HomeMy WebLinkAboutJULY 13,1993
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CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS ARE TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY
CLERK
ROll CALL
M I NUT E S.
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA
and the
ARCADIA PLANNING COMMISSION
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING (YORK SESSION)
July 13, 1993
The City Council and the Arcadia Planning Commission met in an
Adjourned Regular Meeting (York Session) on Tuesday. July 13. 1993,
at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers Conference Room.
PRESENT :
Councilmembers Fasching, Harbicht, Lojeski, Margett, and
Ciraulo
Planning Commissioners Amato, Daggett, Hedlund, and Clark
Commissioner Huang (arrived at 5:50 p.m.)
ABSENT:
It was MOVED by Commissioner Daggett, seconded by Commissioner
Hedlund and CARRIED, to EXCUSE the absence of Commissioner Huang.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
1.
ARCH. DES. See page no. 2.
REVIEW BD.
2.
FASHION
PARK MALL
UPDATE
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Diane Naftzgar of Santa Anita Fashion Park Mall presented an
architect's rendering of what the new Nordstrom store will look like
and explained in detail the construction process that is currently
underway. She also reported on some of the restaurants which will
be coming into the new food court. Jeanie Van Amen, Marketing
Director of Fashion Park, provided information as to sales, saying
that as of the end of May sales were up It for the year. and for the
month of May they were up 2t. In reference to the addi tion of
Nordstrom to the mall. the 20 new shops and food court, Ms. Naftzgar
stated that the community response she has received thus far has
been overwhelmingly positive. An additional 500 jobs will be
brought to the area, and approximately $1 million in tax revenue
will be received by the City in the first year. In the discussion
following the presentation, Ms. Naftzgar reported the Broadway
Department Store will spend $5 million for renovations to their
store at the mall. The renovations are currently in progress.
Mayor Pro tem Lojeski commented that he has received about 30 phone
calls objecting to the looks of the construction trailer located on
the corner of Huntington Drive and Baldwin Avenue. He called City
Hall and was told there was no cooperation from the people at the
mall as far as being able to move the trailer to an inconspicuous
~ocation. Ms. Naftzgar responded that she was never advised of that
situation. but she will take care of the problem.
In answer to a question from Mayor Pro tem Lojeski regarding the
feedback from people now that Santa Anita Fashion Park has been
established as a non-smoking mall, Ms. Van Amen said the negative
response has been about lDt, but overwhelmingly most people are in
favor of a non-smoking mall. She thinks that fairly soon most malls
will go to the non-smoking program. Ms. Van Amen announced the
"Grand Opening" of the food court is scheduled for October 1st.
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1.
ARCH. DES.
REVI EW
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35:0185
Acting Planning Director Donna Butler gave a brief commentary on the
Architectural Design Review Study Committee, which was established
in October 1992 at the request of the City Council. The Committee's
job was to look at architectural design review for the single-family
residential properties in the City which are not included in the
existing homeowners association areas- -the areas under consideration
consisting of approximately 9,000 homes. Eight meetings were held,
and guidelines were developed which concluded that design' review
should be restricted to all new dwellings; all second-story
additions; additions visible from the street; exterior alterations
visible from the street; walls, fences, and hardscape located in the
front yard and street side yard. The Committee is recommending said
guidelines to the Council and Planning Commission. The Committee
further recommends that the design review guidelines and board be
comprised of the following: .
1) There shall be one Architectural Review Board for all single-
family residentially zoned property not included in existing
homeowners association areas (HOA).
2) If possible, areas adjacent to existing HOAs should be
incorporated into the HOAs if property owners are interested and if
the HOA agrees.
3) The Board shall be comprised of five (5) members with a minimum
of two (2) design professionals. All members shall be from the
neighborhoods subject to design review.
4) Staff shall be an ex-officio member of the Board.
5) The design criteria shall be broad enough and allow adequate
flexibility of design to provide some generalized standards to avoid
that which is .substantially unrelated and garish..
6) There should be no fee for design review, consistent with the
existing HOA areas.
7) There should be no ARB public hearing process, decisions should
be made by the Board appointed by the City Council with input from
the applicant only.
8) All decisions may be appealed to the Planning Commission and, if
necessary, to the City Council.
Ms. Butler then presente~ in detail the Committee's further findings
and recommendations as set forth in Planning Department's staff
report dated June 17, 1993.
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Ms. Butler explained that there are currently approximately 11,742
homes in the City, 2,709 of which are located within homeowner
association areas. In taking an average of four years of
applications for design review received by the Building Division, it
wea calculated that they would receive approximately 36 applications
per month, or less if applications were only taken for additions
visible from the street. The Committee also suggested some text
changes, which included eliminating security bars from the front of
dwellings; limiting front walls and fences to openwork, not solid;
no more than four lights on pillars in the front yard; the maximum
height of four feet for walls; light fixtures on top of pillars to
be 18 inches; walls not exceed five feet on reverse corner lots.
Tom Clark, Planning Commissioner, stated in part that he is still
unsure of the need to go ahead with something like this. In looking I
at the figure of 36 or even fewer applications in one month, and
considering the appeal process. he feels it will be very time
consuming.
Mayor Ciraulo had concerns regarding how anyone would be able to
devote the time required to be on a design review Committee. Also,
he pointed out that the architectural review boards and homeowners
associations now in existence try to see if a home fits in with the
neighborhood. However, those neighborhoods have always had a
consistent style of homes built, whereas in South Arcadia there are
many different styles of homes.
In answer to a question from Councilmember Harbicht regarding what
will be subject to design review, Ms. Butler said the Committee was
mainly looking at things which would affect the actual look of the
house. the architectural design. but that a lot of things are still
vague and do need to be clarified.
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3.
BUDGET
UPDATE
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35:0186
Mllyor Ciraulo then questioned how an architectural review board
decides what fits in with the neighborhood. Tom Crosby, President
of the Santa Anita Village Community Association, answered that
bllsically a board is trying to keep a consistent. quality look that
is harmonious to the rest of the neighborhood.
A lengthy discussion followed regarding who would sit on this new
board, how they would determine what architectural styles would be
acceptable, and how time-consuming the application process might be.
Opinions were expressed as to the need for an architectural review
process for homeowners in South Arcadia.
Commissioner Daggett noted that it seems perfectly acceptable to
have several different style homes in a neighborhood, but, what the
design review process is supposed to do is weed out those that
consist of an improper application of commercial design elements on
a residential structure. Mayor Pro tem Lojeski and Councilmember
Fasching both felt that the proposed architectural review board
would be of benefit to South Arcadia, and would not try to impose
the same style house on everyone but would eliminate those garish
designs that were not compatible with the neighborhood.
Counci1member Fasching pointed out that this board would be made up
of people who live in the neighborhoods subject to design review.
Councilmember Harbicht has no problem with putting into the code
certain restrictions on const;ruction. However, he believes that the
board is an imposition of government controls on the property rights
of the individual, and was especially concerned because of the
subjective decisions that could be made by those on the board.
Councilmember Margett looks upon this as being a neighbor-to-
neighbor issue, not one of government control.
Mayor Ciraulo reminded everyone present that there would be
opportunity for more discussion at public hearings at a future date.
At the conclusion of comments from the audience, the City Attorney
clarified that there are standards and criteria, including
definitions of compatibility and harmony, which were, unfortunately,
not included in the materials presented at this evening's meeting.
Staff will provide this information to the Council and Commission at
a later date.
Mayor Ciraulo thanked the members of the Architectural Design Review
Study Committee for their time and effort on this project.
It was MOVED by Councilmember Fasching, seconded by Mayor Pro tem
Lojeski. and CARRIED on roll call vote as follows to DIRECT staff
to prepare a text amendment for public hearings before the Planning
Commission and the City Council.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Councilmembers Fasching, Lojeski, Margett, and Ciraulo
Councilmember Harbicht
None
Jim Dale, Finance Director, updated Council on the State budget. He
presented information regarding the loss in revenues to counties,
cities, Special Districts, and Redevelopment Agencies this year.
Last year, the State took almost $500,000 from the City of Arcadia,
or 9% of its property tax. This year, the State will take another
$823,000 of the City's property tax, or 17%. The State is also
extending the half.cent sales tax until December. This will go to
the voters in November, and if the sales tax is passed and extended
indefinitely, then the City will receive additional funds of
$283,000, also a one-time transfer of transportation funds amounting
to $257,000, for a net reduction of monies to the City of $283,000.
The Finance Director went over his report of some of the goals the
Finance Department has for the coming year, most of which have a
positive impact on the City's budget. Councilmember Harbicht stated
that. with reference to Goal No.1, he is not in favor of waiting
until mid-year to review the financial position of the City for
Fiscal Year 1993-94. He would prefer to conduct this review now,
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4.
HARBICHT
(Employees'
off-duty
activities)
FASCHING
(Karaoke)
LOJESKI
(Orange
Grove Ave.
Improve. )
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CLOSED
SESSION
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ADJOURNMENT
35:0187
which would allow eleven months to implement things that will get
the budget in balance.
Councilmember Harbicht felt that the possibility of Public Employees
Retirement System (PERS) increases is an important budget issue. He
understands that PERS took a look at their actuarial tables and said
that the cities are falling short in terms of funding PERS to the
extent necessary to pay retirement benefits that are accruing, and
so PERS significantly increased the amount they said cities should
be putting into the system. However, when cities complained over
another "hit" to their budgets, PERS said they would take another
look at their actuarial tables. He wonders if there may be
political pressure to keep increases to a minimum, with the result
that if their actuarial tables are correct, the minimal increases
will not cover their shortfall. The Finance Director said that
PERS' explanation is that they are questioning whether the people I
who do the actuarial are basing on the right assumptions--for
example, an investment return that is too conservative. He
explained that PERS will make a decision at the end of this month
whether to implement rate increases next month, so Council will have
that information in about two weeks.
ITEMS FROM COUNClutEKBERS
Councilmember Harbicht brought up the matter of safety employees
who participate in dangerous off-duty hobbies, such as race car
driving, where they could injure themselves, and possibly later
claim job-related disability retirement which the City pays for in
full. Since the City does not hire safety employees who smoke,
maybe there should be certain kinds of other activities that could
be limited. The City Attorney suggested getting a legal opinion
from Liebert and Cassidy as to the legal extent to which the City
can control the off-duty activities of its employees based on the
fact that those activities may contribute to injuries which the
City is going to pay for. Mayor Ciraulo asked that the City
Attorney follow up on this matter.
With reference to a staff report from the Acting Planning Director
asking for Council direction as to whether or not to allow karaoke
uses in the City, Councilmember Fasching stated his choice would
be to permit it with an approved Conditional Use Permit. It was
pointed out that this matter would be before the Council on the
July 20 agenda.
Mayor Pro tea Lojeski said he hopes there will not be another
deadlocked situation with regard to getting agreement with the City
of Sierra Madre for the Orange Grove Avenue improvements. The
County Public Works Department has said it would be feasible to
reduce the rise on the easterly side of the Lima Street "dip," as
suggested by Sierra Madre Mayor Gary Adams. However, Mayor Pro
tem Lojeski is disappointed that nothing has been done yet to
improve the street, which is in very bad condition. Councilmember
Harbicht agreed, saying this dip creates a very dangerous
condition, which could create a serious liability problem for the
City of Arcadia. The City Attorney acknowledged that even though
the dip had been approved by the County, if there were a problem,
the City would be named in a lawsuit, and just to get out of it
could cost $10,000 to $20,000.
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The City Attorney announced that, "We're going to have a Closed
Session under Government Code Section 54956. 9a to discuss Matthews
versus Arcadia."
At 7:50 p.m. the City Council entered a CLOSED SESSION, RECONVENED
and ADJOURNED at 8:15 p.m. to Tuesday, July 20, 1993, at 7:00 p.m.
in the Conference Room of the City Hall Council Chambers, for an
Adjourned Regular Meeting to conduct the business of the Council
and the Redevelopment Agency, and any Closed Session necessary to
discuss personnel, litigation matters aluatio properties.
ATTEST:
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