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[CALL TO ORDER]
TO ORDER.PLEASE STAND FOR A FLAG SALUTE IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
AGAIN, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
COMMISSIONER PRESENT, AND COMMISSIONER EDISON PRESENT.
[CHAIRPERSON’S WELCOME]
TO THE ELCO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.THIS MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED ON THE CITY OF ELK HOME WEBSITE.
APPEALS OF FINAL DECISIONS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MADE THIS EVENING MUST BE FILED IN WRITING WITH THE CITY CLERK BEFORE 5:00 PM MONDAY, MAY 15TH, 2023, AND MUST INCLUDE THE PAYMENT OF A FILING FEE.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON AN EITHER A NON AGENDA OR AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT, PLEASE FILL OUT THE REQUEST TO SPEAK CARD LOCATED BY THE AGENDA AND TURN IT INTO THE SECRETARY WHO WILL CALL YOU UP TO SPEAK.
WHEN THE AGENDA ITEM COMES FORWARD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME, SPELLING YOUR LAST NAME.
SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.
THE DISPLAY ON THE PODIUM, AS WELL AS OTHER MONITORS IN THE CHAMBER WILL SHOW TIME COUNTING DOWN AT 30 SECONDS.
THE PODIUM CLOCK READOUT WILL TURN RED SIGNIFYING YOU OF 30 SECONDS UNTIL THE END OF YOUR TIME.
APPLICANTS AND INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING GROUPS OF PEOPLE MAY BE ALLOWED MORE TIME IF APPROPRIATE.
ALL PUBLIC HEARING COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO ME AS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION AND NOT TO INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS OR STAFF MEMBERS.
PLEASE TURN OFF ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY.
PURSUANT TO CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE 17 DASH 79, A COMMISSIONER WHO HAS RECEIVED EVIDENCE RELATED TO A MATTER BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION, OTHER THAN AN UNESCORTED VIEW OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE SUCH INFORMATION AT THE HEARING.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE COMMENTS FROM ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC ON ANY ITEM OF BUSINESS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE COMMISSION.
THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA UNDER STATE LAW.
NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN ON ITEMS BROUGHT BEFORE UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT EXCEPT TO REFER IT TO STAFF FOR ADMINISTRATION OR PLACE IT ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE COME FORWARD NOW.
[CONSENT]
THAT THERE IS NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.A SINGLE WILL COVER ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
UH, DOES THE COMMISSION WISH TO PULL ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? NO.
TO STAFF, NO CHANGES FROM STAFF.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER ERCO.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER P*****K RUD, PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE OF MEMBERS PRESENT.
[Public Hearing Item 2]
NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.THIS IS 1274 OAKDALE AVENUE BEST IN IN SUITES.
THE REQUEST IS TO CONSIDER REVOCATION OF DEEMED APPROVED STATUS FOR A LODGING ESTABLISHMENT.
IT IS C A EXEMPT STAFF RECOMMENDATION REVOKED DEEMED APPROVED STATUS STAFF.
UH, NOAH, I'LL BE PRESENTING THIS ITEM.
UH, AGAIN, THIS IS A REQUEST TO CONSIDER REVOCATION OF THE DEEMED APPROVED STATUS FOR THE LODGING ESTABLISHMENT AT 1274 OAKDALE AVENUE.
UM, IT'S A MOTEL AND IT'S CURRENTLY BRANDED AS BEST IN IN SUITES.
SO THE SITE IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF OAKDALE AVENUE.
IT'S BETWEEN OAKDALE LANE AND NORTH SECOND STREET.
UM, ON THIS, UH, AERIAL MAP OF THE SITE IS SHOWN IN YELLOW.
UH, OVERALL SITE IS 1.3 ACRES IN SIZE.
UH, THE MOTEL INCLUDES 32 ROOMS. UH, IT ALSO INCLUDES A CARETAKER UNIT, UM, THE BUILDING CENTRALLY LOCATED, UH, ON THE PROPERTY AND THEN SURROUNDED BY PARKING AND DRIVEWAYS.
UM, THE SITE IS GOVERNED BY A SPECIFIC PLAN.
UH, IT ORIGINALLY GOVERNED ALL THE PROPERTIES ON THE NORTH SIDE OF OAKDALE AVENUE, WHICH INCLUDES, UH, THE VACANT LOT TO THE WEST, AS WELL AS THE, UM, IHOP AND THEN THE, UM, OIL CHANGE, LENE OIL CHANGE, UM, TO THE EAST.
UH, THE SPECIFIC PLAN, UH, DID REQUIRE APPROVAL OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE MOTEL, AND THAT CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WAS ISSUED IN 1967.
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UH, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NUMBER 2 52.UH, THE OTHER ADJACENT USES AS SHOWN ON THE AERIAL MAP HERE ARE INTERSTATE EIGHT TO THE NORTH, AND THEN THERE'S A MIXTURE OF, UH, RESIDENTIAL USES TO THE SOUTHWEST, AND THEN COMMERCIAL USES TO THE SOUTHEAST.
SO, JUST AS A REMINDER, THE DEEMED APPROVED, UH, LODGING ESTABLISHMENT ORDINANCE WAS APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON JUNE 25TH, 2019, AND IT DOES CONFER DEEMED APPROVED STATUS ON ALL EXISTING LODGING ESTABLISHMENTS.
IT ALSO REQUIRES COMPLIANCE WITH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, AND IT CREATES A MECHANISM FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO MODIFY OR REVOKE A DEEMED APPROVED STATUS FOR PROBLEM PROPERTIES.
THE OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE IS TO PROVIDE A COMMON SET OF EXPECTATIONS AND STANDARDS THAT ALL LODGING ESTABLISHMENTS MUST ABIDE BY, AND TO PROVIDE GUESTS WITH CLEAN AND SAFE LODGING AND TO MINIMIZE NUISANCE OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT'S COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH TEMPORARY LODGING.
SO THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS REQUIRED BY THE ORDINANCE ARE SHOWN HERE, AND THEY GENERALLY, UH, REQUIRE, UH, REGISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS, SECURITY MEASURES, PROPERTY STANDARDS, UH, LIMITATIONS ON NUISANCE ACTIVITIES, AND THEN ENSURING, UH, PROPER TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTION.
SO THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S HEARING IS REALLY RELATED TO A NOTICE OF VIOLATION, UH, THAT WAS ISSUED ON MARCH 29TH.
UH, AFTER THAT NOTICE OF VIOLATION WAS ISSUED, UH, THE REVOCATION HEARING, UH, WAS SCHEDULED.
UH, IT WAS PRIMARILY DUE TO ALLEGED ILLEGAL DRUG ACTIVITY THAT OCCURRED ON MARCH 29TH, UM, FOLLOWING THE NO, THE ISSUANCE OF THE NOTICE OF VIOLATION.
UH, STAFF ALSO CONDUCTED A REVIEW OF CALLS FOR SERVICE OVER THE PAST YEAR.
UM, THAT WAS BASED ON THE DATE THAT THE NOTICE OF VIOLATION WAS ISSUED.
SO FROM MARCH 30TH, 2023, GOING BACK TO MARCH 30TH, 2022, UM, IN TOTAL THERE WERE 127 CALLS.
UH, BUT WE WERE ONLY, OR, BUT ONLY 54 OF THOSE CALLS, UM, SHOWN HERE, UH, WERE CONFIRMED TO BE RELATED TO, UM, MEDICAL AND NUISANCE ACTIVITIES THAT WERE OCCURRING AT THE SITE.
SO WE DO HAVE, UH, DARREN FORSTER WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE HIM DOWN TO THE DIAS.
UM, YOU CAN PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND WITH REGARDS TO, UH, THE DRUG ACTIVITY AND THEN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AND THEN FOLLOWING, UH, HIS TESTIMONY, UH, I CAN COMPLETE THE STAFF PRESENTATION WITH SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON MORE RECENT ACTIVITIES.
UH, MY NAME IS DARREN FORRESTER.
I'M A LIEUTENANT WITH THE OC CAJON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND THE REASON I'M HERE TONIGHT IS TALK ABOUT AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED ON MARCH 29TH OF THIS YEAR.
UH, AN OFFICER PULLED OVER A, UH, A VEHICLE FOR A TRAFFIC VIOLATION, UM, CLOSE BY 1274 OAKDALE.
UM, THE OFFICER FOUND OUT THAT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON PROBATION, UM, AND A PROBATION SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED AND AN ILLEGAL WEAPON AND SOME METHAMPHETAMINE WERE LOCATED.
UH, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE, UM, TOLD THE OFFICER THAT HE IS STAYING WITH THE FRIEND THAT WAS ON THE COUNTY VOUCHER PROGRAM OVER AT THE, UH, THE, UH, BEST IN HIS SUITES AT 1274 OAKDALE.
UM, BECAUSE THIS PERSON WAS STAYING, HE SAID THAT'S WHERE HE HAD BEEN STAYING FOR SOME TIME.
UM, OFFICERS WENT BACK OVER TO THAT LOCATION, UH, TO CONDUCT A PROBATION SEARCH ON THAT PERSON'S ROOM.
UM, BEFORE THEY HAD A CHANCE TO MAKE CONTACT AT THAT, UM, PERSON'S ROOM THAT HE GAVE US, UH, THEY SAW ANOTHER MALE COME OUT OF THE ROOM.
UM, THEY CONTACTED HIM AND FOUND THAT HE WAS IN POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE.
UM, THEY ARRESTED THE SECOND PERSON, THEN THEY MADE CONTACT AT THE, AT THE ROOM.
UH, INSIDE THAT ROOM WAS TWO MORE, UM, MALES.
ONE OF 'EM WAS THE OCCUPANT THAT WAS RENTING THE ROOM, UH, ON THE PROGRAM.
UH, AND BOTH OF THOSE GENTLEMEN WERE ALSO IN POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE.
ONE OF 'EM, A LARGE ENOUGH AMOUNT TO BE, UM, CONSIDERED FOR SALES, UH, WHICH WAS, I BELIEVE, AROUND 38 GRAMS OF METHAMPHETAMINE.
UH, THE SECOND SUBJECT IN THAT ROOM, UM, THE OFFICERS FOUND HE WAS ALSO ON PROBATION, AND HE HAD RENTED A ROOM ALSO AT THE SAME ESTABLISHMENT.
SO THEY CONDUCTED A PROBATION SEARCH AT THAT PERSON'S ROOM, UH, AND FOUND ANOTHER GENTLEMAN INSIDE THAT ROOM WHO WAS ALSO IN POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE.
SO, UH, A TOTAL OF FIVE PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED THAT DAY FOR WEAPONS CHARGES OR METHAMPHETAMINE.
UH, APPROXIMATELY 40 GRAMS OF METHAMPHETAMINE, UM, WERE SEIZED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND USING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S, UM, UM, STANDARDS ON CHARGING THAT'S ANYWHERE FROM 400 TO 800 DOSES OF METHAMPHETAMINE.
UM, SO THE ONE PERSON THAT HAD THE LARGEST AMOUNT WAS CHARGED FOR SALES.
AND, UM, SINCE THEN, WE HAVE SEEN AN UP, UH, AN UPTICK IN ACTIVITY IN THAT AREA.
SO OFFICERS, UM, DO AT TIMES, UH, FROM THE SECOND STREET CORRIDOR ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THAT AREA, HAVE BEEN
[00:10:01]
DOING ENFORCEMENT.UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF, UM, NUISANCE CALLS THAT WE DO GET, AND IT WOULD, I MEAN, I WOULD BELIEVE THAT, UM, ONSITE SECURITY IN THAT AREA, I KNOW THE PARKING LOT ACROSS SOMETIMES HAS SECURITY, UM, THAT GETS SOME OF THAT CRIM CRIMINAL ELEMENT OUT OF THE PARKING LOTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT THAT WOULD GREATLY, UM, HELP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CALLS FOR SERVICE OUT TO ESTABLISHMENTS LIKE THIS.
UH, UH, JUST UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS NOW, IF YOU HAVE ANY YEAH, GO AHEAD.
ON THAT SPECIFIC CALL FOR SERVICE, HOW MANY IN TOTAL WERE HAD A POLICE CONTACT? I KNOW YOU HAD FIVE WERE ARRESTED, BUT HOW MANY IN TOTAL WERE CONTACTED? FIVE.
UM, I WAS JUST CURIOUS, DID YOU GUYS KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE CALL FOR DEATH THAT WAS OUT THERE? UH, I DO NOT.
WELL, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
UM, SO JUST TO CONTINUE ON WITH THE STAFF PRESENTATION, UM, AT THIS TIME, I WANT TO ADDRESS, UH, THE RESPONSE TO THE NOTICE OF VIOLATION.
SO, UM, ON APRIL 19TH, UH, STAFF DID RECEIVE A RESPONSE, UH, FROM AN ATTORNEY THAT'S REPRESENTING THE PROPERTY OWNER.
UH, THE ATTORNEY'S PRESENT TONIGHT, AND WE'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION, UH, SINCE THAT TIME.
UH, THE RESPONSE DID INCLUDE SOME PICTURES THAT ARE SHOWN HERE, UM, IN IT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE PARKING LOT HAD BEEN SEAL CODED AND WORKED TO THE, UH, IMPROVE THE EXTERIOR WAS OCCURRING.
UM, IT ALSO INDICATED A NEW CLEANING SCHEDULE FOR THE LOBBYING EXTERIOR HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED.
UH, NEW GUEST REGISTRATION PROCEDURES AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING WAS COMPLETED WITH THE CERTIFICATES PROVIDED, UH, TO STAFF.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, THE RESPONSE ALSO INDICATED THAT EXTERIOR LIGHTING WAS UPGRADED AND NEW DOOR LOCKS WERE ADDED FOR SECURITY AND WERE INSTALLED AND SHOWN HERE.
UM, THE RESPONSE ALSO NOTED A SECURITY PATROL COMPANY WAS HIRED FROM 10:00 PM TO 6:00 AM AND THAT THEY WERE ON CALL 24 HOURS PER DAY.
UH, LASTLY, AS SHOWN HERE, UH, 20 SECURITY CAMERAS WERE INSTALLED AT THE PROPERTY, AND A NEW HARD DRIVE, UH, WAS INSTALLED TO ALLOW VIDEO RETENTION FOR UP TO ONE MONTH.
UM, STAFF JUST REALLY WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THESE EFFORTS AND APPRECIATES THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE BY THE, UM, APPLICANT IN RESPONSE TO THE VIOLATION NOTICE.
UM, SO AS THAT SAID, UH, STAFF DID CONDUCT A SITE VISIT ON APRIL 26TH AND IDENTIFIED SOME ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED.
UM, FIRST HERE YOU CAN SEE SOME PROPERTY MAINTENANCE ISSUES THAT INCLUDED ADDITIONAL PAINTING, UM, AND LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE.
UM, STAFF WOULD NOTE THAT AS OF TODAY, UM, THE AREA SHOWN ON THE LEFT SIDE, UH, HAS BEEN PAINTED AND THEY'VE BEEN, UH, WORKING ON PAINTING, UM, MOVING, UH, I THINK UP TO AND INCLUDING TODAY.
UM, STAFF ALSO OBSERVED SOME CODE VIOLATIONS, WHICH INCLUDED AN UNAUTHORIZED OCEAN GOING CONTAINER, UH, WHICH IS SHOWN HERE AS WELL AS AN UNAUTHORIZED SIGN.
UM, AS OF TODAY, STAFF DID CONFIRM THAT THE SIGN HAD BEEN REMOVED.
UH, SO THAT ITEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED.
AND THEN STAFF ALSO OBSERVED AN UNAUTHORIZED STRUCTURE IN THE PARKING LOT AND SOME OUTDOOR STORAGE, UH, THAT WAS GOING ON UNDERNEATH ON THE FIRST, ON THE FIRST FLOOR, UH, IN BETWEEN THE TWO BUILDINGS.
AND THEN LASTLY, STAFF OBSERVE WHAT APPEARS TO BE A CONVERTED BALCONY INTO AN EXPANDED ROOM, UH, AND SOME FENCING THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED.
UM, ALSO AS OF TODAY, UH, THE FENCING WAS REMOVED, UM, LATE THIS AFTERNOON, UH, STAFF ALSO RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THE APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATIVE CONFIRMING, UH, THE ITEMS, UH, THAT I JUST CONFIRMED THAT HAD BEEN ADDRESSED.
UM, A COPY OF THAT EMAIL WAS BEEN PROVIDED, UH, AT THE DIAS, SO YOU HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF YOU.
SO, UH, THIS, UH, SLIDE SHOWS STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
UH, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER REVOKED THE MOTELS DEEMED TO PROVE STATUS AND THEN REQUESTED THE OPERATOR PROPERTY AND EMPLOYEES COMPLETE, UH, CERTAIN ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS, AND THEN DIRECT STAFF TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT OR REVOCATION OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NUMBER 2 52 WITHIN THE NEXT 90 DAYS.
UM, STAFF WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE MOTEL CAN CONTINUE OPERATING WHILE THE PLANNING COMMISSION CONSIDERS AN AMENDMENT OR REVOCATION OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2 52 IN THE FUTURE.
UM, THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS ARE SHOWN HERE, AND THEY REQUEST THAT THE APPLICANT PREPARE AN OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT PLAN, UM, COMPLETE THE REMAINING PROPERTY MAINTENANCE ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY STAFF.
UM, ALONG WITH CONDUCTING A SITE INSPECTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BUILDING OFFICIAL REALLY DID TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, UH, ABSURD BALCONY, UM, THAT POTENTIALLY HAD BEEN CONVERTED AND ANY OTHER ISSUES.
UM, AND THEN WE WOULD ASK, UH, THAT THEY RESOLVED THE CODE VIOLATIONS,
[00:15:01]
UM, BY EITHER REMOVING THOSE UNAUTHORIZED ITEMS OR OBTAINING PERMITS.UM, SO AS AN EXAMPLE, UM, WE COULD ISSUE A TEMPORARY USE PERMIT FOR THE OCEAN GOING CONTAINER IN CONJUNCTION WITH, UM, TEMPORARY REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES.
UH, IT'S JUST THAT THEY DIDN'T, THEY NEED TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
UM, ADDITIONALLY WE'RE ASKING THAT THEY SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT, ACKNOWLEDGING THE REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS OF THE DEAN TO PROVE LODGING ORDINANCE, UH, PROVIDE A MONTHLY REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, UH, REGARDING INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING IN ANY EMERGENCY HOUSING PLACEMENT PROGRAMS. AND THEN WE'RE ASKING THAT THEY COMPLETE, UM, HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING OFFERED BY CSA SAN DIEGO.
UM, WE'VE ACKNOWLEDGED THE RECEIPT OF THE, UH, TRAFFICKING, HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING THAT THEY HAVE COMPLETED.
UM, WE'RE STILL IN DISCUSSION WITH, UM, CSA SAN DIEGO.
UM, THEY PROVIDE, UH, SERVICES TO THE CITY, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING THAT IS MORE TAILORED TOWARDS EAST COUNTY AND EL CAJON, UH, SO THAT WE CAN BRING THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING CLOSER INTO THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING HERE IN EL CAJON.
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT AS AN OPTION, UM, BUT THEN WE HAVE, UH, THE TRAINING CERTIFICATES THAT THEY'VE ALREADY, UH, COMPLETED AS WELL.
SO LASTLY, I JUST AGAIN, WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EFFORTS OF THE OWNER, UH, AND THE OPERATOR TO ADDRESS THE ITEMS THAT WERE IN THE, IN THE STAFF REPORT.
OBVIOUSLY, THE STAFF REPORT WAS JUST PUBLISHED, UH, LATE LAST WEEK, AND THEY OBVIOUSLY COMPLETED A LOT OF WORK OVER THE WEEKEND, UH, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
SO THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
HAD A QUESTION ON THE, UM, IS, IS THE RV STILL THERE IN THE PARKING LOT? UM, AS OF TODAY, THERE WAS A GRAY RV THAT WAS PARKED IN THE WESTERLY PORTION OF THE PARKING LOT.
IS THAT THE SAME ONE THAT'S IN THE PICTURE? UM, I BELIEVE SO.
AND THEN THE, UH, THE TEMPORARY USE PERMIT ON THE CONTAINER, UM, HOW LONG WOULD A TEMPORARY USE PERMIT LAST? SO THE ZONING ORDINANCE ALLOWS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO DETERMINE AN APPROPRIATE LENGTH.
UM, SO WE WOULD BE, UM, LOOKING AT THE APPLICANT TO COMMIT TO A CERTAIN CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE.
UM, AND SO WE WOULD ISSUE A PERMIT THAT WAS APPROPRIATE BASED ON A SCHEDULE THAT THEY PROVIDE TO US, BUT TYPICALLY NOT MORE THAN SIX MONTHS.
I'M, UH, LOOKING THE EMAIL THAT YOU RECEIVED MM-HMM.
AND IT SAYS THAT, UH, ON THE AGENDA IT SAYS THAT WE'RE 127 CALLS MM-HMM.
WHAT, WHAT IS THE DISCREPANCY HERE BETWEEN? SO I THINK WE, WE TRIED TO ALLUDE TO IT IN THE STAFF PRESENTATION.
UM, THE 127 CALLS, UH, WHEN A CALL GETS REGISTERED, IT GETS REGISTERED BASED ON THE CLOSEST, UM, ADDRESS THAT'S NEARBY.
AND SO THERE WAS A, A NUMBER OF CALLS, UM, THAT WERE ATTRIBUTED TO 1274 OAKDALE AVENUE THAT WERE OCCURRING EITHER IN THE STREET OR MAYBE THEY WERE TRAFFIC STOPS, OR, UM, SOMETIMES IT'S A, UM, PEDESTRIAN THAT FLAGS DOWN AN AN OFFICER.
UM, SO WE WENT THROUGH ALL 127 OF THOSE CALLS.
UM, ON THE SHEET, OR EXCUSE ME, ON THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, YOU SAW THAT THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 54 CALLS THAT WERE DIRECTLY RELATED TO MEDICAL ISSUES AS WELL AS NUISANCE RELATED CALLS.
UM, SO IT WAS, UM, STAFF'S DETERMINATION THAT ONLY 54 OF THOSE 127 CALLS, UH, COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO, TO THE MOTEL.
AND THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS, UH, I NOTICE HERE THAT, UH, THERE ARE 32 UNITS AT THIS MOTEL MM-HMM.
UH, THE ONE THAT WE HEARD LAST TIME THAT WE MET, I BELIEVE THAT MOTEL HAD 170 UNITS MM-HMM.
SO THE RATIO BETWEEN THE TWO IS ALMOST THE SAME.
SO I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING ON THE METRIC FOR THE RATIO OF CALLS TO ROOMS WE'RE, UH, WE'RE ONLY LOOKING AT THOSE MEDICAL AND NUISANCE RELATED CALLS.
UM, SO IN THIS INSTANCE, WE WOULD BE ONLY ATTRIBUTING THE 54 CALLS AND CORRELATING THAT TO THE THIR, THE 32 ROOMS, UH, WHICH WOULD EQUATE TO APPROXIMATELY 1.6 CALLS, UH, A LITTLE BIT OVER 1.6 CALLS PER ROOM.
UM, SO, UH, THEY ARE ABOVE THE, THE METRIC, UH, THAT WE DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING, UH, THAT'S, UM, IT PUTTING INTO THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF ONE CALL PER ROOM.
UM, BUT THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY TAKING STEPS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STEPH? ALL RIGHT.
WELL, AT THIS TIME, LET'S GO AHEAD AND YES, ONE QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION OR MAYBE THEY COULD ANSWER ON SITE, BUT I KNOW THAT IN THE CALL THAT THEY HAD, THEY HAD EXTRA PE BODIES PER ROOM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE A REGISTERED AS TO WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN THOSE ROOMS. IF THEY HAVE EXTRA BODIES IN THE ROOMS, THEN, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY HAVING ANY SORT OF MODERATION OF WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE ROOM? SO EVERYBODY'S ACCOUNTED FOR.
SO I THINK THAT WOULD HELP SOME OF THE ACTIVITY IF THEY KNEW WHO WAS GOING.
AND IF THERE'S PEOPLE THAT AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE THERE, THEN THEY NEED TO LEAVE.
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THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THROUGH THE OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT PLANS.UM, SO WE, UM, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THIS LOCATION, UH, BUT WE HAVE RECEIVED ONE FOR A DIFFERENT LOCATION.
WE'VE PROVIDED COMMENTS, UM, ADDRESSING THAT EXACT, UH, TYPE OF THING.
AND SO, UM, THAT'S WHERE, UH, THERE'S KIND OF THAT NEXUS BETWEEN THE DEEMED APPROVED STATUS AND THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
SO IF THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVOKES THE DEEMED APPROVED STATUS, AND THEN WE, UM, AND THEN THERE'S AN AMENDMENT OR CONSIDERATION OF THE AMENDMENT AT A FUTURE HEARING MM-HMM.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? ALL RIGHT.
UH, AT THIS TIME, LET'S OPEN PUBLIC HEARING.
DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS? YES, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF TWO.
UM, IF I CAN FIRST HAVE PUJA PATEL.
MY NAME IS PUJA PATEL, AND I REPRESENT THE HOTEL OPERATOR OF THE BEST IN, IN EL CAJON.
FROM MY REVIEW OF THE INFORMATION MY CLIENT HAS PROVIDED ME AND THE ACTIONS THAT HE HAS CONDUCTED, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS HOTEL OPERATOR IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING A SAFE PROPERTY FOR THE COMMUNITY AND COMPLYING WITH THE LAW.
MY CLIENT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY SINCE 2021 TO MITI TO MITIGATE NUISANCE ACTIVITY AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AT THE PROPERTY.
SOME OF THE ACTIONS MY CLIENT HAS TAKEN SINCE 2021 INCLUDE INSTALLING NEW R F I D DOOR LOCKS ON ALL OF THE GUEST ROOM DOORS, UPGRADING HIS FLOODLIGHTS IN THE PARKING LOT TO 300 WATT L E D LIGHTS TO IMPROVE VISIBILITY IN THE LIGHT, AND TO ALSO ALLOW FOR THE SECURITY CAMERAS TO PICK UP ON ANY ACTIVITY THAT IS GOING ON ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE PROPERTY.
UH, IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021, THE HOTEL OPERATOR ALSO SEAL COATED THE PARKING LOT TO ALSO IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF THE EXTERIOR PREMISES AND TO AVOID ANY LOITERING OR NUISANCE ACTIVITY.
IN NOVEMBER, HE INSTALLED 20 CAMERAS AROUND THE PROPERTY, UH, AND IN RESPONSE TO HELP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TACKLE CRIME ACROSS THE STREET AND, UH, AT THE IHOP THAT IS ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY.
UNFORTUNATELY, ON MARCH 29TH, 2023, UH, AN ILLEGAL ALLEGED ILLEGAL DRUG SALE OCCURRED, AND AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THIS PERSON WAS STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, UH, STATED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HE WAS STAYING AT THE BEST IN, AND YOU HEARD FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHAT OCCURRED.
HOWEVER, ONLY TWO OF THE ARRESTED INDIVIDUALS WERE REGISTERED WITH THE HOTEL.
THE HOTEL WAS NOT AWARE OF THE OTHER THREE, AND HAD NOT HAD ANY RECORD OF THOSE GUESTS STAYING IN THE PROPERTY.
IMPORTANTLY, THE TWO REGISTERED GUESTS, THE FIRST ONE WAS A PART OF THE EQUIS VOUCHER PROGRAM AND HAD BEEN STAYING THERE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.
THE OTHER ONE WAS A LOCAL WALK-IN WHO HAD ONLY STAYED FOR ONE NIGHT.
THEREAFTER, THIS CITY ISSUED THE NOTICE OF VIOLATION, AND MY CLIENT TOOK THE FOLLOWING STEPS.
THEY DESIGNATED A HOTEL EMPLOYEE TO CLEAN THE PARKING LOT EVERY HOUR AND TO ENSURE THAT THE PARKING LOT WAS FREE OF ANY TRASH OR DEBRIS.
THEY ALSO BECAME VERY EXTRA STRICT ABOUT REQUIRING ALL GUESTS IN THE ROOM TO REGISTER.
SO USUALLY AT A HOTEL, ONLY ONE GUEST REGISTERS, AND THEN THEY HAVE OTHER GUESTS IN THE ROOM.
AT THIS POINT, NOW, ALL GUESTS ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER.
ANYBODY WHO IS COMING IN AND OUT OF THE ROOM OR IN THE ROOM HAVE TO REGISTER AND FAILURE TO DO SO, WILL, UM, CONCLUDE IN THAT GUEST BEING REMOVED FROM THE ROOM AND NO REFUND BEING OFFERED TO THEM.
AND WITH THE SECURITY CAMERAS NOW AT THE FRONT DESK AND THE FRONT DESK CONSTANTLY MONITORING THE SECURITY CAMERAS, WE CAN, THEY CAN SEE ANY ACTIVITY THAT'S GOING ON IN THE GUEST ROOMS OR PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT, AND THEN OF COURSE, CHECKING THE SYSTEM TO SEE HOW MANY GUESTS ARE REGISTERED.
TO AVOID THIS ISSUE IN THE FUTURE.
THEY'VE ALSO HIRED A SECURITY PATROL COMPANY THAT WORKS FROM 10:00 PM TO 6:00 AM AND THEN THEY ARE ON CALL 24 HOURS A DAY AND ARE RESPONSIVE WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF A CALL.
AS UH, ALLUDED TO EARLIER, THEY'VE ALSO ORDERED AN EXTRA HARD DRIVE, SO THAT POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS
[00:25:01]
ACCESS TO SECURITY FOOTAGE FOR 30 DAYS AS OPPOSED TO A WEEK.AND THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING HAS ALSO BEEN COMPLETED BY THE RESIDENT MANAGER, UH, THE HOTEL OPERATOR, THE HOUSEKEEPER.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS THE FRONT DESK CLERK WHO HAS BEEN OUT SICK.
SO UNFORTUNATELY HE HASN'T COMPLETED HIS TRAINING, BUT HE WILL ONCE HE'S BACK, UM, IN OFFICE.
AND AS OF APRIL 30TH, UH, THE HOTEL OPERATOR REMOVED THE SIGN ATTACHED TO THE TRASH ENCLOSURE, REMOVED OUTDOOR STORAGE, REMOVED THE STORAGE MATERIALS, REMOVE THE FENCE ALONGSIDE OAKDALE AVENUE, AND THEN AS OF TODAY, THE FULL EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING HAS BEEN PAINTED, AND THE WALKWAYS ARE TO BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS.
UH, AS FOR THE 54 CALLS FOR SERVICE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, UM, WE ALSO ASKED FOR A POLICE CALL LOG FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY ISSUED ONE TO US APRIL 11TH, 2023.
AND BY MY COUNT, UH, THERE WAS REALLY LESS THAN 10 CALLS THAT WERE REALLY DETERMINED AS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
AND AS OF THIS YEAR, THERE'S BEEN LESS THAN FIVE CALLS PER MONTH.
UM, AND I HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF THE NUMBER OF CALLS AND THE CALL TYPES THAT HAVE COME IN.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THAT, I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT.
BUT BASED ON THE FOREGOING, WE DO REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSION DOES NOT REVOKE THE HOTEL'S DEEMED TO PROVE STATUS, AND THE PROPERTY IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY TO CONTINUE DOING FURTHER ACTIONS TO MITIGATE NUISANCE ACTIVITY.
BUT I DO THINK THAT AT THIS POINT, THE HOTEL HAS TAKEN MANY STEPS TO TRY AND CONTROL, UM, AND AVOID NUISANCE ACTIVITY, AND OBVIOUSLY NOT USE UP THE CITY'S RESOURCES UNNECESSARILY.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND, UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, CORRECTIVE ACTION THAT YOU'VE BEEN TAKING THUS FAR.
UM, ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS, BASED UPON YOUR CORRECTIVE A ACTION, WHAT HAS BEEN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF IT TO RELIEVE THE CALLS FROM FROM EL CAJON PD? HAS IT BEEN NEGLIGIBLE? HAS IT BEEN EFFECTIVE? WHAT IS THE, THE PROPERTY OWNER'S TAKE ON IT? SO IT DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S A BIT OF A RISK OF PROFILING AND DISCRIMINATING AGAINST GUESTS WHO COME IN.
AND OUR CLIENTS HAVE TO WALK A VERY FINE LINE IN NOT DOING SO.
HOWEVER, THESE MEASURES THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN HAVE REDUCED, YOU KNOW, LOITERING ON THE PROPERTY.
OBVIOUSLY KEEPING THE PARKING LOT CLEAN OF TRASH AVOIDS PEOPLE THINKING THAT, OH, THIS PROPERTY, NO ONE'S TAKING CARE OF IT.
NO ONE'S, YOU KNOW, SURVEILLING THE AREA.
AND THEN THIS IS A, A PRIME LOCATION FOR ME TO CONDUCT MY ACTIVITIES.
SO I DO THINK THAT THESE MEASURES HAS HELPED, UM, REDUCE THE RISK OF THOSE ACTIVITIES OCCURRING.
BUT I DO STILL THINK THAT THERE IS A, A BIT OF AN ISSUE WHERE THERE'S ALMOST, IT'S NOTHING THAT THERE'S CERTAIN SITUATIONS WHERE IT'S KIND OF OUT OF THE HOTEL OWNER'S CONTROL OR THE STAFF'S CONTROL, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS GUEST THAT THEY'RE ALLOWING TO STAY IS GOING TO CONDUCT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN THE ROOM OR NOT.
AND TO SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, ALL GUESTS THAT REGISTER, WELL, ALL GUESTS THAT REGISTER THROUGH THE VOUCHER PROGRAMS, UH, THE HOTEL OPERATOR CHECKS ON MEGAN'S LIST TO SEE IF THEY ARE ANY OFFENDERS, AND THEY ALSO CHECK THEIR DO NOT RENT LIST TO SEE IF THEY'RE LISTED ON THERE BEFORE ACCEPTING THAT VOUCHER.
ASIDE FROM THAT, REALLY WE WOULD LOOK TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HELP THE HOTEL OWNER DETERMINE WHAT STEPS THAT THEY SHOULD TAKE, AND ALSO ADDING TO THEIR PROCESS OF, OKAY, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS OR ASK FOR THESE THINGS AT CHECK-IN TO REALLY DETERMINE WHETHER YOU WANNA ALLOW THIS GUEST TO STAY OR NOT.
AND THE FINAL QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU, IF I MAY, UM, YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE NOW MONITORING THE, WHAT GUESTS COME IN AND OUT THE FLOW.
IF YOU COULD SAY, UM, HOW IS THAT GOING? HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO DETER SOME PEOPLE FROM COMING IN? I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN'T REJECT EVERYBODY THAT COMES IN, BUT IF THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING THERE, UM, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THAT, SPEAKING FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER? I UNDERSTAND MM-HMM.
UM, THE GUESTS, WHICH ARE THE MOTEL, APPROXIMATELY
[00:30:01]
WHAT PERCENTAGE WOULD YOU SAY IS, UH, PART OF THE VOUCHER PROGRAM? I ASKED MY CLIENT QUESTION, THAT QUESTION EARLIER TODAY.IT'S ABOUT ONE THIRD, ONE THIRD.
AND ALSO, DO THE OWNERS OR YOUR CLIENT, UH, ARE THEY ARE WANT, ARE THEY WANTING TO CONTINUE IN THE VOUCHER PROGRAM OR THEY YOU WANNA DISCONTINUE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE? UH, BUT THEY ARE OPEN IF, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO STOP.
I KNOW THAT, UH, THERE HAS BEEN SOME, UH, COMMENTARY FROM THE DOJ THAT REFUSING TO ACCEPT VOUCHERS, UH, COULD BE AN ISSUE.
SO I, I WOULD SAY THAT WE WOULD NOT WANT TO REFUSE THE VOUCHERS, UM, AS A BLANKET ACTION.
AND ON THE VOUCHER PROGRAM, UH, THE AGENCIES WHICH ARE, ARE GIVING THE VOUCHERS, ARE THEY PROVIDING ANY BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO STAY AT, AT YOUR UM, UH, MOTEL? I'M NOT A AWARE OF WHAT THEIR PROCESS IS, UH, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THEY, THEY GET A CALL AND THEN THEY LET THE HOTEL KNOW THAT WE WANT THIS GUEST TO STAY AT THE PROPERTY, AND THE HOTEL OWNER RUNS THAT NAME THROUGH THEIR LIST AND THROUGH THE MEGAN, UH, MEGAN'S LAW DATABASE, AND THEN DETERMINES WHETHER THEY WANT TO ALLOW THAT GUEST TO STAY OR NOT.
UH, I HEARD THAT SOME PEOPLE, THEY GET, RECEIVE THE VOUCHER AND THEN IN ORDER TO MAKE MONEY, THEY SELL THAT VOUCHER TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.
UH, HOW WOULD YOU, UH, STOP SOMETHING LIKE THAT? IS AN ID MATCHED WITH THE NAME AND THE VOUCHER, OR IS THERE WHAT, CORRECT, YES.
SO ANYTIME THAT THE VOUCHER PROGRAM HAS A GUEST THAT WANTS TO STAY AT THE PROPERTY, THEY NOTIFY THE HOTEL OWNER THAT THIS IS THE NAME OF THE GUEST, AND THEN AT CHECK-IN AN ID HAS TO BE CROSSCHECKED WITH THAT NAME.
MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I MAY JUST INTERJECT QUICKLY, UM, JUST AS IT, AS IT GOES BACK TO THE, THE REVOCATION HEARING, I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE COMMISSION THAT WE'RE HERE TO LOOK AT THE, THE CONDUCT OF THE MOTEL OPERATOR AND, UM, THE ANY EMERGENCY HOUSING, UM, RELATED PROGRAMS, UH, ARE REALLY, UM, A FAIR HOUSING ISSUE SO THAT EVERYONE HAS FAIR ACCESS TO ALL, UH, AVAILABLE HOUSING.
SO REALLY OUR AUTHORITY HERE TONIGHT IS TO, UH, LOOK AT THE CONDUCT OF THE MOTEL OPERATOR AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, UH, COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEEMED APPROVED LODGING ORDINANCE.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY TO REGULATE ANY OUTSIDE PROGRAMS. UM, THE CITY SEPARATELY HAS BEEN, UM, WORKING ON UPDATES TO THE SPECIAL OPERATION LICENSE, UH, PORTION OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE LICENSING OF THOSE OPERATORS THAT ARE CONDUCTING THOSE PROGRAMS, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE US WITH INFORMATION ON THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE SERVICING, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROPERLY ACCOUNTING FOR TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTION.
UM, SO THOSE ARE KIND OF THE TWO AREAS OF REGULATION THAT THE CITY HAS.
SO ON THE, UH, OPERATIONS SIDE FOR THE OPERATOR, AND THEN ONLY ON THE, UM, LOOKING AT THE, UM, PROGRAM OPERATORS ON THE OTHER SIDE.
UH, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, THE, UH, ACCESS, UM, TO HOUSING, UM, AGAIN, IT'S A FAIR HOUSING ISSUE AND WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO REGULATE, UH, WHO DOES OR DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN THOSE PROGRAMS. OKAY.
JUST A QUICK QUESTION REGARDING, I KNOW IT HASN'T BEEN THAT LONG SINCE A LOT OF THESE THINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE, BUT THE INCIDENT HAPPENED BACK IN MARCH NOW THROUGH APRIL, WHERE, HOW, HOW MANY CALLS WERE IN APRIL? I KNOW IT PROBABLY NEEDS A LONGER TIME TO SEE IF ANY OF THIS HAS BEEN BEEN EFFECTIVE BY ALL THE EXTRA THINGS THEY'VE DONE, BUT IN APRIL, HOW MANY CALLS DO YOU KNOW, HOW MANY CALLS HAVE BEEN TO THAT ESTABLISHMENT? YOU KNOW, THE REPORT THAT I HAVE WAS ISSUED ON APRIL THE 11TH.
UM, SO UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE A MORE RECENT LOG THAN THAT.
I'M NOT SURE IF NOAH, YOU DO, OR, OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES.
UM, SO MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I MAY, UM, WE ONLY RE WE READ THE CALLS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
I THINK ONE OF THE HARDER THINGS TO DO IS TO, UM, BE ABLE TO SET ASIDE A SPECIFIC TIME PERIOD BY WHICH YOU MEASURE THAT METRIC.
AND I THINK THAT'S PARTIALLY THE REASON WHY YOU HAVE THE RECOMMENDATION BEFORE YOU TO, UM, REVOKE THE DEEMED APPROVED STATUS.
UM, AND THEN WE CAN LOOK AT, AND THEN IF YOU SCHEDULE THE, UM, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT HEARING IN APPROXIMATELY 90 DAYS, UH, WE'LL HAVE FOUR DATA, UH, THAT METRIC, THAT TIME METRIC TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE CALLS FOR SERVICE.
AND WE CAN LOOK AT THAT AND COMPARE IT TO THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS AND THEN SEE HOW, UH, THE MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED BY THE OPERATOR, UH, HOW AFFECTED THEY'VE BEEN.
ONE LAST QUESTION WAS, UH, I BELIEVE THE STAFF REPORT MENTIONED, UH, WAS IT A PATIO, THE EXTENDED PATIO OR PART, HAS THAT BEEN REMOVED OR IS THAT, AND IS THERE ANY PLAN TO REMOVE IT OR TO
[00:35:01]
BRING IT INTO COMPLIANCE? WHAT IS THE PLAN WITH THAT? AND THAT'S MY LAST QUESTION.UH, SO YES, THE PROPERTY OWNER IS DETERMINING RIGHT NOW WHETHER THEY WANT TO REMOVE IT OR APPLY FOR A BUILDING PERMIT TO BRING THAT INTO COMPLIANCE.
UM, NO OTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
UM, APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE APPLICANT.
HOW ARE YOU TONIGHT? UH, MY NAME'S FRANK STANLER.
I AM, UH, ONE OF THE ADJACENT LANDOWNERS NEXT TO THE, THE HOTEL THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
UM, THE POINT I WANNA MAKE, AND I'M GONNA NEED YOUR HELP, COULD YOU PULL UP YOUR MAP AGAIN THAT SHOWED THE HOTEL AND YOUR POWERPOINT? THAT'D BE GREAT.
I'M A RETIRED VETERAN, CAME BACK HOME TO SAN DIEGO.
I HAVE SEVERAL RENTAL PROPERTIES IN EAST COUNTY ADJACENT TO THIS ONE.
I BELIEVE THAT THE HOTEL IS AN ASSET TO THE CITY.
I'M NOT NECESSARILY IN FAVOR OF THE CONDUCT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON THERE, BUT I DO BELIEVE AS NEIGHBORS, THE VACANT LOT THERE AND THE OAKDALE AVENUE AREA, RIGHT.
THERE ARE ELEMENTS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THIS OWNER'S HAVING.
UH, I JUST RECENTLY DROVE BY THE VACANT LOT AND SEEN THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY UNLOCKED AND OPEN ACCESS, AND THERE WAS PEOPLE SLEEPING THERE.
THE CITY OF EL CAJON REALLY COUNTS ON THEIR FIRST RESPONDERS TO BE THERE WHERE WE NEED 'EM.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE OUR POLICE NEED TO BE OUT THERE FOR EVERY SINGLE EPISODE THAT'S TAKEN AWAY FROM WHERE WE REALLY NEED 'EM.
I WOULD RECOMMEND TO THIS COUNCIL AND THE COMMISSIONERS THAT WE CONTACT THAT LOT ORDER, AND I REPRESENT THE THREE HOUSES NEXT TO IT, AND WE CLING UP OUR AREAS, WE SECURE OUR AREAS, AND WE MANAGE THEM SAFE TO ELIMINATE THE AMOUNT OF TRANSITS THAT ARE GOING INTO THE OAKDALE AREA AND THE MOTEL, WHICH I THINK IS CONTRIBUTING TO A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS THEY MAY BE HAVING.
I CAN SAY IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS THAT THE APPEARANCE OF THAT HOTEL, INITIALLY THREE YEARS AGO WAS HORRENDOUS, WENT BY THERE, THERE WAS MATTRESSES, THERE WAS ALL KINDS OF STUFF GOING OUT THERE.
AND WHEN I WOULD TRY AND FILL ONE OF THOSE HOUSES WITH A TENANT, THEY WOULD GO, WHAT'S THAT? SO FROM THE OUTSIDE, IT'S LOOKING BETTER HOW IT'S INTERNALLY RUNNING.
I LEAVE THAT AND TRUST THAT TO THE COMMISSION TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
BUT AS AN OWNER IN THE AREA, UH, I WILL DO MY PART TO MAINTAIN THAT AREA.
I RECOMMEND THAT THE VACANT LOT OWNER DOES THEIR PART, AND MAYBE THOSE OTHER BUSINESSES IN THAT AREA, POSSIBLY SOME SECURITY GUARDS TO RUN OFF THE, UH, POTENTIAL PROBLEMS THEY COULD HAVE.
YOU KNOW, UH, THAT WOULD BE MY MY RECOMMENDATION.
UH, I HAVE NO QUESTIONS FOR THE OWNER, AND I HAVE NO QUESTIONS FOR YOU, EXCEPT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS DO HERE IN EAST COUNTY.
WHAT WAS YOUR NAME AGAIN? FRANK STANLER.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
SO AS A ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER, JUST STAYING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF OUR AUTHORITY.
YOUR CONTENTION IS THAT THE MOTEL ISN'T NECESSARILY CAUSING THE PROBLEM AS THE ADJACENT PROPERTY NEXT TO IT.
THE VACANT LOT, WHICH IS WE'VE, WE'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH ON WHAT WE WERE GONNA PUT THERE OVER THE YEARS.
AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER ANTHONY, HE'S SEEN A LOT OF PROPOSALS COME THROUGH THERE IN HIS FIVE TERMS HERE, BUT THERE'S A GATE RIGHT THERE IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE HOTEL, WHICH IS THE ACCESS AND THE EASEMENT INTO THAT LOT.
SO IF THERE'S ANYBODY COMING ONTO THE PROPERTY WHO'S NOT A REGISTERED GUEST, THEIR GOAL IS TO GO IN THROUGH THE HOTEL ACCESS PARKING AND INTO THAT LOT.
SO THAT IS UN UNMONITORED, UNWELCOMED PEOPLE TRANSITING THROUGH THERE.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING.
[00:40:01]
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER MOROSE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER EDISON.SO, NOAH, DID YOU, WHEN YOU DID YOUR, UH, SURVEY OUT THERE, DID YOU NOTICE THAT GATE OPEN ON THAT VACANT LOT? UM, I DON'T RECOLLECT, UM, SEEING IT SPECIFICALLY OPEN.
UM, AND I WOULD'VE NOTICED IT IF IT WAS OPEN.
UM, I'M, I'M SURE IT DOES OPEN AND CLOSE PERIODICALLY.
UM, I, I THINK I WOULD ENCOURAGE, YOU KNOW, ANYONE THAT SEES SOMEONE TRESPASSING ON A PROPERTY, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CONTACT THE NON-EMERGENCY POLICE DEPARTMENT, A PHONE NUMBER, UM, WHEN WE HAVE MULTIPLE ISSUES OF TRESPASSING, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL WORK WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER TO HAVE 'EM SIGN A NO TRESPASS FORM, UM, SO THAT THERE'S MORE AUTHORITY FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ACT IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S A VERY BUSY AREA IN, UM, RIGHT THERE AT THE OFF RAMP.
UM, SO YOU'LL PROBABLY ALSO HAVE, UM, HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE, UM, CONGREGATING, UH, WITHIN THE CALTRANS, UM, RIGHT OF WAY.
SO, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON THERE.
UM, AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO ADDRESS ALL THOSE.
BUT I, I THINK THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD COMMUNICATE, UH, TO THE PUBLIC IS THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW UNLESS YOU CALL US.
SO IF, UM, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE'S CAMPING OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WON'T KNOW THAT, UM, UNLESS WE GET A, A PHONE CALL AND WE'RE GONNA ACT AND, AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO REMEDY THOSE ISSUES AS THEY COME UP.
AS A PROPERTY OWNER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF OAKDALE, JUST PAST THE SHELL STATION, WE GOT TO, WE'VE CALLED THE POLICE BECAUSE CALTRANS PROPERTY IS BASICALLY A CONDUIT FROM NORTH SECOND ALL THE WAY TO MAINE.
AND THEIR TENTS BACK THERE FROM TIME TO TIME, WE CALLED THEM BECAUSE SOMEBODY EXPLODED A TENT, NOT LITERALLY, BUT THE CONTENTS OF SOMEBODY'S, EVERYTHING THEY OWNED WAS JUST SPRAYED ACROSS THE BACK OF THE, THE EASEMENT THERE, RIGHT BEHIND OUR HOUSE.
AND WE WERE WORRIED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
LIKE, DID SOMEBODY DIE AND THEY'RE ROOTING THROUGH HIS STUFF, WE DIDN'T KNOW.
AND THEN RECENTLY THERE WAS THAT FIRE BEHIND THE APARTMENT COMPLEX AND THE GATE THAT YOU CAN'T QUITE SEE ON THAT MAP BEHIND THE SHELL STATION.
THAT FENCE GETS REPAIRED SO MANY TIMES A MONTH, AND THEY CUT THROUGH AND DUCK THROUGH AGAIN.
SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE TRANSIENT ACTIVITY IN THIS AREA.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I DO MISS THAT PROPOSAL WE HAD.
I KNOW THE PROPERTY OWNER WHO HAD THE PROPOSAL FOR BUILDING THE TOWN HOMES IN THE VACANT LOT PASSED AWAY BEFORE HE COULD GET THINGS ROLLING.
UM, DO WE KNOW WHO THE CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER IS? UM, I DID NOT LOOK UP THE CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER'S NAME PRIOR TO THE HEARING.
WELL, THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT THEY DO HAVE A C P, WHICH WOULD ACTUALLY ALLOW THEM TO, YOU KNOW, COME INTO SOME MORE GENERAL RULES AND COMPLIANCE.
THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY WORKING IN THAT DIRECTION ALREADY.
UM, THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK OVER THERE.
UM, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY STILL MORE TO BE DONE, BUT, UM, THE FACT THAT THEY DO HAVE A C U P, UM, THAT WE CAN KIND OF SHORE UP, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M KIND OF IN FAVOR OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND HAVING THEM COME BACK AND ADDING THE, THE CORRECT CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR THE C U P, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO OPERATE, THEY'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO, UM, IMPROVE IT, AND THEN WE CAN JUST ADD ALL THOSE METRICS THAT WE FEEL NECESSARY INTO THAT C U P AND TIGHTEN THAT UP A LITTLE BIT OUTTA CURIOSITY.
UM, CAN THE DEEMED APPROVED STATUS BE REINSTATED, LIKE WE SAY, WE'RE SUSPENDING THE DEEMED APPROVED STATUS AND WE DO A REVIEW IN 90 DAYS, WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SAY, YOU'VE COME INTO COMPLIANCE AND YOU'VE SURPASSED THE GOAL OF THE C U P, AND WOULD WE BE ABLE TO PUT THEM BACK INTO DEEMED APPROVED PROVE? SO I WOULD GENERALLY SAY THAT THE DEEMED APPROVED STATUS WAS REALLY, UM, THAT ORDINANCE WAS CREATED IN ORDER TO HAVE A VERY, UM, GENERAL SET OF REGULATIONS THAT APPLY TO ALL LODGING ESTABLISHMENTS MM-HMM.
UM, I THINK WHAT WHAT WE SEE IS, UM, THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS A, A TOOL THAT WE CAN HAVE, UH, MORE ROBUST CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL THAT ARE DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPERTY.
I MEAN, FROM, FROM A TECHNICAL PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD ASSUME THAT THERE'S
[00:45:01]
AN OPPORTUNITY TO REINSTATE THAT DEEMED APPROVE STATUS.UM, BUT I WOULD SAY MOVING FORWARD, UM, IF WE WERE TO BRING, UM, THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT BACK, UM, AND PROPOSE, UM, CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL, WE WOULD JUST REQUIRE THE, UM, DEEMED APPROVE ORDINANCE, UM, STANDARDS AS PART OF THEIR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
SO I, I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S, UM, SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO RETAIN, UH, BUT IT'S REALLY, I, FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE, IT'S REALLY JUST A METRIC THAT SETS THE BAR OF THE MINIMUM STANDARDS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE.
AND SO IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DETERMINED THAT THE MINIMUM STANDARDS WEREN'T WORKING, WE WERE HAVING A LOT OF NUISANCE RELATED ACTIVITIES.
SO, UM, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO TAKE THAT, YOU KNOW, TO THE NEXT STEP, AND THEN LET'S GET SOME MORE SPECIFIC ITEMS IN THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
QUESTION, DO ALL LODGING ESTABLISHMENTS HAVE C P? NO, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
SO THE DEEMED TO PROVE WAS PUT IN PLACE BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE A C P ON A LOT OF THESE LODGING ESTABLISHMENTS.
UH, AGAIN, UH, THE BEST IN, IN SUITES IS, IS IS SOMEWHAT FORTUNATE THAT THEY DID HAVE A C U P, VERY, VERY LIMITED ONE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS 'EM TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE IF WE PULL THE DEEM TO PROOF STATUS, SIMILAR TO THE MOTEL SIX.
UM, BUT I, I WOULD AGREE THAT THE C P THEN ALLOWS US, I THINK THE DEEMED TO APPROVE WAS THERE TO, TO, TO GIVE US SOME SORT OF GUIDELINES LIKE HE WAS SAYING IN LIEU OF A C P, BUT WITH THE FACT THAT THEY DO HAVE A C P AND IT CAN BE AMENDED, I THINK THAT'S A CLEANER WAY TO GO.
I I THINK THE DEEMED TO APPROVED STATUS WAS AN ACCOMMODATION MM-HMM.
HOWEVER, IF A PROBLEM DID ARISE, THEN WE GO BACK TO THE C P AS THE RULING FACTOR RA RATHER THAN THE DEEMED APPROVED STATUS.
SO IT'S A, THE C P UM, GIVES US MORE FLEXIBILITY AS, AS NOAH STATED RIGHT IN, UH, REGULATING THE, UH, THE MOTELS.
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR TO THE APPLICANT, UM, BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE A C U P DEPENDING ON, UH, HOW THE COMMISSION VOTES TONIGHT, IT DOESN'T.
IT, IT, IT, YOU CAN STILL OPERATE.
UM, AND THEN IT WILL JUST ALLOW YOU TO WORK WITH STAFF IN COMING INTO COMPLIANCE AND WORKING ON, YOU KNOW, NOTING ALL THE STUFF THAT YOU'VE DONE AND WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE.
THIS APPLICANT HAS ALREADY PUT IN A LOT OF WORK.
AND THAT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE AND WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
THE OTHER OPTION IS, IF, IF THINGS AREN'T DONE, THEN THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE THAT THE C U P ITSELF WOULD BE REVOKED.
HOWEVER, THE CITY OF EL CAJON HAS NEVER REVOKED A C U P, JUST SO YOU GUYS ARE AWARE OF THAT.
SO I DON'T SEE THAT BEING THE CASE HERE AS WELL.
WELL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DELIBERATION OR DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
UH, MY MOTION WOULD BE ADOPTED NEXT RESOLUTION IN ORDER REVOKING DEEMED THE PROOF STATUS AND, UH, DIRECTING THE OPERATOR AND PROPERTY OWNER TO COMPLETE CERTAIN ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS.
AND TO DIRECT THE STAFF TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT OR REVOCATION THE C P NUMBER 2 52 WITHIN THE NEXT 90 DAYS.
I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER SOLEY.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MAROSE.
COMMISSIONER MAROSE, CAN YOU VOTE AGAIN PLEASE? MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTES OF MEMBERS PRESENT.
SO WHEN WE TALK 90 DAYS, YOU'LL BE WORKING WITH THE APPLICANT CRAFTING THE C P? CORRECT.
UH, SO I'D PROBABLY ANTICIPATE THAT ACTUALLY, UH, BECAUSE OF THE SCHEDULING OF OUR MEETINGS BY MONTH, UH, IT'LL LIKELY BE THE FIRST MEETING IN JULY.
WELL, YOU GUYS SEEM LIKE YOU'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THERE, IF NOT FURTHER.
SO JUST KEEP WORKING WITH THE CITY AND, UM, WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE ALREADY DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO.
AND AT THIS TIME, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION? STAFF? NO.
ADD, NO ADDITIONAL ITEMS FROM STAFF? YEP.
[6. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS]
ANY COMMUNICATION FOR STAFF? I HAD A QUESTION THAT I FORGOT TO ASK.LAST PLANNING COMMISSION, AND IT WAS ANSWERED FOR ME ON WEDNESDAY AFTER LAST PLANNING COMMISSION.
I WAS GONNA ASK, WHEN IS ALDI OPENING? AND THE NEXT DAY I GOT A LITTLE CARD SAYING THEY'RE OPENING ON THURSDAY, SO IT'S OPEN
WELL, IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMUNICATION, THEN I MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER MOROSE.
[00:50:01]
ERCO, PLEASE VOTE.