City Heights Area Planning Committee

Minutes August-October 2005

August 2005

City Heights Area Planning Committee
Minutes of the August 1, 2005 Meeting


1. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM. PRESENT: Jim Varnadore, Laurie Carlock,
Russ Connelly, Larry Dennstedt, Kerri Everett, Jim Gilbert, Glenn Martinez, David Nelson, Leon Ray, Jessie Sergent, Michael Sprague, Patty Vaccariello, Kathy Evans-Calderwood, Valentina Hernandez.
ABSENT: Larry Canepa, Gabe del Rio, Thomas Du, Bob Kachi, Mark Kassab, Realenna Kama'i

2. At the applicant's request, the committee voted 9/0/4 to add 4168 44thStreet, a 12U condo conversion to the agenda.

3. Public comment, staff reports and committee announcements were heard.
PLEASE NOTE: the mid-month of August meeting has been canceled.

4. Minutes approved for; May 16, 8/3/2 , June 9 8/2/3, July 6, 9/0/4

5.1 By a vote of 10/3/0 the committee recommended approval of a tentative map for 3820 45th St.
and disapproval of a request to waiver under grounding of utilities.

5.2 By a vote of 7/5/1 the committee recommended approval of a tentative map for 4074 Cherokee Ave and disapproval of a request to waiver under grounding of utilities.

5.3 By a vote of 6/6/1 the committee recommended approval of a tentative map for 4220 Thorn St .and disapproval of a request to waiver under grounding of utilities.

5.4 By a vote of 6/6/1 the committee recommended approval of a tentative map for 4166 Wilson Ave. and disapproval of a request to waiver under grounding of utilities.

5.5 By a vote 9/4/0 the committee recommended approval of a tentative map for 4168 44th St.
and disapproval of a request to waiver under grounding of utilities.

6.1 City Heights Square landscape review was not presented.

6.2 The Chairman's Annual Report for 2004 was trailed.

6.3 By a vote of 13/0/0 the committee declared the District 2 (2007) seat vacant. The chair urged everyone to help find another District 2 resident to fill the seat.

6.4 Second drafts of the General Plan elements were distributed to be reviewed by;
Noise Element- Laurie Carlock and Larry Dennstedt
Land Use Element-Russ Connelly
Conservation Element-Kathy Evans-Calderwood
Mobility Element-Patty Vaccariello
Urban Design Element-Leon Ray
Public Facilities Service and Safety-Jim Gilbert
Economic Prosperity-Michael Sprague
Recreation Elements-Jeanette Neeley

7. The meeting was adjourned at 7;50 pm, a reminder the mid-month meeting has been canceled.

IMPORTANT DATES;
Aug. 16, 6:30pm, City Heights Rec Center-Review Teralta Park & Park de la Cruz facility
improvements.
Aug.17,6:30pm ,Jacobs Center-Sierra Club and Friends of Chollas Creek meeting about Chollas
Creek Enhancement Plan.
Aug. 23,7pm, Holy Cross Church- Review of Home Ave. Park facility improvements
Aug. 27, at Jackie Robinson YMCA getting kids ready for school, giving away supplies

NEXT MEETING: 6:30 pm September 7, 2005 ( NOTE: not Monday, Sept. 5)

September 2005

City Heights Area Planning Committee
draft Minutes of the September 7, 2005 meeting

1. The meeting was called to order at 6:30. Kathy Evans-Calderwood, Russ Connelly, Gabe del Rio, Valentina Hernandez, Mark Kassab, Glenn Martinez, David Nelson, Leon Ray, Jessie Sergent, Michael Sprague, Patty Vaccariello, and Jim Varnadore formed a quorum. Laurie Carlock, Larry Canepa, Larry Dennstedt, Thomas Du, Kerri Everett, Jim Gilbert, and Bob Kachi were absent.

2. At the applicant’s request, the Committee voted 11/0/0 (chair not voting) to add 3754 Cherokee Avenue as consent agenda item 5.3 and 3229 46th Street as business item 6.3.

3. Public comment, staff reports, and committee announcements were heard. Mr. Jon P. Derryberry, executive director of Townspeople reported on his agency’s plans to purchase and rehabilitate two apartment complexes in City Heights for use by tenants with HIV/AIDS. At Mr. Derryberry’s request the chair will prepare letters acknowledging his report.

4. Minutes for the August meeting were continued to the October meeting.

5.1, 5.2, 5.3 By a vote of 10/0/0 (chair not voting) the Committee recommended approval of a tentative map for 4219 35th Street, 4641 Home Avenue, and 3754 Cherokee Avenue. It also recommended that utilities be placed underground at all three sites and that the inclusionary units required at 4641 Home Avenue be placed on site and that a fee in lieu not be accepted.

6.1 Receipt of the 2004 annual report was continued.

6.2 The Chairman reviewed the Committee’s comments about the draft Progress Guide and General Plan, and noted that the full text is contained in the Committee’s Blue Book.

6.3 By a vote of 9/1/0 (chair not voting), the Committee recommended approval of a Neighbor-hood Use Permit for the property at 3229 46th Street.

6.4 The Committee conducted a seminar about several issues: 1) whether to use consent agenda as the vehicle for reviewing condominium conversions, with a separate consent section on the agenda; 2) whether to continue the standard recommendation for condominium conversions; 3) whether the Committee’s purposes are served by political discussions in addition to reviewing land use and transportation matters; and 4) how to achieve the Committee’s decisions.

Overall, it is the chairman’s sense of the discussion that the Committee prefers to use the consent agenda to decide of condominium conversion projects. There seemed to be a sentiment that members can and should visit upcoming projects before Committee meetings. There was no strong sentiment for adding more requirements to the standard recommendation, but the Com-mittee did agree that additional requirements could be attached to individual projects. The Committee also indicated that members may register Nay votes on individual consent items while voting Aye on others. The minutes will attempt to reflect those Nay votes.

Mr. Joseph Scarlatti of Westone Management spoke from the audience about condominium conversions. He recommended that requirements added to the standard recommendation be matters of health and safety; that other additions are usually ignored by decision makers. He also explained that for conversions of 2-4 units, tentative condominium maps may be waived by the City. For conversions of 5 or more units, tentative maps are required. Mr. Scarlatti also suggested the Committee not be bashful about adding requirements that improve the project. One audience member suggested developing a list of desirable recommendations and attaching it to all reports about Committee actions in the case of condominium conversions. Russ Connelly will include a similar item on the next Mid-Month agenda.

There seemed to be about an even division of opinion about the use of the Committee’s time for politicking the issue of condominium conversions. The sentiment seemed to be that it’s helpful to know why members vote as they do, but that was tempered by the strong Committee desire to get its work done without undue delay. In the Chair’s opinion, no changes were being suggested to the way the Committee conducts its affairs, that the members have a duty to the community and the Committee to do their homework, and that wasting Committee time is unacceptable.

Some Committee members continue to want the Committee to take advocacy positions (mostly those members’ advocacy positions) but there was no strong favorable sentiment.

7. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45PM

Draft minutes October 2005

City Heights Area Planning Committee Draft Minutes of the October 3. 20O5 meeting

1. The meeting was called to order at 6:30PM. The members were introduced: Kathy Evans-Calderwood. Laurie Carlock. Russ Connelly, Larry Dennstedt. Kerri Everett. Jim Gilbcrt Valentina Hernandez. Glen Martinez. David Nelson Jessie Sergeant. Michael Sprague. Patty Vaccariello and Jim Varnadore were present to form a quorum. Larry Canepa. Gabe Del Rio. Thomas Du, Bob Kachi. Mark Kassab. Leon Ray were absent.

2. Connelly moved. Sergeant seconded to add the condominium conversion at 4157 Menlo Avenue to the consent agenda as item 5.3. The vote 1010/0. The motion passed.

3. Public comment, staff reports, committee announcements were received.

4. Nelson moved. Vaccariello seconded approval of the August 1. 2005 minutes. Motion passed 7/4/0. Nelson moved. Vaccariello seconded approval of the September 7. 2005 minutes. Motion passed 7/1/3. It was suggested that the makers’ names as well as those that second the motion be recorded in the minutes.

5. Gilbert moved and Evans-Calderwood 2nd, to move consent items 5.1. 5.2, and 5.3 to the Business agenda as business items 6.00. 6.01, and 6.02. The vote, 10/ 0/0. approved.

6.00 After discussion Gilbert moved. Vaccariello seconded a motion to approve the condominium conversion and unit construction at 3505 Fairmont and to recommend undergrounding of utilities. Motion passed l1/0/1.

6.01 Trailed. 3818 Van Dyke Avenue- 14 Unit condominium conversion.

6.02 After discussion, Nelson moved, Martinez seconded a motion to approve the condominium conversion at 4157 Menlo Avenue and to recommend undcrgrounding of utilities. Motion passed 8/4/0.

6.1 Sprague moved. Connelly seconded a motion to recommend disapproval of a stop sign on Manzanita Place at Manzanita Drive. Motion passed 11/0/1.

6.2 Connelly moved. Evans-Calderwood seconded a motion to recommend approval of “ladder striping” on all four crosswalks of the intersection of Orange and Estrella Avenues. Motion passed 11/1/0.

6.3 Connelly moved and Hernandez seconded a motion to adopt a resolution supporting Safe Routes to School for all elementary schools in City Heights and urging the city and school district to cooperate in accomplishing these measures. There was discussion of the long range involvement of City Heights in Safe Routes to School planning and implementation. Motion passed 11/0/1.

6.4 The Model School Agency presentation wi1l be held at the November. 2005 meeting.

6.5 There was a discussion of having consent agenda items on the agenda. and other matters of committee functioning.

7. The meeting was adjourned at 9:05PM.