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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved Minutes_02-21-2024 Page 1 of 3 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH GENERAL PLAN UPDATE STEERING COMMITTEE MINUTES COUNCIL CHAMBERS – 100 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE FEBRUARY 21, 2024 REGULAR MEETING – 5:00 P.M. I. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER – 5:00 p.m. II. WELCOME AND ROLL CALL Present: Chair Nancy Gardner and Committee Members Phillip Brown and Kimberly Carter Staff: Acting Deputy Community Development Director Jaime Murillo and Principal Planner Ben Zdeba III. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS None IV. CURRENT BUSINESS a. Meeting Minutes of December 20, 2023 Motion made by Committee Member Carter and seconded by Committee Member Brown to approve the minutes of December 20, 2023, as written. The motion carried unanimously 3-0. b. Vision Statement Subcommittee Recap The GPAC Vision Statement Subcommittee met on Tuesday, January 30, to identify a chairperson and to review the Vision Existing Conditions and Background Analysis Report. GPAC Member Debbie Stevens was identified as the Chair of this Subcommittee. At the regular GPAC meeting of February 7, 2024, Subcommittee Chair Stevens provided an overview of the Subcommittee’s discussion. Chair Gardner stated she attended the Vision Statement Subcommittee meeting and highlighted three areas of importance: residents, businesses, and tourism [i.e., visitors]. She suggested that the Subcommittee ensure they receive feedback from local businesses. Furthermore, feedback should be received from residents and businesses regarding tourism in Newport Beach. c. Outreach Subcommittee Recap The GPAC Outreach Subcommittee met on Wednesday, January 31, to identify a chairperson and to review the results of the survey that requested feedback from the GPAC on event types and meetings to prioritize. GPAC Member Annie Clougherty was General Plan Update Steering Committee Minutes February 21, 2024 Page 2 of 3 identified as the Chair of this Subcommittee. At the regular GPAC meeting of February 7, 2024, Subcommittee Chair Clougherty provided an overview of the Subcommittee’s discussion and any actions. The GPAC provided some feedback but generally expressed concurrence on the efforts to date. The outreach and engagement component is in the process of a kickoff later in February to start gaining momentum through raising awareness and visioning. Committee Member Carter provided an update on the Outreach Subcommittee meeting and its substantial progress. In response to Committee Member Carter’s update, Chair Gardner was pleased to hear that the questions and concerns raised from the early months were being addressed at these meetings. Committee Member Carter also mentioned that the Subcommittee members have a vested interest in seeing specific actions take place, whereas having a consultant oversee the outreach would have a limited impact. Chair Gardner agreed and thought that the subcommittees are useful. She also cautioned of GPUSC member attendance overlap at the various subcommittee meetings. In response to Chair Gardner’s question, Principal Planner Zdeba stated that the Subcommittee meetings are informal, and unless an issue arises, it should not be a problem with GPUSC member attendance overlap as long as both members do not provide feedback with one simply observing. He also stated he would consult the City Attorney for reassurance of the issue. One member of the public, Nancy Scarbrough, stated she recently attended a Corona del Mar Residents Association (CDMRA) meeting where the operator of the Corona del Mar Farmers Market was in attendance soliciting community groups to hold their events at the farmers market. Principal Planner Zdeba responded to Ms. Scarbrough’s comment by acknowledging city consultants, Kearns & West, has been in contact with the farmers market owner to setup an outreach booth for a future date. One member of the public, Chuck Fancher, spoke and stated that at an Advisory Meeting there was a discussion about community forums, how it was well received, and would need extra effort to get it done well. He also stated the importance of getting the right speakers at these events, coming up with a determination of what needs to be conveyed, and figuring out how to market it to the public to impact the outreach to the community. d. Presentation: Overview of Upcoming Deliverables and Objectives Principal Planner Zdeba gave a brief update about next steps of upcoming deliverables and objectives. Principal Planner Zdeba shared that the team is working to share and review reports with each of the subcommittees. He noted there is currently a transitioning period with new staff liaisons to the Natural Resources and Recreation Subcommittee and they have contact made with the Subcommittee members to go over the Resilience Report. General Plan Update Steering Committee Minutes February 21, 2024 Page 3 of 3 The Safety and Harbor & Bay Elements will also convene and review that report, and the Art and Cultural and Historical Resources Subcommittee will review the Historical Resources Existing Conditions and Background Analysis Report. All mentioned reports should be reviewed prior the next GPAC meeting. In addition, Principal Planner Zdeba indicated he is working to put together a repository showing the latest updates from the Subcommittee meetings on the GPAC webpage. He also suggested having GPUSC meetings scheduled every other month and delay the next GPAC meeting for later in the month of March. This would give the Subcommittees time to meet and finish their work prior to the GPAC meeting. Chair Gardner agreed to have GPUSC meetings every other month and, if something needs to be brought to the committee’s attention, then a meeting can be scheduled. Chair Gardner also requested for staff to notify the GPUSC committee when there are subcommittee meetings to decide which member will attend. Principal Planner Zdeba stated that our consultant, Kearns & West team is working on communicating with the contacts from the pop-up events that have occurred to ensure we secure a location for the future. Once we have a plan in place for pop-up activities and collateral, it will be shared with the Outreach Subcomittee for feedback. Committee member Carter questioned the date of the next GPAC meeting. Principal Planner Zdeba answered by letting the members know that City staff could not find an adequate space to hold the meeting, and that the meeting could be held in place of the Steering Committee on March 20. V. COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS WHICH MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, ACTION OR REPORT (NON- DISCUSSION ITEM) None. VI. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Chair Gardner adjourned the meeting at 5:14 p.m. The next meeting is to be determined.