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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRA Minutes 1999-03-15SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 3/15/99 Page 1 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1999 AT 7:30 PM Regular Meeting: Present: Paul M. Cohen, Vice -Chairman San Rafael Redevelopment Agency: Barbara Heller, Member Cyr N. Miller, Member Gary O. Phillips, Member Absent: Albert J. Boro, Chairman Also Present: Rod Gould, Executive Director Gary T. Ragghianti, Agency Attorney Jeanne M. Leoncini, Agency Secretary ORAL COMMUNICATIONS OF AN URGENCY NATURE: PM None. CONSENT CALENDAR: Member Phillips moved and Member Heller seconded, to approve the following Consent Calendar items: ITEM RECOMMENDED ACTION 7:33 1. Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of Minutes approved as Monday, March 1, 1999 (AS) submitted. 2. Acceptance of Statements of Disclosure for Accepted Statements of Maribeth Bushey -Lang and Thomas T. Hinman, Disclosure for Maribeth Planning Commissioners (AS) - File R-140 IVB x Bushey -Lang and Thomas T. R-140 #8 x (SRCC) 9-2-6 Hinman, Planning Commissioners. 3. Unapproved Minutes of Citizens Advisory Committee Accepted report. of Thursday, March 4, 1999 (RA) - File R-140 IVB AYES: MEMBERS: Heller, Miller, Phillips & Vice -Chairman Cohen NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: Chairman Boro The following item was removed from the agenda for further discussion: 4. REPORT ON BID OPENING AND AWARD OF CONTRACT TO BAY PACIFIC PIPELINES, INC. RE: CITY FUEL STORAGE TANK REPLACEMENT, PROJECT NO. 916-9016-702-8000 (Lowest Responsible Bidder) (Bid Opening Held on Monday, March 8, 1999) (PW) (SRCC) 4-1-497 x R-140 #8 Assistant Executive Director (Public Works) David Bernardi reported staff had been prepared to present an award of contract to the contractor who, in actuality, was the apparent second low bidder. He explained the first low bidder was disqualified because the company made a mistake in the bid they submitted, and were allowed to withdraw their bid. However, Mr. Bernardi stated it was brought to staff's attention by the fourth low bidder that there was a discrepancy in the apparent second low bidder's submittal. During staff's investigation, the second low bidder's response generated additional concerns, and it was determined the second low bidder had not complied with the specifications regarding the listing of subcontractors. Therefore, staff recommended the Agency reject all bids, and direct staff to re -bid the project. Vice -Chairman Cohen clarified the low bidder had withdrawn his bid, and the SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 3/15/99 Page 1 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 3/15/99 Page 2 apparent second low bidder had a discrepancy in his bid. Mr. Bernardi stated that was correct, noting the discrepancy related to the listing of subcontractors, as it is defined in public contract law. Mr. Bernardi noted there was a requirement that any subcontractor receiving more than 1/2 of 1% of the contract amount, which was $690, must be listed. He explained the apparent second low bidder made a mistake, misreading the requirements and specifications, and assumed only two soil samples were required, when in fact a minimum of three samples were required, and a minimum of three would have put the subcontractor over the 1/2 of 1%. Since the bidder did not list the subcontractor, he did not comply with the specifications. Member Heller asked how long this would set the project back? Mr. Bernardi stated this would set it back approximately one month. Member Phillips moved and Member Heller seconded, to reject all bids at this time, and direct staff to re -bid the project. AYES: MEMBERS: Heller, NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: Chairman Miller, Phillips & Vice -Mayor Cohen Boro AGENCY CONSIDERATION: 5. UPDATE ON THE CINEPLEX PROJECT (RA) - File R-407 Senior Planner Katie Korzun explained approximately every two months, staff intended to provide the Agency Members with update reports on the Cineplex project, proposed to be constructed on the parking garage behind San Rafael Joe's restaurant. Ms. Korzun reported Century Theatres had been looking at alternative site configurations, and the possibility of bringing other properties into the site, although none of those alternatives had come to fruition as yet. She stated the Traffic Engineering firm of Fehrs and Peers had been retained by Century Theatres, and last month they conducted parking counts, particularly during the evening hours. She stated they were still working on the traffic portion of their report, noting that when all the information was completed, they would have the information necessary to begin sizing the theater. Ms. Korzun reported the a Soils Report had been completed; however, staff requested all materials related to this project be presented together, as one unified package. Ms. Korzun stated staff continued to work on the quiet title, noting it had been filed, and we were now in the "challenge period", which would end in approximately 60 days. She noted staff did not anticipate any difficulties with that, pointing out once that was complete, there would be a clear title to the City; then the process would begin by which the property would be transferred to the Redevelopment Agency, and staff could prepare a Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA). Ms. Korzun stated the Agency Attorneys had submitted a preliminary Draft DDA, noting staff was still reviewing the draft, and had not yet released it to Century Theatres for their consideration. Member Heller asked when staff anticipated releasing the DDA to Century Theatres? Ms. Korzun explained staff had not yet completed their review, noting once that had been done, the DDA would have to go back to the Agency Attorneys prior to being given to Century Theatres. She acknowledged Century Theatres was very anxious to get the DDA, but she anticipated it would likely be another couple of weeks before they would receive it. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 3/15/99 Page 2 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 3/15/99 Page 3 Rajiv Pharik, representative of Century Theatres, reported they have been working on site configurations, in an effort to provide additional Retail and Office components for the project. He noted, in speaking with staff, it had become clear that these were two components the City would like to have along Fourth Street, in addition to the theater. He stated they would like to comply, agreeing it would add a lot to the project, and noting it would help them, economically, to collect the rents from retail and office components. Therefore, they have been working with the Architects to maximize the retail space they can get on Fourth Street, as well as office space on the second level, and perhaps the third level. Mr. Pharik stated they expected the Traffic Report to be prepared, at least in draft form, within the next two to three weeks, noting they were still gathering data for the traffic portion of the report, although the parking portions had been completed. He reported the Phase I Study had been conducted by Harlon Tate Associates, noting it read fairly well, and they were encouraged that there was nothing nasty in the soil or groundwater. Mr. Pharik stated they were anxious to review the DDA, and although the Exclusive Right to Negotiate was for one year, they would like to conclude the DDA negotiations much sooner. Mr. Pharik reported they have had discussions with other property owners about possible acquisitions, or some other form of participation in the project, to help lay out the site a little better. He noted they would continue to address that issue. Member Heller asked how long the project would take, once they break ground? Mr. Pharik noted if this was a typical "green field" development, out in the middle of nowhere, the theater would probably take about 8 months to complete. However, because of the urban environment, this project would take a little longer, as they would have to work around traffic on Third and Fourth Streets. He estimated it would take approximately ten months to one year to complete. Vice -Mayor Cohen thanked Ms. Korzun and Mr. Pharik for their report. 6. DOWNTOWN PARKING REPORT (RA) - File R-140 XIV x R-140 #8 x (SRCC) 11-8 Senior Planner Katie Korzun reported Downtown parking was full, noting for years there has been a perceived parking problem, and while she did not believe we had a problem, we did have parking lots that would soon be full. She pointed out that in the Downtown Vision, they called full parking lots and a busy Downtown a sign of success. Ms. Korzun reported the City began doing Traffic Reports in 1950, and noted she had the Master Street, Highway, and Parking Plan of 1950, which included a map of the existing parking conditions in Central San Rafael, with angled parking up and down Fourth Street and a variety of side streets, noting this was quite a remarkable map to look at. Ms. Korzun reported a series of Parking Reports had been done, noting she had another one from 1961 containing an interesting picture of an artist's conception of rapid transit, which had been perceived as one of the things that was going to solve the parking problems in the Downtown. Ms. Korzun stated that every time a Parking Analysis had been done since 1950, the result has always been that we need more parking. She stated she could confidently state we were, in fact, going to need more parking, because every year for the past four years the Redevelopment Agency has been going out and counting cars in all the public parking lots, and SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 3/15/99 Page 3 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 3/15/99 Page 4 tracking them over time. She noted the amount of parking goes up and down, and varies in a number of different ways; however, when viewed overall, taking into consideration the parking it is assumed will be needed for new construction, such as Walgreens and Macy's, the existing lots are going to be pushed up to approximately 90% usage, which the consultants state is "at max". Therefore, Ms. Korzun stated they knew the lots are going to be full, and that we needed more parking. She stated staff had a fairly good idea where the additional parking should go, noting it was obvious it needed to be kept in the corridor going up and down Third Street, if at all possible. However, staff also wanted to look at how we use the parking we now have, noting we really needed some management of the parking. She reported there were currently over 1,000 spaces in our current parking structures, and we would be adding more, pointing out the parking situation would not take care of itself. Ms. Korzun stated quite a bit of revenue comes out of the parking lots, then goes right back in, in a variety of ways, and staff wanted to make certain it goes back in appropriately. Staff also wanted to review where the spaces are located, in terms of time, determining whether we have enough "town hour" spaces, and if we are going to increase or decrease, where that should be done. Ms. Korzun stated they also needed to look at our equipment, to determine such things as whether our parking meters are the best we could be using, or if the ticket machine for cars entering and exiting the "A" Street garage is the best technology. They also needed to begin counting how many cars are in that garage, and deciding when we need to start turning people away. She noted we currently did not have that management capability on staff. Ms. Korzun stated it was staff's recommendation that if the Agency would like to see development in the Downtown continue, we would need to add more parking. She stated staff would also like to develop a Parking Management Plan, noting that had already been estimated in this year's budget, and staff would be soliciting companies to either develop the plan, or provide recommendations. In addition, staff would like to proceed with building another parking structure. She pointed out they had already discussed partial funding in terms of the Redevelopment Funding mechanism; however, she noted that would not be enough, and staff would have to investigate additional funding sources. Member Heller noted that while it was not part of the Downtown, she hoped the Agency could also look at parking in the Montecito area of East San Rafael, perhaps under the General Plan. She asked if that area could be folded into this Parking Study? Ms. Korzun stated that was beyond the scope of this Parking Study, although she acknowledged there was definitely a parking issue in the Montecito area. She stated the Agency needed to look at on -street parking, and since there were no counts or data for that area, the Agency might be able to take some counts there; however, that would be about as far as they could push this particular report. Ms. Korzun noted that finding a public parking lot location in that area would be a major undertaking, and would have to be separate from anything that is done in the Downtown. Member Heller felt anything that could be done in the Montecito area would help. Executive Director Rod Gould reported staff was currently working with two of the larger parking users in the Montecito area to develop employee parking for two of the major markets there, which would provide some small relief for the neighborhood. However, he explained the Agency had not planned to include the Montecito neighborhood in the scope of the Downtown Parking Study. He noted that, certainly, as the City moves forward with the General Plan Review, we will receive input from all the neighborhoods, including Montecito, and if parking is a top issue, the City will have to begin to address that. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 3/15/99 Page 4 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 3/15/99 Page 5 Member Phillips noted it has been shown, in various surveys, that parking is a top concern, and he felt Ms. Korzun's report was very timely. He believed that addressing the issue now, rather than after we reach a crisis situation, made a lot of sense. Member Miller thanked Ms. Korzun for her precise report. Member Heller referred to Lot #10, the Menzies parking lot, noting the report states Marin Academy staff and students fill that lot. She asked if they had enough on-site parking, and whether they could be approached and asked to install more parking for their students and staff? Ms. Korzun stated the Agency could discuss this with them. She noted that when the Academy was under construction last year, many of the staff and students found the Menzies parking lot was very convenient for them. She stated staff would look into that issue. Vice -Chairman Cohen recalled the Marin Community Foundation had stated that when their project is completed, they will replace the 23 public parking spaces. He asked if staff had considered placing a time limit on those spaces? He noted even a two or three hour time limit would provide Library patrons plenty of opportunity, as well as most of the people who attend events at Falkirk, yet it would be much less convenient for the students and staff of Marin Academy, who obviously are taking advantage of that because they can park in one spot all day. Mr. Cohen stated he was not suggesting that staff consider meters, but rather a reasonable time limit on the lot, as it does serve as a real function of other community facilities. Ms. Korzun stated staff would look at that issue, noting one of the things this study should be looking at was time limits overall. Vice -Chairman Cohen asked, given that we are approaching capacity, how were we going to handle the loss of 194 parking space for eight to ten months while the Cineplex is under construction? He acknowledged we would end up with more parking spaces once the project is completed; however, he assumed that during the construction period we would lose those parking spaces for most of the duration of the project. He asked what staff's approach was for replacing those spaces during that time period? Ms. Korzun stated that once the Agency has a firm project description and timeline, staff will then go out and look at other lot possibilities, such as what we might be able to do down at P.G. & E., and whether there are other lots that could be leased in the interim. She noted staff had already been thinking about this situation, acknowledging there would be some trouble with that. She stated they had also asked Century Theatres whether or not they could construct and open the parking garage, and then construct the facility on top; however, that seemed to be somewhat of a nightmare. She stated this was an issue they would have to deal with when they do the approvals for Century Theatres, and while she did not have an answer at this time, staff acknowledged this was a problem looming over them, and they were beginning to look at the issue, to see what can be done about it. Mr. Cohen asked if the 194 spaces included the 90 spaces on the upper deck, which are under- utilized? Ms. Korzun stated that was correct. Economic Development Director Ours reported there was a piece of property the Agency was looking at to replace the 194 spaces, which could be turned over very quickly and used, temporarily, as a parking lot, and then used for something else once the theater parking was completed. Vice -Chairman Cohen referred to the chart on Page 5 of the report, noting Lot #11, next to The Bead Fetish, seemed to be a very under-utilized lot because of its location. He asked if the Agency had another use for that SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 3/15/99 Page 5 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 3/15/99 Page 6 lot, or if it had any value on the market? Mr. Ours noted it had once been a residence and, therefore, it was a very narrow lot. He stated the building next to it uses the lot to service their parking, so the Agency would be creating more parking problems if it were to dispose of the lot. In addition, he stated there were some restrictions on the lot, noting that when Centertown was built, the Agency had to promise there would always be seven parking spaces in that lot. Therefore, while the parking lot does have value, and the Agency could sell it, that would create a whole new set of problems. Vice -Chairman Cohen stated the fact that a neighboring property uses City property to resolve its parking problems was not a major concern; however, if some of those spaces were committed to another project, that was a different story. At the same time, he noted that if the property had a higher or better use, that should be kept in mind. Vice -Chairman Cohen thanked Ms. Korzun for a fine report. 7. AGENCY MEMBER REPORTS: None. There being no further business to come before the Redevelopment Agency, the meeting was adjourned at 7:58 PM. JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Agency Secretary SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 3/15/99 Page 6