City Council
Special Meeting - 1:00 P.M.
February 15, 2023
PAGE 1
CITY OF CARSON
MINUTES
CARSON CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
FEBRUARY 15, 2023
1:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER:
The mee ting was called to order a t 1:03 P.M. by Mayor Lula Davis -Holmes via Zoom teleconference.
ROLL CALL:
City Clerk, Dr. Khaleah K. Bradshaw noted the roll:
Council Members Present via Zoom Teleconference:
Mayor Lula Davis -Holmes, Mayor Pro Tem pore Jawane Hilton , Council Member Jim Dear, Council Member Cedric Hicks, Sr., and Council Member Arleen Rojas
Also Present via Zoom Teleconference:
Monica Cooper, City Treasurer; David C. Roberts, Jr., City Manager; Sunny Soltani, City Attorney; Benjamin Jones, Assistant City Attorney; John Raymond, Assistant City Manager; Robert Lennox, Assistant City Manager; Tarik Rahmani, Deputy City Manager; Saied Naaseh, Director of Community Development; Michael Whittiker, Jr., Director of Community Services; and Crystal Williams, Director of Human Resources
CLOSED SESSION (Item 1)
REPORT ON ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS (CITY CLERK) – None.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ITEMS (CITY ATTORNEY)
Assistant City Attorney Jones announced the Closed Session item.
RECESS INTO CLOSED SESSION
The meeting was recessed at 1:06 P.M. by Mayor Davis-Holmes to Closed Session.
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
The meeting was reconvened at 2:01 P.M. by Mayor Davis-Holmes with all members previously noted present.
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS (CITY ATTORNEY)
Assistant City Attorney Jones provided the Closed Session Report as follows:
City Council
Special Meeting - 1:00 P.M.
February 15, 2023
PAGE 2
Item No. 2023-0111 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED
LITIGATION (CITY COUNCIL)
Recommendation: A closed session will be held, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) or (d)(3) and (e)(1), because there is a significant exposure to litigation in one case.
ACTION: No reportable action was taken.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR MATTERS LISTED ON THE AGENDA (MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC) (LIMITED TO ONE HOUR)
City Clerk, Dr. Bradshaw noted she received ten written comments via email regarding the Public Hearing.
WORKSHOP (Item 2)
Item No. 2023-0086 CARSON 2040 GENERAL PLAN UPDATE WORKSHOP/STUDY
SESSION (CITY COUNCIL)
Mayor Davis-Holmes declared the Public Hearing open.
City Clerk, Dr. Bradshaw gave the Public Hearing report.
Director Naaseh gave a staff report.
Rajeev Bhatia, representing Dyett & Bhatia, gave a PowerPoint presentation of the Carson 2040 General Plan Update.
Mayu Tanaka, representing Dyett & Bhatia, continued with the PowerPoint presentation on the Community Health & Environmental Justice Element (SB 1000).
Rajeev Bhatia continued with the PowerPoint presentation on the Community Services, Education & Safety Element, Open Space & Environmental Conservation Element, Noise Element, Economic Development Element, Housing Element, and Plans to Implement the General Plan.
Paul Stephenson, EIR Consultant for the General Plan with Environmental Science Associates (ESA), gave a PowerPoint presentation on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), The EIR Process, Topics Analyzed in the Draft EIR, Topics Found N ot to be Significant in the Draft EIR, Draft EIR Findings: Significant and Unavoidable Impacts, Draft EIR Findings: Less than Significant Impacts with Mitigation Incorporated, Draft EIR Findings: Less than Significant Impacts, Project Alternatives Evaluated in the Draft EIR, Alternative 1 – No Project Alternative, Alternative 2 – Corridors Alternative, Final EIR, and Public Outreach.
Director Naaseh gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Community Interests and Concerns – Legal Non -Conforming Uses, Business/Residential Mixed -Use, Shell Property, Economic Development/Strategic Plan, Community Outreach, Prohibited Uses, and Flex District.
City Council
Special Meeting - 1:00 P.M.
February 15, 2023
PAGE 3
(Mayor Davis-Holmes exited and rejoined the meeting.)
Public Testimony
The following individuals offered comments for reconsideration of some elements of the proposed 2040 General Plan Update and /or requested more time with stakeholders before adoption:
Todd Burnett, representing Carson Companies
Chris Wilson, Senior Policy Manager, Los Angeles County Business Federation Blake Perez, representing Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Los Angeles Sheila Johnson, concerned resident with several inquiries
Mayor Davis-Holmes requested the City Manager to contact Sheila Johnson and Mayor Pro Tempore Hilton to follow up.
Mark, representing a client who owns properties in the heavy industrial area Loren Miles, HEG Trust
Speaker, representing client who owns property (Truck Yard) on Anelo Avenue Mary Alden, representing Schultz property who owns building at 18421 Main Street Neil Cummings, Co-Trustee of the Carroll Shelby Trust
Lee Aceves, representing owner on Anelo Avenue, contact number 213-448-9835
City Clerk, Dr. Bradshaw read written comments she received from the following who requested reconsideration of some elements of the proposed 2040 General Plan Update and/or more time with stakeholders before adoption:
Henry Rogers, Managing Principal, Grey Pine Group – support Mark Waronek, Board President, South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce Alexandra Lakatos, Vice President of Edmond Group LLC
Mihran Toumajan, Government Relations Manager, on behalf of Tim Jemal, CEO of the NAIOP SoCal
Christine Gutierrez, Carson resident
Erin Gardner, Operations Manager, on behalf of Kat Janowicz, Chair Board of Directors, FuturePorts
Heather Abel, Managing Director of Asset Management, Banner Oak Capital Partners Jeremy Harris, President & CEO, Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Jessica Alvarenga, Director Government Affairs, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association
Mayor Davis-Holmes closed the Public Hearing.
Mayor Davis-Holmes and Mayor Pro Tempore Hilton stated they would like to meet with affected stakeholders who would be impacted by some of the zoning changes.
Council Member Dear stated he would like all of City Council to participate in the rou nd table with the businesses.
City Council
Special Meeting - 1:00 P.M.
February 15, 2023
PAGE 4
Council Member Dear suggested speakers speak at the beginning of the meeting which Mayor Davis-Holmes agreed.
Mayor Davis-Holmes recommended a survey be sent to residents.
Recommendation: TAKE the following actions:
1. OPEN the Public Hearing, TAKE public testimony, and CLOSE the Public Hearing; AND
2. PROVIDE direction to staff regarding the Carson 2040 General Plan Update.
ACTION: The Mayor and City Council were all in consensus with the following:
Prohibited Uses
Option 2 - Stay consistent with existing Zoning Code (Slide 39)
Flex District
Option 2 – Prohibit residential uses in some Flex District areas (retain two sites identified in the Housing Element as housing sites) (Slide 40)
Legal Non-Conforming Uses
Assistant City Attorney Jones noted that details of the non -conforming use regulations are addressed in the current Zoning Code (Slide 34).
Mayor Davis-Holmes asked staff for additional language be brought back by Director Naaseh for the City Council to make an informed decision.
Business Residential Mixed Use
Option 3 - Keep the existing zoning and have provisions that restricts access to Main Street for protection of the residents (Slide 35).
Mayor Davis-Holmes and Council Member Dear requested detailed language for City Council to feel comfortable about protecting the residents.
Council Member Dear asked about the Mobile Home Park Zoning. Assistant City Attorney Jones noted the Mobile Home Park Zoning is described in the Land Use Element which is Chapter 2 of the General Plan, Page 2-13, which there will be change in the language.
Shell Property
Option 2 – Keep the designation Business Residential Mixed Use; however, prohibit residential.
Council Member Dear suggested that the soil be tested to possibly make the area a ball diamond or soccer/football field and spoke in favor of more greenery, trees, parks, etc.
Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP)
The Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP) cannot be held up any further.
Community Outreach
Mayor Davis-Holmes recommended staff conduct a survey and meet with stakeholders.
City Council
Special Meeting - 1:00 P.M.
February 15, 2023
PAGE 5
The General Plan can be changed as needed.
Mayor Davis-Holmes asked that staff c ome back with language regarding zoning, t he Flex District, meeting with stakeholders, information about survey to residents and plan of action on how to proceed.
Council Member Dear asked that it be clear that City Council will not be voting on this item on February 21, 2023, but most likely in March which Mayor Davis-Holmes confirmed.
Mayor Pro Tempore Hilton asked that stakeholders meet with their District representative to ensure that there is a collective voice at the table. Due to the Brown Act, all five Council Members may not be able to meet with everyone at the same time. He encouraged all residents and stakeholders to reach out to the City Council individually.
Director Naaseh noted inventory of ema ils he received from folks and will send an invitation to them to meet with City Council and will have staff available to provide support as necessary.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:07 P.M. by Mayor Davis-Holmes.
____________________________________
Lula Davis-Holmes
Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________________
Dr. Khaleah K. Bradshaw
City Clerk
APPROVED BY CARSON
CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY/
HOUSING AUTHORITY
03-21-2023
Approved as Submitted. CH/JD 5/0