HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990/05/08 - Minutes - Adjourned Joint (Planning Commission) May 8, 1990
CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA
JOINT CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Adjourned Joint Meetin~
A. C~T.T. ~ ORDER
An adjourned joint meeting of the City Council and the Planning Commission of
the City of Rancho Cucamonga met on Tuesday, May 8, 1990, at the Lions Park
Community Center, 9161 Base Line Road, Rancho Cucamonga, California. The meeting
was called to order at 5:54 p.m. by Mayor Dennis L. Stout and Chairman Larry
McNiel.
Present were Councilmembers: William J. Alexander, Deborah N. Brown, Charles
J. Buquet II (arrived at 5:54 p.m.), Pamela J. Wright, and Mayor Dennis L. Stout.
Present were Planning Commissioners: Suzanne Chitiea, Peter Tolstoy, Betsy
Weinberger, and Chairman Larry McNiel.
Also present were: Jack Lam, City Manager; Jerry Fulwood, Deputy City Manager;
Linda Daniels, Deputy City Manager; Rick Gomez, Community Development Director;
Brad Buller, City Planner; Otto Kroutil, Deputy City Planner; Larry Henderson,
Senior Planner; Dan Coleman, Senior Planner; Joe Schultz, Community Services
Manager; Jan Reynolds, Assistant Redevelopment Analyst; Joe Stofa, Associate
Civil Engineer; Barbara Krall, Assistant Civil Engineer; Duane Baker, Senior
Administrative Assistant; Diane O'Neal, Administrative Analyst; Kelly Orta,
Senior Office Assistant, and Debra J. Adams, City Clerk.
B. JOINT ITEMS OF DISCUSSION
B1. DISCUSSION OF ITEMS OF MUTUAL CONCERN (0701-01 COMMISSION)
Chairman McNiel brought up the issue of the Planning Commission appeal process
with respect to the City Council upholding their decisions. He asked that the
Council consider, in their decision making, the amount of work and research done
by the Planning Commission to reach the decision they have come up with.
Councilmember Wright asked why, when there was an appeal of a Planning Commission
decision, there was not someone present from the Planning Commission to explain
their position of the appeal.
Joint City Council/Planning Commission Minutes
May 8, 1990
Page 2
Chairman McNiel stated he did not think his presence at the City Council meeting
should sway the City Council's decision on an appeal. He commented that staff
reports are fair and unbiased and state the facts without underlying emotion.
Councilmember Brown felt some of the questions the City Council may have about
an appeal may not be in the staff report or the Planning Commission minutes.
Commissioner Chitiea stated that some time back when a Planning Commissioner has
been at a City Council meeting they have felt humiliated and frustrated, and that
they really weren't wanted at the City Council meeting.
Councilmember Wright suggested if the Planning Commissioner was in attendance
when an appeal is discussed, they might better understand why the City Council
acted as they did.
Mayor Stout stated he feels this is an appellant process to set policy, and felt
appeals should be looked at as to how they will affect the entire system.
Chairman McNiel felt in the future, the development community would be filing
more appeals to the City Council on the Planning Commission's decisions.
Councilmember Brown asked Brad Buller how many appeals were brought to the City
Council, and how many were granted and how many were denied.
Brad Buller stated the majority of Planning Commission decisions are being upheld
by the City Council.
Commissioner Chitiea reiterated what Chairman McNiel had previously stated
regarding developers feeling they could go ahead and file an appeal to the City
Council if the Planning Commission did not give them what they wanted.
Councilmember Brown stated what she hears is the Planning Commission asking the
City Council to continue upholding their decisions as they have done in the past.
The Planning Commission stated yes.
Commissioner Tolstoy stated he hoped the City Council could see the quality of
development in the City and felt the design review process was very beneficial.
Councilmember Wright stated she appreciated receiving the design review notes.
Commissioner Tolstoy stated the Planning Commission did not want to approve
buildings that are outdated or "cookie cutter" in design. He felt what was being
approved now is a better design.
Commissioner Chitiea added that a lot of staff time goes into helping a developer
through the planning process.
Commissioner Tolstoy suggested a design guideline booklet be made because of the
benefit it would have to developers.
Joint City Council/Planning Commission Minutes
May 8, 1990
Page 3
Councilmember Wright felt that projects in the City are getting better and better
as time goes on, and also added she felt the Planning Commission should continue
using pressure for a better product.
Chairman McNiel commented on the eight buildings that are up for design review
awards.
Councilmember Brown stated she felt the Planning Commission has done a good job,
and did not want them to lower any standards.
Commissioner Chitiea felt the Planning Commission could approve nicer looking
industrial buildings by asking for better materials to be used on the buildings,
but did not know if the City Council would support their approach.
Councilmember Wright stated she would go along with asking for higher standards
in the industrial area.
Councilmember Alexander stated he is also in favor of raising the standards.
Commissioner Tolstoy felt if the standards are not raised, the City would be
getting more projects like the Sears Credit Center.
Chairman McNiel stated because of the type of business this project is and what
it could bring to the City, they did back off on some of their standards.
Councilmember Brown felt the City should hold out for higher standards and not
waste City land on "boxes".
The City Council thanked the Planning Commission and stated they are doing a good
job. The City Council concurred with the Planning Commission's direction to
increase the level of architectural and design standards of architectural
projects.
A recess was taken at 7:04 p.m. with the City Council reconvening at 7:17 p.m.
in Gallery West. The Planning Commission was scheduled to reconvene at 8:00
p.m. in the Forum.
Cl.
01 COMMISSION)
C. COUNCIL ITEMS OF DISCUSSION
INTERVIEWS OF TOP APPLICANTS FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION VACANCY (0701-
At the conclusion of the interviews, Mayor Stout stated the City Council can
select one of the two candidates or readvertise to request further applicants.
The City Council interviewed the following applicants:
Marianne Cordova
John Melcher
Joint City Council/Planning Commission Minutes
May 8, 1990
Page 4
Councilmember Brown asked Brad Buller how long this would take to readvertise.
Brad Buller stated it would take about 30 days.
MOTION: Moved by Alexander, seconded by Buquet to appoint John Melcher as the
new Planning Commissioner at the May 16, 1990 meeting.
Councilmember Wright stated she felt that Mr. Melcher is an outstanding citizen,
but felt he does not set the criteria she felt a Planning Commissioner should
hold, and felt he appears to have ties to the development community.
Councilmember Buquet stated he felt John Melcher had an understanding concept
of where the City had been and where they were headed. He felt his abilities
were good to be a good Planning Commissioner.
Councilmember Brown stated she agreed with Councilmember Wright and also with
Councilmember Buquet. She also stated she had received a phone call from someone
in the development community asking her to support John Melcher. She added she
felt Mr. Melcher was better qualified than Ms. Cordova, but felt if it was only
going to take 30 days to readvertise, she would prefer to do that, and then if
there were not any other qualified applicants she would go along with John
Melcher.
Councilmember Alexander stated he felt someone like Mr. Melcher who was from the
development community would be even tougher because of is past ties.
Councilmember Buquet added he did not feel Mr. Melcher's previous employment
should affect the City Council's decision.
Mayor Stout stated he knows Mr. Melcher through the Lewis Company, and felt he
was of the highest integrity. He further mentioned that Mr. Melcher was very
excited about living in Rancho Cucamonga and felt he was a very intelligent
individual. He did not think Mr. Melcher would be an embarrassment to the City
because of his profession. He did not think there would be a conflict of
interest.
Motion carried as follows:
Ayes:
Buquet, Alexander, Stout
Noes: Brown, Wright
Jack Lam stated this action would be followed up at the May 16 City Council
meeting to appoint John Melcher.
D. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
No communication was made from the public.
Joint City Council/Planning Commission Minutes
May 8, 1990
Page 5
E. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Moved by Alexander, seconded by Wright to adjourn to executive session
to discuss personnel issues and property acquisition. Motion carried unanimously
5-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
City Clerk
Approved by Planning Commission: May 28, 1990
Approved by City Council: June 6, 1990