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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 1988-13553 RESOLUTION NO. 13553 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ADOPTING A CITY COUNCIL POSITION PAPER ON THE PROPOSED BONITA-SUNNYSIDE ANNEXATION The City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby resolve as follows: WHEREAS, in November 1988, the citizens of the Bonita- Sunnyside area will be voting on the issue of annexation to the City of Chula Vista, and WHEREAS, in order to assist the citizens of the Bonita- Sunnyside community in understanding what effects annexation would have on them, a City Council Position Paper has been prepared, attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full, summarizing the City's policies regarding specific service and fiscal questions related to the proposed annexation. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby approve the Council Position Paper on the proposed Bonita-Sunnyside Annexation as set forth in Exhibit A. Presented by Approved as to form by City Manager A ._ ~ 4142a ADOPTED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CnULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA, this 3~:d day of 19 88 , by the following vote, to-wit: AYES: Councilmembers cox, ~{cCandl~_ss, ~oo~:e NAYES: Counci 1 members Nader, Ma:]_co]_m ABSTAI N: Counc i 1 members None ABSENT: Counci 1 members None '~~~~/~hula Vista ATTEST (~---,,--,-,-;~J ~ c,,y Cl. k 5 ,..FE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ) ss. CITY OF CHULA VISTA ) I, JENNIE M. FULASZ, CMC, CITY CLERK of the City of Chulo Vista, California, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is o full, true and correct copy of RESOLUTION N0. 13553 ,ond thot the some hos not been amended or repealed. DATED City Clerk CITY OF CHULA VISTA CC -660 /~,~_~ CI'iY OF CHULA VISTA CITY COUNCIL POSITION PAPER ON THE PROPOSED BONITA/SUNNYSIDE ANNEXATION Adopted by the Chula Vista City Council by Resolution Number 13553 on May 3, 1988 276 Fourth Avenue/Chula Vista, California 92010 CITY COUNCIL POSITION PAPER ON THE PROPOSED BONITA/SUNNYSIDE ANNEXATION May 1988 In November 1988, the citizens of the San Diego County area currently within the Bonita/Sunnyside Fire Protection District will be voting on the issue of annexation to the City of Chula Vista. The Chula Vista City Council has adopted this "position paper" in order to: Establish the City's policies related to the potential annexation of the area; - Help the residents of the area understand what effects annexation would have on them; - Assist City officials in answering questions concerning the proposed annexation; - Provide early planning that would help assure a smooth transition of the area into the City if its residents vote to annex to Chula Vista. The City's underlying policies regarding the potential annexation of the area currently served by the Bonita/Sunnyside Fire Protection District are: 1. It is the City's intent to provide the area with the same level of municipal services as the rest of the City. 2. Recognizing the uniqueness and size of this potential annexation, the City will provide special processes to insure a smooth transition of the area into the City. The remai rider of th i s document summarizes the City' s pol i cies regarding specific service and fiscal questions related to the proposed annexation. The issues will be discussed in the following categories: A. Zoning and Development Issues B. Public Safety C. Social and Leisure Services D. Public Facilities E. Fiscal Issues F. Miscellaneous Issues G. Special Transition Processes A. ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES 1. HOW WILL LAND USES IN THE AREA CURRENTLY WITHIN THE BONITA/SUNNYSIDE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT BE CHANGED UPON ANNEXATION TO THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA? County zoning regulations will continue to prevail while a study is conducted to determine the relationship of existing development, County zoning regulations and proposed City zoning for the area. The Sweetwater Community Planning Group will review these issues and make recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council on a proposed zoning plan. Public hearings will be conducted to help develop the zoning plan. Existing legal land uses in the area will not be changed. Those legal land uses that do not conform to the governing zoning regulations will be allowed to remain as nonconforming land uses as long as the use remains in operation regardless of any changes in ownership. 2. HOW WILL THE AREA'S RURAL CHARACTER BE PROTECTED BY THE CITY? As described above, the Sweetwater Community Planning Group will play a major role in helping to develop the Specific Plan and the final zoning regulations for the area. The Specific Plan and zoning regulations will be tailored to help preserve and protect the rural character of the Bonita/Sunnyside area. There is a wide degree of latitude in the type of regulations that can be adopted concerning items such as animal regulations (horses, dogs, cats, etc.) and street improvements (whether streets have curbs, gutters, or sidewalks). For example, Chula Vista's equestrian modifying district, currently in place, can be applied to major parts of the area, and street improvement standards different from traditional urban ones can be tailored to the Bonita/Sunnyside Community. 3. HOW WILL ZONING ENFORCEMENT IN THE AREA BE CARRIED OUT UPON ANNEXATION TO THE CITY? While County zoning continues to apply, the City will enforce the County zonin standards. When the City zoning takes effect, the Cit will then enforce the City standards in the area, with existing lega~ land uses allowed to continue, as described in Question 1. The Sweetwater Community Planning Group will play a major role in helping to develop the final zoning regulations that will recognize the unique character of the area. 4. HOW WILL THE SWEETWATER COMMUNITY PLANNING GROUP BE INTEGRATED INTO THE CITY'S PLANNING PROCESS AFTER ANNEXATION? The Sweetwater Community Planning Group will function as an advisory body to the Planning Commission and City Council for land use issues affecting the area. The Planning Group will formulate recommendations on all types of land use applications filed within the area. In addition, the Planning Group will be charged with the responsibility of recommending a Specific Plan for the area. The Sweetwater Community Planning Group's recommendations on land use issues (variances and conditional use permits) can only be overridden by an extraordinary vote of the City Planning Commission (at least five (5) votes out of its seven (7) members). Primary staffing for the Sweetwater Community Planning Group will come from the City's Planning and Engineering Departments. In addition, Community Development and other City departments would support this effort as needed. B. PUBLIC SAFETY 5. WHAT LEVEL OF POLICE PROTECTION WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE AREA UPON ANNEXATION? The City will provide the same level of police protection as that provided in the City. At least 13 new positions will be added to the City's Police Department to achieve that goal. The positions would include the following: 1 - Motorcycle Officer (Traffic) 6 - Peace Officers 1 - Investigator (Agent) 2 - Community Service Officers 1 - Communications Operator 1 - Clerk 1 - Animal Control Officer 6. WHAT LEVEL OF FIRE PROTECTION WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE AREA UPON ANNEXATION? There will be no basic change in the area's level of fire prevention and suppression service. The City will continue to maintain a minimum of a three-person company as the Bonita/Sunnyside Fire Protection District has been providing. Both the Chula Vista and Bonita/Sunnyside Fire Protection District fire fighters receive the same type of training and are all trained as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). -3- The Fire Protection District will be dissolved on the effective date of the annexation, at which time the City will assume responsibility for fire protection in the area. The City will absorb the District's permanent staff upon annexation. The City will continue to operate the existing Fire Protection District station at 4940 Bonita Road or a new station at or near the existing station site. The Bonita/Sunnyside Fire Protection District has in excess of $600,000 in reserves that have been derived from special benefit and mitigation fees charged by the District. These funds will be allocated/spent for capital needs (equipment and/or fire station) that will serve the Bonita/Sunnyside Community. A new fire pumper, expected to be delivered in late 1988, will remain in the Bonita/Sunnyside Community. The Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating for the Bonita/Sunnyside Fire Protection District is a 4 and the City's is a 3. (The lower the rating the better.) The rating has little or no effect on residential insurance rates but can affect the insurance rates for commercial and industrial buildings. 7. WHAT LEVEL OF ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICE WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE AREA UPON ANNEXATION? The City will provide the same level of animal control service provided to Chula Vista residents, including patrol services from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays and on Saturday afternoons. The City's animal shelter, currently located at 690 Otay Valley Road, is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The South County animal shelter is open the same hours except that it does not open until 9:30 a.m. on weekdays. C. SOCIAL AND LEISURE SERVICES 8. HOW WILL LIBRARY SERVICE BE PROVIDED IN THE AREA UPON ANNEXATION? For the foreseeable future the Bonita/Sunnyside Library, located at 5047 Central Avenue, Bonita, will continue to provide library service to the citizens of the area. The Bonita/Sunnyside Library is a branch of the San Diego County Library System. Upon annexation, the City and County will enter into an agreement to continue library services with the County as the providing agency. A similar agreement has enabled the County to operate the two branch libraries in the annexed Montgomery area for the past two years. Bonita residents currently use both the Bonita/Sunnyside Branch Library (58,836 books checked out annually) and the Chula Vista Public Library (45,578 books checked out). Annexation will not change this pattern of use. - 4 - The Chula Vista Public Library Master Plan: Facility Planning to the Year 2010 has identified the future need for library services in the Sweetwater/Bonita planning area. This planning area includes the area proposed for annexation. A later report, Site Selection for New Public Libraries in Chula Vista, identified five possible sites on which to construct a new library building to serve the population east of 1-805. 9. WHAT LEVEL OF PARK SERVICE WILL BE PROVIDED UPON ANNEXATION? The City currently operates and maintains Rohr/Sweetwater Park in the Sweetwater Valley. This parcel provides a park presently containing 40 acres of usable recreation land. The City is presently developing plans to renovate and develop the Bonita Optimist Field site adjacent to this park. This will increase general public accessibility to parkland by an additional 16 acres. The Sweetwater Regional Park will remain under San Diego County ownership and control; however, since the area would be within the City's boundaries, the City would work with the County in obtaining grant funds to insure some improvements to this regional facility. Although no specific plans for developing other new parks in the Bonita/Sunnyside community are presently being considered, the City of Chula Vista would plan for and develop new recreation facilities as opportunities become available should Bonita/Sunnyside become part of this community. In addition to the aforementioned plans, the City intends to employ a quarter-time trails coordinator. The Trails Coordinator would be responsible for working with equestrian groups in the Bonita/ Sunnyside area in order to better interface Bonita/Sunnyside trails with existing trails. The position will also be responsible for coordinating maintenance and cleaning of existing trails through volunteer and contract services. 10. WHAT LEVEL OF RECREATION SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED UPON ANNEXATION? The City will offer a comprehensive recreation program on a year-round basis in the Bonita/Sunnyside area. Extensive recreation programs will be conducted at Rohr Manor and Sweetwater Park. In addition, the City will provide after-school playground programs at both Sunnyside Elementary and Valley Vista Elementary Schools. D. PUBLIC FACILITIES ll. HOW WILL THE CITY PLAN FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE BONITA/SUNNYSIDE AREA Within the limits of funds available, the City will work with the Sweetwater Community Planning Group in establishing a five-year capital improvement program that will address the capital needs of the area, while at the same time maintaining the area's rural character. 12. WHAT LEVEL OF STREET MAINTENANCE WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE AREA UPON ANNEXATION? Overall street maintenance would improve upon annexation, since the City's maintenance standards are higher than the County's. Potholes will be repaired more frequently, streets will be resurfaced more frequently, and shoulders on unimproved streets will be bladed (leveled) more frequently. The City will extend its "chip seal" program, which has received nationwide acclaim, to roads in the area. Major streets will be chip sealed every 8 to lO years and local streets every 15 to 20 years. In addition, the City will include the area in our new synchronized (computerized) traffic signal system. The area does not now have a synchronized signal system. 13. WHAT LEVEL OF STREET SWEEPING WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE AREA UPON ANNEXATION? The City will provide the same level of street sweeping services provided to the rest of the City. Streets in residential areas with curbs will be swept twice a month and streets in commercial areas three times a week. Uncutbed streets will be swept once a month. Street sweeping is currently not provided in the area on any regular schedule. 14. WILL ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS BE FORMED TO INSTALL CURBS, GUTTER AND SIDEWALKS? The City would not initiate the formation of assessment districts for street improvements on existing streets. Assessment districts would only be formed if 60% or more of the abutting property owners petitioned the City to form a district. -6- 15. WILL THE CITY'S STREET TREE PROGRAM BE EXTENDED INTO THE AREA UPON ANNEXATION? The City, which has been designated a "Tree City USA" for eight consecutive years, will extend its street tree program into the area. The City will trim all street and park trees on a regular basis. Street trees in the area are currently trimmed only when hazardous conditions require it. 16. HOW WILL STORM DRAIN CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE IN THE AREA BE AFFECTED BY ANNEXATION? Annexation will not significantly affect storm drain construction or maintenance. The five-year capital program will address capital needs for new drainage improvements and maintenance of existing facilities will be provided at the same level as all other City drainage facilities. 17. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE SPRING VALLEY SANITATION DISTRICT AND TO SEWER FEES UPON ANNEXATION? On July l, 1989, the current Bonita/Sunnyside area will be detached from the Spring Valley Sanitation District and the City will take over sewer maintenance. The current sewer connection fee will be reduced from $1,000 to $600 per single family dwelling. The current annual sewer service charge of $120 per year (collected on the tax bill) will be $104.40 per year ($8.70 per month collected on the water bill, if annexation occurs). 18. WILL BONITA/SUNNYSIDE RESIDENTS BE REQUIRED TO HOOK UP TO A SEWER? A sewer hookup would only be required if an existing septic system completely fails and the home is within 200 feet of an existing sewer line. The need to pump a septic tank is not complete failure and would not require a sewer hookup. 19. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE STREET LIGHTING DISTRICT AND RELATED FEES UPON ANNEXATION? The City will assume responsibility for street lighting in the area within a year of annexation, and the area will be removed from the County's Street Light District. At that time, the City will pay for street lighting, and residents and businesses in the area will no longer be required to pay a special street lighting fee of $3.00 per year. -7- E. FISCAL ISSUES 20. HOW WILL TAXES AND FEES CHANGE FOR AREA RESIDENTS UPON ANNEXATION? To show how annexation to Chula Vista might affect the taxes and fees Bonita/Sunnyside residents are currently paying, the following list has been developed as representative of the most common relevant costs to area residents: ITEM CHULA VISTA COUNTY (BONITA/SUNNYSIDE) Property Taxes I% of assessed 1% of assessed value value Bonded Indebtedness(a) $2.82 per year until 1990 -O- (based on $100,000 house) Street Lighting Fee -0- $3 per year Sewer Service Charge(b) $104.40 per year $120 per year Sewer Connection Fee $600 per dwelling unit $1,000 per dwelling unit Utility Users Tax(c) Approx. $30 per year -O- (certain exemptions are available) Trash Service(d) $84.00 per year $109.80 per year Dog Licenses 1 Year $10.00 $14.00 2 Years $18.00 $24.00 3 Years $26.00 $34.00 Development Fees Generally lower in the County than in the City Ambulance Advance Life Support/ $195.00 $295.00 Paramedic Rates Emergency Medical $100.00 $160.00 Technician Rates (a) Chula Vista's Police Building bonds would cost $2.82 per year for a homeowner with a house assessed at $100,000. When these bonds are paid off in 1990, this charge will be eliminated. -8- The City offers low income families a reduced sewer service charge of $73.20 per year 156.10 per month) with incomes of: No. in Household Total Gross Annual Income 1 $11,000 2 12,550 3 14,150 4 15,700 5 16,700 6 17,650 7 18,650 8 19,650 9 20,700 $1,000 additional annual income allowed for each additional person above 9 in a household. (c) The City offers senior citizens (age 62 or older) with incomes of $7500 or less an exemption from this tax, which is based on gas, electric, and phone usage. If qualified senior citizens are on a master meter for gas and electric, they can receive a $12 annual rebate and an exemption for the tax on intrastate phone usage. (d) The cost of trash service in the area would not automatically be reduced by annexation, but the City would attempt to negotiate a lower rate for the area, as explained in Question 21. F. MISCELLANEOUS 21. HOW WILL ANNEXATION AFFECT EXISTING TRASH SERVICE TO THE AREA? Area residents will receive the level of trash service currently provided by Laidlaw Sanitary Service. This level of service is guaranteed to be delivered by the State Government Code for a minimum of five years after annexation or until such time as the existing franchise holder sells his franchise. The City will attempt to renegotiate the existing trash collection fees in the area to the same, lower rate currently paid by Chula Vista residents (from current $109.80/yr. to $84.00/yr.). 22. HOW WILL ANNEXATION AFFECT PARAMEDIC AND AMBULANCE SERVICE? Hartson Ambulance provides service to both Bonita/Sunnyside and the City. As indicated under Question #20 above, service costs in the Bon~ta/~unnyside Community are higher than the allowable contract rates in the City. Upon annexation, these rates would be revised to reflect the same lower rates as those then in effect in the City. - 9 - 23. WHAT EFFECT WILL ANNEXATION OF THE AREA HAVE UPON THE EXISTING COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT - ZONES 3 & 47 The area will be removed from the County Flood Control District and the City will assume responsibility. 24. WOULD ANNEXATION AFFECT THE BONITA POST OFFICE? Postal service, continuation of the Bonita Post Office, and mailing addresses will not be affected by the annexation. 25. WOULD ANNEXATION AFFECT OTHER SERVICES? The following services would not be affected by annexation: water, telephone, gas and electric, schools, public health services, courts and jails, hospitals and property tax assessments. G. SPECIAL TRANSITION PROCESSES 26. WHEN WILL THE ANNEXATION BECOME EFFECTIVE? If the citizens of the area currently within the Bonita/Sunnyside Fire Protection District vote in November 1988 to annex to Chula Vista, the annexation will become effective by the end of June 1989. In order to provide the area with the same level of municipal services as the rest of Chula Vista, the City will hire additional staff and purchase a significant amount of equipment. On July 1, 1989, the City will provide all municipal services to the area, as described previously in this document. 27. HOW WILL THE AREA BE REPRESENTED AND PARTICIPATE IN THE CITY'S DECISION MAKING? The City will add one qualified member, to be appointed from the Bonita/Sunnyside area, to each of the City's twelve non-Charter established advisory boards and commissions. The number of members on these advisory boards and commissions would revert to the previous number when the member appointed from the Bonita/Sunnyside area could be assimilated within the regular number of members. As described previously, the Sweetwater Community Planning Group will also be established as an advisory committee to the Planning Commission and City Council for land use issues in the area. The Planning Group will formulate a recommended Community Plan, provide recommendations for all types of land use applications filed in the area, and help develop a five-year capital improvement program for the area. -10- The City Council holds meetings in Chula Vista's Civic Center on the first four Tuesdays of every month. The meeting on the first Tuesday of each month is held at 4:00 p.m. and the other regular meetings are at 7:00 p.m. One portion of each meeting is devoted to Oral Communications, when members of the audience are invited to address the Council on items of concern to them. This forum will provide an additional opportunity to help insure that the City meets the needs of new as well as current Chula Vista residents. Bonita/Sunnyside residents will also be able to participate in electing all five members of the Chula Vista City Council as well as other issues that require the approval of City voters. WPC 071 2I -ll -