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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/04/2008 - PB&R CommissionCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH Parks, Beaches Et Recreation Commission Regular Meeting March 4, 2008 - 7pm Convened 7:10pm ROLL CALL Present: Tim Brown, Chair Bill Garrett Phillip Lugar Marie Marston Greg Ruzicka Cristine Trapp Excused: Debra Allen Staff: Mark Harmon, General Services Director Wes Morgan, Recreation Ft Senior Services Director Sean Levin, Recreation Superintendent Teri Craig, Admin Asst DIRECTOR COMMENTS Director Morgan stated that Opening Day /Grand Opening at Mariners Park was extremely noted that Commissioner Marston was in attendance. He noted that there was over 100( and very festive with some Council Members and the City Manager throwing out first pi thanks General Services and Public Works for their great work with the park. Director Harmon stated that it was their hope that the rain season was done and that it w some time to clean up the beaches and storm drains. He also reported that the Breakers last week and that an email was forwarded thanking staff for the new signage that was in State Beach and noted that it has helped curtail some of the BBQ activity and late night pa City Council Actions — Director Morgan stated that GKK had been hired as the project m OASIS project and reminded the Commission that they had been the project manager I Community Center and the Santa Ana Heights Fire Station. PUBLIC COMMENTS None. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Minutes of the February 6, 2008 regular meeting. Waive reading of subject minutes, ap filed. 2. Park Ft Operations Division Activity Report. Receive /file monthly Activity Report fo upcoming projects. 3. Recreation Et Senior Services Activity Report. Receive /file monthly Activity Report fc upcoming projects. Parks, Beaches £t Recreation Commission Regular Meeting March 4, 2008 - 7pm Page 1 2 Motion by Commissioner Lugar to approve item 4 of the Consent Calendar. Motif acclamation. INFORMATION / DISCUSSION 5. Sunset Ridge Park Draft Concept Plan —Chair Brown asked Director Morgan to coi charge of the Commission and then will move on to the Architect and then will li comments regarding the project. Director Morgan stated that we are here tonight at the direction of the City Council b orderly progression back to the City Council regarding Sunset Ridge. He stated that hE everyone understands the reason for the meeting and that there is a lot of interest on the project takes. The outreach began at the October Park Development meetii decided to have the first outreach meeting that next month and the public was notice to say that on January 10th another Park Development meeting was held and Sunset Ri the main focus of the meeting and more outreach was done. On February 11 th Outreach Meeting was held. Director Morgan stated that the next step is to present the full Commission by EPT and to listen to public comment. He reiterated that tr wants to hear all comments relating to the project and that these will be forwarded 1 for a Study Session in April. He reported that some Council Members, Chair Brown, D and some members of youth sports organizations visited some homes at Newport Crest, Chair Brown stated that he had been present at each of the 4 public meetings and wa with the issues. Ric Vanderwood from EPT stated that he had been looking forward to make the presE full Commission and noted that staff has worked very diligently on the concept plan several months to address the issues from the City and the desires of the public. He three things were considered at the beginning of the project: 1. Park program - an active park where it will include ball fields and support an active park. 2. Outreach Program - input has been taken from the public to incorporate the much as possible. 3. Physical constraints of the park - easements and topography. The PowerPoint was presented. Commissioner Ruzicka asked about the pedestrian entry on Coast Hwy C Superior at 1 stated that it is a hideous intersection with congestion and that a lot of people will en( the shopping center across the street and questioned whether it is a good idea to hav entrance at the corner from the standpoint of people meandering across the roads 2 traffic and delays that it could cause an already congested area. Parks, Beaches £t Recreation Commission Regular Meeting March 4, 2008 - 7pm Page 1 3 In answer to Commissioner Trapp's question, Mr. Vanderwood stated that the elevat between PCH and Newport Crest at the maximum is 50 -75 feet. She also asked if the b could be moved down. Mr. Vanderwood stated that because of the easement keeps it ii Commissioner Trapp asked the status of the environmental process. Director Morgan stated that the environmental process has not begun as we are trying the conceptual part of the project. Commissioner Marston asked who would be the reviewing agencies through the process. Director Morgan stated that the plan would be reviewed by the City, Cal Trans ar Commission. In answer to question regarding specific species, Mr. Vanderwood stated that there do to be any as the area was grated by Cal Trans many years ago. Commissioner Marston asked if the access was right in and right out and if Cal consulted. Director Morgan stated that the only conversation with Cal Trans has been the possibil light and staff was told that would be highly unlikely and that the median would not would be right in and right out. Commissioner Trapp confirmed that you would have to come to Superior and make a access. Engineer Sinacori stated that a u -turn at Superior cannot be made so drivers will Balboa Blvd. He noted that a lot of people from the Peninsula will use the park anc walk into the park. A barricade could be built at the parking lot or additional plan people from crossing at that point. He also noted that you cannot make a u -turn on S1 at Hospital Road. He also noted that staff is uncomfortable with constructing a lei because of the 4 lanes from the other side. In answer to Commissioner Marston's question, Director Morgan stated that the land for this parcel was voted on by City Council in 2006 and listed as active. Director Morgan stated that he has received some questions regarding the outreach c Plan - this project as one of them. He noted that he spoke with Asst City Manac reported that the outreach was extensive whether it was focused on Sunset Ridge or 1 Element or the land use designations for the acreages. Parks, Beaches £t Recreation Commission Regular Meeting March 4, 2008 - 7pm Page 1 4 meeting is to hear from the community and not to answer questions as we are still in t part The following oeoule made spoke at the meetin Kathy Arblaster Jackie Davidson Mike Lombardi Barbara Taylor Jenny Lombardi Robert Orby Helen (no last name given) Chris Bebo Don Brunner Michael Alta Byron De Arakal Richard Roses Lance Bell Fariq Ghanem Christi Plesfig Mark Gonzales Ted Berry Jr. Jim Harris Jane Drew Elizabeth Beresford Kristine Adams Jan Vandersloot Ted Berry Sr. Michael Daly Fred Cornwall The following comments were stated: • More soccer fields - more children use them and so the City should be fair across th • If the park was only for soccer then there would be one park solely used for soccer • It will become Sunset Stadium • Quality of life for people in the Crest should be important to the City of Newport 131 • Noise study should be done • Spending $5M for a passive park is just as good of an idea as an active park • Was an EIR done before the City bought the land? • Where would Newport Crest like the children to play if not here • 1 do not have children and do not want to hear or see children playing out my wind • Concern of overdevelopment, noise nuisance and safety • Can you ensure that the Crest does not become a parking lot and will the City co) extra parking guards • City should compromise and it should become more of a passive park • The park should include a memorial to Louise Greely • Baseball fields should be smaller • More soccer fields, no baseball fields • What will happen if Banning Ranch becomes a park • There should be an analysis of plants on the land • When was the public outreach done for this land before it was named active with Plan • The City should consider Banning Ranch before completing plans for this park • Suggested a pedestrian bridge be built for better access. Parks, Beaches £t Recreation Commission Regular Meeting March 4, 2008 - 7pm Page 1 5 Chair Brown closed the public discussion Chair Brown stated that he believed that the Commission has some latitude here Commission can simply do nothing and make it available to the Council, discuss it ai recommendations. Director Morgan stated that the charge from the City Council was to reach out to tr take input and bring back to them what was said. In answer to Commissioner Lugar's question, Director Morgan stated that when the made, staff provided to Cal Trans at their request a rough draft of sports fields on sports fields were written into the request to purchase. When the property was acgi Trans staff met with them onsite and they were well aware that sports parks would design. He reminded the public and commission that the field is zoned what it is today. Commissioner Lugar stated that his question had more to do with the phase 1 environr that is usually done before purchase, and asked if the land was just visually contaminants? Director Morgan stated that is probably the extent of the research that was done. Commissioner Lugar stated that he had been a member of the General Plan Advisory four years and co -chair for three years and vice chair the very first year. He went or Commissioner Marston had also been a member of the committee along with sl members, noting that Dr. Vandersloot had been an original member and so was Lou - appreciated their input. He stated that to his recollection Louise had always wantec be a park and had worked with Jan Debay and noted that he did not recall her spE needed to be a passive park but rather a democratic park and how that works out reg vs. active I believe she would have left that up to the voters. He stated that it did General Plan as an active park. It was understood that during the four years of n month and sometimes more that all were publicly noticed and people were begged to the committee what they thought and noted that he did not believe that the committ any residents in the area that are here tonight as to whether it should be a Commissioner Lugar stated that he was concerned about that because the some are ar General Plan did not consider their interests when in fact it did. He stated tha. something that everyone is sensitive to but yet everyone that knew that a park would knew it would be noisy and now that it is going to be in the backyard here they come. he does want to hear from the community but that the only recourse would be 1 General Plan and outside of that it has always been understood that it would be a Commissioner Lugar stated that in fairness to the numbers of children that play soccer play baseball and commented that it is imbalanced and that he would support sole use Parks, Beaches £t Recreation Commission Regular Meeting March 4, 2008 - 7pm Page 1 6 Commissioner Marston suggested that we recommend to City Council that a noise stu see what kinds of measures can be taken to dissipate noise before more concept plans Discussion ensued regarding sound walls, acoustic barriers, noise study, noise spec scheduling of fields, elevations, etc. Chair Brown stated that this is the 4th outreach meeting that he has attended and has discussion on the park. He stated that he believes that many if not most of the issues can be mitigated, probably not to everyone's satisfaction. He stated that he had F General Plan could just be changed but that is easily said but not realistic. Also he sta opinion it will be an active park and use could be mitigated as far as hours of use, fie the audience to focus on mitigation of the issues as opposed to pursuing the notion o General Plan. This concept plan for the park is very general and most of the questions answers because we are not at that point. An EIR will be done, and if the audience rE in your attempts to mitigate some of the uses then they could be addressed but if you in the passive park issue and changing the General Plan that it would prevent all of will eventually happen. Chair Brown urged that this be kept in mind as the process mop Motion by Commissioner Marston to recommend to the City Council that a conducted at Sunset Ridge Park. COMMITTEE REPORTS - Parks - Nothing to report. RSS - Nothing to report. Budget - Commissioner Garrett stated that a meeting was held tonight and thanked staff for a coml noted that it would be presented to the full Commission next month. AD - Hoc —Youth Sports Liaison - Nothing to report — Community Services Award - Commissioner Lugar recommended Dr. Perry for the Superintendent Levin stated that he would have staff write up a recommendation for the comm Other —Santa Ana River Vision Plan- Commissioner Trapp stated that they had met in January and foc areas. Next meeting is scheduled for March 26 and will review final plans. Commissioner Lugar help with restrictions of easements regarding SCE, etc. —1 / 1 Marine Memorial Committee- Commissioner Garrett stated that the unveiling will take plz 1 pm at Castaways Park and urged the Commission to attend and noted that all the funds have b, — MarinaPark - Commissioner Garrett stated that there is controversy regarding the building he to City Council Study Session on March 11. Commissioner Marston stated that the McFadden Groundbreaking would take place on Mar and urged everyone to attend. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS