HomeMy WebLinkAboutRA Minutes 1997-08-18SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 8/18/97 Page 1
IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1997 AT 7:40
PM
Regular Meeting:
San Rafael Redevelopment Agency:
Cyr N. Miller, Member
Gary O. Phillips, Member
Absent: Albert J. Boro, Chairman
Present: Barbara Heller, Vice -Chair
Paul M. Cohen, Member
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:
7:45 PM
Member Cohen moved and Member Phillips seconded, to approve the following Consent
Calendar items:
ITEM RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of
Monday, August 4, 1997 (AS)
2. Monthly Investment Report (Admin. Svcs.)
Report for
- File - R-123
presented.
3. Resolution Authorizing Purchase of Holiday
Approved as submitted.
Accepted Investment
month ending July, 1997, as
RESOLUTION NO. 97-34
Banners for West Fourth Street (Not To Exceed RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING
$5,000) From Sierra Display, Inc. (RA) PURCHASE OF HOLIDAY BANNERS
- File R-181 x R-103 FOR WEST FOURTH STREET (NOT TO
EXCEED $5,000) FROM SIERRA DISPLAY INC.
AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Miller,
NOES: MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: MEMBERS: Chairman Boro
AGENCY CONSIDERATION:
Phillips and Vice -Chair Heller
4. APPROVAL OF CREATION OF A PLAZA DESIGN COMMITTEE (RA) - File R-393
Senior Planner Katie Korzun recalled the Agency had announced its intention to develop
a plaza on Court Street at a meeting in May, and in June directed staff to
return with a committee structure. She noted the Agency had stated they wanted
to see a situation where the Samuelson/Schafer project could either be built
on its own, or with the plaza. She stated the Plaza Design Committee was to
be made up of existing Board and Commission members, and staff was to contact
the Courthouse Square owners, and try find a way to see the Plaza developed
concurrently with the Samuelson/Schafer project.
Ms. Korzun noted there were already quite a few Boards and Commissions that act
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in an advisory capacity to the City, and staff felt it was appropriate to bring
in the Planning Commission, the Citizens Advisory Committee on Redevelopment,
the Cultural Affairs Commission, and the Design Review Board to form the basis of
the Plaza Design Committee. Staff also suggested including a member
representing the adjacent Courthouse Square property.
Ms. Korzun reported a Charge had been developed for the plaza, so when the Committee
meets, staff can tell them what they will be designing, and where. Their Charge
will be to develop a conceptual design for a public plaza on Court Street,
with the plaza concept being presented to the Redevelopment Agency for final
approval. Ms. Korzun stated the focus of the plaza is to further the concepts
in the Vision for Downtown San Rafael, noting it is particularly important
to pay attention to this. She stated the Vision contains several statements
concerning what a potential plaza space should be in the Downtown area, noting
it was to be a gathering point, a place where events can be held, and a place
where people can congregate before moving on to other Downtown locations.
Ms. Korzun pointed out it was not to be a quiet, contemplative place, but would
be an active, happening, lively place, and she felt it was important that this
be established right away, so the Committee can begin and get moving rapidly.
Ms. Korzun stated the design must recognize the fact that Courthouse Square is there,
and has an ATM, pedestrian access, and vehicular access; therefore, whatever
closure is proposed for Court Street, those things need to be taken into
consideration, as well. Ms. Korzun stated they should also coordinate with
the adjacent Macy's site development, noting we should make sure there are
benefits that will accrue to both projects. She stated there should also be
an estimate of cost, noting it must be recognized that this is an unfunded
public project, and funds would have to be found.
Reporting on the process, Ms. Korzun stated staff would be interviewing four Landscape
Architecture firms next week, and would select one to work with the Committee.
She stated Agency staff would take the Committee's proposal to the various
Boards and Commissions for their input, as well as taking the proposal out
for public review, noting staff would like to post it Downtown, perhaps in
the Macy's window, and at City Hall, allowing members of the public to comment
on it. This information would then be brought back to the Agency for
consideration.
In terms of fiscal impact, Ms. Korzun stated there had been no commitment as to
how the plaza would be financed, noting the Agency would be working on a
Disposition and Development Agreement with Samuelson/Schafer, and this would
give them the opportunity to discuss Developer contribution as part of that
DDA.
Member Miller stated he did not note any Committee membership from the special
interest group that arose as the Macy's project was developed, and felt staff
should expand the membership of the Plaza Design Committee to include people
from that group which was interested in Macy's itself. He suggested staff
invite the two leaders of that particular interest group to be on the Committee.
Member Cohen agreed with Mr. Miller's suggestion, noting one of the things that
emerged from the Macy' s project was the view that anyone who is currently serving
on a Board or Commission was part of the City structure, and to avoid that,
he agreed staff should create at least one "at large" public seat on the
Committee, and include someone who is not currently serving in one of those
capacities. He also felt it might be appropriate to include a member of the
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Business Improvement District, noting the relationship between the City and
the success of the Downtown merchants was very critical, and he believed if
there was a member of the BID who would be willing to serve, we would benefit
from having that point of view represented.
Member Phillips agreed, stating those additions would only strengthen the Committee.
Ms. Korzun stated the Agency would invite the two co-chairs of the ad hoc citizens
group to serve on the Committee, and would include one to two general public
members, and a representative from the Business Improvement District, which
would bring the Committee to nine members.
Member Cohen stated it was a point well taken to note that while these committee
meetings would not be subject to the Brown Act, he felt staff had made an
excellent suggestion in asking the Agency to direct that these meetings be
made public, that they be noticed, and that however the Committee decides
to structure their meetings, they make a provision for public comment. Ms.
Korzun asked if the Agency was suggesting structured public comment, not open
public participation? Member Cohen stated he was willing to leave it to the
Committee to make that determination, stating he felt having a structured public
comment period was going to make it more feasible for the committee to actually
get in there and do some work, as opposed to having an open public forum at
every one of their meetings.
Member Miller pointed out the Agency only has a "beer income", so we cannot have
a "champagne project", and he felt this was something that needed to be set
forth to the Committee from the very beginning. Ms. Korzun stated she would
add words to that effect to the Charge to the Committee.
Ms. Korzun reported the Designer selection was going very well, stating there was
a lot of interest, and she believed the Agency would get an excellent Designer.
Member Miller moved and Member Cohen seconded, to approve the creation of a Committee
to guide the design of a public plaza on Court Street, as amended to include
the suggestions made by the Agency.
AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Miller, Phillips & Vice -Mayor Heller
NOES: MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: MEMBERS: Chairman Boro
5. AGENCY MEMBER REPORTS:
None
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 PM.
JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Agency Secretary
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