City Heights Area Planning Committee

Minutes February 2014 to April 2014

CITY HEIGHTS AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

Minutes of the meeting of April 7, 2014

3910 University Ave

City Heights CA 92105

 

1.
 The meeting was called to order at 6:36PM.  Russ Connelly, Kenton Finkbeiner, Mark
Kassab, Sally Lemmie, Mazda Mehraz, Guy Mock, Amanda Moss, Marc Munic, David
Nelson, Jessie Sergent, Hong Tran, Patty Vaccariello, Jim Varnadore, and Abdullahi
Yusuf formed a quorum.  Emily Cox, Angeli Hernádez, Ahmed Malinomar, Jeanette Neeley, Gerardo Perez, and Katia Rodriguez absent.

 

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

 

3.
 The minutes of February 3, 2014 were adopted.

 

4
- The Secretary reported the results of the March election and circulated a
memorandum of the results.  The Chair thanked the off-going members for their service and invited the newly elected members to take seats.

 

5.
 Linda Pennington announced the pending upgrade of Bandaar Salaam apartments and cleanup of the adjacent canyon area.  Francisco Garcia noted that Bowery canyon, near a property of his, will be a Creek-to-Bay site. 

 

6
 Rudy Vargas from Council District-9 made brief reports about coming events.  Michael Prinz clarified voting procedures for Committee elections to normally require one form of identification of voters unless there is reason to confirm the prospective voter’s identity.

 

7.
  Sallie, Guy, Amanda, Russ, Mazda, Mark, and the Chairwoman offered other announcements.

 

8.1
The acting director of Park/Recreation, Andy Field, reviewed the progress of the neighborhood park planned in the 5000 Block of Wightman Street and distributed some of the planning documents. 
The project needs about $900,000 more to begin construction.  Mr. Field answered questions from the committee and audience.

 

8.2  Jenny An and Mike Singleton from KTU+A reviewed the final draft of the City Heights Urban Greening Plan.  The plan has been in study for about two years and has included several community meetings.  After the presentation, the committee and the audience asked questions and offered suggestions.  The draft plan is expected to be at the San Diego Planning Committee April 24 for review. Jim offered, Amanda seconded a motion to recommend approval of the draft report, adding specific language to show Euclid Avenue as a residential street and a specific note in the study that City Heights has three times rejected making Fairmount Avenue a one-way Northbound street between Redwood Street and Orange Avenue.  The Committee voted 10/0/1 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

8.3
The Committee heard a request for an all-way stop sign suite at Estrella Avenue and Polk Avenue.  Russ offered, Bob seconded a motion to recommend approval.  The Committee voted 11/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

8.4
The Chairwoman noted the absences in the committee and solicited volunteers for those seats.  No volunteers appeared.

 

8.5
The Chairwoman invited members to volunteer for the officer search sub-committee.  Georgette, Bob, and Guy volunteered and were appointed.

 

9.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:50, to meet again May 5, 2014 at the time and place listed above.  If called, a mid-month meeting will be held Monday, April 21 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 February 3, 2014

3910 University Ave  City Heights CA 92105

 

1.
 The meeting was called to order at 6:36PM.  Russ Connelly, Emily Cox, Kenton Finkbeiner, Angeli
Hernádez, Mark Kassab, Sally Lemmie, Ahmed Malinomar, Mazda Mehraz, Guy Mock, Amanda Moss, David Nelson, Jessie Sergent, Hong Tran, Patty Vaccariello, Jim Varnadore, and Abdullahi Yusuf formed a quorum.  Amadei Cheikgurei, Jenny Anna Miller, Marc Munic, Jeanette Neeley, Gerardo Perez, and Katia Rodriguez absent.

 

2.
Guy offered, Jessie seconded a motion to adopt the agenda.  The committee voted 16/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

3.
 The minutes of January 6, 2014 were adopted.

 

4.
 Georgette Gomez spoke about the soon-to-be-closed Albertsons Grocery.  Others made brief announcements.

 

5.
 Rudy Vargas from Council District-9 made brief reports about coming events.  Thomas Sepulvada from Mr. Vargas’s office discussed events and activities of interest to the Committee.  

6.
  Jessie, Guy, Sallie, David, Amanda, Mark,Hong, Ahmed, and Jim made announcements.

 

7.1A
The Committee reviewed the draft Public Facilities Finance Plan, reviewed and discussed proposed changes.  After discussion, Ahmed offered, Mark seconded a motion to recommend approval of the marked-up plan.  The committee voted 15/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

7.1B

The discussed the city staff’s draft proposal for Development Impact Fees (DIF).  David suggested that the Committee consider retaining the current very low DIF for single family homes but accept
the staff’s higher DIF for multi-family projects in order to encourage more single family homes and discourage more multi-family housing.  After discussion, David offered, Kenton seconded a motion to recommend retaining the single-family DIF at its current level and increase the multi-family DIF to the staff recommended level.  The Committee voted 9/6/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

7.2
The Chairwoman introduced the matter of prioritizing projects from the Redevelopment Bond proceeds to be included in the next ROPS submission, paying particular attention to the Colina Park sidewalks.  After discussion, Jim offered, Emily seconded a motion to recommend the Committee’s revised priority list.  The Committee voted 14/1/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 

7.3  City Staffmember Jim Davies and Mr. David Chau made a brief report of the status of financing for the restoration of the Silverado Ballroom.  In short form, money is available to lend Mr. Chau for the restoration.  

7.4
The Committee considered the resignation of the incumbents for the District 3-14 seat and the District 4-14 seat and considered the absence history of the incumbent for the Youth-15 seat.  After
discussion, Russ offered, David seconded a motion to declare the seats vacant.  The Committee voted 13/0/0 (chair not voting) and the motion passed.

 7.5
There was a brief status report from the Election Sub-committee.  

8.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:51, to meet again March 3, 2014 at the time and place listed above.  If called, a mid-month meeting will be held Tuesday, February 18 at 6:30PM in the Mid-City Police Substation.  Separate agenda will be issued and posted.