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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRA Minutes 1997-02-18SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 1 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1997 AT 7:30 PM Regular Meeting: San Rafael Redevelopment Agency: Cyr N. Miller, Member Gary Phillips, Member Absent: Paul M. Cohen, Member Present: Albert J. Boro, Chairman Barbara Heller, Member Also Present: Rod Gould, Executive Director Gary T. Ragghianti, Agency Attorney Jeanne M. Leoncini, Agency Secretary ORAL COMMUNICATIONS OF AN URGENCY NATURE: None CONSENT CALENDAR: Member Heller moved and Member Phillips seconded, to approve the following Consent Calendar items: ITEM RECOMMENDED ACTION 1. Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of Approved as submitted. Monday, February 3, 1997 (AS) AYES: MEMBERS: Heller, Miller, Phillips & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: Cohen AGENCY CONSIDERATION: 2. DISCUSSION OF MACY'S RE -USE - File R-373 Chairman Boro announced he had asked that this item be placed on the agenda as a result of letters received and newspaper articles by the press regarding this particular issue. He stated it was the Agency's intention that there would be no discussion on the merits of the project, explaining the purpose of this meeting was two -fold; first, to make sure there was an understanding in the community about the process that is planned, and what has happened up to this time; and second, to afford an opportunity to those in the community who wish to address the Agency regarding this issue. Chairman Boro noted this meeting would adjourn at 8:00 PM. Chairman Boro stated it was important the community understand the issue before the Agency regarding Macy's was not something that had just happened, noting this was part of a process that had been on-going for several years, as a result of a process called "Our Vision for Downtown San Rafael", a process which was begun in 1991. Chairman Boro explained the Vision process was undertaken by twenty-four individuals representing different organizations in the community, noting they worked on the process for a couple of years, during which time four community -wide meetings were held to discuss this particular Vision, and over 600 people participated in the different aspects of the Vision process. Chairman Boro stated the types of criteria the City put out in its Request For Proposal (RFP) on the Macy's site matched the Vision. He explained the Vision addresses the fact that the City is looking for strong retail in our Downtown, noting we currently have over 460,000 square feet of retail in the Downtown, but we are lacking one element in the Downtown, and that is a key anchor. Chairman SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 1 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 2 Boro pointed out the Macy's Department Store had always been the anchor in the Downtown, but noted it was unlikely we would be able to have another department store, based on the nature of marketing today; however, the City believes we can have a very strong retail presence on this corner, which would bring people Downtown. He noted such a building would have displays in the windows, and would attract people, and then have them to go to other businesses in the community. Chairman Boro stated, as part of the Vision, the Agency also discussed making sure there were other strong components in the Downtown, such as housing, office, and entertainment. He noted the reason for this was because they have recognized that the nature of the Downtown has changed, from strictly a shopping point of view to a destination point of view for specialized shopping, and also for entertainment, food, and the theater. Chairman Boro reported the RFP had been sent out, and noted it was important to remember this was the phase we were in right now. He explained the Agency was not selecting any architecture at this time, and when the process is continued during the month of March, they would not be getting into anything as far as the design of the building was concerned. He stated the Agency would be interested in the content, what the developers bring to the table, what kind of uses they see on the site, and how those uses would help achieve and carry out the Vision. Chairman Boro pointed out there would be a number of meetings over the next several months with respect to this effort. He noted there had initially been a group of ten individuals, comprised of himself and Councilmember Phillips representing the City, and eight other citizens of the City, who looked at the six submittals and pared those down to the final two developers. He stated this group would meet again in early March during a public meeting, noting they would announce when and where the meeting would be held once this had been determined. He stated they would also expand the committee to include those people called the "Keepers of the Vision", a group of twenty-four people from all aspects of the community who have worked on keeping the Vision moving forward during the past couple of years. Chairman Boro explained that after this series of meetings, the findings and conclusions would be brought to the Redevelopment Agency at a special meeting, probably on March 18th, at which time the Agency will look at the proposals from the two developers, and make their choice of the developer at that time. He stated once the developer is chosen, the developer will be obligated to go through the entire planning cycle, with Design Review Board, Planning Commission, and City Council, and Chairman Boro noted there would be ample opportunity all the way through this process to ensure the public has an opportunity to participate. Chairman Boro stated it was important to realize this was a very unique opportunity we have, as a City. He noted when proposals for the site were first being made, the City had no say as to what was going to happen or what the content would be, because we did not own the property. Chairman Boro stated now that the Redevelopment Agency owns the property, we can control what happens there, noting the control points we will use will be the Vision, and the assurance that what is proposed meets the Vision. Sharon Fox, 127 Humboldt Street, stated it was a wonderful move for the City to get control of the building. She noted a flyer circulated by the BID (Business Improvement District) had generated some misconception about the objectives SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 2 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 3 of those who had come to speak at this meeting, noting it was not their intention to stop this process. She stated she supported the City, Redevelopment, the developers, the merchants, and the community, and also supported the full -speed ahead process to bring to Downtown the most dynamic and financially vital project possible that supports the merchants, enhances the community, and is in keeping with the Downtown Vision. Ms. Fox stated she was here to support the process already in gear to select the best developer, and to enhance the process with more citizen input. Ms. Fox acknowledged there would be citizen input at the March 18th meeting, when the City Council (Redevelopment Agency) votes on which developer it feels is appropriate, and noted several other meetings would follow to obtain citizen input. However, she stated she had been told that while some aspects of the developers' projects would be flexible after the choice is made on March 18th, other aspects would be locked into place. She noted the City was asking the developers to come in with plans for the concept, and a list of retailers pretty much set in stone at that time; therefore, she stated we were looking at a scenario where the overall concept and tenants were pretty much set before the citizens' and merchants' opinions were being asked to enter the picture. Ms. Fox asked that the City schedule a special public hearing, or an evening or Saturday afternoon workshop, with the merchants and the community at large, to distill people's main objectives, priorities and needs regarding the Macy's Vision. Ms. Fox stated she had already spoken with Tim Gilbert, who works as a consultant and facilitator with MIG, whom the City has used in the past. She noted Mr. Gilbert had helped facilitate focus groups with Pickleweed and the Montecito Neighborhood, and was now working on the North San Rafael Vision. Ms. Fox reported Mr. Gilbert was willing to volunteer his time, at no cost to the City, to work with a small group to map out a workshop prior to the March 18th vote. Ms. Fox also suggested a survey be done of the merchants, the neighbors, and the citizens at large, and reported Anna Mielo, a marketing specialist in the high technology arena, had volunteered to write up a survey. Ms. Fox suggested that perhaps a survey could be circulated, through the BID and Neighborhood Federation, and given out by the merchants to their customers. Ms. Fox stated she was an entrepreneur who had financed and created many businesses, from television shows to films, and also created non-profit organizations. She stated she was very proud of a highly commercial and vital retailship she helped create with her partner, Fred Siegel, noting his vital marketplace retailship was considered to be the cornerstone that helped revitalize Santa Monica, California. Ms. Fox stated she understood many of the variables the City and the developers were working with, and as a businesswoman and financier, she truly understood the realities of timing. Ms. Fox stated she wished to help the City, the developers, and the community in the search for excellence, and she fully supported the forward momentum of the process already in motion, and only wished to enhance that process by including citizen input prior to the vote to determine the developer on March 18th. Ms. Fox stated she had met with one of the developers, and had several meetings with the other developer, and reported both developers were aware of the value that citizen input and market surveys would have to their projects. Ms. Fox stated she asked one of the developers if he would be willing to take the time to attend a meeting or workshop focus group with the citizens to get their views, needs and objectives, and he stated he would be happy to observe, noting the more he knew about the community's needs, the more viable and vital his proposal would be. Ms. Fox stated the City had done a great job with the process to date, and she was suggesting that citizen input, prior to the vote, could only enhance the process SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 3 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 4 and the outcome. Ms. Fox stated she wanted to see something wonderful happen in San Rafael, and felt that with everyone's combined efforts, working full -speed ahead, she had no doubt that we would reach our objective sooner than later, re-creating and adding to the magic of Downtown. Charles Brousse, 8 Balboa, reported he worked nearby at the Marin Academy Theater, as the Producing Artistic Director of Theater Artists of Marin. He stated they had been producing plays at that location since 1982, and he has had a chance to observe the San Rafael scene over a number of years, noting the growth and the problems of the Downtown were familiar to him. Mr. Brousse thanked Chairman Boro and the Agency for allowing them time to address the Agency on this subject. Mr. Brousse explained the reason he and the others had been writing letters to the City and the Marin Independent Journal, circulating questionnaires, and were here to address the Agency, was because these were all traditional weapons of a citizen's involvement in an issue. Mr. Mr. Brousse reiterated their objective was not to kill the project, or even to delay it, stating they knew this had been under consideration for a long time, and knew the hopes of the merchants on Fourth Street were riding very heavily on its success. Mr. Brousse stated they knew the City government would like to have the taxes flow again, and rid itself of the burden of having to service the debt of owning the Macy's building. He stated the last thing they would want to do would be to place an impediment in its way. Brousse stated the problem comes about because of raised expectations. He noted many of them had sat back while the Planning process was going on, and while the Vision Committee was working, and they had heard announcements from the various public officials and read in the newspapers that this site was to be a "destination" project, and we would have something that was truly special, that it would be a star in the crown of San Rafael's business. Mr. Brousse noted that together with the Rafael Theater, this gave them a chance to conceive of a Downtown which would be anchored on one side by the Rafael Theater, with all the excitement of the Northern California Film Institute showings, and on the other side would be the Macy' s building, which would also be attracting many people as a destination, so that Downtown San Rafael would have quite an active center. Mr. Brousse stated that was the vision which had been indicated by various people. However, the reality was the announcement that two developers had been chosen, along with a capsule summary of what they were proposing, and he felt it was nothing like what they had been led to believe. Mr. Brousse acknowledged these were only preliminary proposals and could be changed later, but pointed out that rather than talking about the site being a destination, it was being suggested that it contain a large amount of housing, office space, and a very limited amount of retail, consisting of nationally known retailers, whose outlets are already in business throughout the County and in the various malls. Mr. Brousse stated we had to ask who was going to make that their destination, and what happens at night when the office workers go home, when the shops close up, and all that is left are the people going home to their houses? Mr. Brousse stated the excitement simply was not there, and there was a disappointment factor because of the raised expectations. Mr. Brousse stated there were a lot of different ideas about what the Macy's building would best be used for. He noted what troubled him about the present designs was that they were so conservative, noting they suggest housing, office space, and viable retailers, without addressing what these uses translate to, without giving the luster and aura that the new kinds of retailing and the new kinds of downtowns are featuring. He noted if one were to go to University and Fourth Street in Berkeley they would see what the wave of the future is. He also SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 4 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 5 pointed to the projects in Santa Monica, Pike's Market in Seattle, and Market Hall in Oakland as examples of the coming thing in retail. Mr. Brousse stated they were trying to see if they could have an effect on the push toward a very mundane type of development, which seemed to be imminent, as both proposed projects seemed to conceptualize this. He stated they were suggesting it might be time to step back, just a half step, and allow the citizens to participate in this process, and allow them to get their ideas out, noting we might learn something from all these people. He stated, for example, he would like to see a rooftop restaurant/cafe, with dancing on the roof, noting this could be a wonderful thing that would bring many people Downtown. Mr. Brousse stated many people have other ideas, but we would not know until we plumb the depths of public understanding. Therefore, they were asking that the City pause, just for a moment, not waiting for the decision on concept and on the developer to be made, and then allowing public comment during the Design Review and Planning stage, but prior to those key decisions, as those were the ones that would really shape the direction of this project. He asked that the Agency plan some type of citizens' day, perhaps a Saturday planning session or workshop. He noted the informal ad hoc committee which had been formed would be pleased to help in such a meeting, noting they would bring people from all the neighborhoods, provide a facilitator, and see that a report of the meeting was presented to the Agency. He stated this would get all of the ideas out on the table, and everyone would profit from that, noting the developers would profit because they would learn what the community wants, and the people would profit because they would get what everyone wants, a vital Downtown. Charlie Garfink, President of the Business Improvement District (BID), stated the BID wished to thank the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency for the actions taken so far toward the redevelopment of the Macy's property, noting it was only because they stepped in during the broken-down negotiations and purchased the building that we had the opportunity to be discussing its future in this forum. Mr. Garfink stated the BID applauded the City for its boldness in taking that step, and for giving the project the priority status it has received. Mr Garfink stated that since January, when the City stopped taking proposals, there had been two meetings to discuss this project, and two more were planned before the final decision is made on the developer, noting there would be additional opportunities for input when the design of the building is finalized. Mr. Garfink stated there would be plenty of opportunity for input, and he did not feel further meetings were required at this time, noting time was the key element in this procedure. He stated there was great momentum and enthusiasm at this time in Downtown San Rafael, and many projects were moving forward, such as the Rafael Theater; the relocation of St. Vincent de Paul; Fair, Isaac; and the Downtown Art Center, as well as the many new businesses that are moving into the Downtown, and the expansion and renovation of many existing businesses. Mr. Garfink stated the Macy's project was crucial to Fourth Street, noting it constitutes an entire block, and has been vacant since January, 1996, except for a few weekends during Christmas. He stated given the time needed to construct a major project such as this, it would be in the best interest of the Downtown if the City kept the momentum building by sticking to its current timetable. Mr. Garfink stated he had heard many excellent ideas for the site since this project was first proposed, and hopefully, many of them would be visible in the final project, including those which might come up in future SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 5 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 6 meetings, by using the guideline of the Downtown Vision. Mr. Garfink stated he felt certain the project ultimately chosen would reflect the overall desires of the community. Angelo Douvous, resident of San Rafael, stated his concern was with the design, and asked if there would still be an opportunity to express his ideas about the design after the developer is chosen on March 18th? Chairman Boro stated that was correct, noting the City' s main thrust at this time was what is being proposed for the site, and what guarantees the developers bring that they will make what they are proposing happen. Chairman Boro stated they would likely present specific designs, but that would not be decided on March 18th, noting the actual design would have to go through the entire Design Review Board, Planning Commission, and City Council review, subsequent to March 18th. Fred Divine, who works at 1924 Fourth Street, stated he was amazed that although Chairman Boro had explained what the process was about, the message was not getting through. Mr. Divine stated he had been part of the Selection Committee, the Vision Committee, and the committee which developed the rules that would make the Vision possible. He noted they had spent four or five years on this, noting they used the best facilitator in the nation, and there had been incredible citizen input. He stated he did not know a community that had done what this community had done, in terms of citizen participation, noting he was disappointed some of the people speaking tonight had not been there. Mr. Divine stated one of the reasons the City had been able to act so quickly on the Macy's building, and so assertively, was because the Vision was there to back-up the City, and the City knew what the community support was. He noted that was why it was so easy to come to a decision from among the development proposals that were submitted, because everyone knew the Vision. He stated this was why the process could move quickly and would be a good process, noting it was not a comparison to Courthouse Square at all, pointing out the process was different, and the proposals were completely different. Mr. Divine stated one of the developers had attended the Vision meetings, and knew the Vision from the inside out. He stated it was remarkable how close the proposal was to the Vision, and to where we should be, even at this early stage. Mr. Divine stated he wished the people attending tonight's meeting had been more involved in the Vision process, and hoped they would take a good look at the Vision. Mr. Divine urged the Agency to keep moving forward on this project. Elissa Giambastiani, President of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, stated she had been one of those involved in creating the Downtown Vision, and was a member of the Downtown Vision Committee, and the Keeper of the Vision Committee, which had been meeting for the past three years, looking at projects in the Downtown. Ms. Giambastiani explained the Vision had been created by the community so the City would have guidelines for development, and would not have to go back to square one every time a new development was proposed in the Downtown. She noted we all want what is best for the Downtown, and that was why hundreds of people were involved in creating the Vision. Ms. Giambastiani noted the plan put forth by Ms. Fox called for more boutiques and small businesses in the Downtown, but she stated the Downtown was already full of specialty businesses. Ms. Giambastiani stated that was not enough, although she did feel many of these current businesses were quite excellent, noting, as Ms. Fox had stated earlier, perhaps the best was already in the Downtown. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 6 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 7 However, Ms. Giambastiani stated this was not enough because the Downtown needs retailers that have a very strong draw, and noting we need developers who can bring in those retailers. She stated we were extremely fortunate to have two of them who were willing to put millions of dollars into the Downtown, noting we did not need dreams or speculation on what might work, we needed to deal in reality, and these two developers were financially capable of putting it together. Ms. Giambastiani stated Downtowns needed the same things shopping malls do. She Ms stated people have said they do not want what the malls have, but she believed we do want the same things, noting we need national retailers who have the name and the advertising budgets to attract buyers to the Downtown. Ms. Giambastiani stated a collection of small specialty stores, even amassed in one building, was not going to do it. Giambastiani noted the process had been thorough and all encompassing, and stated the Downtown businesses should not be held hostage to a small group of people who, unfortunately, did not participate in the Vision process, and now wanted to do it all over again. She stated it seemed incredible to her that a one day workshop could possibly bring a group of people to a consensus, not when they had spent years creating the Vision, with hundreds of people involved in the process. Ms. Giambastiani stated we needed to let the Vision carry us on now, and needed to move and get the project underway. Member Miller stated he was a veteran of the Downtown Vision, which he described as a massive citizen participation and community involvement process, noting there had been 223 meetings, 140 of which were public meetings, and 83 subcommittee work sessions opened to the public. He stated his singular, explicit task was to choose, in a month's time, a developer for the Macy's site who could provide the economic and social activity called for in the Vision and codified in the Downtown Plan Amendments. He noted that according to the Vision, this site called for a hub of economic and social activities of such a scale that it would draw many people to gather Downtown and support the small retail activities, be they entertainment, service, merchandise or commodities, all the while strengthening the economic vitality of our Downtown with the pure zest of people and purchasing power. He noted the building must fit into the diverse context of architecture that cradles the diverse population of the core city. Member Miller stated he did not believe it was patronizing for him to choose, on March 18th, a developer with the financial, marketing, and imagination capacity to fulfill the Vision. He believed he was duty bound to honor his commitment to the community that has lent its considerable talents, and has taken enormous time to hand over the Vision. He stated he must keep faith with that community that dared to dream the dream in the first place, noting that to do otherwise would mock that public participation, and affront the very community which he is trying to build. Member Miller stated what is called for now is not to second guess what has been entrusted; now is the time to exercise every fiber of being on behalf of the community, and to muster the courage to go forward. He stated it was time to honor the long, arduous work of the people, and fulfill their Vision. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 7 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 8 Member Heller stated it was wonderful of Ms. Fox to take the time to look at the Macy's site. She noted she had read Ms. Fox's vision, and would like to meet her former partner, Mr. Siegel. Ms. Heller stated she had spent several years in small retail, and recognized that small retail was very difficult. She felt that in looking at small retail, the City has to be very careful that we can sustain that small retail, or they will be gone tomorrow. She suggested the Agency continue moving forward at the present pace, noting she did not believe they were moving too fast. Ms. Heller pointed out there were other opportunities in the community, noting "B" Street was going to become a lovely, huge redevelopment area in just a short time. Ms. Heller believed the Agency should continue to move toward that which the community had stated in the Vision, noting she applauded the committee that had been involved in the selection process, and she felt this was going to be a very good project. Member Phillips stated he believed the Agency should certainly take into account public input, noting he could not recall the City ever incorporating so much public opinion as in developing the Vision. He stated the Vision was something the Agency and the Council could turn back to in making decisions, which would be reflective not only of their own experiences, but also take into account the community, through the Vision process. Mr. Phillips stated he was comfortable to have this cornerstone to turn to for the type of community input they need to take into consideration in making this decision. Mr. Phillips noted he had been in San Rafael since 1972, had served on the Planning Commission, and been elected by the citizens of San Rafael to reflect many of their viewpoints in matters such as this. He felt he was well equipped to make a decision, on behalf of the community, that most people would be comfortable with. He stated he would make the best decision he could, based on his background and experience within the community. He stated that with the additional input from the public, and the process as outlined by Chairman Boro, he was confident the Agency would end up with a project that was terrific, one the community would feel good about, and one in which the Agency would feel comfortable in making a decision to draw a conclusion to move it forward. Member Phillips stated he was not in favor of putting this off, noting with the input they already had, he felt the Agency should move forward. Chairman Boro agreed they would move forward. He reported there would be a combined committee meeting on Wednesday, March 5, 1997 at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber, noting this meeting would include the ten member committee which had originally met to review the proposals, as well as the Keepers of the Vision. Chairman Boro stated this would be a public meeting, and there would be plenty of opportunity for input. Chairman Boro noted that in addition to the Vision, which would certainly guide the Agency in the choice of the developer, there was also other criteria the Agency was operating under, and which the developer must meet as well. He stated the Agency is looking to recover its entire purchase price; there will be no subsidy from the City or the Redevelopment Agency; the project must be of high quality; the project must commence in 1997; and the Agency must have a firm commitment, either in a signed lease or letter, guaranteeing the tenants being proposed. Chairman Boro stated we would know what we were going to get before the Agency actually gets into the project, and he assured the public it would be a top rate project. 3. SELECTION OF NEW VICE -CHAIR OF REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY - File R-58 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 8 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 9 Member Phillips nominated Member Barbara Heller as Vice -Chair of the Redevelopment Agency. Member Miller seconded the nomination, and the Agency Members voted unanimously (Member Cohen absent) to select Member Heller as the new Vice -Chair. 4. AGENCY MEMBER REPORTS: None There being no further business to come before the Redevelopment Agency, the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 PM. JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Agency Secretary SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 2/18/97 Page 9