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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPT 5 NEWPORT EXTEN 01-19-93REPORTS NO. S 1-19-93 1 Inter -Com AT E : JANUARY 19, 1993 TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT: FUTURE NEWPORT AVENUE EXTENSION TO EDINGER AVENUE RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council at their meeting of January 19, 1993, receive and file this report. BACKGROUND At their meeting of December 21, 1992, the City Council considered an item that addressed future Edinger Avenue grade separations at Tustin Ranch Road and at Red Hill Avenue, and the future extension of Newport Avenue to Edinger Avenue (minutes attached). Considerable discussion occurred on this item relative to funding, priorities, transportation implications of the Marine Corps Air Station Base Reuse Plan, design, plan preparation, and involvement of Catellus Development Corporation in proceeding with the Newport Avenue extension. In reviewing this item on December 21, 1992, the City Council approved three separate actions dealing with each of the three separate roadways. One of the Council's actions involved the Newport Avenue extension, where a motion was approved "to negotiate with Catellus Development to accelerate the plan preparation for both Phase I and Phase II of the Newport Avenue extension and submit a status report at the January 19, 1993 meeting". The present report is intended to provide a status report for the extension of Newport Avenue as requested by the City Council. DISCUSSION As has been noted previously, the project to extend Newport Avenue southerly is extremely complex and involves numerous outside agencies, private entities, as well as many engineering challenges. The project consists of extending Newport Avenue southerly to Edinger Avenue from its present cul-de-sac ending via an underpass below the Santa Ana Flood Control Channel and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway tracks. The extension requires the relocation of the northbound State Route 55 on-off ramps and the further southerly extension of Newport Avenue to Valencia Avenue to accommodate the freeway ramp relocations. Catellus Development Corporation has been the lead organization for initiation and implementation of the Newport Avenue extension in conjunction with their proposed Pacific Center East project. William A. Huston Status Report: Future Newport Avenue Extension to Edinger Avenue January 19, 1993 Page 2 To this point, Catellus Development Corporation has been working with an engineering consulting firm that has been performing preliminary engineering design services in support of the roadway network necessary for implementation of Pacific Center East, including the Newport Avenue extension. A key component of this effort has been the desire to finalize the preparation of a "Draft Project Study Report" (PSR) for submittal through the State of California PSR approval process, to support the proposed modification of the SR -55 northbound ramps at Edinger Avenue. That particular process is a very important stage in implementation of the backbone Pacific Center East Circulation System which depends upon the extension of Newport Avenue south of Edinger Avenue. Approval of the PSR by Caltrans will then provide a firm commitment by that agency to the SR -55 northbound ramp modification and will then confirm the location of Newport Avenue from Edinger Avenue south to Valencia Avenue. This in turn will enable the Newport Avenue extension from Edinger Avenue north to its present cul-de- sac terminus to be confirmed as well. Preparation of the PSR and the accompanying Draft Environmental Documentation (Draft ED) for Caltrans review and approval is therefore the critical path for implementation of any portion of Newport Avenue, whether it be north or south of Edinger Avenue, since it is through that process that the geometric location of Newport Avenue in relation to Edinger Avenue is actually fixed. Catellus is very much aware of the importance associated with the Caltrans PSR and ED documents, however, the current negative economic climate has made it extremely difficult for them to proceed to finalization on these tasks. City Community Development and Public Works Department staff have discussed this situation with Catellus in a meeting held at the municipal offices on November 20, 1992. At that time it was agreed that Catellus would contact their engineering consultant and forward back to City staff information related to scheduling and budgetary requirements necessary to finish the Caltrans PSR. To date that information has not been received. Telephone contact has been made with the Catellus Pacific Center East Project Manager to inquire as to the status of the information previously agreed upon, and to inform him of the City Council's strong interest in working with Catellus to accelerate the plan preparation for Phase I and Phase II of the Newport Avenue extension. The project manager indicated that the requested information would be forthcoming, and that a meeting in the future could be held to discuss ideas for moving forward with plan preparation. Status Report: Future Newport Avenue Extension to Edinger Avenue January 19, 1993 Page 3 City staff will pursue further discussions with Catellus for accelerating plan preparation in an effort to investigate options that are beneficial to both the City and Catellus. Staff will continue to keep the City Council apprised of this effort. This is a status report only and no City Council action, other than to receive and file, is necessary at this time. Robert S. Ledendecker Director of Public Works/ City Engineer RSL:DRK:ktb:FUTNPX/ Danclf R. Kasdan Engineering Services Manager CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 10, 12-21-92 XII. REPORTS PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION AGENDA = DECEMBER 14, 1992 was moved by Thomas seconded by Saltarelli, to rat i the• Pla ing Commission Action Agenda of December 14, 1 -v. 2. BUSINESS LICE -AMNESTY PROGRAM - 1992 It was moved by and file -subject Motion carried 5-0. to receive 3. PRESENTATION OF CITY'S S09PREHENftqR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING JUNE , 1992; RED£ PMENT AGENCY INCLUDED Mayor Pro Tem is stated he had con ns regarding the report and wo d discuss them at -,the joint C Council/Audit Committee eting on February 1, 1993. itwa owed b Potts seconded b Thomas, to receive d file su ct report. ./ �. Motion carried 5-0. 4. FUTURE EDINGER AVENUE GRADE SEPARATIONS AT TUSTIN RANCH ROAD, AT RED HILL AVENUE AND NEWPORT AVENUE EXTENSION TO EDINGER AVENUE Mayor Pro Tem Potts noted that it was costly to complete the proposed studies and some of the funding would be -through the Redevelopment Agency. ' He stated that the City could save money by addressing the environmental and conceptual drawings only: He expressed his opposition to constructing the Tustin Ranch Road extension first;- he wanted completion of the Newport Avenue extension.to receive first priority. Mayor Pontious stated that- by constructing the .Tustin Ranch Road extension as part of the Marine Corps Base Reuse Plan that funding would be available through the Reuse Plan. William Huston, City Manager, clarified that the City Council had previously appropriated funds for the design and environmental documentation of the Tustin Ranch interchange, however, following the base closure announcement, the Council took action to cease work until ramifications were explored. The intent of staff's recommendation was to commence the ` design work with monies already allocated because this issue had to be dealt with through the Reuse Plan. Council/staff discussion followed regarding amount of monies available for Tustin Ranch Road extension through the Capital Improvement Fund -vs Base Reuse Plan; total cost for design plans; The Irvine Company contributions to and total cost for Tustin' Ranch Road extension from Walnut to -Edinger; and acquisition of property for the project. Mayor Pro Ten Potts approved of all three projects proceeding, but noted current heavy congestion on Red Hill Avenue and the x4se of Jamboree Road as an alternate route. He voiced support for completing the Newport Avenue extension; then starting construction on Red Hill Avenue because when it was closed for construction, there would be through access available on Newport Avenue and Jamboree Road; and then, as the third option, completing Tustin Ranch Road extension as the base closure proceeded. William Huston, City Manager, stated that the Newport Avenue project was dormant due to lack of commitment by Catellus Development and staff was recommending that discussions with Catellus be re-initiated to clarify their intent and timeline. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 11, 12-21-92 He reported that financing for the Newport Avenue extension was feasible with a particular development scenario,. however, with the present economy, it was difficult to predict that development. Council/staff discussion followed regarding present status of Catellus negotiations and financing of Newport Avenue extension based on development tax increments. Staff was directed to provide a Catellus negotiation status report in 30 days. Council/staff discussion followed regarding alternate financing sources which included County, Measure M, and Redevelopment Housing Set-aside funding. Councilmember Saltarelli questioned if the Tustin Ranch Road extension was needed now and, noting staff's creativity in locating additional monies, questioned if there were any funds available to continue the study for at least the Tustin Ranch Road extension. William Huston, City Manager, said there were no programs now with funds to expedite the construction so it tied into the phasing of the Reuse Plan. Before the base closure was announced, the City had sufficient time to work with the Marine Corps on a feasible plan and financing sources; now the time table was reduced with an expedited Reuse Plan. He felt the City had to address the Newport Avenue extension relative to the base closure and the level,of entitlements that could be granted, and, if the City had to locate alternate funding sources to complete the design plans, the Reuse Plan would be so far advanced it would create coordinating problems. Staff thought it was critical to escalate the Tustin Ranch Road interchange design project again because of that constraint. He noted that with the Red Hill Avenue overpass, there were other financing opportunities such as Super Street and Measure M monies; and with Newport Avenue, it was a feasible project but was driven by the level of development activity in that area. The following member of the audience spoke in favor of immediate reactivation of the Tustin Ranch Road extension project: Guido Borges, Laurelwoo Homeowners Association It was moved by Thomas, seconded by Puckett, to reactivate the Tustin Ranch Road extension project (Walnut Avenue to Edinger Avenue) to pursue a roadway design including conceptual/ preliminary design of the grade separation structure and access ramps at Edinger Avenue based upon and coordinated with the Marine Corps Air Station Base Reuse Plan. Motion carried 5--0. The following member of t. -,e audience requested that Tustin Meadows, Laurel rood and :eppertree Homeowners Associations receive status reports on the grade separation and commuter rail projects; and expressed concerns regarding the Red Hill Avenue overpass project _.nd its negative impact upon the Tustin Meadows developmen`.: Rex Combs, Tustin Meade -s Homeowners Association Mayor Pontious noted that the Red Hill Avenue project may include either an overpass or underpass project and suggested that the homeowner associ_tions obtain information on Super Street meetings. It was moved by Thomas seconded by Potts, that at the completion of the Moultcn Parkway (Edinger Avenue) Super Street EIR, evaluate the =.ed Hill Avenue conceptual overpass alternatives as presented and proceed with a formal project as desired. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 12, 12-21-92 Motion carried -5-0. It was moved by Thomas seconded by Pontious, to negotiate with Catellus Development to accelerate the plan preparation for both Phase I and Phase II of the Newport Avenue extension and submit a status report at -the January 18, 1993 meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Mayor Pro Tem Potts and Councilmember Thomas reiterated the importance of communication with the homeowner associations regarding the grade separation and commuter rail projects. k. COSTCO BUILDING IDENTIFICATION SIGN Mayor Pontious questioned if the Sevilla Homeowner \Christin ion had received a copy of the staff report. owing member of the audience stated the letter sh ad did not address the sign issue: Anderson, Sevilla Homeowners Association Shingleton, Assistant City_Manager, res nding tos revious complaint about length of time fights wereo co, reported that staff had cont ted Costcoe o ices and received a commitment t t the lights.tur d off at 10:00 p.m. beginning D cember 15th. It was moved b Potts seconded b' file subject rep Motion carried -5-0. 6. TUSTIN/NORTH IRVINE UTER RAIL The following member of he audien agendized at the January , 1993 - concerns including posit e a commuter rail station, fund g nd noise/traffic mitigation mea es: Guido Borges, Laurelwoo 0 ow to receive, and ION ire requested this issue be wn Hall meeting to discuss negative aspects of the maintenance deficits, and Association Mayor Pontious/udle n if. in rmation was available on noise impacts nt train s eeds. Christine Shinssistant City anagen, responded that the commuter ogram was reg ated by the Public Utilities Comndthey were n t required to file additional envl documents. As result, there was limited techniavailable and it w ld be very costly for the City t their own study. Council/sta discussion followed regarding th regulation of train w, es during night hours. It was in/ed b Thomas, seconded by Saltarelli, toeceive and file S1114ject report. idn carried 5 -0 - XIII. PUBLIC/INPUT - None XIV. OTHM BUSINESS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - DECEMBER 22, 1992 James Rourke, City Attorney, reminded the City Council there would be a Special Meeting for eminent domain proceedings on December 22, 1992, at 5:30 p.m.