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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-12; Growth Management Citizens Committee; Minutes Minutes October 12, 2022 CALL TO ORDER: 5 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Primary – Jeff Segall, Scott White, Eric Larson, Stephen “Hap” L’Heureux, Mike Howes, Mary Ryan, Frank Caraglio, Frances Schnall, Harry Peacock, Annika Jimenez, Gita Nassiri, Fred Briggs, William Sheffler, Joe Stine, Patricia Mehan, Steve Linke Alternate – Ron Withall, Patrick Goyarts, Casey Carstairs, Don Christiansen, Terence Green, Erin Nell, Nora Jimenez George, Lisa Stark, Jamie Jacobs, Allen Manzano, Jan Neff-Sinclair, Art Larson, William Fowler Absent: Primary – Chad Majer, John Nguyen-Cleary, Amy Allemann Alternate – Thierry Ibri, Matthew Reese, Angela O’Hara, Marissa Steketee, Kevin Sabellico APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by William Sheffler, seconded by Allen Manzano, to approve the Sept. 12, 2022 minutes as amended. Jeff Segall abstained from the vote as he wasn’t present at the meeting. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Three public comments were received. 1. Land Use and Zoning – Diane Lech – is concerned SB9 has eliminated single family home zoning throughout the state. Ms. Lech asks the committee to support the Our Neighborhood Voices initiative. The initiative doesn’t take away SB9, but it puts decisions regarding land use and zoning back into the hands of local government and the people they represent, rather than having the state mandate a one size fits all plan. 2. Cellular Service and Wi-Fi Access – Jim Niswander states the quality of life and growth management subject of concern for him is cellular service and wi-fi access. Mr. Niswander states that we live in a world where mobile communications and internet access are critical to our lives, and that while we are dependent on service provided by vendors, there should be ability to measure whether their service meets a minimum acceptable standard. Mr. Niswander wants Carlsbad to receive the benefits of emergency applications that depend on cellular and wi-fi service, and states that establishing a minimum level service of cellular service and wi-fi access will maintain quality of life in Carlsbad for all residents. 3. Parks – Lance Schulte is concerned about children playing in residential streets and the railroad right of way. Mr. Schulte stated he has run a cost benefits analysis of the benefits of constructing a park at Ponto and the cost savings to taxpayers of a park at Ponto versus the other city options. He believes 10s of millions of dollars can be saved by buying property for a park at Ponto. He states that if the committee cares about “Carlsbad Tomorrow”, Carlsbad’s children who are the “tomorrow”, the park issues at Ponto have to be addressed. Carlsbad -v-~ TOMORR W Growth Management Citizens Committee Carlsbad Tomorrow Growth Management Citizens Committee October 12, 2022 Page 2 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS: Meeting opened with a welcome to attendees from Committee Chair Eric Larson. City Planner Eric Lardy then briefly reviewed the committee’s purpose and charter, the 11 existing performance standards, and the step-by-step process for the overall Growth Management Plan update. Facilitator Susan Harden reviewed the meeting agenda. Eric Lardy discussed that the meeting at hand will review topics outside of the 11 existing performance standards, many of which were placed on the “Bike Rack” or otherwise brought up during the course of previous discussions. The committee will decide what action to take with each of the topics, such as removing it from consideration as a standard, bringing it back for additional discussion around becoming a new standard or addressing it in a separate quality –of life memo to the City Council. COMMITTEE BUSINESS: • Walkability. Discussion took place about what constitutes “walkability” and the definition of walkability. It was noted that topography plays a part in the walkability of a community. Some members questioned whether the existing circulation standard does enough to promote walkability given its importance in the city’s community vision while others felt it was adequate. The committee also discussed the city’s existing plans that incorporate mobility and if they’re actionable or being implemented. o Action: By consensus, the committee moved to bring the topic of walkability back to the committee when the existing circulation performance standard is discussed further, with additional detail and a definition of walkability requested. • Arts and culture. It was noted that other cities have a measurable standard and or public/ private funding stream for arts and culture. o Action: By consensus, the committee moved to further consider arts and culture as a future performance standard at a future meeting. • Physical health. The committee discussed how the city doesn’t have direct oversight on citizens’ physical health, outside of programming and services offered by Parks & Recreation. o Action: By consensus, the committee moved to remove physical health from performance standard consideration. • Behavioral health. The committee discussed how behavioral health, mental health and homelessness are intertwined. Should discuss further in relation to homelessness. Concern was expressed about the aging population of Carlsbad and if the facilities currently in place can handle the growth of that demographic. Additional discussion was had surrounding population projections given the new zoning laws and how census data may no longer be an accurate predictor. o Action: By consensus, the committee moved to remove behavioral health and mental health from performance standard consideration but consider how both affect other potential performance standards. • Public Safety. It was noted that the request to discuss “public safety” was not related to the existing fire standard, rather it was a question of police response time and the Police Department not being part of any existing performance standard. Both Police and Fire staff are first responders and if one has a performance standard, perhaps both should. It was noted that the Police Chief had not presented to the committee but would be willing to make a presentation on staffing and budgeting. The committee questioned how eliminating the fire performance standard and/or a public safety standard would affect the ability to secure funding necessary to expand the departments as needed in the future. Carlsbad Tomorrow Growth Management Citizens Committee October 12, 2022 Page 3 o Action: By consensus, the committee moved to further consider public safety as a performance standard at a future meeting. • Homelessness. The committee discussed the growing numbers of individuals experiencing homelessness, whether developers could pay a fee for homeless response services, and to what extent, , the city has control over the homeless population. It was noted that the city does have developer fees for affordable housing and a homeless response team and plan in place. There was discussion about how to quantify the issue into a performance standard. o Action: By consensus, the committee moved to remove homelessness from performance standard consideration, but to consider including it as part of a quality-of- life memo for City Council’s review. • Senior Center operations. The committee discussed how the topic came to be on the list. o Action: By consensus, the committee moved to remove Senior Center operations from performance standard consideration. • Seniors/aging community. It was noted this topic was brought forth for the committee to keep in mind that Carlsbad has an aging population when considering future performance standards. Some noted cities go through cycles and the committee may not want to assume the city will have a significantly larger senior population come 2050. The committee also discussed how there are programs already in place for seniors and whether they’re sufficient may not be something under the Growth Management Committee’s purview. There was also discussion around existing plans, the Age Friendly Action Plan as an example, the redundancies that exist between many of the plans and how they interact with the Growth Management plan. It was noted that if a topic is moved to the quality-of-life memo, the recommendations, and how detailed they will be, is a discussion at another meeting. o Action: By consensus, the committee moved to remove seniors/aging population from performance standard consideration, but to consider including it as part of a quality-of- life memo for City Council’s review. • Energy/power (local electric power generation; renewable energy; reservoir solar panels). The committee discussed merging the three topics into one “energy” topic. Some expressed energy should be a performance standard as there are many aspects that are measurable and can be tied to development. Discussion took place around whether energy is controlled by the state or city. Staff noted that this topic is ever evolving, and the committee could receive a presentation from the Climate Action Plan experts. Many energy requirements are state mandated. The building code is being updated, effective Jan. 1, 2023. After the presentation, the committee can decide if aspects need to be included in the Growth Management Plan or if they are adequately addressed elsewhere. Staff noted the City Council approved a 5-Year Strategic Plan that included moving forward with solar panel construction at Maerkle Reservoir construction. o Action: By consensus, the committee moved to further consider energy as a performance standard after receiving additional information from staff at a future meeting. • Water (sources/supply; desalination; water quality; stormwater; recycled). The committee discussed how the five water topics in front of the committee tie into the existing water distribution system performance standard. o Action: By consensus, the committee moved to discuss all water-related topics under the existing water performance standard at a future meeting. Carlsbad Tomorrow Growth Management Citizens Committee October 12, 2022 Page 4 • Environmental sustainability: climate change. It was noted that the committee has requested, under the energy topic, a presentation from city staff on the Climate Action Plan. It was requested that the Climate Action Plan presentation address transportation and its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, including Transportation Demand Management plans to reduce vehicle miles traveled. o Action: By consensus, the committee moved to further discuss environmental sustainability, as it pertains to climate change, at a future meeting with a staff presentation on the city’s the Climate Action Plan (see energy topic). • Environmental sustainability: sea level rise. Staff commented that sea level rise is addressed by the city’s Local Coastal Program. In October 2021 the City Council approved an amendment to the program that included a sea level rise vulnerability assessment to identify areas that could be impacted by sea level rise. The assessment is being reviewed by the Coastal Commission. If the plan is adopted by the Coastal Commission and the City Council, it includes additional adaptation work related to sea level rise impacts. From the staff’s perspective, that plan and evaluation is well covered. Some committee members expressed about land lost in South Ponto Beach from sea level rise. Staff noted that the vulnerability assessment identified bluff erosion, not lost acreage in South Ponto. Concerns were also expressed about the loss of beaches occurring now and that this problem needs to be addressed in the short term, rather than the long term. Discussion took place about whether other committees/commissions are adequately addressing this topic and whether it meets performance standard criteria. The Beach Replenishment Plan was brought up and there was a request for more information on that plan. o Action: Motion by Joe Stine, seconded by Jeff Segall, to remove sea level rise from performance standard consideration, believing the topic is adequately addressed by the City of Carlsbad and other agencies, passes by a vote of 15 in favor and 2 opposed. • Technology: cell service/Wi-Fi access. A committee member proposed the City Council encourage cell service vendors to provide more ubiquitous coverage. It was noted that Wi-Fi calling would alleviate some of the cell service coverage issues. The Wi-Fi topic was referring to providing free Wi-Fi access in various parts of the city. It was noted that the FCC has control over cell service, not the carriers. It was suggested that David Graham (Chief Innovation Officer, City of Carlsbad) come present to the committee with more information on Wi-Fi in the city. o Action: By consensus, the committee moved to remove cell service and Wi-Fi access from performance standard consideration, but to consider including it as part of a quality-of-life memo for City Council’s review after an informational presentation from city staff. • Technology. Discussion on what’s included under the broad topic of “technology”. Laying fiber optic cable, undergrounding utility lines mentioned. Question on if David Graham could address these topics in his presentation. Technology should allow us to do more with less. o Action: By consensus, the committee moved to remove technology from performance standard consideration, but to consider including it as part of a quality-of-life memo for City Council’s review after an informational presentation from David Graham. • Village development. Discussion took place about the parking situation in the Village, and how there are existing specific plans addressing development in the area. It was noted that parking should be addressed in the Village & Barrio Master Plan. Some expressed concern over height limits in the Village and Barrio neighborhoods. It was noted that there’s a citizens’ committee working to develop design standards for the Village and Barrio, therefore the topic is redundant for the Growth Management Committee to be considering. Discussion on existing the Village Barrio Parking Management Plan. Double tracking and lowering the tracks discussed. Staff noted it’s a funding issue as the city doesn’t own and operate the tracks, SANDAG and NCTD (North Carlsbad Tomorrow Growth Management Citizens Committee October 12, 2022 Page 5 County Transit District) are owners. It’s a priority for the City Council and they are working with those agencies on how they plan to move forward. Specific to parking, discussion on the state mandating seven-stories in the Village with no parking requirements based on the proximity to the transit center and how the city can’t control that. Additional discussion centered on there being plenty of parking in the Village within walking distance, which goes back to the walkability discussion. o Action: By consensus, the committee moved to remove village development from performance standard consideration. • Update Proposition H and C. The committee discussed that the Proposition H requirement for voters to approve any capital improvement projects that cost more than $1 million may need to be increased especially when it hasn’t been adjusted for inflation and developer fees are minimal at this time. There is a need to revisit the Proposition H limit and add some language similar to Proposition C that specifies certain types of projects don’t require voter approval. It was noted that changing the existing legislation would mean putting a new proposition on the ballot for voter approval. o Action: By consensus, the committee moved to add Proposition H and C to consideration for a quality-of-life memo for City Council’s review. • Public request for a park at Ponto. Some did not think the committee should make recommendations on specific projects, i.e., a park at Ponto, noting that the committee’s charge is citywide and making such recommendations would be outside of the committee’s charter. A potential 10-minute walkability standard was discussed, and some noted that the specific Ponto Park discussion did not preclude discussing a 10-minute walk standard under the existing park performance standard. Further comments were shared about making general park recommendations that could address the Ponto situation, as well as any other park deficiencies that exist or could exist with future growth. There were some concerns that the Ponto area will be developed and “lost” to the community if it isn’t preserved through the open space performance standard, or a park constructed. It was noted that the City Council has voted on the topic and the Growth Management Committee does not have the authority to override City Council decisions. The committee further discussed how changes to the existing park and open space performance standards could result in a park in the Ponto area being required. One member commented that a park at Ponto would be an asset for all of Carlsbad and therefore should be considered under the Growth Management Plan. o Action: By consensus, the committee moved to not name Ponto Park as a specific city facility in the Growth Management Plan, but the committee will discuss the lack of parks in the Ponto quadrant when making recommendations for modifications within the existing park performance standard. DISCUSSION ITEMS: • City Planner Eric Lardy noted the City Council approved a 5-Year Strategic Plan on Oct. 11, 2022, which touches on many of the issues the committee has been discussing. A link to the plan will be distributed to the committee. • Committee meeting schedule and topics. The committee was provided an example and explanation of the one-page summary handouts being created for the 11 existing performance standards that will be discussed starting at the Nov. 30 meeting. Requested additions to the documents included: o Staff recommendation on the standard to use as a discussion starting point. o Related plans and studies to the standard. o How the city could create a nexus for the standard to development. Carlsbad Tomorrow Growth Management Citizens Committee October 12, 2022 Page 6 COMMITTEE MEMBER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: • Committee members requested tourist loading data and a report on Transit Occupancy Tax dollars. PUBLIC COMMENT: None ADJOURNMENT: Chair Eric Larson adjourned the duly noticed meeting at 7:46 p.m. Eric Lardy – Minutes Clerk