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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRA Minutes 1997-12-15SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/5/98 Page 1 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1997, AT 7:30 PM Regular Meeting: Present: Albert J. Boro, Chairman San Rafael Redevelopment Agency: Paul M. Cohen, Member Barbara Heller, Member Cyr N. Miller, Member Gary O. Phillips, Member Absent: None Also Present: Rod Gould, Executive Director Gary T. Ragghianti, Agency Attorney Jeanne M. Leoncini, Agency Secretary CLOSED SESSION - 7:00 PM None. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS OF AN URGENCY NATURE: None. CONSENT CALENDAR 7:38 PM Member Cohen moved and Member Miller seconded, to approve the following Consent Calendar items: ITEM RECOMMENDED ACTION 1. Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of Approved as submitted. Monday, December 1, 1997 (AS) 2. Unapproved Minutes of Citizens Advisory Committee Accepted report. Meeting of Thursday, December 4, 1997 (RA) - File R-140 IVB 3. Annual Meeting to Accept 1996/97 Redevelopment Accepted report and Agency Audit and Annual Report (RA) forwarded to City Council. - File R-62 x (SRCC) 8-9 4. Monthly Investment Report (Admin. Svcs.) - File R-123 Accepted report. AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: None ABSTAINING: MEMBERS: Phillips (from Minutes of meeting of December 1, 1997 only, due to absence from meeting). 5. AGENCY CONSIDERATION: STATUS REPORT ON REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR "B" AND SECOND STREETS (RA) - File R-396 x R-384 x R-381 Economic Development Director Jake Ours reported staff had sent out Requests for Proposals for the "B" Street area, and received one proposal from Parker Monahan, Inc., one of the property owners in the project area. Mr. Ours stated staff is reviewing the proposal, and will report back to the Agency in late January or early February. Regarding the relocation of the St. Vincent de Paul dining hall, Mr. Ours noted the Agency has been meeting with representatives of St. Vincent's for quite some time, noting they have told us that by the end of this month they will be delivering sites acceptable to them for relocation. Mr. Ours stated staff would present the list of sites, along with staff's recommendations, to the Agency as soon as they have reviewed SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/5/98 Page 1 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/5/98 Page 2 everything. Member Cohen moved and Member Heller seconded, to accept the report. AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips and Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: None 6. ANALYSIS OF CALIFORNIA UNIFORM RETAIL FOOD FACILITIES LAW RE: DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET FESTIVAL (RA - File R-309 x R-181 x (SRCC) 9-1 Economic Development Director Ours reported a portion of the law is causing the Agency some problems, noting the State Legislature has stated all Farmers Market food booths throughout the State are no longer legal in their current form, and must be contained within mobile food facilities (trailers). He stated staff did not believe this was right, noting it was not going to do anything for our Farmers Market, or any other Farmers Markets. Mr. Ours reported the Manager of our Farmers Market, Brigitte Moran, has written to Assemblywoman Kerry Mazzoni, and he asked the Agency to oppose this law, as he feels it is really unfair. Brigitte Moran, Manager of the Downtown Farmers Market, reported the provisions of the California Uniform Retail Food Facilities Law (CURFEL) have been changed to allow temporary food booths at Farmers Markets for twenty-five consecutive days, but not non-consecutive days, as in the past. She reported Marin County has decided to go along with the State Attorney General' s opinion, even though most of the other counties are not, because our Farmers Market representative at the State level is trying to change the wording in one sentence of this law, which would allow Farmers Markets to have temporary food booths for twenty-six consecutive weeks, or for a full year, as Marin County needs. Ms. Moran stated that at this time Marin County needs to just leave it alone until the law is changed, because what will happen is that the law will change, and the vendors will either no longer be able to participate in Farmers Markets, or have to purchase these vehicles, which range in price up to $100,000, and then the law will be changed, and they will be right back to where they were. Ms. Moran stated they are requesting the Marin County Supervisors to ask the State to hold off on this for awhile, noting they did this last year, and the State did hold off for a year. Chairman Boro noted the Attorney General had made a ruling, but some counties have chosen to interpret it differently, pointing out Marin County is interpreting it to the letter; therefore, he believed this was more of an issue for the Board of Supervisors than with Assemblywoman Mazzoni, and we would have more influence if we dealt directly with the Board of Supervisors. Ms. Moran agreed, noting she was also working with Assemblywoman Mazzoni to get the law changed at the next level, in case CRC, which is our organizing group, does not get it done. Kathleen De Wilbur, employee of Adolph Sausage Company, stated she has a sausage barbeque at the Marin Farmers Market, noting she has been doing the barbeque for close to three years. She pointed out Donna, who does Donna's Tomales, would also be affected by this ruling, as would Young Kim, who does Chicken on a Stick, and Mr. Cohen, who does falafel sandwiches. Ms. De Wilbur stated they have all built their booths according to the regulations of the Marin County Health Department, noting she had personally gone to great expense to have her tent built, and they have always passed their health inspections with flying colors. She pointed out the Health Department actually uses her as an example for street fairs, suggesting people look at her tent for an example of what the Health Department wants. Ms. De Wilbur stated that by not allowing the vendors to do this, they will either have to go out and change their entire SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/5/98 Page 2 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/5/98 Page 3 business, or not be able to do their business, pointing out that in her case, the mesquite grill charcoal barbeque that she does is what draws people to her booth, noting a steamed sausage is not a barbequed sausage. Ms. De Wilbur asked for the Agency's support, requesting they go to the Board of Supervisors. She noted this has been a non -issue for the Supervisors because it does not affect very many people; therefore, their protests have fallen on "deaf ears" at the County level. Ms. De Wilbur stated when the Farmers Markets are held on a Sunday or outside the hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, the County feels obligated to pay for inspections; therefore, the vendors have offered to pay for the inspections, and if it means paying higher permits, they are willing to do that. Member Phillips asked if there was any opposition to what they were requesting, and if there was anyone opposed to the extension of the days? Ms. De Wilbur stated the Health Inspector has been very adamant about not wanting to issue the permits. Chairman Boro suggested a meeting with Dr. Thomas Peters, Marin County Health Director, and then if the Agency wants to make a motion, they can write a letter to the Board of Supervisors and address the issue. Member Miller recalled that when this issue first came up two or three years ago, the basic line was that they did not have the manpower to go out and inspect, and then Supervisor Brown assisted in making sure they did go out and inspect, and the issue resolved itself. Chairman Boro suggested he and Member Miller meet with Executive Director Gould, Economic Development Director Ours, a member of the Board of Supervisors, and Dr. Peters to pursue this issue. Ms. Moran noted the Health Department has been informed of their intentions of working with John Valasquez' and Kerry Mazzoni's offices, and they have stated that when that happens they would be happy to follow their lead. Therefore, she felt a letter of intention from those offices might also help. Member Cohen suggested if the Agency was in concurrence that this legislation should be changed, perhaps we should add our voice, too, and urge Assemblywoman Mazzoni to take this issue up, and stating the Redevelopment Agency supports addressing this impact on our market. Member Heller asked if this had to be completed by the time we open the Farmers Market next year? Mr. Ours stated that it did. He noted the new law was to take effect January 1st, and while we had a little leeway, because our Farmers Market does not open until April, the County's Farmers Market is all year long, so they would be stuck with it right away. Mr. Ours stated this was very important for a number of our Fourth Street merchants who come into the Market, as they might not be able to do it anymore. Member Miller stated this went to the very core of our Market, noting it is different in the sense that it is a festival, and integral to the festivities are the food booths. Member Cohen moved and Member Heller seconded, that the Agency communicate with the County Board of Supervisors and Assemblywoman Mazzoni in support of changing the wording of this legislation to define temporary food facilities as a food facility operating out of temporary facilities approved by the enforcement officer at a fixed location for a period of time not to exceed 25 Consecutive or non-consecutive days in any 90 day period in conjunction with an event. AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: None 7. AGENCY MEMBER REPORTS: None. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/5/98 Page 3 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/5/98 Page 4 There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 PM, JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Agency Secretary SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/5/98 Page 4