The June 26, 2000 meeting of the LVCPC was called to order by Chair Beckham at 7:05pm.
Pledge of Allegiance was performed by Cub Scout Pack 278.
Attendance of Members:
Don Ballantyne, Wayne Bamford, Doug Beckham, Pat Buckmaster, Gail Cole, Ed Cramer,
Grover Diemert, Greg Edwards, Jim Horsley, Bob Hursh, Alfrieda Jackson, Mel McKay,
Eric Myers, Mike O’Brien, Rob Spahitz
Absent: Don Armitage (excused), Ron Tomcek (excused), Liliani Stiffler
A motion to accept the nomination of JoAnn Carini to replace the board position vacated by Pat Jenni passed. The election of this position will be delayed until the July meeting to allow the public to be properly notified and to allow additional nominations.
Chair Beckham changed the agenda without objection to allow the Roundabout presentation to take place first.
The presentation of a proposed Roundabout (Traffic Circle) at the intersection of Linda Vista Road and Napa Street was presented by Siavash Pazargadi, P.E., Senior Traffic Engineer (619-236-6608), Maureen Spates, P.E., Associate Engineer (619-236-6621), and Leif Ourston, Traffic Consultant from Santa Barbara. The presentation started by comparing the "modern" roundabout against the prior "Non-conforming" roundabout. Some key points regarding a modern roundabout include flares, enlarged entrance ramps to allowed queued traffic in multiple lanes, deflection, entrances bent toward the roundabout curvature, and yields at entry, which allow existing circle traffic to proceed unimpeded. This discussion was followed by two videos which demonstrated existing modern roundabout in Vale, Colorado and in England. (The videos were slightly cut short to save time for other meeting issues.) Discussion ensued regarding the Linda Vista Rd./Napa St. circle, which currently peaks at about 3700 vehicles and could be reduced by a significant amount. The circle would require additional land at two corners, most likely at the south and west corners impacting the 7-11, cleaners, liquor store, and Sav-On. The cost would be approximately $4.8 million including business relocation, and approximately $2 million is currently available to fund a project at that location. Several concerns were expressed including pedestrian and bicycle safety. It was indicated that these were being taken into consideration in the design.
Motion (Hursh/O’Brien): Board recommendation to proceed to start this project and keep the board informed. Passes 12-1-1.
Updates from public officials:
Marilyn Mirrasoul, District 6 rep: former gas station at corner of
Comstock and Linda Vista Road has received funding to build a public office
building on the lot; Library parking lot landscaping improvements are to be
made; the YMCA is interested in using the fire station parking are for member
parking--board concerns about pedestrian crossings at Friars Road; board
concerns about the Gaines and Colusa stop signs--60 days later and still no
response; Friars Road mini-park project should start in September--funding is
available from Benicia Street down, including access as per American
Disabilities Act (ADA).
Tony Kempton, City Planner: the Development Review Process in underway.
Pam Gray, USD: Master plan amendments CUP have been submitted, with
proposed completion in May 2001.
Motion (O’Brien/Hursh): Accept the May minutes with minor changes. Passes, unanimous.
Public comment: After the Rock-and-Roll Marathon, cups on the street were cleaned, but some cups blew up the hillsides and were not cleaned. Also, many people were inconvenienced and this may have been alleviated with proper notification of which street would be affected.
Subcommittee reports:
Zoning report (Don Ballantyne)
JPI Fashion Valley project--approval was recommended by the subcommittee. Project consists of 163 apartment units with
a 7-foot sidewalk. Spahitz indicated that the most-affected region of our
community was very concerned about this project and that they have collected
over 250 signatures of their objections to it, and that they appeared at the
May minutes in anticipation of a presentation by JPI which was cancelled at the
last minute; subcommittee indicated that the project is within the LV master
plan criteria.
Motion (Ballantyne/O’Brien): Accept the subcommittee recommendation to approve the project in accordance with the city staff recommendation. Fails 5-6-1 (Buckmaster and Horsley had departed.)
Metro Street (Pet Resort) project--the project will include play areas and air-conditioning for the animals.
Motion (Ballantyne/Bamford): Accept the subcommittee recommendation to approve the project. Passes unanimous (12-0-0)
Stevenson Companion Unit on Goodwin Street--the concrete will be replaced with landscaping.
Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) (JoAnn Carini)
Trees and bushes, which were lost to drought, theft, etc. were replanted;
$13,000 funds came from Warden (district 5) and Stallings (district 6) to help
fund projects; an old fence on Mark Twain School at Linda Vista Road and Alcala
Knolls will be hidden by adding and watering Indian Hawthorne; weeds on Linda
Vista Road at via Las Cumbres could be cleaned up from leftover city funds of
$10,000.
Motion (Cramer/Bamford): Remove the previously tabled motion to present Chesterton with an Orchid Award. Passes unanimously.
Motion (Cramer/Bamford): Approve the presentation of an Orchid Award to Chesterton for their landscaping efforts. Passes unanimously.
Traffic report (Alfrieda Jackson)
Jackson requests a return of the dial-a-ride program previously offered by the transit
system.
North Bay Redevelopment Project report
Bonds will be floated for MTDB to help fund the CityLink trolley projects
undergrounding portion.
Motion (Bamford/O’Brien): Move the P.O. Box to a location where it will be free of charge. Passes 10-1-0 (Diemert had departed.)
Treasurer’s report (substituted by Spahitz)
$15.25 collected; $6 paid for refreshments; $9.25 to be deposited (held by
Spahitz for deposit)
Future agenda item: Orchid Award will be presented to Bob Gulotta of the St. Francis Apartments (Ulric St./Tait St.) and Chesterton Military Housing at the July meeting. Mark Twain School (Linda Vista Road/via Las Cumbres) should be considered for their native plant garden in the back lot on Alcala Knolls.
Adjournment: 9:20pm
Submitted by,
Rob Spahitz, LVCPC Secretary 2000-2001