Friday, January 14, 2011

November 10, 2010 Minutes

GREATER GOLDEN HILL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES

November 10, 2010

Meeting Agenda is found in Attachment 1 at the end of these minutes.

Meeting was held at Balboa Park Golf Course Clubhouse – Golf Course Drive. Called to order at 6:35 pm by Chair Pat Shields. Agenda had been posted in accordance with Brown Act. A quorum of members was present.

Members present: Ruchell Alvarez, Richard Baldwin, Maureen Burke, Carole Caffey, Scott Glazebrook, John Kroll, Barbara McGill, Richard Santini, Pat Shields, David Skillman, Marie Skillman, David Strickland, Angela Vasconcellos Members absent: Jessica Richter

Addition/deletions to Agenda none

Chair’s Report. Shields explained the information items that we would be hearing later. She made a suggestion that the funds in our bank account be used to purchase a screen so that presenters would not need to bring their own. Santini agreed to look into the cost of a used screen.

Approval of Minutes: Minutes of 10/13/10 meeting had not been distributed to the whole committee. Approval of minutes of 9/8/10 and 10/13 /10 will be on the agenda for the next meeting.

Treasurer’s Report: – around $75.

GOVERNMENTAL REPORTS.

Community Police Officer- Suzy de la Pena: There has been a spike in car robberies. Please keep your cars locked and be careful about leaving packages in cars, or putting things into the trunk after parking away from home.

City Council District 3 - Anthony Bernal: Passed out copies of the November District 3 Dialogue and highlighted: (1) Equal Benefits Ordinance passed 10/18/10, requiring contractors with the City to offer the same benefits to domestic partners as to spouses of employees. (2) Protection of Small Businesses. Council’s 11/3/10 vote (5-3) makes developers of large businesses disclose potential impacts on the area (3) October was Energy Awareness Month. Makeovers occurred in North Park. (4) Community Coffee will be 11/13/10 in City Heights (5) Water Conservation gardens are being promoted, asked the public to help council office identify those already in place.

Kroll asked why, when surveys showed that 70% of residents want more city services, Prop D had failed. McGill said she had sent Gloria an email asking whether the Prop D failure would mean suspension of the Community Plan Updates. Bernal said that the current budget situations put everything on the table for cuts.

City Council District 8 – Diana Jurado-Sainz: Will be leaving her job at City after 12/3, when Councilman Hueso’s term ends. She has not decided yet about accepting another City job or a job with Hueso’s State Assembly office. They are trying to complete the sale of 811 25th Street by 12/3. Hueso’s office is working on the 25th St. Renaissance Project process. He has sent a letter with his ideas on the Community Plan Update to the City, and hopes the CPU process can continue on schedule. Diana was thanked for her good service to our committee and given a round of applause.

Mayor’s Office – no representative present.

53rd Congressional District – Kathryn Fortner. Was not present but had left copies of November Davis Dispatch.

CPUAC/City Planner – Bernie Turgeon. The CPUAC meeting in January will discuss the economic survey. The next step is for the Committee to make sense of the priorities put forward at all of the previous meetings. Shields asked that the consultants working on the project be at the GGHPC meetings beginning in January.

D Skillman said the committee members want to stay in the loop and be included in ongoing meetings, and wanted assurance that the Charette summaries would be sent to or available to all prior attendees. He agreed that GGHPC might be a good venue for everyone to keep involved and those doing the rewriting to keep informed. Caffey voiced concern about the time commitments of CPUAC. Shields asked if there could be another “charette” when there is a draft of the plan. She views GGHPC as an information-gathering venue.

Burke noted that the CPUAC meeting structure is more welcoming to public participation than GGHPC. Shields said that noticed, documented meetings are essential. D Skillman said that the South Park Business Group subcommittee might be having more public forums at their meetings.

Turgeon said the City needs the CPUAC or GGHPC to make some decisions. All of the public input needs to be sifted and prioritized. A change in process may be in order. Matt Thomas said that public input is still needed.

M Skillman asked what would be available by February. Turgeon said that a matrix of all information to date would be available, sorted by Community Plan element. Concurrence on handling these would be up for discussion; direction from CPUAC is needed on the details.

Turgeon will send an email to CPUAC to confirm the January meeting date and location, currently hoping it will be 1/5/11 at the Golf Course Clubhouse. D Skillman again asked for additional report-outs, to keep information in front of everyone who is interested. Shields is waiting for the matrix. Matt Thomas wants more information.

PUBLIC COMMENT.

Joyce Summer, CCDC. Pedestrian bridge over Harbor Drive will open the first week in January. The Winter Shelter for homeless will be located on Newton Avenue, police presence is promised. Westfield has proposed removing the old Robinson May store and creating an expanded park in that area; Westfield would maintain the park for 25 years.

Cheryl Bryerton. Attended the 3rd Charette and was impressed by the process. She passed around some photographs showing how remodel of one property can affect the view from another. She knows that views are valued and wants there to be a simple way to make sure they are preserved.

CONSENT AGENDA. NONE. Minutes of October 27, 2010 are found in Attachment 2. October 27, 2010 Land-Use Subcommittee meeting was not called to order due to lack of attendance so project will be reviewed as an Action Item later in this meeting.

INFORMATION ITEMS.

Plaza de Panama. Gerry Braun from City of San Diego spoke about the plan to take parking out of the center of Balboa Park, and maybe even traffic. Dr. Irwin Jacobs (Qualcomm) has made a recommendation about how to accomplish this. Gordon Kovton of KCM Group and Scott Jordan of Civitas were present and described the project with a PowerPoint presentation. The parking lot in front of the Museum of Art would be closed, returned to a pedestrian plaza. A roadway would enter the park from Laurel Street, taking off at the eastern end of the Cabrillo Bridge, winding through Alcazar Garden area, down the street between Organ Pavilion and the international cottages. A parking structure with park on top would be constructed in the parking lot behind the Organ Pavilion, turning that area back to parkland. A 501(c) 3 has been formed by community leaders to raise public support and funding for the project; rules of the nonprofit require it to sunset at 12/31/2015. They hope the project can be approved, funded and constructed by 2015, the 100th anniversary of the Panama-Pacific Exhibition.

The project will be heard by the Balboa Park Committee at their meeting on 12/2/10, 6 pm at the Balboa Park Club. Those wishing to be on mailing list for project should send an email request to gbraun@sandiego.gov

Santini was familiar with the project asked several questions: 1. What will happen with Valet Only parking zone in Alcazar Garden? It will become a drop-off only point for disabled. 2. Suggested that roadway past Organ Pavilion should be lowered to reduce noise. 3. What will happen to wooden walkway at Palm Canyon? It will remain there. 4. What pedestrian access will exist between new parking structure and House of Hospitality and international cottages? There will be walkway over the road.

Shields is concerned about public safety for pedestrians. Braun said they are aware of the issue.

Strickland likes getting parking out of the center of the park, but has concerns about the T-intersection. He is also concerned about preserving the Cabrillo Bridge, which is a national historic structure. He wonders if there is time for the needed EIR or EIS. He would like to see alternative ideas, like closing the central area off from all vehicle traffic. Strickland requested a copy of the PowerPoint presentation - it will be sent to Shields for distribution.

Alvarez is also worried about safety in the park. She wonders where the $381 million funding will come from. She asked how many parking spaces would be in the structure: 785. Kroll asked how many stories deep the structure would be. It will be 3, all below grade, and will double the current parking spaces in Museum and Organ Pavilion lots. Santini loves the idea, wonders about greening the lot at the Zoo as well.

State Route 94 proposed HOV/BRT lanes. Ron Caraet from CalTrans talked about progress on this project. He stressed that this is a new project, not an older one regenerated. There will be 1 HOV/BRT lane in each direction to encourage car-pooling and make a better transit route. Request to Enter will go out soon, notifying property owners of the project. Maps of the project were posted and circulated.

A Scoping Meeting will be held at Sherman Heights Community Center on 1/12/11. The meeting will be an open house format, with detailed maps available. Currently there 3 alternatives: 1. Rebuild and fix current exits 2. Build a long bridge 3. Do nothing. Mailers will go out about the scoping meeting.

Shieids, Vasconcellos and Caffey met with CalTrans staff to discuss the project. Shields mentioned a need for sound barriers, and feels there is a lack of benefit to GGH. Caffey suggests lobbying for enhancements to the current plan.

Kroll asked if any houses would be lost in the process. They don’t know yet. Strickland asked if the current roadway would be widened. Yes, on both north and south in some areas. Strickland is concerned about location of bridge structures and sound walls. Vasconcellos asked for confirmation that details would be shown at the Scoping Meeting. They will

Kroll asked if this was engineering or social engineering. What % of vehicles will actually use the lanes? Caraet said that in addition to cars and trucks, bus transit with 7-minute intervals is anticipated. Baldwin asked about a crossing over Hwy 94 & I-5. That is the old plan that died.

Strickland asked if the current over crossings would be replaced. It is under study, our comments are needed. Current over crossings might just be lengthened.

Burke thinks capping the road and making a park is a great idea. She asked if plans would be on website ahead of 1/12/11 meeting – they will. Pat Martin asked about impacts at G & F Streets. The plan uses land up to end of the right of way.

Shields asked that an updated presentation be given at GGHPC meeting in March. D Skillman asked when the actual route would be chosen. A draft plan is expected in 2013. When will public input towards the draft end? The 1/12/11 Scoping Meeting is the start of the public input process.

ACTION ITEMS.

Project # 219344

Counterpoint Sidewalk Café, 830 25th Street – Process 2 Neighborhood Use Permit

Glazebrook recused himself from the GGHPC to present the project, which is a sidewalk café permit, 173 sq. ft., 22-seat maximum. It complies with all city standards with 1 exception. City requires 8 ft. sidewalk and there is only 5 ft. They are adding sidewalk with only 6 ft. around a streetlight, and so far the city seem to accept this.

D Skillman asked if this had relevance to the 25th Street Renaissance. Brian Hannegan said they were willing to coordinate.

Motion by Burke, seconded by Strickland, to approve the project. Motion passed with 13 in favor, none opposed, 1 (Glazebrook) abstained.

25th Street Renaissance Project. Brian Hannegan of RPM Design Group showed a PowerPoint about the Phase I Goals, results of the 10/16/10 public workshop, and timelines for Phases II and III. The project area is 25th Street from Russ to F Streets, and is described on the City website at: www.sandiego.gov/engineering-cip/projectsprograms/25street.shtml

Preferences identified at the workshop were for one lane of vehicle traffic each direction, no planted median strips, bicycle lanes each direction, plantings between sidewalk and bicycle lanes, no roundabout at B street, back-in diagonal parking in some areas.

The second public workshop will be held on 11/20/10, 10:30 – 12:30, at the Golden Hill Recreation Center.

Phase I is to be presented to Balboa Park Committee on 12/2/10. Phase II preliminary design should be complete in February 2011, construction documents completed in June 2011 and the construction completed by summer 2012.

Hannegan will provide Shields with a copy of the presentation for circulation. Interested persons can contact Shields at patshieldsjd@gmail.com, or Outreach Coordinator Josie Calderon josielc@cox.net

Vasconcellos asked about the back-in parking. Hannegan said there is not an example here in San Diego but it has been successful in several other cities. D Skillman asked if these spaces would be the standard 8-½ feet. Yes. D Skillman asked about the funding for each Phase. The cost estimator hopes to have these figures at the workshop on 11/20/10.

Shields asked about having a special GGHPC meeting in December to discuss the project further and take action. GGHPC does not normally meet in December. Hannegan said that the project is on a very short timeline and they would appreciate us meeting in December to move it along.

Kroll asked about traffic calming. Lights or stop signs already exist at every block, what needs to be calmed? Public wants shorter crosswalks, etc.

Motion by Strickland, seconded by Alvarez, that GGHPC meet on 12/8/10 to discuss the project, with cost estimates and clearer diagrams. Motion passed with all in favor.

Hannegan expects to have updated information for his presentation to the Land Use Subcommittee on 11/24/10.

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS.

Airport Noise. Quieter Homes Project is now working with homes where the noise level is 65 db and above. Their office has moved; Caffey will forward information about an open house.

The next meeting will be WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2010, including a potluck.

Meeting adjourned by Shields at 8:45 pm

Marie Skillman.

Secretary

ATTACHMENT 1. MEETING AGENDA

GREATER GOLDEN HILL PLANNING COMMITTEE

November 10, 2010 at 6:30 P.M.

Balboa Park Golf Course Clubhouse at 2600 Golf Course Drive

http://www.gghpc.blogspot.com

Monthly Meeting

6:30 CALL TO ORDER – please be punctual

1. Additions/Deletions to Agenda

2. Approval of Minutes

3. Treasurers Report & Pass-the-Hat – Carole Caffey

6:40 GOVERNMENTAL REPORTS

a) Community Police Officer – Suzy de la Pena [744.9514 or sdelapena@pd.sandiego.gov]

b) Council District 3 – Anthony Bernal [236-6633 or abernal@sandiego.gov

c) Council District 8 – Diana JuradoSainz [236-6688 or djuradosainz@sandiego.gov

d) Mayor’s Office – Denice Garcia [236-7056 or deniceg@sandiego.gov

e) 53rd Congressional Dist. – Katherine Fortner [280-5353 Katherine.Fortner@mail.house.gov

f) City Planner – Bernard Turgeon [533-6575 or bturgeon@sandiego.gov

7:00 PUBLIC COMMENT – non-agenda items, 3-minute limit

7:15 CONSENT AGENDA – Consent Agenda allows the Committee to consent to the actions of Subcommittees in a single vote without presentation or debate. NONE

7:20 INFORMATION ITEMS

Plaza de Panama - Mark Johnson

State 94 proposed HOV/BRT lanes- Ron Caraet

25TH Street Renaissance Project- Brian Hannegan

8:15 ACTION ITEMS

a)Special Meeting December 8 to consider 25th St Renaissance Project

b)Counterpoint Sidewalk Cafe. 830 25th Street. Process 2 Neighborhood Use. Project No 219344

8:25 SUBCOMMITTEE & LIAISON REPORTS

a) Airport Noise – Carole Caffey

b) Balboa Park Committee – Scott Glazebrook

c) Community Planners Committee (CPC) – Pat Shields

d) Community Plan Update Advisory Committee (CPUAC) – Bernard Turgeon

e) Code Compliance – Ruchell Alvarez

f) Clean, Green & Safe (MAD) Advisory Board – Carole Caffey

g) Historic – Angela Vasconcellos

h) Membership and Elections – Angela Vasconcellos

i) Parks – Maureen Burke

j) Transportation – Scott Glazebrook

8:30 ADJOURN MEETING

*Times are estimates – Action Items may also be taken before Information Items

The City of San Diego distributes agendas via email and can also provide agendas in alternative formats as well as a sign language or oral interpreter for the meeting with advance notice. To request these services, please contact the City at 619-236-6479 or SDPlanningGroups@sandiego.gov

ADDENDA

Regular Meeting Schedules

Greater Golden Hill Planning Committee

Monthly*: Second Wednesday of the Month at 6:30PM

Location: Balboa Park Golf Course Clubhouse at 2600 Golf Course Drive

Code Compliance Subcommittee

Monthly*: Second-to-Last Wednesday of the Month at 6:00PM

Location: Balboa Park Golf Course Clubhouse at 2600 Golf Course Drive

Land-Use Subcommittee

Monthly*: Last Wednesday of the Month at 6:30PM

Location: Balboa Park Golf Course Clubhouse at 2600 Golf Course Drive

Transportation Subcommittee

Monthly*: Last Wednesday of the Month at 6:00PM

Location: Balboa Park Golf Course Clubhouse at 2600 Golf Course Drive

* Traditionally there are no meetings in the month of December

Proposed Agenda Topics for Next Meetings

Greater Golden Hill Planning Committee

Items: None

Code Compliance Subcommittee

Items: None

Land-Use Subcommittee

Items:

Transportation Subcommittee

Items: None

ATTACHMENT 2. LAND USE SUBCOMMITTEE MINUTES

GREATER GOLDEN HILL PLANNING COMMITTEE

Land-use Subcommittee Minutes

October 27, 2010

Subcommittee Members present: Scott Glazebrook (recused), John Kroll – 1 total

City Staff present: None

Community Members present: None

Project Applicants present: Scott Glazebrook representing Counterpoint

Meeting not called to order due to lack of attendance

Item #1

Project Name:

Counterpoint Sidewalk Café

Project Address:

830 25th Street

Project Number:

219344

Project Description:

Sidewalk Cafe

Permit Application:

Process 2: Neighborhood Use Permit

Presentation Status:

Action Item

Motion:

None

Vote:

For:

N/A

Against:

N/A

Abstain:

N/A

Result:

N/A

Presentation:

Discussion:

END OF MINUTES