6A-l, modification of site 1B which became 1 B-1, and site 4. Site 1B-1 put the transit facility about 150 feet off Otay Lakes Road, used a part of the parking lot, did not intrude into the grass area off Otay Lakes Road, and was identified that it could potentially meet the transit operation objectives end concerns of both the City Council and the area residents. November 11, 1992: The College Board requested additional information on site 1B-1. The information was presented to the Board at its December 9 meeting. December 11, 1992: The City received a letter from the College President indicating concern as to whether or not traffic signals would be included at the intersection of Otay Lakes Road at both Elmhurst and Gotham. The City Manager responded that Option 6A-I would require traffic signals at both intersections, but Option 1B-1 would probably only require one traffic signal. February 10, 1993: The College Board approved Option No. 5 near the proposed new Library/Learning Resource Center (LRC), which was the lowest ranked alternative of the original eleven sites evaluated. Mr. Goss continued that there were several disadvantages to Option No. 5 location: · The facility next too the Library/LRC did not meet the original objective of the project to improve transit access to and from the college and to provide for improved transfer opportunities for college and non-college passengers. The alternative proposed by the City would improve bus service to Southwestern College by centralizing all bus routes at one location, provide reasonable access to buses for the students, provide a better end more visible transfer point for non-college destined passengers, end would provide quick access to and from the college campus. Non-college riders currently constitute 53 % of the passengers on the four routes that serve the area. · Alternative 5 by the Library/LRC would increase CVT operating costs. It is estimated that it would cost $304,000 in operating and capital costs annually to maintain the existing CVT service level for the four routes based on the 94-95 operating and capital costs. · Coustruction of the proposed Library/LRC is uncertain. Although the project has been designed and approved by the State for funding, the acttad funding is reliant upon passage of a State-wide bond issue. The bond issue failed in the June, 1994 election. · Staff has concems regarding the entrance off East 'H" Street end the delays which would occur in terms of out-of-direction travel, especially for non-students, as well as delays that would occur as a result of this location which would impact transit operations. · Option 1B-1 was designed to not intrude into the grass area between the existing major parking lot and the road, which was opposed by the residents. · Transit money from the County can't wait until the future development of the Library/LRC was eventually determined. This means there was the potential of losing the money to other needed projects throughout the County. · A better option, from city staff's perspective than the Library/LRC site, would be to enhance service at bus stops along Otay Lakes Road in front of the College. This would make it a little more I I Minutes August 10, 1994 Page 3 difficult for college students to utilize transit and discourage some from using transit; but overall, balancing the interests of the student riders, non-student riders, future riders, and the general taxpayers, it would be a better alternative. Mr. Goss concluded that because of the reasons outlined -- service to current and future student and non-student riders, security, uncertainty regarding funding of the new Library, the increased cost of bus service, prospect of losing the County transit funding -- he urged the Board and Council to support Option 1B-1. * * * Councilman Fox arrived at 6:20 p.m. * * * Public Works Director, John Lippitt, went over the concerns in more depth regarding the City' s option and the College's option. Superintendent/President Conte, addressing issues of safety and planning raised by Mr. Lippitt, stated that during the next two years, they will put in lighting improvements with emergency call boxes. He felt the college environment was more safe than other bus stops. He further stated that the college master plan had been approved. All they were trying to do was put together a transit center. He stated that at some point, Otay Lakes Road will have to be widened, and the only available land would be on the west side of the street which was their property. Their position was that there were too many speculations regarding their master plan and the conditions of the College which were not based in fact. City Manager Goss stated that he did not feel there was a lot of speculation on the master plan. What the City was trying to do was to meet the needs of both the non-student and the general tax payer. Boardmember Bareno expressed that he could not see how siting the Center where they wanted it could deteriorate the system. Boardmember Schulenberg asked where the 53 % of the people figure come from. She also stated that the crosswalk and signal was supposed to be installed Summer of 1994; she wanted to know where it was since school would start next week. Mr. Goss responded that the traffic light had been put to bid, and we were expecting to award that soon. Bill Gustafson, Transit Coordinator, responded to the Board's questions and concerns regarding the bus routes and why the City prefers the Transit Center to be located at the 1B-1 site off Otay Lakes Road. He tried to explain the differences between the two options and how the College's position would deteriorate the system and eventually President Neves-Perman opened the meeting for comments from the public. Those addressing the Council and Board were: Tom Davis stat~l that the neighbors supported the Board's position. He expressed that he still had not heard any new convincing material. He stated to the City Council that he felt the people were being held hostage on the traffic light. The contract was ready to be let three months ago, but it was pulled off the agenda. Joe Cummings stated that he supported the College's position for the Transit Center, Robert Kelly addressed the traffic problem on Otay Lakes Road. He felt that it did not matter what kind of bus services you had; people would not give up their cars. He supported the College's position for the Transit Center. William Leiberman, from MTDB, explained why Option 1B-1 off Otay Lakes Road was the better site. II Minutes August 10, 1994 Page 4 Carolyn Butler suggested that the Center be located at Otay Lakes Road and shuttle bus be used to transport the students. Mayor Nader stated that after this evening's hearing, he was less convinced that we needed a Transit Center. He was concerned, however, about the lack of traffic signal. Councilman Rindone spoke regarding the historical background and development of the proposed transit center project. He reviewed the purpose for the establishment of the transit center, the role that each public agency was to play, and the funding mechanism to be utilized. In addition, he described the efforts the City had made in reviewing the eleven alternatives for a proposed location. Councilman Rindone described the logistical and funding constraints proposed by Southwestern College. He pointed out the advantages and disadvantages of both the current city proposal as well as the Southwestern College's proposal. He indicated that both proposals have advantages, but the overall critical factor should place the decision on what is best for the community in serving the transit needs, not just for Southwestern College students, but for the entire community transit neeAs. He expressed concern regarding statement of Mr. Tom Davis, who had switched positions in advocating transit servicing needs. Councilman Rindone indicated that it was important that each side discuss the various alternatives in an eftoft to establish a proper policy recommendation for siting of the transit center which will serve both the needs of Southwestern College students and the needs of the members of the community for transportation purposes. He urged both sides to enter into a dialog in order to reach a compromise and/or consensus. He admonished all the elected officials that failure to discuss this item, or failure to reach a compromise, may result in either siting the transit center somewhere other than at Southwestern College or the only remaining alternative available would be no project at all. President Neves-Perman responded that once a decision was made by the college, they will advice the City Council. MSF (Nader/Fox) to add to the agenda consideration of traffic control at Otay Lakes Road and Gotham as an urgency measure since the situation came up after the posting of the agenda. Motion failed with Horton, Moore, and Rindone voting no. The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Beverly A. Authelet, CMC City Clerk NOTE: According to Southwestern College, there was no tape of this meeting. They stated that either the recorder had never been turned on or that the tape had been rewound and taped over during the Board meeting which immediately followed thisjoint meeting. Therefore, the "summary" minutes were transcribed only from the Clerk's notes.