City Heights Area Planning Committee

Minutes - May -July 2020

 

City Heights Area Planning Committee

Minutes for July 7, 2020

 

1. Chair Russ Connelly called the meeting to order at 6:34 PM. Jake Banfield-Weir, Francisco Garcia, Rosa Calvario, Maria Cortez, Jim Varnadore, Edwin Lohr, Vanessa Erickson, Roddy Jerome,Wendy Miller, David Nelson, Denisse Lopez, Dhaha Nur, Blair Overstreet, Scott Paquette, Michael Rossler, Patty Vaccariello, Randy Torres-Van Vleck and Russ Connelly were present. Absent were Ana Gonzalez, Brian Green-Carson and Andrew Benavides.The chair notified audience about the voluntary sign-in sheet and eligibility for the next election.

 

2. The committee unanimously approved the minutes for June.

 

3. Agenda was adopted unanimously.

 

4. Staff Comments: Anna Medina offered updates from Georgette Gomez’ office.

 

5. Off-agenda public comment: Dave Nelson, Sean Elo and Edwin Lohr commented.

 

6. Business Agenda:

 

6.1. Appointment to fill vacancy—Youth 2021 seat Chair asked if there was anyone interested in filling the youth 2021 seat since Hamdi Noor has graduated and no longer qualifies. No one commented. This item was tabled for the next meeting or until filled.

 

6.2 661800 4th Corner Apartments SDP (Reconsideration of item PTN535323) Dani McMillin from Wakeland Development provided an overview of 4th Corner Apartments project and Diego Velassco went over details of the building plans. Dani McMillin finished by reviewing the updates from the previous item before the committee, including an increase in units, decrease in room sizes and community room size, increased bike parking, and revised target population to being 100% affordable units at 60 AMI or below. Patty Vaccariello motioned that we approve the site development permit to demo the historic landmark and build the affordable units, which Dave Nelson seconded. Committee did not approve the motion (5-12-0 Chair not voting). Rosa Calvario motioned that we will wait for up to two months for further updates from from Wakeland, which was seconded by Maria Cortez and committee approved (12-5-0 chair not voting). Members from the public and the committee provided comments.

 

7. Chair’s Comments: eCOW link appears dead but Russ will follow up with new members. Civic San Diego was unable to update about the Euclid Sidewalk Project due to COVID and inability to reach property owners in the project area. If you know how to help with the outreach, let Russ know. Patty Vaccariello offered to help. Next month committee will hear about the Fairmount fire station unless Wakeland comes back with an update on their project outlined above. Feed back from the CPC regarding Complete Communities: request was to slow down consideration and come to CPGs to allow for input. David and Jake requested that response to Complete Communities be an action item on a future agenda.

 

8. Committee Comment: Francisco Garcia, Rosa Calvario, Blair Overstreet, Maria Cortez, Randy Torres-Van Velck, Patty Vaccarielo, Roddy Jerome, and Dave Nelson commented.

 

9. Meeting Adjourned at 8:45 PM.

 

City Heights Area Planning Committee

 Minutes for June 1st, 2020

 

1. Chair Russ Connelly called the meeting to order at 6:34 PM. Jake Banfield-Weir, Andrew Benavides, Rosa Calvario, Maria Cortez, Brian Green-Carson, Vanessa Erickson, Francisco Garcia, Ana Gonzalez, Roddy Jerome, Edwin Lohr, Wendy Miller, David Nelson, Denisse Lopez, Blair Overstreet, Scott Paquette, Michael Rossler, Randy Torres-VanVleck, Patty Vaccariello, Jim Varnadore and Russ Connelly were present. Absent were Hamdi Noor and Dhana Nur. As per the Brown Act, The Chair did not address the voluntary sign-in sheet to the audience due to this meeting being online due to in-person meeting restrictions. Oscar Medina, a member of the public, was recognized as attending the meeting electronically.

 

2. The committee unamously approved the minutes for April 2020. No meeting was held in May 2020.

 

3. Russ handed off the gavel to Executive Search Subcommittee Chair David Nelson who announced the candiates. Russ Connelly for Chair. Vote to confirm was 17-0 and Russ was seated. First Vice Chair: Maria Cortez. Vote to confirm was 17-0 and Maria was seated. Second Vice Chair Edwin Lohr. Vote to confirm was 17-0 and Edwin was seated. Vanessa Erickson for Secretary. Vote to confirm was 17-0 and Vanessa was seated. David also noted that 2 committee members could not be reached in advance of the meeting.

 

4. Agenda was adopted unamously.

 

5. Off-Agenda Public Comment: Christopher Vallejo of Council Member Gomez office offered council updates.

 

6. Business Agenda:

 

6.1. Appointment to fill vacancy – District 3-2022 seat.

David Nelson motioned and Jim Varnadore seconded to nominate Patty Vaccariello to fill the empty district 3 seat. Patty introduced herself and gave a brief background. Vote to confirm was 17-0 and Patty was seated.

 

6.2 Appintment to fill vacancy – District 4-2022 seat

Roddy Jerome motioned and Brian Green-Carson seconded to nominate Rosa Calvario to fill the empty district 4 seat. Rosa introduced herself and gave a brief background. Vote to confirm was 18-0 and Rosa was seated.

 

6.3 Speed Limit Change on University Avenue. No action taken on this item.

 

6.4 Water/Sewer group 1044 presentation. The committee recieved the City project map. No comment was made.

 

6.5 Response to Complete Communities CPC presentation.

The Chair reitterated the presentation made at the CPC meeting on May 26^th. The committee was sent the powerpoint presentations from that meeting. Many members expressed dismay at the lack of detail in the presentations and their wish to withhold comment until more information or a presenttion to the committee can be done. David motioned and Patty seconded to direct the Chair to write a letter to the City Council and the Planning Department asking to delay approval until the plan can be presented, by City Staff-in person, to those interested planning committees. If a physical presentation cannot be done in 3 months then an electronic presentation would suffice. Vote was 17-0 with the Chair not voting and the motion passed.

 

7. Chair’s Comments: New members are reminded to do the eCOW training online since Staff has not determined when an in-person training session will occur. A new stop sign will be installed at Menlo and Redwood Streets due to a citizen’s request that was approved by Traffic Engineering. Mid Month Subcommittee will be held electronically on June 15^th to discuss a housing development occuring on Fairmount Avenue near the Ridgeview neighborhood. Also outlined were upcoming items for CHAPC review including the Fairmount Avenue Fire Station and the 4^th Corner project also on Fairmount near University Avenue.

8. Committee Comment: Randy, Patty, Rosa, Francisco and Maria offered comment.

 

9. Meeting Adjourned at 8:22 PM. Next Zoom meeting July 6^th 2020.

 

City Heights Area Planning Committee  -  May 4, 2020 meeting Adjourned.