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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-10-1992 City Council Study SessionMINUTES CITY COUNCIL STIIDY SESSION CITY OF LARE ELSINORE 31315 CHANEY STREET LARE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA TUESDAY~ NOVEMBER 10~ 1992 ******************r*****r**a***********r*r**r***r****~*a***rr***• CALL TO ORDER The City Council Study Washburn at 4:O1 p.m. Session was called to order by Mayor ROLL CALL PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ALONGI, CHERVENY, WASHBURN (COUncilman Winkler arrived at 4:15 p.m.) ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: DOMINGUEZ Also present were: City Manager Molendyk,Planning Commission Chairwoman Brinley, Administrative Services Director Boone, Community Services Director Watenpaugh, Public Services Director Tecca, Community Development Manager Shear, City Planner Christen and City Clerk Kasad. DISCUSSION ITEM Murdock Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan and Develobment Agreement (F:150.2)(X:68.1) City Planner Christen commented on previous discussion relating to this plan and agreement and offered to answer questions from Council. He indicated that there have been three points of concern in the past being: 1) trie DAG fee; 2) the $100,000 toward a Municipal Swimming Pool; and 3) the language concerning control of the park appearance and design. Mayor Washburn questioned the concerns with the DAG fee. City Planner Christen indicated that this $210 fee per unit is an add-on to cover maintenance and operation costs. Councilwoman Cherveny indicated that she understood that this fee was broken into two parts originally and questioned that breakdown. Administrative Services Director Boone indicated that this amount had not been designated to particular purposes. Hardy Strozier, representing the applicant, indicated that he was asked this question previously by Councilwoman Cherveny and contacted Mr. Levander, the financial person,for the project, who indicated that it is $70 for fire and $140 for police. He further indicated that it was adopted as one non-segregated fee. He further clarified that the City Attorney had indicated that it should not be designated to a particular use. Councilwoman Cherveny indicated that she would prefer to see that money earmarked for police and fire. City Planner Christen clarified that this was a negotiated fee with Murdock. Administrative Services Director Boone explained that this fee was based on the total fiscal impact on the City, and $210 was negotiated to take care of the shortfall at the end of the development. PAGE TWO - CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MINUTES - NOVEMBER 10, 1992 Councilman Alongi questioned the ability to set this $210 aside in a special account, with the distribution to be reviewed at budget time. Mayor Washburn indicated that this would probably be possible, but expressed concern with setting a precedence. He clarified the establishment of DAG fees and the difficulty in setting a new precedence in light of existing development agreements. Administrative Services Director Boone suggested that the estimated amount be reviewed as a line item in the budget. Mayor Washburn further clarified the difficulty in tying this distribution of funds to an individual development agreement. Councilwoman Cherveny commented that additional structures were requested in a recent development agreement and she does not have a problem with earmarking the money for public safety, at least for the first year the development is in place. She indicated that maybe not all of the fee should be designated, but would like some. Councilman Alongi expressed concern with the $100,000 designated for a Swimming Pool, and indicated that he doesn't like to see that money earmarked when the plan for a pool is not final. He suggested that these funds be directed toward a'~recreational" facility. Planning Commission Chairwoman Brinley explained that the Planning Commission requested that this be earmarked for a pool, because the City needs a Community Pool and this was intended to start the fund. She stressed that they were not looking for the construction to begin overnight, but it is a starting point. Councilwoman Cherveny commented of the priorities involved. She expressed concern with the willingness to designate funds for a pool and not for public safety. Mayor Washburn inquired when the $100,000 is to be paid in. City Planner Christen indicated that it was due within six months of approval. Mayor Washburn inquired if there were other questions. Councilwoman Cherveny commented on the term of the agreement and explained that the City really doesn't need a development agreement, the developer needs the agreement. She expressed concern with the 15 year term, and suggested that she would feel better with a 5 or 10 year term. Hardy Strozier agreed that the developer needs the agreement and explained that it assists in obtaining construction financing. He further explained that the City went on record as using development agreements starting with Tuscany, and those aqreements ranged from 15 to 2o years. Ilene Miles, Vice-President, Murdock Alberhill Ranch, clarified that this agreement is for 10 years with a performance related extension of five years. City Manager Molendyk questioned the term impact on the ability to obtain financing. Mr. Strozier explained that lenders are looking at certainty that a development will occur and the development agreement gives that certainty. He did not indicate a specific term. PAGE THREE - CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MINUTES - NOVEMBER 10, 1992 City Manager Molendyk questioned the limitations of the sewer plant progress on this project. Ms. Miles indicated that the site has gone back to the owner, however, it is still available to them. She further indicated that they are arranging a meeting with Mr. Laughlin at E.V.M.W.D. to begin design work. Mr. Strozier further explained that this approval will embody them to proceed. City Planner Christen clarified that this agreement does not go into effect until the sewer plant is operational. Councilman Alongi addressed the affordable housing requirements and expressed concern that the City continues to go by the County standards for affordable housing. He indicated that he wou~d like to see the City setting its own standards. City Manager M~lendyk clarified that he City uses the County formula to comply with State requirements which are mandated on a County basis. He advised that this does not prevent the City for setting higher standards for itself. Mayor Washburn suggested that based on Councilman Atongi~s comments the City should accelerate its affordable housing requirements, and possibly this consideration could be included in the Aousing Element review presently underway. Councilman Alongi addressed the requirement for a Community Park and questioned the situation if the developer runs into problems and does not complete the project and the City steps in. Ms. Miles clarified that the park must be aompleted up-front prior to the first building permit. She further clarified that this section merely indicates that the first $1.5 million in funds received from a Community Facilities District or other financing would go toward this park. Mr. Strozier further indicated that the intent of this section is to limit the amount of money required to be put forward for park improvements. Councilman Alongi questioned the Neighborhood Park improvements. Mr. Strozier clarified the development agreement and the developers original intent to design their own park, however the City would prefer to have control of that. Councilman Alongi questioned the logic behind removing this design control from the developer and questioned the right of the City to design a park and its ability to blend the park improvements with the neighborhood. City Manager Molendyk explained that it has been the City's policy to control the design of City owned parks to ensure that City standards are met. He stressed the maintenance and continuity factors for City Parks, and suggested that the City has successfully done this in the past. Community Services Director Watenpaugh further clarified that this will be a City owned and maintained park with City dollars. He compared the existing facilities at Tuscany Hills, Summerlake, etc. and explained that they are basically the same facilities, however they blend with the surrounding neighborhoods. Councilman Alongi questioned the dollars spent for City consultants to design a park versus the dollars spent by a developer for design. He further questioned whether the design for what the City wants is more expensive. Ms. Miles indicated that this costs was most likely comparable to their own costs. Councilman Winkler indicated that his main concern with this project is the parks and he feel they have been adequately addressed. PAGE FOUR - CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MINUTES - NOVEMBER 10, 1992 Councilwoman Cherveny indicated that she would still like to see the fee split and earmarked. THE CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION WAS AT EST: VICK ~,SAD, CI?' CLERK CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE ~T 4:44 P.M. ~ ~f~~ WASHBURN, MAYOR ' LAKE ELSINORE