City Heights Area Planning Committee

Minutes November 2017 - January 2018

CITY HEIGHTS AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE

Revised Minutes of January 3, 2018

 

1. Chairman Russ Connelly called the meeting to order at 6:34PM. Rickie Brown, Russ Connelly, Maria Cortez, Kindra Green Carson, Brian Green Carson, Roddy Jerome, Aracely Lara, Taylor McDonald, Mazda Mehraz, Halima Musa, David Nelson, Andre Sanz, Juan Pablo Sanchez, Jessie Sergent, Jim Varnadore and Abdullahi Yusuf were present. Krista Berry Ortega, Jose Hernandez, Patty Vaccariello, and Randy van Vleck were absent.

 

2. Roddy moved, Jessie seconded a motion to adopt the agenda. The Committee voted 14/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

3. The revised minutes of November 6, and draft minutes of December 4, 2017 were accepted.

 

4. Robert Leif, David Bowen, and Mark Jolles offered public comments.

 

5. Kelvin Barrios from CD-9 offered staff comments and updates.

 

6. Andre, Taylor, Aracely, and Maria offered Committee comment.

 

7. The Chairman reported about the City’s Undergrounding Master plan, about a fire station proposed near Fairmount Avenue and Home Avenue, and about recusals from participation in Committee activities.

 

8.1 The Chairman solicited nominees for the vacant Youth-18 seat. No one volunteered. The Chairman solicited nominees for the vacant School/Non-profit-18 seat. Brenda Diaz and Gerald Womaniala asked to be nominated and each was asked to speak. David nominated Brenda Diaz, Jesse seconded, and the Commmittee voted 7/0/7. Kindra nominated Gerald Womaniala, Rickie seconded, and the committee voted 9/0/5 (chair not voting). The chair accepted Gerald in the School/Non-profit seat.

 

8.2 Alison Mandelbaum from Price Charities offered an update on the project at the Northeast corner of Fairmount Avenue and University Avenue. The applicant has changed its proposal and asked the Committee to review the new proposal. Four major changes were introduced: 1) a 5,000SqFt meeting room was added; 2) some parking was reduced and re-arranged; 3) some units will be changed to 4-bedroom units; and 3) all residential units will be 100% Affordable – no market rate units. There was considerable discussion. After discussion, Taylor offered, Jim seconded a motion to recommend approval of a Site Development Permit and Map Waiver with the four changes. The Committee voted 4/11/0 (chair not voting) and the motion failed. After further discussion, Brian offered, Juan Pablo seconded a motion to recommend approval of the revised plan with the four major changes and the additional condition that community groups in City Heights be allowed to control the scheduling of the meeting room using a Community Benefit Agreement arranged with the applicant. The Committee voted 10/6/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

8.3 Architect Bret Farrow presented an application for a Site Development Permit and Map Waiver to subdivide a residential parcel which now has two houses on it into three separate lots and to build a third house on the parcel created by the division. After discussion, Juan Pablo offered, Maria seconded a motion to recommend approval. The Committee voted 12/2/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

8.4 Roberto Vejar-Parra of the City public works department described a pipeline upgrade project planned for the Community. The Committee and the audience asked questions and discussed the project.

 

8.5 Maria offered a report of progress with preparations for the election in March.

 

9. The meeting was adjourned at 9:20PM.

 

 

CITY HEIGHTS AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE

  

 Minutes of December 4, 2017

 

1. Chairman Russ Connelly called the meeting to order at 6:33PM. Krista Berry Ortega, Rickie Brown, Russ Connelly, Maria Cortez, Brian Green Carson, Kindra Green Carson, Jose Hernandez, Taylor McDonald, Mazda Mehraz, Halima Musa, David Nelson, Andre Sanz, Jessie Sergent, Randy van Vleck, Jim Varnadore and Abdullahi Yusuf were present. Roddy Jerome, Aracely Lara, Juan Pablo Sanchez, Terry Stanley and Patty Vaccariello were absent.

 

2. At the chairman’s request, Jim offered, Kindra seconded a motion to adopt the agenda. The Committee voted 13/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

3. The Minutes of November 6, 2017 were accepted.

 

4. Bob Leif offered off agenda public comment.

 

5. Kelvin Barrios from CD-9 offered staff comments.

 

6. Jim, Brian, Kindra, Randy, Taylor, Jóse, and Krista offered Committee comment.

 

7. Later in the meeting, the Chairman offered a report about the November 2017 Community Planners Committee meeting to the effect that the City will soon re-evaluate its utility undergrounding program. It plans several outreach meetings and intends to revise the current program and send the proposed revisions to the City Council sometime in April 2018.

 

8.1 The Chairman solicited nominees for the vacant Youth-18 seat. No one volunteered.

 

8.2 Alison Mandelbaum from Price Charities offered an update on the project at the Northeast corner of Fairmount Avenue and El Cajon Blvd. It expects to consolidate the 16 parcels involved and to build 195 new homes, The Committee asked questions about traffic, parking, a dedicated right-turn from Westbound El Cajon Blvd to Northbound Fairmount. Price will keep City Heights apprised of the project’s progress.

 

8.3 No one appeared to present this item.

 

8.4 Sydney Connell from Affirmed Housing offered a report of plans to upgrade and repair the Hollywood Palms housing project. The agreement between City Heights and the owners of the project must be renewed and revised in order to accomplish that repair project. After discussion, a motion was offered and seconded to recommend approval of a corrected draft memorandum which substitutes the City Heights Area Planning Committee for the now-defunct City Heights Community Task Group. The Committee voted 13/0/1 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

8.5 Gretchen Sorenson from Civic San Diego reported the status of funds remaining after the demise of Redevelopment in California. There appear to be about $1.7 million remaining for infrastructure projects. Civic San Diego needs guidance from City Heights about how to allocate these funds and any other small amounts that might appear later. Sorenson offered a list of possible projects for the Committee’s consideration. After discussion, it was clear the Committee was not ready to decide the matter. Jim offered, Krista seconded a motion to continue the matter until it can be returned to the Committee ready for a decision. The Committee voted 15/0/0 (Chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

8.6 The Chairman led a discussion of the community’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) projects. After the CHAPC sent its CIP recommendations to the Council member, she prepared a different list of CIP priorities. The Chairman inquired whether the Committee should send a letter to the Council member explaining the Committee’s recommendation. There was general agreement within the membership. Kelvin Barrios from the CD-9 staff asked for a list that the Council member can put into a budget memorandum to the Mayor. Taylor suggested these: 1) sidewalks along Euclid Avenue; 2) sidewalks & street lighting in City Heights and a fire station along Home Avenue; and 3) Street lights and other improvements along University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard. Krista recommended supporting the El Cajon Boulevard “whole street” project. The Chairman offered and Andre seconded a motion to recommend to the Council member that her budget memorandum to the Mayor should prioritize safety oriented items such as fire stations, street lights, and sidewalks in the FY-19 budget. The Committee voted 12/3/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

8.7 Steve Laub, representing 7-Eleven Corporation, confirmed that 7-Eleven had purchased many Valero gas stations and intends to convert some to 7-Eleven convenience stores. The Valero at Home Avenue and Fairmount Avenue is one of those. He outlined the Corporation’s general idea about that store to include a new building, re-locating the fuel pumps, and adding parking. The Committee asked several clarifying questions and offered suggestions. The item will be heard for full review at a future meeting.

 

9. The meeting was adjourned at 8:59PM.

 

 

Minutes of November 6, 2017

 

1. Chairman Russ Connelly called the meeting to order at 6:32PM. Krista Berry Ortega, Rickie Brown, Russ Connelly, Maria Cortez, Brian Green Carson, Kindra Green Carson, Roddy Jerome, Aracely Lara, Mazda Mehraz, David Nelson, Juan Pablo Sanchez, Andre Sanz, Jessie Sergent, Patty Vaccariello, Randy van Vleck, Jim Varnadore, and Abdullahi Yusuf were present. Jose Hernandez, Taylor McDonald, Terry Stanley were absent.

 

2. After the chairman asked to move information item 8.4 – City Heights Transit Plazas – to Off-agenda public comment, Jim offered, Abdullahi seconded a motion to adopt the amended agenda. The Committee voted 13/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

3. The Minutes of September 6, 2017 were accepted.

 

4. Kathy Keehan from the County APCD, Troy Murphee from the College Area Planning Committee offered off agenda public comment. Sharon Cooney offered an information report on the status of the transit plazas over SR-15 which are expected to open in December 2017.

 

5. Kelvin Barrios and Gloria Cardenas from CD-9 offered staff comments.

 

6. Randy, Maria, Krista, Brian, David, Jim, and Russ offered Committee comment.

 

7. The Chairman offered a report about the October, 2017 Community Planners Committee.

 

8.1 The Chairman solicited nominees for vacant seats. Halima Musa asked to be considered for a Youth Seat. After discussion and after the Secretary reviewed Musa’s application, Patty nominated and Krista seconded Halima Musa to occupy the Youth-19 seat. The Committee voted 16/0/0 and the nomination was confirmed. Musa took the Youth-19 seat.

 

8.2 Brandon Costa from T-Mobile made a presentation about extending a Neighborhood Use Permit for a cell phone installation at 4555 El Cajon Blvd. After discussion, Jim offered, Maria seconded a motion to recommend approval. Patty offered an amendment to require tasteful decorations on the cubical box which houses the electronics of the installation. The maker and second accepted the amendment. The Committee voted 16/1/0 and the motion passed.

 

8.3 Chris Carterette from SANDAG offered a power point presentation about the Central Avenue Bike Path. After discussion, Randy moved, Roddy seconded a motion to recommend approval of the project with the addition of making Central Avenue a cul-de-sac North of El Cajon Boulevard. The Committee voted 16/0/1 and the motion passed.

 

8.4 Item moved to agenda item 4. Off-agenda public comment.

 

8.5 The chairman reviewed the overall process for the upcoming election, to be held in March 2018 and solicited volunteers for the Election Subcommittee. Rickie Brown, Maria Cortez, Halima Musa and Brian Green-Carson volunteered and were appointed.

 

9. The meeting was adjourned at 8:20PM.