HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/03/2003 B AK ER S FI EL D
~ ~ ~"~ David Couch, Chair
Alan Tandy, City Manager Sue Benham
Staff: John W. Stinson Mike Maggard
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Monday, February 3, 2003, 3:00 p.m.
City Manager's Conference Room - City Hall
1. ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 3:06 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers David Couch, Chair; Sue Benham and Mike Maggard
2. ADOPT OCTOBER 7, 2002 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
Adopted as submitted.
3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
Committee Chair David Couch stated the Committee received a request to defer items
4.A and 5.A. The Chair's recommendation was to proceed with the agenda. Staff was
directed to provide a copy of the audio tapes to Mr. Brian Todd, Building Industry
Association of Kern County.
4. DEFERRED BUSINESS
A. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding Transportation
Development Fees
Public Works Director Raul Rojas explained staff did not have a recommendation for
action at this meeting, but wanted to keep the Committee informed and up to date on the
next steps in the process. Marian Shaw working in conjunction with County staff has
developed very preliminary numbers on the fees.
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, February 3, 2003
Page - 2 -
Marian Shaw, Public Works Civil Engineer, provided background information. One of the
recommendations in the 2010 General Plan was to adopt a fee to take care of
developers' impact on the transportation system. The County, City and Kern COG had a
report done in 1990 that prepared the framework on how a fee is put together. The City
used that framework when Phase One and Phase Two Transportation Impact Fee
Schedules were developed. It is based upon the concept that new development pays
its way for any new transportation facility that will be needed. Facilities include lanes,
bridges, signals and anything needed to get the facility in place, such as right-of-way
and earthwork.
The General Plan requires the fee to provide facilities for the traveling public. If present
trends continue, Bakersfield will have a great deal of growth in the next 20 years. City
and County staffs have been reviewing the transportation model with Kern COG and
working together over the last several months to develop a preliminary facilities list for
"Phase II1." From this point on, staff needs to refine the project totals against Kern
COG's traffic model and make the determination the facilities on the list are actually
needed to support future development.
Several factors make up the equation used to develop the dollar amount for the fees.
Set rates are used for single housing and multi-housing per unit. Industrial and
commercial are based on a per-trip rate (amount of trips generated by each non-
residential classification for commercial and industrial), which is a fair way to distribute
the cost for the facilities that will need to be constructed.
Once the Facilities List is refined and checked against the Transportation Model, staff
will have a level of service fee system. The fee schedule will be taken to the BIA,
developers and other groups for their input. It can then be brought to the Urban
Development Committee, City Council and Board of Supervisors. An environmental
document is required, as well as a nexus document to make sure it meets all the
minimum requirements of the Government Code. Public hearings are also needed.
This is a metropolitan fee and it is advantageous if it is adopted by the City and the
County.
Once the fee schedule is in place, new large developments requesting substantial
General Plan amendments will be required to pay for a traffic study before the
development can be approved.
The Committee members had concerns regarding the length of time it takes to develop
the fee schedule and requested this be put on the agenda for the joint City and County
meeting scheduled for September 2003, if this item is ready to move forward at that
time. Staff was requested to put this item back on the March 3rd Committee meeting
agenda.
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, February 3, 2003
Page - 3 -
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding side yard setbacks
Development Services Director Jack Hardisty provided background information. In
November 2002, there was a hearing concerning a request for reduction of side yard
setbacks by D. R. Horton, Inc. for work to be done in Riverlakes. The City ordinance
requires five feet, and the requested modification was denied by the City Council. The
item was referred .to-the Urban Development Committee for further discussion regarding
side yard setbacks of less than five feet.
Mr. Brad Boe, D. R. Horton, Inc., spoke in support of allowing encroachments into the
side yard setbacks for niches next to the fireplace for television and stereo equipment.
Mr. Teddy Bolden, D. R. Horton, Inc., spoke in support of allowing restricted
encroachments into the side yard setbacks.
Jack Hardisty felt the space is needed between the houses and recommended keeping
the current five-foot side yard setback as required by City Ordinance, with the current
limited exceptions, such as fireplaces as allow by the ordinance.
Public Works Director Raul Rojas suggested if a developer wants to build out niches for
televisions, stereo equipment, or book cases, etc., the house should be put on a lot wide
enough to allow the extra square feet or build a slightly smaller house to allow for the
separation between houses.
Committee Chair Couch requested Development Services staff meet with him to discuss
this issue further to explore if there is any middle ground where exceptions could be
allowed.
B. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding CNG Fleet Vehicles
Public Works Fleet Superintendent Ernie Medina gave a report on the City's use of CNG
and LNG fleet vehicles. At the present time the City has 67 alternate fuel vehicles, 55
compressed natural gas (CNG), 5 liquid natural gas (LNG), and 7 electric powered
vehicles. Staff has applied and received clean-air grants in the past to offset the extra
cost. The differential is approximately, $1,800 for sedans, $2,000 for pickups, $45,000
for refuse trucks; and $35,000 for sweepers. The City has just received a grant for
$22,000 from Clean Cities/Department of Energy to help offset the cost of 11 CNG
pickups purchased by the City.
The use of hybrid vehicles was discussed, which allow for alternate types of fuel.
However, at the present time there is not a lot of competition in the hybrid field and
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, February 3, 2003
Page - 4 -
competitive bidding is important when purchasing vehicles. Staff will check with the
dealere on their plans for future availability of hybrids.
The fueling facility is scheduled for construction mid-February 2003. It will previde the
ability to fuel CNG and LNG vehicles. The City has received over $1 million from
Congestion Mitigation Air Quality threugh Kern COG toward the construction of the
fueling station. This station is built above ground so if there is a need to move to a new
location, it can be moved.
Committee Member Maggard spoke regarding the importance of using alternate fuels to
help with the clean-air solution. Public Works staff was requested to provide additional
information on price, maintenance cost and availability of dealers who plan to stock
hybrid vehicles and when this will allow for competitive bidding.
Public Works Director Raul Rojas stated there is still more that can be done to convert
fleet vehicles to alternate fuels; however, usually staff does not move forward unless
there are grant monies to offset the extra cost. It was pointed out the City is the largest
alternate fuel user in this area. Staff will provide the requested information on hybrid
vehicles.
C. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding Committee meeting
schedule for 2003
The Committee approved the meeting schedule.
6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 4:47 p.m.
Attendance - staff: City Manager-Alan Tandy; Assistant City Manager John W. Stinson; City Attorney
Bart Thiltgen; Public Works Director Raul Rojas; Development Services Director Jack Hardisty;
Assistant Public Works Director Jack LaRochelle; Public Works Operations Manager Brad
Underwood; Public Works Fleet Superintendent Ernie Medina; Public Works Civil Engineer Bruce
Deeter; Public Works Civil Engineer Marian Shaw; and Principal Planner Jim Eggert, Planning
Division.
Others: Roger Mclntosh, Mclntosh and Associates; Danielle C. Belton, The Bakersfield Californian;
Teddy Bolden, D.R. Horton, Inc.; and Brad Boe, D. R. Horton, Inc.
cc: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
S:~JOHN\Council Committees\Urban Development 2003\ud03feb03summary.doc