CALL TO ORDER 6:00 PM
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE and MOMENT OF SILENCE
ROLL CALL
CITY STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mali LaGoe, City Manager
Kirsten Powell, City Attorney
Steve Walpole, Police Chief
Stephanie Hill, Administrative Services Director
Taylor Bateman, Community Development
Director
Rodolfo Onchi, Public Works Director
Cathie Simonovich, City Clerk
ELECTED OFFICIALS
PRESENT:
Randy Johnson, Mayor
Derek Timm, Vice Mayor
Jack Dilles, Council Member
Donna Lind, Council Member
Allan Timms, Council Member
COMMITTEE REPORTS
MINUTES
Meeting of the
Scotts Valley City Council
Date: October 2, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM
CONTACT
INFORMATION
MEETING LOCATION POSTING
City of Scotts Valley City Council Chambers The agenda was posted 1 Civic Center Drive 1 Civic Center Drive on 9-27-2024 at City Hall, Scotts Valley, CA Scotts Valley, CA 95066 SV Senior Center, SV 95066 OR Public Works Building,
(831) 440-5600 Zoom Video Conference and on the Internet https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83295730901 at www.scottsvalley.gov.
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:02 PM.
CM Lind represented the City at the Walk out of the Darkness event, which raises awareness of suicide and suicide prevention. This was a powerful and moving event, and she thanked the Scotts Valley Police Officers who helped with it.
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CITY MANAGER REPORT
CM Lind attended a Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) Board of Directors meeting where they discussed the classification and compensation study for the management group, which had not been done in many years. As a result, they approved salary adjustments, and then reviewed the updated budget.
CM Lind attended a meeting of the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, and they agreed to bring back the Chamber Business Walk. She also reported that there was a ribbon cutting ceremony recently for Within Your Reach Physical Therapy and Fitness on Scotts Valley Drive.
CM Timms attended a meeting of the Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO) where they received a report on the success of the Opal Cliffs Recreation District dissolution and the conversion to a County park. The CSA 48 study continues, and a transition plan will be adopted in April 2025.
VM Timm, along with CM Dilles, completed the 200-mile Sunrise Rotary Ride. The funds raised ($150K) will go towards the Jade Street All-Inclusive Park in Capitola.
VM Timm is looking forward to the Town Center Subcommittee debrief that is scheduled for Thursday, 10/3. He will be reporting on this at the next City Council Meeting.
VM Dilles noted that he thoroughly enjoyed the Sunrise Rotary Ride.
Mayor Johnson is pleased with the results of the community outreach for the Town Center project, and he is optimistic about how the project is progressing.
ICMA Conference: City Manager LaGoe attended the International City/County Management Association Conference, which was a great opportunity to network with City and County Managers from across the United States and from all over the world.
She attended sessions on economic development, town center development, recreation facilities and funding, finance, and many more topics.
SV/SLV Soccer Club: City Manager LaGoe, along with Recreation Division Manager Pfefferkorn, met with representatives from the SV/SLV Soccer Club and discussed short term and long term solutions for the field conditions at Skypark and Siltanen Park, which they rely on for the 1,700 kids who play soccer as part of this club.
Town Center Project: The consultants have been compiling the feedback from 400 survey responses and hundreds of comments they received at the various community events. She thanked the Council Members for the time that they spent talking to people at these events. The feedback will be compiled into a preferred design option which will be presented to City Council for input and approval in the coming months.
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NEPA for Town Center Parcels Purchase: The NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process for the purchase of the Town Center parcels could get expedited.
The City is working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and hopefully the NEPA will be expedited by about 30 days, as compared to the initial timeline.
David Lyng Real Estate Office Staff Meeting: City Manager LaGoe attended this meeting and gave an update on current projects in Scotts Valley.
State of the City Address: If you were unable to attend the State of the City Address in September, it is recorded and posted on the City's YouTube channel.
Potable Water at Skypark: There were several events over the weekend (Food Trucks, Suicide Prevention Walk, and Music at Skypark) and during one of the events the main line for the potable water was damaged, likely from a vehicle. City staff spent Monday and Tuesday trying to make repairs and then found damage in another location. The potable water at Skypark has been turned off, which affects the drinking fountains, restrooms, and the recreation building. The repairs should be completed by Friday and, in the meantime, portable restrooms have been brought in. The organizers of the various leagues and events have been kept in the loop.
PG&E Planned Maintenance: PG&E has several planned maintenance projects coming up around the City. They are replacing poles on several streets which will cause short power outages starting 10/11. Residents in these areas have been notified. PG&E also has plans to do extensive tree trimming around the City and we are waiting to find out the exact locations so that we can coordinate public outreach and notification.
Bean Creek Road Permanent Repairs: The permanent repairs will begin next week which will create a hard closure for the next few months, and PG&E will also need to cut power in that area for periods of time. The City has been in contact with the neighbors.
Political Signs: There are a lot of political signs posted in the City right now. If you have a concern about a sign, please email [email protected] with this information.
Next City Council Meeting: There will not be a City Council meeting on October 16th due to the CalCities annual conference. The next regular City Council meeting will be on November 6th.
Reminder: Follow the City on Social Media!
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ALTERATIONS TO CONSENT AGENDA
CONSENT AGENDA
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
M/S: Lind/Dilles
To approve the Consent Agenda with no alterations.
Carried 5/0 (AYES: Johnson, Timm, Dilles, Lind, Timms)
1. Approve City Council minutes of 09-18-2024
2. Approve check register dated 09-14-2024 through 09-27-2024
3. Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program Application Resolution The Public Hearing was held after the Regular Agenda and after a brief recess (as noted below).
Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 6:26 PM for a short break due to the timing of the public hearing.
Mayor Johnson called the meeting back to order at 6:32 PM.
1. Public Hearing to consider a Negative Declaration, General Plan Amendment, Zone Change, Planned Development Zoning Application, Design Review Application, Use Permit Application and Cultural Resources Alteration Application to allow for the construction of a 52,250 Sf three story development on a 1.35-Acre site located at 125 Bethany Drive, on the North side of Scotts Valley Drive between Tabor Drive and Bethany Drive. Proposed land uses would include 10,000 sf of professional and administrative office space, and 42,250 sf of storage/ministorage for up to 227 users after a split decision from the Planning Commission resulting in no recommendation.
Community Development Director Bateman introduced this item and gave clarification on the staff recommendation.
Susie Pineda, Consultant Planner, presented this item and, along with Director Bateman and City Attorney Powell, responded to questions and comments from the Council Members.
PUBLIC COMMENT TIME
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Mayor Johnson opened the public hearing at 6:55 PM.
The applicant, Eli May, gave a brief PowerPoint presentation describing the project.
Todd Creamer, the Project Engineer from C2G/Civil Consultants Group, spoke about the trash enclosure location and indicated that it could be moved. He also addressed the parking issue and noted that they can adjust the size of the parking spaces so that they meet the City's requirements. Finally, he discussed the landscaping and indicated that they are willing to add more trees.
Public comment:
1. Todd Creamer, a resident and business owner in Scotts Valley, spoke in favor of the project due to the need for office space.
2. Allison Kelly, a neighbor, spoke on behalf of herself and the following people: Travis and Sara Miller, Bree and Jason Meulman, Vine Hill parents Eric and Ericka Turzak, and Vine Hill Teaching Assistant Jamie Karam (neighbors who could not attend the meeting). They oppose the project due to lack of outreach to the neighbors, the many exceptions, the proximity to the riparian area, displacement of the current tenants; and in their opinion, this is an illegal project.
3. Bryleigh's Mom, a neighbor, voiced opposition to the project because she feels the zoning changes and the general plan changes are incompatible with the neighborhood and will have a negative impact due to the proximity to the elementary school and the fact that there are no pedestrian safety measures.
4. Bryleigh, a neighbor and 3rd grade student at Vine Hill Elementary School, wants to be able to walk to school safely by herself. She feels that this project is wrong and would like to see a house or something else in that location.
5. Michael Shulman, spoke on behalf of Scotts Valley Unified School District (SVUSD). During the negative declaration comment period, SVUSD sent a letter expressing their concerns surrounding noise, pedestrian safety and dust. He clarified that they requested Saturday to be the alternative day for construction, not Sunday. He feels that all the District's concerns can be worked out with communication, collaboration and cooperation. The District would also want the dust and noise to be contained on the site, so it does not float over to the elementary school. The District would like to see their requests incorporated into the formal conditions.
6. Marina Hoey read a letter written by Matt Hoey who represents the Bethany Drive Neighborhood Residents group. Mr. Hoey's letter expressed opposition to the project due to the land use change to light industrial.
7. Adrian Calvan, a current tenant, spoke in favor of the project due to the availability of much-needed storage for the tenants.
8. Raffi Nalvarian, a current tenant and business partner to Adrian Calvan, spoke in favor of the project due to the storage, the innovation, and the fact that it is aesthetically pleasing.
9. Matt Taylor, a neighbor, spoke in favor of the project due to the storage and the improvement it will offer visually.
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10. A resident of Tabor Drive, spoke in opposition to the project. She feels that, while there is a need to renovate the property, the current design does not comply with the City's General Plan; and more communication, outreach and collaboration is needed with the residents.
11. Steve McGuirk, a retired landscape architect, spoke at the request of the applicant who asked for a 3rd party review of the landscape plan as proposed.
Mr. McGuirk noted that the majority of trees that will be removed are high waterusage trees. The majority of the other plants in the proposed plan are low-waterusage plants. After reviewing the plan, he finds that the landscaping is appropriate.
12. Cory Arrison, a tenant who runs a local ecommerce business, spoke in favor of the project due to the storage.
13. Mercedes Molloy, a resident of Bethany Drive and business owner, spoke in opposition to the project due to the lack of communication and outreach to the residents and because it is a health and safety concern to the children in the area.
14. Matt Hoey, resident of Tabor Drive, spoke in opposition to the project due to the land use change to light industrial. He is concerned that this will set a precedent for future projects.
15. Melinda Molloy, a resident of Bethany Drive, spoke about the lack of watering and the droppings from the trees, as well as the cars parked at the office complex.
16. David Alreck, a resident, used four words to describe the project: creative, audacious, incompatible, inappropriate.
17. Mercedes Molloy spoke on behalf of Mark Molloy. Mr. Molloy is worried about the transparency surrounding the hours of operation.
18. Matt, a resident, spoke in favor of the project because it offers an improvement to the current businesses, and they are not adding more offices; additionally, the building will look great.
Written comments, received after publication and prior to the City Council meeting, were received from Allison Kelly (x2), Cory Arrison, David Alreck, Matt Hoey (on behalf of the BDNR group), Marcus Poteete, Ty McConnell, and Eli May (applicant). See attached.
Eli May, the applicant, addressed the land use change, the communication outreach to neighbors, SVUSD's requests, the walkability (addition of a sidewalk on Tabor Drive), and the current landscape management plan. Mr. May’s presentation indicated that 75% of the storage units could be restricted to the business tenants. The Council requested that 100% of the storage units be rented to the business tenants and Mr.
May agreed to this (see Item 3 below).
Mayor Johnson closed the public hearing at 8:17 PM.
The City Council Members reached consensus that they are generally supportive of the project and the change to light industrial use, but there are many issues which must be addressed prior to placing the project on a future agenda for potential approval. The Council gave direction to staff to work with the applicant on the following items.
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ALTERATIONS TO REGULAR AGENDA
REGULAR AGENDA
1. There must be significant collaborative outreach to the neighbors, including face-to-face opportunities to discuss the project with the neighbors and address their concerns.
2. A deed restriction will be necessary to restrict the use of the light industrial designation to only the mini-storage units. The purpose of the deed restriction is to bind current and future owners to maintaining only office units and ministorage, with no other light industrial use allowed in perpetuity.
3. All the storage units (100%) will be rented to the tenants of the offices, with no outside individuals or businesses allowed to rent solely the mini-storage units.
4. Parking and allowances for large delivery trucks will be researched to ensure that the project complies so that no variances or exceptions will be needed.
5. The trash enclosure will be moved to a safe and accessible location, away from the nearby residences, so it does not impede the flow of vehicles in and out of the parking spaces.
6. Lighting concerns will be resolved.
7. The proposed gate and queuing of traffic to access the "drive lane" will be studied to ensure safety and a smooth flow of traffic on Tabor Drive, with an emphasis on pedestrian and cycling safety.
8. The Scotts Valley Unified School District's issues will be addressed, including all items in the District's letter as well as containing the dust and noise during demolition and construction so that they do not impact the students and staff at Vine Hill Elementary School.
9. There will be an agreement for neighbors to utilize the parking in the evenings and on weekends.
The applicant, Eli May, requested that the project be tentatively approved this evening and the final approval documents be presented to the Council in one month. Mayor Johnson respectfully denied this request.
City Manager LaGoe announced that the Closed Session item published on this agenda is cancelled.
M/S: Timm/Lind
To approve the Regular Agenda with the alteration to the cancellation of the closed session item.
Carried 5/0 (AYES: Johnson, Timm, Dilles, Lind, Timms)
1. Future Council Agenda Items
None.
Closed session cancelled.
CONVENE TO CLOSED SESSION
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RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN DURING CLOSED SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
1. Conference with legal counsel regarding potential litigation Legal Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9
Number of Cases: 1 case
Staff Present: City Manager, City Attorney, Administrative Services Director, Labor Counsel
Closed session cancelled.
Closed session cancelled.
The meeting adjourned at 9:11 PM.
Attest:
Cathie Simonovich, City Clerk
Approved:
Randy Johnson, Mayor
CLOSED SESSION SUBJECT(S)
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