Minutes 2003-08-12
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2003
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 215 EAST BRANCH STREET
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ferrara called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
City Council: Council Member Runels, Lubin, Costello, Mayor Pro Tern
Dickens, and Mayor Ferrara were present.
City Staff Present: City Manager Adams, City Attorney Carmel, Director of
Administrative Services Wetmore, Director of Public Works
Spagnolo, Associate Planner McClish, and Community
Development Director Strong.
3. FLAG SALUTE
Jack Gatz, member of the Arroyo Grande Lions Club, led the Flag Salute.
4~ INVOCATION
Jean Bowser, Bahai Faith, delivered the invocation.
5. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
None.
6. AGENDA REVIEW
6.a. Resolutions and Ordinances Read in Title Only
Council Member Lubin moved, Council Member Costello seconded, and the motion
passed unanimously that all resolutions and ordinances presented at the meeting
shall be read in title only and all further reading be waived.
7. CITIZENS' INPUT, COMMENTS, AND SUGGESTIONS
None.
8. CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Ferrara requested clarification regarding Agenda Item 8.g., with regard to
product specifications for low-flow toilets included in the plumbing retrofit program
bid. Director Spagnolo gave a brief overview of the retrofit program and the
specifications for low-flow toilets.
Council Member Runels moved, and Council Member Costello seconded the motion
to approve Consent Agenda Items 8.a. through 8.j., with the recommended courses
of action. The motion carried on the following roll-call vote, to wit:
, .-----.-". -
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
AUGUST 12,2003
PAGE 2
AYES: Runels, Costello, Lubin, Dickens, Ferrara
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
8.a. Cash Disbursement Ratification.
Action: Approved the listing of cash disbursements for the period July 16,
2003 through July 31,2003.
8.b. Consideration of Fixed Asset Policy C-009.
Action: Adopted Fixed Asset Policy C-009 to maintain control and cost
information of all General Government Fixed Assets.
8.c. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the Fire Station Expansion
General Obligation Bond Property Tax Levy.
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 3700 authorizing the FY 2003-04 property tax
levy approved by voters on November 5, 2002.
8.d. Consideration of Approval of Minutes.
Action: Approved the minutes of the Regular City Council/Redevelopment
Agency Meeting of July 22, 2003 as submitted.
8.e. Consideration of First Amendment to Communications Site Lease
Agreement (Ground) with Nextel of California, Inc.
Action: Approved and authorized the Mayor to execute an amendment to the
Communications Site Lease Agreement (Ground) with Nextel of California,
Inc.
8.f. Consideration to Approve a Park-and-Ride Lease Agreement with
Caltrans.
Action: 1) Approved the Park-and-Ride Lease Agreement with the California
Department of Transportation (Caltrans); and 2) Authorized the Mayor to
execute the Agreement.
8.g. Consideration to Award a Contract for Phase I of the Water Conservation
Program to Mid State Plumbing.
Action: 1) Awarded a contract for Phase I of the Water Conservation Program
to Mid State Plumbing in the amount of $275,515; and 2) Appropriated
$289,515 from the Water Neutralization Impact fund.
8.h. Consideration of Award of Bid For %-Ton and 3/4-Ton Pick-up Trucks for
the Public Works Department.
Action: Awarded the bid of $23,200.50 from Christianson Chevrolet for a ~-
ton truck and awarded the bid of $22,673.64 from Mullahey Ford for a Y2-ton
pick-up truck for the Public Works Department.
8.L Consideration of Approval of Parcel Map AG 01-427; Lot Split Between
Trans- King and Midas Buildings.
Action: Approved Final Parcel Map AG 01-427, subdividing .88 acres into two
(2) commercial lots.
8.j. Consideration of Employment Agreements for Associate Planner and
Assistant Planner Positions.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
AUGUST 12, 2003
PAGE 3
Action: Authorized the City Manager to sign the Employment Agreements for
Associate Planner and Assistant Planner positions for the period from July 1,
2003 to June 30,2005.
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
9.a. Consideration of Street Name Change from Sterling Drive to Paulding
Circle. i
Community Development Director Strong presented the staff report and
recommended the Council adopt a Resolution renaming Sterling Drive to Paulding
Circle.
Mayor Ferrara opened the Public Hearing, and upon hearing no public comments, he
closed the Public Hearing.
Mayor Pro Tern Dickens moved to adopt a Resolution approving Staff Project Case i
No. 03-002 renaming Sterling Drive to Paulding Circle.
City Attorney Carmel requested that the Council consider a modification to the
Resolution to include the map, as depicted in Attachment 2, as incorporated herein.
Mayor Pro Tem Dickens agreed to the modification and amended his motion to adopt
a Resolution, as amended to incorporate Attachment 2 (map), approving Staff Project
Case No. 03-002 renaming Sterling Drive to Paulding Circle. Council Member
Runels seconded the motion to adopt the Resolution, as amended. On the following
roll-call vote, to wit:
AYES: Dickens, Runels, Lubin, Costello, and Ferrara
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
There being 5 A YES and 0 NOES, the motion is hereby declared to be passed.
9.b. Continued Public Hearing . Consideration of Development Code
Amendment Case No. 02-006 to Revise Zoning Regulations for the
Village Commercial District and Portions of the General Commercial and
Office Professional Districts.
Associate Planner McClish presented the staff report, responded to questions from
Council, and recommended the Council introduce an Ordinance amending portions
of Title 16 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code (Development Code Amendment 02-
006), rezoning the Village Commercial District and portions of the General
Commercial and Office Professional District to Village Core Downtown, Village Mixed
Use, Village Residential and Single Family Residential; revising land use regulations
to address requirements for Mixed Use districts and approval processes.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
AUGUST 12, 2003
PAGE 4
Mayor Ferrara opened the Public Hearing.
Nancy Underwood, Short Street, Arroyo Grande, expressed concerns regarding the
proposed Mixed Use district, especially relating to business hours of operation outside
the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. - She requested the Council consider amending the
regulations to provide for a 300 foot notification requirement of proposed commercial
projects near residential uses. She also expressed concerns regarding parking and I
I
requested stricter enforcement of on-site parking.
Ed Dorfman, La Cresta, Arroyo Grande, opposed the proposed height limit of 30 feet for
buildings in the Village due to current building standards and requirements. He
suggested 32 feet as a compromise.
Upon hearing no further public comments, Mayor Ferrara closed the Public Hearing.
Council discussion ensued with regard to the height limit requirements for buildings in
the Village and minor use permit public notification requirements for the Mixed Use
district. The requirements for processing minor use permit applications were
discussed. Following discussion, there was consensus of the Council to make the
following modifications to the proposed Ordinance:
- Revise Section 16.16.120.C.3. to require a +W 300 foot radius for noticing Minor Use
Permits for Minor Exceptions;
- Revise Section 16.48.065.0.3. to require a minor use permit for a mixed-use project
proposing a commercial component within 100 feet 300 feet of a residential unit, that
will operate outside of the hours of 8:00 am to 6:00 pm (unless the proposal involves
a conditional use permit as required by section 16.36.030 A-1) to ensure that the
commercial use will not interfere with the residential uses within the project.
- Revise Table 16.36.020-A and Table 16.36.020-8, No.8, to indicate that a maximum
height of 36 feet is allowable through the Variance Minor Use Permit process.
Council Member Lubin moved to introduce an Ordinance, as modified, amending
portions of Title 16 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code (Development Code
Amendment 02-006), rezoning the Village Commercial District and portions of the
General Commercial and Office Professional District to Village Core Downtown,
Village Mixed Use, Village Residential and Single Family Residential; revising land
use regulations to address requirements for Mixed Use districts and approval
processes. Council Member Runels seconded the motion, and on the following roll
call vote, to wit:
AYES: Lubin, Costello, Runels, Dickens, and Ferrara
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
There being 5 AYES and 0 NOES, the motion is hereby declared to be passed.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
AUGUST 12, 2003
PAGE 5
10. CONTINUED BUSINESS:
Council Member Lubin declared a potential conflict of interest due to real
property ownership near the project, and stepped down from the dais.
10.a. Consideration of Consultant Services Agreement Amendment No.2 with
Rincon Consultants and Applicant Agreement Amendment No. 2 for
Vesting Tentative Tract Map 01-001/Planned Unit Development 01-001
(Tract 1998)- Castlerock Development.
Community Development Director Strong presented the staff report and
recommended the Council: 1) Approve the Consultant Services Agreement
Amendment No.2, modifying the scope of work and budget for the VTTM/PUD SEIR;
and 2) Approve Applicant Agreement Amendment No.2, modifying the scope of work
and budget for the VTTM/PUD SEIR.
Mayor Ferrara opened up the item for public comment, and upon hearing no further
public comments, he closed the floor to public comment and brought the item back to
Council for consideration.
Council Members Runels and Costello supported the proposed amendments. Mayor
Pro Tern Dickens commented that in response to the concerns expressed previously,
he believed that the scope of work covers the issues to be addressed. He supported
the proposed amendments.
Mayor Ferrara referred to tasks A & B in the scope of work and expressed concerns
as to whether the scope of work was specific enough to address the issues. He
commented that he hoped further research is thoroughly conducted and new exhibits
prepared. He encouraged staff to check in with the consultant to ensure progress is
being made. Director Strong replied that staff would communicate with the
consultant. He also noted that the scope of work included distribution and public
review of the draft amendment to the Final SEIR.
Council Member Costello moved to approve Consultant Services Agreement
Amendment No.2, modifying the scope of work and budget for the VTTM/PUD SEIR.
Mayor Pro Tern Dickens seconded the motion, and on the following roll call vote, to
wit:
AYES: Costello, Dickens, Runels, and Ferrara
NOES: None
ABSENT: Lubin
There being 4 AYES, 0 NOES, and 1 ABSENT, the motion is hereby declared to be
passed.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
AUGUST 12, 2003
PAGE 6
Council Member Costello moved to approve Applicant Agreement Amendment No.2,
modifying the scope of work and budget for the VTTM/PUD SEIR. Mayor Pro Tem
Dickens seconded the motion, and on the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: Costello, Dickens, Runels, and Ferrara
NOES: None
ABSENT: Lubin
There being 4 A YES, 0 NOES, and 1 ABSENT, the motion is hereby declared to be
passed.
Council Member Lubin returned to the dais.
11. NEW BUSINESS:
11.a. Discussion Regarding Planning Activities and Meeting with Sphere of
Influence Property Owners.
City Manager Adams presented the staff report and recommended the Council
provide direction to staff regarding planning activities, meetings and a municipal
process to coordinate with property owners regarding areas within the City's current
Sphere of Influence (SOl), such as coordination meetings with property owners,
public input, etc.
Mayor Ferrara provided a chronology of recent events that have occurred and then
suggested ideas on how to proceed with future planning efforts with regard to the
City's southern Sphere of Influence. He acknowledged that representatives of two
major property owners were present. He explained that he and key staff members
had met with representatives of the Williams and Frederick families to discuss ideas
concerning new deveJopment south of the City. He suggested that, if the property
owners were willing to move forward, that a process be established to continue with
joint planning meetings leading up to public workshops. He proposed that if the
property owners were willing to move forward, that staff continue to coordinate the
planning process; that Council Members attend on a rotational basis; and that he be
active in facilitating the process along with other members of the Council and staff.
Mayor Ferrara invited the property owners in attendance to address the Council.
Mike Frederick, President, ALC Management Corporation, stated he had met with the
Mayor and he was interested in moving the process along and discussing the same
things with other members of the Council. He commented that ALC was not ready
for public meetings at this time and he did not want to commit at this time to
scheduling public hearings. He stated that if they were to move forward, he could
guarantee they would do as they had done in the past by inviting the entire
community to a workshop to present proposals and receive public input. He stated
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
AUGUST 12, 2003
PAGE 7
that ALC was open to the proposed process and moving forward with further planning
discussions.
Patrick Williams, one of the landowners of the Williams property, concurred with Mr.
Frederick and supported the proposed process. He commented on the Sphere of
Influence and its benefit to both the landowners and the City.
Vern Frederick, property owner, expressed concerns with the considerable amount of
time and study put forth over the past ten years trying to find out what the City
wanted.
Council Member Runels commented that the EI Campo Interchange is the key issue
with whether or not a project in this area will work. He stated that several studies had
been done and discussions have been held; however, there were regional funding
issues involved and involvement from the County was necessary. Mayor Ferrara
stated he had intentions of inviting SLOCOG, the County, and Caltrans into the
discussions.
Council Member Lubin commented on the proposed process and supported
individual meetings between the property owner and each Council Member; however,
he would not want to move forward with a planning process without first having
completed that step. He suggested moving forward with more of an open process
with public workshops once that process was completed.
Mayor Ferrara clarified that current policy allows for any potential applicant to meet
individually with a Council Member. He suggested that the process he was
recommending does not circumvent that policy and encouraged such meetings. He
stated that it would be difficult to move into public workshops without addressing
some of the preliminary concerns. He stated that with concurrence of the property
owners, he would recommend continuing on with the planning meetings. He clarified
that regular progress reports of the planning meetings would be forthcoming to the
Council through the Agenda.
Council Member Costello stated he would welcome dialogue with the property
owners. He acknowledged Council Member Runels' comments regarding the EI
Campo Interchange and stated that until such time that there is a firm plan in place
regarding EI Campo, this project is going to be very slow in moving forward. He
supported the process as proposed, subject to the limitations of the Brown Act.
Mayor Pro Tern Dickens stated that the City has determined that future growth will be
southeast of the 101 corridor and that the future growth as it is defined in the Sphere
of Influence is an area that the City will be providing public services to. He
acknowledged there were issues with regard to an interchange that would have to be
constructed. He stated that land use proposals should come from the public, and
that decisions and direction should come directly from the community. He
recommended working with the property owners and moving into the public workshop
process.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
AUGUST 12, 2003
PAGE 8
Mayor Ferrara moved that only with the participation and consensus of the Frederick
family and the Williams family, to continue to schedule and coordinate planning
meetings in which all parties involved can participate including SLOCOG, the County,
and Caltrans; that members of the Council attend on a -rotational basis; that the
planning meetings be done with a view towards structuring public workshops, with
the consensus and agreement of all parties; and that the Mayor work with staff to
lead facilitation of the planning meetings; and the public workshops, when they occur,
would be an opportunity for any member of the Council to participate along with staff
in a facilitative role.
Council and staff discussion ensued with regard to provisions of the Brown Act as it
relates to meetings or workshops and Council participation. Following discussion,
there was consensus of the Council that with the willingness of the property owners,
that ultimately it would be beneficial for the Council to support the public workshop
process. Mayor Ferrara then withdrew his earlier motion.
Mayor Ferrara moved that at some point in the future to determine Sphere of
Influence issues and land use issues, with the cooperation, willingness, and
participation of the property owners, that the City support public workshops in a
manner similar to the E. Grand Avenue workshops. Council Member Lubin seconded
the motion, and on the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: Ferrara, Lubin, Runels, Costello, and Dickens
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
There being 5 A YES and 0 NOES, the motion is hereby declared to be passed.
12. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ITEMS:
None.
13. CITY MANAGER ITEMS
None.
14. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
15. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager Adams gave a brief update on the adoption of the State budget and its
fiscal impact on the City.
16. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Otis Paqe, Arroyo Grande, referred to the 2001 General Plan Update and spoke
about the role of the City Council and Planning Commission in planning activities for
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
AUGUST 12, 2003
PAGE 9 ,
the City. He stated it was not the role of the Mayor or the Council to do the planning
of the City. He strongly opposed Mayor Ferrara's proposal to facilitate the planning
process for the Frederick and Williams family properties, and further stated that all
planning meetings should be noticed according to provisions of the Brown Act and
that members of the public should be allowed to attend such meetings.
17. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ferrara adjourned the meeting at 9:25 p.m.
Tony M. Fe~ .-/
ATT~ST) ,
~/Jl.:k~/IL
Kelly We mor: , Director of Administrative Services/
Deputy City Clerk
(Approved at CC Meeting ~ J?(P/o3 )
I