CITY OF LA HABRA HEIGHTS
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE LA HABRA HEIGHTS
CITY COUNCIL
OPENING CEREMONIES
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Stan Carroll called the Special Meeting of the La Habra Heights City Council to order at 7:05 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, and Councilmember Tela Millsap. Also present City Manager John Hendrickson, Interim Community Development Director Sandra Massa-Lavitt, Planning Technician, City Attorney Michael Colantuono and General Plan Consultant Marc Blodgett.
Mayor Carroll stated Councilmember Klein would be arriving shortly.
3. FLAG SALUTE
John Beau led the flag salute.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MATTERS ON THE AGENDA AND NOT ON AGENDA
Mayor Carroll asked if the public wanted to speak now or later when the General Plan is discussed. Seeing no one come forward he continued the Public Comment.
STANDARD MOTIONS
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to approve the minutes of September 18, 2003 and October 2, 2003. Seconded by Councilmember Millsap. Vote 4-1 Klein absent.
5. RESOLUTION NO. 03-31 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA HEIGHTS RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 39 DATED JANUARY 25, 1979 AND REAUTHORIZING INVESTMENT OF CITY MONIES IN LOCAL AGENCY INVESTMENT FUND.
Mr. Hendrickson presented the staff report asking the City Council to approve the attached Resolution authorizing staff to make investments in LAIF.
Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to approve Resolution No. 03-31. Seconded by Councilmember Douglas. Vote 4-1 Klein absent.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
6. GENERAL PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
Mayor Carroll asked the public if anyone wished to speak on the Environmental Impact Report, seeing no one come forward he continued this item to the next meeting.
7. CONTINUED COUNCIL DISCUSSION REGARDING THE GENERAL PLAN BEGINNING WITH CIRCULATION ELEMENT NUMBER 80.
Mayor Carroll opened the public hearing.
John Beau, Casalero – spoke regarding the Ridgeline issue; GPAC ERME 18 & 19; Land Use Policy 49; unification of Water District; suggested everyone take the Water District Tour.
Councilmember Klein arrived at 7:12 p.m.
Gene Beckman, Avocado Crest – spoke regarding ERME 19; pursue the use of open space; ridgeline very serious issue; community wants ridgeline protection; no one has yet rasseled with this problem with ridgelines.
Katie Martin, Reposado – spoke regarding the survey; she asked that they use the survey and follow the survey or donÕt use the survey, but donÕt pick and choose; tightening of guidelines; gave examples of Policy 5, 24, 25, 26; her biggest concern is with Policy 57.
Margarita McCoy, Kashlan – spoke regarding ridgelines; legacy only we can preserve; treasurers her view of the hills; Land Use Policy 11 agrees with Katie Martin.
Mayor Carroll then continued the public hearing.
Mayor Carroll stated the City Council would begin the discussion with Land Use Policy 11.
Land Use Element
Policy 11
Mayor Carroll moved to delete everything after the word lots. Motion died for lack of a second.
Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to approve the policy as it was written. Councilmember Klein seconded the motion. Vote 5-0.
Policy 14
Mr. Colantuono stated this was a troublesome policy.
Ms. Massa-Lavitt indicated the policy could be simplified.
Mayor Carroll instructed staff to rewrite the policy and bring their ideas back to the City Council.
Policy 15
Mr. Blodgett recommended the City Council return to GPAC Policy 17.
Councilmember Douglas stated the original intent was lost with Policy 15.
Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to adopt GPAC Policy 17 as written. Councilmember Douglas seconded the motion.
Mr. Colantuono suggested an amendment to read ÒLimit grading to that necessary for the house or other primary structure. Accessory structures shall be placed at varying distances and elevations from the primary structure to minimize the size of the graded pad supporting the primary structure in resultant unnatural linerial features.Ó
Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe accepted Mr. Colantuono suggested amendment. Councilmember Douglas seconded the amendment. Vote 4-1 Carroll.
Policy 14
The Council went back to Policy 14.
Mr. Colantuono suggested splitting the policy into 2 policies to read ÒGrading should be minimized and shall seek to preserve natural landforms to the extent reasonably feasible. Structure should conform to the site rather than the reverse.Ó ÒGrading in conformance with Goal 2 of this plan should – feature gradual topographic transitions contour grading and other means to mimic natural landforms rely on split or stepped pad when appropriate avoid visible manufactured pad which extend substantially beyond the building footprint avoid adjacent manufactured pads which created a large area of visibly altered land forms.Ó
Ms. Massa-Lavitt suggested an even shorter policy to read, ÒEstablish a gradual topographic transition between structures in all developments encouraging minimal grading of the site.Ó
Mayor Carroll instructed staff to write out both policy examples and bring back to the Council.
Policy 18
Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe stated he saw the site plan review done at the staff level.
Mr. Blodgett stated it would be spelled out in your ordinance.
Ms. Massa-Lavitt stated this policy needs to be taken out of Grading and should be placed after Land Use Policy 7.
Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to amend the policy to read ÒThe City shall implement a staff level site plan review process applicable to all proposed new structures in order to allow for alternatives in the placement of the structures and other development within the lot and will minimize the need for grading and the alternation of the natural topography in order to meet the goals of this General Plan.Ó Councilmember Millsap seconded the motion.
Mayor Carroll asked to amend the main motion for the policy to end after the word lot and strike Òthat will minimize the need for grading and the alteration of the natural topography in order to meet the goals of this General PlanÓ. Councilmember Douglas seconded Mayor CarrollÕs motion.
Councilmember Millsap withdrew her second of Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe motion.
Councilmember Millsap moved the policy to read ÒThe City shall implement a staff level site plan review process of all proposed new structures or to allow for the alternatives in the placement of the structures and other development within the lot.Ó Mayor Carroll seconded the motion.
Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to add, Òin order to meet the goals of this General PlanÓ. Councilmember Millsap seconded the motion. Vote 5-0.
Policy 19
Councilmember Klein moved to accept this policy as it was written. Mayor Carroll seconded the motion. Vote 5-0.
Policy 20
Ms. Massa-Lavitt stated this policy was redundant.
Councilmember Klein moved to eliminate this policy. Mayor Carroll seconded the motion. Vote 4-1 Borrowe.
Policy 18
Councilmember Douglas stated staff needs to look a where this policy really fits for the next meeting.
Policy 21
Councilmember Douglas moved to delete this policy. Seconded by Mayor Carroll.
Vote 5-0.
Policy 24
Mr. Colantuono recommended changing the policy to read, ÒPermit alteration of non-conforming residential structures which alterations do not exacerbate the non-conformity. Alterations which do exacerbate the non-conformity may be approved pursuant to a Standards Modification or Variance.Ó He suggested adding in implementation that second story additions need ordinance approval.
Councilmember Klein moved to accept Mr. ColantuonoÕs suggested accepting Mr. ColantuonoÕs rewrite of this policy. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe. Vote 5-0.
Policy 26
Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to replace the wording Òneighborhood scaleÓ with Òcommunity characterÓ. Seconded by Mayor Carroll. Vote 4-1 Douglas.
Policy 27
Mayor Pro Tem Borrowe moved to remove the word significant. Motion died for lack of a second.
Councilmember Klein moved to adopt Policy 27 as it was written. Seconded by Councilmember Douglas. Vote 4-1 Borrowe.
Text Open Space for Recreation
Mayor Carroll moved to add ÒPower CanyonÓ to the policy. Motion died for lack of a second.
Mayor Carroll renewed his motion to include Power Canyon riding ring. Motion died for lack of a second.
Mayor Carroll stated the text would stay the same.
Policy 31
Mayor Carroll moved to delete the policy. Seconded by Councilmember Klein. Vote 4-1 Borrowe.
Policy 32
Policy 32 was discussed, tabled with instructions to staff to bring it back to the next meeting.
CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MATTERS ON THE AGENDA AND NOT ON THE AGENDA - Continued
John Beau, Casalero – spoke regarding the division within the community.
The City Council then discussed dates for future meetings and agreed to meet again October 21, 2003 8-10:30 p.m. October 29, 2003 8-10:30 p.m. and November 6, 2003 7-10:00 p.m.
Mayor Carroll then continued the EIR and General Plan to the meeting of October21, 2003.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Klein moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:08 p.m. to the Special City Council Meeting of October 21, 2003. Seconded by Councilmember Millsap and approved as follows:
ATTEST: