Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/05/2007B A K E R S F I E L D S :Christ Bu terfield or: Alan Tandy, City Manager MINUTES Zack Scrivner, Chair Harold Hanson Ken Weir PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Thursday, April 5, 2007 - 1:00 p.m. City Manager's Conference Room -Suite 201 1501 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield CA The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. 1. ROLL CALL Committee members present: Council member Zack Scrivner; Chair Council members Harold Hanson and Ken Weir Staff present: City Manager Alan Tandy Assistant City Managers John W. Stinson and Christine Butterfield Management Assistant Rick Kirkwood City Attorney Virginia Gennaro Assistant City Attorney Janice Scanlan Associate Attorney Michael Richards Development Services Director Stan Grady Planning Director Jim Movius Building Director Phil Burns Assistant Public Works Director Jack LaRochelle Operations Manager Brad Underwood Traffic Engineer Stephen Walker Civil Engineering III Jim Holladay Maintenance Craftworker Jess Ayala Police Lt. Jay Gorton Others present: Darrel Hildebrand and Becky Napier, Kern COG Katrina Nelson, Borton Petrini & Conron Cassie Daniel, Homebuilders Association Stephen Montgomery, ABATE Terry Maxwell, Maxwell's Various members of the media 2. ADOPT MARCH 1, 2007 MINUTES Motion to adopt: Weir. All ayes. Planning and Development Committee April 5, 2007 Page 2 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Discussion regardinq Central Valley Blueprint Process -Kern COG Darrel Hildebrand, Assistant Director of Kern COG, gave an overview of the project. Kern County is part of a coalition of seven counties, north to San Joaquin County. This is a three-year program funded by the State. With matching funds, the project total is $5,000,000. Kern's share of the matching funds over the three-year period is approximately $715,000. The purpose of the program is to develop a blueprint that Kern COG will use to create a regional transportation plan and regional transportation improvement program. The process first involves gathering input from citizen groups into their visions and values. Further, they will be asked about what they perceive to be major issues confronting their area, how that area fits into the region, how the region fits within Central California, and how Central California relates to the State. Vision 2020 will be coordinating the community meetings. That information will be used to generate visual development scenarios to recognize those values. Finally, a regional summit will be held to give everyone an opportunity to vote and endorse a preferred growth scenario. The visioning process is designed to create a preferred scenario on a strategic level, not a land use plan. Principles and goals will be developed for growth that can be used to complement General Plan updates. There will be more consistency between jurisdictions. Kern COG, City and County staffs are working together to provide a unfirom source of information for the public and aid in General Plan updates. More information can be found at www.kerncog.org. Kern COG maintains the only Cal Trans' certified transportation model and they are working with TRIP staff to recalibrate it. Related policies include a federal service transportation law, the President's Executive Order creating an interagency task force in the Valley, California Department of Transportation (Cal Trans) program that started the Blueprint process in 2001, and the California Business Transportation Housing Agency. Additionally, Governor Schwarzenegger created the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley and Assembly member Parra introduced AB 27, which is potentially the precursor of Central California's regional planning entity. Furthermore, major funding is provided in three propositions passed by voters last November that contained a number of incentives related to blueprints under transportation, housing, park and water bonds. B. Discussion regardinq electronic message signs -Grady, Gennaro Development Services Director Grady asked the Committee for direction on whether or not to allow electronic signs. Electronic signs are becoming more prevalent, but they are inconsistent with the existing sign ordinance. The City prohibits flashing signs and animated messages that advertise other businesses, products or services. Staff receives initial cooperation when they contact the business and write citations; however, in a short Planning and Development Committee April 5, 2007 Page 3 period of time, animated sign owners can change the character generated elements and the violations begin again. Mr. Grady played a video showing several examples. Some of these replace paper billboard signs as a way of changing messages and providing options for multiple tenants on one sign. City Attorney Gennaro contacted six cities to compare ordinances, four of which have similar ordinances to Bakersfield. Fresno does allow animated signs, but tries to regulate them in order to address traffic safety concerns. Stockton attempts to address the issue through zoning ordinances. From a legal perspective, there are two issues: safety/driver distraction; and First Amendment. She asked for an "all or nothing" direction on the issue. The signs cannot be regulated by content. Traffic Engineer Walker stated that he has not seen any studies indicating that animated signs are a safety hazard, although there is a potential for problems. Committee Chair Scrivner asked if it could be regulated with zoning. These signs could be utilized in commercial zones, but not near residential zones, perhaps by street. City Attorney Gennaro responded that if these types of signs are allowed, anything goes in regard to content and the City cannot regulate by content. It would also be more difficult to prosecute the cases if they were selective. Committee member Hanson voiced concern that inappropriate material could potentially be broadcast. Committee Chair Scrivner asked for input from local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce and that the matter be brought back for discussion at the next meeting. 5. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. Discussion regarding motorcvcle parking - Roias Traffic Engineer Walker distributed an illustrative map. Staff worked with Stephen Montgomery to identify potential locations, primarily in the downtown. Staff believes that Mr. Montgomery's request to designate some parking places for motorcycle parking is reasonable and a good utilization of space. City Manager Tandy stated that his preference would be for a painted sign on the pavement rather than a posted sign. Much work has been done to beautify the area; posted signs would detract from the aesthetics. Mr. Montgomery contacted the Downtown Business Association (DBA). Terry Maxwell, spoke on behalf of the DBA. As long as this does not take away from existing parking, the DBA does not object. Additional parking would be welcome; however, the long-term effects need to be reviewed. The ultimate goal is to move motorcycles out of car spaces, which would provide for more parking downtown. The idea is make use of remainder spaces. Committee Chair Scrivner said the main concern is cost. Staff estimates $200 for labor and materials per space. Staff was directed to work with Mr. Montgomery to narrow down the number of spaces to ten or fewer and report back to the Committee in three months. Motion: Weir. All ayes. Planning and Development Committee April 5, 2007 Page 4 B. Update on status of City department move to Borton, Petrini & Conron building - Roias City Manager Tandy gave an overview of the proposed location of each department and the timing of relocation. Some departments have already moved in. Staff anticipates approximately three more years before the process is complete. The first floor requires some remodeling, after which Human Resources will move there. A public services counter will also be constructed to better assist citizens with minor requests and services. Anything complex will be referred to a more appropriate authority. There are also easily accessible conference rooms for committee meetings or other Council uses. A staff member will be stationed in the lobby to provide directions to the public. The second floor will be dedicated to the Finance Department. The third floor is currently occupied with City staff. Economic and Community Development is on the west side and a portion of Information Technology (IT) is on the east side. These IT employees will relocate to the existing City Hall at the appropriate time. A portion of the Recreation and Parks Department will move into that side of the floor. The fourth floor will be used by the remainder of the Recreation and Parks staff and the City Attorney's staff. This floor is currently occupied by an engineering firm that wishes to honor the full term of their existing lease, so it could be the slowest one to turn over. The fifth floor will be used by the City Manager, City Clerk, Risk Management and Mayor's staffs. There will also be an office available for Council use. A large conference room also exists on the floor. There is a plan to divide George Martin's office in two, with one part being the City Manager's office and the remainder will be used as a small conference room. Staff that will be located in the existing City Hall will be Fire Prevention, Public Works land the consolidation of the IT staff. The Mayor's current office would be used as a conference room during the day, and for Closed Session and meals during meetings. A moving schedule was distributed. Committee Chair Scrivner directed staff to include this information in the General Information memo. 6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS None 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 2:35 p.m. cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council members APPROVED 4/5/07