City Heights Area Planning Committee

Minutes - August - October 2018

CITY HEIGHTS AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE
Minutes for October 1, 2018

1. Chairman Russ Connelly called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. Brenda Diaz, Brian Green Carson, David Bowen, Jessie Sergent, Jose Hernandez, Juan Pablo Sanchez, Maria Cortez, Mazda Mehraz, Patty Vaccariello, Ramla Sahid, Randy Van Vleck, Rickie Brown, Roddy Jerome, Rosa Calvario and Scott Paquette were present. Abdullahi Yusuf, Andre Sanz, Aracely M. Lara and David Nelson were absent.

2. Minutes for September were accepted by a vote of 12/0/2. Randy Van Vleck and Juan Pablo Sanchez abstained because they were not present for the September meeting.

3. Patty Vaccariello offered, and Roddy Jerome seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The Committee voted 14/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

4. Off-agenda public comments: Roberto Garcia from the Census Bureau asked we consider a presentation about the helping the Census since City Heights has a population that is hard to count.

5. Staff reports and comment -
   Ben Hueso Representative: Dawn Hendon said 10 out the 10 bills that the Senator helped introduce into the State Senate passed.
   Georgette Gomez Representatives: Gloria Cruz and Matt Yagyagan shared the council district neighborhoods they represent as well as the Georgette’s office hours (every Friday 2:30pm-6:00pm).

6. 6.1: Toby Hallal, the architect working on the project, went over the plans for the marijuana outlet. The outlet would be for retail only, there would be no manufacturing or cultivation. They would be updating the parking, bus stop and other requirements by the City. Blake Marchand and Jon Saco owners of the March and Ash dispensary answered questions and comments from the committee and community members about fire brush management, bus stop enhancements, parking lot, security, their other location in Mission Valley, the Auburn Creek bed, proximity to schools/play grounds, and crime rates. After discussion, Patty Vaccariello offered and Roddy Jerome seconded a motion to approve the CUP for a marijuana outlet at 2281 Fairmount Avenue with two 24hr unarmed security guards, an enhanced bus waiting area on the private property, that the applicant consider hiring City Heights workers and to work with the community on projects of community benefit. The committee voted 4/11/0 (chair not voting) and the motion did not pass. No further motion was proposed for this item.
   
   6.2: Ramla Sahid expressed she wanted to stay on the committee and why she had missed 3 meetings in a row. After discussion, Maria Cortez offered and Brian Green Carson seconded a motion to keep Ramla Sahid on the committee, that she notify the Chairman if she intends to miss further meetings, that she complete the necessary City eCOW training before the next scheduled meeting and to notify the Chairman when that training is completed. The committee voted 15/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

7. The Chairman shared that the Planning Department approved the proposed changes made to our bylaws. Announced the mid-month meeting would be taking place on October 15^th and there would be a discussion about what the community wants from Wakeland (developer) for properties they are proposing to develop along University Avenue. The current building used to host CHAPC meetings has been sold so there could be a possible change of location in the future but he will keep us posted.

8. Ramla Sahid, David Bowen, Rickie Brown, Juan Pablo Sanchez, Randy Van Vleck, Maria Cortez, Mazda Mehraz, Rosa Calvario, Jose Hernandez, and Patty Vaccariello offered Committee comments.

9. The meeting adjourned at 8:31pm.

CITY HEIGHTS AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE
Approved Minutes for September 5, 2018

1. Chairman Russ Connelly called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. Abdullahi Yusuf, Andre Sanz, Aracely M. Lara, Brenda Diaz, Brian Green Carson, David Bowen, David Nelson, Jessie Sergent, Jose Hernandez, Maria Cortez, Mazda Mehraz, Patty Vaccariello, Rickie Bown, Roddy Jerome, Rosa Calvario, Scott Paquette were present. Halima Musa, Juan Pablo Sanchez, Ramla Sahid, Randy Van Vleck, were absent

2. Minutes for August were accepted.

3. Patty Vaccariello offered, and Jessie Sergent seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The Committee voted 13/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

4. Off-agenda public comments: David Bowen shared that we should all be using the Get It Done app to report the homelessness issue in our parks because were unable to use the parks because of the homeless. Maria Cortez seconded what David Bowen mentioned and shared that the Dia de Los Muertos will be on September 28^th.

5. Staff reports and comment:

Kelvin Barrios: There has been some staff movement and there will be a new member joining. City Heights will now have three representatives: Kelvin Barrios, Gloria Cruz, and Matt Yagyagan. Georgette Gomez has office hours every Friday from 2:30pm-6:00pm at the City Heights Recreation Center. The Sally Wong building will be sold to become affordable housing with rental space downstairs for community space for nonprofits.

Eric Young: Gave a report from the Mayor on homeless impacts and infrastructure in City Heights.

6.1 Sergio Salinas manager for the job at 4886 Lantana Street explained the project and answered questions the committee had. David Nelson offered and Rickie Brown seconded a motion to approve the Site Development Permit and water easement vacation for the residence at 4886 Lantana Street. The committee voted 16/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

6.2 The committee looked at the parking reconfiguration proposed on 35^th Street between Wightman Street and Swift Avenue. Patty Vaccariello offered and Brian Green Carson seconded a motion to approve that the City change to head in parking on 35^th Street between Wightman Street and Swift Avenue. The committee voted 15/1/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

6.3 The committee was informed that Halima Musa no longer meet the requirements to fill the Youth-19 seat. Roddy Jerome offered a motion and Brian Green Carson seconded a motion to accept Halima Musa’s resignation and open the seat. The committee voted 16/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

6.4 The Committee went over the following changes to CHAPC bylaws that the subcommittee discussed at the mid-month meeting August 20^th : added Section 5 to Article IV, changes were made to Section 1, 2, 3, and 4 under Article V. Roddy Jerome offered a motion and Brian Green Carson seconded a motion to approve the bylaw amendments as forwarded by the subcommittee with the corrections proposed by the committee. The committee voted 16/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

7. Chairman shared a flyer with upcoming workshop dates from the City. He mentioned that next month there will be an action item for a CUP for a marijuana outlet at 2281 Fairmount Avenue and another potential seat vacation due to a member’s lack of attendance.

8. Brian Green Carson, Andre Sanz, Roddy Jerome, Rosa Calvario, Jose Hernandez, and David Nelson offered Committee comments.

9. The meeting adjourned at 8:49pm.

Minutes for August 6th, 2018

1. Chairman Russ Connelly called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. Aracely Lara, Brian Green Carson, David Nelson, Jessie Sergent, Juan Pablo Sanchez, Maria Cortez, Mazda Mehraz, Patty Vaccariello, Randy Van Vleck, Roddy Jerome, Rosa Calvario, Scott Paquette, Abdullahi Yusuf, Andre Sanz, Brenda Diaz, David Bowen, Jose Hernandez. Absent were: Halima Musa, Ramla Sahid, Rickie Brown.
   

2. Minutes for July 2 were accepted.
   

3. David Bowen offered, and Jessie Sergent seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The Committee voted 15/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.
   

4. Off-agenda public comments: none.
   

5. Staff reports and comment:

Naomi Sidomak, Community Planner, invited the community to the San Diego Community Planners Committee meeting on August 15, 2018 from 7-9:00pm on the 4^th Floor Training Room, City Operations Building at 122 First Avenue San Diego, CA. 92101

Representative from State Senator Ben Hueso’s office mentioned that they are working on bills to get on the floor. Also, that the budget for the state passed.

6.1 Ty Sterns from Urban Corps of San Diego County presented on the multi-use improvements along Oak Park branch of Chollas Creek. The improvements include two pedestrian bridges, kiosk for information. The cost of the project is 900 thousand dollars which will be covered by a Cal Trans Grant. After discussion, David Nelson offered, and Brian Green Carson seconded a motion for the approval to the site development permit for trail improvements project along Oak Park branch of Chollas Creek. The committee voted 11/5/1 (chair not voting) and the motion passed. Randy Van Vleck recused himself from voting.

6.2 Gina Osten gave a presentation proposing a Marijuana Outlet and Production Facility within an existing building located at 3940 Home Avenue. Gina addressed security concerns committee and community had by explaining the process of how customers would have access to the outlet only after several security measures. After discussion, Patty Vaccariello and David Nelson seconded a motion to approve marijuana CUP for the outlet and production facility at 3940 Home Avenue with following conditions: no sign twirlers, no billboard advertisement within half a mile, hours of operation 9am to 9pm instead of 7am to 9pm for the outlet portion, diverted lighting that doesn’t intervene with adjacent properties and uses. The committee voted 7/8/1 (chair not voting) and the motion didn’t pass. Randy Van Vleck recused himself from voting because City Heights CDC has not taken a position on dispensaries.

7. Chairman asked if anyone knew who had worked on the sidewalk project between on Euclid between Altadena and Home Avenue. Scott Paquette mentioned he, as a private citizen, had made a request to Traffic Engineering. Chairman mentioned there was a petition for a parking realignment on 35^th street between Polk and University Avenue to be a formal item on the agenda for next month. Gave an update on CUP marijuana outlets.

8. David Nelson, Jesse Sergent, Randy Van Vleck, Maria Cortez, Mazda Mehraz, Rosa Calvario, Jose Hernandez, Parry Vaccariello offered Committee comments.

9. The meeting adjourned at 8:46pm.