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Feb. 2009 minutes to be approved at April PAC meeting. This PAC meeting followed directly after a public hearing scheduled at 6:30 p.m. at the Santa Ana Heights Fire Station #7 community room regarding: Undergrounding of Mesa, Cypress & Orchard Streets - presented by: City Of Newport Beach Staff- Mike Sinacori Tom Sanderfur Joan Cox - Harris & Associates, Project Managers from SCE & AT&T PAC meeting called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Vice Chairperson Tim Stoaks. Attendance: Tim Stoaks, Jayne Jones, Gary Hall, Richard Moriarty, Excused Absences: Mary Soluka, Rick Dayton, Gary Golson Unexcused Absences: Ted Bosley Additional attendees: Supervisor Moorlach, Mayor Selich, Barbara Venezia, Dave Kiff, Mario Mainero, Councilwoman Daigle and George Britton Recognition of Barbara Venezia for years of service on SAHPAC and the Community. Presentation of proclamation from County [Supervisor Moorlach] & City [Mayor Selich] Presentation of plaque. Approval of 10/1/08 Meeting Minutes Richard Moriarty motioned to approve the October 2008 minutes, Gary Hall second, minutes approved. Election of New PAC Chairperson Tim Stoaks nominated by Gary Hall and unanimously voted in as PAC Chair Public Comments: CERT preparedness classes were mentioned by Orchard St. resident Carolyn Dobbins. The next class starts tomorrow night and another on Saturday Feb. 21. Carol stated there are only 3 people in the area that have been through the class and she encouraged more residents to attend and become certified. Dave Kiff announced that a sober living residence in Newport Beach is going through the use permit process and a public hearing is set for Friday Feb 20 at 2pm at city council chambers. Sharon Hill asked if there are any coordinated efforts by the city to look at fire issues around homes to eliminate brush. Fire chief Steve Lewis said anyone can call his office any time and they will look into it. The fire dept. will also come out to sites and give recommendations. Tim mentioned he can put info on the PAC web site. Tim reminded us that code enforcement can also be contacted for this type of concern and their info is on the PAC web site. Another person asked as to what can be done about all the boats and trailers in driveways. Brian of code enforcement said to call him on specific locations. And that some boats and trailers are allowed in driveways but they can look at each situation. No other public comments. Project updates: Mesa Birch Park – Opening day – Ribbon cutting picture. Dave Kiff reported the park is still not open and the city is still having problems with the contractor finishing the project. He does not have a deadline at this time. Kline Drive George Britton Reports the engineering plans, including the changes to a few SCE electrical poles, for this project is virtually done. The legal documents are almost complete (these documents include the legal descriptions of where the road will be, release of the existing easements, etc.). Next step when the documents are ready is for a meeting to be held at which signatures from owners will be obtained, notarized and then the project will begin in the next several months. Bristol Sidewalk Note: report not given during meeting George Britton reports that the County’s Public Works Department has solved the dilemma related to the CALTRANS conduit to SR73 and it has been relocated. Once SCE moves some utilities, the project can be completed. It appears as if this relocation can take place in next month or so, with construction to follow. Post Meeting information: Mario; I checked with my Construction Division manager and report the following milestone schedule for the completion of the Bristol Street widening/sidewalk project. Our intent is to complete the project on April 30, 2009. Please let me know if you have any question on this information. Thanks. Bristol Street Widening/Sidewalk Project Status: • Edison to relocate facilities by February 20, 2009. • Contractor to complete curb and gutter by March 6, 2009. • Contractor will then install 1200 linear feet of sidewalk by March 27, 2009. • Contractor will complete paving, traffic detector loops and striping April 17, 2009. • Contractor to finish placing fencing behind sidewalk and perform punch list work by April 30, 2009. • Original contract award amount $417,784. • Estimated final cost ~$450,000. • Approximately 7.2% increased cost due to project delay and change orders. Regards, Ignacio G. Ochoa, P.E. Director of Engineering/Chief Engineer Horse Arena- Jayne Jones reported that after years of preparing for the arena to be constructed in the Delhi channel the county flood control department has decided that their project to widen the channel has been moved forward with a “possible” date of 2016. This date is now too close for county to justify spending money for a temporary arena in that area. Dave got involved back in 2000 Earlier Costal Commission permit expired and the city picked up the project in 2003. Upper bay got involved and worked with regional control. We had to go through the entire costal commission process at about that point then Regional Board said they will not approve the project now because the mitigation and planting habitat comes after the flood control project is finished. Mario pointed out the county’s point of view is that the project has been delayed too long and the county is not inclined to spend money on something that has to be removed in 6 or 7 years. The county supervisors understand how important this project is to our community even though some Supervisors don’t believe in redevelopment; this project was passed with a 3 to 1 vote with one abstention. Mario reminded us that Redevelopment, by law, is all about mitigation of blight and blight is what the funds are to aid. These projects have included soundproofing homes, undergrounding electrical poles, the fire station construction and park. Mario also stated that the county is still committed to putting in the arena and they want to continue to work with City Council and PAC to find other options. Mario assured us that the county has not foreclosed on this project. County Engineer Nadeem Majaj was introduced by Mario. Nadeem gave a presentation as to what plans are in place for the expansion of the Delhi channel and he provided an aerial map of the project area with the Horse Arena plans overlaid. He stated that the Flood Control District has an obligation to finish this project. A statewide law makes it necessary to provide improvements to protect from the 100 year flood. The channel is a regulatory condition and was planned to be completed in the mid 90’s. Once the bankruptcy occurred this project stalled and Flood Control focused on other areas that were more severely in danger of flooding. Nadeem went on to say the Delhi channel area was low on their priority when they were approached by the City of Newport regarding the arena and because the area was not being used they were in favor of the project. Then the priorities shifted and the arena never got around to being completed from first meeting in 2007. Recently the Regional Water Control Board sent Flood Control a letter asking them to finish the project. Now it is believed that, at best, the project will be stalled to 2015. The whole area will be used for the “new channel” and require mitigation, although there maybe room for a trail. It was asked if even more temporary poles could be constructed until flood control starts their project. Dave Kiff explained that any pole is considered a project to the coastal commission and they would have to give their permission. With this information presented Tim Stoaks asked if moving the arena to Bayview Park would be supported by county. Dave Kiff said the park might not be a good location because it’s still in the costal zone and will have similar requirements as the channel project. He also suggests that neighbors may raise concerns about an equestrian arena being next to their homes. Dave also feels the park may be reaching outside of the horse community. Dave suggested we write a letter to the city and it will have to go through the parks commission. Holly Jarvis stated that an equestrian facility is included in the specific plan and several properties have been identified over the years but were never purchased because the county didn’t move fast enough. With the delays the project gets shrunk. She reminded us that we have kids here in therapeutic programs and after school lessons and an arena is needed for these programs. Jayne Jones added that the equestrian community was cut in half when redevelopment occurred and decided to put commercial buildings in this area that once was a larger equestrian area. This is considered blight to the equestrian community. Because of this blight the equestrians were promised an area where they could ride in an arena and board horses in exchange for taking away so much of their community and she feels that this promise should be completed. Newport City Council member Daigle was asked if she would support the relocation of the arenas. She stated it was unfortunate the project didn’t pan out for the Delhi channel and she will have to look at the project locations and see what part of the community would be in favor of it before she can say she will support it. Jayne Jones made a motion to move forward on relocating the arena either to the city owned park at the east end of Mesa Dr. known as Bayview Park or to finding an alternate permanent location for the arenas including looking into buying a property in the Residential Equestrian [REQ] area in order to complete this project and include the Equestrian Center that is required in the specific plan. Gary Hall seconds the motion and motion is passed. Code Enforcement Brian of code enforcement reminded us to be careful during the wet session with construction and horse waste. Also to be award of people going through trash for recyclable items and he provided filers on the subject. A motion to adjourn at 8:55 was offered by Richard Moriarty, second by Gary Hall, meeting adjourned. Minutes respectfully submitted by PAC Secretary Jayne Jones |
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