Planning Commission Meeting

DocuSign Envelope ID: 6A003022-9F24-489F-95BF-21BB5E273BF7 MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION AFTERNOON SESSION ONLY Tuesday, February 11, 2020 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM 580 PACIFIC STREET, COUNCIL CHAMBERS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Brassfield, Dawson, Fletcher, Freeman, Latasa, Millich, Reed Commissioners Absent: None Staff Members Present: Community Development Director Cole, Recording Secretary Rose 1. Meeting Procedures CALL TO ORDER Chair Latasa called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. CONSENT ITEMS APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. December 10, 2019 ACTION: Approved as amended. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Freeman said that the second sentence under “Action” on packet page 5 did not make sense. Commissioner Brassfield said that there is a propensity in the document to change names. He noted there were missing commas in a few other places. Commissioner Freeman referenced packet page 7 to point out a couple of vague pronouns. Public Comments Nina Beety said her name was misspelled twice in the minutes and requested additions to her comments on Bull and Bear and 2200 Garden Road noticing. On a motion by Commissioner Reed, seconded by Commissioner Dawson, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved the December 10, 2019 PC meeting minutes as amended. AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Brassfield, Dawson, Fletcher, Freeman, Latasa, Millich, Reed NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None DocuSign Envelope ID: 6A003022-9F24-489F-95BF-21BB5E273BF7 ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None **End of Consent Agenda** PUBLIC COMMENTS None received. PUBLIC HEARING 3. Confirm Annual Appointments for Chair and Vice Chair (Not a Project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Based on City Policy, confirmed annual appointments for Chair and Vice Chair. Community Development Director Cole announced that the new Chair will be Commissioner Brassfield and the new Vice Chair will be Commissioner Freeman and asked that the Commission accept the rotation as presented. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Reed said that the last chair rotation took place in June and thought that the Commission was on a June-to-June schedule. He wanted to know if this change in rotation policy would start in June. Ms. Cole said that all Commissioners are now on a January-to-January rotation. On a motion by Commissioner Dawson, seconded by Commissioner Millich, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved the assignments of Chair and Vice Chair: AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Brassfield, Dawson, Fletcher, Freeman, Latasa, Millich, Reed NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None 4. Receive Report and Provide Direction on the City’s Undergrounding Policies (Exempt from CEQA Article 19, Section 15306, Class 6) Community Development Director Cole presented the report and answered Commissioners’ questions. City Engineer Steve Wittry and City Attorney Christine Davi were also present to answer questions. Public Comments Susan Nine, Monterey Vista Neighborhood Association president, supported undergrounding and asked for the Commission’s support by providing a simple draft amendment to the General Plan that could then be brought back to City Council. DocuSign Envelope ID: 6A003022-9F24-489F-95BF-21BB5E273BF7 Hans Jannasch of Monterey Vista Neighborhood said there is active support from Monterey Vista neighborhood for undergrounding for reasons including fire hazard reduction and blight removal. Jeannie Ferrara of Monterey Vista talked about other cities’ progress in undergrounding. She said that she lives in a high fire hazard area. Ray Meyers, Monterey Vista, talked about transmission lines and fire risk and urged the Commission to set the course now for the City’s future. Kirstin Dotterrer, Monterey Vista, talked about the fire risk in her neighborhood and said that this issue should be treated with the urgency it deserves. Nina Beety said that PG&E’s priority is not safe for residents because of their refusal to remove dead and dying branches from trees. She also referenced a California Supreme Court decision confirming municipalities’ police powers. She said undergrounding is one part of the solution and that restoring the health of forests is an urgent priority. Jeff Galfin, Monterey Vista, spoke about the fire risk in his neighborhood and that it is time the Planning Commission make a decision and stick with the decision. Bruce Zanetta mentioned micro grids as a potential solution in addition to undergrounding. Steve Pondit supported inclusion of residential areas in undergrounding. Pat Venza supported undergrounding because of the present fire risk. Jean Rasch, Monterey Vista, said the City needs to keep progressing on their undergrounding plan. She distributed maps showing fire risk. Suzanne Grimes of Old Town Monterey said that everyone she has talked to supports undergrounding as well. She wants to see undergrounding be done when feasible. Ms. Cole publicly commented about the City’s encroachment ordinance for communications facilities and how this has led into undergrounding discussions for electrical lines. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Dawson wanted to look into having transmission lines undergrounded as well. Mr. Wittry said it is very expensive to underground transmission lines, but it can be done. Commissioner Brassfield asked how long it would take to get approval for undergrounding. Ms. Davi said it is a lengthy process but it is doable and it would take a lot of work on part of residents to get the petition process going. Commissioner Reed said he supports undergrounding but brought up that not all residents would be able to afford the added cost of undergrounding. Commissioner Brassfield asked for an explanation on PG&E’s study into undergrounding on North Fremont. Mr. Wittry explained the Rule 20A process. Commissioner Millich said he would like to see that undergrounding of utilities in residential areas where fire damage is of legitimate concern be included in the new ordinance. He referenced Cal DocuSign Envelope ID: 6A003022-9F24-489F-95BF-21BB5E273BF7 Fire’s map and that insurance companies refuse to cover in areas where there is high damage or high rates where no one can afford to buy insurance. Commissioner Freeman said she would like to see four scenarios of how this could be funded. Commissioner Fletcher said he is in support of the undergrounding effort. Commissioner Reed pointed out that “shall” is mandatory and “should” is not mandatory when considering ordinance language. 5. Receive Report on Planning Office Work Program (Not a Project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Community Development Director Cole presented the report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Commissioner Millich asked when Lighthouse Avenue/Circulation Plan was going to be addressed. Ms. Cole said that this could be noted as a comment that the Planning Office should add the Circulation Plan to the work program. Commissioner Brassfield added noise as another topic that could be added to the work program. Ms. Cole said that in consultation with the City Manager that the noise ordinance was not seen as a priority for the Planning Office. Commissioner Millich asked if there would be a replacement for Elizabeth Caraker. Ms. Cole said the Planning Office is reviewing options. A discussion ensued about Bull and Bear and the noise ordinance. Commissioner Millich suggested asking the City Council if they wanted the Planning Commission to consider the noise ordinance. Public Comments Jean Rasch said that she and other residents do not want cell towers in their neighborhood and that they do not want to have to come back to meetings and defend this position. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Reed said he will not be at the next Planning Commission meeting. Commissioner Latasa said he spoke at the January 21, 2020 City Council meeting on the appeal of the Planning Commission’s December 10, 2019 cannabis lab decision. He said he concluded that there was some understanding between Council and the majority of the Planning Commission on this issue. Commissioner Brassfield asked Ms. Cole if she had heard anything about the League of California Cities. Ms. Cole said that she did not have new information. Ms. Davi made a correction to a statement she made earlier in the meeting. During a discussion about undergrounding, she had said that Manhattan Beach, California did not have bonding but she realized it was a different city. DocuSign Envelope ID: 6A003022-9F24-489F-95BF-21BB5E273BF7 INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS Planning Office Update No addition information provided. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Chair Latasa adjourned the meeting at 6:00 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kimberly Cole, AICP Chair Community Development Director Planning Commission