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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRA Minutes 1997-06-02SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/2/97 Page 1 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 1997 AT 7:30 PM Regular Meeting: San Rafael Redevelopment Agency: Cyr N. Miller, Member Absent: Paul M. Cohen, Member Gary O. Phillips, Member Present: Albert J. Boro, Chairman Barbara Heller, Member Also Present: Rod Gould, Executive Director Gary Ragghianti, Agency Attorney Jeanne M. Leoncini, Agency Secretary CLOSED SESSION - 7:00 PM None ORAL COMMUNICATIONS OF AN URGENCY NATURE: 7:45 PM None CONSENT CALENDAR: Member Heller moved and Member Miller seconded, to approve the following Consent Calendar items: ITEM RECOMMENDED ACTION 1. Unapproved Minutes of Redevelopment Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting of Thursday, May 8, 1997 (AS) - File R-140 IVB 3. Approval of Parking Lot Closures on recommendation Lindaro Between Second and Third Streets for Five (5) Flea-Tique Events (RA) - File R-140 #8 x (SRCC) 12-14 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Accepted report. Approved staff for parking lot closures on the following Sundays: 6/15, 7/20, 8/17, 9/21, and 10/19 from 4. Second, Third, and "A" Streets Underground RESOLUTION NO. 97-21 - Utility District Improvements - Resolution RESOLUTION APPROVING PURCHASE Accepting Purchase Agreement for Utility AGREEMENT FOR UTILITY EASEMENT Easement on Lands of Volk/O'Neill, ON PROPERTY OWNED BY APN 012-073-23 (PW) - File R-385 x SRCC 4-1-488VOLK/O'NEILL (APN 012-073-23) AND AUTHORIZING DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO EXECUTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT. AYES: MEMBERS: Heller, Miller & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: Cohen & Phillips The following items were removed from the Agenda for further discussion: 2. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH P.G.& E. FOR LEASE OF A PARKING LOT LOCATED ON LINDARO STREET BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD STREETS (RA) - File R-386 x (SRCC) 12-14 Member Miller asked if, when the Agency takes control of the parking lot, we would be enforcing a 72 hour parking restriction? Economic Development Director Jake Ours reported the Agency would enforce such a restriction. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/2/97 Page 1 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/2/97 Page 2 Member Miller asked if the Agency had established the parking rate? Mr. Ours stated the rate had not yet been established, reporting the last time the Agency controlled this lot they tried charging $2.00 per day, but the lot remained fairly empty. Mr. Ours did note the Agency planned to investigate long-term parking for merchants, in an attempt to provide them with parking other than on Fourth Street. Member Miller reported other jurisdictions have started charging half-price for the whole day, and it has been an attractive way to bring customers to their lots. Member Heller pointed out the License Agreement notes the Allowed Use of the premises provides for only two uses; 1) the operation of an 84 space parking lot; and 2) the use of the parking lot for a fly-fishing exhibition and the Flea-Tique. She asked if the Agency could ever use the parking lot for any other use or event, or if it was restricted to only those uses? Mr. Ours stated those were the only two events for which the Agency currently uses the parking lot, so they were the only two events P.G.& E. had on their list; however, we would be able to use the lot for other things, and the Agency would just inform P.G.& E. that we were going to use the parking lot for another use. Member Heller noted the Agreement also provides that the Lease would terminate upon P.G.& E. giving the Agency at least 30 days written notice, and she asked if the Agency had the same option if we decide we no longer want control of the parking lot? Mr. Ours stated that was correct. Chairman Boro asked if we could ensure that cars for sale would not be parked in this parking lot and left there? Mr. Ours stated the cars which were for sale had been parked there when this was a private parking lot, noting that when it was a City parking lot, the area was posted with signs, and if anyone parked a car for longer than 72 hours it would be towed. He stated that would be the case again, when the parking lot comes under Agency control. Chairman Boro noted someone could bring their car to the parking lot every day, and leave it all day until they sell it, and asked how we could prevent that from happening and turning the lot into a used car lot? Mr. Ours noted this was a private parking lot, with a price to pay when someone parks their car. He stated he did not have an answer as far as someone putting a For Sale sign on their car and parking it in the parking lot, but he would look into the matter. Member Heller suggested perhaps a fence or high hedge so that no one would see the For Sale signs. Member Miller moved and Member Heller seconded, to adopt the Resolution authorizing execution of a Lease Agreement with P.G.& E. RESOLUTION NO. 97-22 - RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC (P.G.& E.) TO LEASE A PARKING LOT LOCATED ON LINDARO STREET FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED A $700 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE AND $1,200 ANNUAL USE FEE. AYES: MEMBERS: Heller, Miller & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: Cohen & Phillips. 5. SECOND, THIRD, AND "A" STREETS UNDERGROUND IMPROVEMENTS - RECOMMEND AGENCY REALLOCATE $650,000 FROM THE CANAL STREET CULVERT PROJECT IN FISCAL 1997/98 TOWARDS PROJECT CONSTRUCTION (PW) - File (SRCC) 4-1-488 x (SRCC) 6-51 x R-360 x R-103 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/2/97 Page 2 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/2/97 Page 3 Member Miller noted the money for this project was being taken from funds projected for the Canal Street Culvert Project, and stated he wanted to make sure that down the road there would be funds for that project. He stated he was also very concerned that there not be any appearance that the Agency was taking money away from the Canal area for the Downtown. Assistant Executive Director (Public Works) David Bernardi stated the $650,000 currently set aside for the Canal Storm Drain Replacement Project was calculated based on literally digging the old pipe out of the ground and installing a new piece of pipe. He noted there was new technology that would not necessarily require them to do that, stating the pipe could be lined with a plastic liner, as they had successfully done on Fifth Avenue. He noted that repairing the bottom which had rusted out was another option that would buy them quite a bit of time. Mr. Bernardi stated if they did, in fact, need to replace the pipe, there would be funds available through the Stormwater Repair Fee Program that had been adopted by the City Council, so that ultimately, when it comes time to do the work, funds will be available. Member Miller moved and Member Heller seconded, to adopt the Resolution reallocating $650,OOOfrom the Canal Street Culvert Project towards the project construction. RESOLUTION NO. 97-23 - RESOLUTION FOR SECOND, THIRD, AND "A" STREET UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT IMPROVEMENTS TO REALLOCATE $650,000 FROM THE CANAL STREET CULVERT PROJECT IN FISCAL 1997/98 TOWARD PROJECT CONSTRUCTION. AYES: MEMBERS: Heller, Miller & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: Cohen & Phillips SPECIAL PRESENTATION: 6. PRESENTATION RE: DOWNTOWN SIDEWALKS PROJECT (RA) - File (SRCC) 4-1-489 x R-258 X P-1 An XTU Phyllis Thelen, Cultural Affairs Commission Chair, explained the Cultural Affairs Commission had decided a year ago that the goal of their Historical Preservation Committee would be to fund, design, and install at least five historical markers on Fourth Street in San Rafael. She stated they recommended bronze plaques, noting they were more traditional, more permanent, more inscription could be put on them, and they could be more easily installed. Ms. Thelen apologized for this project being brought before the Agency when the sidewalk replacement project has already begun. She reported the Chairman of the Historical Preservation Committee, Glenn David Mathews, won a commission to work on the Pony Express Museum in Nevada, and he as been gone for a number of months, and also noted that she had become very involved in the Downtown Art Center, and was not paying as much attention to the timeline as she should have. Ms. Thelen reported a member of the Historical Preservation Committee, Leslie Simons, was given this project to carry forward, noting Ms. Simons is a Landscape Architect, has worked on this type of project before, and is very familiar with the materials. In addition, Ms. Simons is a Vice -President of Marin Heritage, and is familiar with the various surveys and processes that have taken place over the years, and she has also led the Historic Walking Tours of San Rafael and done the illustrations in the booklet given out by the City. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/2/97 Page 3 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/2/97 Page 4 Ms. Thelen reported Ms. Simons has volunteered to donate her drawings for these plaques, and one person has already come forward with a $1,500 donation to get the project started, and as people have already begun hearing about the project, three other individuals have donated money for the plaques. Ms. Thelen stated it was hoped that in the future this would be the way in which they could continue the project until they have identified all the historical buildings in San Rafael. Leslie Simons, Member of the Historical Preservation Committee, displayed one of the plaques, stating they were proposing a 10" by 14" plaque made of brass, with a pebble finish, and a satin finish on the raised portions, and noted the issues she wished to discuss with the Agency were the plaque placement and mounting options. Ms. Simons showed drawings depicting the two options for the placement of the plaques: one with the plaque placed across the street from the building it identifies, giving a view of the entire building; and another with the plaque in front of the building. She pointed out the plaques were generally flexible as far as the longitudinal run where they would be placed, noting they would be placed in the same line as the trees, approximately three feet in from the curb face. Ms. Simons showed examples of placing one of the plaques in front of the building it describes, and placing it across the street from the building, giving a little more distance to the view. Ms. Simons showed old photographs of Gordon's Opera House, and the Central Hotel, noting she hoped to enhance the drawings of these buildings to show how they looked originally. Ms. Simons stated she was proposing a straight, standard border on the plaques, rather than a thickened, raised edge, because there are more problems when the plaques are being installed after the fact, as these are likely to be. She noted the panel itself would be 3/16th of an inch, and if the emboss and stud are added, it would have to be drilled. She showed photographs of projects in Sausalito and San Francisco where plaques such as these have been installed. Ms. Simons reported twenty-two buildings on Fourth Street were considered for inclusion in this project, noting they were recommending plaques for twelve of them at this point. Ms. Simons reported the buildings they would like to include are 802 Fourth Street, which is at the corner of Lincoln Avenue; the old Star and Packard automobile dealership, which is now a florist shop and the Marin Beauty College; the old California Bakery, which is now See 's Candy; the original County Courthouse; the Rafael Theater; the Mulberry House, which is now Lytton's; the Albert Building; the old Central Hotel; the little Queen Anne house on the corner of "C" Street; the old Bank of Italy; and the Upton Gordon and Gordon's Opera House, which would be shown together on one plaque. Ms. Simons stated a major option to be considered is the mounting, with one type being just a flat back, which would be easy to glue in, and the other done with emboss and stud, which would require five holes to be drilled for the mounting. She stated in either case, they would place plywood cut to the size of the plaques into the new sidewalks as they are poured, and replace them with the finished plaques. Chairman Boro reported the sidewalk project had started today, and staff had not had the opportunity to look at the placement of the plaques, although he felt this could be addressed. He asked Ms. Simons how long it would be before the plaques were completed? She stated the plaques would be ready when the sidewalks are completed within the next few months, noting the plaques take SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/2/97 Page 4 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/2/97 Page 5 approximately four to six weeks to create. Member Miller expressed his appreciation for Ms. Simons work on this project, noting he particularly liked the idea of maintaining our heritage and giving some life to the sidewalks. He stated he liked the idea of having the plaques across the street and having a long view of the buildings, rather than having something stuck up against the wall. Member Heller stated the plaques looked wonderful, and asked if they were all being funded privately? Ms. Simons stated that they were, noting some of the plaques had already been funded. Ms. Heller asked if they would be going out into the community and asking for more assistance? Ms. Simons stated they were going to ask various groups in the community, such as the Marin Historical Society, and the Albert family, owners of the Albert Building. Ms. Heller asked how much each of the plaques would cost? Ms. Simons stated it would depend on which manufacturer they use. Chairman Boro asked Mr. Bernardi how this would tie into the sidewalk project, now that it has already begun? Mr. Bernardi stated the only way to reserve a space in the sidewalk when it is poured would be to install a plywood blank and finish around it. He noted Ms. Simons would need to tell them exactly where they wanted the plaques to be placed, and supply the blanks in the exact dimension of the plaque. Chairman Boro asked who would make the decision of whether the plaques would be placed on the buildings or across the street from them? Economic Development Director Ours stated he had spoken with the Chamber of Commerce about this, and they were concerned about where the plaques would be placed, noting they would like them to be against the building. Mr. Ours suggested getting together with the people who actively do the tours and put together the materials for the tours, and decide which would be the best way to do this. Chairman Boro stated his biggest concern was getting the plywood in place before the sidewalks are poured. Mr. Bernardi stated if the plaques were ready, they would be incorporated into the pour, and if they were not completed in time, then plywood blanks would be placed down, and then replaced with the plaques. Ms. Simons stated she would meet with Mr. Bernardi, Mr. Ours and Chamber of Commerce President Elissa Giambastiani to make the final decisions. Chairman Boro thanked Ms. Simons, Ms. Thelen and the Cultural Affairs Commission. for their efforts, stated this would certainly enhance our Downtown. AGENCY CONSIDERATION: 7. AGENCY MEMBER REPORTS: None There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 PM SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/2/97 Page 5 JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Agency Secretary SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/2/97 Page 6 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/2/97 Page 6