HomeMy WebLinkAboutRA Minutes 2005-05-16SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 05/16/2005 Page 1
IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, MONDAY, MAY 16, 2005 AT 7:30 PM
Regular Meeting:
San Rafael Redevelopment Agency
Also Present: Rod Gould, Executive Director
Gary T. Ragghianti, Agency Attorney
Jeanne M. Leoncini, Agency Secretary
CLOSED SESSION — CONFERENCE ROOM 201
None
Present: Albert J. Boro, Chairman
Barbara Heller, Vice -Chair
Paul M. Cohen, Member
Cyr N. Miller, Member
Gary O. Phillips, Member
Absent: None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS OF AN URGENCY NATURE: 8:00 PM
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CONSENT CALENDAR:
Member Miller moved and Member Cohen seconded, to approve the following Consent Calendar items:
ITEM
Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of Monday, May 2,
2005 (AS)
2. Call for Applications for Appointments to Fill Four, Four -
Year Terms on the Citizens Advisory Committee on
Redevelopment Due to Expiration of Terms of Rick Keefer,
Glenn Koorhan, Deborah Stapleton and Don Swartz
(Terms to Expire End of June 2009) (AS) —
File R-140 IVB
3. Monthly Investment Report for Month Ending April 2005
(MS) — File R-123
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Minutes approved as submitted.
Aaaroved staff recommendation:
a) Called for applications for
appointments to fill four, four-
year terms on the Citizens
Advisory Committee on
Redevelopment to the end of
June 2009;
b) Set deadline for receipt of
applications for Tuesday, June
7, 2005 at 12:00 noon in the City
Clerk's Office, Room 209, City
Hall;
c) Set date for interviews of
applicants at a Special
Redevelopment Agency
meeting to be held on Tuesday,
July 5, 2005, commencing at
6:00 p.m.
Accepted Monthly Investment Report
for month ending April 2005, as
presented.
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AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips and Chairman Boro
NOES: MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: MEMBERS: None
ABSTAINING: MEMBERS: Heller (from item #1 only, due to absence from meeting)
AGENCY CONSIDERATION:
4. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION REGARDING DOWNTOWN SAN RAFAEL AS THE FINISH
CITY HOST FOR "THE GREAT RACE 2006" (RA) — FILE R-181 x R-140 #8
Economic Development Director Nancy Mackle stated that the concept of this new event entitled "The
Great Race 2006" was for the race to end in San Rafael, and she commented that staff was very
excited about this idea initiated by Agency Member Phillips. She explained it was a cross-country race,
timed and very professionally orchestrated, with the finish in San Rafael, and staff believed it would be a
great way to promote the downtown. Ms. Mackle reported that the Agency had the possible cooperation
of The Visitors' Bureau, San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Business Improvement
District, all of which were at different stages of obtaining board approvals to help fund the event. She
indicated that the Redevelopment Agency would contribute $5,000 this year, and next year pay for the
police and fire (close to $5,000). Should the collective agencies not be able to raise the money needed
for the contract for the race, Ms. Mackle stated they would collectively conduct sponsorships with local
private businesses and staff believed there would be lots of interest in participation.
Ms. Mackle stated that Mark Essman from the Visitors Bureau was present to speak in support of the
event, and Elissa Giambastiani, San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and Joanne Webster, Business
Improvement District (BID) were also present.
Agency Member Phillips explained that this was a national event now in its twenty-fourth year. This
year's race would be from Washington, D.C. to Tacoma, Washington, and last year went from
Jacksonville, Florida to Monterey, California. He reported that Monterey spoke highly of the event,
indicating it brought a lot of people into town, not least being the participants. He indicated there were
approximately 110 antique classic cars at least 45 years old, with the race spanning fourteen days,
covering 4,000 miles.
Reporting that he suggested San Rafael to the organizers in Texas because of its heritage with May
Madness, American Graffiti film, proximity to San Francisco, wine country, etc., Agency Member Phillips
stated they sent a representative to San Rafael who returned satisfied that it could be a wonderful place
to finish.
Noting there would be funding requirements, street closures, police and fire, etc., Member Phillips
stated he was very pleased that the Visitors Bureau, Chamber of Commerce and BID had all stepped
forward to help shoulder the load. He noted there would be no General Fund involvement and only a
modest amount of Redevelopment funds as an event fee.
Member Phillips stated the finish would probably be the first Saturday in July, after the Fourth, and with
100 cars having a driver and navigator, together with support crews (parking would be required for
approximately 80 support rigs for the participants), this amounted to approximately 400 people. He
noted that a dinner held in Monterey was attended by approximately 600 people, primarily participants.
Mark Essman, Executive Director, Marin County Visitors Bureau, stated that the Bureau would be
providing funds to support this event. Having had experience working on two of these events in the past,
he reported that it had a very positive economic impact on the community and the exposure received,
both on a regional and national level, could not be topped by any other like type event. Noting the event
had been taking place for a number of years, Mr. Essman stated the cars themselves were literally
rolling museum pieces. The individuals who register and participate in this event have a high level of
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disposable income and he believed it would be very positive for San Rafael, Marin County and its
hotels. He looked forward to using his expertise to help make the event a success and in addition was
curious to see where the winning trophy would be displayed in City Hall when Chairman Boro and
Member Phillips won. Mr. Essman stated the Marin County Visitors Bureau wholeheartedly supported
the event.
Executive Director Rod Gould clarified that Mr. Essman did not indicate Chairman Boro and Member
Phillips were "rolling museum pieces."
Member Heller commented that the trophy would not make it out of Chairman Boro's office.
Member Phillips clarified that the trophy usually goes to the driver and owner of the car, which
happened to be him, if they in fact finished in San Rafael, and he was fortunate to have had Chairman
Boro offer his assistance as navigator.
Member Phillips thanked Mark Essman, and also Elissa Giambastiani who had offered to sign the
agreement, as in the event he and Chairman Boro won, apparently, there would be a conflict of interest.
He hoped it would positively impact the BID, whose support was meaningful in a big way.
Responding to Member Heller's inquiry on the availability of hotel rooms, Mr. Essman confirmed he had
requested hotels to do a tentative room block of between 350 — 500 rooms from Thursday through
Sunday or Monday, and they were being proactive in ensuring those rooms were secure.
Member Phillips moved and Member Cohen seconded, to adopt the Resolution.
RESOLUTION NO. 2005-11 — RESOLUTION SUPPORTING DOWNTOWN SAN RAFAEL
AS THE FINISH CITY HOST FOR "THE GREAT RACE 2006"
AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips and Chairman Boro
NOES: MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: MEMBERS: None
5. RESOLUTION APPROVING EXECUTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A CONSENT AND
AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE OWNER PARTICIPATION, DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SAN RAFAEL REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND EQUITY OFFICE
PROPERTIES (RE: HINES - SAN RAFAEL CORPORATE CENTER) (RA
FILE R-465 x R-405 x R-368
Economic Development Director Nancy Mackle reported that the San Rafael Corporate Center was
approved under a Development Agreement with the City and with an Owner Participation Disposition
and Development Agreement with the Redevelopment Agency. She indicated that under these
agreements, Agency approval is required for the transfer of the property. Equity Office Properties had
the property in contract for sale to Hines Interests Limited Partnerships. Ms. Mackle stated that Agency
Counsel had prepared a Consent Agreement for Agency Board approval to permit this sale, noting the
item was placed on both the Agency agenda and City Council Consent Calendar. She indicated that
Hines had extensive experience as an office developer and Paul Paradi, Senior Vice -President, Hines,
was present to introduce himself and explain a little about the company.
Ms. Mackle stated staff recommended adoption of the resolution for this Consent Agreement.
Paul Paradi, Senior Vice -President, Hines, stated he was joined by Lisa Lewis, Vice -President, and was
delighted to be present this evening. He explained that many years back they competed very
aggressively to purchase this site from Fair Isaac; however, suffered a bitter loss on being unable to
prevail, and Equity Office Properties secured the property.
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Indicating that the closing was anticipated to occur sometime in mid June, Mr. Paradi explained that
Hines was started in 1957 by Gerald Hines. It still was family owned with Jerrold Hines very active in
the company, although based in London presently overseeing European projects. Although family
owned, he stated the company had grown quite large, indicating that since 1957 they had completed
over 700 projects, either purchased or developed, totaling over 200 million -feet of properties. He stated
they were the largest private developer of office space in the world, having offices all round the world.
Mr. Paradi reported that they came to the Bay Area in 1979 to do the 101 California project, a large
building near Market Street on California Street in downtown San Francisco, and since then had
developed numerous buildings in San Francisco, the East Bay and Peninsula. He indicated that some
of their current projects included 560 Mission, the headquarters for the J.P. Morgan Company, 50
Fremont, a large building that could be observed on the skyline when driving from the south, and they
had recently acquired 101 Second.
Noting they acquire buildings and develop them, Mr. Paradi stated this was one of the reasons San
Rafael Corporate Center was a good fit for them as it had both of those components. They had the land
and were very comfortable with development, which was their history. They also had the large office
buildings, which they were used to managing, and they looked forward to being a part of the San Rafael
community.
Responding to Member Heller's question as to the location of their headquarters, Mr. Paradi stated the
headquarters for the western United States was in San Francisco, and the family who owned the
company was based in Houston; therefore, the world headquarters was Houston. Member Heller
commented that it would be nice if this were San Rafael.
Member Miller moved and Member Phillips seconded, to adopt the Resolution.
RESOLUTION NO. 2005-12 — RESOLUTION APPROVING EXECUTION AND IMPLEMENTATION
OF A CONSENT AND AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE OWNER
PARTICIPATION, DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SAN RAFAEL REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY AND EQUITY OFFICE PROPERTIES (RE: HINES - SAN
RAFAEL CORPORATE CENTER)
AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips and Chairman Boro
NOES: MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: MEMBERS: None
AGENCY MEMBER REPORTS:
6. a) Third and C Street Parking Structure Grand Opening: - File R-140 x (SRCC) 4-1-557 (Verbal
Economic Development Director Nancy Mackle reported that the Grand Opening of the Third
and C Street parking lot took place on Saturday, May 14, 2005 and was being operated by Parking
Services Manager Chad Lynn. She personally thanked Assistant City Attorney Gus Guinan for his
hard work on the project, especially during the change of developers.
Ms. Mackle confirmed for Member Heller that the parking garage was open to the public as of today.
Indicating that he used the new parking garage today, Member Miller complimented the parking
attendants for their helpfulness, and commented that it was a great free 30 -minute parking
experience.
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b) Upcoming Events: - File R-181 x R-140#8 (Verbal)
Noting the Farmers' Market continues on Thursday evenings downtown, Ms. Mackle announced that
the Classic Car Parade takes place on Saturday, May 21, 2005, and the Wine Festival would be held
at Falkirk on May 28 from 1:00 — 5:00 p.m.
There being no further business, the San Rafael Redevelopment Agency meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM.
JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Agency Secretary
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