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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-10-05 Approved CDM CAP MinutesCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH APPROVED Citizen Advisory Panel Meeting Corona del Mar Entry Improvements - Design Guidelines TA OTT "I s L 81707.. Newport Beach OASIS Senior Center Room 4 801 Narcissus, Corona del Mar Wednesday, October 5, 2011 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Rush Hill — Council Member Liaison Committee Members: Kimberly Brandt — Community Development Director Sandie Haskell Jim Campbell — Principal Planner John Hyatt Ben Zdeba — Planning Technician Lisa Jordan Dave Webb — Deputy PW Director /City Engineer Bernie Svalstad Mike Sinacori — Assistant City Engineer Ron Yea Dennis Stone — Project Consultant The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m. Lisa Jordan and Bernie Svalstad were absent. Council Member Nancy Gardner attended the meeting in place of Council Member Liaison Rush Hill. Staff members Kimberly Brandt and Dave Webb were absent due to other commitments. 1. Procedural Items Dennis Stone, Project Consultant, gave a brief introduction which retouched on the project background and discussed the Vision Plan of the BID as its basis. He also reminded the committee that the meeting was subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act. Bernie Svalstad arrived at 4:15 p.m. 2. Approval of August 31, 2011, meeting minutes Seeing no discussion on the minutes from the CAP members, Dennis Stone opened up the floor for public comment. Jim Mosher, resident, expressed three concerns: 1) the presentation from the initial CAP meeting was not found on the website; 2) the Ralph M. Brown Act allows for public comments after each agenda item; and 3) the minutes should contain more detail to ensure the public is well- informed. Another member of the public requested that her comments regarding bicycle safety and bike lane extensions should be included in the minutes. Dennis Stone closed the public comment. Committee Member Ron Yea motioned to approve the minutes with the addition of the comments regarding bicycle safety and the bike lanes. The motion passed with four ayes and one absent. Lisa Jordan arrived at 4:36 p.m. 3. Presentation of Engineering Exhibits by Mike Sinacori and Dave Bacon Dennis Stone introduced Mike Sinacori, Assistant City Engineer, and Dave Bacon, Project Engineer from Walden & Associates, to provide a presentation of the engineering drawings depicting two schematic options for altering the entry area. Mr. Sinacori began the presentation with a brief background of the Vision Plan and discussed what the BID was aiming to accomplish with the plan. He also presented two main problems with the Vision Plan: 1) the rendering of the plan appears to eliminate most, if not all of the street parking in front of the businesses and it is unclear as to whether or not the input of the businesses losing parking was considered; and 2) the plan was not engineered properly as it depicted the fast lane merging into the left -turn pocket with insufficient distance to do so. Mr. Sinacori presented a slide showing the existing conditions including narrow medians as well as street parking that may need to be eliminated to achieve the beautification. Mr. Bacon and Mr. Sinacori provided an overview of two engineering exhibits depicting options for altering the project area. Study "A" included only enhancements to the medians with merging occurring prior to the intersection of Avocado Avenue and East Coast Highway. Study "B" included only enhancements to the parkway and widened sidewalks with no alteration of the medians. 4. Roundtable Discussion Committee Member Yeo suggested placement of a right- turn -only lane at Avocado Avenue to lessen the impact on the intersections at Avocado Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard. Committee Member Sandie Haskell stated her support for this suggestion. Mr. Sinacori expressed his concerns of impacting two intersections rather than the single intersection at MacArthur Boulevard. Dan Purcell, resident, urged the Committee to discuss the project with the individuals who previously worked on this project and the Vision Plan. Committee Member John Hyatt voiced a concern regarding the cost of the project versus the gain. A discussion ensued regarding previous cone studies and the possibility of a new cone study with a different drop lane. In addition, Don Webb, resident, discussed the potential implications on the Circulation Element of the General Plan as well as the environmental impacts. Jim Campbell, Principal Planner, confirmed that the environmental impact needs to be measured and the changes may be challenging, but a closer look is required. He also indicated that the changes to the drop lanes and intersections would need to be carefully considered in order to prevent any negative environmental impact. A member of the public questioned the purpose and drive behind the CAP. Dennis Stone reviewed the project background and stated the driving factors include a better street for the community as well as a beautification of the intersection or entry. He proceeded to advise the Committee to come up with a strategy or study plan rather than focusing on all details. Mr. Campbell reiterated that the loss of parking should be considered and Mr. Hyatt stated a concern with losing revenue from the removal of parking meters. Mr. Stone stated that regardless of the study plan or schematic chosen, the lane drop is still important and would need to be evaluated. Mr. Yeo questioned whether or not a traffic study could be conducted to consider all of the variables. Mr. Campbell confirmed that the traffic study could be conducted by a consultant and would consider all potential impacts. Committee Member Bernie Svalstad motioned that staff bring back additional information regarding a traffic study to consider moving the lane drop further down East Coast Highway towards Irvine Terrace and Mr. Yeo seconded the motion. Mr. Stone opened up the public comment. A member of the public questioned whether or not the traffic study would take future projections into consideration to account for full build -out of the Civic Center as well as other projects. It was verified that the City maintains data for build -out that could be utilized in the traffic study. Mr. Webb asked if the lane alterations would affect the City's Traffic Phasing Ordinance (TPO). Mr. Campbell stated that it would need to be considered and would also need to be determined whether or not the alterations affect only two intersections or if the impact is cumulative and would affect more intersections. Dick Nichols, resident, stated his concern that everything that has been done to East Coast Highway has been done without making it larger. Mr. Mosher expressed concern that the motion or vote was not on the agenda. Further concern was discussed regarding the consideration of future projects (i.e., Civic Center and Irvine Company projects). Additionally, the appropriate type of bike lane should be determined and bike lanes should be incorporated into lane alterations of the traffic study. The public comment was closed and the motion carried unanimously (5 — 0). Mr. Stone stated that the next meeting would have a list of policy implications as well as potential roadblocks. 5. Public Comment Scott Palmer indicated that there are no metered spaces in that area, so there would be no loss of revenue from removal of parking meters. He also added that 85% of the businesses in that area have off - street parking behind the buildings. Another member of the public questioned whether or not destinations were included in the traffic studies to determine how much of the traffic is through- traffic down East Coast Highway. It was clarified that little data would be available to identify destinations. 6. City website — htto:// www. newoortbeachca .¢ov /index.asox ?oa¢e =1959 7. Next Meeting — November 16, 2011, 4:00 pm — 5:30 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.