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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.