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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8_26_2003 - Council Minutes - Adjourned Regular MeetingAPPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2003 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES ORANGE, CALIFORNIA OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 26, 2003 The City Council of the City of Orange, California convened on August 26, 2003 at 3:30 p.m. in an Adjourned Regular Meeting in Conference Room C, 300 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange, California. 3:30 P.M. STUDY SESSION 1. OPENING 1.2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG Led by Mayor Murphy 1.3 ROLL CALL PRESENT - Ambriz, Alvarez, Mayor Murphy, Coontz, Cavecche ABSENT - None 1.4 PRESENTATIONS/ 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, Cassandra J. Cathcart, declaring posting of the City Council Agenda of an Adjourned Regular Meeting of August 26, 2003 at Orange Civic Center City Clerk' s Office, north facing kiosk, Main Library at 101 N. Center Street, Police Facility at 11 07 North Batavia, Shaffer Park and available on the City's Web site www.cityoforange.org; all of said locations being in the City of Orange and freely accessible to members of the public at least 72 hours 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 - Coontz SECOND" Alvarez AYES " Ambriz, Alvarez, Mayor Murphy, Coontz, Cavecche All items on the Consent Calendar were approved as recommended.END OF CONSENT CALENDAR PAGE 1 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 26, 2003 4. REPORTS FROM MAYOR MURPHY - None.5. REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS - None.6. REPORTS FROM BOARDS, COMMITTEES, AND COMMISSIONS - None.7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS 7.1 Presentation by The Irvine Company on the proposed Santiago Hills II and East Orange Development Project. Mr. Stan SooHoo, Planning Manager, announced Mr. Dan Miller from The Irvine Company will be providing a status report regarding their work with Orange Unified School District and a presentation by Ms. Boone, Executive Director of Economic Development regarding opportunities for affordable housing with The Irvine Company.Mr. SooHoo reported applications have been filed by The Irvine Company for East Orange and Santiago Hills II. Staff has been focusing on the environmental review process. The Notice of Preparation will be released some time next week which is an announcement to the public that the City is soliciting comments for the environmental review process. Also, mid-September is targeted to begin scoping meetings with the community to receive input regarding the project.Mr. Miller reported on The Irvine Company's commitment to schools; their guiding principles;approach, outline of the current situation regarding Orange Unified School District preparing a Facilities Master Plan for schools; and reviewed the future challenge concerning enrollment.Mr. Miller reviewed the availability ofland; 22,000 acres of Irvine Ranch in the City's Sphere of influence; 90 percent of the land is permanent open space and 10 percent is proposed for residential development. It was noted that the unique mix of housing product The Irvine Company will build tends to produce fewer students than the generation rate being used by the District.The projected student generation was presented and the impact of the students on the existing school system will be gradual and far less than anticipated under the original plan. The Irvine Company has agreed to set aside land for a new elementary school to be financed by a new community assessment district and are also proposing the middle and high school students generated by the community be served by existing schools which The Irvine Company would help to modernize and expand. Demographics of student growth and projections in elementary,middle and high schools was discussed.Concerning financing, The Irvine Company will work with the District to establish a Community Facilities District ( CFD) to assess new homes in the Santiago Hills II and new neighborhoods in East Orange. The Irvine Company will provide 100% financing and encourage the District to pursue state funding.PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 26, 2003 7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS (Continued) A 10 acre site in Santiago Hills II has been designated for purchase by the District to build a K- 6 school that could accommodate 800-plus students. Funding would be provided by the CFD and state funding. This school site is adjacent to a four-acre park.Mr. Miller discussed options concerning refurbishing and modernizing of Santiago Middle School due to its location. This project is projecting no more than 340 high school students, but the District is focusing on building a new high school.Given the number of students projected from the new commumtIes, The Irvine Company suggested they attend EI Modena High School and The Irvine Company will make a significant financial contribution to add new class rooms and support facilities.The Irvine Company has identified a 40-acre site in East Orange if the District decides to acquire it and build a new high school.The Irvine Company will work with the District to develop a school plan and explore options for each school level, determine cost estimates, draft a facilities plan, conduct public process for community meetings and develop a school mitigation agreement for possibly late Fall. It is The Irvine Company's intent to have these options fully explored and the mitigation agreement completed before it comes to the City Council.Council Comments:Councilmember Coontz asked about the school bond issue and if the expectation was the money from The Irvine Company would mean the bond issue is expected to only partially fund the amount needed for EI Modena High School.Mr. Miller indicated the District has not endorsed one option or the other and he assumed they are taking this under consideration and will develop the bond resolution in their plans. It is hoped before March the community, school district and The Irvine Company will know where the bond money will be used.Councilmember Ambriz indicated he had read an article about making Peralta Junior High School a High School. Mr. Miller reported there were no sites in their proposal and this was under discussion with the District.Councilmember Ambriz indicated there is a concern if EI Modena High School is modernized what about Orange High School. As the project grows the school boundaries will change. Mr.Miller commented if the district wants to move some of the funds to Orange High School, The Irvine Company has no problems with that.Mayor pro tern Cavecche commented getting mitigation measures agreed to by the District is a priority for Council. The Facilities Study has been completed; and she requested the City Manager obtain copies of the Study's Executive Summary for CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 26, 2003 7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS (Continued) Mayor pro tern Cavecche commented it is great when The Irvine Company comes in to modernize the schools, however, Council will be looking at traffic implications in the neighborhoods; such as putting a lot of students in schools like Santiago where there is one route in and out. It is also very important that The Irvine Company come to an agreement with the District before they come to Council. The City Manager indicated the City has already made a request for the Facilities Study and Executive Summary, but he will follow up to make sure Council receives copies. Also, the fiscal analysis is still being refined and will be discussed with The Irvine Company. It does not take into consideration a high school site and 350 homes would be lost if this occurs. Councilmember Alvarez asked about financing for elementary schools and what role does the City play? Mr. Miller explained the establishment of the Community Facilities District and the new residents will pay assessments to cover the cost of land and development of the school. The City's role is limited. Councilman Alvarez asked about the two park/school combinations. Mr. Miller explained they are 14 to 15 acres in size. Councilman Alvarez asked when those are built out, are the parks completely built out. Mr. Miller indicated they will all be done at the same time. The Community Facilities District would be paying for the park, school site and infrastructure. The homeowners association would take care of maintenance of landscaping and common areas. Councilmember Coontz stated she hopes The Irvine Company's activity with the school district is a strong impetus for them to make a final decision on the facilities. To say which schools they are going to add to for example: Peralta, Taft - it is important to the District and the City for everyone to know. The questions about changes in the boundaries need to be addressed and are always controversial. Mr. Miller agreed Affordable Housing The Executive Director of Economic Development presented an elevation plan depicting 128 rental units, with half being at below market rents and half at market rents. Parking will be placed in the middle of the development. The plan is to go ahead with this project first. This is housing for families and no senior housing is proposed. The City would not own this, it would be with a non-profit organization. The Irvine Company is providing the land and has requested the architecture, design, compatibility and amenities all fits in so if someone sees this project they will not know the difference. The Irvine Company's architects have worked with the architects the City has hired and they feel comfortable with where it is at this point. If the Council wants to pursue this idea, The Irvine company is willing to sit down and discuss details. Mr. Miller reported this is a groundlease where The Irvine Company retains ownership and is subordinate to the debt. PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 26, 2003 7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS (Continued) Councilmember Cavecche asked the location. Mr. Otto, Housing Manager, indicated it was west of the Toll Road, south of the loop road and north of Chapman Avenue. Councilmember Coontz commented the City is required to develop affordable housing and is behind on this and the City needs more units than are coming in. Ms. Boone indicated as time goes by, more details will be made available on the management system. Councilmember Alvarez clarified the City would not own the project, it would be subsidized to a non-profit organization that works in real estate such as OHDC. Ms. Boone indicated that was correct, there would be restrictions so the City would have control over certain items but nothing to do with ownership or management.Bob Bennyhoff asked what income limits would be set. Ms Boone indicated this has not been decided.Mayor pro tern Cavecche commented this is something she is extremely interested in and appreciated The Irvine Company helping the City pursue this. It would be nice if The Irvine Company and other developers that build large complexes in the City would be willing to offer homes to purchase at below market value for people who are living in affordable housing to be able to purchase homes which is the American Dream.Councilmember Ambriz asked if The Irvine Company would be working with OCT A on transportation for that facility? Ms. Boone commented she had already discussed this with The Irvine Company.8. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER - None. 9. LEGAL AFFAIRS - None.10. ADJOURNMENT MOTION - Mayor Murphy SECOND - Coontz AYES - Ambriz, Alvarez, Mayor Murphy, Coontz, Cavecche The City Council adjourned at 4:30 p.m.44~~~1ic~<~:f CASSANDRA J. C . 'CART, CMC CITY CLERK PAGE 5 I