Loading...
2009-04-23 PC MInutesMINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA April 23, 2009 Chairman Wagner called the El Segundo Planning Commission meeting to order CALL TO ORDER at 7:00 p.m. in the El Segundo City Hall's Council Chambers, 350 Main Street, El Segundo, California. Commissioner Newman led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. PRESENT: WAGNER, FUENTES, BALDINO and NEWMAN ABSENT: FELLHAUER None Chair Wagner presented the Consent Calendar. None. PLEDGE TO FLAG ROLL CALL PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS CONSENT CALENDAR CALL ITEMS FROM CONSENT Commissioner Fuentes moved, seconded by Commissioner Baldino, to approve MOTION the April 9, 2009, Minutes. Motion carried (4-0). None. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Chair Wagner presented Agenda Item H-2, Environmental Assessment No. EA- NEW BUSINESS — 834, Specific Plan Amendment No. 09-01 and Zone Text Amendment No. 09-01. PUBLIC HEARING for Applicant: City of El Segundo. Property Owner: Various. Address: All properties EA-834, SP 09-01 and within the Downtown Specific Plan. ZTA 09-01 Commissioner Newman recused herself from participating in Agenda Item H-2 for potential conflict of interest reasons. She left the Council Chambers. Principal Planner Paul Samaras presented the staff report (of record.) Commissioner Fuentes stated that she was curious about what happened if payment of parking in -lieu fees is extended up to 20 years, she asked what is the City's policy if the tenant space closes prior to the 20 years and it is has not been paid off. Director Carpenter addressed the Commission that the business aspects are still being worked out. He stated in response to Commissioner Fuentes that the new business or property owner would be given the opportunity to assume the remaining term for the parking space credit, or else take back the parking rights. El Segundo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes April 23, 2009 Page 1 Commissioner Fuentes asked it there were any businesses currently on the payment plan. Mr. Carpenter replied "no" because no current payment plans exists. Commissioner Fuentes asked would the City charge any interest since it seems like a mortgage on a parking space. Mr. Carpenter replied "yes". Commissioner Baldino was curious how this came about and if some businesses raised some concerns. Mr. Samaras responded "yes" that some businesses had some interest in amending the existing in -lieu program in the downtown. Chair Wagner asked how many businesses might be interested in leasing or purchasing parking spaces on a temporary basis. Mr. Samaras stated that he did not have an exact figure. Chair Wagner asked if a weekly or monthly lease amount had been set for it. Planning Manager Kimberly Christensen stated no but that the monthly share would be determined as a prorated amount from the $17,500 total fee per space. Liz Garnholz, resident Ms. Garnholz stated her concerns regarding the project. Chair Wagner commented that the Resolution did not clarify if a lien on the property would be part of the plan. Assistant Attorney Karl Berger addressed the Commission. He stated that on Stamped Page 43 of the Draft Resolution for City Council consideration under Section 3 subsection B it would read as follows "The debtor must enter into a repayment agreement with the City; execute a promissory note in favor of the City; execute a deed of trust in favor of the City to secure the promissory note; if required by the Administrator, upon recommendation by the City Attorney, record a covenant against the real property subject to parking requirements under the DSP; and take such additional action as may be required by the AP&P. All such documents must be approved as to form by the City Attorney." Mr. Berger stated that City's staff contemplates recording it against the property so that subsequent owners and business owners would be aware of it. He stated that its issuance would be required for the parking requirement for that property. He stated that the subsequent property owner would have to continue to honor the deal made by the previous business owner or the City would take back the parking rights and the business would have to meet the parking requirements under the code. Commissioner Baldino moved, seconded by Commissioner Fuentes to approve MOTION Environmental Assessment No. 834, Specific Plan Amendment No. 0901 and Zone Text Amendment No. 09-01, and to adopt Resolution No. 2654. Motion carried (3-0). El Segundo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes April 23, 2009 Page 2 Commissioner Newman returned to the dais. None PUBLIC HEARING CONTINUED BUSINESS Director Carpenter corrected Item I on the agenda stating that the next meeting is REPORT FROM on May 14, 2009 and that there would be possibly four or five items for that PLANNING AND meeting. BUILDING SAFETY DIRECTOR Commissioner Newman that Green Day will be in July. PLANNING COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS Bob Cummings, Director of Recreation and Parks, and the City's consultant OTHER BUSINESS presented a PowerPoint presentation to the Commission for the Aquatics Site Feasibility Study. Tim Lambert introduced a couple of his colleagues: Tom Ahn, architect from Rossetti and lead designer on the project, and Trish Soto an aquatics consultant from Councilman Hunsaker, a national aquatics design firm. Mr. Lambert stated that Ms. Soto would present the first half of the PowerPoint presentation covering the language, terminology, and the details of the aquatics design. Mr. Ahn would present the second half covering the site planning issues. Trish Soto presented the first half of the PowerPoint presentation regarding the terminology and details for the design. Tom Ahn presented the second half of the PowerPoint presentation regarding the site planning and design of the project. Commissioner Baldino asked staff what the process is that will unfold as the discussion of the site location continues. Mr. Carpenter stated that he hoped to narrow down what the community wants, select a preferred alternative that may involve acquisition of land through the school district, along with a discussion that needs to occur to see how realistic it is to acquire the land. Chair Wagner stated that in 2005 the Aquatics Committee discussed the Urho Saarhi and Imperial School sites. He stated that they were ruled out and that the best site was Hilltop Park being that the city owns the property and the existing equipment. He was concerned about why the discussion is occurring again and that he was concerned about taking the land from Richmond Street School. He stated that there isn't enough land already behind the school for activities related to gym and recess and he doesn't see the school district wanting anything but long term income on the property. Commissioner Newman asked what is the length of Urho Saarhi. Ms. Soto replied that the pool is 25 yards long and she was not sure of the width but guessed that it is over 60 feet. El Segundo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes April 23, 2009 Page 3 Commissioner Newman asked if the existing Urho Saarhi Swim Stadium meets the first requirement of the length of 25 meters. Ms. Soto stated that it met the length requirement for swimming only but in terms of water polo it does not meet the depth or length requirement as it is shallow at one end. Ms. Newman asked overall by how much. Ms. Soto replied 25 meters goal face to goal face is the water polo requirements at high school playoff level. She stated that the requirement would need to be slightly longer at least 30 meter and if all is deep the recreation requirement doesn't meet the Los Angeles County requirements so you will need to get the extra length for the step entries and the shallow water. Ms. Newman asked at Hilltop Park now there is an existing recreational pool out there now and as an idea we can use what we have correct. Ms. Soto replied that is correct Commissioner Baldino raised the question to Mr. Cummings whether the City is planning to redo a study that was done in 2005. Recreation and Parks Director Bob Cummings stated that they are not trying to redo it but to validate it as a long term big project per Council's directive to go out and see if the recommendation is feasible and that things have changed since 2005. He indicated that the Imperial Street School has elected to use the property for surplus. He believes maybe the option is just looking at Hilltop alone. Chair Wagner has concerns about a facility in general in that a pool on City property has a certain amount of liability if someone gets injured or drowns. He inquired about the liability of the aquatic parks with slides and asked if that increases the risk of injury and the increase in potential liability to the City as far as payment to people that get injured. Ms. Soto stated that she wasn't aware of anything. Commissioner Fuentes asked if covering the pool helps to conserve water evaporation. Ms. Soto replied that it does and that she is able to do calculations to give an idea of what it would cost. Commissioner Fuentes asked if the County has any requirements or ordinances on pool covering. Ms. Soto replied "yes", but they do not control the use as it is up to the owner of the pool to control the use of it properly. Commissioner Fuentes stated that Ms. Soto said that this project primarily will be used for water polo but Ms. Fuentes stated that rather it will be used for a community pool for all sixteen thousand people and will be designed for such. Ms. Fuentes is concerned that the use of the project be for the entire community. El Segundo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes April 23, 2009 Page 4 Ms. Soto commented that they tested each of the sites and was able to accommodate a pool function for high school, USA water polo, USA swimming and high school swimming, and that it would have shallow water for a swim lesson program and community use. Ms. Soto response that it would have the adequate depth of water to accommodate the water polo program that the current facility does not have. Ron Swanson member of the Aquatics Task Force Mr. Swanson stated that he was a part of the Aquatics Task Force for about fifteen months. He responded to Chair Wagner's question regarding the 2005 report for Hilltop Park and stated that it took fifteen months. He stated that the cost for Hilltop was $6.2 million at that time and included a 25 x 30 yard pool, small play pool, and a bath house. He stated his concern regarding the project. Commissioner Newman asked Mr. Swanson if the Task Force concluded that there was enough support. Mr. Swanson stated that he believed that the percentage was to add 2.1 pools to the City of El Segundo which has been done. He commented that with Urho Saarhi, Hilltop and Acacia it has been done. Commissioner Newman asked if that took into consideration school, recreation, and competitive needs across the board. Mr. Swanson replied "yes" and that Hilltop Park would handle the community needs including for the little kids, competitive programs, the high school program, and USA swimming. Commissioner Fuentes asked staff if a copy of the 2005 report could be provided. Director Cummings respond "yes" and that the Recreation and Parks website has a link with a copy of the current feasibility study, public questionnaire where the community can read it and fill it out, and that the 2005 Master Plan will also be added to the website. Liz Garnholz Ms. Garnholz stated her concerns regarding the 2005 study and that it indicated 8 out of 10 people were satisfied with the Aquatics program and satisfied with the facility. She suggested that the Commission reads the 2005 report. Chair Wagner raised a concern and asked Judy Andoe about an entrance fee to water parks and to confirm that there isn't an entrance fee to the skate park. Recreation and Parks Department Supervisor Judy Andoe replied that there is not a fee for the skate park but in regard to the water park charging a fee could be considered. She stated that residents are not charged to enter Urho Saarhi plunge but non-residents are charged a small fee and would need a recreation card. She commented that charging is an option and is presented in the studies. Commissioner Newman asked if she knew what the site is currently generating in revenue. El Segundo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes April 23, 2009 Page 5 Ms. Andoe replied that the Finance Department recently found out that money have been allocated into another fund and she is not able to provide accurate information at this time. Chairman Wagner adjourned the meeting. Motion carried (4-0). The meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m. PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS 23rd DAY OF APRIL 2009 Gre arpe r, Secretary of David Wagner, Chairman the anning Commission Planning Commission and Director of The City of El Segundo, California Planning and Building Safety Department P:\Planning & Building Safety\0 Planning - Old\PLAN-COM\MINUTES\2009\2009 04-23 Minutes.doc MOTION ADJOURNMENT El Segundo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes April 23, 2009 Page 6