1 MINUTES OF THE
SPECIAL MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
JULY 26, 2022
6:00 PM
City Council Chambers, City Hall, 250 East L Street, complete proceedings of which are recorded. These are action minutes; a full video is available online at www.ci.benicia.ca.us/agendas.
ACCESSING THE MEETING
1) CALL TO ORDER (6:00 P.M.)
Mayor Young called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2) CONVENE OPEN SESSION
3) ROLL CALL
Present: Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Member Largaespada, Council Member Macenski, Council Member Strawbridge, Mayor Young, Commissioner Dravnieks Apple, Commissioner Catton, Commissioner Kallios, Commissioner Mollica, Commissioner Slate, Chair Birdseye
Absent: Commissioner Hayer
Planning Commissioner Hayer was absent.
4) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
5) REFERENCE TO THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC
6) ADOPTION OF AGENDA
On motion of Council Member Largaespada, seconded by Council Member Strawbridge, Council approved the Adoption of the Agenda, as presented, on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Member Largaespada, Council Member Macenski, Council Member Strawbridge, Mayor Young
Noes: (None)
7) OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS
8) WRITTEN COMMENT
9) PUBLIC COMMENT
2 1. Colleen Cosgrove, Benicia Arsenal Defense - Ms. Cosgrove discussed concern regarding SB35 and the proposed housing developments in the Arsenal.
2. Chris Eckinrode - Mr. Eckinrode discussed concern regarding SB35 and the proposed housing developments in the Arsenal.
3. Rebecca Morton - Ms. Morton discussed concern regarding SB35 and the proposed housing developments in the Arsenal.
4. Kathleen Brown - Ms. Brown discussed concern regarding SB35 and the proposed housing developments in the Arsenal.
5. Billy Babcock - Mr. Babcock discussed concern regarding SB35 and the proposed housing developments in the Arsenal.
10) CONSENT CALENDAR
11) BUSINESS ITEMS
11.A STUDY SESSION PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT HOUSING ELEMENT (Community
Development Director)
Suzanne Thorsen, Community Development Director, reviewed the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation.
Council Member Macenski and Staff discussed the Urban Growth Boundary.
Council Member Largaespada and Staff discussed the goals in Chapter 2, whether Staff could handle the proposed goals and be able to follow through with them, and how the zoning adjustments would be made.
Council Member Strawbridge and Staff discussed the issue of funding the proposed plans, the open space sites that were considered, city-owned properties, the Eastern Gateway, and how much interest has been expressed by private property owners.
Mayor Young and Staff discussed the site at Jefferson Ridge, racially concentrated areas of affluence (RCAA), auditing for fair housing, what could be built on a site that is rezoned, and how to ensure enough low-income housing is produced, what sort of penalties could be imposed if the City did not meet its obligation, and the issue of inclusionary housing.
Vice Mayor Campbell and Staff discussed the Winterhawk case that the City lost, the City's inclusionary housing ordinance, the buffers, and the issue of development of the City's surplus property.
Commissioner Apple and Staff discussed the issue of additional neighborhood meetings.
Commissioner Catton and Staff discussed whether sites that are being considered for the housing plan were being evaluated under Program 5.04.
3 Chair Birdseye discussed how the Planning Commission and the Community Development Department had been meeting on the Housing Element for years.
Commissioner Kallios and Staff discussed the status of the SB35 projects in the Arsenal.
Public Comment:
1. Marilyn Bardet - Ms. Bardet discussed concern regarding some of the sites on the list being unsuitable for residential development, specifically the Arsenal.
2. Barbara Gervase - Ms. Gervase discussed the grant that the Kyle Hyland Foundation received and possible sites where they could relocate.
3. Dan - Dan inquired about the deadline for submitting public comments.
4. Gerald Bettman - Mr. Bettman discussed concern regarding the proposed property on Blake Court.
5. Kathleen Brown - Ms. Brown inquired if Council could remove the Arsenal sites off of the list.
6. John - John discussed concern regarding the proposed site on Blake Court.
7. Virginia Barazza - Ms. Barazza discussed concern regarding the proposed site on Blake Court.
8. Citizen - the citizen requested the Arsenal sites be removed from the housing list.
9. Belinda - Belinda discussed concern regarding the proposed site on Blake Court.
10. Marilyn Bardet - Ms. Bardet asked for a point of order and discussed the toxic cleanup done by the Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC).
11. Bob Nicholson - Mr. Nicholson discussed whether the city-owned sites would be prioritized in the housing plan.
12. Aaron - Aaron discussed concern regarding some of the sites on the list.
13. Donald Dean - Mr. Dean discussed SB35 and the Arsenal sites.
14. Dana Dean - Ms. Dean discussed supported Mr. Dean's comments.
15. Karen Massey - Ms. Massey discussed support regarding the proposed housing development/infill housing in the Arsenal.
16. Kathy Kerridge - Ms. Kerridge discussed the housing crisis, raising the height limits for developments, and concern over development on Blake Court.
17. Barbara Jones- Ms. Jones discussed concern regarding SB35 and allowing developing in the Arsenal Historic District.
18. Matt Campbell - Mr. Campbell discussed concern regarding SB35 and allowing developing in the Arsenal Historic District.
19. Colleen Cosgrove - Ms. Cosgrove requested the Arsenal sites be removed from the list.
Council Member Macenski and Staff discussed the number of the housing units that could be achieved on opportunity sites in the City (1,576 units). The Arsenal sites account for approximately 300 of the available sites.
Mayor Young and Staff discussed what would happen if the Arsenal sites were removed from the opportunity sites list, and clarification that if the Arsenal sites were removed that would not stop the SB35 developments in the area.
4 Chair Birdseye and Staff discussed the requirements of SB35, and how affordable housing could be affected if the Arsenal sites were removed from the list.
Council Member Largaespada and Staff discussed the opportunity sites, parking requirements, and his request to pull the East E Street lot from the list.
Council Member Strawbridge stated she could not support pulling the East E Street lot off of the list.
Mayor Young and Staff discussed the East E Street lot being a repeat site and how that affects future developments. Mayor Young stated he was not currently in support of removing the East E Street lot from the list.
Vice Mayor Campbell discussed the issue of the low income housing. He could not support donating the East E Street lot to a developer for low-income housing.
Council Member Strawbridge and Staff discussed site #30 (Yuba Site), removing the Blake Court site from the list.
Council Member Macenski stated he could not support removing the East E Street lot from the list.
Commissioner Apple discussed support for removing the historic properties off the list.
Commissioner Catton discussed how multi-family housing was allowed in the Presidio, and concern regarding removing housing in the Arsenal from the list. She discussed support for keeping Blake Court on the list until the DTSC confirms remediation. She would like to see a mixed development on the East E Street lot.
Commissioner Kallios discussed support for removing Blake Court, the Arsenal sites, and the East E Street lot from the list.
Commissioner Slate did not support removing the Arsenal sites, Blake Court, or the East E Street lot from the list.
Commissioner Mollica discussed support for keeping the list as it is. He would like to see a park in the Arsenal.
Chair Birdseye discussed support for keeping the East E Street lot on the list. She discussed support for removing the Arsenal sites and Blake court from the list. She and Staff discussed the issue of possible redevelopment of Solano Square and the Southampton shopping center.
Removing the Arsenal from the list:
Council voted unanimously to keep the Arsenal sites on the list. 5 Removing Blake Court from the list:
Mayor Young - it depends on remediation level - if fully remediated it could stay.
Council Member Macenski - No
Council Member Strawbridge - waiting on more information to make a decision Council Member Largaespada - Yes
Vice Mayor Campbell - No
Mayor Young and Staff discussed the building height limits in the Downtown area.
Mayor Young asked if affordable housing was built in the City would it be possible to give priority to Benicia residents. Staff confirmed they would look into the issue. He and Staff discussed the issue of accessory dwelling units (ADU) and how they fall into affordable housing.
Staff Report - Housing Element Study Session
1. Chapter I. Introduction
2. Chapter II. Goals Policies and Programs
3. Chapter III. Sites Inventory and Analysis
4. Chapter IV. Housing Resources
5. Chapter V. Constraints
6. Appendix A: Regional Housing Needs Assessment
7. Appendix B - Fair Housing Assessment
8. Summary of AB 686 Requirements
9. Appendix C - Review of Previous Housing Element 2015-2023
10. Appendix D: Housing Element Sites Inventory List
11. Appendix E: Public Outreach
12. Written Public Comment Received through June 29, 2022
13. Written Public Comment Received June 30-July 19
12) ADJOURNMENT (8:00 P.M.)
Mayor Young adjourned the meeting at 10:33 p.m.
City Clerk