CITY OF LA HABRA HEIGHTS

 

MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE LA HABRA HEIGHTS

 

CITY COUNCIL

 

July 24, 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 6:45 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, Councilmember Tela Millsap. Also present City Manager, John Hendrickson; Fire Chief, John Nielsen; Director of Planning Sheryl Brady; Planning Technician Barbara Doppieri; City Attorney Michael Colantuono and General Plan Consultant Marc Blodgett.

          

3.              FLAG SALUTE

 

Michael Colantuono led the flag salute.

 

4.              APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Approval of City Council Minutes of July 3, 2003.

 

Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to approve the minutes; seconded by Councilmember Millsap. Ayes: 5 Noes: 0.

 

SCHEDULED MATTERS

 

5.              Amendment to Weed Abatement Hearing Process

 

Mr. Hendrickson presented the staff report stating staff moved forward with this amendment trying to improve the timeframe to clear properties of weeds; he stated once the Council sets the abatement, staff can enter the property and abate the weeds on unimproved parcels; property with privacy issues still need abatement warrants; this amendment will target the unimproved parcels first; staff felt they will pick up 3-5 weeks with this amendment; he recommended amending two areas in Article III Chapter 1C, eliminate the requirement to obtain a warrant; and add a section that would provide for administrative penalties and determine fines.

 

Mr. Colantuono stated staff will prepare an ordinance once the Council provides direction; there are two options before the Council; one is to maintain the status quo and simply tighten up the time lines; the second is to refine the ordinance; the administrative penalties ordinance is a free standing ordinance of about 6-10 pages in length.

 

Chief Nielsen stated that this amendment would give staff the opportunity to tighten things up; suggested residents give their complaints straight to the fire department rather than giving them to the City Council who then forward them to the City Manager who forwards them to the Fire Chief.

 

Councilmember Douglas moved to direct staff to prepare for approval Section 1 A, B & C as presented in the staff report; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe. Ayes: 5 Noes: 0.

 

6.              Discussion on the General Plan

 

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

 

Gene Beckman, Avocado Crest – spoke regarding Circulation Policies 12, 13 and 14; suggested the Council take the strongest position possible; spoke regarding an L.A. Times article regarding the AERA project.

 

Margarita McCoy, Kashlan – was concerned regarding Circulation Policy 6; it was deleted; she stated there is a need to protect the wildlife.

 

Seeing no one else come forward Mayor Carroll continued the public comments and brought the City Council back to continue their review of the Goals and Policies.

 

Goals

 

Goal 1             The City Council did not raise any issues with this goal. Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe stated he was OK with the goal, but wants to later discuss the definition of rural.

 

Goal 3             Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to add ÒPreserve scenic views that consider obstructions from structures and foliageÓ. Motion failed for lack of a second. Mr. Colantuono stated this could be accomplished with policies 52-58.

 

Goal 11           Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to add Òand traffic signalsÓ. Councilmember Douglas seconded the motion. Ayes 3; Noes 2 – Councilmember Klein and Mayor Carroll voted no.

 

Guiding

Principle          Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to include in this principle that an acre is 43,560 square feet in size. Councilmember Klein seconded the motion. Ayes 4; Noes 1 – Mayor Carroll voted no.

 

Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe asked to have a glossary or definitions agendized for a later date. Mayor Carroll suggested the Council flag those words they would like to discuss and get that list to staff before the next meeting.

 

Air Quality Element

 

Policy 2           Councilmember Millsap moved to approve change the wording to add Òand ride sharingÓ; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe. Vote 5-0.

 

Policy 11         Mr. Colantuono suggested ÒSupport solar and similar emission free energy sources other than wind farms in new construction provided that they are appropriately designed to protect community aesthetics and to avoid adverse impacts on surrounding properties.Ó Councilmember Klein moved to approve the revision of this policy as read by Mr. Colantuono; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe. Vote 5-0.

 

Policy 14         Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe suggested adding to this policy Òand noiseÓ. Mr. Colantuono suggested mirroring this policy in the noise element changing air impacts to noise impacts. Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to mirror this policy in the noise element; seconded by Councilmember Millsap. Vote 5-0.

 

Policy 19         The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Noise Element

 

Policy 2           Councilmember Klein suggested something that would limit traffic introduction to Harbor and Hacienda, you would then get a resulting limitation of the introduction of additional noise. Mr. Colantuono suggested adding the following to Policy 2 ÒDiscourage changes in the design and use of these roadways and the system of roadways tributary to them that would increase noise impacts and take appropriate measures to protect adjacent residential areas from the exacerbation of noise impacts associated with these roads.Ó Councilmember Klein moved to approve Mr. Colantuono suggestion; seconded by Mayor Carroll. Vote 5-0.

 

Policy 4           The City Council did not raise any issues with this policy.

 

Safety Element

 

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

 

Policy 6           Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to change the wording ÒshouldÓ to ÒshallÓ; seconded by Councilmember Douglas. Vote 3 – 2. Councilmember Klein and Mayor Carroll voted no.

 

Policy 9           Councilmember Klein moved to change the wording to ÒÉadequacy and location of fire department facilities in the CityÉÓ; seconded by Councilmember Douglas. Vote: 5-0.

 

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

 

Policy 29         Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to change the wording regularly to Ònot less than annuallyÓ; seconded by Councilmember Klein. Vote: 4-1 Mayor Carroll voted no.

 

Policy 34         This policy was pulled again for staff to bring back with better language.

 

Policy 36         Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to change the wording regularly to Òno less than annuallyÓ; seconded by Councilmember Klein. Vote: 4-1. Mayor Carroll voted no.

Policy 46         This policy was pulled for future discussion. Mr. Hendrickson will look at the prior agreements with Crimson regarding rerouting the pipelines, etc. providing long term remediation.

 

GPAC

Policy 42         Councilmember Douglas moved to reinstate GPAC Policy 42; motion died for lack of a second.

           

            Policy 46         This policy was pulled again, staff to look at the Crimson agreement.

 

Policy 51         Mr. Colantuono suggested deleting Policy 51. Councilmember Millsap moved to deleted Policy 51; seconded by Mayor Carroll. Vote: 5-0.

 

Circulation Element

 

Policy 2           Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to remove ÒprimaryÓ and Òby the residentsÓ from the second sentence and flag the policy for future discussion; seconded by Councilmember Douglas. Vote 5-0.

 

GPAC

Policy 6           Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to bring this policy back; seconded by Councilmember Douglas. Vote 5-0.

 

GPAC             Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to bring back GPAC Policies 12, 14 and 14 and Policy 12            delete Planning Commission Policy 11; seconded by Councilmember Douglas.

Policy 13         Mr. Colantuono suggested new language for Policy 12 & 13 to read as follows:

Policy 14         ÒProhibit any increase in the roadbed width, any change in the roadway alignment or increase in the number of lanesÓ.

                        Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe amended his motion to include Mr. ColantuonoÕs suggested language; Councilmember Douglas re-seconded the motion. Vote 5-0.

 

7.              Public Comments

 

Mr. Colantuono explained Elizabeth Karman had offered to license a photo to the City for use on the General Plan. Mr. Colantuono explained that she needed to understand that the City will provide copies of this document to others and the City would not be responsible if they duplicate her picture.

 

Mrs. Karman agreed not to hold the City responsible it that occurred.

 

Mayor Carroll explained the City Council would not meet again until August 28, 2003.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Councilmember Klein moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m. to the special City Council Meeting on August 28, 2003. Seconded by Councilmember Douglas and approved as follows:

 

AYES:           Borrowe, Carroll, Douglas, Klein and Millsap

NOES:           None

ABSENT:     None

ABSTAIN:   None

 

 

 

ATTEST:

 

                                                                                   

City Clerk