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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 02-13 CC MINBook 79/Page 56 02/13/97 MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY, CALIFORNIA FEBRUARY 13,1997 The Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of National City was called to order at 3:00 p.m. by Mayor Waters. ROLL CALL Council members present: Beauchamp, Inzunza, Morrison, Zarate, Waters. Administrative officials present: Bouse, Dalla, DiCerchio, Eiser, Kimball, McCabe, Morse, Myers, Post, Ray, Soliz, Williams, Zamarano. DESIGN GUIDELINES (405-7-1)/BUILDING PERMITS (405-2-2) 1. SUBJECT: Garage Conversion Workshop. Building and Safety Director Mike Bouse began with an overview of the Housing Inspection Program which began in 1995 with the goal of inspecting all rental units for Public Health and Safety violations. Director Bouse provided an activity summary of the program from June 6, 1995 through December 31, 1996. Activity Summary Number of Rental Units Inspected in the Target Area 480 Number of Units with Violations 436 % of Units with Violations 91% Total Number of Violations 2,487 Book 79/Page 57 02/13/97 Activity Summary (continued) Number of Violations Per Unit 6 Number of Illegal Units Identified in Target Area 44 Number of Illegal Units Removed/Corrected 18 Number of Illegal Additions/Structures Identified in Target Area 41 Number of Illegal Additions/Structures Removed/ Corrected 20 Most Common Violations Missing/Inoperative Smoke Detectors 196 Lack of Adequate Heating Facilities 41 Broken Windows/Doors 142 Security Bars w/o Quick -Release Mechanism 150 Hazardous Wiring 322 Misc. (Trash, Weeds, Abandoned Furniture, Etc.) 1,636 Building and Safety Director Bouse then provided information on illegal Garage Conversions within the current Target Area (from Division Street south to 8th Street and from National City Blvd., east to Palm Avenue) and showed slides of a variety of illegal garage conversions throughout the city. Book 79/Page 58 02/13/97 Illegal Garage Conversions Estimated Number City-wide 750 Number Identified in Target Area I 74 Voluntarily Removed/Corrected 16 Cases Pending in Target Area I 58 Director Bouse emphasized that the problem of illegal garage conversions is not unique to National City. Fire, Building and Police officials throughout the State are concerned with the various safety issues posed by such conversions. Director Bouse provided information on a tragedy that occurred in the Los Angeles area that took the lives of five children due to a faulty heating system in an illegally converted garage. Mr. Bouse emphasized that the genesis for the National City program was the health and safety concern of the City Council to avoid the kinds of tragedies that have occurred elsewhere. There were numerous questions of staff and lengthy Council discussion. Staff informed the Council that those people who have illegally converted structures may be allowed to keep them if they can be brought up to code and if they can meet the current parking standards and requirements. If they are unable to do so, then they are required to convert back to a lawful use, and typically that means convert it back to a garage. Mayor Waters was concerned that we can't be a first-rate city if too many garage conversions are allowed to exist, because the parking is displaced to the street or the front yard. Mayor Waters suggested that some of the 750 converted garages could be worked out but he was afraid that loosening up too much would make the problem worse. Mayor Waters believes there is still a need for a garage. Book 79/Page 59 02/13/97 Councilman Inzunza expressed his belief that parking was the thing that needs to be addressed. He favored keeping the nice garage conversions and making the bad ones nice, provided they can be made safe and they have parking off the street. Councilman Inzunza asked the Council whether they wanted to modify the current standards or bite the bullet and force everyone to convert. Councilwoman Zarate was concerned that the City has already set a particular course in dealing with violators, and what the consequence would be if we suddenly changed in mid stream after some people have already complied. She believed that parking was a major problem to be looked at after public safety. Councilman Morrison was uncomfortable with having a double standard for those who follow the rules and those that don't. Councilman Morrison was concerned that if the City constantly eases up on enforcement when people ignore the rules, it's going to just lower standards further and further to the point where we don't have any standards at all. Vice Mayor Beauchamp's primary concern is that every conversion is inspected to make sure that it is safe, and that we continue moving forward to prevent any loss of life. He feels that off-street parking is important, but the garage itself is not, and that the City needs to look at more creative ways to allow people to park on their property. PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Rita Heuss, 2121 E. 4th Street, National City, told the Council it was her belief that the message the 750 people who converted their garages should send to the rest of the town is: "if you want to do a garage conversion, do it the right way or else it is going to cost you big bucks." Jerry Mercado, 1715 La Posda, National City, told the Council that most people do not use their garages for parking cars. He has a garage conversion and he parks his cars in his driveway. He doesn't think the City is giving at all. He doesn't know what to do at this point. Book 79/Page 60 02/13/97 PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (continued) Mr. Joe Gallegos, 1243 E 2nd Street, National City, converted his garage many years ago to accommodate his family and now they want him to convert it back. He has parking in front of his garage. Louise Martin, 1527 E. 15th Street, National City, felt the Council should have had a workshop before they began the process. It was her belief that the Council is either going to have to stick with what they have started or go back and say we're not going to do any more. ACTION: It was the consensus of the Council to give instruction to Roger Post and the Planning Staff to: 1) Look into the space in front and the set -back and to reconsider the definition of off-street parking in front, side and back; 2) Consider if any such parking should be covered or uncovered and; 3) To look at design standards and architectural improvements as they relate to garage conversions and come back with a report in 30 days. Staff advised that, in all probability, such changes would legalize most of the estimated 750 violations. Until the matter is resolved, garage conversion enforcement and inspections would be put on hold, except for those already inspected that have health and safety problems. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Morrison, seconded by Waters, to adjourn to the Next Regular City Council Meeting - February 18, 1997 - 3:00 p.m. - Council Chambers, Civic Center. Carried by unanimous vote. The meeting closed at 5:23 p.m. CITY LERK Book 79/Page 61 02/13/97 ADJOURNMENT (continued) The foregoing minutes were approved at the Regular Meeting of March 11, 1997. J,.4- z_, .5..,-,-> MAYOR CITY OF NATIONAL CITY ALL CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE TAPE RECORDED. YOU MAY LISTEN TO THE TAPES IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. COPIES OF THE TAPES MAY BE PURCHASED FROM THE CITY CLERK.