INSIDE CITY HALL Here are several decisions...

INSIDE

CITY HALL

Here are several decisions coming out of Tuesday’s City Council

meeting.

MINI-STORAGE BUILDING PERMIT

On Jan. 27, the Planning Commission denied the permit. In early

February, Monahan appealed the denial. The proposed mini-storage

building occupies the northern 20 feet of the lot. At the commission

meeting, six people spoke against the project, arguing that there is

a glut of mini-storage projects within the city and that the use is

not compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.

WHAT HAPPENED

The issue was continued per the owner’s request.

WHAT IT MEANS

The council will reconsider the issue at a future meeting.

LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS

The council unanimously approved funding for concept and design

plans for 20 medians at a cost of about $49,000.

WHAT IT MEANS

The landscape medians will now be a priority in the community

objectives.

LANDSCAPED MEDIANS

The council considered landscaped medians for 19th Street between

Placentia and Park avenues.

WHAT HAPPENED

The council voted 4 to 1 to perform additional outreach to

merchants on this stretch and explore various design alternatives.

Councilwoman Libby Cowan dissented.

WHAT WAS SAID

“We need to do much better outreach to business owners on 19th and

Placentia to let them know there [may] no longer be access [to their

businesses] in the middle of the street. While it will look well from

a landscape perspective, it will make the business community go nuts.

We’ve got a mountain ready to explode.”

-- Councilman Gary Monahan

WHAT IT MEANS

Staff will conduct more meetings with business owners in the area

and explore designs for medians that don’t restrict access as much.

MID-YEAR BUDGET

REVIEW ADJUSTMENTS

The council voted 4 to 1 to reduce the 2002-03 fiscal year

estimated revenues by about $1 million and appropriations by $3.7

million, with Councilman Allan Mansoor dissenting.

The council also approved funding for a signal at the intersection

of Fairview Road and McCormack Lane and streetscape design out of the

capital improvement portion of the “net revenue” balance of $654,221.

WHAT IT MEANS

The appropriations adjustment was done to address the potential

effect from the state budget crisis. Residents in the

Fairview/McCormack area who urged the council for the stoplight for

safety reasons will get the light.

WHAT WAS SAID

“The numbers are interesting and can move them around anyway you

want, but it’s deceptive to say we have money left over. Don’t get me

wrong -- streets and signals are very important, but the most fair

way [to consider these items] is in the budget.”

-- Mansoor

-- Compiled by Deirdre Newman