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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-20-1994 Special Joint CC/RDA MINUTES SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE 130 SOUTH MAIN STREET LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1994 -- ................................................................. CALL TO ORDER Mayor/Boardmember Washburn called the Special Joint City Council/ Redevelopment Agency Meeting to order at 8:36 a.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS/BOARDMEMBERS: ALONGI, BENDER, PAPE, WASHBURN ABSENT: COUNCI LMEMBERS /BOARDMEMBERS: VACANT Also present were: city Manager/Executive Director Molendyk, Assistant City Manager/Assistant Executive Director Rogers, Administrative Services Director Boone, City Planner Leslie, Contract Planner Kimble, Manager of special projects Watenpaugh, Public Services Director Tecca, Planning Commission Chairman Brinley, Planning Commissioner Metze, Planning Commissioner Bullard, Planning Commissioner Neff and City Clerk/Clerk of the Board Kasad. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE -- The Pledge of Allegiance was led by City Manager/Executive Director Molendyk. DISCUSSION ITEM 1. Oak Grove Eauities - Elsinore citv Center. (F:150.2) city Manager/Executive Director Molendyk explained that on september 15 Thursday there was a special Council Meeting with Elsinore City Center/Oak Grove Equities, ana it was concluded that most of the requirements could be met to allow Wal-Mart to open. He stated that Interim Chief Building Official Russell indicated that the Building Department is ready to release the project and the Fire Department has given authorization to accept the project, however there have been no bond or letter of guarantee regarding the landscaping which was discussed in the previous meeting. ci ty Manager / Executi ve Director Molendyk advised that Public Services Director Tecca has some information in regard to the project as well. -- City Planner Leslie stated 'chat the items his department has been watching most closely are the landscaping items. He explained that a significant amount of the landscaping has been completed since last Thursday. He noted that some of the planters that had trees and some shrubs now have ground cover and/or turf along with the trees and shrubs. The planters that had only trees now have shrubs. ci ty Planner Leslie stated that the large rear slope has not been started yeti however in previous discussion it was noted that they were going to concentrate landscape efforts on Grape Street and the parking lot. He noted that some of their concerns were the section where the parking lot was torn up and that has been PAGE TWO - SPECIAL JOINT MEETING - SEPTEMBER 20, 1994 repaired. He explained that there is still some debris around, as well as landscaping material and equipment stored on the site, but he noted that there has been substantial clean-up on the site. City Planner Leslie stated that they did receive a faithful performance bond and the landscaping is on a separate bond. Mayor/Boardmember Washburn asked if the project has received approval from the Health Department since there will be a _ restaurant in the Wal-Mart store. City Planner Leslie explained that the Building Department feels that the store can open, but until they receive approval from the Health Department they will not be able to serve food. Interim Chief Building Official Russell explained that the restaurant is a tenant improvement, an auxiliary occupancy with the Wal-Mart store itself. He stated that they are trying to get it ready to open in conjunction with the store, but if they don't the Building Department won't hold it up because the restaurant is a separate permit. Public Services Director Tecca stated that with regard to the infrastructure improvements there are a lot of little things that still need to be completed as follow: 1. Man-holes have been raised to grade, but the cap work is not acceptable. 2. sidewalks and pedestrian ramps at Grape and Railroad Canyon are complete, but there are problems wi th the grade so removal and repour is required. The traffic signals are complete, but there is one overhead illuminated sign that they are working on today and one pedestrian head bracket was broken and must be replaced. Items 4 through 7 are not complete, but can be postponed. 3. - 8. The street paving is complete, but requires some minor corrections. 9. This item is complete. 10. All the markings are in place. 11. Dirt and construction debris must be complete since there is a lot of clean-up to be done both on the Unocal property and near Kentucky Fried Chicken. The reinstallation of post adjacent to Kentucky Fried Chicken must be completed. 12. Clean plugged storm drain system under Railroad Canyon Road dumping into San Jacinto Channel. 13. Complete the P.C.C. brow ditch construction which was caused by a construction change behind Wal-Mart. ...." 14. Install street lights along both sides of Grape Street. The lights that are in are not to correct grade and not powered. 15. Replace damaged existing M-7 guard rail along Grape PAGE THREE - SPECIAL JOINT MEETING - SEPTEMBER 20, 1994 street, now it is complete, but backing blocks in portions are missing. - 16. complete. 17. complete. 18. This morning a check was received for the Railroad Canyon Road benefit reimbursement fees. 19. The slope grading and clean up along Grape street at Cal- Trans right of way is 95% complete. 20. The street signage shown on plans is not complete and need a lot of corrections. 21. The grading on the southwest corner of Grape street is 95% finished. 22. The reinstall 8" X 8" protection posts along the frontage of the lot adjacent to K.F.C. has not been installed. 23. The patching of Summerhill Bridge from damage caused by steel plate placement has not been done, however it is minor. 24. The removal of dirt piles and the cleaning of existing brow ditches along Railroad Canyon Road is 50% finished. - 25. Planning has waived the installation of sidewalk along street access to the Wal-Mart building, off Grape Street. Public Services Director Tecca stated that the most significant problem is the safety signage. Mayor/Boardmember Washburn asked how long it would take to install those signs. Public Services Director Tecca stated that if they have the right signs it is only a matter of hours to install. Bob Erickson of Mercer Construction stated that one sign was installed last night and the other two will be installed today. Mayor/Boardmember Washburn stated that the items listed are small and asked if there were any items that would constitute a safety problem. Public Services Director Tecca stated that the traffic signs and the man hole patching are the two major safety items. City Planner Leslie stated that in some areas all the landscaping has been installed. He explained that there is no area which has been approved since there are several areas that must be addressed, but the basic installation has been completed. - councilman/Boardmember Alongi asked about the sidewalks. city Planner Leslie explained the sidewalks on the entrances and explained why Planning waived the one sidewalk. Mayor /Boardmember Washburn asked what the grade is on the first entrance to Wal-Mart is. Public Services Director Tecca stated that it is a 6% to 8% grade. councilman/Boardmember Alongi stated his concern regarding the PAGE FOUR - SPECIAL JOINT MEETING - SEPTEMBER 20, 1994 off-site improvements. He explained that if the City allows them to open, and something does not get done then the City is at risk of liability. He stated that as long as there was street work to be done, then he would advise against the opening. He explained that he is not as concerned with the on-site items, but rather the street repairs that are necessary. Councilman/Boardmember Alongi expressed concern regarding the street lighting and lack of sidewalk. He noted that the Outlet Center is a big project and they have never __ come before Council for revisions. He stated that the work left to be done is minor, but it still needs to be done. He explained that as long as they have bonding there is no problem with the on-site such as the landscaping, but the problems in the street are a problem. Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chairman Bender concurred with Councilman/Boardmember Alongi in regard to the street problems. John Elliot with Gatlin Development Company stated that the street repairs are complete and the traffic signs should be delivered today and installed. He explained that the street lights can be raised by adjusting the bolts and there are only one or two that will need to have the trucks come out to reset. He noted that it was agreed that the 8" x 8" posts would be deferred until he could receive them from the manufacturing company. Mayor/Boardmember Washburn clarified that the post were the one by K.F.C. Mr. Elliot questioned the sidewalks. Public Services Director Tecca stated that it was a minor change to the curb returns and agreed to provide the information to Mr. Elliot to make the corrections. Councilman/Chairman Pape asked when the street lights would have power. Mr. Elliot stated that there is power to the __ street lights and as soon as they are reset they will be in operation. Councilman Pape asked if all the street lights would be in operation by the opening. Mr. Elliot stated that they would. Mayor/Boardmember Washburn stated that he felt there were no major issues and this should have been done administratively through staff. He stated that if all the items are being corrected, then he sees no reason for the project not to open. City Manager/Executive Director Molendyk clarified that there were conditions required by the Planning Commission and the Council and if they had been met, there would not have been a necessity for the meeting last Thursday. He explained that the reason he call the meeting then, was to eliminate any last minute political bind that staff is occasionally put into by elected officials and the development community. City Manager Molendyk explained that he agreed that most of the things should have been handled administratively, but when you have a developer telling your staff that "this isn't going to be done and that isn't going to be done", and a Planning Commission and a Council directing him to do the items, it was necessary to hold the meeting. He stated that he hopes that these type of meeting will not happen in the future. He stated that this type of meeting will not be necessary if the developer follows the Conditions of Approval put down by the Planning commission and the Council. Mayor /Boardmember Washburn stated that he gives credit to this -- PAGE FIVE - SPECIAL JOINT MEETING - SEPTEMBER 20, 1994 - developer since he is working with staff. He explained that he has se~n developers do all types of things and go behind staff and say "there you go city I've done it anyway". city Manager/Executive Director Molendyk explained that the last meeting was divided into two parts. The first was what had to be done to open up Wal-Mart; and the second part of the meeting was to be sure that the city had a complete understanding of what had to be done with the developer. Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chairman Bender stated that the developer has come a long way, but there is still a lot of work to be done, even if it is small projects. He explained that there are several minor projects which use cones and workers with vehicle traffic for the store and the finish and clean-up work is harder to accomplish. councilman/Boardmember Alongi requested confirmation that items 4 through 7 have not been done. Public Services Director Tecca explained that these items can be accomplished after the Wal Mart opens and can be done later. Councilman/ Boardmember Alongi asked if the Soils Report was for the street as well as the site. Public Services Director Tecca explained that the Soils Reports were for on-site only and did not have anything to do with the streets. councilman/Chairman Pape stated that he feels that the information is in conflict. He stated that the contractor states that the man-holes are done and staff tells us they are not, the street lights are not done and the developer tells us they are. He asked when the punch list was done. Public Services Director Tecca stated that it was updated at 5:00 p.m. on the 19th, which was yesterday by the Chief Inspector. Councilman Pape asked the contractor if some of the items were done between 5:00 p.m. and dark yesterday. Mr. Elliot stated that they were. - Mr. Elliot addressed the items on the punch list as follows: 1. The storm drain repair was done early evening of the 19th. 2. The sidewalk was done except for the minor corrections that the city pointed out. 3. This has been complete. 4 . These cannot be completed until after the opening to include the changes that the City has asked for. 5. The testing has been done throughout the entire process. He stated that it is the final report that has not been completed yet. 6. This item was deferred and will be done within the next two weeks. 7. This item is in process and will be provided within the next two weeks. 8. Complete. 9. Complete. PAGE SIX - SPECIAL JOINT MEETING - SEPTEMBER 20, 1994 10. The areas that were shown on the plan are in thermopl~stic, and the areas that were not designated, were str1pped. 11. The debris has been removed but the guard rail must still be replaced. Public Services Director Tecca stated that not all the dirt and debris has been removed and should be addressed. Mr. Elliot stated that would be done today. - 12. This is being addressed today and should be done by the end of today. 13. The brow ditch is complete, except for the changes made along the Von's side which will be addressed later. 14. Street lights have power and are in place and will be in operation after the necessary adjustments. 15. This will be completed today. 16. Complete. 17. Complete. 18. Complete. 19. 95% complete. 20. The signs have been changed and should be delivered today and as soon as they have been delivered, they will be installed. -- 21. 95% complete. 22. Deferred until after the opening. 23. This is a small amount of damage caused when the steel plates were removed and will be patched today. 24. This item will be completed today. 25. This item w~s waived. Bob Erickson, Mercer Construction, stated that all of the items on the list have been worked on and are being worked on and corrected. He explained that as of yesterday, he felt that most of the items have been addressed and resolved. He noted that if there are any further corrections to be made. they will be taken care of today. city Planner Leslie explained that although landscaping is not a safety item, there is a substantial area which needs landscaping. He pointed out the rear slope has not been done at all. He stated that if the City allows the opening, then the City should get some type of commitment from the developer that this landscaping will be completed per the plans. Councilman/Chairman Pape asked if the city had received a bond for the landscaping. ci ty Planner Leslie stated that the bond is in the possession of the city. ....., Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chairman Bender stated that there was no PAGE SEVEN - SPECIAL JOINT MEETING - SEPTEMBER 20, 1994 - conflict in regard to the need to address the items which appeared on the list and the only problem was the time in which to accomplish all the tasks. councilman Alongi stated that if Wal-Mart's opening was going to be on the 27th, then he was sure that all of the items would be complete, but with a soft opening one week previous there is a problem with time to accomplish all the tasks. He stated that the city does not let other projects open before completion. Mayor/Boardmember Washburn asked how many days it would take to get all the items done. Public Services Director Tecca stated that it would take approximately the next day to complete the list. Mayor Washburn stated that he would like to see the approval of the opening to Planning, Engineering and Building and if they see that all the items are done, then they receive approval and if it is not done then staff should tell them "no". city Planner Leslie stated there is no way that they can get the items done regarding landscaping for the next 60 to 90 days, but the city is bonded for the completion. Mayor/Boardmember Washburn asked if Area II is done. Mr. Elliot stated that the majority of material has been planted and the rest is on order and will be done when it is received. Mayor Washburn asked if the irrigation system is in and operational for that area. Mr. Elliot stated that it is. city Manager/Executive Director Molendyk stated that if the areas were planted and correctly bonded then it would be acceptable. He stated that Roger Kobata will be checking the project and the irrigation system to be sure it is properly functioning. councilman/chairman Pape stated that in area 8 it stated that the building pad in front of Wal-Mart still remains a dirt lot and will be used to store landscaping material. until the project is complete. He asked if the fencing i~ up around that area. Mr. Elliot stated that the fencing is going up today. Councilman Pape asked if the Engineering r'~19artment will be going out to the site to check to see if all the items are done. He stated that he does not want to see dirt and debris from the Wal-Mart site. Mr. Elliot stateat'hat all the construction debris has been removed and the water trucks are on sight now. Mayor/Boardmember Washburn asked how long the screening will be used. Mr. Elliot stated that it would be a week at most. Councilman/Boardmember Alongi stated that these items should not have been brought before Council, and explained that he felt that this should be under staff supervision and if the items on the list are not completed to staff's satisfaction by 5:00 p.m. tonight, then Wal-Mart does not open early. Councilman/Boardmember Alongi explained that staff has been hired to do the jOb and has the expertise to make the decisions. MOVED BY ALONGI, SECONDED BY WASHBURN TO ALLOW WAL-MART TO OPEN IF PAGE EIGHT - SPECIAL JOINT MEETING - SEPTEMBER 20, 1994 ALL OF THE DEFICIENCIES ARE CORRECTED BY 5:00 P.M., SEPTEMBER 20, 1994, SUBJECT TO STAFF'S FINAL INSPECTION. Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chairman Bender noted that this project is back to staff where it started two weeks ago, with no changes. Councilman/Chairman Pape asked if the signage and color on the back side of Wal-Mart was resolved. City Planner Leslie stated that the color was different than what was approved, __ but because the coloring matched the overall scheme, it was approved. THE FOREGOING MOTION WAS APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE. Darlene Russell, Lake Elsinore, stated that she felt that a barren hill has become an area of beauty and objected to picking the project apart. She explained that if Wal-Mart does not open, then a lot of people will loose income and there will be a loss of tax dollars. Ms. Russell stated that if Wal-Mart were open then people would have a choice of where to shop in Lake Elsinore. Mayor/Boardmember Washburn asked if the soft opening was to occur tomorrow, when would the Grand Opening be. ci ty Manager/Executive Director Molendyk stated that it would still be on September 27, 1994. ADJOURNMENT MOVED BY PAPE, SECONDED BY ALONGI AND CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE TO ADJOURN THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL METING AT 9:30 A.M. AT~ST: ~~ VICKI KkaAD, CITY CLERK - ...-