Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - October 26, 2015 - CC, Special MeetingThe 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, California. Mayor Rocha called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. Councilmember Carrillo joined the meeting at Call to Order 6:37 p.m. after roll call. ROLL CALL: Roll call was taken by City Clerk Comejo. PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: GONZALES, CARRILLO, MACIAS, ALVAREZ, ROCHA ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ALSO PRESENT Elected Officials: City Clerk Comejo. Staff Members: City Manager Butzlaff, City Attorney Martinez, Utilities Director Morrow, Police Captain Hunt, Public Works Director/City Engineer Bobadilla, Economic and Community Development Director Christiansen, Storekeeper Alvarez, Neighborhood Services Coordinator Quiroz and Administrative Technician Juarez. PUBLIC COMMENT Roll Call Public Comment Ms. Shawn Millner stated that she was on the Planning Commission during the time that the parking S. Millner structure was approved. She noticed that the Monument predominantly consisted of the city logo and Comments requested that the City Council invite the community and students to provide input in the artwork design. Mr. Jorge V. Rosales expressed his initial concerns with the look of the parking structure and his desire J. Rosales to add aesthetics to it. He commended the artist on his beautiful artwork and supports the addition of a Comments red car to the proposed design as it is a more significant connection to the City than a freight train. City Manager Troy Butzlaff responded to Ms. Miller's comments stating that the parking structure is T. Butzlaff scheduled to be completed by December 17, 2015. In order to meet the deadline, the design must be Comments given to the contractors within a week, and unfortunately, community input would delay the project. PRESENTATION MARK STANLEY, EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CALIFORNIA WATERSHED CONSERVATION Presentation, AUTHORITY TO PRESENT THE AZUSA WILDERNESS PARK MASTER PLAN. Azusa City Manager Butzlaff introduced the item, stating that the California Watershed Conservation Authority (WCA) would be presenting the Azusa River Wilderness Park Master Plan, which would describe the planned use of the area and give Council a sense of how it would benefit the residents and businesses of Azusa. There has been discussion about the 201 acres of open space that Rosedale Land Partners is to deed to the City and WCA possibly being a partner in the maintenance and operations of those acres. 'Mr. Mark Stanley, Executive Officer, gave a brief description of the WCA and its territory, which includes the National Monument. He described the River Wilderness Park Development which is located in the Azusa Canyon, off of Highway 39, and consists of 70 acres. There are three (3) parts to the acquisition: Taylor Property, approximately 3 acres owned by the City of Azusa and managed by WCA; EI Encanto, 39.9 acres owned by WCA; and Canyon Inn, 27 acres owned by WCA. Mr. Robert Romanek, Project Manager presented the River Wilderness Park Master Plan, which consists of the Canyon Inn Site Plan and EI Encanto Master Plan. The Canyon Inn Site Plan includes seven (7) areas: the Western Bank, which will include a nature trail leading to the National Monument, a river overlook and habitat restoration; Point Bar, which is a restored riparian and aquatic habitat project; Azusa Springs, which will be restored to include a nature trail and overlook; Highway 39, which will include a traffic calming roundabout that will also provide a safe crossing for a bike path extension; Wilderness Park Master Plan CITY OF AZUSA MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL ' MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 — 6:30 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, California. Mayor Rocha called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. Councilmember Carrillo joined the meeting at Call to Order 6:37 p.m. after roll call. ROLL CALL: Roll call was taken by City Clerk Comejo. PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: GONZALES, CARRILLO, MACIAS, ALVAREZ, ROCHA ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ALSO PRESENT Elected Officials: City Clerk Comejo. Staff Members: City Manager Butzlaff, City Attorney Martinez, Utilities Director Morrow, Police Captain Hunt, Public Works Director/City Engineer Bobadilla, Economic and Community Development Director Christiansen, Storekeeper Alvarez, Neighborhood Services Coordinator Quiroz and Administrative Technician Juarez. PUBLIC COMMENT Roll Call Public Comment Ms. Shawn Millner stated that she was on the Planning Commission during the time that the parking S. Millner structure was approved. She noticed that the Monument predominantly consisted of the city logo and Comments requested that the City Council invite the community and students to provide input in the artwork design. Mr. Jorge V. Rosales expressed his initial concerns with the look of the parking structure and his desire J. Rosales to add aesthetics to it. He commended the artist on his beautiful artwork and supports the addition of a Comments red car to the proposed design as it is a more significant connection to the City than a freight train. City Manager Troy Butzlaff responded to Ms. Miller's comments stating that the parking structure is T. Butzlaff scheduled to be completed by December 17, 2015. In order to meet the deadline, the design must be Comments given to the contractors within a week, and unfortunately, community input would delay the project. PRESENTATION MARK STANLEY, EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CALIFORNIA WATERSHED CONSERVATION Presentation, AUTHORITY TO PRESENT THE AZUSA WILDERNESS PARK MASTER PLAN. Azusa City Manager Butzlaff introduced the item, stating that the California Watershed Conservation Authority (WCA) would be presenting the Azusa River Wilderness Park Master Plan, which would describe the planned use of the area and give Council a sense of how it would benefit the residents and businesses of Azusa. There has been discussion about the 201 acres of open space that Rosedale Land Partners is to deed to the City and WCA possibly being a partner in the maintenance and operations of those acres. 'Mr. Mark Stanley, Executive Officer, gave a brief description of the WCA and its territory, which includes the National Monument. He described the River Wilderness Park Development which is located in the Azusa Canyon, off of Highway 39, and consists of 70 acres. There are three (3) parts to the acquisition: Taylor Property, approximately 3 acres owned by the City of Azusa and managed by WCA; EI Encanto, 39.9 acres owned by WCA; and Canyon Inn, 27 acres owned by WCA. Mr. Robert Romanek, Project Manager presented the River Wilderness Park Master Plan, which consists of the Canyon Inn Site Plan and EI Encanto Master Plan. The Canyon Inn Site Plan includes seven (7) areas: the Western Bank, which will include a nature trail leading to the National Monument, a river overlook and habitat restoration; Point Bar, which is a restored riparian and aquatic habitat project; Azusa Springs, which will be restored to include a nature trail and overlook; Highway 39, which will include a traffic calming roundabout that will also provide a safe crossing for a bike path extension; Wilderness Park Master Plan Canyon Inn, which will include a cafe, an adventure play area, a rental pavilion and trail system; Shady Grove, which will include a picnic area and tent camping by permit. The El Encanto Master Plan includes WCA office buildings, riverbank restoration, river view terrace, picnic area, and a trail connection across the river. The initial phase of development includes the River Wilderness Park Entry Improvements, which includes the bike path extension, river overlook, roundabout and pedestrian crossing at Highway 39; the adventure play area, picnic area, pavilion, restrooms, and proposed realignment and modification of Old San Gabriel Canyon Road to allow it to serve as a driveway into the Park at the Canyon Inn Site; and utility upgrades. A brief description of the architecture, vegetation plan, and adventure play area was provided.. 'Funding for the RWP entry improvements is an estimated $8 million; $455,998 was secured from RMC for planning and development; $998,000 was awarded by Los Angeles County Proposition A for the pavilion and adventure play area; a $1,727,300 grant from the State Active Transportation Program for ,the roundabout and bike path extension is pending; and grants are being pursued for the remaining $4,776,702. The project time line is as follows: Environmental Studies & Permits — April 2017; Plans, Specifications & Estimates — April 2017; Construction Begins — May 2017; and Construction Completed — July 2018. A brief description of trail connection opportunities within the park and adjacent areas was provided. WCA is looking at three (3) options regarding the 201 acres of open space that Rosedale Land Partners will deed to the City: 1) WCA Fee Title — WCA would accept the fee title and manage the property; an agreement will be developed that will secure City access and use, and outline the return of the fee title if WCA is dissolved; 2) RMC Fee Title — RMC would accept the fee title and WCA would likely manage through a contract with RMC and/or the City, and an agreement would be developed to secure City access and use; and 3) New Joint Powers Authority (JPA) — The City and RMC would negotiate a JPA agreement to create a separate entity to hold the fee title, and WCA can manage through a contract with the new JPA. City Manager Butzlaff announced that Staff would continue to work with Mr. Stanley regarding the open space issue and would bring information back to Council at a later date. SCHEDULED ITEMS' ' APPROVE EXTERIOR ART DESIGN ENHANCEMENTS AND BUDGET FOR THE AZUSA INTERMODAL TRANSIT CENTER. City Manager Butzlaff introduced the item stating that after the October 12, 2015 study session, Mr. Jose Antonio Aguirre took the Council's comments and incorporated them into his mosaic design. Foothill Transit has approved a budget of $170,000 to complete the additional parking structure art enhancements. The City also has $50,000 in the Art in Public Places Fund which can be used to fund the Iconic "A" Monument. Public Works Director/City Engineer Daniel Bobadilla briefly discussed various components of the proposed artwork, stating that Mr. Aguirre designed two (2) alternatives for the mosaic mural on the south side of the parking structure. Staff is seeking direction on which of the alternatives Council prefers, as the parking structure is almost completed and Mr. Aguirre will need to begin fabrication. Mr. Jose Antonio Aguirre, Artist, presented his revised designs to the Council stating that he had added a Route 66 sign to the panel containing the 1920's Model A car, and had changed the treatment of the skies in the panels to make them unified, and a red car train. The first alternative for the Council to consider contains the WWI memorial monument, cart, 1920's Model A car with a Route 66 logo, and a steam engine train. The second alternative contains the WWI memorial monument, cart, 1920's Model A car with a Route 66 logo, and a red car train. The granite that was originally proposed for the Iconic "A" structure is from India and unfortunately, 'would be costly and difficult to obtain. He proposed two (2) material alternatives for the structure: Granite in either Sierra White or Academy Black or Limestone in Natural Brown. The selected material will be treated with an anti -graffiti coating. Regarding the meandering river pavement design, Mr. Aguirre stated that the pavers are available should the Council wish to use them. As he previously mentioned, due to ADA requirements, the stamping can on the station ramps would be replaced by pavers. Discussion ensued regarding the two design alternatives; the Council selected alternative two (2) which depicts the red car train. 10/26/2015 - PAGE TWO Scheduled Item Exterior Art Design Enhancements and Budget for Intermodal Transit Center C There was additional discussion regarding the type of stone and color that should be used for the Iconic "A" structure, and the Council selected the Sierra White Limestone. Mr. Aguirre responded to questions posed by the Council, stating that he would like the Iconic "A" structure to be placed at a 45 degree angle to allow passing traffic to see it, and was also in the process of obtaining lighting recommendations for the structure. City Manager Butzlaff stated that the City had all of the necessary funding to complete the project. He advised that there may be an issue in obtaining the pavers for the meandering river, due to time constraints. However, he stated that Staff had discussed the use of colored concrete instead, and would work with Mr. Aguirre on this issue. Regarding the meandering river pavement design on the station ramps, the stamping can no longer be used due to ADA requirements and will be replaced by pavers. Thefoursets of stamps were given to Mr. Aguirre and can be used in the sidewalk area of the parking structure. Moved by Councilmember Gonzales, seconded by Mayor Pro -Tem Alvarez to approve and authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Artist Jose Antonio Aguirre for an estimated contract amount of $50,000 to fabricate an iconic Azusa monument structure by the following vote of the Council: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: GONZALES, CARRILLO, MACIAS, ALVAREZ, ROCHA NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by consensus of the City Council. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 8:31 P.M. ./' • y Im / 10/26/2015 - PAGE THREE Adjourn