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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - January 26, 2015 - CC, Special MeetingCITY OF AZUSA MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL ' MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015 — 7:24 P.M. The City Council, of the City of Azusa, met in Special Session at the above date and time in the Azusa Light & Water Conference Room, located at 729 N. Azusa Avenue, Azusa, CA 91702. A copy of the Notice of said Special Meeting was delivered to the Mayor and Councilmembers on January 22, 2015, between 4:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M., by Administrative Technician Juarez and e-mailed by Deputy City Clerk Hernandez. Mayor Rocha called the meeting to order at 7:24 P.M. Call to Order ROLL CALL: Roll call was taken by City Clerk Comejo. Roll Call PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: GONZALES, CARRILLO, MACIAS, ROCHA Present ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ALVAREZ ALSO PRESENT Also Present Elected Officials: City Clerk Comejo. Staff Members: Interim City Manager Penman, City Attorney Martinez, Community Development Director Christiansen, Utilities Director Morrow, Police Captain Hunt, Assistant Planner Ibaftez, Assistant/Deputy City Clerk Hernandez. Also Present: Mr. Troy Butzlaff who will begin employment on February 17, 2015, as City Manager for 'the City of Azusa. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Public Participation None was given. REPORTS, UPDATES, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM STAFF/COUNCIL Rprts/Updates Raluest by the San Gabriel Valley League of Women Voters to waive the fees for the use of the Azusa SGVLWV Auditorium to conduct an Azusa City Candidates Forum on February 3 2015 at 7.00 P.M. Request to Waive Interim City Manager Penman introduced the item stating that the League of Women Voters submitted Auditorium an application for the use of the auditorium on February 3, 2015, to conduct an Azusa City Candidates Rental Fees Forum, in connection with the March 3, 2015, General Municipal Election, and they requested that the fees associated with the rental be waived; per the City Resolution of Fees and Charges, the amount of fees requested to be waived totaled $441.00. Councihnember Carrillo stated the importance of getting the information out to residents during the election season; he then made a motion to approve the request by the League of Women Voters to waive the fees for the rental of the Azusa Auditorium to hold a City Candidates Forum on February 3, 2015, seconded by Mayor Pro -Tem Gonzales and approved by the following vote of the Council: YES: COUNCILMEMBERS: MACIAS, CARRILLO, ROCHA, GONZALES ' ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ALVAREZ SCHEDULED ITEMS Sched Items upuare Dy me t;ommumty iievelopment Ltrector on me transit unented Development ( lull) Specific Presentation of Plan: RRM Design Group presentation on the status of the Specific Plan and the next steps to follow; the TOD discussion on key concepts concerning the San Gabriel Avenue Character Alameda Avenue Plaza Building Heights and Parking Strategies in the TOD Snecifrc Plan Area. Economic and Community Development Director Christiansen presented the item stating that staff was K. Christiansen successful in the competition for a METRO Grant, and the City received over $600,000.00 to prepare a Comments Specific Plan related to the TOD sites around the two Azusa Gold Line Stations; a request for bids for the preparation of the Specific Plan Design was conducted, 12 bids were received and RRM Design Group was selected, for the past 6-7 months staff has been reviewing RRM Design Group proposed plan on the development around the stations; staff approved a project description and a notice of preparation, and the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) preparation will soon begin; however, before the EIR process begins, staff needs Council's input and direction on the Specific Plan. Ms. Jami Williams, RRM Design Group Representative, and Messrs Miguel Nunez and Jeremy Klop, Fehr & Peers Representatives, presented the proposed TOD Specific Plan as follows: The grant goals are to accommodate transit ridership, provide adequate parking, improve the bicycle network and promote function, safety, and economic vitality; the plan covers a quarter mile radius around each of the two Azusa Gold Line Stations, within an approximate 10 minute walking area, which is characteristic of TOD projects; the Specific Plan is a stand alone zoning document that guides future development within a particular area; it allows the opportunity to create structured specific guidelines, new development standards, developments that promote certain kinds of activities, different uses and character that are in conformance within that area; it creates regulations on heights, setbacks, architectural guidelines, public improvements, and the State reviews the infrastructure prior to its implementation; the plan does not allow for eminent domain, and it does not require any action from private property owners. The preparation of the plan included: background data, market study, traffic and parking assessments, study on mobility, future opportunities, review of the City's Development Code, and the realities as they relate to current economics; a community workshop was also conducted, residents input was to have more opportunity, more dining, a hotel, a conference center, and an amphitheater at Veteran's Park; Council's direction will assist to refine the concepts, draft a final plan, conduct the EK and prepare for the Public Hearing Process. All the data gathered was used to prepare a draft of the Azusa TOD Specific Plan objectives, focusing on opportunities; the goal is to maximize the community's benefit, create district -specific development standards and design guidelines; expand housing, employment, local services, and community amenities; ensure that land uses are transit -supportive, increase and establish pedestrian linkages making it a more walkable environment; the focus was on future market-driven opportunities, public and private partnerships, architectural quality, sustainable and healthy community guidelines, and enhance historic resource enhancements that are already in place. They presented the district map area to be developed, suggesting to divide the area into districts in order to developed different uses based on the density of each district, which were identified as the Downtown Station Area, Residential Area called buffer zone, and Route 66 Area. They presented the following key concepts: 1. San Gabriel Avenue Character: San Gabriel Ave. currently does not have a safe feel for pedestrians, it is not attractive for walking and it promotes cars to speed through town, it is considered a connector instead of a destination; they proposed to convert it for a two-way traffic access, reduce it down to 3 traffic lanes, increase pedestrian safety, allow for maintained parking, improve and provide bike lanes with buffers, maintain existing curb and gutters, and the changes would satisfy parade/float needs; traffic calming elements and Downtown furnishings can be added. Discussion was held regarding changing San Gabriel and Azusa Avenues into two-way streets; a traffic study was conducted on Azusa Ave., during weekend and traffic peak times, and based on the amount of traffic activity, changing the existing lanes to two-way lanes would serve the amount, and no bicycle lane was proposed for this street; having two lanes on San Gabriel Ave. would allow traveling north and south, businesses would have more opportunity to be noticed, and a bicycle lane is proposed for this street; a thorough study would need to be conducted to find out how the change would impact the residents in those areas, and additional analysis on traffic can be done through the EIR process; proposals for Foothill Blvd. include better pedestrian accessibility, opportunity for public art, changing the name to Route 66 and, creating opportunities for redevelopment; the need to consider ideas that are reasonably approachable and that can financially sustained was further discussed. 2. Proposed Building Heights: The proposed building heights where as follows: adjacent to the Gold Lines, a maximum of 60', approximately a 5 story building; the Downtown on Azusa Ave. and Foothill Blvd. a maximum of 50', approximately a 4 story building; Downtown District a maximum of 45' approximately a 34 story building; Residential Buffer Zone a maximum of 35' approximately a 2 story building; Route 66 a maximum 40' and 60' for hospitality such as hotels; all districts will have a minimum of 25'. Presentation by RRM Design Group Representatives San Gabriel Ave. Character Discussion Building Heights Discussion was held regarding building heights, the current Development Code allows for maximum of Discussion 35% it was suggested to only have a maximum of 45' 3 story building. 01/26/2015 PAGE TWO 3. Parking Strategies: Parking Strategies Part of the plan is to help understand what the land uses and parking demands are, information on parking utilization was collected on the specific plan area at different times during the day, 8 A.M., 1:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M., the study showed that there were less parking spaces available during the peak time; the plan suggested to have parking strategies and management, such as parking signage, time limits and modified parking requirements for residential and commercial areas, shared and time limits are already in place; potential development scenarios include Specific Plan build -out, new parking, policies to mange the demand for the type of development proposed, and creation of parking districts. Discussion was held regarding demand, parking can be increased by getting reasonable estimates based Discussion on potential developers and taking into consideration the amount of parking that is allowed; the need to 'strategize and allow for additional parking should the need arise, and have a balance of what is allowed, so that there is no unused land; there is need to look for creative ways for better parking as residents want walkability, it was suggested to reduce parking in order to avoid having unused vacant parking land; relaxed standard refers to someone parking some place and then walking through town; a vital downtown is different from a commercial center as far as parking needs; it was suggested to look for parking opportunities and reducing the parking requirements, Adjourn It was consensus of the City Council to adjourn the meeting, TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 9:14 P.M. I FA , / .wy NEXT RESOLUTION NO. 2015-05. 01/26/2015 PAGE THREE