ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Via Zoom
Call to Order/Roll Call 1:06 PM
EDC MEMBERS PRESENT:
Deborah Robertson, Mayor
Ed Scott, Mayor Pro Tem
CITY/AGENCY STAFF PRESENT:
Marcus Fuller, City Manager
Robert Messinger, Deputy City Attorney
Sean Moore, Community Development Director
Daniel Casey, Senior Planner
David Hammer, Interim Public Works Director
Angela Perry, City Council/City Manager’s Executive Assistant
Additional Attendees: Resident John Peukert
Public Comments – None
Review/Approval of Minutes – Accepted for the Record.
Review /Modification of Agenda Items for Discussion
PRESENTATIONS
EDC-22-056 KIGT Smart EV Charging - EDC Presentation
Paul Franics from KIGT gave the presentation
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Mayor Robertson said that she is not sure if the project could be a great alternative.
Mayor Robertson was concern about the heavy truck loads. Mayor Pro Tem Scott asked about a partnership detail. They have not procured the property. He said the partnership to acquire the land; offset revenue. 20-year Power purchase agreement. Owned assets.
Mayor Pro Tem Scott said who pays for the electricity for free charging stations . Paul said, they leverage into solar microgrid and if there is evening charging for free the component of the low shaving, the demand responds, offsets the costs between the hrs. of 4-9 if you are grid connected, rather than powering electric car at full capacity, you do it at a lower amount. He said, there is compensation that utility provides for that resilience.
Additionally, they have digital advertisements. Between the low shaving, the digital
advertisement, as well as the low carbon fuel credit reporting, you are helping to offset emissions. Moreover, cars will provide revenue in terms of monthly checks between $180 or up to $230 per charger if i t’s connected to a microgrid. Mayor Robertson asked, how can they find greater savings for residents in Rialto ? The presenter does not have any land data. However, they have the locations for st ations and gave examples. He mentioned that it is much easier to put climate tech infrastructure on new construction locations. Mayor Robertson asked, how far away the operation can occur based on the land use. The presenter answered, areas such as multifamily adjacent, are ideal location to maximize utilization. Mayor Robertson asked, the project footprint is 15+ acres max., what could be your minimum? He said 13 acres. Mayor Robertson said that the project is a dynamic alternative. Sean Moore said that they met with them a week ago and they submitted a proposal including sites and the partnerships. Mayor Robertson suggested to Paul to add the name of the investors in the portfolio.
Side note
Attorney Robert Messinger asked Commissioner John Peukert if he was there in the capacity of Planning Commission Chair or a Resident. Mr. Peukert stated that he was there as a resident.
REPORTS
1 EDC-22-055 Newcastle Partners - Foothill Freeway Commerce Center Presenters:
Jackson Smith began with PowerPoint
Courtney Smith
Jeremy Krout
Michael Brown
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Mayor Pro Tem Scott appreciated that the driveway was moved back and the addition of the commercial landscaping on the front. He is concerned about the building in the back.
He asked about the docks on those, now the building is 250,185 SF is not an incubator, that’s a warehouse. Jackson said an incubator became a problem. He said it’s a work in progress. Multiple buildings become less viable. Mayor Pro Tem Scott said it needs to run through the staff and Planning Commission, before coming to Council. He said, he does not see the City approving a 250k 2ft building in that area. They will have to hear from the community. He said at the end of the day, they will have to take it through the process.
Mayor said she had envisioned something different. She asked if someone can contact the property owner. She said regarding the earthquake study do we have more information on that. She said she is looking for something that will complement the community. Sean said that they will work with the applicant. Mayor asked what is the property owner asking per square foot? Jackson answered her with $35sf.
2 EDC-22-054 Achieve Development Management Group - Proposed Commercial Development at Pepper Avenue and the SR-210 Freeway
Presenters:
Ash Etemadian, COO, ADMG, Inc. gave overview of the PowerPoint Jason Christian – Carson Company
John Moreland – KTGY
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Mayor Robertson asked do they own the land and he said they do anticipate purchasing it, however it’s still being negotiated. Mayor Robertson asked about the connection with pedestrians that could impact the habitat. Ash said that they anticipated that on a previous environmental study. He added, another option is a nature walk trail going through the habitat; however, this option has to be worked out with resource agencies.
Mayor Pro Tem Scott agrees with the proposal. He added that the project would benefit the community. Mayor Robertson is concerned about the traffic flow.
Daniel Casey said they will need to submit some additional documents and then go to the Planning Commission . Mayor said don’t forget the seismic concerns. She thought someone was out there digging and testing at the sight already. Ash responded to Mayor Robertson and said that they have done tests in coordination with the inspectors.
City Manager Marcus Fuller asked if there was a prior design consideration with new fueling stations for the position of the building vs the pumps or a goal to have them positioned a certain way? Ash said they put the fueling position towards the street because it’s easy for customers to access , and also for fuel delivery. Mayor Robertson is concerned about the difficulties that the fuel truck drivers will encounter from getting in and out the premises . Mayor Pro Tem Scott said the issue we have of not being consistent. We need to be consistent with everyone in terms of layout. He said that this is the perfect example. Mayor Robertson said she will leave that to staff.
Marcus mentioned that the area needs a new signal. Moreover, there are four properties near this project that can benefit from shar e driveways that access off that light signal.
Marcus said that he, Sean, and Daniel will have to meet with all the owners in that entire quadrate coordinating with ownership in the area and to make sure that they all agree with sharing the driveways and layout. Mayor Robertson said she agrees but should not make it a negotiating piece that justifies or deals with an amendment to a specific plan.
Mayor Robertson recognized that the land is zoned for commercial. Additionally, this is a decision that the property owners need to think about.
3 EDC-22-014 Mobile Vehicle Vending Ordinance
Marcus gave an overview of this. Mayor said she wants to know how do we deal with Popup folks after staff has gone home. Siri presented the PowerPoint.
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Mayor Pro Tem Scott has additional concerns. Intersections don’t go far enough. Look at the situation at Foothill and Willow. How close to an intersection and shopping centers.
Private Property – absolutely not. Shopping Center – He’s open to that as long as the property owner allows it. Food Trucks at special events – yes. He is glad we are bringing an Ordinance. Some of the vendors block the sidewalks. He told Marcus that we need to get more staff for Code Enforcement. Marcus said Pop Ups are not allowed. Marcus said, regarding push carts, the state law has granted them authority to operate. However, we need to actively monitor the Pop Ups, such as cell phones selling tents. Sean said they can add performance standards and work on distance requirements from driveways and main access areas.
Mayor Robertson said curbing for visibility is important . She mentioned the corner of Etiwanda Ave. and Pepper Ave., the two east sides create a traffic conflict. She said who’s checking these folks. They should have some type of permit. She mentioned specific locations with the mobiles Willow and South of Foothill at Acacia. Private vendors coming on someone’s property they still should have some type of permit. She would like examples of the private property. Mobile vending, food and gaming, it affects the community. The Mayor would like to get something from the Staff that the committee can review.
Siri gave staff’s recommendation for this item: Siri said that they focused the presentation and the draft Ordinance on distance to intersection . For instance, the one on Foothill where there is a high -speed traffic. The distance to driveways that they have observed on earlier drafts, brought up by Mayor Pro T em, is no longer part of the new draft. Siri mentioned that the site triangle is important for safety. Siri said that she will consider those as well. Regarding private property, they need to work on private parties, such as taco vendors or bounce house . She will work with Sean to figure out the appropriate measures to address private property.
Mayor Pro Tem Scott asked if they have gotten comments from Police and Fire. Siri said that they have gotten informal comments from Code. Mayor Pro Tem said that they need to talk to the people on the street who witness these issues every day. She added that they need to make sure that Fire and PD personnel have a specific purpose when they perform stoppings. Safety vehicles shouldn’t partake that haven’t been cleared with the City Manager. Mayor Robertson is concern about the us age of city equipment; She mentioned that it needs to be used only for a specific job task. Moreover, she is not agreed with the idea of having safety vehicles partaking with events that are not coordinating with the city. This is an issue that it needs to be follow up with chain of command procedures.
Marcus pointed the two types of food trucks, such as the pull truck and a fully contain mobile. He wants to make sure both type s of food vendors are regulated under the proposed ordinance. Siri said that the food vendor on the illustration is a trailer coach , it’s considered bubble food vending, which is allowed with the ordinance.
Mayor Robertson is aware of the prohibition dispensary and marijuana delivery in the city; However, she wants to know how we regulate delivery from other couriers from outside the city. Sean said, under state law, mobile mari juana is recognized separately vs. the mobile crew vending. He added, there is a law that allows them to deliver anywhere in the state. Mayor Pro Tem Scott said that they cannot set up a mobile vehicle and sale it from the curb.
The Committee said to m ake edits and move to Planning Commission and then to Council. Sean said within less than 90 days.
4 EDC-22-019 Discuss potentially endorsing the Brand-Huang-Mendoza Tripartisan Land Use Ballot Initiative intended to preserve local land use authority.
Marcus talked about the initiative and was directed by the Mayor to bring this item forward.
Mayor Robertson explained why she asked that this be brought forward.
Siri gave presentation of PowerPoint
Brand-Huang-Mendoza Ballot Initiative – Community Planning Initiative
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Mayor Robertson said at SCAG they voted on the initiative . She wanted to see how we want to vote on this as a city. Mayor Pro Tem Scott said he supports this as well. Mayor said we can wait for it to qualify, or we can do an Emergency Ordinance. Mayor Robertson believes that this is a good proposal to help older communities that don’t have the capacity to deal with adding. She said we can wait to qualify and then take a position to be able to address the potentials where people can start doing lot line divides.
Marcus mentioned the resolution that supports the initiative; he wants to know if we need to bring the resolution forward to the next meeting . Mayor Pro Tem Scott said we need to move it forward and inform the community. Marcus mentioned that Siri developed an Ordinance that can go through the Planning Commission and the Council to implement land use regulations allowed by SB9. Siri explained both matters, one is moving forward with the resolution and support with the ballot initiative. And according to the Council, we should proceed. The second, is the Urgency Ordinance for implementation of SB9. Siri recommends working on the second ordinance because there is a lot of activity with people already asking to add to their properties. Mayor Roberson asked Siri to explain the size of the units. Siri explained the size, 800 2ft or less can be required by law, greater than 800 2ft they have to preclude.
The Committee said they need to move forward with SB9 Urgency Ordinance. Mayor asked if it precludes prefabs. Sean said that it is up to us. Sean said they will bring it to the Planning Commission and then to Council.
Mayor Robertson encouraged to set up a tour with some of the commissioners, not only Planning, to see some of the things that are going on in our community.
5 EDC-22-057 State Budget Request Discussion - Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes
Marcus said that the Assemblymembers staff got with him and now there are no caps to the amount of funding being requested. He’s going to pursue more funding. He said that we could ask for more than a million.
Committee Comments/Recommendations
Mayor Pro Tem Scott said to include the Cactus Trail and the PE trail. Mayor Robertson said that they will have some housing dollars and we still have projects, and we need to think about housing. Marcus said that he will include the Trails and Active Transportation.
He can put something together by next Friday. Mayor Robertson talked about a median on Baseline going down to Meridian project and passive barrier we wanted between Lilac and Willow at the high school (it was one of the Safe Routes to School Projects) . Also, conversion of Fitness Center to be a bigger Community Center. Another area is additional parking north of the Senior Center. Committee was OK with all of those.
Upcoming Meeting/Other Discussion Items
Need to have conversation early about ICSC in May.
Sean met with a company Mayor Pro Tem Scott forwarded to him. This network company will put together a new phone algorithm system to track people who visit different commercial places. He will bring the information to Marcus to consider it at the next EDC meeting where he will talk more in depth about the topic. Mayor said that she’d love to see information on that.
Mayor Robertson mentioned her participation to IEEP. They have been invited to the new president’s award ceremony. Mayor Robertson wants to know if any of the commissioner would like to be part of that. Sean mentioned to Mayor Robertson that the regional Chamber of Commerce emailed him. Mayor Robertson said to Sean that she would like to see a presentation from the Economic Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Robertson stated that under the Workforce Development, there were dolla rs allocated to Chambers , including $100k for 5 chambers. One of the members raised $200k more for two of his chambers. Mayor Roberson is concerned because our chamber was not part of the conversation.
Mayor Robertson also announced the upcoming Logistics Seminary event from IEEP, she will forward that information to the Administration office.
Next meeting is February 23rd.
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 3:58 p.m.