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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/03/2001 - PB&R CommissionCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH • Parks, Beaches rt Recreation Commission Regular Meeting July 3, 2001- 7pm CONVENED AT 7:03pm ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Beek, Franklin, Macfarland, Pfaff, Skoro, Tobin Absent: Allen Staff Present: LaDonna Kienitz, Community Services Director /City Librarian (arrived at 7:48pm) David E. Niederhaus, General Services Director Andrea McGuire, Senior Recreation Manager Teri Craig, Administrative Assistant Approval of Minutes Motion by Commissioner Beek to approve the minutes of June 5, 2001. Motion carried by acclamation. Public Comments Jan Vandersloot, 2221 E. 16th Street, stated his appreciation to the General Services . Department for working with SPON regarding the trees on Clay Street, he noted that they had been trimmed appropriately and that he hoped that this could be a model for all future decisions regarding ficus trees. Consent Calendar 1. Item pulled by a member of the audience 2. Park and Tree Division 3. Item pulled by Chair Skoro 4. Item pulled by Chair Skoro 5. Item pulled by Chair Skoro 6. Tree Donation Accept donation of one tree (species to be determined) from Clara Chadwick to be planted at Cliff Drive Park. Correspondence - The following communication was received and acknowledged. Fm: Jan Vandersloot, June 24, 2001 Jan Vandersloot, 2221 E. 16`h Street asked the Chair whether he should address his concerns regarding the ficus trees now or wait until item 10. Chair Skoro asked him to wait until item 10. • 3. Community Services - Chair Skoro stated that a second meeting regarding the lights at Arroyo had been held on June 25, with two council members, the City Manager members from the Commission, and homeowners. He stated that they heard their complaints and stated that any additional complaints would need to be put in writing to the Commission. Parks, Beaches ft Recreation Commission Regular Meeting July 3, 2001 • Page 2 Chair Skoro stated that the Dedication of Arroyo Park was scheduled for July 28, at I Iam and urged the commission to attend. Chair Skoro reminded the Commission of the Independence Day parade on July 4 and encouraged the commission to attend that also. 4. Bench Donation and 5. Bench Donation - Chair Skoro asked if the Commission decided on the type of bench that was installed. Director Niederhaus stated that type of benches were selected based on the area it was located. Commissioner Beek asked that the type of bench and picture be included in future reports. Motion by Commissioner Franklin to accept items 1 through 6 of the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by acclamation. • 7. Upper Bavview Landing - Mike Sinacori, Public Works Department distributed a tentative schedule and site maps of the area. Mr. Sinacori introduced John Douglas, consultant, who would be providing the documentation on the area and working with the Coastal Commission. Mr. Douglas stated that currently the site is owned by The Irvine Company but will be dedicated to the City. He stated the following: A. No gnatcatchers B. Some coastal sage C. Archeology - nothing on the surface but a monitor will be hired to view the site while the grading is done. D. Some soil contamination. Shell Gas is working with the Health Department to get remediation, once the area is certified clean, the City can move forward. E. Coastal Bluff - minimal disturbance, will maximize the view, however may be necessary to top off the bluff/ F. Parking is required per the Coastal Commission, but believe that can be taken care on of the Back Bay Drive. NE A. B. • C. D. E. xt steps once the area is certified clean is: Design Concept Public Review City Council approval of design concept Coastal Commission approval (3 -4 months) Bids Parks, Beaches @ Recreation Commission Regular Meeting July 3, 2001 • Page 3 Discussion ensued regarding view and line of site. Chair Skoro stated that he believes it is crucial that the spot be set off as an entry point - as it is the center of Newport Beach. Commissioner Beek stated that it should not be ornate but functional. Jerry Ota, Landscape Architect, stated that the plans were just entry designs and that they were just preliminary thinking. Chair Skoro opened the public hearing Jan Vandersloot, 2221 E. 16`h Street, stated that he agrees with the basic concept that views are needed, however he recommends that the entire slope be vegetated with coastal sage to recreate the gnatcatchers home. He stated that the emphasis should be on preserving the habitat and noted that this project as current stated does not preserve the coastal bluff; the vista is what should be protected. Chair Skoro reminded Mr. Vandersloot that the concept was preliminary and that he would have his time to talk in the future. • Philip Frank O'Brien, stated that since the history of this site is the Boy Scout Jamboree that is should reflect that theme. Chair Skoro closed the public hearing Chair Skoro asked that a working session be set up to go over the plans in the future. 7. MarinaPark - Director Kienitz stated that this item is just a status report, but that a public meeting was scheduled for July 9. Sharon Wood, Assistant City Manager stated that the City has an exclusive agreement of 3 years with Sutherland Talla. She stated that they were required to present a draft project description by August 10 and that the City would have 60 days to respond. After that all developmental reports would go forward. She also noted that the project would fall under Measure S. Steve Sutherland, President and also a resident of Newport Beach presented his project design to the Commission. He noted that the area as it sits currently does not benefit the residents or the public, as public land must do. Director Kienitz noted that concerns that the City's current and future recreational programs will not be accommodated. • Commissioner Macfarland questioned if a decision had been made on if the area is tidelands of stateland; he also questioned if the Legion has approved the project. Parks, Beaches ft Recreation Commission Regular Meeting July 3, 2001 • Page 4 Mr. Sutherland stated that he believes that the resort will be permissible if the land is tidelands, but that specific decision has not been made. He also noted that he has made some progress with the Legion and will continue to work with them. Discussion ensued regarding dock slips, parking structure, tennis courts. Manager McGuire stated her concern on location of the sailing fleet. Mr. Sutherland assured her that it could remain where it is. Chair Skoro stated the following comments: A. Agrees as the area currently sits that it is not conducive for public use B. Look of the project is intimidating C. Concern that the control of the tennis courts would be under the hotel jurisdiction and believes that it should remain with the City. D. Concern of not losing any current recreation sites, such as the loss of a half basketball courts, BBQ pits. E. Storage of City fleet of sail boats F. Concern of the loss of the window to the bay. • Mr. Sutherland reiterated that that City fleet's storage would remain where it is currently located. Manager McGuire noted her concerns: A. City Community Center on the second floor would be a problem as there are dancing classes scheduled and they would have to suffer complaints. B. Limitation of tennis classes, no room for expansion. C. Sailing program - current use is 8 sailing days in a 14 -day period. D. The Girl Scout house should be joint use. E. Las Arenas and Balboa Community Center have not had any upgrades as they have been waiting for decisions to be made on the MarinaPark design. Mr. Sutherland stated that the joint use of the Girls Scout House is a good idea and he will discuss that with them. Commissioner Beek stated that the Commission should take the position that no changes in programming should. Chair Skoro opened the public hearing Jan Vandersloot, 2221 E. 16`" Street, stated that the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission have already taken a position on this issue and should stick with it. He stated • that the City already has enough money and should keep what we have. Chair Skoro closed the public hearing Parks, Beaches Ft Recreation Commission Regular Meeting July 3, 2001 • Page 5 9. Balboa Island Bench Report - Director Niederhaus stated that this was the third time that this report had come before the Commission. He noted that documentation had been added with a map with locations of benches. Director Niederhaus also stated that he had just received a petition in opposition of the bench at South Bay Front and Topaz Avenue tonight. Commissioner Beek stated that Topaz is actually 1 foot 3 inches shorter than the other streets that have two benches. Commissioner Skoro opened the public hearing Peggy Marotta and Pat Butterwitz representing the Balboa Island Improvement Association, stated that the public enjoy the benches and that there are always people that wish to donate a bench. Ms. Marotta stated that they were completely unaware of the petition. Commissioner Skoro closed the public hearing . Motion by Commissioner Beek to deny the request for a bench to be installed at Topaz and South Bay Front. Commissioner Franklin agreed that there comes a time when there are too many benches. Motion carried by acclamation. Motion by Commissioner Beek to approve the request for a bench to be installed at Garnet at South Bayfront with the stipulation that two pots be removed from the location. Motion carried by acclamation. 10. Change of Street Tree Redesignation - Director Niederhaus stated that the Balboa Village Project, is a beautification project for the Balboa area. During the Promote Revitalization of Our Peninsula (PROP) meetings it became apparent that the street trees designated for Main Street and Balboa Boulevard needed to be changed. The PROP Committee on May 10 and 29 voted unanimously to change the street trees from: Cryptocarya rubra to the Coral Gum on Main Street; and the New Zealand Christmas tree to the Willow- Leafed Peppermint on Balboa Boulevard. Discussion ensued regarding the G1 policy as related to beautification projects. • Chair Skoro opened the public hearing Jan Vandersloot, 2221 E. 16th Street, stated that Ficus trees are special City trees and that in accordance with the G -1 policy that should be retained. He questioned the Parks, Beaches Et Recreation Commission Regular Meeting July 3, 2001 • Page 6 wisdom of replacing trees just for aesthetic reasons. He urged the Commission to deny the request. Kay Mortensen, Balboa Island Point Association stated that the future of the Ficus tree and their problems have been a discussion item for a long time and that the feeling of the Association is that the Ficus has enough problems associated with them to substantiate the need to get the appropriate tree planted during the project. Director Niederhaus noted that Dr. Vandersloot's letter stating that the Coral Gum usually flowers and drop onto the sidewalk was correct, but in a beach area it will flower. He noted that 42 other tree species were discussed before the decision was made on these two proposed species. Commissioner Beek stated that the only decision that the Commission has before them tonight is whether to approve the street tree redesignation on the list and not the actual removal. Commissioner Tobin stated that an outside Urban Forester was retained by the City and recommended that the Ficus be removed. • Sharon Wood, Assistant City Manager stated that the Ficus trees have done well but are causing problems now. She noted that with all the work that will be done, that some of these trees will be lost, and that the Coral Gum was approved by the Association as well as the PROP Committee. Chair Skoro closed the public hearing Commissioner Macfarland stated that he has a problem with the redesignation since these trees are designated as special trees. Motion by Commission Tobin to approve the change of the street tree desination on: • Main Street from the Cryptocarya rubra to the Coral Gum; and • Balboa Boulevard from the New Zealand Christmas Tree to the Willow- Leafed Peppermint. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Beek, Pfaff, Skoro Tobin Nay: Franklin, Macfrarland Absent: Allen 11. Committee Reports • Budget - Nothing new to report. • • Castaways Park - Nothing new to report. • Park Development - Nothing new to report • Recreation it Open Space Element - Nothing new to report • Recreation Services - Meeting will be set up by the end of July Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting July 3, 2001 • Page 7 • Seniors - Nothing new to report FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Results of root pruning on Clay Street • 38`h Street update Volleyball - Coastal Commission Update Review of G -5 Policy ADJOURNMENT - 10:35pm/i Submitted by: � OA Teri Craig, A in Assistant • •