City Heights Area Planning Committee

Minutes - February-April 2021

 

City Heights Area Planning Committee

  Minutes for April 5, 2021

 

1. Chair Russ Connelly called the meeting to order at 6:35 PM. Jake Banfield-Weir, Rosa Calvario, Maria Cortez, Roddy Jerome, Jim Varnadore, Edwin Lohr, Francisco Garcia, Brian Green-Carson, Wendy Miller, David Nelson, Denisse Lopez, Rahmo Abdi, Patty Vaccariello, and Randy Torres-Van Vleck were present. Andrew Benavides, Vanessa Erickson, Ana Gonzalez, Blair Overstreet, Scott Paquette and Michael Rossler were absent. Russ discussed the voluntary sign-in sheet per the Brown Act.

 

2. The minutes of March 1, 2021 were accepted as presented.

 

3.Election Subcommittee presentation: Rosa – Double the voters than anticipated: 97 ballots were cast. She read the list of election winners and they were seated:Roddy Jerome, Asma Abdi, Kenneth Furukawa, Brian Green Carson, Krista Berry Ortega, Rahmo Abdi, Mazda Mehraz, David Nelson, Scott Anglim, Jake Banfield-Weir and Simonei Medina.

 

4. Russ then called the roll of the current committee and explained COW training requirements.

 

5. Jim moved, Patty seconded approval of the agenda as posted. Adopted unanimously.

 

6. Ben Mendoza of Council District 9 and Stephanie Estrada of the Mayor’s office gave updates.

 

7. Patty made off-agenda comment on elections, Euclid sidewalks and former YMCA building projects.

 

Business Agenda:

 

Item 8.1 - Public Asset name change consideration for 47th Street Canyon

Kindra Hixon – San Diego CanyonLands presented - Bill Tall to be named for a habitat Garden “Farmer Bill’s Habitat Garden” and a trail that runs through Olivia Canyon (known as 47th street Canyon by the City) to be called “The Tall Trail”. After discussion, Brian made motion of approval to name the trail and the garden as requested. Seconded by Patty. Vote was 18-0-0 with the chair not voting and the motion passed.

 

Item 8.2 - Public Asset name change consideration for Colina Park

Claire LeBeau from Star Pal presented. This is a memorial naming and not a full renaming of the park. Portia Dawson did a lot of work with youth. Passed away in May 2020 due to Covid. Patty motioned and Roddy seconded to rename as well as redo the park entry sign to: "Portia Dawson - Colina Del Sol Neighborhood Park" with no City officials name to be added at any time. Vote was 16-2-0 with the chair not voting and the motion passed.

 

Item 8.3 - 676664 T-mobile Park Crest 5330 Orange Ave CUP

Vincent Voss with SAC Wireless - requesting modification of the current facility for removal of 3 antenna, adding 6 antennas and ascetic changes to the facility to blend in with the existing architecture. Current CUP expired in 2019. After extensive discussion, Brian made motion to deny the CUP renewal based on City’s requested design element changes. Seconded by David. Vote was 15-3-0 with the chair not voting. Second motion was made by David to request that City Staff move placement of the antennas to the roof top and the project be brought back to CHAPC with new design elements for approval. Seconded by Patty. Vote was 14-4-0 with the chair not voting and the motion passed.

 

Item 8.4 - Presentation – Parks for All

Susan Baldwin with PARC (Parks and Rec Coalition). Susan gave background on previous work with updating the City’s Parks Master Plan which was rejected by the City Planning Commission last year. PARC wants to get the best possible scenario for the Parks Master Plan, Clarification on major changes to the way development fees are dispersed to different projects and to solve the number of issues found from Planning Groups that need to be addressed. Motion by Patty: Support the improvements to the Parks Master Plan and Recreation Element recommended by PARC, Send letter of support to the Mayor and City Council requesting that City staff work with Community Planning Groups, Recreational Advisory Groups, and PARC for input. Second by Brian. Vote was 18-0-0 with the chair not voting and the motion passed.

 

Item 8.5 - Formation of Officer Search Committee

Rahmo Abdi, Randy Torres Van-Vleck & Ken Furukawa volunteered to serve. Jim outlined the requirements and duties of the officer search committee. Russ outlined the positions to be filled.

 

9. Chair’s report: Council Policy 600-24 revisions are being worked on by the City. Are we an official City group or a volunteer group giving input to the City? Council member Joe LaCava is in charge of this discussion that is ongoing. Library Master Plan revision is in the works. Online survey about hours, amenities, etc. to be completed by April 17^th. Community Orientation Workshop (COW) proposed to be a Zoom Meeting sometime in May; City to provide details. City needs to be provided proof of completion for CHAPC participation. An electronic version can also be completed. Russ to send details to newly seated members once they arefinalized.

 

10. Francisco, Rahmo and Rosa gave comments about the successful recent election and the process. Rosa added that Community Planners Committee (CPC) meeting is very insightful and that Russ can forward a link to that monthly public meeting. Randy: Town Hall on Thursday with El Cajon Boulevard Business Association. Edwin and Maria gave details on the mural project at Teralta Park.

 Russ adjourned the meeting at 9:10 PM. Next meeting will be on Monday May 3, 2021 at 6:30 PM.

City Heights Area Planning Committee

 Minutes for March 1, 2021

 

 1. Acting Chair Maria Cortez called the meeting to order at 6:35 PM. Jake Banfield-Weir, Maria Cortez, Jim Varnadore, Edwin Lohr, Ana Gonzalez, Brian Green-Carson, Vanessa Erickson, Wendy Miller, David Nelson, Denisse Lopez, Rahmo Abdi, Blair Overstreet, Michael Rossler, Andrew Benavides, Patty Vaccariello, and Randy Torres-Van Vleck were present. On election duty were Francisco Garcia, Rosa Calvario and Russ Connelly. Roddy Jerome and Scott Paquette were absent. Maria later disclosed the sign-in sheet per the Brown Act.

 

 2. Correction to the minutes of February 1, 2021 is as follows: City’s Nursery should be City Farmer’s Nursery.

 

 3. Agenda was unanimously adopted.

 

 4. Staff Comment: Ben Mendoza provided updates from Sean Elo-Rivera’s office. There are two surveys currently going around for residents: one from the San Diego Public Library and available in multiple languages. The other one from Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) about second-hand smoke which has a $50 gift card to be raffled off. Julio Garcia also provided updates from the Council member’s office about COVID. City Heights will have a county vaccination site opening soon and they are trying to secure a second site. Rental assistance is available, applications are live on 3/15 but the wait list is filling up. Stephanie Estrada from the Mayor’s office provided updates. The City school district has provided a timeline for the hybrid schedule and schools will re-open in April. City Council approved the ordinance to regulate short-term vacation rentals. Jayme Anderson from Nathan Fletcher’s office provided updates about COVID tiers, which just added education, food and agriculture, and law enforcement. Vaccines for those with underlying health conditions start March 15th.

 

 5. No off-agenda public comments from Zoom meeting or on phone with translation.

 

 6. Business Agenda:

 

6.1. Review parking time limit proposal on Polk Avenue: There was a request to add two-hour un-metered parking on Fairmount Ave and Polk Ave.

 

 Brian Green-Carson commented that residents need parking in the area. Jake Banfield-Wehr wanted to know who was submitting the recommendation. Patty Vaccariello commented that the parking would be available for residents to park outside the hours of 8 AM to 6 PM once they get home from work. Randy Torres-Van Vleck commented that it would help businesses in the area as far as turn-over. Blair asked about the pros and cons of the proposal. Jim Varnadore commented that there are no businesses in the immediate area. Wendy Miller brought up the benefit of a 2-hour limit to be able to unload groceries, etc. before finding a parking spot further away. David Nelson brought up that the community is not necessarily 9-to-5 and thus would still be affected by the time limit.

 

 Brian Green-Carson motioned to approve the parking proposal as noted, which is to install a two-hour un-metered time limit parking on Polk Avenue and Fairmount Avenue. David Nelson seconded. Vote was 8-7-0 with the acting chair not voting.

 

 6.2. Review proposed speed limit change on Swift Avenue

 

David Nelson motioned to reduce the speed limit for both directions of traffic to 25 miles per hour. Edwin seconded and it was approved 15-0-0 with the acting chair not voting.

 

 6.3. Community Input Workshop Opportunity for the Community and the Committee to outline needs and objectives for 2021.

 

David Nelson commented that sidewalks need to be completed throughout all of City Heights. Patty Vaccariello added there needs to be a community plan amendment to implement the streetscape plan. Edwin Lohr added that the community plan needs to be updated. Ana Gonzalez brought up replacing a no left-turn sign on Landis St. and Euclid Ave since it is no longer there and is a problem. Edwin Lohr added that the 5 benjamina ficus trees outside of the El Salvador restaurant should be historically marked. Randy Torres-Van Vleck echoed to preserve the mature ficus trees on 38th and University.

 

 6.4. Report of the Election Subcommittee: Not applicable since they were managing the election.

 

 7. Chair’s report: Nothing to report since Russ was helping with the election.

 

 8. Board Comment – Questions and Answers

 

Patty V: Compliments the election sub-committee on how organized they were and how smooth everything went! Kudos!

 

Rahmo: The election was very well organized and smooth. Requested translator for the community during the next election.

 

Asma Abdi: A resident thought they were able to vote but there was a language barrier as well as being outside of the City Heights boundaries. They felt they were being scolded. Edwin asked if Asma would help the citizen locate what district she is in.

 

Blair: Thanked everyone for her time on the committee. The priorities for next two years should be to make everything is not only accessible, but also to feel like community and welcomed. We should consider putting in protocols for meetings to achieve this.

 

Dave Nelson, Patty Vaccariello, Ana Gonzalez and Maria Cortez thanked Blair for her participation with CHAPC. Maria Cortez was also thanked for running the meeting tonight!

 

 9. Adjournment at 7:52 The Committee will reconvene on Monday April 5, 2021, 6:30 PM. Agenda will be posted separately.

 

 

City Heights Area Planning Committee
  Minutes for Feb 1, 2021

1. Chair Russ Connelly called the meeting to order at 6:33p.m. Rahmo Abdi, Jake Banfield-Weir, Francisco Garcia, Rosa Calvario, Maria Cortez, Jim Varnadore, Edwin Lohr, Brian Green-Carson, Vanessa Erickson, Ana Gonzalez (6:38), Roddy Jerome, Wendy Miller, David Nelson, Denisse Lopez, Blair Overstreet, Scott Paquette, Michael Rossler, Andrew Benavides, Patty Vaccariello, Randy Torres-Van Vleck and Russ Connelly were present. Russ mentioned the sign-in sheet which is proof of attendance for election reasons.

2. Unanimous approval to the minutes of January 2, 2021 as presented.

3. Unanimous approval the agenda.

4. Staff Comment: Ben Mendoza and Julio Garcia provided updates from Sean Elo-Rivera’s office.

5. Off-agenda public comment: Kathleen Lippit and Becky Rapp spoke cannabis business concerns. Susan Baldwin, Francisco Garcia, and Vickie White commented on the Complete Communities plan. Delia Contreras provided comment. Rosa Calvario spoke on behalf of Ocean Discovery Institute’s after-school camps. Denisse Lopez inquired about the youth seat which Russ mentioned can happen at the following meeting when elections are happening, since it was not on the approved agenda. Stephanie Hernandez shared Price Charities opportunities for 9th graders. Maria Cortez, David Nelson and Patty Vaccariello provided comment about the loss of City Farmers Nursery’s Bill Tall.

6. Business Agenda:

6.1. City General Plan: Vickie White provided information about the city updating the general plan’s policies and creating a new Environmental Justice Element. Survey available during Phase 1 to find out about residents’ top priorities and the environmental justice issues/concerns they experience in their neighborhoods. Survey is available in 8 languages and open through Feb. 28^th, 2021. Brian Green-Carson, Randy Torres-Van Vleck, Edwin Lohr, Francisco Garcia and Linda C asked follow-up questions.

6.2. Community Input Workshop—Vice Chairs Maria Cortez and Edwin Lohr hosted the opportunity for the community and committee to outline needs and objectives for 2021. Patty Vaccarielo, Brian Green-Carson, Francisco Garcia, Rosa Calvario, Wendy Miller Edwin Lohr, David Nelson, Denisse Lopez, Maria Cortez, Blair Overstreet and Randy Torres-Van Vleck provided feedback. Concerns included traffic calming, updating the Mid City Community Plan, revitalizing the slope on Euclid, removing invasive plants, graffiti removal, improved signage, sidewalk maintenance, City Heights Gateway, drainage problems, increased number of trees as a canopy, more storm water repairs, additional lighting and speed humps for safety, boosting business districts, utilizing vacant lot at Fairmount and Home, and need for parks.

6.3. Report of the Election Subcommittee: Rosa Calvario and Francisco Garcia provided updates about the upcoming election. This was the last meeting to be considered eligible to run for the 2021 election. They need people to help out on day of elections, which will be held at the City Heights Town Council, behind the library. Voting will be one person at a time and COVID safe. Deadline for applications is Friday February 19^th at 5:00 PM. Brian Green-Carson and Patty Vaccariello asked follow-up questions.

7. Chair’s report: Election guidelines have been issued by the planning department and topics for upcoming meetings were discussed.

8. Board Comment – Questions and Answers: Patty Vaccariello requested a presentation about Complete Communities. Blair Overstreet asked about the Brown Act. Edwin provided update on mural. Rosa shared about the Circulate San Diego and CPG event that was happening the following evening.

9. The meeting was adjourned at 8:36. The Committee will reconvene on Monday March 1, 2021, 6:30 PM. Agenda will be posted separately.