Minutes 90-02-20 t
MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED MEETING
OF THE CYPRESS CITY COUNCIL
HELD
February 20, 1990
Mayor Age called the Adjourned Regular Meeting of the Cypress City Council to
order at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, February 20, 1990 in the Cypress City Council
Chambers, 5275 Orange Avenue, Cypress.
PRESENT: Councilmembers Arnold, Bowman, Kanel, Kerry and Age
ABSENT: None
Also present were City Manager/City Clerk Darrell Essex, City Attorney Jerry
Patterson and staff member Eynon.
CLOSED SESSION: Mayor Age immediately called for a closed session at 4:31
p.m. to discuss matters of personnel and litigation. The meeting reconvened
at 6:10 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: No one wished to speak.
CONTINUATION OF CONSIDERATION OF REESTABLISHMENT OF THE CITY'S PLANNING
COMMISSION: Mayor Age referred further discussion of this item to
Councilmember Bowman.
Councilmember Bowman called attention to the draft ordinance that he had
prepared. He spoke about certain items that could be heard by a Planning
Commission thus avoiding lengthy hearings at the Council meetings.
Responding to Councilmember Kerry, the Planning Director answered that they
are gathering the requested information from other cities, have heard from two
cities and she reported that data.
The City Manager advised that the Council might want to look at the terms,
process and conditions that apply to other City Commissions in terms of
creating the Planning Commission. He reported that the cost of cablecasting
the Planning Commission meetings based on two three hour meetings per month
with one hour pre-production and two video operators would be a total annual
expense of approximately 52,200.
Councilmember Bowman stated that as far as processing a site plan, the amount
of research conducted by the Planning Department would be the same whether
there was a Planning Commission or not.
The Planning Director advised that when studies, new ordinances, code
amendments were undertaken, there is more work involved because it is the duty
of the Commission to spend more time asking the staff for additional
information and they are more integrally involved with the decision making
from the earlier steps.
After some discussion, the City Manager advised that the amount of duplication
will depend on the Council and the Commission. If there is agreement and a
comfortable relationship between the two bodies, the duplication will be
minimal.
After further discussion, Mayor Age asked for public comment and asked if
anyone wished to speak in support of a Planning Commission in the City of
Cypress.
Mr. Lloyd Hexem, 1671 Barbados Avenue, Cypress, spoke in favor of a Planning
Commission, provided some historical information when the City did have a
Planning Commission, agreed with the arguments he has heard in support of a
Commission and the cost should be a minor part of these discussions.
Mayor Age then asked if anyone wished to speak in opposition of a Planning
Commission.
Ms. Alice Rogers, 4219 Dover Circle, Cypress, made a statement against a
Planning Commission for many reasons. The major reason being she does not
want non-elected officials deciding on the big projects in the City. She
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City Council Minutes February 20, 1990
mentioned there were results of .decisions by the Planning Commission that are
continuing problems based on not fo?lowing a Master Plan and she provided
background information on previous Planning Commissions.
Ms. Jane Wozniak, 4480 Avenida Granada, Cypress, related her experiences with
the former Planning Commission and expressed her. disapproval of reinstituting
a Planning Commission. She stated that if the City has money to throw around,
why didn"t we raise.Mr. Hurst"s salary instead of losing our award-winning
Financial Director. She suggested putting the issue of a Planning Commission
before the voters in November and let the people decide.
No one else wished to speak in support of or opposition to a Planning
Commission.
Councilmember Bowman commented that over 60x of the housing stock in the City
is over 30 years old and will probably have to come back into the process and
the annexation area will also have to be considered. A Planning Commission is
a method of checks and balances.
Councilmember Kerry remarked that the citizens were the checks and balances
and the Planning Commission is an autonomous entity not subject to a vote of
the citizens and feels that is a weakness. She asked of what benefit is a
Planning Commission.
Mayor Age commented that she was in favor of Ms. Wozniak"s idea of putting
this item on the ballot. Councilmember Kerry concurred.
Councilmember Arnold voiced her support of a Planning Commission because it
would provide an open forum to identify, analyze and resolve planning issues
in a more detailed way, which also would permit an appeals system.
Councilmember Kanel mentioned that Cypress was one of the few cities in the
state that does not have a Planning Commission. He advised that he had
questions of Councilmember Bowman and suggested using the Irvine Ordinance as
- a model. He had supported the idea of a Planning Commission and does feel the
idea has merit. He stated that a Planning Commission is worth having, it can
be a good body, it's up to the Council to appoint some good people and does
not have a quarrel with putting the item on the ballot.
Councilmember Kerry stated that she would not like to see the Council make any
decisions this evening. She felt that an issue of this magnitude should be
brought to a regular Council meeting where it can be viewed by the public.
After further discussion, Mayor Age took a straw vote that indicated
Councilmembers Bowman, Arnold and Kanel supported the idea, Mayor Age wanted
the measure on the ballot and Councilmember Kerry did not support the idea.
The City Attorney stated that he would prepare an ordinance and have it
available for the Council's perusal prior to the February 26, 1990 meeting.
He discussed Redevelopment and Capital Improvements and the Council suggested
those items remain under the direction of the Council. He offered additional
explanation on what duties and responsibilities a Planning Commission might
have.
Further discussion was held and the City Attorney clarified that this item
could be heard in a public meeting and all Councilmembers agreed to place this
item on the Agenda for February 26, 1990 meeting.
CLOSED SESSION: Mayor Age called for a Closed Session at 7:59 p.m. The
` meeting reconvened at 8:06 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m.
M OR F THE CITY OF CYPPESS
ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK OF THE CITY: CYPRESS
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