HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-12-04 - MINUTES - STUDY SESSION NOTES (2)City Council Study Session
December 4, 2001
Call To Order: 5:31 p.m.
Roll Call: All Councilmembers were present
Flag Salute: Led by Councilmember Cameron Smyth
ITEM 1 DEVELOPMENT AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING,
Jeff Lambert, Director of Planning and Building Services, and Vince Bertoni,
Planning Manager, presented this item to the Council regarding the process for
County monitoring; prioritizing; subdivisions which are adjacent to the City;
review of grading process; density; trails; traffic issues; aesthetic issues. Staff
generated discussion on what kind of projects should the City be involved in?;
what kind of comments should the City make?; What should the role of City staff,
the Planning Commission and the City Council be in the City's comments on
County projects?
Council questions, concerns and comments included: Relationships
between the City and County have improved tremendously. Keep track of
checks and balances in regard to open space / large parcels which are available.
Take a proactive stance with everything. In regard to larger residential and
commercial developments, be aware of those in direct competition with our tax
dollars. Keeping track of impact fees, active park space, pools, gymnasiums, road
improvements, schools. Be sure to view the big picture when considering valley
buildout; kinds of commercial projects within the annexations. Do not
compromise the quality of life of the citizens when it comes to new annexations;
oak tree issues; grading; overall blanket fee with parks; greenbelt development;
consistency with: bus turnouts, standards with trails, corridors, trash containers,
planting, energy conservation, ridgelines, building heights, walls, pedestrian
friendly, parking, signals, signage. Consistent with projects at the beginning,
not at the end, creating an exceptional quality of life now, not later. Projects need
to be seen as to their effect in the future, not the present. Look closely at lack of
parking in new neighborhoods. Council agreed that communication on projects
is important and that the Planning Commission and the Parks Commission
should be included in the comment letter, which the Planning Division provides
to Council. Keep the Commissions in the loop. Council commended staff and the
County on the One Valley — One Vision Project.
Public Participation speakers on this issue included: Millie Jones, Susan Ostrom,
Ruthann Levinson, Allan Cameron, Marsha McLean.
Councilmember Bob Kellar excused himself from the Study Session at this time.
ITEM 2 GRANT ADMINISTRATION - Steve Stark, Director of Administrative
Services, and Dennis Luppens, Management Analyst, presented Council with a
slide presentation on the Grant Administration Process. They introduced the
Grant Team of approximately 20 staff members, outlined the grant
accomplishments, grant process, effects on the budget, different categories of
grants, the future of grants, strategies of grant administration, grant attainment
plan.
Council questions, concerns and comments included: Changes in the
economy and the effects on grants; working aggressively on all grant avenues;
the cooling of grant monies which are available; grants for old downtown areas;
status of the Mervyns grants; access to grant tracker by the community; keeping
up with the myriad of grants. Council was very supportive of the grant team and
the accomplishments of the team.
Public Participation speakers on this issue included: Ruthann Levinson, Susan
Ostrom, Arthur Sohikian.
At this time, Rick Putnam, Deputy City Manager gave a brief update to Council
regarding an accident which took place on December 3, 2001; suspicious
substance at the Post Office; continuation of the TMC matter to February 26,
2002 with the Board of Supervisors, instead of January 22, 2002.
Mayor Weste adjourned the meeting at 7:03 p.m.
Geri Bryan, Deputy City Cl rk