Here’s some of what the Coronado City Council will be discussing at its meeting Tuesday, September 19.
Tijuana Sewage: Consider a proposed cooperation agreement with the City of Imperial Beach to prevent sewage from Tijuana from fouling coastal waters.
Among its provisions Coronado would support legislation to fund repairs to the sewer infrastructure and pollution prevention in the Tijuana River Valley and give the City of Imperial Beach $50,000 to offset legal fees it incurred trying to improve waste treatment at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant. The city would also ask its lobbyist in Sacramento to advocate for these measures.
The staff argued that “these lobbying efforts are complementary with the litigation strategy and would encompass an all-inclusive approach in bringing about long-term solutions.”
The City of Coronado would not necessarily join Imperial Beach’s lawsuit, something that many Imperial Beach residents and some Coronado residents have called for.
Granny flats or Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Review staff and Planning Commission code changes. These include requiring one parking space for each bedroom in the unit, limiting the unit size to 800 square feet and prohibiting building ADUs at houses that abut Third and Fourth Street east of Orange and houses in the 300 block of A, B, and C Avenues. These heavily traveled streets have a high volume of traffic and a history of vehicle accidents. Adding more units would increase congestion and decrease safety, the staff concluded.
Council members’ expense accounts: Consider raising council members’ monthly expense allowance from $75 to $150. This equals the amount alloted to the mayor each month. The allowance for council members has not increased since 2006.
Residential Standards Improvement Program (RSIP-3). Amend portions of the new code. Proposed changes include: Removing the setbacks exemption for small air conditioners and pool pumps. Establish that the lower ground level be used to measure the height of any fence, hedge or wall that adjoins two properties at different elevations. Require that utilities be placed underground for new construction, when more than 50 percent of an existing dwelling is demolished and rebuilt, or when a proposed gross floor area exceeds 150% of an existing building.
Historic home designation: Hear an appeal to the Historic Resources Commission’s decision to allow a bungalow at 1034 Encino Row to be demolished. The commission determined the house didn’t meet historical designation criteria. This item is continued from the September 5 meeting.
