CITY OF LA HABRA HEIGHTS
Council Meeting
Minutes
August 15, 2007
MAYOR BRIAN BERGMAN CALLED THE
MEETING TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
Those present:
Mayor Brian Bergman, Mayor Pro-Tem Stan Carroll, Council Member Layne Baroldi,
and Council Member Howard Vipperman.
Staff present:
City Manager Bates
Special guest
present: Supervisor Don Knabe
Staff
present: Dickie Simmons from his office
One member of
the public
1. UPDATE
COUNTY ACTIVITIES - KNABE
- Supervisor
Knabe discussed the challenges of MLK hospital, how they were rotating
patients to area hospitals to even out the impact, and hopes for reopening
with quality care. It was important to get something going again. It had
a big ripple effect, even out to our area at Whittier-Pres.
2. FUNDING
FIRE STATION – SITE REMEDIATION
- City
Manager quickly briefed Supervisor Knabe on the new fire station expense,
limited City funds, purely functional planned facility, and desire for
assistance from the County.
- Council Member
Vipperman asked if the county could pay for site remediation. Supervisor Knabe
reminded Council that the City asked the county to buy the property.
- Mayor
Bergman mentioned needed road improvements and deceleration lane.
- Supervisor Knabe
requested to be informed on various aspects of the project and costs, so
he could determine if targeted funds would be available for the City.
- He asked
about how the license plate recognition cameras were doing. City Manager
Bates related how a number of criminals were being caught and it was
working out very well. Talk of maybe getting some more cameras for other
main city streets. Dickie Simmons said heÕd like to see some in other
cities, but LHH was unique in lane configuration.
- Discussion
turned to Hacienda road slide. City Manager explained what had been going
on; FHWA application in, waiting for money. Dickie Simmons said the lane
changes (to keep cars off the slide area) had really slowed down cars and
was acting as traffic calming and talked of earlier planned widening and
straightening of Hacienda. Supervisor Knabe stated that $13 million had
been allocated for Hacienda. County considers Hacienda an important
regional route. He said it was very unusual when, in 2001, then City
Manager Sheryl Lindsey, called his office to say the City was returning
the money and turning down the project. There were Council comments about
21,000 cars a day using the road. Council wanted to know if there might
be other county money for Hacienda; to maintain the road in adequate
condition.
3.
ACQUIRE COUNTY PROPERTY – EAST OF HARBOR
- City Manager
distributed parcel map showing lots in question of county owned land on
the east side of Harbor, within the City of La Habra Heights.
- Council
asked Supervisor Knabe if there are any plans for the land.
- He stated
that there previously were plans for a soccer field, done at request of
some La Habra Heights parents, which were turned down by a previous Council
due to neighborhood concerns, over lights, traffic, etc.
- He said
there was talk, but nothing written, about AERA going through the property
for access to Harbor.
- Council Member
Baroldi queried about the lack of designation of the County property in
the SEA. Supervisor Knabe did not know about that.
- City
Manager Bates said that a possible use of the property by the City could
be a future east side fire station.
- Supervisor Knabe,
through Dickie Simmons, was going to look into what plans, if any, the County
may have for the property, and report back.
- There was discussion
about Diamond Bar taking over processing of the AERA application. City
Manager said opposition was growing in Diamond Bar against the project. Supervisor
Knabe said he was not aware of that. Diamond Bar Golf Course came up and
if Diamond Bar wanted to develop the Golf Course they would have to
replace it acre for acre with another golf course and it would have to be
a public course, not with expensive greens fees. He said it appeared the
Golf Course project was not moving forward at this time.
- Supervisor Knabe
said it would be good if there was some way for the AERA property to be
bought and kept as open space, without interfering with AERAÕs property rights.
4.
HARBOR AT KASHLAN – PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT
- City
Manager Bates distributed aerial photo of Harbor-Kashlan intersection, and
introduced the subject stating the high traffic speeds on Harbor, the
deceleration lane, and southbound cars taking the right turn too quickly,
straying into oncoming Kashlan traffic, and several accidents that had
occurred. He said the turn is greater than 90 degrees. Asked if County,
while working on Harbor, could widen the paving on the north side of the
intersection to give cars entering from the north a gentler turn and
better visibility.
- Council Member
Baroldi mentioned possibility of cars backing up while waiting for left
turns and suggested a right turn lane there might be good.
- Supervisor Knabe,
through Dickie Simmons, was going to see what they might be able to do
while they are working on Harbor.
5.
OTHER ITEMS
- Council Member
Vipperman thanked Supervisor Knabe for his help, $100,000 funding for
stream clean-up at ÒThe ParkÓ, and for coming and asked if there was some
part-time position available in county Emergency Preparedness.
- Supervisor
Knabe said Emergency Preparedness was distributed amongst the county
agencies and few independent positions existed.
- Council
Member Vipperman asked about RHNA. Supervisor Knabe said there was
nothing that could be done but comply with it. Mentioned some threats if a
City did not comply, such as happened in Marina Del Rey. Said Cerritos had
even taken it to court, and lost.
- City
Manager Bates mentioned possibility of senior housing at current City Hall
and adjacent school site. Supervisor Knabe said senior housing was very
popular, with long waiting lists, and often attracted local city residents
to it.
ADJOURNMENT
ATTEST:
_________________________________
RONALD BATES, CITY CLERK