03-04-1997 Council Minutes Adj RegularAPPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON MARCH II, 1997.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES ORANGE, CALIFORNIA
OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING March 4, 1997
The City Council ofthe City of Orange, California convened on March 4, 1997 at 4:30 P.M. in a
Adjourned Regular Meeting in the Council Chambers, 300 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange,
California.
4:30 P.M. SESSION
1. OPENING
1.1 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
1.2 ROLL CALL
PRESENT - Murphy, Slater, Mayor Coontz, Spurgeon, Alvarez ABSENT -
None 2. CONSENT
CALENDAR 2.1
Declaration of City Clerk, Cassandra J. Cathcart, declaring posting of City Council agenda of
a regular meeting of March 4, 1997 at Orange Civic Center, Main Library,Police facility
at 1107 North Batavia, Eisenhower Park Bulletin Board and summarized on Time
Warner Communications; 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 - Alvarez
SECOND - Spurgeon AYES -
Murphy, Slater, Mayor
Coontz, Spurgeon, Alvarez Item 2.1 was approved
as recommended.END OF CONSENT CALENDAR 3.
REPORTS FROM MAYOR COONTZ -
None 4. REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS - None 5.
REPORTS FROM BOARDS, COMMITTEES, AND COMMISSIONS -
None NOTE: DEVICES TO ASSIST THE HEARING-IMPAIRED CITIZEN
AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.PAGE 1
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 4, 1997
6. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
6.1 Presentation by the Orange County Transportation Authority, staff and consultants
concerning the Corridor Major Investment Study, which was launched by OCTA in 1994
to identify long term transportation solutions for a 28-mile long corridor between
Fullerton and
Irvine.Mayor Coontz gave the following comments: "As Orange's economy grows, we recognize
that we need to plan effectively for the impacts associated with such growth. That growth will
come with the Mills Project. Up to 13 million people per year may visit the City Mills in
Orange.New development at Town & Country and the adjacent medical facilities will add
more commuters. The impact under study today is transportation capacity, in other words, how can
we reduce or eliminate the gridlock that comes with new jobs, workers, visitors and residents?
Our transportation systems need to keep pace with today's growth and anticipate that of
tomorrow.Tomorrow' paints a crowded picture--for our traffic models project a
transportation meltdown by the year 2020. We are in trouble in the year 2020 unless we do some
good planning.Therefore, we've invited aCTA staff and consultants to inform us about the
Corridor Investment Study. Similar activities are going on in other cities affected by this corridor
plan: Anaheim,Santa Ana, Irvine and
Costa Mesa."Nancy Michali, Manager of Transit for aCTA, presented the technical results
update which included the history ofthe corridor; described the major investment study; the corridor
in the 90s, the year 2015; technical efforts and results; Alternative 1 - baseline scenario
comparison which incorporates the existing freeway, road and transit system, programmed
transportation improvement; Alternative 2 - optimize use of the present system; Alternative 3 - innovative bus system;
Alternative 4 - add carpool lanes, SR-57; Alternative 5 - Rail System-Harbor/Main/
Creek; Alternative 6 - Rail System - Metrolink ROW/Bristol; Alternative 7 - AddMixed Flow Lanes, SR-57;
public involvement and future steps for 1997.Ms. Michali explained for
the audience that the light rail system is similar to the San Diego trolley, the Sacramento train,
the Blue Line in Los Angeles vs. Bart in San Francisco and the New York Subway system
which carries a much larger volume of passengers.City of Orange Senior
Planner Jere Murphy, gave the following staff recommendation:Alternative 2, is recommended
as an interim step. It is the optimization of existing infrastructure, making the most
use of what capital improvements are in existence today; streets,highways, adding a certain
amount of bus traffic and interconnecting traffic signals while maximizing the efficiency of
the present system. Alternative 2 is recommended as an interim step and short term
recommendation. Also, a long term recommendation is Alternative 5, which is the rail system
with the exception of a switch from Main Street to Bristol Street through the area of South Santa
Ana.PAGE 2
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 4, 1997
6. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS (Continued)
Councilmembers gave the following opinions on the described alternatives:
Mayor Coontz commented in favor of Alternative 2 and 5, although expressing concern
regarding the elevated rail system on Main Street and LaVeta and felt it should be at ground
level. Also, Mayor Coontz was in favor of the optimized use of the present bus system
Alternative 2), but not in favor of the innovative bus system (Alternative 3) which would
increase bus service by 116%. This would be a detriment to the present City which does not
have the street capacity for this proposal.
Councilman Spurgeon commented in favor of Alternative 5 describing the San Diego Rail
system and its success.
Councilman Murphy commented in favor of Alternative 2, but asked about the amendment to
Measure M for bus capital costs and how this would effect the short/long term recommended
position of Alternative 2 and 5. If dollars are going to be expended look at some of the
suggestions in Alternative 7 which shows a true optimization ofthe roadway system.
Ms. Michali indicated the issue has been taken to the Citizens Oversight Committee and other
alternatives are being considered to pay for the capital cost. Several options will be presented at
a later date.
The April 28th recommendation includes the preliminary financial report. In June, there will be a
recommendation as well as a financial report.
Mayor Coontz indicated Council could make an interim decision pending the financial analysis
to be presented in June. Ms. Michali responded that would be acceptable.
Councilman Alvarez felt the aesthetics of the system should be considered and expressed concern
regarding future maintenance costs.
Mayor pro tem Slater commented in favor of Alternative 2 and felt the City of Orange must be
involved in the process.
The following people spoke on the subject:
Barbara DeNiro (address on file)
Carole Walters, 534 N. Shaffer
Bob Bennyhoff, 10642 Morada Dr.
Wayne King, 12592 Loretta
RudolfD' Ablaing Van Diessenburg, 336 E. LaVeta
The City Manager commented this item will appear on the March 25th Agenda outlining
Council's formal position.
7. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER - None PAGE
3
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 4, 1997
8. LEGAL AFFAIRS - None 9.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS Wayne
King, 12592 Loretta, spoke on cost benefits in roads and not in mass transit.Carole
Walters, 534 N. Shaffer, spoke on what is best for the City of Orange.Bob
Bennyhoff, 10642 Morada Dr., asked what type of trains, where do they go, and how do they
operate?10.
ADJOURNMENT MOTION
SECOND
AYES
Murphy
Slater Murphy,
Slater, Mayor
Coontz, Spurgeon, Alvarez The City Council adjourned
at 5:35 p.m.HCART,CMC CLERK oe:~
MAYOR L
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