City Heights Area Planning Committee

Minutes November 2014 - January 2015

CITY HEIGHTS AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

Minutes of the meeting of January 5, 2014

as amended and approved

3910 University Avenue

City Heights, CA
92105

 

1. 
The meeting was called to order at 6:30PM.  Russ Connelly, Kenton Finkbeiner, Josefina
Garcia, Georgette Gomez, Mark Kassab, Robert Leif, Ahmed Malinomar, Mazda
Mehraz, Marc Munic, Jeanette Neeley, David Nelson, Samantha Ollinger, Patty
Vaccariello, Jim Varnadore, Kiley Wallace, and Abdullahi Yusuf formed a
quorum.  Sally Lemmie, Amanda Moss, and Leslie Renteria, were absent.

 

2. David offered, Ahmed seconded a motion to adopt the agenda.  The
committee voted 14/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

3. The minutes of November 3, 2014 were corrected and adopted.

 

4.  Claudia Baltazar and Dawn Kamali reported the status of an ABC
application at 4740 Orange Avenue.  They believe the application will come to the
Committee for a recommendation.

 

5. Julio Rivera from Council District-9 made a brief status report and
distributed the district newsletter.

 

6. 
Russ, Ahmed, Jim, and Patty made announcements.  Patty announced the completion of the current
Public Facilities Finance Plan and reminded everyone of the Election in March.

 

7.1 The Committee heard an information report from City staff about a Sewer Group Job that will be done in the Western part of City Heights .

 

7.2 
The Deputy Director and the Assistant Director for Park and Recreation discussed the City’s plans for the Copley YMCA after it ceases activities in Park de la Cruz.  There was discussion
and several questions and answers.

 

7.3 
Social Advocates for Youth reported on its youth group and the group’s activities to monitor ABC licensees inCityHeights.  There was discussion, questions, and answers.

 

7.4 The Committee heard a report on the status of the City’s Climate Action Plan. 
The document is in environmental review and might not be ready for review for another year.  After discussion, Ahmed offered, Georgette seconded a motion to support the goals of the Climate
Action Plan. After further discussion the maker and second accepted amendments to recommend
revising the current CAP to provide for 10% of travel on bicycles by the year 2020 and to identify City
Heights as a transit priority community. The Committee voted 13/1/1 (Chair not voting) and the
motion passed.

 

7.5 The Chairwoman reported that the incumbent for the At Large-16 seat had resigned.  Mark offered, Marc seconded a motion to vacate the At Large-16 seat.  The Committee voted 15/0/0 (Chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

7.6 The Chair of the Election Subcommittee reported the status of the election effort and urged everyone who wished to run for a seat to attend the February 2015 meeting.

 

8.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:27PM to convene again February 2, 2015 at
the time and place listed above.  If called, a mid-month meeting will be held Monday, January 19 at 6:30PM in the Mid-City Police Substation.  Separate agenda will be issued and posted.

 

No December 2014 meeting was held.

 

 

CITY HEIGHTS AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

Minutes of the meeting of
November 3, 2014

3910 University Avenue

City Heights, CA
92105

 

1. 
The meeting was called to order at 6:31PM.  Russ Connelly, Kenton Finkbeiner, Georgette
Gomez, Mark Kassab, Robert Leif, Sally Lemmie, Mazda Mehraz, Amanda Moss, Jeanette
Neeley, David Nelson, Leslie Renteria, Patty Vaccariello, Jim Varnadore, Kiley
Wallace, and Abdullahi Yusuf formed a quorum. 
Ahmed Malinomar, Marc Munic, and Samantha Ollinger were absent.

 2. Robert offered, Russ seconded a motion to adopt the agenda.  The committee voted 13/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 3. The minutes of October 6, 2014 were corrected and adopted.

 4.  Mark Tran offered off-agenda public comment.

 5.  Rudy Vargas from Council District-9 made brief status reports and distributed the district newsletter.

 6. David, Russ, Kenton, and Jeanette, made announcements.

 7.1 The Committee heard an information report from City staff member Katherine Crow a Federal program called “Promise Zone Designation”.  The designation offers applicants for Federal Programs in the zone additional weight when their applications are scores.  The Promise Zone in San Diego includes central City Heights, Barrio Logan, and Logan Heights.  There was discussion about the program.

 7.2  The Chairwoman announced a vacancy in Youth Seat-15 and solicited a volunteer.  None responded.

 

7.3  The Chairwoman announced vacancies in committee adult seats and solicited volunteers.  Josefina Garcia volunteered and was elected to the School/Non-profit-16 seat.

 7.4 The Committee heard a request from several neighbors asking it to oppose a new skate park at Park de la Cruz.  Neighbors favoring the skate park were also present.  There was a long discussion
of the matter by members of the audience and by the Committee.  After discussion, Robert offered, Russ seconded a motion to urge the City to seek a time extension on the State grant that will fund the park, to allow the City to examine alternative sites.  The Committee voted 15/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 7.5 The Committee heard a presentation by Shelley Kilbourne to co-locate cell phone antennas on the currently operatingTV tower at 4600 Air Way.  In the discussion, Russ pointed out that the antennas being co-located are presently sited on a nearby site that should be removed after the
co-location.  David offered, Jeanette seconded a motion to recommend approval of the co-location and, if that is approved by the City, to remove the antenna pole at the present site.  The Committee voted 11/3/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

7.6 The Chairwoman announced the 2015 election date and solicited volunteers for the election
sub-committee.  Russ, Robert, Josefina, and the Chairwoman volunteered and were empanelled.

 

8.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:43PM to convene again December 1, 2014 at
the time and place listed above.  If called, a mid-month meeting will be held Monday, November 17 at 6:30PM in the Mid-City Police Substation.  Separate agenda will be issued and posted.