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Home My WebLink About1997/09/24 - Agenda Packeti~ CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 1997 7:00 PM Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center Council Chamber 10500 Civic Center Drive Rancho Cucamonga, California I. CALL TO ORDER Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Chairman Barker Vice Chairman McNiel Commissioner Bethel __ Commissioner Macias __ Commissioner Tolstoy __ II. ANNOUNCEMENTS III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES September 6, 1997, Adjourned Meeting IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS This is the time and place for the general public to address the Commission. Items to be discussed here are those which do not already appear on this agenda. V. COMMISSION BUSINESS A. SIGNS/MULTI FAMILY TASK FORCE UPDATE (Oral report) B. FOOTHILL BOULEVARD/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE UPDATE (Oral report) Vl. DIRECTOR'S REPORTS C. UPDATE ON RAILS TO TRAILS (Oral report) D. UPDATE ON GENERAL PLAN (Oral report) E. UPDATE ON ROUTE 30 (Oral report) VII. ADJOURNMENT The Planning Commission has adopted Administrative Regulations that set an 11:00 p.m. adjournment time. I£ items go beyond that time, they shall be heard only with the consent of the Commission. I, Jeanenne Spikes, Office Specialist II for the City of Rancho Cucamonga, hereby certify that a true, accurate copy of the foregoing agenda was posted on September 18, 1997, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting per Government Code Section 54964.2 at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga. Page 2 CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA STAFF REPORT -' DATE: September 17, 1997 TO: ' Mayor and Members of the City Council Jack Lam, AICP, City Manager FROM: Diane Williams, Mayor Pro Tern BY: Dan Coleman, Principal Planner SUBJECT: RAILS TO TRAILS - SOUTHERN PACIFIC LINE RECOMMENDATION: The following actions are recommended: 1. Appoint a subcommittee to work with SANBAG and other cities to pursue funding sources. 2. The City of Rancho Cucamonga should become a member of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (see Exhibit "B"). 3. The Subcommittee and staff attend the First International Trails and Greenways Conference sponsored by RTC on January 28-31 1998 (see Exhibit "C"). BACKGROUND: Since the adoption of the General Plan in 1981, the City has had a vision of creating a multi-use Community Trail along the Southern Pacific Rail (SPRR) Line. This multi-use Community Trail would include a Class I Bike Path and a hiking/equestrian trail. The former Southern Pacific Railroad line bisects the City from east to west, roughly paralleling Base Line Road for most of its 7.5 mile length (see map in Exhibit "A"). The corridor adjoins Central Park. RAILS-TO-TRAILS: Under the National Trails Act of 1983, railroad companies can be compelled to "railbank" abandoned segments against possible future rail need. In the meantime, they can be publicly managed as trails. The Rails-To-Trails Conservancy (RTC) was formed in 1985 to assist local governments in creating trails on unused rail corridors. RTC has successfully established close to 1,000 rail-trails in 48 states stretching 10,000 miles. The Southern Pacific Railroad Company agreed to notify'the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy of rail abandonments six months before they are officially filed. RTC has pledged, in turn, to notify cities so that each abandonment can be analyzed for its value as a trail. CURRENT STATUS: SANBAG does not intend to abandon the corridor. The tracks are inactive, but not yet abandoned, despite the removal of the track and ties. The line was sold in April 1991 to the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, and is operated by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SANBAG). In 1993, a Discontinuance of Service was filed with the regulatory agency. SANBAG has approved the concept of joint trail use provided a) that the trail use would not interfere with future rail service, and b) that the City accept maintenance of the entire corridor width. ITEM C CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT RAILS TO TRAILS September 17, 1997 _ . Page 2 COSTS: In 1991, the City's Trail Implementation Plan estimated trail construction cost as approximately $5 million. This cost will increase due to the need to widen or construct bridges for trails across Foothill Boulevard, Victoria Park Lane, and flood control channels. These cost estimates do not include any land acquisition costs, landscaping, or maintenance of the full corridor. Respectfully submitted, Diane Williams, Mayor Pro Tern DW:DC:gs Attachments: Exhibit "A"- Location Map Exhibit "B" - Rails to Trails Conservancy Membership Information Exhibit "C" - Rails to Trails Conference Information Proposed Foothill I .' Highland '~i::: Line Road Ci~/ o/ / ~ ~ Fontana C~ ~ .o*** Area Map ,[embershi? Fo .r:r, hrra://www r~ii:r~ $.org/member. hrml Help Make Our Vision a Reality As a non-profit public charity, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is supported by' Lhe generous contributions of its members and fl'/ends: individuals and families like you. Help make our vision a reality by becoming an RTC member today. \Ve offer the following membership levels: ° Regular Membership · Supporting Membership 518 · Patron Membership S25 ° Benefactor Membershi~ S50 ° ' 5100 · Advocate Membership S500 Trailblazer Society Membership S 1000 .As a member of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, you '.rill receive the following benefits' I. A free subscription to our quarterly newsletter Trailblazer. 2. A free cop.',' of the Sampler of America's Rail-Trails. 3. Discounts on RTC publications, merchandise and conferences. 4..Additional membership benefits for Trailblazer Society members. And, most importanti>', you ,.'.'ill get the satisfaction that comes from helping recormect America by building a nationwide network of beautiful trails for all of us to enjoy for >'ears - and generations - to ~f/e invite yon to become an RTC member today! To join RTC, please fill out the following form, print it out and mail or FAX it to: Rails-to- Trails Conservancy ]100 J 7th Street, loth Floor Washington, D. C 20036 .... 202/466-3742 (FAX) A TT:V.' Helen CITY OF RA~NCHO CUCAMONGA STAFF REPORT DATE: September 17, 1997 TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council Jack Lain, AICP, City, Manager FROM: William J. O'Neil, City Engineer SUBJECT: MEETING OF THE ROUTE 30 TASK FORCE On September 9, 1997, the Route 30 Task Force convened in the Tri-Communities Room in City Hall. There were eleven (I 1) Task Force members in attendance. Fifty-Three (53) members from the area surrounding the proposed Carnelian/Route 30 Freeway Interchange were also present. Since there was such a large crowd representing the Carnelian area, Chairman Alexander recommended the issue concerning Carnelian be taken first, so as to not inconvenience the large crowd waiting to be heard on that issue. The group submitted a petition signed by 244 residents requesting the Task Force to reconsider the Carnelian Interchange. The Chairman made opening comments regarding the Carnelian interchange explaining the Task Force over the last three years has spent a considerable amount of time on the Carnelian and the other interchanges in Rancho Cucamonga. The Chairman indicated the Task Force made the recommendation to City Council to include five interchanges to the Route 30 Freeway in Rancho Cucamonga. One of those interchanges was at Carnelian. City Council has approved the Task Force recommendation and executed a Freeway Agreement Mth Caltrans for inclusion of the interchanges. The City Engineer asked Dave Moore, Recreation Superintendent, Community Services Department, to give a briefdescriptio_n of the actions taken to reduce the traffic impact at Beryl Park. Mr. Moore indicated certain activities at the park have been adjusted to eliminate a parking impact. As far as staff is aware, the rescheduling of events has eliminated a parking problem. Mr. Moore responded to several questions from the Task Force regarding this issue. The Task Force expressed some concern that in the future parking may again be a problem. Staff responded it can be dealt with at that time. However, at this time the staff does not foresee problems rearising. Mr. Moore pointed out the City is providing new venues for play which should help keep the problems at Beryl to a minimum. Since many in the audience had additional questions, the Chairman asked the City Engineer to briefly recap the process and the reasons why the Carnelian interchange was recommended. The City Engineer recapped the major issues regarding interchanges including access, crime, traffic and ITEM E CITY COL.,'2',rCIL STA_FF REPORT ROUTE 30 TASK FORCE MEETING September 17, 1997 ' ' Page 2 equity. Five (5) interchanges are recommended to reduce major impacts at any one location. After the City's Engineer's presentation the Chairman opened the meeting for questions from the audience. The Chairman and City Engineer responded to questions from the audience. When questions from the audience were completed, Task Force Members Beckner, Coberty, Hinazumi and Schmauss addressed the audience expressing their feelings regarding the interchange issues. The Task Force members pointed out over the last three years the Task Force has since spent considerable time discussing and debating these issues and has challenged staff to provide the information necessary to arrive at an equitable decision regarding the interchanges. It was the consensus of the Task Force the issue of interchanges not be reconsidered; however, the Task Force is still willing to look at mitigation issues at the Carnelian/Route 30 location. Chairman Alexander closed the meeting indicating to the audience the City will research the legal status of the Freeway Agreement, which has been executed by the City, and will respond by letter to all members of the audience who signed the sign-up sheet. Due to the lateness of the hour, the Chairman requested the Task Force approve carrying over the remaining items on the agenda to the next meeting. Due to the holiday in November, the Task Force will meet the first Tuesday in November, November 4, 1997, at 6:00 p.m. in the Tri-Communities Room to consider the items carried forward from this meeting. Respectfully submitted, ... City Engineer WJO:dlw