City Heights Area Planning Committee

Minutes- February-April 2019

CITY HEIGHTS AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE
Minutes for April 3, 2019

1. Chair Russ Connelly called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. Brenda Diaz, Brian Green Carson, Francisco Garcia, David Nelson, Jessie Sergent, Jim Varnadore, Maria Cortez, Mazda Mehraz, Patty Vaccariello, Randy Torres-Van Vleck, Roddy Jerome, Rosa Calvario, were present. Abdullahi Yusuf, David Bowen, Jose Hernandez, Juan Pablo Sanchez, Lisa Nguyen, Ramla Sahid, Rickie Brown, and Scott Paquette were absent.
   

2. The committee unanimously approved the minutes for March.
   

3. Chair Russ Connelly handed off the gavel to the Election Subcommittee Chair Brenda Diaz. Brenda thanked the election subcommittee for their work and City Heights residents who cast a vote. She announced the new members of the City Heights Area Planning Committee. New members joining CHAPC: Jake Banfield-Weir, Kelvin Barrios, Wendy Miller, Dhaha Nur, Blair Overstreet and Michael Rossler. Outgoing members Abdullahi Yusef, Jose Hernandez, Mazda Meraz, Ramla Said, Rickie Brown and Jim Varnadore were thanked for their service on the committee.
   

4. The committee unanimously approved the agenda with amendment to postpone item 7.2.
   

5. Off-agenda public comments: City heights CDC - Wakeland collaboration updates on SR-15 properties, closed escrow on the Sally Wong building and it will be 90-120 days for demolishment. Esperanza Gonzales asked for a letter of support to ask San Diego City Council to provide interpretation at CHAPC meetings. Jim Varnadore gave a farewell speech and asked those interested in community updates to sign in so they can be added to his email address list.
   

6. Staff reports and comment: Representative from Senator Ben Hueso’s office share information about a financial fitness workshop that will take place Saturday April 6 at 4301 University Avenue from 9-12. “Stopher” Vallejo and Ana Medina from Council President Georgette Gomez office share they will also be at the April 6 event previously mentioned. Encouraging participation for the creek to bay clean up on April 27^th from 9am-12pm (check out creektobay.org to learn more). City of San Diego will begin taking a look at budget for fiscal year 2020 and their office will be coordinating an IBA budget town hall on May 9^th at 6:30pm (location TBA). They will be partnering with SANDAG for community outreach for Orange Avenue bikeway on April 23rd 6 to 8 pm at Ibarra elementary.
   

7. Business Agenda:
   7.1:CUP 623590 for Head Start Facility at 4110 41^st Street (Action Item)
   Matt Kingdon from Jeff Katz Architecture gave a presentation on the Head Start Facility project that will be on 41^st Street and Polk Avenue near Central Elementary and Teralta Park. There will be parking along the alley and on the site. There will be offices and classrooms as well as an outside playground area on the east side of the site and turf. After discussion, David Nelson offered and Patty Vaccariello seconded a motion for approval of the CUP contingent on returning to the committee with elevation and design details of the building. The committee voted 14/2/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.
   
   7.2: NUP 600882 for wireless facility at 4555 El Cajon Blvd.
   Tabled and will come to the committee in the future.
   
   7.3:SANDAG Bikeway Updates
   7.3.1: Orange & University Bikeway Updates (Action Item)
   District 9 Policy Advisor Marcus Bush invited the community to the Bikeway Workshop happening April 23^rd from 6 to 8pm as it’s an opportunity for the community to come speak and voice their concerns. Marcus is here to give overview on the process being made on the Orange Bikeway which will be 2.1 miles and will run along Orange Avenue between 32^nd Street and Estrella Avenue and will provide connections to other bikeways. After discussion Chair closed the discussion on the item. No vote was taken.
   7.3.2: Proposed Monroe Bikeway diversion though City Heights (Action Item) - Project Manager at SANDAG Daniel Vay. Gave an update on how SANDAG and the City have changed course and are looking to pursue funding opportunities for planning studies to examine other alternatives for a bikeway connector. No vote was taken.
   

7.4: Presentation on Water/Sewer Contracting (Info Item)
James Nagelvoort and Claudia Abarca from the City of San Diego Public Works gave a presentation to on their Contracting Methods and Requirements. The topics they covered were: contracting delivery method, prime contractor prequalification requirements, contract requirement, construction management, contractor performance evaluations, and contactor debarment process.

7.5: Form Executive Board search committee (Action Item)

Randy Torres-Van Vleck and David Nelson will be reaching out to committee members to ask them if they want to run for Chair, Vice Chair, Second Vice Chair, or Secretary.

8. Chair Comments: New committee members please share your email address if different from your application so he can share the updated roster to the City. Via this email address you will receive an invitation to take the COW (Community Orientation Workshop). The COW might now become a training all committee members have to take every year but it’s still being streamlined. There was a mistake on the proposed angle parking on the east side of Poplar Street between James Way and Columbine Street so the project will come back to us possibly next month. There will be stop signs going up at 36^th and Landis.
   

9. Francisco Garcia, David Nelson, Randy Torres-Van Vleck, Rosa Calvario, Brenda Diaz and Maria Cortez offered committee comments.
   

10. The meeting adjourned at 9:07pm.
    
    

CITY HEIGHTS AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE
Minutes for March 4, 2019

1. Chair Patty Vaccariello called the meeting to order at 6:31 PM. Russ Connelly, Brenda Diaz, Brian Green Carson, David Bowen, David Nelson, Jessie Sergent, Juan Pablo Sanchez, Maria Cortez, Mazda Mehraz, Ramla Sahid, Randy Van Vleck, Rickie Brown, Roddy Jerome, Rosa Calvario, Scott Paquette, Jim Varnadore, Francisco Garcia, and Lisa Nguyen were present. Abdullahi Yusuf and Jose Hernandez were absent.

2. The committee unanimously approved the minutes for February.

3. Jim Varnadore offered and Maria Cortez seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The committee unanimously approved the agenda for March.

4. Off-agenda public comments: A community member, Ahmed, gave compliments on good work of CHAPC.

5. Staff reports and comment: Christopher Vallejo and Ana Medina from the office of Georgette Gomez, gave thanks for the election presence and announced the annual bike to work day on May 16th. March 22nd being the deadline to sign up as a bike pit stop.
   
   SANDAG is considering an Orange Avenue Bikeway workshop. Date TBD.
   
   Policy Advisor, Laura Gates, to support a proposal with transportation amendments and to bring back topic back to committee in the future.

6. Business Agenda:
   6.1:Raul Contreras, Manager of Parks and Recreation, put forth a proposal to set curfew in 5 parks, including City Heights Mini Park on 43rd Street near University Avenue, from 9PM to 5AM. Required curfew, if passed, would amend current ordinance. Complaints and proposal were brought about by complaints from the local community about illegal activities occurring in the park.
   
   6.2: East-Block Parcel on El Cajon Boulevard and Fairmount Avenue, not in CHAPC district, but adjacent, is proposing a multi-use project, including civic and 100% affordable senior housing and family housing with 117 studio units for the senior housing, 78 units for family housing, a public gathering space, and 160 parking spaces. Presented by Maryan, the Price Philanthropies Coordinator for the project, Architect Rob Quigley, and Missy Jones, the San Diego Public Library Director. Project is currently contingent on financing and an approximate December ground breaking.
   
   6.3: Daniel Kay, Principal Engineer at Civic San Diego, has given updates on a Civic San Diego’s Project on Euclid Avenue. There are proposed improvements between Myrtle Avenue and Dwight Street on the West of Euclid Avenue to complete 1,000 ft of sidewalk, be ADA accessible and planted with trees to fulfill the Climate Action Plan. Currently in the bidding phase, with 6-12 months of design and permitting and 6 to 8 months for contractions.

6.4: Election Results, no final count at the time.

7. Chair Comments: Site Master Plan for Hoover High School input meetings occurring Wednesday, March 6th, at 6PM.
   
   Previous agenda item regarding a CUP for a Marijuana Outlet on 3940 Home Avenue, will have a public hearing to the City Council on March 6th, at 9AM, at 202 C Street, Downtown San Diego.

8. Maria Cortez, Ramla Sahid, David Nelson, and Francisco Garcia offered committee comments.

9. The meeting adjourned at 8:00pm.

CITY HEIGHTS AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE
Minutes for February 4, 2019

1. Chairman Russ Connelly called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. Abdullahi Yusuf, Brenda Diaz, Brian Green Carson, David Bowen, David Nelson, Jessie Sergent, Jose Hernandez, Maria Cortez, Mazda Mehraz, Patty Vaccariello, Ramla Sahid, RandyVan Vleck, Rosa Calvario, Scott Paquette, Jim Varnadore, Francisco Garcia, and Lisa Nguyen were present. Juan Pablo Sanchez, Rickie Brown, and Roddy Jerome were absent.

2. The committee unanimously approved the corrected minutes for January.

3. Jim Varnadore offered and David Bowen seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The committee unanimously approved the agenda for February.

4. Off-agenda public comments: Maria Cortez shared the next meeting for ITCH (Improving Transportation in City Heights) is Monday February 11^th at 5:30pm at the Price Building. She also mentioned that the Teralta West Neighborhood Alliance will be meeting on February 20^th from 6-7pm at the Metro Villa on 39^th and University Avenue. Jim Varnadore and Lisa Nguyen passed out lucky red envelopes for Lunar New Year.

5. Staff reports and comment: Representatives from Georgette Gomez’s office, Christopher Vallejo and Anna Medina Ochoa passed out a newsletter as well as a map that shows a rudimentary coloration of what the district representatives boundaries will look like going forward.

6. Business Agenda:
   6.1: Project engineer Young Dan and project manager Reyhaneh Martin introduced the project AC Water and Sewer Group 1044. The project proposes to replace 1 mile of water main and 0.1 miles of sewer main on University Avenue between Highland Avenue and Euclid Avenue and alleyways. The work will consist of replacement of mains, services, fire hydrants, sewer laterals, manholes and other appurtenances. In addition, the work will include curb ramps installation and concrete pavement in alleys. They are tentatively scheduled to start construction in summer 2020 and end construction in summer 2021. They answered questions from the committee and left their contact information.
   
   6.2: This started as a petition from residents on 42nd Street: to convert the existing parallel parking spaces to angle parking spaces on 42^nd Street between Thorn Street and Myrtle Avenue. The new configuration would add approximately 22 parking spaces. The City wants to know if the CHAPC objects to the plan. After discussion, Patty Vaccariello offered and Maria Cortez seconded a motion to approve the perpendicular parking on 42^nd Street between Thorn Street and Myrtle Avenue. The committee voted 17/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.
   
   6.3: A proposal for angle parking on Poplar Street between Jamies Way and Columbine Street. It is head in parking and it would add 19 parking spots. After discussion, David Bowen offered and Maria Cortez seconded a motion to accept the perpendicular parking on Poplar Street. The committee voted 13/4/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

6.4: The Transit Priority Area (TPA) is proposed for the University and El Cajon Blvd transit corridors and on the City's maps it shows that the Northern half of City Heights is covered by this proposal. Transit Priority Areas are based on where the transit is. In the areas designated as TPAs developers can ask for zero parking in those projects. This isn’t final, its only what city staff is proposing. At the last Community Planners Committee meeting, they were uncomfortable approving this proposal and instead came up with a second proposal that states they want a pilot program. Most of these developments that are going to come in aren’t going to be proposed for the next five years to ten years. Therefore, we won't know what the impact of zero parking is going to be for at least another 15-20 years. By that time the concern is that there won't be a way to resolve the parking and transit issues. The City wants all or nothing. Either we approve new projects with transit areas with zero parking or we don’t. Russ wanted to bring this up because of the fact that we have a great deal of transit and have a parking crisis. Wants to have a discussion so that if the Committee wants to craft a proposal or letter with a position that we can submit to the city to express what the CHAPC’s opinion is on the subject. After discussion, Jim Varnadore offered and Brian Green Carson seconded a motion to approve the City’s recommendation for zero minimum parking space requirements in Transit Priority Areas and for communities that are undeserved, additional amenities must be considered. The committee voted 5/12/0 (chair not voting) and the motion did not pass.

6.5: Brenda Diaz, Chair of the Election Subcommittee shared that there was an event put on by Mid-City CAN, City Heights CDC, PANA and Circulate SD on January 28^th. The event “Learn about your local Planning Group” included a panel of previous and current committee members from different area planning groups. Also reminded those interested in running about the deadline to turn in their application.

7. Chairman shared that he’s working on getting a person from Purchasing and Contracts Department that oversees water projects come out to the committee to explain the process of how they select a contractor and how that contractor is vetted. Spoke with Caltrans in regards to the transit deck kiosks. They are currently working on a draft lease for the City of San Diego. They need a lease in place before anything further can be ascertained. Next month's meeting will be chaired by vice-chair Patty Vaccariello due to Russ being part of the election subcommittee.

8. Jose Hernandez, Jessie Sergent, Mazda Mehraz, Randy Van Vleck, Jim Varnadore, and Francisco Garcia offered committee comments.

9. The meeting adjourned at 8:08pm.