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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRA Minutes 1993-05-17SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 5/17/93 Page I IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, MONDAY, MAY 17, 1993, AT 7:30 PM Regular Meeting: Present: Albert J. Boro, Chairman San Rafael Redevelopment Agency Dorothy L. Breiner, Member Paul M. Cohen, Member Michael A. Shippey, Member Joan Thayer, Member Absent: None Also Present: Pamela J. Nicolai, Executive Director Gary T. Ragghianti, Agency Attorney Suzanne M. Drake, Deputy City Clerk ORAL COMMUNICATIONS OF AN URGENCY NATURE Irving Litchfield, owner of the Bermuda Palms Motel, spoke with regard to his concern with the agenda item regarding the Rafael Theatre. He stated he felt the Agency was wrong in taking funds from the Buck Foundation to renovate the theatre due to the fact that there was no parking available. He then stated his concern that he was required to put in more parking slots at his motel when there was no parking required for the Rafael Theatre. He also stated his concern with the seismic problems in the City Hall building and that it was not earthquake proof. He gave an example of the earthquake reported in Bishop, California, and how those buildings did not withstand that earthquake. CONSENT CALENDAR Member Breiner moved and Member Thayer seconded, to approve the recommended action on the following Consent Calendar items: ITEMS RECOMMENDED ACTION 1. Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of Approved as submitted. May 3, 1993 (AS) 2. Authorization to Call for Applications to Approved staff recommendation to: Fill Four Positions on the Citizens a) Call for applications to fill Advisory Committee on Redevelopment Due to four positions on the Citizens the Expiration of Terms of Committee Members Advisory Committee on Redevelop - Glen S. Koorhan, Deborah Paolino, Don Swartz ment with deadline for receipt and Anise Turina (CC) - File R-140 IV Tuesday, 6/8/93 @ 12:00 Noon; in the City Clerk's Office; terms to expire the end of June, 1997. b) Set interviews for Special Meeting 6/21/93, commencing @ 6:30 PM. AYES: MEMBERS: NOES: MEMBERS: ABSENT: MEMBERS: ABSTAINED: MEMBERS: Breiner, Shippey, Thayer & Mayor Boro None None Cohen (from Minutes of May 3, meeting.) 1993 only, due to absence from SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 5/17/93 Page 1 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 5/17/93 Page 2 AGENCY CONSIDERATION 3. APPROVAL OF GRANT AGREEMENT FOR INNOVATIVE HOUSING CORPORATION (RA) - File R-334 x (SRCC) 115 Assistant Executive Director Ours explained this was a grant for $50,000 from Innovative Housing Corporation, which has been a very successful program in San Rafael and throughout the Bay Area. He stated, as was done in the past, the Agency was matching their funds with other funding agencies, H.U.D., Marin Community Foundation and the Agency working together to support this project, which is totally in line with recommendations the Agency Members have adopted in the past in the City Homeless Commission. Member Breiner asked if these funds were coming from the fees the Agency has collected for Housing In -Lieu fees? Mr. Ours responded negatively and explained this money was coming from the Redevelopment Agency Housing Account (Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund). Chairman Boro asked if this was as far as the percentage of money goes to support affordable Housing. Mr. Ours responded affirmatively. Mrs. Breiner stated it should be explained to the public that it is a State mandate on the City that 20% of all Redevelopment money must be spent on affordable housing. She stated this was not a frivolous contribution being made by the Agency; rather, this is something that will be spent by the City because of requirements of the State in an effort to promote affordable housing within our City limits. Member Breiner moved and Member Cohen seconded, to adopt the Resolution for a Grant Agreement with Innovative Housing Corporation. Under discussion, Member Cohen commented that it was not only that the Agency was required to spend this, but that he felt this was an excellent use of funds and that the money would be well -spent. RESOLUTION NO. 93-18 - APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A GRANT AGREEMENT PROVIDING FOR AN AGENCY GRANT OF $50,000 TO INNOVATIVE HOUSING (to be applied to the purchase of 39 Mary Street in San Rafael) AYES: MEMBERS: Breiner, Cohen, Shippey, Thayer & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT:MEMBERS: None 4. STATUS REPORT ON RAFAEL THEATRE (RA) - File R-260 x R-275 Assistant Executive Director Ours stated there were drawings enclosed in the Members' packets of some proposals for the Rafael Theatre, which he felt were very exciting proposals. He stated the Theatre will be open on May 22, 1993, for the public to view what is presently there, along with the Classic Car Parade in the evening on that same date. He stated Ms. Ann Brebner from the Film Institute of Northern California is present, along with the architectural team, to answer any questions. He noted these proposals answered most of the Agency's historic concerns. Ms. Ann Brebner stated her appreciation of the assistance from the Redevelopment SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 5/17/93 Page 2 3 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 5/17/93 Page Agency and from the City Council, and noted they were very excited about the plans. Member Shippey asked if the drawings in the packets were the same as the ones available in the lobby this evening? Mr. Ours responded they were the same, except for the top picture which showed the facade added to the set of drawings which was very current and not available when the other drawings were enclosed in their packets. Member Breiner stated she was intrigued by the idea of a cafe next door to the Theatre and hoped that through Redevelopment the magazine stand would find another location if, in fact, the cafe takes that site. Mr. Ours responded the owners of the magazine stand are relocating themselves now to another site. They are looking at the Anderson's Foods as a new location to expand their whole operation. Member Cohen stated he was happy to see the magazine stand was able to make the move to a better location. He then asked, with regard to the proposals the Members had received, if the ground floor would still be one theatre with a large screen and the upstairs would be cut up into two theatres. Mr. Ours responded affirmatively and stated the balcony could not be used in its present condition so this would be a good reuse of that area. Mr. Cohen commented that he was happy to see they could save the main theatre for its historic value, and stated he appreciated all the work that has gone into these proposals. Irving Litchfield, resident of San Rafael, stated his concern with the Agency's use of funds from the Buck Fund, which has allocated $25,000 to renovate the Theatre, and asked why the Agency was using this money when it could be used for needy people, such as the homeless? Chairman Boro responded the Theatre was being renovated into a tri-plex building, with one theatre on the first floor and two on the second floor. Mr. Litchfield, then asked what the theatre was going to show. Chairman Boro responded they would be showing basically classic films, as well as first -run films and some specialty films. Mr. Litchfield indicated his concern about the parking not being available at this theatre and about the City demanding more parking spaces from him at his business, the Bermuda Palms Motel. He then stated his concern about the homeless out in the streets not being helped. Chairman Boro stated Saturday, May 22, 1993, there was to be a Classic Car Parade in downtown San Rafael with approximately 150 cars participating. The Parade starts at 6:00 PM and the Rafael Theatre lobby will be open with drawings available for the public to see what the theater will look like. He stated the film "American Graffiti" will be played on the wall of Macy's parking lot, in the attempt to simulate a drive-in movies theater, starting at 8:30 PM. 5. AGENCY MEMBER REPORTS: a. REPORT ON BUSINESS ISSUES COMMITTEE - File R-140 VIII x (SRCC) 119 x 224 (VERBAL) Chairman Boro stated he and Member Shippey were meeting monthly with BID representatives, Chamber of Commerce representatives and the City Manager to discuss various business issues that come before the City. He stated they met on the first Friday of each month and gave a brief report from last month's meeting stating: 1) A survey that was sent out by the Chamber of SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 5/17/93 Page 3 4 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 5/17/93 Page Commerce with two businesses who have relocated to San Rafael, along with some who have left the City, to get information as to why they moved here or left, to assist the Chamber of Commerce in determining the causes for these decisions to leave or stay; 2) A presentation from the group called "Youth in Arts" who would like to put on a festival in June, 1994, involving a weekend when youth and artists will draw art on the streets with chalk; and, 3) Implementation of the Vision of the Downtown Plan, which will be pursued further. Elissa Giambastiani, Executive Director, San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, gave a brief update on some of the programs the Chamber was working on in conjunction with the Redevelopment Agency to preserve the businesses that are in the City now and, hopefully, to attract new businesses. Mrs. Giambastiani stated, with regard to the surveys being sent out that Chairman Boro mentioned earlier, they would be collated in the next month tc start to form a picture of why businesses want to be in San Rafael, and also, some reasons for why some companies have left the area. She stated that this would, hopefully, enable them to more effectively market the community. She noted she was in the process of hiring a part-time Economics Development Manager and had received approximately 30 resumes, interviewed eight applicants and will be making her selection this week. This position will enable the Chamber to spend more time on some of the projects to be done in conjunction with the Agency. Mrs. Giambastiani then stated the Chamber was working on a few other programs which included a new brochure to promote the conference and convention business in the City which will be paid for by the business properties, the hotels and motels, and will be used again as a sales piece by them to promote additional business. She then referred to the Economic Profile the Chamber had completed and stated they will be continuing to update the economic information on the community so that they have current information available at all times. She stated they also wanted to, with the assistance of the part-time Economic Development Manager, be able to keep up with some of the information that was generated through the Downtown Vision process. Mrs. Giambastiani stated the Chamber was being very effective at spending their tourism dollars, in that they advertised in a book put out by the San Francisco Convention and Visitors' Bureau in the section called, "Beyond San Francisco". She stated this was to be put into the Fall and Winter editions, but not in the Spring and Summer editions; however, it was put in the last two editions by mistake, for which the Chamber did not have to pay. There being no further business, Chairman Boro adjourned the meeting at 8:15 PM, and advised the audience that the San Rafael High School Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble would be playing for them in the lobby, and then the San Rafael High School Girls' Flag Squad would perform in the parking lot prior to the City Council meeting. JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Agency Secretary SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 5/17/93 Page 4 BY: SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 5/17/93 Page SUZANNE M. DRAKE, Assistant Agency Secretary SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 5/17/93 Page