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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2_24_2004 - Council Minutes - Adjourned Regular MeetingAPPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON MARCH 9, 2004 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES ORANGE, CALIFORNIA OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING February 24, 2004 The City Council of the City of Orange, California convened at an Adjourned Regular Meeting at 3:30 p.m. in a Regular Meeting in the Council Chambers, 300 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange, California. 3:00 P.M. STUDY SESSION 1. OPENING 1.2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG Led by Mayor Murphy 1.3 ROLL CALL PRESENT - Murphy, Coontz, Cavecche ABSENT - Ambriz, Alvarez (Councilmembers Ambriz and Alvarez arrived at 3:05)1.4 PRESENTATlONS/ ANNOUNCEMENTS/ INTRODUCTIONS - None.2. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None.3. CONSENT CALENDAR All items on the Consent Calendar are considered routine and are enacted by one motion approving the recommended action listed on the Agenda. Any member of the City Council, staff or the public may request an item be removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion or separate action. Unless otherwise specified in the request to remove an item from the Consent Calendar, all items removed shall be considered immediately following action on the remaining items on the Consent Calendar.3.1 Declaration of City Clerk, Mary E. Murphy, declaring posting of the City Council Agenda of an Adjourned Regular Meeting of Fehruary 24, 2004 at Orange Civic Center City Clerk's Office, north facing kiosk, Main Library at 101 N. Center Street, Police Facility at 1107 North Batavia, and Shaffer Park; all of said locations being in the City of Orange and freely accessible to members of the public at least 72 honrs before commencement of said Adjourned Regular Meeting.ACTION: Accepted Declaration of Agenda Posting and authorized its retention as a public record in the Office of the City Clerk.MOTION - Cavecche SECOND - Coontz AYES - Mayor Murphy, Coontz, Cavecche ABSENT - Ambriz, Alvarez All items on the Consent Calendar were approved as recommended.PAGE 1 1----- CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Adjourned Regular Meeting February 24, 2004 4. REPORTS FROM MAYOR MURPHY - None.5. REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS - None.6. REPORTS FROM BOARDS, COMMITTEES, AND COMMISSIONS - None.7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS 7.1 Review aspects of the East Orange Development Plan.Mr. Stan SooHoo, Assistant Community Development Director, announced the purpose of this meeting was to review parks and trails for the East Orange Development. He also reported the City's website was on-line with information on East Orange and Santiago Hills II and will provide status reports, updates and information on community meetings.Mr. Dan Miller, The Irvine Company, introduced Mr. Brian Austin to review the parks and trails.Mr. Brian Austin, reviewed the three levels of proposed parks: community/sports park,neighborhood parks and private parks owned and maintained by the homeowner associations.He reviewed the proposed sports park, which will be off of Santiago Canyon Road, noting that The Irvine Company will grade, build and dedicate to the City $40 million in land and $11 million in improvements and related costs for this park. The park will be above the road and below the residential area with open space edges to minimize the potential for conflicts with any nearby residences. He noted the park drains to a water quality basin.Mayor pro tern Cavecche asked about the drainage of the surrounding residential areas.Mr. Austin indicated the residential area will have a storm drain system, that it will not drain directly into the park; and this will not serve as a detention basin.Councilmember Coontz asked about the access to the park off of Santiago Canyon Road as it could be affected by the Corridor traffic; and if there were any community concerns on the wind factor.Mr. Austin indicated a signal could be provided at the entrance into the park, but that is still being discussed. Also, he was not aware of any concerns about the winds and this park is shielded by hills.Councilmember Alvarez asked why that specific location was chosen for the park.Mr. Austin indicated this location is a flat grade and not directly surrounded by residential.Mr. Austin then reviewed the two passive, neighborhood parks in Area I, 3.9 and 6.8 acres in size, which will have a foot path connecting the two.PAGE 2 r-------~.. _____n~_ CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Adjourned Regular Meeting February 24, 2004 7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS (Continued) In response to questions from Councilmember Alvarez on the path, Mr. Austin indicated it will be a four to five foot wide dirt and decomposed granite path within a natural planted slope with some landscaping and could be used for bicycling. Mayor pro tern Cavecche questioned why the City would not turn over the maintenance of these neighborhood parks to the Homeowner Associations. Mr. Gary Warm, Community Services Director, explained all the parks were looked at in their entirety and it was better for the City to maintain control of the neighborhood parks. Mr. Austin reviewed the two neighborhood parks in Santiago Hills II area, one of which has the potential for a joint use facility with an elementary school. Councilmember Coontz asked about safety and access for this park. Mr. Austin indicated it will be located north of Chapman, but access will be off of a side street with a signal at Chapman. In response to questions from Councilmember Alvarez, Mr. Austin indicated the parking lot at the park can be used as part of the circulation for the school. Councilmember Ambriz asked about the proposed fields and if anything would be available for adult sports. Mr. Warm indicated the complete design is not finished, but it will be geared only to youth sports. Councilmember Alvarez asked about renderings of the individual parks. Mr. Austin indicated renderings will corne back with individual development site plans. Councilmember Coontz wanted to ensure that the timing of the parks would be along with the development and not afterwards. Councilmember Ambriz questioned the finances necessary to maintain these parks from the City's standpoint; and was glad to see the design of the parks include tot lots close to the pavilions and restrooms. Mr. Dan Miller reported a fiscal impact study is being done which will outline the overall net financial impacts. Mr. Austin also indicated there will be about six to eight smaller, neighborhood parks, with a total of 18 acres. PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Adjourned Regular Meeting February 24,2004 7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS (Continued) Mr. Austin then reviewed the Trail System. The project trails are in the context of existing trails that are in use today as well as trail opportunities that are within the Irvine Ranch Land Reserve and NCCP areas. Those trails need to be differentiated because the trail opportunities are being implemented separately and apart from the project. Mr. Dan Miller noted The Irvine Company does not have final say on these other trails. They have to work with other agencies and entities, which they are doing, but on a separate track. Their goal is to get connectivity between basically two projects. Councilmember Coontz asked if the proposal has been accepted by the other agencies. Mr. Miller indicated they have identified opportunities and are working with the other agencies to get them implemented. Mr. Austin reviewed the proposed staging areas which is where people will gather to begin mostly docent-led tours, which are necessary because of the habitat.Mr. Miller indicated some of the trails are part of steep slopes and they are working with the Conservancy and other agencies to gain access to the trails while still protecting the environment.Mr. Austin reviewed the types of trails in Santiago Hills II - unpaved multi use trails, community trails maintained by the homeowner associations and paved trails. Councilmember Coontz asked about the safety aspects of the trail crossings. Mr. Austin indicated the crossings at Chapman Avenue will be signalized with raised buttons for horseback riders. The crossing over the Corridor will be a widened bridge to accommodate horses. Mr. Austin reviewed the County's II mile, master planned on-road bike lane along Santiago Canyon Road.Councilmember Coontz expressed concern about traffic speeds along Santiago Canyon Road and the crossings.Councilmember Alvarez asked about the proposed park in the gated residential area.Mr. Austin indicated the park in the gated area will be a three acre private park, on hilly terrain.Mayor pro tern Cavecche stressed the importance, especially to the equestrian community, of gaining access to the Reserve trails. She also expressed concern about the proposed unpaved trail that runs along Santiago, as the City already has problems with trails adjacent to streets.PAGE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Adjourned Regular Meeting February 24,2004 7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS (Continued) Mayor pro tern Cavecche asked if it was a priority of the Council to be able to provide that kind of trail and what can the City do to get a better trail system along that road, especially if staging opportunities are provided; and encouraged working with the County on this. Mayor Murphy asked if the vision for this trail along Santiago was similar to the trail which exists near the Pheasant Run residential area, which is 10 to 12 feet from traffic. Mr. Miller indicated there is a 16 foot easement with a 10 foot pad, but the final engineering has not been completed. Mr. Austin reviewed an area known as Augustine Ranch which is planned to be a commercial/recreation zone to provide an opportunity for a stable or equestrian facility. Councilmember Coontz expressed concern about the safety aspect of a trail along a road and wanted to ensure The Irvine Company was working with the County; and there needs to be a plan to get things done on a timely basis. The City Manager indicated the City is working with the County on the trail system and cooperation from the County is necessary in order to accept the trails for maintenance. 8. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER - None.9. LEGAL AFFAIRS - None.10. ADJOURNMENT The City Council adjourned at 4:05 p.m.LIt~l 4'~.~ M . MURPHY CITYCL RK PAGE 5 T