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To: Yasuda.Erica;Woodward.Carrie;City Clerk; E-Comments
Subject: New eComment for City Council Strategic Plan Workshop#1
Date: Wednesday,April 14,2021 12:35:21 PM
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New eComment for City Council Strategic Plan
Workshop #1
Guest User submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council Strategic Plan Workshop#1
Item: III. PUBLIC INPUT -At this time, any member of the public may address the City Council
on matters which are listed on this agenda or under the jurisdiction of the City Council.
eComment: I write to encourage the City Council to consider at least 5 key components in its
strategic planning efforts: I. Prioritize Climate Change Climate change and energy policy should
be a central issue in any city planning. Addressing how the City and its residents buy energy,
and addressing the effects of climate change are critical. Significant study of these issues is
necessary during the strategic planning process, but there are some immediate steps the City
should take: (1) Join the Community Choice JPA to bring down costs and encourage renewable
energy; (2) Build more solar power throughout the city, including in parking lots at City Hall (like
schools have done) and encouraging similar structures by private owners; (3) Require that new
development be NetZero emissions. This can be accomplished at a relatively low cost with solar
power if included in initial construction, whereas adding solar post construction is much more
expensive. Builders could offset through credits toward city solar and renewable efforts. (4) Join
the US Mayor's Climate Change Pledge. II. Re-Use the Hangars Right now, the City's strategic
plan does not even include the word "hangars." Significant plans to make the hangars the hub of
the County can be implemented, including a VA facility, production facility, indoor sports and
recreation, and logistics processing. All of these ideas need to be studied and implemented.
Additionally, the City should exert maximum pressure--through federal, state, and local channels-
-to implement the Grand Jury recommendation to take over the entire hangar planning from the
County's failed efforts. III. Adopt a Community Health and Wellness Element (CHWE) The
General Plan must contain policies and programs that guide the city on land use related
decisions. In addition to land use, state law requires that a general plan address circulation (i.e.
roads and transportation), housing, natural resources, open space, noise, and public safety.
Recognizing that health and wellness is just as important as these issues, many cities in
California have adopted a CHWE, and Tustin should follow that lead. The CHWE will be a
blueprint for addressing the health risks and dangers that Tustin may face. In addition to COVID-
19, we must plan for other threats to public health, earthquakes, fires, and pollution. It takes
preparation and leadership to manage a crisis, and our CHWE is the first step in making long-
term plans. But health is not just the absence of sickness. Poverty and unemployment have
negative physical and mental health impacts on people. They also give rise to many social ills,
including crime, drug addiction, and more. We all have also experienced how, when we are
unhealthy or when we have not handled a health crisis, that one problem infects our ability to
find work, build relationships with others, and enjoy our community's strengths. If we want our
community to be healthy, we will need to end homelessness, rebuild our economy, and keep our
water and air clean. IV. Revitalize Business (esp. Old Town) Old Town is the heart of the City,
and there are huge opportunities to bring people into Old Town (both from within Tustin and
North Tustin, as well as surrounding communities). But there are challenges that must be
addressed. Development and redevelopment is often blocked and slowed. We need to fast track
these ideas. We need to create a Community and Business Ombudsperson who would provide
"white glove" service to businesses that need help recovering because of COVID and who can
revitalize Old Town, and all of the City. Empty lots must be addressed, as there are too many of
them in the heart of the County where housing and business should be. Code Enforcement
efforts should be stepped up and vacancy fees established to provide a stick, while white glove
service and incentives should be provided. And parking in Old Town MUST be addressed,
including the building in the next 5 years of a parking structure in Old Town to facilitate foot traffic
and guests. (Notably, parking issues through the City must also be addressed.) V. Serve
Underserved Communities in SW Tustin Southwest Tustin is ignored by the City too often. Yet it
houses a disproportionate number of our city's children, and most of the tracts are designated by
the Census Bureau as a low-income community (https://sbaeidl.policymap.com/newmaps#/).
The City should be expanding services, partnering with TUSD to make school open spacE
available in off-hours (at Heideman, Beswick, Currie/Thorman/Sycamore), improving parkettes
and providing more community outreach services, and expanding the Tustin Family and Youth
Center. We should also be encouraging commercial services in the area and deploying staff in
the area to help the homeless, improve the roads and infrastructure, and address the massive
parking problems in the area.
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