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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 2008/05/14MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA 6:00 p.m. May 14, 2008 Council Chambers 276 Fourth Avenue Chula Vista, California 6:08:07 PM CALL TO ORDER: ROLL CALL /MOTIONS TO EXCUSE: Members Present: Tripp, Moctezuma, Clayton, Spethman Member Absent: Felber, Bensoussan, Vinson MSC (Moctezuma/Spethman) (4-0-0-3) to excuse Cmrs. Felber, Bensoussan and Vinson. Motion carried. OPENING STATEMENT: Waived APPROVAL OF MINUTES: April 23, 2008 MSC (Tripp/Spethman) (3-0-1-3) to approve minutes as submitted with correction on spelling of Mr. D'Ascoli's name. Motion failed for lack of a majority vote due to absences and Cmr. Moctezuma abstaining, therefore, minutes of April 23, 2008 will be continued to 5/28/08. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: No public input. CONSENT AGENDA: ACTION ITEM: 1. Action Item: Acceptance of .Climate Change Working .Group's Final Recommendation Report. MSC (Moctezuma/Spethman) to continue the Climate Change Working Group Report . Discussion: Cmr. Tripp pointed out that a continuation is one of a number of options available to the Commission tonight; they are: • To continue the item and giving clear direction to staff on what is the Commission's expectations on what they want included in the report when it comes back to them • Have staff give an update on the progress they've made since the last time we met • To hear the item as informational and take no action • To hear the item and accept or not accept the report • To hear the item and receive or not receive the report Planning Commission Minutes - 2 - May 14, 2008 • To hear the item and receive and file the report. Cmr. Spethman stated that the Commission directed staff at the previous meeting to conduct the stakeholder outreach, compile their input and report it back in a revised report; that information was not provided in any of the new documentation staff provided to the Commission for tonight's meeting. For this reason, amongst other unanswered questions he is supporting a continuation redirecting staff to compile the stakeholder comments and include it in a revised staff report. Mr. Meacham stated that additional resources would be needed to update their contacts and the report multiple times to include all of the comments as they are received; unfortunately additional resources have not been allocated to his staff, who already has a significant workload. Their intent is to continue doing the outreach, collecting the comments, and per the City Council and City Manager's directive, report all of that in one last large public meeting, and to the City Council at a subsequent meeting at the end of the 90 day review period. Mr. Tulloch recommended that perhaps staff could do a presentation to the Planning Commission toward the end of this process and include all of the compiled information, which would be June 25~'. The only drawback would be that there wouldn't be much time to respond to any directive the Commission gives, although all of your recommendations would be forward in the final report to the City Council. Cmr. Moctezuma stated the Commission's desire is to hear the comments; the likes and dislikes, and her preference is still to continue the item. Cmr. Moctezuma pointed out the importance that staff ensure they have the accurate names of the various groups they present to because some groups have various sub-committees representing different interests, i.e. the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce and the Third Avenue Village Association. Cmr. Clayton stated that her understanding from the last continuance was that the Commission was looking for the input from the stakeholders; the report also was lacking implementation costs for the City and public who will be impacted. She indicated it is important to have those comments especially in light of the fact that the Commission was handed this evening the affirmative letters in support of the report, but nothing to indicate that there was anybody who had a concern or opposes it. Mr. Meacham pointed out that during their presentation to the stakeholders staff is informing them that they are not soliciting an approval or disapproval of the report at the end of the meeting, but rather, informs them that they have 30 to 45 days to provide their input (likes or dislikes) verbally, by phone, in writing by mail or by email. They are not required to provide their comments by the end of the meeting. Depending on how that information trickles in, the Planning Commission may not have all of the comments by the time they hear it on June 25`h. Mr. Meacham further clarified that the support letters were distributed to the commission because those were the only letters that were received prior to or at the hearing on the night that the City Council was presented with the report. Public Testimony: 6:33:14 PM Lisa Cohen, CEO of the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce stated that the Chamber has expressed to the City Council and Mr. Meacham the importance of being involved in this process as it is a very important issue that will impact businesses in Chula Vista, particularly along Third Avenue. They are in support of some of the measure, but have concerns over Planning Commission Minutes - 3 - May 14, 2008 others. Since the Chamber and the City enjoy a good working relationship, they are confident they will be able to work together to iron out some of these concerns. Ms. Cohen pointed out that at today's Board of Directors meeting the group made a motion directing Ms. Cohen to draft a letter to the Planning Commission delineating the concerns that have been voiced from the various Chamber of Commerce groups that have heard the presentation. Cmr. Moctezuma recommended that when staff is making its presentation to the stakeholders that they emphasize that their comments need to be receive as expeditiously as possible. Cmr. Clayton asked if staff is taking notes on the comments raised by the stakeholders during their presentation to them. Mr. Meacham responded that they do take notes and have already received valuable feedback resulting in changes being made to the report that is shared with subsequent stakeholders. As the report is updated the changes are distributed back to those groups who have already heard it. Cmr. Clayton called for the question. Motion carried (4-0-0-3). Cmr. Tripp stated he would allow staff to determine when it comes back to the Planning Commission. Staff stated that they will target June 25, 2008. Director's Report: Ms. Lytle reported for the benefit of those who didn't already know, that Jim Sandoval, Director of Planning and Building will be retiring on June 4 and a retirement dinner is being planned on that evening. Mr. Tulloch also reported that a formal recruitment will be conducted and in the interim the City Manager has appointed Nancy Lytle as Acting Director of Planning and Brad Remp as Acting Director of Building. Commission Comments: No comments. Adjournment: To a regular Planning Commission meeting on May 28, 2008. Submitted by: A---~-~r `e.~_.. Diana Vargas Secretary to the Planning Commission