Council Study Session

MINUTES CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION CITY OF MONTEREY Wednesday, March 28, 2018 4:00-6:00 pm FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS, 580 PACIFIC STREET MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Councilmembers Present: Councilmembers Roberson, Albert, Barrett, Haffa, Smith Absent: None City Staff Interim City Manager, Interim Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, Police Present: Chief, Fire Chief, Community Development Director, Public Works Director, Finance Director, Assistant Finance Director, Acting City Clerk, Senior Advisor, Community Services, Parks Operations Manager, Interim Recreation and Community Services Manager, Property Manager, Urban Forester, Assistant Urban Forester, Greenbelt Coordinator CALL TO ORDER Mayor Roberson called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mayor Roberson opened the floor for public comments not on the agenda. With no requests to speak, he closed public comments. STUDY SESSION 1. Old Capitol Site Presentation; Site Located Generally South of Highway 1 Near Viejo, Sylvan, Barnet Segal, and Iris Canyon Roads (Assessor Parcel Numbers 001-761-015, 001-761-035, and 001-771-043) (Not a Project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) (Plans & Public Works - 203-02) Action: Received presentation, discussed Mayor Roberson welcomed guests Mark Stillwell and Cheryl Burrell from the Pebble Beach Company, Monterey County Supervisor Mary Adams and staffer Kate Daniels, former Monterey County Supervisor and Monterey Councilmember Dave Potter, and former Mayor Dan Albert. Community Development Director Cole began the staff presentation by giving City Council the lay of the land of the Old Capitol Site and information on the background of the site and its various considered uses. She explained the requirement that the Pebble Beach Company irrevocably offer to transfer title of the site for parkland uses, and highlighted areas that are reserved for protected habitat, including 8.4 acres that must be preserved as low-impact. Senior Advisor, Community Services Sloan presented various park and recreational opportunities for which the Old Capitol Site could be used. She noted potential public and private partners for site operation, and referred to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. She advised that some uses of the site would require water. Mayor Roberson asked to hear more from staff about potential revenue generation associated with various uses of the site and as relating to ongoing maintenance costs. City Council Minutes Wednesday, March 28, 2018 Police Chief Hober said that the initial cleanup of illegal campsites on the property would cost about $30,000 in staff time, and ongoing proactive maintenance would be needed. Fire Chief Panholzer advised that the fire risk associated with the property is fairly high. He cited a recent fire near the Hospice that began at an illegal campsite and indicated that higher impact use of the site would reduce the fire risk associated with encampments. He noted the initial work that would be needed to contain the fire risk and said he would prefer to bring the site to Monterey’s standard for greenbelt maintenance, which would be substantially more work. Public Works Director Wittry cited estimated costs for initial greenbelt maintenance, illegal campsite cleanup, master planning, and environmental work. He said that the scope and timeframe of greenbelt maintenance would depend on how much risk the City wants to accept. Interim City Manager Uslar added that the City Council could consider taking the property over in a cleaned-up state. Mayor Roberson said that there may be flexibility with the cost, scope, and timeline of cleanup. Councilmember Barrett said that it could benefit the current owner to clean up the property before transferring it, in consideration of losing ongoing risks and costs. Community Development Director Cole shared the next steps if City Council wishes to pursue acquiring the property. On question, she said that staff doesn’t necessarily believe that the site needs to be a City park but they would like guidance from Council. Mayor Roberson opened the floor for public comments. Mark Stillwell, Pebble Beach Company, shared background information on the site and negotiations around its future transfer. He said that the completion later this year of the affordable housing project in Pebble Beach will trigger the obligation to dedicate the Old Capitol Site, and that the Pebble Beach Company believes the City of Monterey to be the most appropriate entity to receive the property. He said that the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District (MPRPD) paid over $7 million to acquire the Aguajito site with similar considerations and risks. He said that the Pebble Beach Company hoped to find an entity that would accept the property in the same spirit that the MPRPD had, noting that this time it would be a donation instead of a sale, and adding that maintenance of the open space is not an onerous obligation. Mary Adams, Monterey County Supervisor, said that water will be a critical aspect of any development of the site. Former Mayor Dan Albert said that Dave Potter deserves a lot of credit for his negotiations toward the possible acquisition of the site. He said that the two main vistas of the City are the Window on the Bay Park, which he pointed out was purchased, and the pine forest skyline. He said that the opportunity to take on the Old Capitol Site is a gift and urged City Council to act promptly to accept it. Interim City Manager Uslar said that the cost associating with acquiring and cleaning up the Window on the Bay Park ran in the range of $50 to $60 million. Dave Potter said that the possible development of the Old Capitol Site was the most controversial topic ever discussed when he was on the City of Monterey’s Architectural Review Committee, Planning Commission, and City Council. He said the Pebble Beach Company deserves credit for honoring the contract even when conditions had changed. He said that the City of Monterey would be the best steward of the property, and encouraged City Council to accept the site. With no further requests to speak, Mayor Roberson closed public comments. On question, Interim City Manager Uslar said that Fire Chief Panholzer’s proposal is reasonable and that a phased approach to fuel reduction would make sense. Regarding sewer and utilities, 2 City Council Minutes Wednesday, March 28, 2018 he said that the primary question is what the City wants to do with the site, and a secondary question can be what utilities are needed for those uses? Public Works Director Wittry said that depending on the water needed for potential uses, wells could be considered. Councilmember Smith said that the opportunity for open space connected to education would be desirable, and asked that any feasibility study explore revenue generating forms of camping such as RV or pack-in camping. He said that there is a lot of cleanup to do. He said that the price tag on that aspect of acquisition will be high but there might be room for negotiation. Councilmember Barrett said that the community has a lot of emotion about this site. He noted that the property will be preserved and not developed, regardless of which agency acquires it and its associated risks. He said that recreational uses of the site sound exciting and asked to include the context of sustainable hospitality and ecotourism in any feasibility study. Councilmember Albert said that there should be a feasibility study to investigate what the City should do with the property, not whether or not the City should acquire it. He said that a gift like this does not come up often, and the first step should be to acquire the site. Councilmember Haffa said it is exciting to consider a potential acquisition, and citing cost concerns asked staff for clarity on how the City could afford to maintain the property. He said if the City moves forward on acquiring the site, it needs to both involve the community in an inclusive discussion, and address the impact to the people who will be displaced from living in the forest. He noted Mike Pekin and Mike Brassfield’s request for a homeless strategic plan. Mayor Roberson asked rhetorically how often the City has the opportunity to gain so much pristine forest for free and how much the property would be worth. He said that City Council will revisit the matter soon. Mayor Roberson announced that this meeting was Finance Director Porter’s last before her well-deserved retirement, and wished her well. Interim City Manager Uslar praised her instrumental work for the City over the years and said she will be greatly missed. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Roberson adjourned the meeting at 5:26 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Clementine Bonner Klein Clyde Roberson Acting City Clerk Mayor 3