[00:00:02]
I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:32 P.M.
[CALL TO ORDER]
ON AUGUST 1ST. MR. RUSSI, WE HAVE A STUDY SESSION, CORRECT? WE DO. HANG ON.DOES THAT TAKE IT DOWN? NO, IT'S SOMETHING ELSE.
THAT WAS BETTER. I THINK IT'S GOOD.
OK. I THINK WE'RE GOOD TO GO NOW.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. SHALL I DO ROLL CALL, PLEASE, MR. RUSSI? ROLL CALL. THANK YOU.
SO WE ARE HERE FOR A STUDY SESSION.
[3. Wilderness Area Management Plan Study Session - Staff will provide City Council with a presentation summarizing completed steps, current status, and timeline to finalize the Wilderness Area Management Plan.]
AND JUST TO REMIND THE COUNCIL AND THE MEMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE STUDY SESSION IS NOT AGENDA FOR ACTION TO BE TAKEN.IT'S JUST TO PROVIDE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY WITH INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECT MATTER.
AND THE ITEM THAT YOU'LL BE HEARING ABOUT TODAY IS THE LA VERNE WILDERNESS AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN.
THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN VERY LENGTHY IN TIME.
IT'S HAD A COUPLE OF PAUSES IN THE MIDDLE.
AND BEFORE WE BRING IT BACK FOR THE THE FINAL HEARING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL, WE THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO FAMILIARIZE THE COUNCIL AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC WITH THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE TO THIS POINT AND THE PROJECT.
SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU OTHERWISE HAVE THAT WE NEED TO GO BACK AND DO SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH BEFORE WE BRING IT BACK FOR A FULL PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION AND AT THE COUNCIL MEETING.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO CANDICE.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MS. BOWCOCK. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO, AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE LA VERNE WILDERNESS AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN.
AND THIS ALL STARTED BACK IN 2007 DUE TO THE LACK OF FUNDING TO COMPLETE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT. SORRY, JR, SLIDE.
BUT BECAUSE OF OTHER COMMUNITY ISSUES THAT CAME UP ABOUT AT THAT TIME, INCLUDING LARGE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, COVID 19, AND THE PROJECT WAS PUT ON HOLD AGAIN. THEREFORE, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME CITY NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE PROPOSED PLAN AND THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED SINCE 2007, STAFF FELT THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE THIS STUDY SESSION TO DISCUSS THE PLAN BEFORE GOING STRAIGHT TO CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S LIKE. SO GOING BACK TO WHAT TRIGGERED THIS PLAN WAS IN 2006 WHEN THE CITY ACQUIRED 208 ACRES THROUGH STATE GRANT FUNDS WITH COOPERATION FROM THE COUNTY, THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND AND THE LA VERNE LAND CONSERVANCY, THAT 208 ACRES WAS COMBINED WITH 150 ACRES THAT WAS ALREADY OWNED BY THE CITY TO CREATE THE OPEN SPACE PRESERVE OF 358 ACRES, WHICH IS WHAT WE REFER TO NOW AS THE WILDERNESS AREA.
THE WILDERNESS AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN INCLUDES SELECTIVE HABITAT ENHANCEMENT ACTIONS, THE RESOLUTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARDS, THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIMITED, CONTROLLED PUBLIC ACCESS AS PART OF THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS WILDERNESS AREA.
SO IN THIS NEXT SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE MAP OF THE AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
MONTEREY IS THE STREET DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO IT, JUST ABOVE MARSHALL CANYON.
[00:05:04]
GABRIEL MOUNTAINS, OBVIOUSLY.SO LIKE I SAID IN THE INTRO, IN 2007, WE BEGAN THE PLANNING PROCESS FOR THE WILDERNESS AREA.
IN OCTOBER OF 2008, A DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN WAS CREATED THAT OUTLINED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HABITAT RESOURCE ENHANCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY ACTIONS, AND THE CONTROLLED PUBLIC ACCESS . ERS ARE VERY COSTLY AND DUE TO THE LACK OF FUNDS AT THAT TIME TO COMPLETE ONE, THE CITY ELECTED TO POSTPONE ANY ACTION AT THAT TIME.
SO THEN IN 2015, STAFF PRESENTED AN OVERVIEW OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN FINDINGS, THE COSTS FOR IMPROVEMENTS AND RECOMMENDED NEXT STEPS AT A CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP. CITY COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO PREPARE AN RFP FOR THE PROJECT, OUTLINING AN UPDATE OF THE PLAN AND THE EIR SLIDE . SOON AFTER, IN 2016, A CONSULTANT WAS HIRED TO PREPARE THE PLAN AND BEGIN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS BETWEEN OCTOBER OF 2018 AND APRIL OF 2019.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION CONDUCTED SEVERAL MEETINGS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS REQUESTED.
FEEDBACK WAS RECEIVED FROM RESIDENTS AND OTHER STATE AGENCIES AT THAT TIME.
SOME RESIDENTS SHARED COMMENTS REGARDING OPENING UP THE PUBLIC ACCESS TO CONNECT TO A LARGER TRAIL SYSTEM SUCH AS SUNSET MOTOR RIDGE TRAIL STAFF AND THE LA VERNE LAND CONSERVANCY AT THAT TIME HAD MET WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE, AND WE'RE TOLD IN WRITING THAT PORTIONS OF THE WILDERNESS AREA FALL WITHIN THE EXPERIMENTAL FOREST.
AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO THIS TRAIL IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT.
PHASE TWO INCLUDED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A ONE MILE LOOP TRAIL AND INCREASED PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE AREA.
A PUBLIC WORKSHOP AND CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL WOULD ULTIMATELY BE REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT PHASE TWO WILL ONLY MOVE FORWARD WITH PROPER NOTIFICATION TO THE RESIDENTS AND ULTIMATELY A VOTE BY CITY COUNCIL.
SO THE NEXT STEPS IN THIS PROCESS ARE WE WOULD SCHEDULE THE PLAN AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION AT POSSIBLY THE MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 16TH AND IN AUGUST.
PRIOR TO THE HEARING, STAFF WILL NOTIFY ABOUT 500 ADJACENT RESIDENTS AND ALL OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES, LETTING THEM KNOW ABOUT THE MEETING AND THE PUBLIC HEARING SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO WELCOME TO ATTEND.
AND THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, I'M AVAILABLE FROM STAFF.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD A COUPLE PIECES TO THAT THAT MAKE PHASE ONE IMPORTANT COUPLED WITH THE NEED FOR THE TO DETERMINE THE PUBLIC ACCESS OR NOT, WAS ALSO THE ISSUE THAT WAS OUR WEED ABATEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT WE WERE DOING AND HAD HISTORICALLY BEEN DONE ON ALL CALL THAT SOUTHERN FINGER OF THE PROJECT THAT IS JUST BEHIND MONTEREY AND ADJACENT TO THE SAGE CANYON PROJECT.
WE WERE GETTING SOME PUSHBACK FROM THE STATE, SO WE NEEDED TO PUT TOGETHER A MANAGEMENT PLAN SO THAT WE COULD CODIFY WHAT OUR ACTIVITIES WERE, SO WE COULD SUPPORT AN APPLICATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THE PHASE ONE IS REALLY ABOUT ENSURING WE CONTINUE THOSE PRACTICES FOR THE SAFETY OF THE HOMES THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THE THAT SOUTHERN FINGER OF THE PROPERTY.
AND THEN PHASE TWO WOULD BE KIND OF THAT ADDED FOR LATER ON.
WHAT'S THE STATE'S VIEW OF THIS PROJECT AND THEY FUNDED A HUGE PORTION OF THE COST TO ACQUIRE THE LAND, AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN AN ALBATROSS EVER SINCE.
IS THE STATE LOOKING FOR US TO HAVE ACCESS ONTO THAT PROPERTY OR ARE THEY INDIFFERENT ABOUT THAT?
[00:10:02]
ACTUALLY, THAT QUESTION WAS ASKED DURING THE PROCESS AND I THINK CANDICE HAS SOME INFORMATION.YES. SO A STIPULATION OF THE GRANT FUNDING WAS THAT PUBLIC ACCESS WAS REQUIRED.
WE DID GO INTO EVEN FURTHER DEPTH ON THAT QUESTION AND WE FOUND A SWITCHBACK TRAIL ACTUALLY FROM SAN DIMAS CANYON ROAD. AND WE POINTED OUT THAT THERE'S THAT TECHNICALLY THERE'S ACCESS FROM THAT POINT.
AND THE STATE GAVE US A LETTER THAT SAYS THAT'S SUFFICIENT FOR THE GRANT.
AS TO CALL THAT PUBLIC ACCESS.
BUT DO WE HAVE TRAILS THAT WOULD CONNECT FROM THE SWITCHBACKS TO THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY? IT LEADS BACK DOWN TO THE PROPERTY, YES.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ACTUALLY EXIT.
ON TO ANYWHERE? I DON'T KNOW. SO THAT WOULD BE PART IF WE WERE TO DO A MORE NATURE TRAIL WOULD BE THAT CONNECTION.
THERE IS NO CONSTRUCTED OR DEVELOPED TRAILS THAT FALL ANYWHERE ON THE PROPERTY AT THIS TIME.
BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT THAT HAS THAT THE STATE IS SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO DO ANYTHING MORE THAN IS THERE RIGHT NOW TO SATISFY THAT CONDITION OF THE GROUND. JUST BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME.
ARE WE IN JEOPARDY WHATSOEVER OF LOSING THAT AND HAVING TO PAY THEM BACK? BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE BIGGEST THING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW IS AT SOME POINT THERE HAS TO BE EITHER ACCESS OR WE GIVE BACK.
AND WE NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF PLANS IN PLACE.
WILL THEY GIVE US SOME GRACE PERIOD BECAUSE OF THE FACT OF IT? I THINK WE'VE USED THAT.
I KIND OF SAY WE PROBABLY HAVE.
I MEAN, THIS GOES BACK TO 2007.
AND NUMBER THREE, IT'S IT'S INHOSPITABLE, I GUESS I WOULD SAY AREA.
BUT THE POINT IS, THOUGH, IS THAT WE DO HAVE THIS THING A GRANT AND WE WE'VE DONE SOME ENVIRONMENTAL BUT NOT WE NEED TO REDO THOSE BECAUSE THOSE ARE, KNOW WHERE THEY STAND.
A LITTLE TWEAKING, BUT NOTHING MAJOR.
SO REALLY, WE'RE KIND OF OUT OF TIME IF WE WANT TO STILL USE THE AIR AND NOT PAY FOR ANOTHER ONE.
YES. MR. CROSBY? THANK YOU. BUT YOU JUST STATED, BECAUSE OF THE ACCESS POINT, WE DON'T NEED CURRENTLY NEW MORE ACCESS POINTS TO USE THE GRANT OR HAVE TO PAY BACK FOR THE GRANT BECAUSE THERE IS AN ACCESS POINT OFF OF SAN DIMAS CANYON ON THE WEST SIDE OF THIS PROPERTY, BUT IT DOES NOT COME DOWN THROUGH ALL THE WAY DOWN TO WHERE THAT FINGER DOWN TO LIKE WHERE WE GOLDEN SPRINGS.
BUT THAT DOESN'T VIOLATE WHAT THE GRANT AND WHAT THE STATE TOLD US THAT YOU NEED ACCESS TO IT, CORRECT? WE'RE STILL OBLIGATED TO TO ADOPT A PLAN, BUT THAT'S THE PUBLIC ACCESS ASPECT.
IF UNTIL WHEN? IF PHASE TWO EVER HAPPENS, THAT'S FINE.
IS THERE A MANDATE THAT PHASE TWO HAS TO HAPPEN BY A CERTAIN POINT? THE WILDERNESS, THE CONSERVANCY, LA VERNE LAND CONSERVANCY.
THEY REQUESTED THAT A CONDITION BE ADDED THAT WE REVISIT IT IN 20 MONTHS.
I WANT TO SAY TWO YEARS OF THE COUNCIL REVISITS IT JUST TO SEE IF MAYBE THERE'S NEW RESIDENTS OR SOMETHING CHANGES TO WHERE THEY MAY SUPPORT IT BECAUSE AT THE TIME IT WASN'T SUPPORTED.
NO, I DON'T BELIEVE IT SUPPORTED IT RIGHT NOW.
AND THOUGH WE IF THE RESIDENTS DO NOT SUPPORT THAT, WE ARE STILL FINE WITH THE ACCESS THAT IS THERE RIGHT NOW.
[00:15:01]
CORRECT. COUNCILMEMBER MEMBER? SO I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND IN HISTORY TO THAT, TOO, BECAUSE I WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHEN THIS WAS BEING DISCUSSED.AND SO I THINK THAT DOES ACCURATELY REPRESENT THE BIGGEST ISSUE WAS OUR CONCERN OVER PUBLIC ACCESS, BECAUSE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS, THEN WE WERE IN DANGER OF HAVING TO PAY BACK THE FUNDS AND THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
PHASE TWO, THERE'S NO IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD.
SO THIS IS THE PLAN, A PHASE ONE AND A PHASE TWO APPROACH.
THERE IS NO TIME PERIOD THAT IS REQUIRED TO ENACT PHASE TWO.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE OUTSIDE GROUPS THAT MAY PUSH US TO ENACT A TIMELINE.
WE REQUIRE TO ENACT THAT TIMELINE.
I BELIEVE YOUR ONLY OBLIGATION WOULD BE TO REVISIT IT AND TALK ABOUT IT AS A COUNCIL.
PHASE TWO OR NOT? JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT'S BEING IMPOSED BY THE STATE.
BUT THAT WAS AT THE REQUEST OF THE LAND CONSERVANCY, NOT OF ANY STATE AGENCY.
AND SO THE PLAN FOR THIS WOULD BE THEN TO GET THE PUBLIC NOTICE OUT, AT WHICH POINT THEN WE WOULD ANTICIPATE OBVIOUSLY SOME COMMENTS AND FOLKS COMING AND THEN HAVE THIS UP FOR VOTE BY OUR MID SEPTEMBER MEETING.
AND I KNOW THAT THEY WANTED TO CONSERVE OUR SPACE, WHICH IS GREAT, TO CONSERVE OUR NATURAL SPACE.
BUT THEN AGAIN, IT'S ANOTHER ISSUE TO HAVE PEOPLE COMING UP AND DOWN.
AND I KNOW THERE'S A BONE OF CONTENTION ON THAT TRAIL.
IT WAS KIND OF IFFY, THE ONE FROM SAN DIMAS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, BUT ANYWAY, IT IS A TRAIL.
SO WE BRING IT UP TO THE RESIDENTS AGAIN.
GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR THOUGHT. I JUST, THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
SO AND THEN BASICALLY LET THE RESIDENT SPEAK AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT AREA AGAIN.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE HAVE TO CODIFY PHASE ONE.
BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S MORE PERMANENT.
MR. JOHNSON. SO WE HAVEN'T NOW ACCESS TO THAT PROPERTY FROM THAT SWITCHBACK FROM SAN DIMAS.
SO TECHNICALLY RESIDENTS OR ANYBODY CAN USE THAT TO ACCESS THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY, AND THEY'RE NOT, NOBODY'S BEING BARRED FROM THAT PROPERTY.
WHAT'S OUR LIABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH THAT? IN WHAT MANNER? I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING.
WELL, I MEAN, TECHNICALLY, WITH THE TRAIL THAT'S THERE, IT DOES ALLOW ACCESS TO THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR ANYBODY WITH WHATEVER INTENTION THEY HAVE.
BUT YET WE'RE NOT REALLY SECURING THAT PROPERTY AT ALL OR MONITORING THAT PROPERTY.
WE'RE ONLY BEHOLDING TO RESIDENTS TO MAKE A CALL IF THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON ON THAT PROPERTY.
DO WE HAVE CAMERAS? EXCUSE ME, MR. JOHNSON. DO WE HAVE CAMERAS ON THAT PROPERTY ON THE UPPER EDGE? WE DO NOT HAVE ANY IMPROVEMENTS ANYWHERE ON IT.
SO IT IS CONSIDERED WILDERNESS AREA.
SO IT IS REALLY UNPROTECTED, ON MONITORED AND IS LEFT TO NATURAL HABITAT.
BUT THE ACCESS TO THAT PROPERTY IS BASICALLY IS IT BRYDEN AND ALSO THROUGH NAME
[00:20:03]
IS GOLDEN HILLS ESTATES AND ALSO SIMPSON PROPERTY AND THAT'S LOCKED DOWN SO THE ONLY ONE IS DO SAN DIMAS BASICALLY IS BECAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE IS PRETTY MUCH LOCKED OUT.KASH, DO YOU HAVE ANY? MIC]. A CAMEL OR A ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE, WHICH YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE OUT THERE ANYWAY.
SO. RIGHT. SO REALLY, WE'RE GOING TO BASICALLY WE'RE GOING TO BRING BACK TO THE RESIDENTS.
WE'RE GOING TO NOTIFY THEM, THEN HAVE A DISCUSSION.
SO YOU WEREN'T CAPTURING ALL THIS INFORMATION OR HAVING TO READ IT IN A STAFF REPORT AND AT LEAST HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK SOME OF THESE PARTICULAR QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE OF HAVING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO BUT WE'LL BE HAPPY TO IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PIECES OF INFORMATION TO YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY ABOUT IF THERE IS ANY LIABILITY FROM THAT ACCESS, WE CAN CERTAINLY ASK THE AUTHORITY TO HAVE THOSE PREPARED FOR OUR NEXT MEETING AS WELL.
YEAH, BECAUSE IF THERE IS PUBLIC ACCESS AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE USING IT, NO MATTER HOW THEY GOT ON TO THE PROPERTY, IT'S STILL PROPERTY THAT CAN BE ACCESSED AND USED.
WE'RE STILL DOING IT. GO AHEAD.
SO I THINK MAYBE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYBE JUST AS A REFRESHER FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T SIT ON THE COMMISSION WITH ME AND THE MAYOR, I DON'T WANT TO. I REMEMBER THE BOOKS AND THEY WERE VERY BIG.
BUT MAYBE THE MINUTES OR SOMETHING FROM EACH OF THOSE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS AND OKAY, PERFECT.
THANK YOU. SO WE'LL BRING IT BACK.
THANK YOU. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT RIGHT NOW.
IF ANYBODY WISHES TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME ON UP.
I THINK I REMEMBER THIS AND I WALKED SOME OF THE HOUSES ON MONTERREY AND THEY WERE PISSED.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST LIKE, NO, REALLY.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN? THEY WERE JUST PISSED.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT LIKE A LOT OF TREES RIGHT THERE, BUT IT'S PRETTY WELL OPEN.
AND YOU COULD SEE EVERYBODY WALKING BY AND THEY DID NOT WANT PEOPLE BACK THERE.
AND I DON'T BLAME THEM IN THIS ENVIRONMENT NOW.
I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF BREAK INS.
THAT'S AN EASY BREAK IN RIGHT THERE.
SO I REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW THEY FEEL, AND I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GO FOR IT.
AND THEY HAVE BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY THERE, BUT IT'S PRETTY.
I MEAN, THEY CAN SEE IN THEIR YARDS, THEY CAN SEE IN THEIR HOUSE.
SO IT'S A PROBLEM IF YOU START GETTING PEOPLE HERE AND WE DON'T NEED ANY FIRES UP THERE.
DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO POST IT TO OVER 500 RESIDENTS, IS THAT NOT CORRECT? EVERYBODY THAT IS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT.
MS. BARRY? YOU'RE ALMOST RIGHT ON THAT PROPERTY.
SPECIFY HOW FAR OR HOW CLOSE IS THAT GROUP OF HOUSES GOING TO BE? ARE WE I MEAN, LIKE, I'M CONCERNED THAT IT'S GOING TO BE JUST THE IMMEDIATE, YOU KNOW, HOW FAR ARE WE GOING TO GO? HOW MANY HOUSES? HOW FAR? WE'RE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO NOTICE 300 FEET FROM THE ACTUAL AREA.
BUT WE YEAH, WE DID, WE DID GO FURTHER.
[00:25:03]
CAN I SUGGEST MUCH FURTHER? 300 FEET? I MEAN, WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT POTENTIAL FOR FIRE DANGER AND POTENTIAL FOR SECURITY ISSUES, I WOULD SUGGEST GOING MUCH FURTHER THAN THAT, BECAUSE IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE PUBLIC INPUT, THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW AND I MEAN, EVEN THREE OR FOUR BLOCKS FROM THERE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE SEVERELY IMPACTED POTENTIALLY.THAT'S ANOTHER COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT? WHAT WAS IT USED FOR OR HAS IT BEEN USED? ACQUISITION? YEAH, THE PURCHASE ORIGINALLY.
AND THEN ONE OTHER THING, JUST A TOTAL SIDE NOTE.
WHEN YOU'RE SITTING OVER HERE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS COMES OUT.
CAN YOU HEAR US? I CAN HEAR YOU, BUT NOT THAT.
AND EVEN FROM ALL THOSE ZOOMS WE DID, THIS WAS HARD TO HEAR.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO ADJUST THAT OR MAKE IT GO OUT THERE ON A PLAYBACK.
CAN YOU HEAR IT ON THE PLAYBACK? I HEAR IT'S NOT VERY GOOD.
NOT VERY WELL. MOST OF YOU ARE PRETTY GOOD.
MS. BEAUCHAMP? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
NUMBER TWO, WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE IF PHASE TWO IS NOT ACHIEVED REGARDLESS IF THERE IS A DEADLINE OR NOT, WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE? ARE THERE OTHER ALTERNATIVES EVEN BEING DISCUSSED, REOPENING FROM ANOTHER LOCATION OTHER THAN THE SAN DIMAS ENTRANCE? YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING BEING DISCUSSED.
BUT WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT PROPOSING SOLUTIONS, I GUESS, IS WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.
I'M LOOKING TO YOU AS MY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS, AND I'M NOT HEARING THAT NOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC THAT SURROUNDS THOSE THAT THAT AREA AND WAIT TO PRESENT THEM AT THAT TIME, I DON'T KNOW. BUT I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD BE.
AND WORST CASE SCENARIO, IF THAT MONEY HAS TO BE RETURNED, IS THAT FACTORED INTO THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. BEAUCHAMP. ANYONE ELSE? I'VE GOT ONE MORE QUESTION IN REGARDS TO THE MAP THAT WE'RE SEEING.
YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL WE FINISH OUR PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK UP.
OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ON THE? WE HAVE SHAWN.
I GO ON THE PHONE. I DON'T THINK HE HAS ANY QUESTIONS.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION THAT GOES WAY BACK TO THE PURCHASING OF IT.
I THOUGHT THEY PURCHASED IT AND THEN WE WERE JUST THE OVERSEERS TO MAKE SURE IT WAS OKAY.
I DIDN'T WE DIDN'T GET THE MONEY AND THEN BUY IT.
I THOUGHT THEY BOUGHT IT AND THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO MANAGE IT AND OUR CITY SAID WE WOULD.
SO I DON'T THINK JUST FROM BACK IN 200, 2000 YEARS AGO OR WHATEVER, IN 2000, I THINK IT WAS JUST THAT THEY NEEDED A CITY BECAUSE LA COUNTY SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT IT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE OVER IT.
AND SO CITY LA VERNE SAID, OH, HEY, THIS LOOKS WILL GET, YOU KNOW, GET RID OF THE FUTURE.
AND TO CLARIFY, THEY YOU MEAN THE STATE? YES. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS.
I THINK THAT IS MY THEORY IS WE'RE SAYING WE'RE DONE.
GIVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. I DON'T THINK WE GOT MONEY TO BUY IT, I THINK.
BUT I DON'T KNOW. BUT I REMEMBER WAY BACK WHEN WE WERE FIRST WORKING ON THIS.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE WOULD OWE MONEY BACK, BUT MAYBE YOU COULD FIND OUT.
YEAH. YOUR MEMORY IS PRETTY GOOD SOMETIMES.
[00:30:03]
YEAH, ALL THE TIME.ANYONE ELSE GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. JOHNSON. YEAH.
THIS PROPERTY HAS JUST BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING, EVEN FROM THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT, I THINK BECAUSE WE, WE NEVER REALLY WANTED TO OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC USE, BUT THAT WAS A CONDITION OF THE GRANT THAT WAS USED TO ACQUIRE THE MONEY.
AND YEAH, THE COUNTY DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.
THE FOREST SERVICE DOESN'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.
I GUESS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE IN THE MAP THAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE PROJECT AREA OR THE PROJECT LOCATION IS IN YELLOW AND THERE'S A LOT OF PROPERTY HERE THAT'S NOT A PART OF THAT CHUNK OF LAND THAT WAS PURCHASED.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING WHERE ALL OF THIS GOT TIED UP TO THE PROPERTY THAT THE LAND CONSERVANCY PURCHASED THAT WE TOOK OVER BECAUSE THE PROJECT AREA LISTED HERE IS MUCH LARGER THAN THE PROPERTY THAT WAS ACQUIRED.
AND THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION.
WHAT WAS THE WHAT WAS THE PROPERTY THAT WAS ACQUIRED AND WHAT WAS THE PROPERTY THAT IT SAYS IN THE BRIEFING? WAS IT COMBINED TOGETHER? SO WHAT WAS THE ONE PIECE THAT WAS ACQUIRED AND THEN WAS THE THEN THE TOTAL? AND I WILL LET CANDACE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG IN THAT, BUT I BELIEVE THE DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL WHEN WE WENT DOWN, PUT THE WILDERNESS PLAN TOGETHER AND THEN MOVE FORWARD, WAS WE HAD THIS OTHER PIECE AND THIS PIECE, AND IT JUST MADE SENSE TO MERGE THEM TOGETHER AS PART OF THE WILDERNESS PLAN.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS ANYTHING THAT WAS PART OF THE GRANT THAT REQUIRED IT.
WE JUST CHOSE IF WE WERE GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS EFFORT TO BRING THE PIECES TOGETHER.
THEY MOVED OUT AT THE LAST MINUTE.
THE CITY INSERTED ITSELF AND NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED.
SO WE BECAME THE THE OWNERS OF THIS LAND OR THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY, BUT WE DID NOT GET THE MONEY.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS BEING IMPOSED UPON US.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS BEING REQUESTED THAT PHASE TWO BY INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PART OR THE LAND CONSERVANCY ITSELF, THAT WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF WORKING TO ACQUIRE THIS LAND FOR THE INTENTION OF HOPEFULLY COMING UP WITH PUBLIC ACCESS.
BUT THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS REQUIRING IT.
AND IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING ADDITIONAL TOO.
I JUST CAME TO MY BRAIN REMEMBERING THAT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
BUT ABSENT OF US SPENDING MORE MONEY TO REVISE THE PLAN AND TAKE IT OUT ALTOGETHER, THE DIRECTION WAS TO DO THIS PHASE TWO THAT REQUIRED THIS OTHER ACTION BY THE COUNCIL AFTER THIS ADOPTION THAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN FOR IT TO BE IMPLEMENTED, BECAUSE IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR FOR THE RESIDENTS OVER THERE, THE MAJORITY OF THEM, THAT THEY WERE OPPOSED TO THE LOOP TRAIL.
WE ORIGINALLY INTENDED THAT TO MEET THAT CRITERIA FOR PUBLIC ACCESS.
SO STEPH WASN'T A PROPONENT FOR THAT PHASE TWO.
IT WAS ALREADY SIMPLY IN THE PLAN.
SO I JUST WANT TO UPDATE THAT BECAUSE I RECALL THAT NOW AFTER THE FACT.
LET ME JUST FINISH THE OTHER TWO QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP AS FAR AS ALTERNATE PHASE.
SO THERE IS NO ALTERNATE PHASE THAT WE'RE REALLY PROPOSING BECAUSE THERE'S NO NEED TO.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING I MEAN, IF COUNCIL WANTS TO PROCEED WITH SOME ALTERNATIVE TO PUBLIC ACCESS, I THINK THE PUBLIC OPINION IS PRETTY STRONG ON NOT BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY CAN BE SOMETHING COUNCIL'S INTEREST AS FAR AS THE ITEMS BEING INCLUDED.
THIS AS A STUDY SESSION WAS JUST TO FAMILIARIZE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC AND REMIND THEM OF THE SUBJECT AND KIND OF ALL THESE DIFFERENT ASPECTS THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY TO KIND OF DISCUSS, SO THAT WHEN IT DOES COME FORWARD, IT'S NOT COMING FROM THIS COMPLETELY STALLED POSITION.
[00:35:06]
IT'S AT LEAST AT SOME UNDERSTANDING.SO, YEAH. YEAH, WE CAN DO THAT.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THAT ALL OUT SO WE CAN JUST HAVE IT AS A SEPARATE ISSUE? YEAH. SO SO BASICALLY, I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IS THAT RECALLING NOW IS DIRECTOR SHEAR AND CANDICE HAVE SAID PHASE TWO IS A NO GO. PHASE ONE IS ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO FIRE CLEARANCE AND A FEW MODIFICATIONS.
IF IT'S ALREADY IN PLACE, THE AIR IS ALREADY IN PLACE.
SO WE GO AHEAD AND HAVE A MEETING.
BUT TO MS. BEAUCHAMP AND ALSO MS. BARRY, I THINK WE NEED TO EXPAND THAT 502.
WE NEED TO EXPAND THAT AREA BECAUSE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING DOWN TO BASICALLY TO COUNTRY CLUB BIRDIE, ANYONE IN THE NEW TRACT, YOU'VE GOT MARSHAL CANYON, YOU'VE GOT RUSTIC CANYON, YOU'VE GOT GOLDEN HILLS ESTATES, YOU'VE GOT MOUNTAIN SPRINGS, YOU'VE GOT ALL THOSE AREAS THAT ARE AFFECTED.
IT WOULDN'T HURT US TO GO AHEAD AND EXPAND THAT OUT TO A LARGER, LARGER AREA.
SO AND WE ARE IN A HIGH FIRE ZONE, AS IT SAYS IN THE MAP, BECAUSE IT EVEN STATED THAT.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT.
BUT I AND ALL THE INFORMATION, PLEASE, WE NEED TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO THE RESIDENTS TO SEE WHAT IT WAS, JUST KIND OF REKINDLE THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SO LONG AND IT'S BEEN KIND OF MOVING ALONG.
BUT I THINK IT'S IN PLACE FOR US TO REVIEW IT AND THEN HAVE SOME MORE INPUT FROM THE RESIDENTS.
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU JUST CAME BACK TO, AS I RECALL, THE BIGGEST PEOPLE THAT WANTED THE TRAIL SORRY, WE'LL LET YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE THE INFORMATION GURU TONIGHT.
THE BIGGEST PEOPLE THAT REALLY WANTED THE TRAIL WAS A BICYCLE GROUP.
YES. AND IT WAS OUT OF TOWNERS.
AND WE ALL SAID WE DON'T WANT THE CLAREMONT LOOP.
SO I THINK THAT'S PART EVERYONE IN TOWN SAID NO.
AND THEN THE BICYCLE THAT WAS, THEY WERE ALL OVER WITH THEIR SHOES ON AND THEIR BIKES OUTSIDE AGAIN.
YES. YEAH. SO IT WASN'T REALLY THE TOWNSPEOPLE.
SO WE'RE LIKE, OKAY, SO COUNCIL, DO WE NEED ANOTHER? I THINK WE'VE GOT OUR DIRECTION.
SO WE'LL TRY TO GET THIS ON THE APRIL 16TH MEETING OR SEPTEMBER.
I MEAN, SEPTEMBER. WE CAN WAIT TILL APRIL.
LET'S GET THIS DONE. SO WE GET UP AND GET THAT SET UP SO WE MAKE SURE THAT STAFF CAN CARRY THIS ONE.
I MEAN, JUST TO CLARIFY, THE FUEL LOT IS HAPPENING, SO I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO FREAK OUT.
WE ARE. YES. FEEL WHAT IS HAPPENING.
SO ALL THIS IS GOING TO PUT THIS IN.
THE FIRE MARSHAL'S BEEN UP THERE A FEW TIMES ALREADY CHECKING IT OUT.
SO THAT'S IT. WE HAVE OUR DIRECTION.
THANK YOU FOR ALL ATTENDING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.