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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008/04/16 - Minutes - Special Joint w/ P.C.April 16, 2008 CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES SPECIAL JOINT MEETING A. CALL TO ORDER. A special joint meeting of the Rancho Cucamonga City Council and Planning Commission was held on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, in the Tri Communities Room at the Civic Center, located at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. Mayor Donald J. Kurth, M.D. called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. Present were Councilmembers: Rex Gutierrez (arrived at 5:12 p.m.), Sam Spagnolo, Diane Williams (arrived at 5:10 p.m.), Mayor Pro Tem L. Dennis Michael; and Mayor Donald J. Kurth, M.D. Present were Commissioners: Frances Howdyshell, Lou Munoz, Ray Wimberly, and Vice Chairman Rich Fletcher. Absent was: Chairman Pamela Stewart Also present were: Jack Lam, City Manager; Mahdi Aluzri, Deputy City Manager/Community Development and Acting City Engineer; James Troyer, Planning Director; Rina Leung, Senior Planner; Trang Huynh, Building and Safety Official; Jon Gillespie, Traffic Engineer; John Gillison, Deputy City Manager/Administrative Services; and Debra J. Adams, City Clerk. B. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS No communication was made from the public. C. ITEM(S) OF BUSINESS C1. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF METRO GOLD LINE EXTENSION TO LA/ONTARIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT STUDY Mahdi Aluzri, Deputy City Manager/Community Development, stated a presentation will be made on the Metro Gold Line. He stated it is a long way to go before everything is settled on this. He stated a feasibility study would be required. Jerry Sims, Administrative Manager with Metro Gold Line, gave some introductory comments before turning the presentation over to the consultant for his presentation. Joe Falter, Chief Operating Officer - KOA Corporation, presented information on the extension phase alignment evaluation criteria. Mayor Kurth stated he did not want to see Rancho Cucamonga look like LAX with all the rail lines around it. He wasn't sure our residents would like that. Commissioner Howdyshell didn't think people would use the rail to travel to the airport considering they would have their luggage with them. Special Joint City Council/Planning Commission Meeting April 16, 2008 Page 2 Jimmy Lin, President and CEO - KOA Corporation, felt the rail to the airport would be used for people working at the airport and surrounding businesses. He continued to present seven alternative plans. Mayor Kurth asked who was going to pay for this and felt it should be put underground. Jerry Sims, Administrative Manager with Metro Gold Line, stated he didn't know who would pay for this. Mayor Pro Tem Michael asked if staff has evaluated the seven alternatives. Mahdi Aluzri, Deputy City Manager/Community Development, stated staff is currently evaluating the alternatives and stated the General Plan Consultant is also listening to the comments made tonight. Commissioner Munoz asked if the City is looking at other alternative methods of transportation. Staff replied yes and that this is being looked at through the General Plan update. Councilmember Williams stated she is concerned about all of the equipment, rails, etc. that would be seen all over the place. She hoped technology would help to eliminate this. She felt politically speaking that the City should approve the least costly plan. Councilmember Gutierrez asked when one of these plans would become a reality in Rancho Cucamonga. Jimmy Lin, KOA Corporation, stated in about 15 years. He said it would be in Montclair in about 2016-2017 and then in Rancho Cucamonga in about 2025 if the funding is received. Councilmember Williams asked if this would require an EIR. Jimmy Lin, KOA Corporation, stated yes. Vice Chairman Fletcher didn't see a need far this in Rancho Cucamonga from the transportation aspect unless people would be able to stop and spend money in the City. Commissioner Munoz felt with so many cities "going green," this is something that should at least be looked at. Mayor Kurth felt this should be done right the first time and should be put underground. Mayor Pro Tem Michael asked if this could go back to the Public Works Subcommittee before a recommendation is made about which plan Rancho Cucamonga wants. Commissioner Howdyshell stated she would like to see as much information on this along the way before a decision is made. Commissioner Munoz agreed. He stated he would like to hear what the General Plan Consultant, Sam Gennawey, has to say about this. Sam Gennawey, General Plan Consultant, felt this should be looked at from a regional concern. He felt this was a good time to come up with creative ideas. Vice Chairman Fletcher stated if it cannot help the quality of life for our residents, we need to look a little harder at this. He felt if we want to move people, we should add lanes on the freeways. He felt there should be the least amount of disruption in our City as possible. ACTION: Report received and filed. Special Joint City Council/Planning Commission Meeting April 16, 2008 Page 3 D. ADJOURNMENT :. The meeting adjourned 6:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~ Debra J. Ada , CMC City Clerk/Records Manager Approved by Planning Commission: May 14, 2008 Approved by City Council: May 21, 2008