City Council Meeting Minutes February 28, 2023
2.2 Doug Elliott and Alan Meyerson, Irvine residents, spoke in support of the City's funding of the Theatre.
Eric Neshanian, Irvine resident, spoke in opposition.
By consensus, received and filed.
Building Electrification Infrastructure for Multi-Family Housing Projects
Councilmember Treseder introduced Sean Armstrong, Managing Principal,
Redwood Energy, who provided information on building
electrification infrastructure for multi-family housing projects.
City Council
discussion included: questioning whether electric water heaters would be similar in size to gas units for multi-family housing; inquired
about electric water heater availability; and inquired about whether the cost benefit for all electric utilities could only be achieved through solar power.
Ayn Craciun, Irvine resident, spoke in support of all-electric utilities.
Hoyin Ip, Irvine resident, spoke in opposition of the City Council's action against
multi-family homes and restaurants with respect to building electrification infrastructure.
Eric Neshanian, Irvine resident, spoke in opposition.
By consensus, received and filed.
PUBLIC COMMENTS - NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
Susan Sayre, Irvine resident, spoke in opposition to Live Nation and a larger amphitheater at Great Park; and in support of City Commissions reviewing Great Park Board projects.
Alan Meyerson, Irvine resident, spoke in opposition to a larger amphitheater at Great Park, including Vice Mayor Kim and Councilmember Treseder's support for a larger venue.
Dee Fox, Irvine resident, presented a video in opposition to Vice Mayor Kim.
Eric Neshanian, Irvine resident, spoke in opposition to Mayor Khan and Vice Mayor Kim.
Doug Elliott, Irvine resident, spoke in support of muting microphones for those attending meetings in-person who exceed the allotted time limit for speaking similar to those who attend via Zoom.
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City Council Meeting Minutes February 28, 2023
3. CONSENT CALENDAR - CITY COUNCIL
Moved by Vice Mayor Kim, seconded by Councilmember Carroll, and unanimously carried to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 3.1 through
3.7, with the exception of Consent Calendar Item Nos. 3.4 and 3.5, which were removed for separate discussion.
3.1 MINUTES
ACTION:
1) Approved the minutes of a special meeting of the City Council held on January 24, 2023.
2) Approved the minutes of an adjourned regular meeting of the City Council held on January 24, 2023.
3.2 PROCLAMATIONS
Prior to City Council approval, Eric Neshanian, Irvine resident, spoke in opposition.
ACTION:
Proclaimed March 2023, as "National Nutrition Month."
3.3 WARRANT AND WIRE TRANSFER RESOLUTION
ACTION:
Adopted RESOLUTION NO. 23-20 - A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF IRVINE, CALIFORNIA,
ALLOWING CERTAIN CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AND
SPECIFYING THE FUNDS OUT OF WHICH THE SAME ARE TO
BE PAID
3.4 LETTER OF INTENT FROM THE CITY OF /RV/NE NOTIFYING THE
COUNTY OF ORANGE OF THE INTENTION TO WITHDRAW FROM
THE ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM
This item was removed for separate discussion at the request of Vice Mayor Kim, who noted the need for more equity for the City of Irvine related to library services, which included major improvements to Heritage Park and University Park Libraries; and that Irvine has been subsidizing the Orange County Public Library System for many years, with Irvine paying the highest property tax revenue.
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City Council Meeting Minutes February 28, 2023
The following individuals spoke in opposition to withdrawing from the Orange County Public Library System:
• Susan Sayre, Irvine resident
• Eric Neshanian, Irvine resident
• Dee Fox, Irvine resident
• Hoyin Ip, Irvine resident
The following individuals spoke in support of a world-class library system in Irvine:
• Diane Yowell, Irvine resident
• Naiya Mehta, Irvine resident
• Meena Ahuja, Irvine resident
• Shaan Ahuja, Irvine resident
• Sahan Ahua, Irvine resident
• Preya Shrivastava, Irvine resident
Anita and Anish Bhat, Irvine residents, inquired about the pros and cons of leaving the Orange County Public Library (OCPL) system, and provided suggestions for both options.
City Council discussion included: noting Irvine's contribution to the OCPL system and the lack of control of Irvine libraries; and reiterating the imbalance of services provided to Irvine and other cities within the OCPL system.
ACTION: Moved by Vice Mayor Kim, seconded by Councilmember Carroll, and unanimously carried to:
Authorize and direct staff to send a letter of intent notifying the County of Orange that the City of Irvine intends to withdraw from the Orange County Public Library system.
3.5 ACCEPTANCE OF BOYA FOUNDATION DONATION
This item was removed for separate discussion at the request of Councilmember Carroll, who inquired about the source of the donation and whether the funds were from the United States or China, to which Chief of Police Kent confirmed that the donation was based on United States funding.
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City Council Meeting Minutes February 28. 2023
businesses and residents located in Irvine; 2) create a website similar to the City of Lake Forest, and update the unclaimed property on the City's website every quarter to ensure an updated local source of information related to unclaimed property; and 3) conduct a robust outreach campaign informing residents and businesses about their unclaimed property.
Dahle Bulosan, Director of Administrative Services, presented the staff report and responded to questions.
Eric Neshanian, Irvine resident, spoke in opposition.
City Council discussion included: questioning whether there would be a cost to the City; and reiterated the public benefit with a minor investment.
ACTION: Moved by Councilmember Carroll, seconded by Vice Mayor Kim, and unanimously carried to:
1) Direct staff to obtain unclaimed property records held by the California State Controller for businesses and residents located in the City of Irvine.
2) Direct staff to create a website, similar to the Unclaimed Property website maintained by the City of Lake Forest, and update the unclaimed property on the City of Irvine website every quarter to ensure an updated local source of information about unclaimed property.
3) Direct staff to conduct a robust outreach campaign to inform the residents and businesses in the City of Irvine about their unclaimed property.
5.2 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CHANGES AND ADDITIONS iO
POSTED SPEED LIMITS
Patrick De Guzman, Senior Transportation Engineer, presented the staff report and responded to questions. Kerwin Lau, Deputy Director of Transportation, was also available for questions.
City Council discussion included: questioning how speed limits are being addressed on Cadence and Pusan in Great Park Neighborhoods; and inquired about speed limits on Turtle Rock Drive, and Michelson between Culver and University.
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City Council Meeting Minutes February 28, 2023
City Council discussion included: questioning the ability for multiple programs to achieve carbon neutrality goals; inquiring about funding for staffing, programming, and a user-friendly platform; reiterated the importance of having neighbors work together; noted the desire to meet carbon neutrality by 2030; and discussed community engagement efforts and benefits.
ACTION: Moved by Mayor Khan, seconded by Councilmember
Agran, and unanimously carried by those members present (Councilmember Treseder absent), to:
Dedicate $240,000 for two years toward continued funding of the Cool Irvine Program.
Councilmember Treseder returned to the dais at 10:14 p.m.
5.4 DEDICATION OF A MEMORIAL TO THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AT
GREAT PARK
This item was agendized at the request of Vice Mayor Kim, who asked for City Council support to dedicate a memorial to the Armenian Genocide at Great Park.
Andrew Douglass, Senior Management Analyst, presented the staff report and responded to questions. Pete Carmichael, Assistant City Manager, was also available for questions.
The following individuals spoke in support of a memorial to the Armenian Genocide at Great Park:
• Nishan Dulgerian, Irvine resident
• Garo Madenlian, Armenian Cultural Foundation of Orange County, and ANCA of Orange County
• Dr. Kev Abajazian, Irvine resident
• Haig Balian, Orange County Knights of Vartan
• Harvey Liss, Irvine resident
• Jeremy Ficarola, Irvine resident
• Doug Elliott, Irvine resident
Eric Neshanian, Irvine resident, spoke in opposition.
City Council discussion included: noting the educational opportunity for residents; reiterated the importance of providing space for contemplation; suggested a community-led effort; suggested potential locations for a memorial; and suggested that a process for future memorials at Great Park should be referred to the Great Park Board for consideration.
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