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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - City Council - Meeting Date: 6/17/2014MINUTES OF THE GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION Council Chambers - Room 133 5850 West Glendale Avenue June 17, 2014 1:30 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Jerry P. Weiers, Vice Mayor Yvonne J. Knaack and Councilmembers Norma S. Alvarez, Ian Hugh, Manuel D. Martinez, Gary D. Sherwood, and Samuel U. Chavira ALSO PRESENT: Brenda Fischer, City Manager; Julie Frisoni, Assistant City Manager; Jennifer Campbell, Assistant City Manager; Michael Bailey, City Attorney; and Pamela Hanna, City Clerk CALL TO ORDER WORKSHOP SESSION 1. COUNCIL ITEM OF SPECIAL INTEREST: LOOP 303 AND NORTHERN AVENUE ACCESS PRESENTED BY: Cathy Colbath, Interim Executive Director, Transportation Services The purpose of this report is to provide information to Council on access to Loop 303 at Northern Avenue, as requested by Mayor Weiers as a Council Item of Special Interest. Ms. Colbath explained there are currently two major roadway projects in the west valley; they are the Loop 303 and Northern Parkway. She said although these projects are moving forward, they are facing some issues such as a changes in timelines due to decreased funding. Originally, there was not going to be an interchange between the Loop 303 and Northern Parkway, but funding was secured to allow this interchange between these two major roadways and the freeway connection just recently opened. She said the Loop 303 improvements include six lanes, grade separations at the major interchanges as well as the on and off connections at Northern Parkway. She said future developments include improved access in the area of Northern Avenue, but she explained the build out in the area right now does not provide off ramps to allow access to Northern Parkway from the south. She said there are also other areas that do not have direct access to Loop 303. Ms. Colbath said there are no southbound exits at Olive Avenue or Northern Avenue and there is no 1 northbound exit at Olive Avenue. She said there is a railroad crossing at Olive Avenue that is causing some issues. She said the project does include these build outs but these are currently in the non -funded portion of this project. Ms. Colbath said with increased development potential in the area, landowners have approached the city with their concerns about access. She said they are working with MAG and ADOT and they are aware of this issue. Ms. Colbath provided pictures to show current access in the area. She said while there are no solutions at this time, they are working on these issues. Mayor Weiers asked Ms. Colbath for a rough estimate on when solutions to these issues might be forthcoming. Ms. Colbath said since the Loop 303 is an ADOT project those discussions would need to take place with ADOT. She said neither the level of solution nor the funding have been determined at this point and she was unable to provide any sort of a timeline for resolution of these issues. 2. PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING GLENDALE CITY CODE, CHAPTER 25, Article V (NOISE) PRESENTED BY: Sam McAllen, Executive Director, Neighborhood and Human Services This is an opportunity for staff to seek direction from the City Council regarding a proposed ordinance amendment to Glendale City Code Chapter 25, Article V. relating to loud radios, sound sets, etc. The proposed amendment would allow the ability to temporarily exempt events, being operated in accordance with a city issued special event and/or event permit, from the provisions of Section 25-66 when the event is being conducted in accordance within the provisions of the city issued permit. The proposed amendment would only allow for exemptions associated with city issued event permits. The original noise protection provisions would remain in place for all other activities and would retain the originally approved noise protection provisions of the City Code. Staff is seeking guidance from City Council regarding moving forward with a proposed ordinance amendment. Mr. McAllen provided a history of the current city code provisions, which was established in 1988. He went over the three provisions of that code in more detail. Mr. McAllen explained that much has changed in Glendale since then. Mr. McAllen also explained the noise level exemptions allowed by other cities as well as providing information about special event exemptions allowed by other cities in the valley. He said each of the cities studied does allow an exemption to their noise ordinance as long as they are being operated in accordance with a city issued permit. He also read some sample language being used by another city. Mr. McAllen said he was seeking Council direction to amend the noise ordinance. Several options were discussed, including Option 1) temporarily exempt permitted events from those code provisions, Option 2) temporarily exempt permitted events from those code provisions between December 26, 2014 and February 2, 2015 or Option 3) take no action. He said flexibility will make the city more marketable for special events and will retain neighborhood safeguards against noise that were originally established when this portion of city code was adopted. Mr. McAllen explained staff recommends the first option. This will provide the city with more year round 2 opportunities to attract special events to Glendale, but continue to protect residents and neighborhoods. Councilmember Chavira said Glendale's entertainment district is in line with Peoria and is the crown jewel in the valley. He said option 1 is the only option at this time. He said this is a great opportunity as the city reaches out for events throughout the year. Councilmember Martinez said it was mentioned this would make Glendale more competitive for events. He asked if there were some events the city missed out on in the past because of the current code. Mr. McAllen said he was not sure if the city has missed out on events, but they have had event promoters tell staff that the restrictions currently listed in the city code are prohibitive. Councilmember Martinez said at least they would be on equal footing with the other cities. Mr. McAllen said that was staff's hope. Councilmember Sherwood said it was like that law that was on the books that he was reading about in which carrying ice cream in your pocket in Rhode Island still against the law. He said for 25 years they have been in violation of this ordinance. He gave examples of events creating noise: the world port games, the balloon festivals that take place at Thunderbird Graduate School, any of the events in the sports and entertainment district, tailgating at a Cardinals game. He said even the piped in music on the speaker systems in the parking lot out at Westgate would not meet the 125 feet. He said this is just taking the city into the current decade. He supports option 1 and thinks that is the only option they have on this. He said it takes care of an old ordinance that should have been updated a long time ago. There was consensus to move forward with option 1. Ms. Fischer said this will come forward at a voting meeting on June 24, 2014. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT Ms. Fischer thanked Mr. Kent for his 26 years of service with the city. Ms. Fischer also introduced Jack Friedline as the interim director of public works and said he comes to this position with many years of experience. COUNCIL ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST There were no Council items of special interest. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:49 p.m. 3