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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRA Minutes 2000-01-18SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/18/2000 Page 1 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2000 AT 7:30 PM Regular Meeting: Present: Albert J. Boro, Chairman San Rafael Redevelopment Agency: Barbara Heller, Member Cyr N. Miller, Member Gary 0. Phillips, Member Absent: Paul M. Cohen, Member Also Present: Rod Gould, Executive Director Gary T. Ragghianti, Agency Attorney Gus Guinan, Assistant Agency Attorney Jeanne M. Leoncini, Agency Secretary ORAL COMMUNICATIONS OF AN URGENCY NATURE: None. CONSENT CALENDAR: 7:40 PM Member Phillips moved and Member Heller seconded, to approve the following Consent Calendar items: ITEM RECOMMENDED ACTION 1. Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of Minutes approved as Monday, December 20, 1999 (AS) submitted. 2. Monthly Investment Report (MS) - File R-123 Accepted Monthly Investment Report for month ending November, 1999. AYES: MEMBERS: Heller, Miller, Phillips & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: Cohen AGENCY CONSIDERATION: 3. CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION APPROVING AN EXTENSION OF THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO NEGOTIATE AGREEMENT WITH CENTURY THEATRES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CINEPLEX ON THE THIRD AND LOOTENS STREETS PARKING STRUCTURE (RA) - File R-407 Senior Planner Katie Korzun reported that in August, 1998, the Redevelopment Agency entered into a one-year Exclusive Right to Negotiate with Century Theatres. The Exclusive Right to Negotiate was extended to October, 1999, in order to get a workable project, which was defined as having a site plan, parking and traffic reports that had been reviewed and approved by the City, and a complete description of the project. The project was then given another extension, which expires on January 19th, because not all the requested information had been provided. Ms. Korzun explained staff was now before the Agency to ask for another sixty-day extension, because staff had not yet received what they considered to be a workable project. Ms. Korzun reported the applicant and City staff have been working on the project, but noted the project was extraordinarily complex, and they were still trying to get a parking and traffic study together that made sense. Ms. Korzun pointed out the situation Downtown has not been static over the past year, and every time they approach having a complete report, something else happens. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/18/2000 Page 1 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/18/2000 Page 2 Ms. Korzun reported staff has been having extensive discussions with Century Theatres, noting staff believed both the Agency and Century Theatres want a high quality, workable project. She stated staff felt they could make progress within the next sixty days, and would like to come back before the Agency in March and present what they have at that time, which, it was hoped, would be a workable project. Staff believed that at that time the Agency would want to spend time reviewing the details of that workable project, and then decide, at that point, whether they want to extend the Exclusive Right to Negotiate again, and go forward with working out the details of a deal, based upon the project. She stated staff did not want to begin negotiating a deal until they had the Agency Members' verification that they have a workable project. Executive Director Gould noted that because it was such a constrained site, and because the twin issues of parking and traffic were so critical to the Downtown, and this project in particular, he agreed this would likely be the most comprehensive parking study on any project ever approved in the City of San Rafael; therefore, he believed the additional time was warranted, in order to get the very best project. However, as the City has already stated to Century Theatres, staff believed this would be the final extension, and if a workable project could not be brought before the Agency within the next sixty days, the City might have to do something else all together. Member Heller asked if sixty days was enough time to finalize what needed to be done, or if, perhaps, the extension should be ninety days? Ms. Korzun stated a sixty-day extension was staff's best estimate. Robert Berry, property owner in the Downtown area, stated he had no objections to the proposed theater being where it is; however, because of recent unforeseen parking incidents at this particular property, he was having some very difficult parking situations because of the lack of parking in the Downtown area. He stated he could see, on the horizon, that this particular project would cause a very severe strain on parking during construction, and perhaps even after the theater is built. He asked the Redevelopment Agency to give serious consideration to rumors that the City was going to park cars, in the interim, on the P.G. & E. site. He reported he has lost a few tenants over the fact that the Redevelopment Agency has withdrawn their parking rights. He asked, at the very minimum, that the Agency place conditions upon the development of that particular project, and that a more permanent Downtown parking solution be found before the Agency enters into a Construction Agreement; or, that the extension be granted with the condition that a parking solution be found during construction, to ensure that no additional parking will be lost because of this project. Mr. Berra( pointed out the theater itself would have employees who would use parking at some time during the day. He acknowledged a theater would be a good use, because it would utilize the parking that is available for nighttime activities, and he was supportive of that. However, he asked the Agency to be cognizant of the fact that things were changing rapidly, and he needed parking, just like everyone else. Chairman Boro explained one of the reasons the plans for this project have not yet been completed was because of the parking. He reported he had met with the applicant a week ago, as well as with staff, to again stress the importance of parking, and the long-term solution the Agency was looking for on this site. He noted they were also beginning discussions regarding interim parking, which was also an issue the Redevelopment Agency would have to address. Chairman Boro stated the Agency was well aware of the issues of both long-term and short-term parking, and it was the goal of staff and the applicant that the Agency would have those answers when this project comes back before the Agency. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/18/2000 Page 2 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/18/2000 Page 3 Chairman Boro noted Mr. Berry had recently written regarding concerns at this location, and he informed Mr. Berry a letter was being prepared to respond to his concerns. Member Heller moved and Member Phillips seconded, to adopt the Resolution approving an extension of the Exclusive Right to Negotiate Agreement with Century Theatres. RESOLUTION NO. 2000-1 - RESOLUTION APPROVING AN EXTENSION OF THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO NEGOTIATE AGREEMENT WITH CENTURY THEATRES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CINEPLEX ON THIRD AND LOOTENS STREETS PARKING STRUCTURE (Third Extension to March 21, 2000). AYES: MEMBERS: Heller, Miller, Phillips & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: Cohen 4. AGENCY MEMBER REPORTS: None. There being no further business to come before the Redevelopment Agency, the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 PM. JEANNV M. LEONCINI, A ency Secretary SRRA MINUTES ( egular) 1/18/2000 Page 3