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Home My WebLink About2009-03-17; City Council; Minutes (2)MINUTES MEETING OF: CITY COUNCIL (Regular Meeting) DATE OF MEETING: March 17, 2009 TIME OF MEETING: 6:00 p.m. PLACE OF MEETING: City Council Chambers CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Lewis called the Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL was taken by the City Clerk, as follows: Present: Lewis, Kulchin, Hall, Packard and Blackburn. Absent: None. LEGISLATIVE INVOCATION: Father William Rowland of St. Patrick's Church offered the Legislative Invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council Member Packard led the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: On a motion by Mayor Pro Tern Kulchin, the minutes of the following meeting were approved as presented: Minutes of the Special Meeting held March 5, 2009. CONSENT CALENDAR: ACTION: On a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Kulchin, Council affirmed the action of the Consent Calendar, Items #1 and #2 as follows: AYES: Lewis, Kulchin, Hall, Packard and Blackburn. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. WAIVER OF ORDINANCE TEXT READING: Council waived the reading of the text of all Ordinances and Resolutions at this Meeting. 1. AB #19.745 - AUTHORIZE REFUND OF BUSINESS LICENSE TAX. Council adopted RESOLUTION NO. 2009-050. authorizing a refund of business license tax to UBS Financial Services, Inc. 2. AB #19.750 - DECLARATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY. Council adopted RESOLUTION NO. 2009-054. proclaiming a Declaration of a Local Emergency for repair of the sewer line at Carlsbad Boulevard and Pine Street. March 17, 2009 Carlsbad City Council Meeting Page 2 PRESENTATIONS: Mayor Pro Tern Kulchin presented Proclamations to the following Peer Award Recipients: • Helen Morones, Finance • Patty Crescenti, Housing and Redevelopment • James Wood, Environmental Services • Jennifer Jesser, Planning • Liz Ketabian, Parks and Recreation • Sheila Cobian, Records Management • Mick Calarco, Parks and Recreation ORDINANCE FOR ADOPTION: 3. AB #19.746 - LEGOLAND HOTEL CALIFORNIA. City Attorney Ron Ball titled the Ordinance. ACTION: On a motion by Mayor Pro Tern Kulchin, Council adopted ORDINANCE NO. CS-025. amending the Carlsbad Ranch Specific Plan (SP 207 (G)) to add hotel and accessory uses to Planning Area 4 and to revise the parking rate for Legoland and Gyms within the Carlsbad Ranch Specific Plan on property located north of Palomar Airport Road, east of Paseo Del Norte and west of the Crossings Drive. AYES: Lewis, Kulchin, Hall, Packard and Blackburn. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. PUBLIC COMMENT: Julie Baker, Carlsbad, came forward to address Council on behalf of the community group "Power of Vision". Ms. Baker expressed concerns relating to the power plant project proposed by NRG, Inc. Ms. Baker stated that an additional power plant located along the Carlsbad coast is not in the best interest of the citizens of Carlsbad. She explained that the California Energy Commission will be holding workshops once a final staff assessment is prepared at the end of April. In closing, Ms. Baker encouraged the Council and citizens of Carlsbad to participate in the upcoming workshops. Walt Meier, Carlsbad, came forward to address Council. Mr. Meier encouraged Council to consider purchasing the property for sale on Carlsbad Village Drive and Victoria Avenue known as Village H. He suggested that once the property is purchased that the City maintain the area as Open Space. Kerry Siekmann, Carlsbad, also spoke in opposition to the proposed power plant project by NRG, Inc. Ms. Siekmann encouraged the businesses of Carlsbad to become active in expressing their opposition to the power plant. In closing, she asked that the Council assist with involving businesses with the Power of Vision's position on the proposed power plant project. March 17, 2009 Carlsbad City Council Meeting Page 3 Hap L'Heureux, Carlsbad, came forward to address Council on behalf of New Village Arts Theater. Mr. L'Heureux expressed his appreciation for the Council's support and consideration over the years. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 4. AB #19.747 - CARLSBAD PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN. Senior Planner Marshall Plantz presented the staff report and reviewed a PowerPoint Presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk). In response to Council Member Packard, Mr. Plantz explained that the criteria for ranking the proposed pedestrian projects was based on a Pedestrian Needs Analysis and community input. Council Member Hall inquired if funding will be made available from CalTrans for pedestrian walkways through the widening of Interstate 5. Mr. Plantz explained that mitigation measures for pedestrian walkways may be included in the Interstate 5 widening plan; however, that he was not aware of any at this time. City Manager Lisa Hildabrand explained that when Interstate 5 is expanded, there will be an opportunity to take advantage of mitigation measures. Mayor Lewis expressed concerns relating to pedestrian safety on Valley and Highland Drive. He explained that the area does not have sidewalks and inquired if the City must obtain 51% neighborhood approval in order to construct the sidewalks. Mr. Plantz explained that a project is scheduled to be heard by the Council in the next couple weeks regarding the construction of sidewalks on Valley. Mayor Lewis opened the duly noticed Public Hearing at 6:45 p.m. Walt Meier, Carlsbad, encouraged the Council to include additional signage near the beach to inform residents and visitors of beach access points. Mario Monroy, Carlsbad, came forward to address Council. Mr. Monroy requested that the Council and staff look at providing pedestrian crossings over the railroad tracks at Chestnut Street and Beech Street. He explained he recently became aware that as part of the Federal Government stimulus plan the government is planning to construct a double track railroad through Carlsbad. In closing, he stated that undergrounding a pedestrian walkway will be too costly after construction of the double track. Dwayne Johnson, Carlsbad, came forward to address Council. Mr. Johnson spoke in support of additional lighting on Jefferson Street. He explained that the street is very dark in between street lights. Seeing no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Lewis closed the duly noticed Public Hearing at 6:48 p.m. March 17, 2009 Carlsbad City Council Meeting Page 4 Mr. Plantz explained that the lighting issue that was mentioned by Mr. Johnson would be considered a citywide improvement and that lighting was factored into the needs analysis reviewed by staff. In response to Mr. Monroy's comments about additional pedestrian railroad crossings, Mr. Plantz explained that the Pedestrian Master Plan did identify a crossing at Chestnut Avenue in the future. In response to Mr. Meir's suggestion regarding signage, Mr. Plantz explained that "way finding" signage is also included in the Pedestrian Master Plan. ACTION: On a motion by Mayor Pro Tern Kulchin, Council adopted RESOLUTION NO. 2009-051. adopting a Negative Declaration and approving the Carlsbad Pedestrian Master Plan, Case No. EA 07- 06, Project No. 4002. AYES: Lewis, Kulchin, Hall, Packard and Blackburn. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. 5. AB #19.748 - BJ'S RESTAURANT AND BREWHOUSE. City Manager Lisa Hildabrand explained to Council that staff is recommending this item be continued to the date of April 7, 2009 to allow for additional noticing. Mayor Lewis opened the duly noticed Public Hearing at 6:56 p.m. asking if anyone in the audience would like to speak on the item in the event they could not be present at the April 7, 2009 hearing. Seeing no one wishing to address Council, Mayor Lewis closed the Public Hearing at 6:56 p.m. Council concurred to continue the item to April 7, 2009. ADJOURNMENT TO THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT Mayor Lewis adjourned to the Special Meeting of the Carlsbad Municipal Water District at 6:56 p.m. with five Council Members present. RECONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING Mayor Lewis adjourned the Joint Special Meeting of the City Council and Housing and Redevelopment Commission and reconvened the City Council Meeting at 7:21 p.m. with five Council Members present. COUNCIL REPORTS AND COMMENTS: Mayor Lewis and Council Members reported on activities and meetings of some committees and sub-committees of which they are members. March 17, 2009 Carlsbad City Council Meeting Page 5 CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: None. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS: None. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Lorraine Wood, City Clerk, announced that Council Members have been invited to attend, and may be participating in the following event: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 - 11:00 a.m. Carlsbad City Council Study Session City of Carlsbad Faraday Center 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, California ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, the Regular Meeting of March 17, 2009 was adjourned at 7:24 p.m. LORRAINE M. WOOD, CMC City Clerk Shelia R. Cobian Deputy City Clerk