City Heights Area Planning Committee

Minutes May 2013 to July 2013

CITY HEIGHTS AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

Minutes of the meeting of July 1, 2013

3910 University Ave

City Heights CA 92105

 

1.  The meeting was called to order at 6:32PM.  Russ Connelly, Kenton Finkbeiner, Mark Kassab, Sally Lemmie, Mazda Mehraz, Amanda Moss, Marc Munic, David Nelson, Gerardo Perez, Katia Rodriguez, Jessie Sergent, Hong Tran, Jim Varnadore, Patty Vaccariello and Abdullahi Yusuf formed a quorum.  Ahmedei Cheikgurei, Emily Cox, Jenny Flanagan, Angeli Hernádez, Ahmed Malinomar, Guy Mock, Jeanette Neeley absent.

 

2.  Jessie offered, Amanda seconded a motion to adopt the agenda.  The committee voted 12/0/0 (Chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

3.  The minutes of June 3, 2013 were accepted as tendered.

 

4.  Robert Lief described his experience meeting the Mayor at the Mayor’s regular Saturday morning audiences.

 

5.  Abi Santos from CD-9 distributed a newsletter and reported the progress of several pending projects.  She also announced the times and places for the SANDAG public meetings about the SR-94 HOV lanes project.

 

6.  Committee members Jessie Sergent, Amanda Moss, Mazda Mehraz, Jim Varnadore, and Chairwoman Patty Vaccariello reported the progress of several pending City projects.

 

7.1 The Committee heard a request to add 17 head-in parking spaces on Landis Street between Cherokee and 36th.  After discussion, Russ offered, David seconded a motion to recommend approval.  The Committee voted 13/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

7.2 City employee Ed Clancy briefed the Committee on the status and prospects for bicycle improvements in City Heights, including bike-share and rent-a-bike projects being considered.  The Committee asked questions which Mr. Clancy answered, and it discussed his report.

 

7.3 The Committee heard a request from Jose Cervantez of the City Heights Business Association to recommend “no vehicles for sale” to be parked on University Avenue between 38th Street and Marlborough Avenue.  After discussion, Russ moved, Mazda seconded a motion to recommend approval of the requested action and to recommend further that the City impose a 4-hour maximum parking limit on University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard between Interstate Highway 805 and 54th Street.  The Committee voted 14/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

7.4 The Committee heard a presentation from Kenton Finkbeiner about a community identification sign to be placed on or near University Avenue and near to Fairmount Avenue and 43rd Street.  He presented a drawing of the sign project.  The Committee discussed the matter at length and offered several suggestions for the design and siting of a sign.  The Committee seemed to like the overall idea but wanted to offer suggestions about the design. 

 

8  The meeting was adjourned at 8:37PM to meet again August 5, 2013 at the time and place listed above.  If called, a mid-month meeting will be held Monday, July 15th at 6:30PM in the Mid-City Police Substation.  Separate agenda will be issued and posted.

 

CITY HEIGHTS AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

Minutes of the meeting of June 3, 2013

3910 University Ave

City Heights CA 92105

 

1.  The meeting was called to order at 6:35PM.  Russ Connelly, Kenton Finkbeiner, Jenny Flanagan, Ahmed Malinomar, Mazda Mehraz, Guy Mock, Amanda Moss, Marc Munic, Jeanette Neeley, David Nelson, Gerardo Perez, Jessie Sergent, Jim Varnadore, Patty Vaccariello and Abdullahi Yusuf formed a quorum.  Ahmedei Cheikgurei, Emily Cox, Mark Kassab, Sally Lemmie, Katia Rodriguez, Hong Tran, absent.  Council member Marti Emerald was a guest.

 

2.  Ahmed offered, Jeanette seconded a motion to adopt the agenda.  The committee voted 14/0/0 (Chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

3.  The minutes of May 6, 2013 were accepted as tendered.

 

4.  Council member Emerald reviewed the status of several projects in City Heights including the CenterLine BRT, a skate plaza, solar powered lights, and the City budget.  Audience members offered brief announcements of coming events.

 

5.  There were no staff reports.

 

6.  Committee members Ahmed Malinomar, Kenton Finkbeiner, Mazda Mehraz, Russ Connelly, Amanda Moss, Guy Mock, and Jessie Sergent offered announcements.  The Chairwoman announced that the Planning Commission denied approval of the 7/11 project at 38th/University.

 

7.1 The Committee heard applications from Angeli Hernández, Xochitl Arce, and Cynthia Hernández.  After one round of voting, Xochitl Arce and Angeli Hernández remained as candidates.  In a second round of voting, the Committee chose Angeli Hernández who was immediately seated.

 

7.2 After a brief introduction and in the absence of a representative from the City or from the applicant, Jim offered, Guy seconded a motion to continue the matter for one month.  The Committee voted 15/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

7.3 The District-11 office of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) offered a presentation about high-occupancy lanes on SR-94 between approximately Interstate Highway-5 and Interstate Highway-805.  After discussion, Jim offered, Russ seconded a motion to recommend that Caltrans and SANDAG abandon the project and commit the expected $500-$600 millions to transportation and circulation improvements in the communities adjacent to that part of SR-94.  The Committee voted 10/2/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

7.4 The Committee heard a request from Vicki Granowitz, Chairwoman of the North Park Planning Committee for actions in connection with alterations earlier proposed at Plaza de Panamá in Balboa Park.  After discussion, Jeanette offered, Marc seconded a motion to oppose altering the City’s Municipal Code (especially §126.0504(i) either to weaken its protections for historic resources in general or to create an exception for the Plaza de Panamá project in particular and a motion to recommend that the City rescind the July 2012 amendments to the Balboa Park Master Plan and the Central Mesa Precise Plan and that it re-instate the plans of 1989 until such times as those plans are updated in their entirety through an established plan update process.  The Committee voted 9/2/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

7.5 The Committee heard a report about Water and Sewer Group Job 946 and asked questions.

 

8  The meeting was adjourned at 9:26PM to meet again July 1, 2013 at the time and place listed above.  If called, a mid-month meeting will be held Monday, June 17 at 6:30PM in the Mid-City Police Substation.  Separate agenda will be issued and posted.

 

 

CITY HEIGHTS AREA
PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

DRAFT Minutes of the meeting of May 6, 2013

3910 University Ave

City Heights CA 92105

 

1.
 The meeting was called to order at 6:35PM.  Abdullahi Yusuf, AhmedMalinomar, Amanda Moss, David Nelson, Guy Mock, Jeanette Neeley, Jessie Sergent, Jim Varnadore, Katia Rodriguez, Marc Munic, Mark Kassab, Mazda Mehraz, Sally Lemmie, and Patty Vaccariello formed a quorum.  Ahmedei Cheikgurei, Emily Cox, Hong Tran, Jenny Flanagan, Kenton Finkbeiner, absent.

 

2.  After the Chairwoman’s request to reverse and re-number items 7.1 and 7.2, Jim offered, David seconded a motion to amend and adopt the agenda.  The committee voted 12/0/0
(Chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

3.  The minutes of April 1, 2013 were accepted as tendered.

 

4.  Carl Davis reported the status of the Hoover HS Tennis Team in the CIF finals and noted that the team practices and plays on a borrowed tennis court at another high school.  He asked members to e-mail the district trustees to ask for suitable tennis facilities at Hoover HS.  David Nelson noted that Hoover HS once had tennis courts that were demolished to make room for a softball field.

 

5.  Abi Santos from Council District-9 staff distributed its newsletter and noted some of the contents.  She noted an evening budget meeting on May 22, 6:00PM at the City Administration Building. 
Michael Prinz from the Planning Division announced a Greening Grant workshop on Saturday, May 11 at the Metro Career Center.  

 

6.  Committee members Katia Rodriguez, Amanda Moss, Jeanette Neeley, and Guy Mock, offered announcements.  The Secretary noted that there were three pending applications for youth seats.  The Chair announced that the 7-11 project at 38th/University would go to hearing with a recommendation for denial from the City staff.

 

7.1 The Committee heard a report about Sewer & Water Group Job 3014 to replace sewer and water lines in Islenair and several other locations.  There were questions and answers about details of the project.

 

7.2 The Chair of the Youth Seat Subcommittee reported that one candidate was eligible to be considered for appointment to a vacant youth seat.  After remarks from the candidate, the
Committee voted 13/0/0 to appoint Gerardo Perez to Youth Seat-15.  The Chairwoman seated the new member.

 

7.3 The Chairwoman reported that Katherine Eaton had resigned.  Ahmed offered, Jessie seconded a motion to declare the District 5-14 seat vacant.  The Committee voted 14/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

7.4 The Chairwoman entertained nominations for the vacant District 5-14 seat.  Jeanette nominated Russ Connelly who agreed to serve.  The Committee voted 14/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.  The Chairwoman seated the new member.

 

7.5 The Committee heard a report about the Otay 1st & 2nd pipeline abandonment project.  There were questions and answers about details of the project.

 

7.6 The Committee heard a report about a project to improve one block of 38th Street North of Dwight Street.  The project would pave the block, add side-walks, and increase available parking
for Park de la Cruz, adjacent to the project. There were questions and answers about details of the project, but no motion was offered.  It is expected that City staff and Council District staff will meet on-site with the Chairwoman and others shortly, to discuss details and to discuss future improvements at Park de la Cruz that might affect this project.

 

7.7 The Committee heard a proposal from Francisco de Juan Garcia and Jenelle Weits,
property owners, to build two single-family homes on a parcel at the intersection of Wilson Street and Bowery Avenue on environmentally sensitive lands.  There were questions and answers
about the effect on that bio-system, about native and non-native flora, and about erosion control.  No motions were offered.

 

8.  The Officer nominating subcommittee chair reported on the canvass of members to be elected to Committee offices.  By written secret ballot, the Committee elected Patty Vaccariello as Chair, Russ Connelly as first vice-Chair, Marc Munic as second vice-Chair, and Jim Varnadore as Secretary.

 

9.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:57PM to meet again June 3, 2013 at the time and place listed above.  If called, a mid-month meeting will be held Monday, May 20 at 6:30PM in the Mid-City Police Substation.  Separate agenda will be issued and posted.