CITY OF LA HABRA HEIGHTS

 

MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE LA HABRA HEIGHTS

 

CITY COUNCIL

 

July 3, 2003

 

 

OPENING CEREMONIES

 

1.              CALL MEETING TO ORDER

 

Mayor Stan Carroll called the Special Meeting of the La Habra Heights City Council to order at 7:07 p.m. at the Community Center, 1245 N. Hacienda Road, La Habra Heights, California.

 

2.              ROLL CALL

 

            Those present: Mayor Stan Carroll, Mayor Pro Tem Ed Borrowe, Councilmember Bruce Douglas, Councilmember Fred Klein, and Councilmember Tela Millsap. Also present City Manager, John Hendrickson; Director of Planning Sheryl Brady; Planning Technician Barbara Doppieri; City Attorney Michael Colantuono and General Plan Consultant Marc Blodgett.

          

3.              FLAG SALUTE

 

Julia Higgs led the flag salute.

 

4.         APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF June 19, 2003

           

Councilmember Millsap asked for two corrections to the minutes; Page 2 the correct spelling of Nina Guerini’s name; Page 7, Gene Beckman lives on Avocado Crest.

 

Councilmember Millsap moved to approve the minutes of June 19, 2003 as amended. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe. Ayes: 5 Noes: 0.

 

SCHEDULED MATTERS

 

Mayor Carroll opened the public hearing to take comments from the public.

 

Gene Beckman, Avocado Crest – spoke regarding land use; addressed his highest concerns; 66% of those surveyed favored restrictions of height of structures on ridgelines; over next 20 years we will have problems; need to meet the response of the 66% with one stories on ridgelines; recommended a limit on home sizes; 20 years out you will be burdened with a need to limit home size; 71% favored an ordinance protecting views due to landscaping; suggested considering the GPAC policies along with the Planning Commission policies; the Planning Commission significantly altered the subject matter and made many changes to the Land Use Element.

 

John Beau, Casalero – Page 18 GPAC policy 5; the Planning Commission version does not give a reason for “work with appropriate land owners and government agencies to rehabilitate abandoned resource fields; recommended adding the phrase “to support helpful use by residences.” to the Planning Commission version; GPAC Policy 7 tree replacement, he supports Planning Commission recommendation; GPAC Policy 8 he stated he supports the Planning Commission version; GPAC policy 12 stated he likes the Planning Commission version better; GPAC Policy 18 supports Planning Commission version; GPAC Policy 19 stated he didn’t understand, understands Planning Commission version; GPAC Policy 20 doesn’t know what every effort means, proposed “make a best effort” instead of make every effort; Policy 21 suggested “non residential agricultural use” instead of residential agricultural.

 

Margarita McCoy, Kashlan – gave a background on how GPAC drafted its General Plan; guidelines were followed; City Attorney and staff reviewed every element of the plan; they asked what do we want; what do we have to do to get it; 3 sessions refining the goals; structure of a rational comprehensive plan; consider the issue statement and the policies that follow it; Para transit they made it separate because it was important; spoke regarding alternatives.

 

Julia Higgs, El Cajonita – spoke regarding dissolution of policies the Planning Commission made, transit is important; Circulation 29 recommended deleting “as funding allows”.

 

Bob Karman, Encanada – stated he doesn’t agree with everything but he can live with it; Planning Commission rearranged the structure of the Land Use Policy; suggested the Council use the GPAC version and compare both versions; survey; #1 issue is brush clearance; the following he felt were the most important parts of the survey, FJGDKC & B; 57% of the respondents agreed with all of these questions; 9.3% opposed; asked the Council to review both versions of the General Plan.

 

Norman Zezula, Canonita –stated the new version only protects significant views; new version does not protect everyone’s views; asked the Council not to be vague.

 

Elizabeth Karman, Encanada – stated it is extremely important to replace trees; the survey was well designed; concerns were brush clearance; height of structures on ridgelines, increase code enforcement, relaxed standards on remodels, prohibit landscaping from blocking views; wants a glossary.

 

Katie Martin, Reposado – stated General Plan went through a process; 75% of the people surveyed wrote explanations on the surveys; Planning Commission used a filtration system; pleased significant was brought up last week; work out a scale for this definition; consequence and happy medium; relax remodels; Planning Commission and City Attorney did a good job.

 

Mayor Carroll continued the public comment until the end of the meeting.

 

The Council then began their review of the Environmental Resource Management Element starting with Policy 9.

 

Environmental Resource Management Element

 

Issue – Energy Conservation

 

Policy 9           The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 10         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Issue – Open Space and Landforms

 

Policy 11         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 12         Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe asked to have this item pulled, he would like the GPAC wording.

 

Policy 13         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 14         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Issue – Acquisition of Open Space

 

Policy 15         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 16         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

           

Policy 17         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

Policy 18         Councilmember Douglas asked to have this item pulled, stating the GPAC wording was more affirmative.

 

Policy 19         Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe asked to have this item pulled and replaced with GPAC Policy 19.

 

Policy 20         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 21         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

 

Issue – Recreation

 

Policy 22         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 23         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 24         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 25         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 26         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 27         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 28         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 29         Mr. Hendrickson suggested changing the word cyclist to bicyclist. Councilmember Douglas moved to accept Mr. Hendrickson’s recommendation, Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe and approved 5-0.

 

Policy 30         Councilmember Douglas asked to have this policy pulled, staff to bring back with alternate language.

 

Issue – Scenic Amenities and Corridors

 

Policy 31         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

           

Policy 32         Councilmember Douglas stated the policy is OK, wanted the graphics in Circulation edited.

 

Policy 33         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 34         Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe asked to have this policy pulled, wanted the language changed to include “for all residents”.

 

Issue – Wildlife Corridor

 

Policy 35         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 36         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 37         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 38         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Issue – Source Reduction and Recycling

 

Policy 39         Mayor Carroll moved to strike the examples and delete the word existing, seconded by Councilmember Millsap. 5-0.

 

Policy 40         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 41         Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to add the words “chipping, mulching etc.” after the word composting. Seconded by Councilmember Klein. 5-0.

 

Page 3-8          Mayor Carroll stated the numbering should conform to what is in Land Use; 0-3 pulled for discussion. Mayor Carroll discussed the last sentence in section 0-3 should be deleted. Councilmember Douglas moved to change the word those to some and asked that the double digits be taken off Table 3-1. Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe seconded. 5-0. Councilmember Douglas asked staff to contact the habitat authority and see if they have the vegetation maps for the Sempra property.

 

 

Land Use Element

 

Issue – Residential Development

 

Policy 1           Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe asked to pull this policy, he wanted added to the policy after the word ordinance “and the goals of the General Plan.” Mr. Colantuono asked if the word residential was necessary. Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe asked for a definition of the word substantial, suggested looking at the GPAC Version.

 

Policy 2           Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe asked to have this policy pulled, he preferred the GPAC version.

 

Policy 3           Councilmember Douglas asked to have this policy pulled, wants to look at the GPAC policy, asked how you accommodate the difficult footprints.

           

Policy 4           Councilmember Klein asked to have this policy pulled; to address basements, why limit it to two stories.

 

Policy 5           The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 6           The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 7           Councilmember Klein asked to have this policy pulled, asked how you would enforce this policy.

 

Policy 8           Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe asked to have this policy pulled, the language is not strong enough.

 

Policy 9           The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 10         Mayor Carroll asked to have this policy pulled.

 

Policy 11         Councilmember Millsap asked to have this policy pulled, she asked does this apply to all development.

 

Issue – Grading and Landform

 

Policy 12         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

           

Policy 13        The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 14         Councilmember Douglas asked to have this policy pulled. Mr. Colantuono suggested breaking this into two policies. One designed to address subdivisions and one designed to address separate lots.

          

Policy 15         Councilmember Douglas asked to have this policy pulled, wants to look at GPAC policy 17.

          

Policy 16         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 17         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Policy 18         Councilmember Millsap asked to have this policy pulled, Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe suggested taking out the word consider and change implementing to implement.

 

Policy 19         Councilmember Douglas moved to delete the words “as necessary”, seconded by Mayor-Pro Tem Borrowe. Councilmember Douglas withdrew his motion. Mayor Carroll asked to have this policy pulled.

 

Policy 20         Mayor Carroll asked to have this policy pulled.

 

Policy 21         Councilmember Douglas asked to have this policy pulled with the idea of deleting the policy, consideration of grading issues should also apply to Land Use Policy 1. Mr. Colantuono suggested two options: delete the policy and put it in text or rewrite as follows: “Consideration of grading issues should also refer to land use policy #1”.

 

Policy 22         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

John Beau, Casalero – stated the Council should not feel the need to slavishly adhere to either version of the Plan; stated surveys take a lot of effort to produce a good survey.

Norm Zezula, Canonita – discussed the survey and building on ridgelines.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Councilmember Klein moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 p.m. to the regular City Council Meeting of July 10, 2003. Seconded by Councilmember Millsap and approved as follows:

 

AYES:           Borrowe, Carroll, Douglas, Klein and Millsap

NOES:           None

ABSENT:     None

ABSTAIN:   None

 

The next General Plan Meeting will be July 17, 2003 at 7:00 p.m.

 

 

 

ATTEST:

 

                                                                                   

City Clerk