HAC Minutes-2009-11-18
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 18, 2009 - 6:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
A. CALL TO ORDER
B. ROLL CALL
David Solt, Chairperson Jess Lopez
Gila Jones, Vice Chairperson Joanne Marquez
William Bonney Gene Ratcliffe
Nancy Campman
C. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
William Laudermilk, Ray Valentino, Peter Bloom, Steven Simmeron, and Lason
Lee Spinelly discussed a desire to have the Committee review and discus shelter
facilities/locations during inclement weather and RV overnight parking for
homeless living in vehicles.
D. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2009
Approval of Minutes with the correction of AB 566 opposed to SB 566 on page 3.
Passed 7-0.
E. NEW BUSINESS
1. Housing Program Status Report (Laura Stokes, Housing/Redevelopment
Coordinator)- Laura Stokes summarized the report and provided additional
information regarding the Habitat for Humanity project and report given to the
Community Redevelopment Agency the previous evening.
Chairperson Solt recommended the committee provide a supportive comment
to the Agency Board regarding Habitat for Humanity and the beneficial work
they have been completing on the site.
Housing Advisory Committee Minutes
November 18, 2009
Page 2
Ms. Stokes related that since the Agency had not made any decision because
of a need for additional information, it would be inappropriate for the
committee to for a mutual comment, and recommended individual committee
members provide their individual comments at the Agency’s next meeting.
Committee received and filed report 7-0
2. UC Irvine Community Scholars Research Project (Laura Stokes,
Housing/Redevelopment Coordinator)- Vice Chair Gila Jones provided a
summary of the report. Committee Received and filed report 7-0
3. The Groves at Williams Ranch Request For Proposal Interviews (Laura
Stokes, Housing/Redevelopment Coordinator)- Laura Stokes provided a short
summary of the project and Committees duties in reviewing the four
Proposals received in response to the Request for Proposals.
Advent Companies Representatives Tyson Jacobsen provided an overview
of the company, reviewed his own experience as a project manager and
introduced his partners John Montierth, Architectural Designer, and Mike
Flanagan, Architect. Mr. Montierth summarized his experience with
architecture in Orange County, and multi-family affordable housing. Mr.
Flanagan provided an overview of his experience with technical design of
residential developments.
The Committee requested further details on the firm’s experience and comfort
level with:
• Agrarian Themed Development • City Height Limits
• Parking • Tax Credits
• Site Obstacles • Green Building/Leed
• Landscaper Experience in
Orange County
• Geotechnical & Archeologist
Cooperation
LandWorks Development Services representative Timothy Palmquist
provided an overview of the company, reviewed his own experience as a
project manager, sticking to a set schedule, and successfully completing
complex projects. Mr. Palmquist also introduced his partners John Olivier,
with Fuscoe Engineering, Inc., Jeff Chelwick, with William Hezmalhalch
Architects, and T & B Planning. Mr. Olivier related that he and his firm were
very familiar with the city and the challenges facing the site. Mr. Chelwick
related his knowledge, experience, and passion for the agricultural
architecture, and designing a working project on a challenging site. All
participants have experience in affordable housing and sustainable energy
projects.
The Committee requested further details on the firm’s experience and comfort
Housing Advisory Committee Minutes
November 18, 2009
Page 3
level with:
• Varying Building Sizes/Looks • Meeting Site Densities
• Parking • Scheduling
• Site Obstacles • Green Building/Leed
• Geotechnical & Archeologist Cooperation
Newman Garrison and Partners representative Kevin Newman provided an
overview of the company, reviewed the firms experience with designing
residential projects, new ideas (including raising the site) for the development
and bringing quality to a lower income housing development. Mr. Newman
also introduced his partners John Garrison and Glenn Taylor with Newman
Garrison and Partners, Jason Vroom, with Alliance Land Planning and
Engineering, and John Kain, with Urban Crossroads. Mr. Vroom related his
own firms experience and his own exceptional engineering skills. Mr. Kain
related his knowledge of the community and gave a brief overview of his own
tasks for the project. Glenn Taylor related his vision for the site and
overcoming the site challenges.
The Committee requested further details on the firm’s experience, comfort
level with, and clarification on:
• Agrarian Themed Development • Previous work with Texas Rep.
• Geotechnical Constraints • Sustainable/ Green Design
• Broken Down Fees • Public Relations Team Member
• Expected Schedule • City Height Limit
• Similar Projects • Affordable Projects
RRM Design Group representative Kirk Van Cleave, Principal in Charge,
provided an overview of the company, reviewed his role with the project and
introduced his partners David Chacon and Diane Bathgate with RRM Design
Group, Steve Svete, with Rincon Consultants, Sam Ali, Civil Engineering
Consultant, John Kain, with Urban Crossroads, and David Nahas, with Veloce
Partners. Ms. Bathgate, Project Planner, related her own experience with
working with the city, and understanding of the delicacies of city values in
open space and architectural design. Mr. Chacon, Project Manager, related
his experience with designing site layouts and his experience as a project
manager. Mr. Svete discussed his experience with environmental reviews,
and expectation of the site’s eligibility for a Mitigated Negative Declaration.
Mr. Nahas discussed his experience with finance of affordable housing
developments and the value adding services his firm can provide to remain
eligible for the greatest number of funding sources. Mr. Ali related his
extensive engineering experience to the committee, including sustainable
design and water resources. Mr. Chacon emphasized the intimate knowledge
of the site and the benefit this knowledge brings forward when dealing with
environmental, archeological and community concerns.
Housing Advisory Committee Minutes
November 18, 2009
Page 4
RRM is the best investment because, they understand the San Juan
Capistrano community values, they can “hit the ground running” having
already developed the preliminary study, they have in-house inter-disciplinary
team members collaborating on the project, they have shown that they can
successfully take projects from vision through implementation and remain on
budget, schedule, and point, they have a great deal of experience with
sustainable design and development, they develop implementable solutions
and the specific direction to get there, and they have a great passion for
affordable housing and giving back.
The Committee requested further details on the firms experience and comfort
level with:
• Multi-Architectural Development • Reducing Visual Impact
• Project Density/Mass • Habitat for Humanity Experience
• Quality of the Sites Soil • Geotechnical Investigation
• Need to Raise the Grade • Flood Zone Clarification
• Schedule Accuracy
The Committee Rating of all interviewees was on the following four criteria:
1. Experience of Firm/Team
2. Project Understanding and Technical Competence
3. Quality of Proposal and Responsiveness
4. Reasonableness of Fee Proposed
The final rating, out of 455, for each of the proposing firms is as follows:
Firm Rating
RRM Design Group- 364
LandWorks Development Services- 363
Advent Companies- 226
Newman Garrison + Partners- 222
The Committee debated strongly between RRM Design Group and
LandWorks Development Services. Both firms would bring LEED expertise,
local knowledge, experience in affordable housing developments, and a
passion for quality to the project. The final choice for RRM design group came
from their knowledge of the site, understanding of the City process, and the
quality of their work in the past.
The Committee selected RRM Design Group (RRM) for GPA and RZ
Planning, Environmental, Architectural and Engineering Services 4-3 with
Committee members Jones, Ratcliffe, and Campman preferring LandWorks.
Housing Advisory Committee Minutes
November 18, 2009
Page 5
F. SUB-COMMITTEE AND STAFF COMMENTS
Committee motioned to postpone remaining sub-committee reports to the
following meeting. Passed 7-0.
i. Sub-Committee Comments-
a. Grants (William Bonney, Nancy Campman, and Gila Jones)
b. Rehabilitation (David Solt and Joanne Marquez)
c. Homelessness (Jess Lopez, Gila Jones, and Nancy Campman)
d. RHNA (Gila Jones)
e. Mobile Home Parks (Jess Lopez and Gila Jones)
A. Update on Capistrano Terrace Mobile Home Park Closure Status
Laura Stokes summarized the agenda report and gave details
regarding the proposed Resolution. Gila Jones noted that the sub-
committee would prefer a shorter response time from the park
owner. Ms. Jones recommended a change to the resolution from
a 30 to a ten day response time from the park owners. Requested
Staff look into amending the ordinance to avoid future conflicts.
Committee Member Lopez recused himself from the discussion.
The Committee received comments from Ray Holter, representing
the owners of Capistrano Terrace Mobile Home Park. Mr. Holter
detailed the history of the park closure application and expressed
surprise that the residents would want to accelerate the closure
process. In response to Chairperson Solt’s question of why the
park owners have been buying properties, Mr. Holter related that
some property owners requested the park purchase the property
after the property would not sell, or in the event the unit was no
longer safe for a resident the park purchased the property from
the owners.
Park resident Sally Rather, related her pleasure with the
Committee for moving the item forward and encouraged the
response from the park owner be reduced from 30 days to ten
days.
Resolution Passed 6-0
Housing Advisory Committee Minutes
November 18, 2009
Page 6
f. First Time Home Buyers (Gene Ratcliffe)
g. Public Relations Advocacy (Joanne Marquez and David Solt)
Discussion regarding:
• Los Rios Park Sprinklers and Signage
• Homeless Prevention/Shelters and RV Overnight Parking
• Brown Act regulations
G. ADJOURNMENT TO DECEMBER 16, 2009 AT 6 P.M.- Meeting Adjourned
10:21 7-0