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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 1994 0709 CC JNTMINUTES OF THE JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION TOWN HALL MEETING Moorpark, California July 9, 1994 A Special Town Hall Meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission of the City of Moorpark was held on July 9, 1994 at the Moorpark Presbyterian Church, located at 13950 Peach Hill Road, Moorpark, California. 1. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Lawrason called the City Council meeting to order at 9:20 a.m. Chairman Wesner called the Planning Commission meeting to order at 9:20 a.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Steven Kueny led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmembers Hunter, Perez, and Mayor Lawrason Commissioners May, Miller, Torres, and Chairman Wesner Absent: Councilmembers Montgomery and Wozniak Commissioner Martens Staff Present: Steven Kueny, City Manager; Jim Aguilera, Director of Community Development; Paul Porter, Senior Planner; Dorothy Vandaveer, Deputy City Clerk Four members of the public were in attendance. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT: Lori Rutter, 11611 Pinedale Road, spoke as a member of the Tuscany Homeowners Association. She said she is unclear of the City's direction as far as development is concerned. She inquired about several areas in the City that are either undeveloped, not landscaped with mature vegetation, or are proposed to undergo development that she believes the citizens are not aware of. She also indicated that citizens would benefit from a pictorial presentation of proposed developments on signs advertising the public hearings for these developments. In response to Ms. Rutter's concerns, Mayor Lawrason stated: 1) that the City encourages more mature landscaping be placed Minutes of the Town Hall Meeting Moorpark, California Page z July 9, 1994 in newly developed commercial areas, but that it is a compromise between the City and the developer; 2) that the pictorial views of proposed projects are available to the public at City Hall, but because of their transitional state it is not feasible to put them on the advertisement signs; and 3) that some undeveloped areas in the City are under consideration to be developed or are private property of which the City is not a party to any transactions that may take place. Mr. Kueny commented that the Planning Commission is working on zoning guidelines for the downtown area of the City and that more specific details on what is being planned for various sites will be available in approximately one year. Councilmember Perez stated that even within the City's own right of way property, landscaping is a concern due to the lack of available water to maintain it. He also said that he believes public hearing notices should contain a rendition of the proposed project. Mr. Kueny responded to Ms. Rutter's question about the development of the community focus lot in Mountain Meadows (on Mountain Trail Street). He said that Urban West Communities is now marketing the property to bring in a retail center. He continued by giving the status of the city -owned property next to K -Mart. Mr. Kueny explained that the City is negotiating with the owners of the K -Mart plaza to close a deal that may include a movie theater and another supermarket. Ethel Sulkis, 270 Sierra Avenue, said that Town Hall Meetings should be held at City Hal] instead of various locations throughout the City. Mayor Lawrason explained that the Town Hall meetings are scheduled in various locations so members of that immediate community will feel welcome to attend. Councilmember Hunter added that the intent of the Town Hall meetings is to provide an informal setting for discussion of issues some of which may be neighborhood- specific matters. He said holding the meetings at City Hall then raises the question as to why they are not televised since that capability exists. He added that televising the meetings then sometimes intimidates citizens and they don't feel as open to address the Council in that particular setting. Minutes of the Town Hall Meeting Moorpark, California Page 3 July 9, 1994 Ms. Sulkis suggested that the citizens should be able to give input to the Council on what items will be discussed at the Town Hall meetings. Councilmember Perez agreed with Ms. Sulkis that Town Hall meetings should be held at City Hall. Eloise Brown, 13193 Annette Street, commented that Town Hall meetings should be conducted at City Hall and that she hopes Councilmembers are available by telephone to residents who feel the need to talk to them about issues. Mrs. Brown also expressed concern about untrimmed shrubs at the intersection of Vista de la Valle and Peach Hill Road. She said the view of traffic on Peach Hill Road is obstructed due to overhanging trees and that a six -foot pruning guideline would be a good one for the City to adopt. Tony Bellasalma, 11823 Maplecrest Street, addressed the Council stating that regardless of where the Town Hall meetings are held, citizens will attend if they have an interest. He indicated that weekends are not a good time to conduct the meetings. Commissioner May said that the best thing residents can do to become involved with their community is to make use of the downtown area and patronize the merchants in Moorpark. Councilmember Montgomery joined the meeting at 10:00 a.m. Commissioner Torres said that the City should try to improve the cable television reception for the Mountain Meadows residents. He said it is not fair that those residents do not have a choice of cable companies. Commissioner Torres also said that possibly the public hearing pictorials could be broadcast on the government channel Mr. Kueny explained that the Entertainment Express cable television franchise is not an exclusive one. He said the City is working with Entertainment Express to improve the Channel 10 "feed" to Mountain Meadows customers. Mr. Kueny also explained that broadcasting a copy of the proposed project pictorials is not an easy matter. It requires specialized technology to do this. Mr. Kueny also said the pictorials are available at City Hall, but are also part of the public record and must be safeguarded just like other public documents. Minutes of the Town Hall Meeting Moorpark, California Page 4 July 9, 1994 Eloise Brown suggested that a notebook with a small version of the pictorials could be maintained at the City Hall counter for public review. In response to Mrs. Brown, Paul Porter said the developers are required to provide the City with an 8 -1/2 x 11" rendition of their proposed development, so that copy could be used for the Counter notebook. 5. ACTION /DISCUSSION: A. Consideration of a Draft Ordinance Establishing Standards and Procedures for Development of Hillside Areas within the City. Review the draft ordinance and direct staff as deemed appropriate. Paul Porter provided clarification on how the present draft ordinance has evolved over the past months. Mayor Lawrason expressed his concern over possible development on slopes of over 50 %. Paul Porter suggested that Councilmembers might benefit from a video presentation that was given to the Planning Commission approximately one year ago. Chairman Wesner continued by highlighting some of the points of discussion that were addressed on the video (i.e., concepts of suitability plans, watershed, and slope stabilization). Mr. Aguilera addressed Mayor Lawrason's concern about grading of slopes of 50% or more by reviewing the three instances where such grading is proposed to be allowed. He listed them as being the following exceptions: a) Development is proposed on isolated peninsula shaped fingers of fifty ( 50 ) percent slope within an otherwise developable area of lessor slopes; b) The grading involves the filling of small ravines or drainage courses not shown on the U.S.G.S. maps as intermittent or perennial streams which contain ancillary slopes of fifty (50) percent or greater if said ravine or drainage course is not deemed a significant biological area, (as determined by the environmental study for the project) and if measures to convey surface water, are proposed to the satisfaction of the Ciry Engineer; or Minutes of the Town Hall Meeting Moorpark, California Page July 9, 1994 C) The grading involves the construction of roads if the 50 percent slope area is an isolated landform as defined in Section 16.04, or if no other reasonable alternatives are available and all hillside street design criteria are met as specified in Section 16.13 (Landscape and Erosion Control Standards) Mr. Aguilera clarified that the process after this meeting, will be to incorporate Council and Commission comments and begin the public hearing process at the Planning Commission level, then it will proceed to the public hearing process at the City Council. Eloise Brown suggested that a physical illustration should be made available at public presentations to provide examples of the different percentages of slope. Councilmember Perez said that photos of existing slopes within the City would be helpful in defining the different percentages. He also asked if the street standards set forth in the proposed ordinance have been approved by the Fire Department. In response to Councilmember Perez, Mr. Kueny said the street standards should be addressed separately in a public works document. Councilmember Montgomery noted that a definition of "open space" needs to be included because the use in this document differs from the land use connotation in the General Plan. He also expressed concern over assessing the impact of this ordinance on the undeveloped areas of the City with regard to density transfers. Mr. Aguilera said that all Specific Plan applicants have been made aware of the proposed ordinance and have confirmed that they can comply with its restrictions with regard to their proposed developments. Councilmember Montgomery :indicated that he believes because of density transfers we will be creating satellite urban areas and he would like to know the impact of this ordinance on the rest of the City. He said this item is a nonbi llable item to developers so the Council needs to consider an appropriation of funds to evaluate this. Minutes of the Town Hall Meeting Moorpark, California Page 0 July 9, 1994 Mayor Lawrason said he would like a change to the wording in Section 16.12, Hillside Street Standards, Item A.(3). It currently reads: "Development of streets oriented along the top of a significant ridgeline shall be strongly discouraged." Mayor Lawrason suggested changing it to read: "Development of streets oriented along the top of a significant ridgeline shall be prohibited." Commissioner May stated that on page 5, the definition for " ridgeline" should be defined more specifically. She said it is her concern that ridgelines that are visible from the valley floor will not be protected. In response to Commissioner May, Mr. Kueny said a map needs to be included in the draft ordinance to define the location of the valley f'oor. AT THIS POINT in the meeting, Chairman Wesner adjourned the Planning Commission. The tire was 11:30 a.m. 7. ACTION /DISCUSSION: A. Consider Possible Revision to Ventura County Library Expansion Plans Requiring Use of City Property and Plan Revisions. Staff Recommendation: Direct staff as deemed appropriate. Mr. Kueny stated that there is no new information to report, but said the cost for the library expansion is the original $65,000, plus an additional $13,000 - $18,000 to move the entrance to the front of the library building and moves the parking lot off the property adjacent to the City -owned property. MOTION: Mayor Lawrason moved and Councilmember Montgomery seconded a motion to authorize the City Manager to negotiate with the Library Services Agency and offer a minimum of $13,000 to begin the plan revision for the expansion plans of the Moorpark Branch Library; to limit the amount the City Manager may offer to $15,000. The motion carried by voice vote 4 -0, Councilmember Wozniak absent for the vote. B. Consider Status Report of 1993194 Objectives and Consider 1994/95 Goals and Objectives Staff Recommendation: Minutes of the Town Hall Meeting Moorpark, California Page 7 July 9, 1994 Direct staff as deemed appropriate. Mr. Kueny said it was his intent to provide Councilmembers with a maximum of 5 - 7 mandatory, high priority items to be accomplished by the Community Development Department. He indicated he has identified a list of 14 items. Mr. Aguilera commented that his highest priority items number 35. CONSENSUS: By consensus, the Council determined that staff will consolidate the high priority items and bring this item back for Council with their recommendation. Tony Bellasalma commented that he believes the Senior Center expansion needs to be considered in the near future and that the Citrus Room offers possibility for the Senior Citizens' extended use. Mayor Lawrason said the Citrus Room will utilized as an Emergency operations Center disaster. He said the Council is very aware of the needs of the Senior Citizen agrees that they need to have more sp activities. be eventually in the case of sensitive and Center and he ace for their 7. ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Lawrason adjourned ty_Town Hall meeting at 11:40 a.m. Paul W. Lawrason Jr., or ATTEST: _ ;�;;� Torres Planning Commission Chair Lillian E. Hare, City Clerk