HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/31/06 Minutes - Special Meeting
TRES HERMANOS CONSERVATION AUTHORITY
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES OF JULY 31, 2006
1. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Norton-Perry called the Tres Hermanos
Conservation Authority Board of Directors Meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. in the
Chino Hills City Hall Council Chambers, 2001 Grand Avenue, Chino Hills, CA.
ROLL CALL: Gwenn Norton-Perry, Chairman (CH); Bob Zirbes,
Vice Chairman (D.B.); Carol Herrera (D.B.); Curt Hagman, (CH).
Also present were: James DeStefano, DB City Manager; John
Mura, CH Assistant to the City Manager; Helene Smockle, representing Legal
Counsel; and Stella Marquez, DB Senior Administrative Assistant.
Executive Director Doug LaBelle was excused.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Board Member Herrera led the Pledge of
Allegiance.
2, PUBLIC COMMENTS: William Brady spoke about the first time he
visited and fell in love with Tonner Canyon. He felt the beauty and magic of the
canyon should be maintained through creative multiple land use development.
Chair/Perry stated that the property is zoned Rural Residential and that the goal
of the Authority is to make sure the area is preserved. She advised that currently
there is no specific or master plan for the area.
VC/Zirbes agreed and said that Diamond Bar was interested in knowing what
could be done with the area and what would be acceptable for the community
instead of waiting for the property owner to decide.
Art Bennett, Chino Hills Planning Commissioner, GPAC member, and concerned
citizen, felt the best use of the area would be a “Mixed-Use” project that lent itself
to maintaining the rural character of the area to the greatest extent possible. He
felt a viable alternative and solution would be to work with a developer to
encourage the “Mixed-Use” type of project that was surrounded by a public golf
course that would generate revenue and more than pay for itself.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR:
M/Hagman moved, VC/Zirbes seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar.
Without objection, the motion was so ordered.
3.1 APPROVED MINUTES OF JUNE 26, 2006 – As presented.
JULY 31, 2006 PAGE 2 THCA
4. OLD BUSINESS: None
4.1 APPROVAL OF PROPOSED BYLAWS AMENDMENTS.
VC/Zirbes moved, M/Hagman seconded to approve the bylaws
amendments as presented. Without objection, the motion was so ordered.
5.2 DISCUSSION REGARDING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR TRES
HERMANOS CONSULTING SERVICES.
DBCM/DeStefano reported that during comments at the last meeting it
was decided that the Board would discuss the possibility of hiring a
consultant to craft a land use plan for Tres Hermanos. Almost a year ago
staff recommended that the Board first have an economic consultant
produce a market study to determine whether the area could support a
variety of land uses and what market trends might be in several years as
well as what would best serve the two cities and landowners.
DBCM/DeStefano responded to VC/Zirbes that staff would be interested in
acquiring information about what was feasible for the property. Each City
has land use classifications for the property and residential development is
an immediate possibility. Staff would hope to get someone of the quality
of Kaiser Marsden to conduct the study because he is an outstanding
consultant in this particular field.
DBCM/DeStefano said he spoke with City of Industry’s Planning Director
Mike Kissel last week and invited him and anyone else from the City of
Industry to join tonight’s meeting. He confirmed that they had received the
June meeting information as well as, tonight’s agenda. He indicated that
for City of Industry the timing was not appropriate to discuss the matter
and felt it would be better for the Board to discuss what they would like to
see for the site and present that information to the City of Industry.
DBCM/DeStefano stated that during the Transportation Summit on Friday
he had spoken with John Ballard, City of Industry Public Works Director
and was told that from their perspective it was still too soon.
Helene Smockle, faculty member, USC School of Policy, Planning and
Urban Development stated there were programs available that allowed
graduate students to conduct these types of major studies.
VC/Zirbes suggested Ms. Smockle speaker pass along her information to
DBCM/DeStefano for evaluation.
VC/Zirbes suggested continuing this discussion to the August 28 meeting
and recommended that staff work with the D.B. consultant to interface with
City of Industry and determine whether they would prefer a land use or
market study; whether they would want to include the entire canyon; and,
ask the City of Industry to pay for the study.
JULY 31, 2006 PAGE 3 THCA
VC/Zirbes further stated that while City of Industry believes discussions
are premature they should be told that D.B. and Chino Hills believe it is
important to start moving forward to gather “idea” information about what
would be acceptable to the two cities in consideration of the rights of the
property owner. He said he would like to have City of Industry fund the
study and also provide parameters for the RFP.
Chair/Perry asked staff to provide a detailed outlined for a proposed RFP
at the August 28 meeting. She encouraged the Board to proceed to
engage a graduate program to conduct a longer-term master plan study.
M/Herrera said that several years ago Chino Hills and D.B. talked about
including commercial that would bring sales tax dollars to both cities and
not necessarily “housing” per se. It would have to be a unique plan for the
area that would be a “destination” place.
Chair/Perry agreed that the desire was not to have more housing.
Art Bennett said that if a golf course were built should retain the water
feature. He recalled that prior discussions regarding long-term leases
included a minute version of the San Antonio River Walk with “tasteful”
retail that would generate sales tax dollars.
Helene Smockle said she would check on the “open” reservoir issue and
whether City of Industry was exempt from the new DWP regulations.
5. NEW BUSINESS: None
6. AUTHORITY MEMBER COMMENTS: None Offered.
7. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to conduct, Chairman
Norton-Perry adjourned the meeting at 6:15 p.m. to August 28, 2006.
_______________________________
James DeStefano, Authority Secretary
ATTEST:
GWEN NORTON-PERRY, Chairman