11-1011_CC_Minutes_Special MeetingMINUTES
October 11, 2011
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
Mayor Allevato called the Special Meeting of the San Juan Capistrano City Council to
order at 4:04 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Mayor pro tem Kramer led the
Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Laura Freese, John Taylor,
Mayor pro tem Larry Kramer and Mayor Allevato
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Derek Reeve
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
• Roy Byrnes, City resident, thanked the Mayor for agendizing the Transportation
Corridor Agency (TCA) issue for public discussion prior to the TCA board
taking action.
• Clint Worthington, City resident, expressed concern with the Mayor's leadership
regarding prior decisions made related to the Ground Water Recovery Plant; Brown
Act violations related to the purchase of Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park; street
striping; and felt that the allocated funds for a new City Hall have gone towards paying
lawsuits.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
C1. DIRECTION PROVIDED TO CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE
TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR AGENCY (800.50)
Thomas E. Margro, Chief Executive Officer and David Lowe, Director of Design
and Construction, Transportation Corridor Agency Representatives, provided a
PowerPoint presentation showing the initial segment to end at the vicinity of
Ortega Highway (the proposed segment would extend south to G Street and to
further examine the possibility of the connection at Cow Camp or Ortega
Highway); and responded to questions.
Public Comments:
• Reed L. Royalty, City resident and President of the Orange County Taxpayers
Association, felt that the toll roads are a gift to taxpayers; toll roads have
measurable results; and, money spent to build the roads are through
voluntary investment and not general obligation bonds on taxpayers.
• Jim Leach, Regional Chamber of Commerce Economic Coalition
Representative, felt that widening the 1-5 Freeway would be costly and not a
viable option to relieve traffic; supported the study of the segment, and the
completion of the toll road, as it would not affect taxpayers.
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• Clint Worthington, City resident, expressed concern with the short notice and
start time of the special meeting; felt that the toll road finances are failing
since they are continuously renewing bonds; stated taxpayers pay for
maintenance of the toll roads as Caltrans does all the road repairs; and felt
that Rancho Mission Viejo needs the segment to accommodate the
development of new homes.
• Ian Smith, City resident, expressed support for the completion of the 241 Toll
Road to the 1-5 Freeway; expressed concern and lack of support for the
segment ending at Ortega Highway until the connection to the 1-5 freeway is
approved; felt the segment is an advantage to Rancho Mission Viejo and not
to all of south Orange County.
• John Whitman, Oceanside resident and Chairman of the Board of the South
Orange County Chamber of Commerce, expressed the business community's
support for the segment to aid traffic congestion and stimulate the economy;
and requested for the necessary studies to be completed for the segment.
• Kim Lefner, City resident, expressed opposition to the segment and felt it is
another mechanism for Rancho Mission Viejo to get capacity for their
development project; felt the segment ending at Ortega Highway
would increase traffic onto Ortega Highway affecting the quality of life for
City residents.
• Larry Thomas, San Clemente resident, City property and business owner, felt
the segment would improve traffic flow for citizens on the east side of City,
especially in an emergency situation.
• Mark Bodenhamer, Chamber of Commerce, expressed support for the
segment and the completion of the 241 Toll Road; felt it would be an added
benefit for residents and businesses to have another option to get in, out,
and around the City.
• Paul Berkery, City resident and retired Automobile Club of Southern California
employee, stated that the American Automobile Association identified the toll
roads to be necessary for the County.
• Raul Briseno, Ladera Ranch resident and Asset Manager for West Star
Associates, expressed support for the toll road segment, as it will increase
mobility for commuters, ease pressure on existing infrastructure and improve
job growth.
• Mike Barth, City resident, expressed support for the toll road segment as it
will provide another option to commute north and aid the flow of traffic.
• Keven Nelson, City resident, expressed concern with environmental impacts
due to increase development; and asked to consider what the next generation
would want when considering the development of the segment.
• Erin Kutnick, City resident and former Transportation Commissioner,
expressed support for the toll road segment as it would give citizens more
options for commuting north and south; and suggested for the first exit to be
toll-free, similar to the Greenfield exit on the 73 Toll Road.
• Joe Soto, City resident, stated that roads can be mitigated and felt that
segmented steps taken by the TCA are appropriate; requested for the
1-5 Interchange to be completed and for TCA to mitigate traffic for residents
along the Ortega Highway.
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Council Comments:
• First preference for the segment to be built to the 1-5 Freeway; second
preference for the segment to end at Avenida Pico or -Cow Camp Road; does
not support the segment ending at Ortega Highway; expressed preference in
the following projects to be completed prior to construction of the segment:
1) 1-5 Interchange project; 2) Ortega Highway Widening project; and, 3) the
La Pata Extension; felt that traffic will continue to increase regardless of the
Rancho Mission Viejo development; felt that the 241 Toll Road would alleviate
traffic; and felt that the City of San Clemente may be in opposition to the
segment ending at Avenida Pico.
• Expressed preference for the three identified projects to be completed prior to
the construction of the segment; and would like to see mitigation measures
for traffic impacts.
• Felt that traffic and environmental studies are important components of the
project; stated that the toll road system is part of the mitigation measures in
place for air quality control; expressed preference for the three identified
projects to be completed close to or at the same time as the completion of the
segment; felt there is a need for another option other than using
Ortega Highway; and felt that toll roads are able to move traffic more
efficiently than arterial streets.
• Expressed support to continue development of the toll road system;
preference for the study to examine the segment ending at Avenida Pico, not
Ortega Highway; preference for the 1-5 Interchange project to be completed
prior to the construction of the segment; concern it may be many years before
the next segment from Ortega to the 1-5 Freeway gets built; and would like the
burden to be shared with the City of San Clemente.
Council Motion: Moved by Mayor pro tem Kramer, seconded by Council
Member Taylor, and carried 3-1-1 with Council Member Freese opposed and
Council Member Reeve absent to authorize the City's representative to the
Transportation Corridors Agency (TCA) to support the study of the initial segment
of the 241 Toll Road Completion Project to the vicinity of Ortega Highway; and,
City's TCA representative to relay the importance of the following projects to be
completed prior to construction of toll road segment: 1) completion of
1-5 Interchange Project; 2) completion of La Pata Extension; and 3) completion of
the City's Ortega Highway Widening Project.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: Council Members: Taylor, Kramer and Mayor Allevato
NOES Council Members: Freese
ABSENT: Council Members: Reeve
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, Mayor Allevato adjourned the meeting at 5:33 p.m. to the
Regular Meeting of Tuesday, October 18, 2011, at 5:00 p.m. for Closed Session and
6:00 p.m. for the Public Business Session in the City Council Chamber.
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CHaIS-TY JAKL, DEIIPIJTI(�CITY CLERK
Approved: December 6, 2011
10-11-2011
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