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1 MINUTES OF THE
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING – CITY COUNCIL & PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 25, 2023
6:00 P.M.
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 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING TO ORDER (5:00 P.M.) Mayor Young called the Special Meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. 2) CONVENE OPEN SESSION
3) ROLL CALL
Present: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Campbell, Council Member Macenski, Vice Mayor Scott, Mayor Young
Absent: None
4) REFERENCE TO THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC
5) PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CLOSED SESSION
None
6) ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
6.A - PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957
Title: Interim City Manager
Mayor Young adjourned the meeting to Closed Session at 5:01 p.m. 7) RECONVENE OPEN SESSION
Mayor Young reconvened the Open Session at 6:04 p.m.
8) ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CLOSED SESSION, IF ANY
Ben Stock, City Attorney, stated Council met in Closed Session on one item and no reportable action was taken.
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2 9) ADJOURNMENT OF CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING AND CALL SPECIAL JOINT MEETING TO ORDER (6:00 P.M.)
Mayor Young adjourned the Special Meeting and called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.
10) ROLL CALL
Present: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Campbell, Council Member Macenski, Vice Mayor Scott, Mayor Young, Commissioner Apple, Commissioner Catton, Commissioner Kallios, Commissioner Lyle, Commissioner Slate
Absent: Commissioner Hayer, Commissioner Mollica
Excused: None
11) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
12) REFERENCE TO THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC
13) ADOPTION OF AGENDA
On motion of Council Member Macenski, seconded by Council Member Birdseye, Council approved the Adoption of the Agenda, as presented, on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Campbell, Council Member Macenski, Vice Mayor Scott, Mayor Young, Commissioner Apple, Commissioner Catton, Commissioner Kallios, Commissioner Lyle, Commissioner Slate Noes: (None)
14) OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS
15) WRITTEN COMMENT
16) PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Dan Smith - Mr. Smith discussed concerns regarding the playground at the City Park on First Street.
2. Lori Grundman - Ms. Grundman asked for clarification on an officer that was recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, and about National Night Out. 17) CONSENT CALENDAR
18) BUSINESS ITEMS
18.A - STUDY SESSION PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF DESIGN REVIEW PROCEDURES (Community Development Director)
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3 Suzanne Thorsen, Community Development Director, reviewed the staff report Council, Planning Commissioners, and Staff discussed a recent appeal, the concept of modifications that are less than 200 sq. ft., existing accessory use, why we are distinguishing between historic district and non-historic district, gearing the planning and permitting process so it is more user friendly, the need for an ombudsman/ombudsperson, the difficult permitting process, painting requiring design review in the downtown nonhistoric district, historically significant structures, design guidelines for new construction, Mills Act properties, and how much it would cost to staff the Community Development Department so there were more staff available to assist the public.
Public Comment:
1. Patrice Sartor - Ms. Sartor discussed concerns with the permitting and design review requirements for non-historic homes in the downtown historic district.
2. Brian Harkins - Mr. Harkins discussed concerns with the permitting and design review requirements for non-historic homes in the downtown historic district.
3. Evan Gorman - Mr. Gorman spoke in support for Staff's recommendations and suggested the need for more exemptions.
4. Steve McKee - Mr. McKee discussed concern regarding the lack of design review expertise on the HPRC.
5. Steven Goetz - Mr. Goetz discussed the streamlining process.
6. Tim Reynolds - Mr. Reynolds discussed the design review process.
7. Anastasia Heuer - Ms. Heuer discussed her experience with the design review process in Benicia.
8. Francis Harkins - Ms. Harkins discussed her experience with the design review process in Benicia.
9. Belinda Smith - Ms. Smith discussed the issue of compatibility in the downtown historic district.
10. Ken Taylor - Mr. Taylor discussed his experience with the design review process in Benicia.
11. Brandon Marshall - Mr. Marshall discussed the issue of compatibility.
Council, Planning Commissioners, and Staff discussed the issue of exempt activities, objective standards, support for Staff's proposals, support for moving more items to ministerial review, addressing the 2-1/2 story height limit and use either 2 or 3 stories, the need to be more 'customer centric', lack of support to dissolve the HPRC, and having the HPRC focus on the historic fabric of the historic districts.
Council had consensus on increasing the building height: increasing the limit (taking into account the issue of adjacency) and bringing the issue back to Council at a future date with some options.
Staff Report - Design Review Study Session
1. BMC Chapter 17.108 Design Review
2. BMC Chapter 17.54 H Historic Overlay District
3. Chapter 3 Downtown Historic Conservation Plan
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4 4. Chapter 3 Arsenal Historic Conservation Plan
5. Interpretive Guidance for Replacement of Residential Windows in a Historic District
6. List of HPRC Resolutions 2020-2023
19) ADJOURNMENT (8:00 P.M.)
Mayor Young adjourned the meeting at 9:24 p.m.
City Clerk