HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/09/2014CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Wuo called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. and
announced that all City Council Members were present.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Caroline Blake, an Arcadia resident, appeared and questioned whether the City Council
had considered a moratorium on building permits; she expressed concern about the
water drought and the overbuilding of large residential structures; and suggested that a
design review committee be formed outside of the Planning Division process and should
include an architectural historian and a City arborist.
April Verlato, an Arcadia resident and Member of the Highlands Homeowner
Association Architectural Review Board, appeared and requested the City Council place
a moratorium on construction until an environmental impact report and historical survey
is completed.
STUDY SESSION
a. Discussion regarding development and design review in the community.
City Manager Lazzaretto discussed and commented on the December 3, 2014, Los
Angeles Times article and asked how the City Council would like to respond; he pointed
out that the City has in fact been proactive in dealing with development and expressed
how people overlook the good things about the City; and suggested that the City do
more public outreach on things that make Arcadia a fantastic City.
Mayor Pro Tern Kovacic felt that the City should identify what is challenging in a City,
including what is good, and issues concerning single - family development should be
addressed; he also felt the City should publicize what is good about Arcadia and not
respond or be reactive to negative comments, but be proactive to promote the City so
that it is attractive to reaching out to all kinds of people to move here; he indicated that
he is in favor of size restrictions for single - family residential development and is open to
discussing a moratorium and agrees with hiring a public relations firm to highlight the
positive things about the City.
Council Member Beck responded to Caroline Blake and April Verlato that the night
before the article, the City had a Special Meeting regarding historic preservation and
creating an ordinance identifying buildings that should be preserved; he addressed the
Highland Oaks area that they can preserve the look of certain streets in the
neighborhood through historic preservation; that there may be a moratorium occurring
without the City actually implementing one because developers are putting homes back
on the market that they bought to develop; he noted real estate prices are dropping and
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homes are not selling. He indicated that the City Council is in the process of evaluating
what can be done regarding budgeting water per household; he noted that he agrees
with Mayor Pro Tern Kovacic that the article should be addressed and that there are
several great things to publicize about Arcadia that can be done through a public
relations firm.
City Manager Lazzaretto added that over the years, building activity has slowed down
somewhat compared to where it was this time last year.
Council Member Tay commented that reporters only focus on the negative things; he
noted that according to the 2010 Census, there are a total of 20,686 homes in the City
and 1,094 of those homes are vacant.
Council Member Chandler noted the highlights of the City; he also noted that the land
boom is primarily why the media has focused on the City, that regardless of the public's
different opinions, residential development has been completed within the building code
requirements; that a moratorium on building permits is not the answer to the current
residential development issues, and regarding water supply, the City has plenty of water
with 13 water wells.
Mayor Pro Tem Kovacic added that he would push for more reasonable size restrictions
for single - family development and a more aggressive design review process in South
Arcadia; he indicated that he is more concerned about what can be done about newly
built vacant homes in the City and that devices should be used to make the City more
attractive to potential residents and businesses.
Council Member Beck clarified that the City has front yard setbacks and disagrees with
Council Member Chandler regarding water supply, noting that it doesn't matter how
many wells the City has, but how much water is in those wells; he also noted that there
is a water problem that the City is currently dealing with; and agrees with Mayor Pro
Tern Kovacic that there is an issue with newly built vacant homes.
Mayor Wuo noted that something positive should be done to highlight Arcadia; he noted
that he moved to the City over 30 years ago and is proud to live in Arcadia; he
discussed the wonderful things about the City, and suggested that a public relations firm
should be used to highlight the positive things about the City and doesn't believe that
City Council should respond to every inaccurate article written about the City, and
indicated that a moratorium is not the answer.
Mayor Pro Tern Kovacic suggested that staff provide a brief status about the Zoning
Code update.
In response to Mayor Pro Tern Kovacic's request, Assistant City Manager /Development
Services Director Kruckeberg indicated that the Zoning Code update is a citywide
process to look at the development code and various standards in the code for
residential and commercial development; he further indicated that it is an opportunity to
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look at all code standards and will be presented to the Planning Commission and City
Council for comment and approval.
It was the consensus of the City Council to hire a public relations firm to highlight the
positive things that Arcadia has to offer.
Mayor Wuo adjourned the Special Meeting at 6:06 p.m.
ATTEST:
ity Cler
r of the City of Arcadia
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