Economic Development Ad Hoc Committee

MEETING MINUTES CITY OF LA HABRA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AD HOC COMMITTEE La Habra Chamber of Commerce, 321 E. La Habra Boulevard, La Habra September 11, 2014 MEMBERS PRESENT: Mark Sturdevant, President, Chamber of Commerce Robert Ferrier, Assistant to the City Manager Carlos Jaramillo, Deputy Director of Community Development David DeLeon, Recreation Manager Dr. Joyce Miriam Brooks, Board Chair, Chamber of Commerce Roy Ramsland, Planning Manager David McCauley, Economic Development Consultant Michael Lawton, President, Lawton Real Estate Sandi Baltes, Marketing Director, Friends of Family Health Center MEMBERS ABSENT: Kim Koch, President, FarPointe Development OTHERS PRESENT: Breanna Hurt, Secretary, Community Development 1. Call to Order / Mark Sturdevant, EDAHC Chair Chairman Sturdevant called the EDAHC meeting to order at 1:35pm in the La Habra Chamber of Commerce, located at 321 E. La Habra Blvd, La Habra, California. 2. Roll Call 3. Public Comments There were no public comments. 4. Committee Minutes a. EDAHC Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes for August 14, 2014 b. Public Comments There were no public comments. c. Action on EDAHC Meeting 12 Minutes Moved by Carlos Jaramillo and seconded by Robert Ferrier to approve the EDAHC Meeting Minutes of August 14, 2014. The motion was approved. 5. Zoning Code Update – Roy Ramsland, Planning Manager a. Review and Input Roy Ramsland presented the report to the Committee, stating a consultant has been approved by the City Council to update the Zoning and Sign Codes. Mr. Ramsland gave a brief overview of the purpose of a Zoning Code. The Zoning Code update will evaluate existing code standards and create standards for the new land use designations adopted as part of the General Plan update adopted in January 2014. Mr. Ramsland concluded his presentation by informing the Committee the consultant, as part of their scope of work, will EDAHC Meeting 13 September 11, 2014 Page 1  interview 8-10 stakeholders in the community selected by staff. The consultant will also meet twice with the Committee in a workshop format to identify areas of concern and then to review and comment on possible solutions. In addition, community workshops will also be held similar to the General Plan process. b. Public Comments Dawn Holthouser asked if the Code had changed in regards to landscaping and if the focus is now on water conservation. Mr. Ramsland responded that water conservation and landscaping measures were incorporated into the Zoning Code as mandated by the State approximately 10 years ago. Nevertheless, staff has asked the consultant to review these standards for consistency with State requirements. c. Committee Comments Mark Sturdevant commented that as far as landscaping is concerned, the extremes should be avoided, but that there needs to be a balance for the smart use of water while still maintaining the aesthetics of the City. Mr. Sturdevant further commented that he would like the Beautification Committee to be involved in this process to provide input as to what the City should look like in the future. Mr. Ramsland elaborated that full community involvement will be encouraged including the use of notice inserts in water bills. The Committee briefly discussed Conditional Use Permit fees and signage for the business community. 6. Building and Safety Permit Process – Dennis McCreary, Chief Building Official a. Review and Input Dennis McCreary gave a brief presentation in regards to the permit and plan check process, stating the plan check process is an important aspect of the construction process and varies for simple or complex projects. Mr. McCreary explained that simple projects can be completed over the counter as opposed to complex projects that require formal review by a consultant. b. Public Comments Mr. Dennis Huddlestor stated service is expedited when there is familiarity between the contractor and inspector. c. Committee Comments Mr. Sturdevant asked if the materials provided to the Committee are also accessible via the City’s webpage. Mr. McCreary responded that was correct and briefly discussed each handout. A brief discussion regarding inspections followed and the protocols each inspector follows while reviewing technical issues and interpreting the code. Ms. Sandi Baltes asked what has been done to expedite the counter service and the length of time for plan checks. Mr. McCreary responded that a 2 week review is the City’s objective. In other cities there may exist an expedited service an individual can request and pay for. The pros and cons of that type of service can be debated, stating it is not always fair to prioritize someone because he or she has paid an additional fee. Mr. David DeLeon asked if there is a model that can be created similar to airport security for preferred customers. Mr. McCreary responded in some cases it could work, citing state law that will require certain permits to be issued within 24 hours via an online computer system. Ms. EDAHC Meeting 13 September 11, 2014 Page 2  Baltes asked if technology plays a big role in plan checks, to which Mr. McCreary responded that the software is slow and unable to perform every function. 7. Discussion of Future Topics – Carlos Jaramillo, Deputy Director of Community Development There was a brief discussion regarding agenda items for the next EDAHC meeting and it was decided that there would be a brief presentation made by the Community Preservation Manager regarding code violations, an update regarding business visitations and the marketing plan. It was also decided there should be discussion regarding the continuation of the Committee beyond the Mayor’s term. 8. Other Business Regeanie Corona asked how the meetings are publicized. The meetings, along with all materials, are posted on the City’s website for public review. 9. Adjournment The Committee members adjourned the meeting at 2:30 p.m. to the next EDAHC meeting, which will be on October 9, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. at the La Habra Chamber of Commerce. EDAHC Meeting 13 September 11, 2014 Page 3