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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/07/2002 B A K E R S F I E L D David Couch, Chair Alan Tandy, City Manager Sue Benham Staff: John W. Stinson Mike Maggard AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Monday, October 7, 2002, 1:00 p.m. City Manager's Conference Room - City Hall 1. ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 1:04 p.m. Present: Councilmembers David Couch, Chair; Sue Benham and Mike Maggard 2. ADOPT SEPTEMBER 27, 2002 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted. 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding Transportation Development Fees Public Works Civil Engineer Marian Shaw reported City and County staffs have been meeting monthly for the last six months to discuss the update to the Transportation Impact Fee Program. Projects are being identified that will need to be added to the program to get a complete circulation system by 2030. Costs are being assigned to the projects and total costs should be available by the end of the year. A map was displayed showing new signals, which will be needed in the future. Assistant Public Works Director Jack LaRochelle gave an update on additional potential improvement projects for the Transportation Impact Fee Program. AGENDA SUMMARY REP( URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, October 7, 2002 Page - 2 - 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding operation of Bakersfield Airport Public Works Director Raul Rojas handed out an aerial view of the flight pattern for Meadows Field. Staff has met with the FFA regarding safety concerns. The FFA was invited to come to the Bakersfield Municipal Airport ("airpark") to view takeoffs and landings. They did come and observe and did not report any problems. Ray Bishop, Meadows Field Director, had brought to our attention that right turns off the airpark come directly into the flight path of Meadows Field traffic. To solve this .safety issue, staff attempted to get the tower control at Meadows Field extended over the airpark, so the pilots would have to report and get clearance. The FFA refused the City's request. The airpark has been "signed" for the pilots to turn left. However, pilots can still legally turn right if they do not go into Meadows Field's air space as depicted by the red circle on the aerial map. Staff has contacted the FFA to ask what the closure procedures are. There is a national group with political support that opposes airport closures, so there could be opposition from that group as well as the local pilots if the City formally files for a closure. The FFA is usually reluctant to approve closures, and coupled with a request for a waiver on the payback of the grants, closure may be difficult to obtain. Brad Underwood, Operations Manager, explained Public Works has been maintaining the airpark with a limited budget at a break-even point. In the past FFA grants were used for maintenance. Staff has not applied, until the closure issue is resolved. Applying for new grants may extend the time for closing the airpark. Keeping the airpark open has the risk of incurring large repairs. The Committee asked Brad Underwood for a memo regarding: the exact date we could close the airpark; if the City applies for federal grants, how that affects the closure date under FFA regulations; and whether the City's purchase of property for the airpark affects the 20 year obligation period. City Manager Alan Tandy defined choices the Committee/Council may want to consider: Actively seek closure because of safety issues. Invest more money, market the airpark, solicit more business and go after grants, which may lengthen the City's obligation to keep it open. · Keep the same path we have been on for the last five years. Do not seek federal grants or actively solicit business on the assumption that we will wind it down at some point when the grant repayment has expired. The Committee requested staff to make another attempt to get the tower control at Meadows Field extended over the airpark, to request assistance from Congressman Thomas and check to see if there is an appeal process. When more information is available, this item will return to the Committee. AGENDA SUMMARY REP( URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, October 7, 2002 Page - 3- B. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding Sidewalk Inspection Program (This item heard first) Public Works Director Raul Rojas explained prior to 1995, the City took the position that it was the property owners responsibility to maintain sidewalks in front of the houses, even thought the sidewalk was in the public right-of-way. It was difficult to enforce because most of the sidewalks needing repair were in older neighborhoods and the residents were retired or Iow-income and could not afford the cost of repairs. Also, unlike other code enforcement issues, sidewalk deterioration/damage may not be intentionally caused by the homeowner. In 1995, the Urban Development Committee created a sidewalk policy. Public Works budget includes $50,000 gas tax money per year for sidewalk repair. The CDBG program has an additional $25,000 to $50,000 per year applicable to qualified Iow- income areas. The City does not perform yearly inspections on all City sidewalks. When calls/complaints come in, the sidewalk is inspected and needed repairs are put on a prioritized list according to severity/safety concerns. The City Urban Forester makes the determination on repairs where trees are causing sidewalk damage. The Streets Division removes the damaged walk and a contractor makes the repairs. Driveway cuts are still the responsibility of the property owner. With the current budget of $50,000 a year, there is a backlog and sometimes a wait of three to four years for routine sidewalk repair other than those that present an immediate safety concern. City Attorney Bart Thiltgen stated he referred this item because he wanted to keep the Committee informed about a recent case now being appealed in the U. S. Supreme Court, which included a rule that sidewalk maintenance is a program under the ADA. If legal trends change, there may be a need for a more intensive sidewalk inspection/repair program. Legal staff will keep the Committee/Council informed of any substantive rulings from the Court. 6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 2:54 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 Civil Engineer Marian Shaw; and Streets Superintendent Mike Connors. Others: Ron Sprague, Chair, Planning Commission; Brian Todd, BIA of Kern County; Brent Kaff, KBAK - TV 29; Tammy Brown, KUZZ News; and James Burger, The Bakersfield Californian cc: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers S:~JOHN\Council Committees\Urban Dev2002\ud02oct7summary.doc