November 15, 2022
City Council Meeting
Written Public Comments
Public Comments
Non-Agenda Item
Pamela Coleman
From: Janice Brownfield
Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2022 7:05 PM
To: City Council Public Comment
Subject: Public Comment Non-Agenda Item
Homelessness, but not habitability of our planet, has been an issue in our recent City election even though many of us are aware that "our house" - - the planet -- "is on fire." Millions of people on this planet have already lost their homes due to extreme droughts, wildfires and flooding. Community safety needs to be extended to not just assisting our unhoused neighbors but also to combating the deadly effects of global warming. In September ash was falling on our homes from the wildfire 50 miles away in Hemet. Five years ago the Canyon Fire 2 in the Anaheim Hills area caused significantly more ash to fall on our community. In considering any development projects in Orange it is imperative that the City Council analyze and mitigate wildfire risk.
Community and individual microgrids are a less costly and faster alternative to the public utility's rate increase request for reducing wildfire risk. Microgrids can mitigate wildfire risk by the utility turning off overhead wire service for extended periods during the highest fire risk periods. Earlier this month a 219-home development in Menifee became California's first solar- and battery-powered microgrid community. Los Angeles County has proposed a regional microgrid agency to serve half of California's population, including Orange County, to help local governments implement microgrids to provide clean and resilient energy for electricity customers. The City of Fremont has installed microgrids with on-site solar power, battery storage and system integrations at 3 of its 11 fire stations.
As our elected local government representatives, you can take action to protect the health of your constituents, including from the harmful effects of smoke from wildfires such as reduced lung function, bronchitis, exacerbation of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure, and premature death. Even when there is no wildfire nearby our air quality is often "unhealthy" or "poor" due to heat and pollution caused by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and methane gas. You can apply for funding for microgrids and battery storage of renewable energy sources including solar and wind power to reduce the risk of wildfires and to provide us with cleaner and cooler air to breathe.
Pamela Coleman
Subject: RE: Thank you, City of Orange
Hello City Administrator!
I am so impressed with the local government of Orange. You guys rock!!! The programs and services that you support really make a difference. I volunteer at the monthly Friends Food Pantry which serves the elderly and poor; the Youth Centers of Orange which provides children locations and activities so they are not latch-key kids; and the HUB Resource Center (HRC) serving the homeless population of Orange. I have experienced the excellent management of each of these programs.
Regarding the HRC, there are folks that need sobriety and mental health services. But there are also clear-headed people that have just tallen on hard times. For example, today I met a new friend at the HRC. He was clear-headed, but only had tee-shirts and shorts. So we fixed him up, finding a warm coat and hat for the cold night ahead. He was humble and appreciative. I try to help these folks understand that they have infinite value. Here's a photo of my new friend, decked out in his coat and beanie.
Thanks again, City of Orange, for helping your residents. You are really making a difference!!!! Fred Stoughton
Pamela Coleman
From: Mark Mikhail
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2022 2:06 PM
To: City Council Public Comment
Subject: Short term rental
To whom it may concern,
I'm a homeowner in Orange, CA and I feel that it's not fair that the city limits the short term rental permits to only 125.
Currently there are more than 300 short term listings in the city of orange. Given that times are tough with all the inflation going on, the city would greatly help homeowners by expanding the number of permits allowed. A Lot of us would benefit greatly from the extra income since we are currently struggling to feed our families living paycheck to paycheck. Also the city of Orange would benefit as well since there's a tax that will need to be paid along with the annual permit fee.
Pamela Coleman
From: fadymalek
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2022 2:15 PM
To: City Council Public Comment
Subject: Complaint
To Whom it may concern,
I believe that the city could increase the number of short term rental permits allowed. This will help generate more income for the city along with giving homeowners an opportunity to make extra income in troubling times like these. We are all aware that the cost of living and goods have gone up tremendously. It's at the point where it is almost unbearable for a lot of homeowners in Orange county. Something so small as just simply raising the number of permits allowed could go a long way with struggling homeowners.
Thanks for taking the time to read my email.
Pamela Coleman
From: Mina Awad •
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2022 2:26 PM
To: City Council Public Comment
Subject: str limit complaint
Dear city of Orange,
I'm a homeowner that owns multiple homes in the city of Orange and I'm looking to get into the short term rental market however I was astonished to find out that the city limits the permits to only 125. This is something that is very limiting to the homeowners here given how big the city of Orange is. By increasing the number of permits the city of Orange would produce more income along with giving us homeowners an opportunity to produce income on our properties. Given how high interest rates are along with the prices of homes it is very hard for any landlord to make income by renting the property out on a long term basis. Please consider raising the number of permits allowed.
Thank you for your time.
1 Pamela Coleman
From: Gabriela Del Cid
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2022 10:28 AM
To: City Council Public Comment; City Council Public Comment Cc: Arianna Barrios
Subject: The Bars
Hello!
don't appreciate seeing late at night that affects me in my personal life. - visitors drinking in the Paul's parking lot and throwing their finished bottles of cans or even at times glass that shatter in our back patio. Sometimes these items come directly from Paul's as well. - We've had people throw unidentified substances in our back patio as well with us having to call the Orange PD to come and help identify the substances.
- People coming to our back window and yelling or even threatening us to go outside and fight - I dont appreciate that the Paul's parking Lot is only being monitored on Thursday-Saturdays when they should be equally responsible for the the entire week. There should be more than one person monitoring the parking lot on Thursday-Saturdays. One person is enough for their non busy days of Sunday-Wednesday
- People walking to our front yard, side yard, and our car port and using it as a restroom, or a place to be intimate, and even do drugs is not ok. Kids live here and use these areas as a playground making it unsafe for them.
- I also don't appreciate people jumping on the ledges trying to peak over into our back patio from the parking lot or walking to our front window peaking inside our home Thank you for your time.
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Public Comments
Item 3.30
Pamela Coleman
From: [email protected]
Sent: uesday, November 15, 2022 10:42 Al
To: Pamela Coleman; Jennifer Connall
Subject: New eComment for City Council - Adjourned Regular Meeting New eComment for City Council - Adjourned
Regular Meeting
Tony Trabucco submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council - Adjourned Regular Meeting
Item: 3.30. Addition of 167 N. Little Main Street to the City of Orange Historic Resources Inventory.
eComment: OTPA is in support of adding 167 N Little Main St; Orange to the City of Orange Historic Resources Inventory given its largely intact historic architecture, and rich history within the City of Orange. We'd also like to thank the applicant for providing the detailed study on the history of the home, which also resulted in our receipt of a 400-page presentation on the history of the home created by its prior owner -- who also gave OTPA permission to provide a copy to the History Center of the Orange Public Library. OTPA would also encourage other owners of historic homes outside of Old Towne to have their properties surveyed, such that additional protections can be put into place to protect these historic assets, while also potentially providing tax benefits to the owners via the Mills Act. Sincerely, Tony Trabucco Old Towne Preservation Association Preservation Co-Chair
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Public Comments
Item 6.2
Pamela Coleman
From: Tony Trabucco <
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2022 11:18 AM
To: City Council Public Comment
Subject: Public Comment Item # 6.2
November 15, 2022
Mayor - Mark Murphy
Mayor Pro Tem - Kimberlee Nichols
Council Member - Arianna Barrios
Council Member - John Dumitru
Council Member - Ana Gutierrez
Council Member - Chip Monaco
Council Member - Kathy Tavoularis
Re: Consent Calendar Item #6.2 Mills Act Contracts - S Grand St Properties Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
Re: Item 6.2 - Historic Property Preservation Agreements (Mills Act Contracts) for S.
Grand St properties
While OTPA is aware that Mills Act contracts can be applied to investment properties, and that non-historic additions are assessed at the standard property tax rates, this is a unique situation. The property owner seeks to obtain preferential tax treatment for historic resources, while at the same time forever diminishing the historic resources by converting them into student housing with the addition of a secondary structure nearly as large as the primary residence.
While 529 S Grand currently has an approved project in place (although under appeal), and 515 S Grand does not currently have an approved project in place (it was recently denied by DRC, but will likely be appealed or a maximum-sized ADU will be built with little oversight by the City, and limited-to-no parking on a single-loaded parking street) it would seem prudent to:
a.) Withhold any decision on Mills Act contracts for these two properties until final determinations are in place
b.) Utilize any discretion that City Council has to deny Mills Act contracts for these two properties if additional units are to be built, which is in direct opposition to the intent of the Mills Act. The City of Orange must stop the blatant "commercialization of our neighborhoods."
1 To reward this type of development with reduced property taxes encourages additional over-development (which primarily serves to house Chapman University students), and therefore further deterioration of our National Register Historic District.
Thank you again for your consideration of this request.
Respectfully,
Tony Trabucco
Preservation Co-Chair/Past President
Old Towne Preservation Association
(OTPA)
714-639-6840
[email protected]
www.OTPA.org
2 Pamela Coleman
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] - Re: Public Comment Item #6.2 - City Council Meeting 11/15/22 On Nov 15, 2022, at 2:33 PM, Alison Vukovich •
memo
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council, City of Orange From: Alison and Michael Vukovich
CC: City Clerk
Gary Sheatz, City Attorney
Date: November 14, 2022
Re: Mills Act Contracts for 515 and 529 S. Grand St.
Agenda Item #6.2
Dear City Council,
We are submitting this letter to you because we are not able to attend the City Council meeting on Tuesday November 15, 2022. As property owners and local members of the community, we respectfully request that the City Council review the Staff Report (File 22-0640) in detail prior to making a determination regarding the Mills Act contracts for 515 and 529 S. Grand St.
The Mills Act Program, as outlined in the application, is a contract in which, "the property owner agrees to preserve, maintain, and rehabilitate the historic property." As members of the Orange County community, living with our family nearby, we take pride in the homes that we purchased and look forward to maintaining the historical details in each of them.
The Application indicates that, "properties must be privately owned and not be exempt from property taxation. Both owner occupied and income-producing properties are eligible for a contract." In fact, the methodology for determining value is based on income production. Even commercial properties are eligible for the Mills Act (currently 16 of them), and about half of the current Mills Act contracts have "absentee owners," presumably investors (as noted in the Staff Report).
We have read and value the Historic Preservation Design Standards ("HPDS") published by the City and have completed the following improvements since acquiring the properties earlier this year. 515 S. Grand St.
Extensive repairs to the exterior of the house (siding) and painting (following HPDS standards, using a historical color palette).
1 - Interior plumbing and electrical repairs
- HVAC installation (following HPDS standards)
- Installation of irrigation and landscaping in keeping with the historical design standards (from HPDS: "front yards are generally characterized by low-growing lawns with foundation plantings at the base of the buildings or cottage gardens with a variety of plantings) - Future projects for consideration:
• Repair and retrofit of historical garage
• Restoration of historical details that have been concealed over time • Seismic retrofitting
• On-going repair and maintenance as may become necessary 529 S. Grand St.
- HVAC installation (following HPDS standards)
- Complete electrical retrofit, including all-new wiring per code requirements and a new electrical panel
- Repairs to original windows (following HPDS Window Repair) - Future projects for consideration:
• Structural repairs
• Restoration of historical details that have been concealed over time • Seismic retrofitting
• Roof repairs (to repair sagging areas
• On-going repair and maintenance as may become necessary.
To address some concerns that were raised at the last City Council review:
- The Mills Act tax reduction only applies to the historical structures. - Any future additions to the property would be assessed separately and would be excluded from the Mills Act.
As the Councilmembers may be aware, we recently submitted Minor Site Plan modifications for both properties to the Design Review Committee. The DRC rejected our plans for 515 S. Grand St. and approved our plans for 529 S. Grand St., however it was later appealed by a member of the City Council. It is worth noting that at this time any future plans for new structures on these properties are unknown due to the time and expense of the approval and building process. Nevertheless, there are at least 21 Mills Act properties with ADUs (Staff Report, based on permits pulled).
To reiterate the point, per the last paragraph of the Staff report, "The new construction at 529 S. Grand Street that was recently approved at DRC will not benefit from the lower tax valuation. 154 N. Shaffer Street and 515 S. Grand Street do not have new construction that would benefit from the Mills Act Contract. In the future, should the property owner decide to apply for an ADU or any new construction, the new construction will not be included in the Mills Act scope of work or the Historic Property Value." Should the City wish to reconsider the Mills Act application process and change the rules, it is only fair that the changes be made going forward, and not retroactively. The community should be made aware (via public notice) of such changes and should have the opportunity to make public comment. Our applications were submitted on February 15, 2022 (515 S. Grand) and March 11, 2022 (529 S.
Grand). Members of the community make decisions to purchase homes and commercial buildings in Orange based on the existing rules, regulations, and codes. We have met all requirements for the Mills Act Program and look forward to using our Mills Act contract benefit to further improve and maintain these historic residences.
2 Alison Vukovich
Public Comments
Item 8.2
Pamela Coleman
From: emma hockenberry
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2022 9:46 PM
To: City Council Public Comment
Cc: Arianna Barrios
Subject: City Council Meeting Comment
Hello there,
Thank you for taking the time to meet with us community members to make the city of Orange the best it can be. Living in this town has many perks, but sometimes there can be times when it is difficult. As someone who lives extremely close to The Circle (on Olive Street behind Paul's and the District Bar) it can get loud, rowdy, tiresome, etc.
It was something my husband and I had grown used to, or tried our best to ignore, but now that we have a two week old in our home, it is extremely difficult to live in these kinds of conditions. With the loud music, rowdy patrons and revving engines, it not only keeps us awake, but also the baby. It really does bring the noise to a new level when you can't console a screaming baby after being shaken awake.
In all, as loving members of this community, we hope that something can be done to bring this amazing town to what it used to be. We hope to feel safe and comforted in walking with our daughter and not feel like we will be bombarded by drunkards roaming near our home.
Again, thank you for the time in meeting with us. We appreciate your time.
Pamela Coleman
From: Lauren Maples
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2022 10:01 AM
To: Arianna Barrios; City Council Public Comment
Subject: Noise/crime
To whom it may concern:
My husband and 1(and our 6 week old baby) moved onto Olive Street in August of 2021.
I didn't anticipate sleeping much this past year with a new baby and even now with a one year old, but I was surprised that the cause was not my baby.
Each night - and especially Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights - around 10 pm when my husband and I start to wind down, the District Lounge starts their music.
I'm not exaggerating when I say that I can feel the bass. And there is no relief until the bar closes, at which point | get more concerned because I know (from experience) that there are intoxicated people walking and driving home - right past where I live.
My husband and I like to leave our windows open rather than running the air, but we cannot because of the noise level from the District Lounge - not to mention safety concerns as many trespass onto our property for various reasons as they leave the District.
I can give many examples of the inconvenience this has caused us, but here are a few:
- My mom cannot stay overnight because of the noise
- The financial and environmental cost of running the air each and every night - My daughter has been woken up from naps and in the middle of the night simply by the noise (a sound machine does not solve the problem)
Thank you for your time and attention,
Lauren Maples
1 Pamela Coleman
From: Richie M < [email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2022 12:10 PM
To: City Council Public Comment
Cc: Arianna Barrios
Subject: District
Good evening commissioners,
We are here tonight to discuss the impact on our quality of life stemming directly from the district lounge. As you may recall in the last meeting, specific guidelines were set in place to ensure our lives would not be adversely affected by the district and the patio addition. However, the district has not adhered to the rules and regulations, as made evident through many code violations submitted in the orange 24/7 app, emails to Aaron Shulze and Mrs. barrios, and reports to OPD. The music and ambient noise have been deemed hazardous in recent years, and have only worsened since our last meeting. The noise exceeds acceptable amplified and ambient noise levels, and continues past 1AM as documented over the last few weekends. Granting them further permits would directly impact and diminish our quality of life more than it already has. We are unable to sleep, our children cannot sleep, we are unable to work, unable to recover from illness, unable to enjoy our home patios, unable to have friends and family visit, and unable live normal lives. It is a direct violation of our rights per the state of California Health and Safety Code 46000. ... (f) All Californians are entitled to a peaceful and quiet environment without the intrusion of noise which may be hazardous to their health or welfare.
Opd has done an outstanding job articulating the importance of why granting the district this permit would not only affect our community, it would impact our police force. The facts and statistics provided by opd do not lie. Public safety should always come first, not businesses that provide false statements and do not adhere to the laws and guidelines provided by the city and state.
Richard muniz
Public Comments
Item 8.3
Pamela Coleman
From: Tony Trabucco
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2022 12:07 PM
To: City Council Public Comment
Subject: Public Comment Item # 8.3
November 15, 2022
Mayor - Mark Murphy
Mayor Pro Tem - Kimberlee Nichols
Council Member - Arianna Barrios
Council Member - John Dumitru
Council Member - Ana Gutierrez
Council Member - Chip Monaco
Council Member - Kathy Tavoularis
Re: Item 8.3 - Public Hearing to consider Major Site Plan Review No. 1013-20 Tentative Parcel Map No. 0017-20, Design Review No 5011-20 and Development Agreement No. 0008-22; a request to rehabilitate two historic buildings at 410 W Chapman Ave and 135 NAtchison St, remove non-historic structures, construct two new buildings, and provide parking relief to Old Towne Gateway, LLC in return for dedication and maintenance of a public access pedestrian walkway between N. Atichson St. and N. Cypress St, and finding of CEQA exemption. Ordinance No 08-22 and Resolution No. 11421 Dear Mayor and City Council,
The proposed Gateway project, while potentially energizing the West entryway to Old Towne, requires the removal of historic fabric, thereby presenting an opportunity for a precedent which should be avoided. OTPA is not opposing the project, but rather the process by which the removal of historic fabric for the project was approved by the Planning Commission.
• While OTPA is not opposed to the removal of secondary historic fabric for this project (inappropriate historic additions, mostly corrugated tin structures that obscure one of the primary historic resources to be adaptively reused -- the 1 transformer building) we do agree with the DRC's position that there should be a systematic process followed to insure that historic fabric is not simply removed due to an applicant's desire to have it removed (and the say so of their consultant indicating that it's not historic). Given the nature and importance of our National Register Historic District, it's imperative that the City develop, with the input of interested stakeholders, a process such that requests of this nature can be reviewed by an independent third party, and that
appropriate checks and balances are in place, prior to the removal of any historic fabric. This process issue was
raised at the last DRC meeting regarding this project,
and the City Attorney indicated that no such process
currently exists for properties listed under State or
Federal guidelines, and that the City of Orange also
does not have a process to de-list locally designated
resources, if necessary,
• OTPA also concurs with the DRC's position that the project is not necessarily consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, given a lack of specific details regarding treatments; and for the conditions noted as designating the project exempt from CEQA (i.e. the assertion that several of the buildings were built outside of the period of significance, which apparently has not been defined for the Local Historic District, and that demolishing of some or all them is exempt from CEQA. The 112 N Cypress building, for example, is listed on both the State and National Registers, and therefore would not fall under a categorical CEQA exemption).
OTPA is requesting that approval of this project be postponed until a defined process for the delisting of an historic resource for purposes of removal of historic resources can be properly developed.
Thank you for your consideration of this information.
Respectfully,
2 Tony Trabucco
Preservation Co-Chair/Past President
Old Towne Preservation Association
(OTPA)
714-639-6840
www.OTPA.org
3 Public Comments
Item 8.4
Pamela Coleman
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2022 11:37 A
To: Pamela Coleman; Jennifer Connall
Subiect: New eComment for City Council - Adjourned Regular Meeting New eComment for City Council - Adjourned
Regular Meeting
Tony Trabucco submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council - Adjourned Regular Meeting
Item: 8.4. Public Hearing to consider Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance No. 10-22 creating the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone; providing development standards to regulate the addition of bedrooms or bathrooms to a primary residence within specified boundaries; revising or adding definitions pertaining to residential additions and student housing; and updating provisions for reviewing body approval of specified matters. eComment: To Mayor Murphy and the City Council, The Old Towne Preservation Association (OTPA) is in support of the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone, While not impacting Old Towne directly (at least yet), any effort to minimize the impacts of increasing density in surrounding neighborhoods in Orange is encouraged. Few, if any, of the projects that have been oroposed or built are to increase the amount of affordable housing in the area -- they have almost all been exclusively built to house Chapman University students, resulting in significant neighborhood parking issues, as mini-dorms tend to have far more automobiles than traditional single-family homes. As noted at the last City Council meeting, "commercialization of our neighborhoods" must be discouraged! Thank you for your time and efforts in this matter.
Sincerely, Tony Trabucco OTPA Preservation Co-Chair/Past President View and Analyze eComments
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