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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-02-25 - AGENDA REPORTS - VALLEY WIDE CITY PLANNING (2)AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approva Item to be presentedf NEW BUSINESS DATE: February 25, 1992 SUBJECT: Valley -wide City/County Planning DEPARTMENT: Community Development BACKGROUND Comprehensive planning efforts in the Santa Clarita Valley by both the County of Los Angeles and the City of Santa Clarita have consistently recognized that the valley should be planned as a single, interrelated unit. This "one valley" approach to comprehensive planning is the basis of both the County's "Santa Clarita Valley Areawide Plan" and the recently adopted "City of Santa Clarita General Plan". Ever since incorporation, the City has expressed an interest in working together with the County in a spirit of coordination. and cooperation to effectively plan for the long-term future of the whole Santa Clarita Valley. In some areas, the City and County have been able to work together: bridge and thoroughfare fees; construction of the Whites Canyon bridge; development of an integrated trail system; establishment of consistent school fees; and others. Additionally, since August of 1990, staff in the Community Development Department has been monitoring the activities proposed in the unincorporated areas of the valley and has developed an extremely positive relationship with County staff. In other areas, however, City/County coordination has been less successful, particularly regarding landfill issues, use of fire district fees, and general philosophical differences regarding environmental protection, densities, floodway improvements, etc. Recently, Mayor Klajic and Supervisor Antonovich met to, discuss issues of mutual interest in the Santa Clarita Valley. As an outgrowth of that meeting, staff has been has requested to provide suggestions for creating a formal organization for collaborative, coordinated City/County planning efforts, which would provide comprehensive, efficient planning for both the City .and County portions of the Santa Clarita Valley. Supervisor Antonovich -- who has said on several occasions that he wants to do whatever is necessary to have similar planning between the two agencies -- has made a similar request to the Department of Regional Planning. The purpose of such a collaborative organization would be to achieve consistent policies and application of planning standards/policies for both jurisdictions in the Santa Clarita Valley, in an effort to ensure that future growth occurs in an orderly manner, and that adequate _and. essential services are provided in a timely fashion. APPROVED Agenda Item: ae One mechanism that could be used to accomplish unified valleywide planning is a "joint powers" organization, composed of representatives of City and County policy -makers and other appropriate personnel, this organization could be formed through a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) process, ratified both by the City Council and the County Board of Supervisors. The first step in creating a formal joint powers organization would be to form a bi-jurisdictional "working group" representing key City and County technical staff. The initial purpose of this group would be. to develop a report and proposal for consideration by the City and County, which would propose a "mission statement" and procedural recommendations for the formation, structure, and guidelines for establishment and action of the joint planning organization. Following approval of the approach, a policy-making Joint Powers organization would be formed, which would then prepare and subsequently participate in implementation of the JPA or MOU. After the JPA or MOU is ratified, the working group could continue to provide technical staff support to.the planning organization. Precedent for this type of coordinated planning via a JPA exists within Los Angeles County now. Los Angeles County Regional Planning is working with the cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, and Westlake Village to prepare an update to the Ventura Corridor Plan. As part of this effort, the County has requested that these cities participate in a joint powers authority for a combined effort on the Plan_Update. Funding for the Update and the hiring of the consultant is being provided in part by the County ($240,000.00) and by each city ($0.50 per capita). Staff has developed a preliminary draft list of issues which could be addressed by the Joint Powers planning organization which may be divided into the following categories: a) Infrastructure provision and financing b) Traffic model information c) Environmental protection and preservation (includes Significant Ecological Areas, landfill issues, oak trees, riparian issues, ridgeline and hillside development, etc.) d) Sphere of Influence and annexations e) General policy development (includes standards and thresholds for review, resolving differences in the City General Plan. and the County Santa Clarita Areawide Plan, densities, etc.) f) Urban service provision/boundaries g) Transit h) Redevelopment i) Community design and architecture j) DeEelopment impact fees k) Other (includes such issues as airports, administration of landscape and lighting districts, sanitation districts, joint power tourist bureau, joint business license fees, etc.) A draft letter to Supervisor Antonovich is attached for Council consideration. Action on this letter would signal the City's intent to support staff effort to participate in a technical working group, for the preparation of the initial report and proposal, to support the preparation of a Joint Powers Agreement, Memorandum of Understanding, or other joint planning mechanism and the establishment of a formal organization to coordinate and oversee planning activities within both the City and County portions of the Santa Clarita Valley. Accept report, approve the draft letter to Supervisor Antonovich, and instruct City staff to initiate a technical working group with County staff for the development of a report and proposal leading towards a formalized agreement or understanding and the establishment of a formal Memorandum of Understanding and Joint Powers organization to accomplish consistent City/County planning for the Santa Clarita Valley. CMK:jcg:715 City of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Blvd. Suite 300 City of Santa Clarita California 91355 February 25, 1992 Phone (805) 259-2489 Fax (805) 259-8125 The Honorable Michael D. Antonovich Supervisor, 5th District Room 869, Hall of Administration 500 West Temple Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 Subject: City -County Planning Coordination Dear Supervisor Antonovich: It was a pleasure to meet with you ' in January, and to begin this important. discussion of coordinating planning efforts between the City. of Santa Clarita and Los Angeles County. Our. staff has discussed this, and has proposed that we first proceed with an initial report and proposal for consideration by both our jurisdictions. The report would lead to the preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding, Joint Powers Agreement, or other joint planning mechanism, and the establishment of a formal Joint Powers organization to coordinate and oversee planning activities within both City and County portions of the Santa Clarita Valley. I would like to ask you to request that Mr. Hartl and Mr. Tidemanson allow some staff time to explore this issue with our staff, preferably early in March. The City is prepared to devote whatever staff resources are necessaryto accomplish this important endeavor. Thank you for your support. We look "forward to an ongoing partnership with the County and a greater mutual understanding for the benefit.of the entire Santa Clarita Valley. Sincerely, Jill Iajis Mayor J&:CMR:712 Cc: James Hartl Dave Vannatta