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Home My WebLink About04/03/2008 ZOO�-*�- 0 B A K E R S F I E L D Zack Scrivner, Rho a Smiley, Ass nt to the City Manager/P.I.O. Harold H nsonChair For: Alan Tandy, City Manager Ken Weir AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Regular Meeting of the PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Thursday, April 3, 2008 — 1:00 p.m. City Manager's Conference Room — Suite 201 City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield CA The meeting was called to order at 1:02 PM. 1. ROLL CALL Present: Councilmember Zack Scrivner, Chair Councilmembers Harold Hanson and Ken Weir Staff present: Alan Tandy, City Manager Stanley Grady, Development Services Director Rick Kirkwood, Management Assistant Jim Movius, l Steven Teglia, Administrative Analyst III Raul Rojas, Public Works Director Bob Sherfy, Deputy City Attorney Brad Underwood, Asst. Public Works Director Nelson Smith, Finance Director Marian Shaw, Civil En Allen Abe, Asst. Recreation & Parks Dir. Sean Cacal, Supervisor II ineer IV Ken Trone, Recreation & Parks Gilbert Alemao, Supervisor II Bruce Deeter, Civil Engineer III Ryan Starbuck, Engineer III Others present: Phil Gaskill, Gaskill Custom Homes James Geluso, Bakersfield Californian Gary Grumbles, Lennar Peter Samore, KUZZ Radio Jim Grombly, Lennar Dave Dimohowski, Premier Planning Tom Dee, Lennar Michael Turnipseed, Kern Tax Pat Henneberry, Castle & Cooke David Cates, Lenox Homes Cassie Daniel, HBA of Kern County Nick Ortiz, Greater Bakersfield Chamber James Nickel, Nickel Family LLCociates Donna Carpenter, Sikand Engineering Adam Terronez, Leighton Group Corrine Coats, Association of Realtors Richard Chapman, Kern EDC Nicolyn Hernandez, Quad Knopf Brian McLaughlin, Bakersfield Independent Cal Rossi, McMillin Land Development Cathy Williams, McMillin Land Development Planning and Development Committee April 3, 2008 Page 2 2. ADOPT THE MARCH 6, 2008 AGENDA SUMMARY Adopted as submitted. 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. Update on Standards for Block Walls Along Freeways— Movius/Rojas At the Planning and Development Committee meeting of March 6, 2008, three options were presented to the committee as possible standards for freeway walls adjacent residential tracts. These standards will improve the aesthetics/attractiveness of the walls and deter graffiti on the walls. The option chosen by the committee consisted of the following: 1) Textured concrete block (freeway side of wall must contain a minimum of 25% texture on the face of the wall), 2) Climbing vines capable of attaching to wall, and 3) 10-foot wide maintenance road for access (outside of CalTrans right-of-way). Planning Director Jim Movius stated that with the Committee's approval, an amendment to Resolution No. 58-92 (which sets the City's wall and landscaping policy for residential subdivision walls), will be placed on the May 1, 2008 Planning Commission agenda. Committee Chair Scrivner expressed concern of only 25% of the wall being textured. He fears that this will not be sufficient to deter the graffiti issues, and would like to see a standard "scored" wall throughout the city. Considering the costs of the freeway walls, Public questioned having vines growing overt em. This may defeat the purpose ofusome of the more costly and decorative walls. Committee Chair Scrivner questioned the amount of time it will take for the vines to cover the walls. Staff stated that with the correct amount of irrigation, it should take approximately two years for the vines to cover the walls. Committee Chair Scrivner asked the difference in cost between a split- face block wall and a scored block wall. Public Works Director Rojas is going to research this and report back to the Committee. City Manager Tandy would like to get an opinion from the design staff regarding options for continuity, right-of-way, and irrigation issues that may arise. Committee Chair Scrivner requested that staff obtain more information and details regarding this issue and report back to the next Committee meeting. 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Discussion regarding Traffic Impact Fees —Tandy/ Rojas/Smith City Manager Tandy gave a summary of the Transportation Impact Fee, which is considered a "development fee" and must follow a specific process in order to be adopted. This is a City-County program, which was originally adopted in 1992. In order to expand the program, it periodically goes through an update. Civil Engineer Marian Shaw gave an update on the Transportation Impact Fee Program which was presented to the City Council on February 27, 2008. She gave an outline of the RTIF Update Process, which requires significant research and work to be done by City and County staff and consultants. Committee Chair Scrivner questioned if a developer is required to pay the traffic impact fee on a project where the level of service is not a "C". Civil Engineer Marian Shaw explained that all developers obtaining a permit will be required Planning and Development Committee April 3, 2008 Page 3 to pay the traffic impact fee. If the developer is required to build frontage improvements on a property that is on the Impact Fees Facilities List, then they are eligible to receive a credit on the fees they owe. Finance Director Nelson Smith presented a "Draft" bonding financial plan to meet the local match requirements. One of the most important aspects of the financial plan is related to an assumption that the Transportation Impact Fee will be increased in the near future. The financial plan is in the early stages of analysis and will continue to evolve over time. Committee Chair Scrivner asked for a status report on the County's $100 million bond. Staff will research and report this information back to the committee. Committee member Weir questioned the bonding process of the Traffic Impact Fees. He asked how we were allocating that money before the TRIP money came along. City Manager Tandy stated that there is a long list of projects that this money can be used for. In dealing with these projects, the following areas are considered: prioritization, need, and opportunity. This is based on an ongoing analysis of locations where problems exist and eligible areas where the money can be spent. Committee member Weir asked what the impact would be on other projects on the RTIF list if a majority of the impact fees collected were used to repay the bonds. City Manager Tandy stated that it would be ideal for the voters to approve the 1/2 cent sales tax, which would enable both programs to continue in parallel. Committee member Weir raised the issue of how secure the gas tax revenues were from future state capture. City Manager Tandy stated that these revenues are typically secure, however, he did concede that there is no guarantee that they could be subject to some sort of future state action. A back-up plan would need to be in place. He explained how the City has handled this type of situation in the past. Cassie Daniel, representing the Homeowner's Association of Kern County, read and submitted a letter to the committee regarding TRIP. The letter included information regarding proposed freeways and expressways; the state's housing market condition; increase in traffic impact fees; and questions regarding the City's financial plan and the impact that it may have on the housing impact fees. Committee Chair Scrivner requested that additional stakeholder meetings be held in May, once additional information is available. He also requested that this issue be brought back to Planning & Development once the new information (specific numbers) is ready. 6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS None 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1.58 PM. cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council members