8/15/2017 City of San Juan Capistrano Agenda Memorandum H4 TO: FROM: DATE: Honorable Members of the City Council Kerry K. Ferguson, Mayor August15,2017 SUBJECT: Consideration of a Letter Expressing Opposition to Supervisor Lisa Bartlett's "Statement of Core Principles" Regarding Mobility in South Orange County RECOMMENDATION : By motion, direct the Mayor to send a letter opposing the first of four principles outlined by Supervisor Lisa Bartlett in a listing of her core principles in assessing solutions for traffic relief in South Orange County. SITUATION: By stating that she only opposes "disrupting and dividing neighborhoods by taking homes", Supervisor Bartlett leaves open support for several options that, even if homes are not specifically taken, will disrupt and divide neighborhoods and affect property values. This is unacceptable. Since Supervisor Bartlett has a powerful voice as member of the Board of Supervisors, the Orange County Transportation Authority and Transportation Corridors Agencies (TCA), it is important to let her know that we do not approve of that statement. The communities of Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente have all voiced opposition to one or more of alignments #9, #13, #14 and #17. Rancho Mission Viejo has also voiced opposition to any alignment that impacts negatively on our established communities as well as opposition to converting Los Patrones Parkway into a Toll Road once it is completed. The attached map (Attachment 1) shows the various proposed routes, and the proposed letter is attached as well (Attachment 2).
City Council Agenda Memorandum August 15, 2017 Page 2 of 2 BACKGROUND: Members of the OCTA, Caltrans and TCA are engaged in devising solutions that will provide greater mobility in our South County region. Recently, Supervisor Bartlett outlined a list of core principles she supports: 1. I will not support a project that disrupts and divides neighborhoods by taking homes. 2. I will not support a project that adversely impacts schools in our communities. 3. I will not support a project that does not measurably improve regional mobility, public safety, and traffic relief on 1-5. 4. I will continue to insist on a transparent and inclusive public engagement process as Caltrans and Transportation Corridor Agencies explore traffic relief options, and if at any time you feel it is not, I will work diligently to take corrective action. Attachment 1 - Proposed Routes Map Attachment 2- Draft Letter
This documant has been developed from input provided u part of an ongoing collabonltive exchange with South County elected o!llcials and from two public forums conducted by TCA to openly dibcua& and sclicft public Input regarding mobility iuues in Soultl Orange County. ~ a resu~ ol this input, and adhe~ng to Ca~s ProceduA!11, TCA is P"'P"ring a Projoet Initiation Document to preliminarily evaluate lhe&a ldeaa, which wip lead into the formal I - toea 15: Connect SR 241 10 1-5 WI Crlstiamtos Crossaoo Idee 10 Assume 20% ol vehkle IIHt 15 aolomatad (Hoi sha.m Of'l nwtp) tt - ii --,_ 1H: Comod SR 2411o SR 7J kjee 17: CUlntK:t SR 241lo J.-5 via SOOrv CMs Eldend Cr!Wtn V81ie Pltrtcway Pnma Deshec:hO l.oncllll RMV Plannl,g Area ResiHV8 81 RanchO M1~ VIeJO Doooo O'Neil Lilf>d Coo58fV811C'/ m San Olaofre Sbl.le Beach le858hokl C'Jcomp P9f1CIIeton BouodllfV C<Mlsllil Zooe Bounda.ry South Counly Mfttor,M9f~ls ATIACHMENT 1
August 15, 2017 The Honorable Lisa A. Bartlett, 5th District Supervisor Orange County Board of Supervisors 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd. Santa Ana, CA 92701 Dear Supervisor Bartlett, On behalf of the San Juan Capistrano City Council and the residents we represent, I wish to thank you for stating your core principles in assessing solutions for traffic relief in our communities, principally on the I-5 corridor between El Toro Road and Cristianitos Road. It is always important to evaluate proposals with well thought out criteria in mind. Unfortunately, we were highly distressed to read your first principle that reads "I will not support a project that disrupts and divides neighborhoods by taking homes." It is distressing because we all know that there are many ways for a road alignment to disrupt and divide a neighborhood in addition to specifically taking homes. By only speaking of "taking homes," it appears you are supportive of projects that would disrupt and divide neighborhoods or communities in other ways. Building a road, especially a Toll Road, through an established community, whether homes are taken or not, is divisive and disruptive. It also affects home values. Building a road across hills with designated open space, protected ridgelines, equestrian and hiking trails, etc. is also disruptive, particularly to our community, which puts a high priority on such things. Losing any of our trails, ridge lines or open spaces to a Toll Road would be highly disruptive to our way of life. The communities of Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente have all made clear our strong opposition to one or more of alignments #9, #13, #14 and #17 specifically because of the disruptive and divisive impact they would have on our communities. Additionally, Rancho Mission Viejo has voiced their opposition to any new road that would adversely impact our established communities. As our 5th District Supervisor and a member of both OCTA and TCA, if is imperative that you stand up for us in yo-ur deliberations and express your opposition with us to all alignments that would adversely impact our 5th District communities. There are many other possibilities that should be looked at before building further Toll Roads. One would be the impact of the soon to be completed I-5 widening through San Clemente as well as the proposed extra lanes and express lanes between A very and El Toro. Another would be the impact of the La Pata extension once completed along with the impending widening of ATTACHMENT 2
August 15, 2017, Letter to Supervisor Lisa Bartlett- "Statements of Core Principles" Regarding Mobility on South Orange County (City of San Juan Capistrano) Page 2 of 2 Pico. Los Patrones will form an important link in that North/South chain. Another would be reducing the cost of Metrolink on weekends to the point that it creates full usage as well as linking it with 1st and last mile options. The proposed app to find lyft, uber, bus or other transportation for the 1st and last mile spoken of by OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson is a good step in that direction. Evaluating the impact of autonomous cars on the flow of traffic will be important, too. These are just a few possibilities to be considered before building more Toll Roads. Again, Supervisor Bartlett, we strongly urge you to stand up for San Juan Capistrano and our neighbors to say that you will not support a project that disrupts and divides neighborhoods in any way. In return, we will continue to help seek positive solutions to regional traffic needs. Sincerely, Mayor Kerry Ferguson City of San Juan Capistrano