City Heights Area Planning Committee

Minutes November 2013 - January 2014

CITY HEIGHTS AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE

 Minutes of the meeting of January 6, 2014

3910 University Ave City Heights CA 92105

 

1.
 The meeting was called to order at 6:34PM.  Russ Connelly, Emily Cox, Angeli Hernádez, Sally Lemmie, Mazda Mehraz, Guy Mock, Amanda Moss, Marc Munic, David Nelson, Katia Rodriguez, Jessie Sergent, Patty Vaccariello, Jim Varnadore, and Abdullahi Yusuf formed a quorum.  Ahmedei Cheikgurei, Kenton Finkbeiner, Mark Kassab, Ahmed Malinomar, Jenny Anna Miller, Jeanette Neeley, Gerardo Perez, and Hong Tran, absent.

 

2.
Russ offered, Amanda seconded a motion to adopt the agenda.  The committee voted 11/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

3.
 The minutes of December 2, 2013 were adopted.

 

4.
 Ms. Evans-Calderwood spoke about a deceased former Committee member, Rocky Neptun. 
Others made brief announcements.

 

5.
 Julio Rivera and Rudy Vargas from Council District-9 made brief reports.

 

6.
  Jessie, Guy, David, Russ, Emily, Angeli, and Katia made announcements.

 

7.1
The Committee began a review of the draft Public Facilities Finance Plan.  After it became obvious that the work was better suited to a smaller group of members, the Chair entertained a motion to
continue.  Russ offered, Jessie seconded a motion to continue the matter.  The Committee voted 13/0/0 (Chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

7.2
Mike Singleton and others from KTU+A offered a PowerPoint presentation about the City Heights Urban Greening project that has been underway for several months.  A printed version of the power point was distributed.  After the presentation, the Committee members and the audience asked questions about the project and its proposed future uses.  

7.3 

The election subcommittee offered a brief report of preparations for the March election of members. 

 

8.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:49, to meet again February 3, 2014 at the time and place listed above.  If called, a mid-month meeting will be held Tuesday, January 21 at 6:30PM in the Mid-City Police Substation.  Separate agenda will be issued and posted.

 

CITY HEIGHTS AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE

 Minutes of the meeting of December 2, 2013

3910 University Ave City Heights CA 92105

 

1.  The meeting was called to order at 6:34PM.  Ahmedei Cheikgurei, Russ Connelly, Emily Cox,
Kenton Finkbeiner, Mark Kassab, Ahmed Malinomar, Mazda Mehraz, Guy Mock, Marc
Munic, Jeanette Neeley, David Nelson, Katia Rodriguez, Jessie Sergent, Patty
Vaccariello, Jim Varnadore, and Abdullahi Yusuf formed a quorum.  Angeli Hernádez,
Sally Lemmie, Jenny Anna Miller, Amanda Moss, Gerardo Perez, and Hong Tran, absent.

 

2. Russ offered, Jessie seconded a motion to adopt the agenda.  The committee voted 12/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

3.  The minutes of October 7, 2013 and November 4 adopted.

 

4.  There was no off-agenda public comment.

 

5.  There was no staff comment.

 

6.  Katia, Jeanette, Emily, Jessie, and Jim made announcements.  Patty reviewed an earlier meeting in City Heights with Council members Kersey and Emerald, about infrastructure repair.  She reported that a new park near 5000 Wightman Street will be funded from the next infrastructure bond along with Fire Station-17 and the preparations for a new Fire Station near Home Ave and Federal Blvd.

 

7.1 Jill Cleveland described a proposal to add an emergency generator to a wireless communication facility at 3875 Swift Avenue. After discussion, Russ offered, Kenton seconded a motion to  recommend approval of the project and to request that the applicant add another layer of
covering over the tower structure that supports the antenna installation.  The Committee voted 15/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

7.2 Rebecca Louie from Wakeland Housing reported on a plan it has with the City Heights CDC to re-finance the CDC’s property inventory and make significant upgrades of those properties.  The total cost is expected to be near $3 million.   The Committee asked questions about what would be done and how relocation would be accomplished.  There were questions about the structure of the joint venture between Wakeland and the CDC and detailed questions about the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program that will provide loans.  There were questions and recommendations to the partners about having money enough to maintain the properties into the future and not have to re-finance again after some years to repair and restore them. 

7.3  Abril Rodriguez from Covered California, the state’s insurance exchange, described the  affordable Care Act and how it works in California.  She urged everyone to make contact with the agency early and arrange coverage.

 

7.4  Kenton distributed a handout describing his idea for a community identification sign and  dscussed its particulars, including cost and financing.  After discussion, David offered, Mazda seconded a motion recommending approval of the sign at a site to be decided later.  The
Committee voted 13/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

7.5  Russ (Committee vice-Chair) reviewed the progress to date of the update of the Mid-City Public Facilities Finance Plan.  The Committee will continue to review and update the plan in the future.

 

7.6 The election subcommittee reported on the status and progress of the 2014 committee election.

 

8.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:25PM to meet again January 6, 2014 at the time and place listed above.  If called, a mid-month meeting will be held Monday, December 16 at 6:30PM in the Mid-City Police Substation.  Separate agenda will be issued and posted.

 

CITY HEIGHTS AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE

 Minutes of the meeting of November 4, 2013

3910 University Ave  City Heights CA 92105

 

1.  The meeting was called to order at 6:30PM.  Ahmedei Cheikgurei, Russ Connelly, Emily Cox,
Kenton Finkbeiner, Angeli Hernádez, Mark Kassab, Sally Lemmie, Mazda Mehraz, Guy Mock, Amanda Moss, Marc Munic, Jeanette Neeley, David Nelson, Katia Rodriguez, Jessie Sergent, Hong Tran, Patty Vaccariello, Jim Varnadore, and Abdullahi Yusuf formed a quorum.  Ahmed Malinomar, Jenny Anna Miller, and Gerardo Perez absent.

 

2. Jeanette offered, David seconded a motion to adopt the agenda.  The committee voted 17/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

3.  The minutes of October 7, 2013 were Held until the December meeting.

 

4.  There was no off-agenda comment.

 

5.  Bill Fulton announced the restoration of the planning department, now named Planning, Neighborhoods, and Economic Development department.  Mr. Fulton heads the department and described its composition, etc.  Rudy Vargas from CD-9 distributed a newsletter and reported the progress of several pending projects.  In particular, he solicited applications from young people to be interns on the Council District-9 staff.

 

6.  Emily, Guy, Jeanette, Katia, Amanda, David, Sally, Abdullahi, and Jessie made announcements about past and future activities

 

7.1 Vickie Burgess distributed a draft Public Facilities Finance Plan (PFFP) for the Mid-City communities.  She asked that the Committee review and comment before January.  The Chairwoman announced that the PFFP would be an agenda item at the mid-month meeting. 
David asked whether the fee increases in the PFFP would freeze out new construction.  Robert Lief asked whether the fee increases would affect the cost of housing.  There was a brief discussion of both questions.

 

7.2 Kenton distributed three draft drawings for a City Heights Identification Sign that he would like to see built.  After discussion, the Committee informally gave the design based on the Silverado
Ballroom 16 votes, the design based on the Kensington Community ID Sign 2 votes, and a more generic design 0 votes.  Community Planner Michael Prinz will examine the City regulations about
community identification signage to determine what the process might be to have a sign installed.

 

 7.3  The chairwoman solicited volunteers for the 2014 election sub-committee.  Katia Rodriguez, Marc Munic, and ?? volunteered.  The Committee Secretary will be the technical advisor to the election subcommittee.

 

7.4  The Committee reviewed the list of projects that can be completed with monies from an earlier Redevelopment Bond sale.  After discussion, ?? moved, ?? Seconded a recommendation that the Silverado Ballroom, the Euclid Avenue East side street improvements, and the Colina Park neighborhood sidewalk and street light project begin immediately.  Those projects had been recommended earlier by the City Heights Redevelopment Project Area Committee before the State eliminated redevelopment tax increment funding.  The Committee voted 15/1/0 (chair not voting)
and the motion passed.

 

7.5  A representative of Civic San Diego presented a specific plan for economic development in City Heights that it had written.  Jim objected to the plan having been developed in secret, without  notifying the Community, the Committee, or its Chairwoman.  David proposed no density increases and no parking reductions.  Robert Lief wanted jobs for low-income families, not increased costs for
housing, and urged that water availability be ascertained before such a plan is adopted.  Guy noted the need for a plan that helps City Heights rather than the downtown area, and proposed fixing past
failures before adding density.  Katia suggested there might be a way to make the plan more real, better fit to the need.  Nancy Lytle (CivicSD), in response to a question about the plan’s ability to accomplish large projects in a community with small lots, suggested cooperation among property owners.  Russ reminded the Committee that the plan, as presented, makes no allowances for cumulative impacts from past misadventures or from future activities.  Jim proposed keeping Civic San Diego out of City Heights entirely.  David and Kenton remarked that they would like City Heights to get Civic San Diego’s money but not its control.  The Chairwoman did not entertain motions.

 

8.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:10PM to meet again November 4, 2013 at the time and place listed above.  If called, a mid-month meeting will be held Monday, October 21 at 6:30PM in the Mid-City Police Substation.  Separate agenda will be issued and posted.