HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-11-04 - AGENDA REPORTS - CENTER CITY SPECIFIC PLAN AND (2)AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval
Item to be presented by: Je frev Lambert
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
DATE: November 4,1997
SUBJECT: CENTER CITY SPECIFIC PLAN AND EIR MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING AND CONTRACT FOR SERVICES
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Building Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council receive the report and authorize the City Manager to execute both the Central City
Specific Plan and EIR MOU and the contract for services with The Planning Center, subject to
approval by the City Attorney
The Center City Specific Plan is proposed to conduct planning for a 1,325 acre irregularly
shaped site fronting on the north side of Soledad Canyon Road and the easterly side of Bouquet
Canyon Road (see attached map). This study would allow for the joint planning of parks, roads,
and land use as well as the protection of the Santa Clara River.. At its November 26, 1996
meeting, the City Council directed staff to prepare and distribute a Request for Proposals (RFP)
to solicit a consultant team to prepare a Specific Plan for the Center City project. These RFPs
were distributed and The Planning Center was selected to prepare this Specific Plan. At its May
27, 1997 meeting, the City Council approved the first phase of work to be conducted by The
Planning Center. This first phase consists of the collection of all relevant existing information
on the site and a series of exhibits describing the opportunities and constraints for planning
purposes. This work has been. completed by The Planning Center.
At the September 9, 1997 City Council meeting, staff presented a draft Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) intended to outline the planning effort. This MOU was to be an
agreement among the City of Santa Clarita, the Valencia Company, and the Castaic Lake Water
Agency (CLWA). At this meeting, the City Council raised several questions and issues regarding
the proposed process and MOU. At the City Council's October 7, 1997 Study. Session, staff
presented responses to issues raised by the City Council and presented a new proposal to
consider relocating the City Center Park to land along the Santa Clara River. The City Council
heard testimony unanimously against the relocation or delay of the City Center Park. The City
Council directed staff to bring back the proposed MOU for approval provided the Specific
P' EDAgenda Item
Planning effort did not include the relocation of the City Center Park.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been prepared by the City. The CLWA Board of
Directors approved this MOU at its October 8, 1997 regular meeting. The Valencia Company
has approved the MOU. The MOU outlines the desired outcomes of each agency as well as the
funding responsibility. As indicated in the MOU, the three agencies will be sharing the costs
of the Specific Plan and EIR preparation, with the City contributing funds and information from
the Santa Clarita Parkway Study. The Planning Center, an environmental consulting firm
located in Orange County, has been retained to prepare the Specific Plan and EIR. It is
estimated that the cost will not exceed $950,000.
ANALYSIS
At its October 7, 1997 Study Session, the City Council directed staff to return with a revised
MOU. The attached MOU reflects a revision to the Steering Committee makeup to allow the
Planning staff to continue to be objective reviewers of the Specific Plan document. Staff believes
this revision addresses the City Council's concern that the City continue to be an objective third
party review of this important effort.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
The City Council could take either of the following actions regarding this matter:
1. Adopt the MOU but change the Steering Committee to include Planning Division staff.
2. Reject the MOU and allow the land owners to submit their individual plans for City
approval.
FISCAL IMPACT
No additional City funds are being requested as part of this project. However, the MOU
identifies entitlement application fees which may be waived in order to encourage the joint
planning of the City Center area.
Attachments
1. Memorandum of Understanding
2. Map of Subject Site
3. Chronology of Events Memorandum
S: \CD\ADVANCE\CCMDU-S.JJL
DRAFT
CENTER CITY SPECIFIC PLAN
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Preamble
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is designed to summarize the basic elements of
understanding of the City of Santa Clarita, Valencia Company, and Castaic Lake Water Agency
regarding preparation and possible approval of a specific plan and environmental impact report
for a 1,325 acre irregularly shaped site fronting on the north side of Soledad Canyon Road and
the easterly side of Bouquet Canyon Road, otherwise known as the Center City Specific Plan
and Environmental Impact Report ("Project").
The purpose of this MOU is to ensure that the City, Valencia Company and Castaic Lake Water
Agency have reached a non-binding understanding with respect to certain points that are
fundamental to the three parties and without which, the time and effort that will go into
preparing and reviewing the plan for CEQA compliance would not be warranted. The three
parties also recognize that each of the points outlined below is essential to proceeding with the
proposed Project.
The City, Valencia Company and Castaic Lake Water Agency recognize that there are
significant benefits to all the parties to complete the preparation and review of the Project.
Project Objectives
City of Santa Clarita:
• Cohesive, integrated planning to include full CEQA compliance and land use, open space,
circulation, and community participation
• High level of design standards
• Recognition of importance of Santa Clara River and design site accordingly
• Comprehensive evaluation and mutual agreement of the alignment of Santa Clarita
Parkway
• Development of high quality park
Valencia Company:
Vested entitlements in place for site development
Approval by City of Santa Clarita
Economic and market feasibility of development
Castaic Lake Water Agency:
Vested entitlements in place for site development
Uses to be compatible with Agency uses, including the existing water treatment plant
Approval by City of Santa Clarita
Economic and market feasibility of development
Comprehensive evaluation and mutual agreement of the alignment of Santa Clarita
Parkway
Development of high quality park.
Project Management and Oversight
The Project will be managed by a Steering Committee consisting of the following regular
members:
City of Santa Clarita:
Tony Nisich, Director of Transportation and Engineering
Rick Putnam, Director of Park Recreation and Community Services
Valencia Company:
Randy Wheeler, Executive Vice -President
Greg Medeiros, Project Manager
Castaic Lake Water Agency:
Robert Sagehorn, General Manager
Lynn Takaichi, Kennedy/Jenks Consultants
The Steering Committee will meet regularly in accordance with a schedule submitted by The
Planning Center and approved by the Steering Committee. Additional ad hoc members may
attend Steering Committee meetings as determined by Committee members. The Steering
Committee shall work to oversee the review of the Project (including the Santa Clarita Parkway
study and Center City Park Plan) through a consensus process. The City shall be the lead in
chairing the Steering Committee and working with The Planning Center to set the agenda and
record the actions/recommendations made by the Committee.
Funding Responsibility
The City of Santa Clarita will be the contracting agent for the Center City Specific Plan.
Funding for the Center City Specific Plan shall be shared in generally equal parts by each of the
three agencies. Costs to be shared shall be the total of the following amounts:
Project Cost
Center City Specific Plan and EIR $ 926,024
Agenc Share
The. Valencia Company $ 300,000
Castaic Lake Water Agency $ 300,000
City of Santa Clarita' $ 326,000
'Previously committed funds for Santa Clarita Parkway and Park Plan.
In addition to the above costs, the City has waived a total of $56,880 in application fees which
would have been collected had this project been submitted as a private specific plan application.
The City shall designate an account and the Valencia Company and Castaic Lake Water Agency
shall deposit to this account money sufficient to pay consultant fees associated with this project.
The scope of work shall be described in phases (or tasks) and funds necessary to pay for the next
phase shall be further authorized by the Steering Committee prior to commencement of this
next phase.
Conclusion
Neither the City, the Valencia Company, nor the Castaic Lake Water Agency intend this MOU
to be a contract or to be bound by this MOU.
Unless and until a Specific Plan is approved, either the City, Valencia Company or the Castaic
Lake Water Company may, at any time and for any reason, refuse to proceed with and withdraw
from the negotiations. The Project's scope of work will be divided into multiple phases and all
signatories to this MOU must agree before moving from one phase to the next. Before the
commencement of each subsequent phase, moneys shall be deposited into the holding account
set up by the City of Santa Clarita.
By executing this MOU, the City, Valencia Company, and Castaic Lake Water Agency again
wish to confirm that what is -set forth in this MOU represents the basic and fundamental
elements of understanding of the City, Valencia Company and Castaic Lake Water Agency
regarding the basis for their going forward with the preparation and approval of the Center City
Specific Plan.
The foregoing sets forth our Memorandum of Understanding as of 1997.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA VALENCIA COMPANY CASTAIC LAKE WATER
AGENCY
George A. Caravalho Randy Wheeler Robert Sagehorn
City Manager Executive Vice President General Manager
ATTEST: Approved as to form:
City Clerk City Attorney
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CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Smyth and Members of the City Council
FROM: George Caravalho, City Manager
DATE: October 17, 1997
SUBJECT: CENTER CITY SPECIFIC PLAN - CHRONOLOGY
The following is a chronology of events associated with the Center City Specific Plan and the
introduction of the concept to consider relocating the City Center Park.
Date
Event
Participants
July 1996
Santa Clarita Parkway
City Staff, CLWA, NL&F
Alignment Study Meeting
August 21, 1996
Center City Planning
City Staff, CLWA, NL&F
Meeting
September/October, 1996
Discussions to consider a
City Staff, CLWA, NL&F
Specific Plan for Center City
area
November 13,1996
CLWA Board Meeting to
CLWA
support specific plan effort
January 26, 1996
City Council directs staff to
City Council, City Staff
distribute a Request for
Proposals to conduct specific
plan effort
January 15,.1997
Request for Proposals
City Staff
mailed
January 22, 1997
Consultant Pre-bid meeting
City Staff
February 7, 1997
Proposals submitted
City Staff, CLWA, NL&F
March 28, 1997
Consultant Interviews
City Councilmembers
(Majic, Smyth), City Staff,
CLWA, NL&F
March, 1997
The Planning Center
selected to prepare the
Center City Specific Plan
May 27, 1997
City Council approves Phase
City Council
IA of specific plan work to
be completed by The
Planning Center
June 17, 1997
Authorization issued to The
City Staff
Planning Center to
commence with Phase 1A
August 19, 1997
The Planning Center
Steering Committee, The
presents its findings of
Planning Center
opportunities and
constraints to the Steering
Committee
September 9, 1997
City Council considers MOU
City Council
with CLWA and NL&F but
delays action pending
additional information from
City Staff
Introduction of concept to relocate the City Center Park from its current planned location
on Bouquet Canyon to a proposed new location along the Santa Clara River (on property
known as the Pan Handle)
September 11, 1997
The Planning Center, at
City Staff, NL&F
direction of NL&F, suggests
land planning alternatives .
which include relocating the
City Center Park
September 1997
NL&F discussions with
NL&F, CLWA
CLWA regarding proposal to
relocate City Center Park
September 26, 1997
Staff meeting to discuss
City Staff
NL&F proposed City Center
Park relocation
October 7, 1997
City Council Study Session
City Council, City Staff,
to consider Center City
Public
Specific Plan MOU and City
Center Park relocation
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