City Manager's Update, July 29, 2012

CITY COUNCIL: The next City Council meeting is on Tuesday, Aug. 7.

LUPE COMBS HOUSE-HUMMINGBIRD HOUSE CAFE:  At its July 24 meeting, the Cultural Heritage Commission conducted a work session on a request by the property owner of the to amend the Los Rios Specific Plan’s historic residential provisions to establish an exemption to the residential occupancy requirement; establish “eating and drinking establishments” as a permitted use and considered preliminary design plans for a building addition to the accessory structure on the property, located at 31766 Los Rios St. and 26711 Verdugo St. The commission largely endorsed the exemption to the residential occupancy requirement, which would allow outdoor commercial on the property, and expressed some reservations regarding the bathroom addition. The majority of commissioners expressed opposition to allowing “eating and drinking establishments,” defined by the city as restaurants with alcoholic beverage service.

MILLS ACT CONTRACT FOR THE MCHUGH RESIDENCE: At its July 24 meeting, the Cultural Heritage Commission considered a request for approval of a Mills Act Contract for the McHugh property located in the Mission Flats neighborhood at 31462 La Matanza St. The commission recommended City Council approval.

: The Development Services director previously provided a written determination to the property owner that the dinosaur structure is inconsistent with the Los Rios Specific Plan and provided three options: Remove the dinosaur; request the City Council to initiate an amendment to the Specific Plan; or appeal the director’s determination that the dinosaur violates the Specific Plan. The property owner has filed an appeal of the determination, which is scheduled for Planning Commission consideration at its Tuesday, Aug. 14 meeting.

: has submitted preliminary plans to install permanent bleachers at their existing football/track stadium, a press box, and a concession building.

INCLUSIONARY HOUSING ALTERNATIVES: At its July 25 meeting, the Housing Advisory Committee discussed and made recommendations to the City Council on alternatives to promoting and securing the development of  affordable/workforce housing within the city. The Legislature’s dismantling of Redevelopment Agencies last year and its diversion of local housing set-aside funds to the state’s budget have eliminated a valuable funding mechanism for cities to develop affordable/workforce housing.

REDEVELOPMENT: With the recent passing of Assembly Bill 1484, staff has been working on educating themselves on the legislation’s impact on how the . The chief financial officer/city treasurer and the special counsel to the Successor Agency of the San Juan Capistrano Community Redevelopment Agency presented a summary of the impacts of AB 1484 to the City Council at its meeting on July 17.  A similar presentation was presented to the Oversight Board at its July 25 meeting.

: Because of technical difficulties in the utility billing software related to prorating of new water and sewer rates that went into effect July 1, the July billing has been delayed.  The problem has been identified and the necessary corrections to the software have been completed.  Upon completion of the testing of the upgrade for billing accuracy, billing will resume. Customers will be given the normal amount of time to pay their July bill. Many thanks to our customers for their patience while we work to resolve this matter.

POLICE SERVICES: On July 17, city staff was invited to the Villa Paloma Senior Apartments on Paseo Espada to make a presentation about being prepared in your home for an emergency such as an earthquake, flood, fire or nuclear power incident. About 25 residents were in attendance, including Villa Paloma management staff. Staff provided a one-hour presentation, answered questions, and handed out several different types of emergency preparedness brochures. 

DEL OBISPO STREET BRIDGE WIDENING: The contractor has completed the bridge approaches, curbs and sidewalk.  This week, workers are installing traffic signal conduits and foundations. We are anticipating some significant future traffic restrictions in the westbound direction beginning the week of July 30. The work will include hydro-demolishing a portion of the old bridge deck to install additional reinforcing.  We are working closely with our contractor in an effort to finish the deck work and restore full traffic capacity on the bridge before school opens in September.

ONE-STOP SHOP PROJECT: A ribbon cutting is being planned to officially introduce the “One-Stop Shop,” which opened on July 5, to the  public. The City Council, as part of their 2011/2012 urgent strategic priorities, included the implementation of a “One-Stop Shop” customer service concept as a way  to streamline activities and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency for the city’s residents and other visitors to City Hall. The “One Stop Shop” idea revolves around the concept of all public counter activity and related customer-service functions being centrally located. These functions were previously located at various counter areas throughout the City Hall building.

The plans to bring these segregated activities together into an expanded public counter and waiting/service area was completed in-house. On May 15, 2012, City Council awarded the construction contract for the improvements to Insley Construction, Inc. in the amount of $60,582. Work commenced on June 4, 2012, and was completed on July 1. The One-Stop Shop is open for business while finishing touches are being made.

MOVIES IN THE PARK: The at San Juan Capistrano will be hosting a short series of movies in the park. The recreational series is part of the city’s license agreement with Bleinheim Facility Management in which it is to provide events for the community to enjoy at the Riding Park Open Space. Come watch the movie “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmeron” (rated G) on Aug. 10 and “Dreamer” (rated PG) on Aug. 17. Admission and parking are free. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the movie begins at 8 p.m. $10 wristbands can be purchased for games and fun events such as laser tag, bounce houses, mini golf, an obstacle course and more for families to enjoy, if they so desire, to enhance their experience. Dinner and concessions will be available for purchase by the Vintage Steakhouse. Custom picnic baskets can be pre-ordered. For more information visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org. Residents are welcome to bring their own food and refreshments; however alcohol and tobacco products are prohibited.

ELECTIONS: The filing period to run for municipal office opened Monday, July 16 and ends Friday, Aug. 10. City Council Candidate nomination papers are available for two, four-year terms. The municipal election takes place on Nov. 6. Candidates have until 4:30 p.m. Aug. 10 to file nomination documents and statements of qualification for office. The deadline extends to Aug. 15 only if an incumbent is not running for re-election and does not file papers by the deadline.

Candidates must be registered voters and reside in the City of San Juan Capistrano. Nomination papers must be signed by not less than 20, nor more than 30 registered voters in San Juan Capistrano. Each candidate is required to file a statement of economic Interests disclosing investments and interests in real property when the nomination papers are returned for filing. There is no charge for filing nomination papers.

Candidates can also prepare a statement that includes name, age and occupation and a brief description of no more than 200 words about the candidate's education and qualifications. The statement is filed with the nomination papers and is included in the sample ballot materials mailed to voters. The charge for providing this service is around $1,000 and is payable at the time of filing nomination papers.

The candidate's packet containing the nomination papers and related election materials needed to run for office are now available. All forms required for nomination and election to municipal office are furnished by, and filed with, the city clerk. Appointments to obtain the candidate's packet and review the information with the city clerk are highly encouraged. The city clerk's office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays. City Hall is located at 32400 Paseo Adelanto. For more information, call 949-493-1171. .