Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Planning Commission - 08/18/2008 1r/ 411l/ MINUTES SPECIAL PLANNING COMMIbers- SHall NIMEETING ryd yc.26272629 Council Monday,August 18,2008 7 5:30 P.M. ro Ni N 0 WI Qi/ COMMISSIONERS: STAFF: .; q\" Rudy Garza,Chairman Angel Escobar,Interim Ciq ager Atilano J.Huerta Bob Nix,AICP Assistant Cid Y/tMthfr }'�Y James Skrobarczyk Development Services John C.Tamez Johnny Perales,PE,Deputy Director of Johnny R.Martinez Development Services/Special Services Evon J.Kelly Faryce Goode-Macon,Assistant Director of Govind Nadkarni Development Services/Planning David Loeb Jay Reining,Assistant City Attorney Mark Adame Beverly Lang-Priestley,Recording Secretary Si usted quiere dirigirse ala comision y su inglds es limitado,habra un interprete de espa0ol a ingles en la junta pan ayudarle I. CALL TO ORDER A quorum was declared and the meeting was called to order at 5:31 p.m. by Chairman Garza. Chairman Garza stated that Commissioner Nadkarni will be assisting in the presentation off the 2008 Bond Proposal and will abstain from voting on the issue. Chairman Garza stated that Commissioner Huerta participated in the preparation of several of the bond items,and if discussions ensue concerning those particular items, Commissioner Euerta will abstain from participating in the discussion and from voting. H. 2008 BOND PROPOSAL PRESENTATION AND ADOPTION OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL Mr.Bob Nix,Development Services,stated that the Special Meeting was needed in order to accommodate getting the proposal to the County in time to meet their elections which were moved up. Mr.Angel Escobar,Interim City Manager,stated that the items listed on the last three pages of the previous packet given to the commissioners were mis-numbered,however,all the items are there and correct. Mr.Escobar stated the booklet handed out at this meeting is correct. Mr.Escobar stated there are seven different propositions being proposed and the fourth draft copy of the ordinance is being taken before City Council on August 19,2008,for final review. Mr. Escobar read the seven proposition titles and stated the total bond package is $153M. Mr. Escobar pointed out that on Proposition No. 1 —Streets,there are other elements listed on the table such as storm water,water,wastewater,and gas,and that only the street SCANNED 111110 V Special Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 2008 Bond Proposal Presentation August 18,2008 Page 2 portion of the table would be presented to the voters. The other elements are funded through the Utility Revenue Bonds that are utilized. Commissioner Loeb verified that this is a list of only the streets that are having a CIP component with them. Chairman Garza verified that them is$150M in street improvements that will go before the voters. Commissioner Loeb stated that the street committee put together by the city came back saying them is$IB in needs. In response to Commissioner Loeb,Mr.Escobar stated that figure applied to streets only and does not include utilities. According to Commissioner Loeb's calculations,$77M of$IB in four-year intervals would be finished in approximately 50 years. Mr.Escobar replied that previous Councils and this Council have said the city should take what its capacity is,in this case$153M,without having to raise the tax rate to cover the indebtedness. Mr.Escobar stated it depends on future economies and evaluations and other factors over the years. Chairman Garza stated that one of the things that has been talked about is future development looking at concrete streets as opposed to asphalt so that the need for replacement isn't as frequent. Chairman Garza stated that since the price of asphalt has increased the feasibility of constructing concrete streets has increased. Chairman Garza stated another thing to help offset expenses is the encouragement of smart growth principles,making it more difficult to extend city infrastructure in outlying areas,thereby, lessening the burden of continuing to spread out and having to maintain those street systems. Chairman Garza stated that things such as these are examples that,over time,might give more resources to correcting some of the problems. In response to Commissioner Huerta,Mr.Skip Noe,City Manager,stated that a penny of ad valorem tax rate generates about$1M in tax revenue that will translate into$1IM or $12M in bonding capacity. Mr.Noe stated the reason the city's capacity is so high at this point is that the bonds that were issued in 1986 are being paid off,so the tax levy that was set aside for that is actually falling off and can be replaced with new tax levy,which is what the city is trying to do. In response to Commissioner Skrobarczyk,Mr.Noe stated that in preparing the priority of items,the Engineering staff worked on a combination of arterial collector industrial streets. Mr.Noe stated that by concentrating on streets used by most citizens all the time, it could radically change the view of how our streets operate. Mr.Noe also stated that portions of key projects are another priority,such as Staples Street, i.e.,filling in from projects of the past. V `I Special Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 2008 Bond Proposal Presentation August 18,2008 Page 3 Commissioner Tamez stated that material costs have increased dramatically and questioned if any safeguards have been built in to protect against increased material costs. Mr. Escobar replied that included in the cost estimates are some inflation costs and looking at what has been projected of what the cost of this would be through the mid-temt of the actual construction itself. In response to Chairman Garza's concern for lack of adequate levels of engineer staffing,Mr.Escobar stated additional staff engineers have been hired,and contract engineers are still under contract,and the city will be hiring consulting engineering firms to do the actual design and in some cases the construction management. Mr.Escobar stated that although the city is short of staff engineers,it does have over 13 vacancies that will be filled. Mr.Escobar stated that out of 115 projects,there are over 69 already complete; another 22 or so,are under construction,and 23 in the process of going to bid. Of those,five are pending Texas Department of Transportation(TXDot)approval;several are under the job order contracting,which can be completed in the next 60 days. Laguna Shores still needs to be bid,and we are waiting on the Corps of Engineer permitting. The wind sports project needs to be started for Cole Park;the North Port Avenue project needs to be started which is expected to go to bid in November. Mr. Escobar stated that TXDot has informed him that the TXDot portion,which is 80%,might not become available until January or February;and the Bayfront project would be awarded August 19,2008. Mr.Escobar stated that past practice has been that the City Council wants everything either complete or under construction within the four years. Mr.Noe stated that completion or under construction within the four years has been past practice,whether that can be accomplished as sizes get bigger becomes a challenge. It was done comfortably with the 2000 Issue which was only$30M,but with the$90M we are stretching a little bit,and it remains to be seen how close we get with the$150M. Mr.Noe stated there are two projects that will not be under contract,which is the Park Road 22 Bridge project,and a TXDot related project;the Beautification of Park Road 22. Commissioner Huerta expressed his concern that the Bond Proposal was broken down into so many pieces that the voting public may not approve them all. Mr.Noe stated that staffs roll is to provide information to the public as to what they are being asked to consider and cannot get involved in advocating any of the propositions. Mr.Noe stated that from a legal standpoint,the city cannot lump dis-similiar projects together,for example,a park project and a street project,and further stated that the Council has always been of the opinion that it is better to give the public as many choices as is possible because past criticism has • been that too many projects were combined leaving the public with fewer choices. Mr.Noe stated the only thing that got broken out in this proposal is the Bayfront project,which is Jar Special Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 2008 Bond Proposal Presentation August 18,2008 Page 4 actually a street/park project. The reason for that is that Council has always wanted a separate vote for the Bayfront due to its high profile and potential for controversy. Mr.Noe stated that a pamphlet will be provided for the public which states what the ballot items are. In response to Commissioner Loeb,Mr.Escobar stated that Phase I of the Bayfront Master Plan has been designed and has been bid. The bids have been evaluated and a recommendation for an award to a contractor for that phase will be made at the City Council meeting of August 19,2008. Mr.Escobar stated the delay was due to extended public participation involving what would be in the park,and the decision to not conflict with Buccaneer Days. Mr.Noe stated the City has taken an approach to not diminish the program promised to the public;therefore,steps have been taken to find the money to make sure what was promised can be delivered,rather than cut back on the promises. In response to Commissioner Tamez,Mr.Noe stated that Proposition No.2- Fire Department,involves Fire Station#5 which is located at Leopard Street and Navigation and is one of the older fire stations. Mr.Noe stated the fire station will not hold all the modern apparatus used today. Mr.Noe stated the City has an active program with Miller High School involving a fire/science type program at the high school level in cooperation with Del Mar College. The proposal is to re-build the fire station on the Miller campus at the site of the old athletics building, integrating with the Miller High School program. Mr. Escobar stated the same information presented to the Planning Commission will be provided to City Council on August 19,2008. Commissioner Huerta questioned whether a comprehensive plan can be budgeted in a CIP. Mr.Escobar stated the funding could come from various places,such as an operating budget,but typically it does not show up in the CIP. Commissioner Loeb stated studies for staff cannot be bonded,however,engineering staff overhead could be included on bond items,but probably nothing else could be included. Commissioner Loeb stated in reviewing the Planning Commission By-Laws,there is a vision as to what the Planning Commission is supposed to be doing with staff and that is not being achieved. Commissioner Loeb stated the community needs a"planning"department, but it has a"zoning"department. Commissioner Loeb suggested formulating a plan as to how to go forward and really do the planning and communication with the public far enough in advance so that the public knows that actual planning has gone into bond proposals. Commissioner Skrobarczyk stated that the comprehensive plan is supposed to be reviewed every five years,however,they seem to be twenty years old or more. Commissioner Skrobarczyk questioned whether there is a system in place that has been overlooked or put on hold. Commissioner Skrobarczyk stated that as a Planning Commissioner there are times they Special Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 2008 Bond Proposal Presentation August 18,2008 Page 5 want to move forward with a project but are told they cannot because it is not in the comprehensive plan,and the plan is severely outdated in many cases. Commissioner Skrobarczyk questioned where the comprehensive plan review and its potential changes come from. In response,Mr.Noe stated that the idea that the comprehensive plans needs to be focused on is something to be taken into consideration,and the City is behind in all of its planning, including utility planning. In response to Commissioner Skrobarczyk,Mr.Nix stated that minor modifications to the comprehensive plan could be done without major studies if they are,indeed,minor modifications,which leaves the question,"What is minor?". Mr.Nix stated that a minor modification is done each time a zoning ordinance is adopted. Mr.Nix agreed that at some point the underlying assumptions that were made when the comprehensive plan was adopted need to be reviewed,and input from the public needs to be solicited. Mr.Nix stated,however,that there is still a lot of work to be done to put the entire picture together,and the storm water management is an important component. Mr.Nix stated he discusses methodology with staff and continues purchasing books and educating staff. Mr.Nix stated different approaches are being reviewed in relation to making small area amendments and systematizing that so that appropriate supporting analysis is done. Mr.Nix stated the overall population projections of the city are being looked at,and the underlying assumptions in all planning population projections and economic projections are actually policy decisions. Mr.Nix stated these issues are being looked at and,at some point,the results will be opened up for discussion,but it is too early at this time. In response to Commissioner Skrobarczyk,Mr.Nix stated that when the Planning Commission identifies an area they think needs change, it is part of their role to communicate that information to Development Services and to address it in their annual report to City Council. Motion to recommend the Bond Proposal to City Council was made by Commissioner Buena and seconded by Commissioner Tamez. Commissioner Loeb proposed amending the motion to approve,but to add that if there are street improvement needs that the Council sees fit to add to the Proposal which would go over the$153M base,they should do so. Commissioner Huerta amended the motion to approve staff proposal for$153M for the 2008 Bond Proposal Election,and to convey support to City Council for any increase necessary in order to address the street improvement needs of the community. Special Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 2008 Bond Proposal Presentation August 18,2008 Page 6 Mr.Escobar stated that what the Planning Commission is forwarding to the City Council at this time is a draft and that the final copy will be provided to the Commissioners. Commissioner Tamez stated that if City Council should add a substantial amount to the proposal it should come back to the Planning Commissioner for review and withdrew his second to the motion. Commissioner Skrobarczyk agreed with Commissioner Tamez's preference to review any substantial changes by City Council to the Bond Package. Commissioner Loeb seconded the amended motion. Commissioner Loeb then stated that if the amendment to the motion is prompting any commissioner to vote against the motion for approval,then he would withdraw that amendment,and pointed out that he simply believes it is important to document for the record that there is concern as to how long it may take to finish up. Commissioner Huerta re-amended the motion to accept staffs recommendation of the Bond Package as presented. Commissioner Tamez seconded that motion. Motion passed unanimously with Commissioner Nadkarni abstaining. III. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Loeb and seconded by Commissioner Martinez. Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. . A t ' ' - i .._4 • , ' aryce Goo M: .n B- erly Lang-'ria Assistant D r-ctor of Recording Secret: (/ Development Services/Planning H\PLN-DIR\SHARED\WORD\PLANNING COMMISSION\MINUTES\2008W8-18-08MINUTES SPECIAL PC MEETING- C]P.DOC