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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 - Minutes - AmendedCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH City Council Minutes Study Session and Regular Meeting October 22, 2019 I. ROLL CALL - 5:00 p.m. II. Present: Mayor Diane Dixon, Mayor Pro Tem Will O'Neill, Council Member Brad Avery, Council Member Joy Brenner, Council Member Duffy Duffield, Council Member Jeff Herdman, Council Member Kevin Muldoon SSI. Clarification of Items on the Consent Calendar In response to Mayor Pro Tem O'Neill's questions regarding Item 5 (16th Street Water Pump Station Upgrades and Backup Generator), Public Works Director Webb described the needed work, noted all the bidding contractors' hours were about the same, and indicated the preferred contractor made adjustments to lower their hours. SS2. Proclamation Commemorating Balboa Island Ferry's 100 -Year Anniversary Mayor Dixon read the proclamation and presented it to Seymour Beek, Allan Beek, Linda Beek, David Beek, and Cynthia Beek, who discussed the history of the Balboa Island ferry and thanked the City for recognizing the ferry. Council Member Muldoon noted how important the Beek family is to Newport Beach and thanked them for everything they have done and do for the community. Council Member Duffield suggested converting the ferries to electric ferries. Mayor Dixon congratulated the Beek family and believed the ferry is the best form of transportation across Newport Harbor. Council Member Herdman thanked Seymour Beek for supporting the Balboa Island Museum and Historical Society, David Beek for being a Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce Commodore, and Allan Beek for his involvement with Stop Polluting Our Newport (SPON). Council Member Brenner v . :e:., a i. .. r _t that h _ 4&. tgwt _ aiia w aii 44e_ .i.;ia_ e -. _ r c -- tH gpt tH t'ge, recounted her pride in watching Newport Beach children, including her daughter, board the ferry bound for the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard program. SS3. Presentation by Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley provided a Vote Center information brochure, discussed Senate Bill 450, trends relative to vote -by -mail ballots, ballots dropped off at polling locations, provisional ballots, and explained the Vote Center model, including benefits, voting options, security, hours, trained staffing, reduced costs, and electronic data exchange for campaigns, noted the County will be covering 75% of the cost for the program through State and Federal grants, reviewed the extensive outreach that will occur to inform voters of the voting changes and their nearest Vote Center and Ballot Drop Box locations, reported there will be 188 Vote Center and 110 Ballot Drop Box locations throughout the County, noted people can still suggest Vote Center and Ballot Drop Box locations at OCVote.com, and discussed supporting organizations. In response to Council questions, Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley stated Ballot Drop Box locations will be placed where there are security cameras and generally at government or retail locations, described election day deadlines and how Ballot Drop Boxes will be monitored, highlighted how voters can track their vote -by -mail ballot, believed the Vote Center model will reduce the time it normally takes to release election results, confirmed that SB 450 was conceived by the legislature, not the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials, but noted the association is supportive of the change, confirmed that any candidate can request a recount after an election is certified, and discussed ballot harvesting. Volume 64 - Page 225 City of Newport Beach Study Session and Regular Meeting October 22, 2019 Council Member Brenner: • Met with Russ Fluter who has a project on the Peninsula which is being challenged at the California Coastal Commission level; Phil Greer who is representing the families of rowers at the Newport Aquatic Center (NAC) to discuss options moving forward, along with Mayor Dixon and staff; and staff to discuss how to best create a Traffic Affairs Commission and requested a future agenda item to determine whether a separate Traffic Affairs Commission is necessary or if the responsibilities should be added to the current Planning Commission's responsibilities, which would require a Charter amendment • Reported the Local Business Advancement Subcommittee, made e€up of Mayor Dixon, Council Member Herdman, and herself, met with Newport Beach Restaurant Association Business Improvement District members to discuss ways to support their efforts; the Education and Outreach Subcommittee of the Homeless Task Force met with the City's consultant who provided feedback and suggestions to further develop the City's homelessness webpage, as well as moving forward with the "No Panhandling" signage and education (slide) • Attended the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs meeting to report on City activities and to hear Senator John Moorlach speak; the League of California Cities Annual Conference last week with Mayor Pro Tem O'Neill, in which her sessions focused on homelessness and short term vacation ordinances; Council Member Herdman's and Mayor Dixon's Town Hall meetings; and the Finance Committee meeting with Mayor Dixon and Mayor Pro Tem O'Neill where a report was provided that detailed information about current leases with non-profit organizations for below market value and requested the report be included with tonight's agenda packet • Discussed the City Council Ad Hoc Committee on Election Reform's public input meeting and indicated all suggestions will be evaluated • Announced the Council ad hoc subcommittee regarding short term lodging has been reaching out to the community to gather feedback to refine short term vacation rental policies • Invited everyone to her Town Hall meeting on October 26, 2019 (slide) where a ballot will be distributed asking how the community would like to proceed with vacation rentals in R-2 Zones in Corona del Mar and asking for feedback on some of the City's construction design standards that are applied to third stories, and added that updates will be provided at the meeting regarding undergrounding, homelessness, fire prevention, and the water rate increase • Visited Charles Klobe and Nancy Scarborough, Monday morning, to observe the cars, bicyclists and pedestrians in Newport Heights, and later met with the Pedestrian/Bike Safety Subcommittee • Commended Reverend Dr. Okusi for his invocation Council Member Herdman: • Displayed slides to discuss the Recreation and Senior Services Department's shelter training and Stanbridge University's Root for Change event • Reported on his Town Hall meeting • Attended the Corona del Mar Residents Association meeting, the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee meeting, and the Balboa Island Merchants Association meeting • Visited the Klobe residence in Newport Heights • Provided statistics from the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District Mayor Pro Tem O'Neill • Reported the Ad Hoc Committee on Election Reform will be bringing back a report at the November 5, 2019 City Council meeting • Attended Visit Newport Beach's Annual Marketing Dinner and the dinner to celebrate the 1994 Newport Harbor High School 14-0 football season • Announced that Battle of the Bay will be held Friday night • Will be attending the Association of California Cities — Orange County's (ACC -OC) Housing Forum • Encouraged everyone to attend the Homelessness 101 session on October 23, 2019 (slide) • Suggested issuing Stanbridge University a proclamation for the Root for Change e4vent since they have been planting trees in the City for quite some time Volume 64 - Page 228 City of Newport Beach Study Session and Regular Meeting October 22, 2019 NIX Valerie Kading, CEO of Sierra by the Sea, explained their name change was due to the facilities not being sober living homes but residential treatment facilities, believed their facilities have been good neighbors, and requested that everyone learn more about what they do. Carol Dru suggested requiring Sober Living by the Sea to transport their clients back to their originating locations when treatment is done, rather than releasing them into the streets. Ms. Kading discussed their process of communicating with family members, assured Council that they do not leave people on the streets, know where they are going upon discharge, and indicated that sometimes the next step for a client is to be referred to lower level care with another treatment facility or healthcare provider. She noted that sometimes returning a client to their home environment is not conducive to their treatment. In response to Jim Mosher's comment, Community Development Director Jurjis indicated the errors in the bed counts will be corrected prior to filing the report. Hearing no further testimony, Mayor Dixon closed the public hearing. Motion by Council Member Muldoon, seconded by Council Member Herdman, to a) find this review exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA') pursuant to Section 15321 (Enforcement Actions by Regulatory Agencies) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3, because this review enforces an entitlement for use adopted by the City and has no potential to have a significant effect on the environment; b) find that SLBTS has demonstrated good faith compliance with the terms of the Zoning Implementation and Public Benefit Agreement; and c) receive and file documents submitted by SLBTS to demonstrate good faith compliance with the terms of the Zoning Implementation and Public Benefit Agreement. The motion carried unanimously 15. Fire Station No. 2 Replacement Project - Approval of Conceptual Design [100-2019] Council Member Muldoon recused himself due to potential business interest conflicts. Public Works Director Webb, Deputy Public Works Director Houlihan, and Senior Civil Engineer Tauscher utilized a presentation to discuss the history of the fire station, display a location map, review the exterior facade options, note that Option 1 was the preferred option at the Town Hall meetings, and highlight the site and floor plan layout, the 28th Street improvements, cost estimate, tentative schedule, and staff recommendations. Staff added that the residents at the community meetings requested a public restroom be installed in the area, pointed it out on the site map, and noted it is included in the cost estimate. Mayor Pro Tem O'Neill stated the project was approved on September 12, 2017 and the cost has stayed fairly stable after two years, pointed out that the plan was to sell the existing site to help offset the costs, emphasized the many funding sources that will be used for this project, and commended the project. In response to Council Member Herdman's question, Public Works Director Webb indicated that the exterior facade options were discussed at two Town Hall meetings on the Peninsula and Option 1 was the preferred option at both meetings. Council Member Avery believed the new fire station is in the right location and commended the City for its systematic process for upgrading the fire stations. Council Member Brenner commended staff for taking the project to the Town Hall meetings to receive public input, noting t4is «° B4 4�Be .*44 that public input on the Corona del Mar Fire Station and Library was initiated by the citizens who then worked with City staff to reach a very desirable outcome. She stated that the new Corona del Mar Fire Station seems to have increased the desirability of properties nearbv and noted that the fire Dersonnel seem to make every effort to imnact neighbors as little as nossible. Council Member Duffield believed the fire station will have a calming effect on the area Volume 64 - Page 234 City of Newport Beach Study Session and Regular Meeting October 22, 2019 Adi Nair, UCI student, expressed hope that environmental options were also taken into consideration, even if it made the project more expensive. Jim Mosher believed the outreach was not as rigorous as mentioned since it was not the only item for discussion at the Town Hall meetings, asked why the City is not proceeding to change the land use designation, asked if there will be a Coastal Development Permit to build the fire station, questioned if this will still be called the Lido Fire Station since it will no longer be in the Lido area, and noted the design does not include a fire pole, but suggested adding something, maybe a slide, to increase response times. Ken Rawson stated his recollection of the Town Hall meetings differs from Mr. Mosher's, noted all his neighbors support the project only because of the detailed presentation made by staff, and assured Council that the meetings were well attended, had an agenda, and staff were in attendance. Mitch Mathis stated he lives 100 feet from the proposed fire station, expressed support for installing traffic lights at the intersection, but expressed opposition to placing the fire station at 28th Street due to issues related to traffic, routing, ;N. p8sR4 decreased response times, and the effect on his property value. He asked if the parking spots will be free or metered, and suggested not including public restrooms in the proj ect. In response to Council questions, Fire Chief Boyles indicated that response times will increase in some areas of the Peninsula, but will decrease in other areas, noted that the response time to get to the tip of Lido Isle will increase by 43 seconds, explained the modified use of horns, sirens and lights in residential areas, and discussed the difficulty with the current location. Public Works Director Webb reported many of the fire stations are in residential areas, property values generally do not decrease due to the proximity of a fire department, and the parking spaces along 28th Street will be free. Council Member Herdman noted his home is near the Balboa Island Fire Station and the protocol described by Chief Boyles has been practiced for 20 years, believed the fire station does not disrupt his life or negatively impact his quality of life, and indicated property values on Balboa Island continue to increase. Motion by Mavor Dixon, seconded by Mavor Pro Tem O'Neill, to a) find this project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15332 (In -Fill Development Projects) of the CEQA Guidelines as documented in Attachment E of the staff report, because this project has no potential to have a significant effect on the environment; b) review and approve the conceptual design and project construction cost estimate budget; and c) direct staff to proceed with the final Fire Station construction documents and obtain bids for construction. The motion carried unanimously. 16. Resolution No. 2019-91: Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park - Local Assistance Specified Grant (C-8611-1) [38/100-2019] City Arts Commission Chair Greer commended all the work that has gone into creating the "Museum Without Walls," thanked previous and current Councils for their ongoing commitment to the project, thanked the community for its dedication, recognized past and current Commissions, discussed how the grant will be used, and expressed hope that Council will support this. Patricia Jorgensen, President of the Newport Beach Arts Foundation, expressed support for Council's acceptance of the $500,000 grant, pointed out that Council has asked the Commission to look for outside funding sources, and commended Chair Greer for applying for the grant. Carmen Smith, Secretary of Newport Beach Arts Foundation, believed a vibrant culture makes for a vibrant city, requested Council accept the grant, and stated she is looking forward to possibly having as many as 30 sculptures in the Civic Center Park at one time. Volume 64 - Page 235