HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-10-15; City Council; MinutesMINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF:
DATE OF MEETING:
TIME OF MEETING: PLACE OF MEETING: Faradav Center
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
October 15, 2003
I1 :00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
The Mayor convened the meeting at 11 :04 a.m. Mayor Pro Tem Finnila, Council Members
Hall and Packard were present. Council Member Kulchin was absent. Also in attendance
were the City Manager, the City Attorney, and various members of staff.
The Mayor called for Council reports on regional roles and assignments and Council Member
Packard responded that the Encina Wastewater Authority is undertaking an approximate $60
million capital projects program which included the Phase V expansion of the plant, the
administrative operations building and the reclamation plant. Although the cost of the
reclamation plant has increased, Carlsbad’s share of the total cost of that project has
decreased slightly.
Council Member Hall reported on the progress of the south parcel of the Encina Wastewater
Authority and that it has hired a consultant to examine alternative land uses available
including expansion possibilities.
Mayor Pro Tem Finnila reported that SANDAG is considering consolidation with ARJIS as a
policy participant. It is also considering the policy question of whether or not the energy task
force should become a part of SANDAG or a separate entity. Mayor Pro Tem Finnila further
reported on the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee issues and informed the Council that
Peter Drinkwater is the new Airport director.
The Mayor explained that the County Water Authority is entertaining discussions on a new
regional water treatment facility and further explained that he has asked Council Member Hall
to participate with him in meetings and briefings on County Water Authority business. The
County Water Authority also held meetings on alternative pipeline alignments for its proposed
desalination facility and the Mayor has requested a future presentation to the City Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Finnila further reported that the SANDAG retreat will be held in Borrego
Springs on January 28 - 30,2004 and encouraged other council members to attend.
The Mayor then called for a discussion of the Coastal Rail Trail funding issues. The City
Manager introduced the item and called on Senior Civil Engineer Plantz who gave a staff
report with the aid of a map and one page funding alternatives. The SANDAG Transportation
Committee will meet October 17, 2003 to discuss alternatives. Its staff recommendation is to
retain the $5.2 million to construct Phase I section of the Coastal Rail Trail project in
Carlsbad.
Public Works Director Hubbs recommended continued emphasis on the importance of
retaining the funding needed to construct the Phase I section of the Coastal Rail Trail project
in Carlsbad.
The Mayor called for a discussion of the placement of cell sites in the public right of way.
Council Member Packard and Council Member Hall had questions on the definition of utility
easements and Planning Director Holzmiller explained that utility easements do not have a
separate General Plan designation or zoning district but that the utility easements are the
same as those of the parcels in the underlying designation and district.
The Mayor then called for a discussion of the strategies for the production, distribution and
delivery of water and water related services by public or private entities and other related
water uses. Administrative Services Director Elliott delivered the staff report on the
desalination project proposed by the County Water Authority. He distributed a list of potential
public improvements and alternative alignments and discussed a potential water purchase
contract with Poseidon Water Resources.
Planning Director Holzmiller briefed and updated the Council on Poseidon's application,
which has been deemed complete. The City is seeking requests for proposals from qualified
environmental consultants, which will then be presented, to the City Council for approval of
the contract to prepare the environmental impact report.
The Council continued to work through lunch and continued with a discussion of the
strategies for the production, distribution and delivery of water and water related services.
The Mayor then called for the City Manager who informed Council of a future Chamber of
Commerce workshop in November and a future goal-setting workshop for the City Council in
January 2004.
Council Member Finnila further reported on her trip to Washington, D.C. regarding issues of
interest to Carlsbad that are subject to federal legislation.
The Mayor called for public comment and there being none thanked all for their positive
contributions and adjourned the meeting at 12:27 p.m.
)&qpectfully submitted,
RONALD R. BALL
City Attorney as Clerk Pro Tem\
2
COUNCIL STUDY SESSION 10/15/03
COASTAL RAIL TRAIL FUNDING
Funding Sources:
SANDAG Transportation Committee - 9/19/03:
At the September 19,2003 Transportation Committee meeting, SANDAG staff presented
an information item regarding a projected $309 million shortfall in project funding for
FY 2003/04. The agenda item identified potential strategies to transfer funds to a set of
“regionally important” projects. As noted in the agenda item, “Most of the shortfalls are
the result of the inability to access previously programmed Traffic Congestion Relief
Program (TCRP) or State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds.”. The
recommendation included the reallocation of $5.2 million dollars in TEA2 1 - CMAQ
funds from the Coastal Rail Trail (CRT) project to the I-5Nia de la Valle Auxiliary Lane
project.
SANDAG Transportation Committee - 10/17/03:
The October 17,2003 Transportation Committee meeting agenda includes an item
regarding the project budget deficits and potential strategies. The recommendation is as
follows:
1.
2.
3.
Approve a series of adjustments to the programming and scheduling of various
projects, that will reduce the FY 2003/04 $300.1 million shortfall to $108.3
million;
Make policy decisions that reduce the FY 2003104 shortfall an additional $82.1
million to $26.2 million; and
Make policy decisions on delaying projects up to $26.2 million.
The policy decision section of the staff recommendation includes a recommendation that
all of the TEA2 1 - CMAQ funding for the Coastal Rail Trail project remain with the trail
project “because of public commitments to bikeway project”. Approval of this
recommendation would preserve the funding needed to construct the phase one
section of the Coastal Rail Trail project in Carlsbad.
City of Carlsbad
Desalination Project - Public Improvement List
1 Dedication of beach to State of California
2 Expansion of Cannon Park (No net loss after all other improvements)
3 Bluff-top improvements west of power plant
4 Beach restroom
5 Parking improvement - Cannon Park - Agua Hedionda Lagoon area
6 Carlsbad Blvd widening in front of power plant (including median and
bus stop improvements)
7 Signalization of ped crossing at parking lots
8 Dedication and improvement of fishing area
9 Coastal Rail Trail - Cannon Road to Tamarack
10 Public trails on North Agua Hedionda area
11 Reservation of area near Hubbs Sea World for ocean related research
12 Screening of power plant
13 Palomar Airport Road / Carlsbad Blvd intersection improvements
14 Realignment of Carlsbad Blvd.