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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRA Minutes 1993-06-07SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/93 Page 1 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1993, AT 7:30 PM Regular Meeting: San Rafael Redevelopment Agency Present: Albert J. Boro, Chairman Dorothy L. Breiner, Member Paul M. Cohen, Member Michael A. Shippey, Member Joan Thayer, Member Absent: None Also Present: Pamela J. Nicolai, Executive Director David Walker, Assistant Agency Attorney Jeanne M. Leoncini, Agency Secretary ORAL COMMUNICATIONS OF AN URGENCY NATURE None. CONSENT CALENDAR Member Thayer moved and Member Breiner seconded, to approve the recommended action on the following Consent Calendar items: ITEMS RECOMMENDED ACTION 1. Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of May 17,Approved as submitted. 1993 (AS) 2. Unapproved Minutes of the Citizens Advisory Accepted report. Committee Meeting of May 6, 1993 (RA) - File R-140 IV B AYES: MEMBERS: Breiner, Cohen, Shippey, Thayer & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: None The following item was pulled from the Consent Calendar for discussion: 3. QUARTERLY REPORT ON DOWNTOWN PROMOTIONS (RA) - File R-181 Member Thayer asked at what point in time will the BID be on an independent status? Assistant Executive Director Ours responded he did not believe they have established a specific date for them to do that. He stated he had discussed this coming year's budget with them and they stated they would not request any funds next year. Executive Director Nicolai stated staff received a report from one of the BID members on not only the option of expanding the district, but getting their own 501C3 status, and indicated they are making efforts to move in that direction. She stated the Downtown Plan will also create a tremendous context for them to be able to move forward and create a district that is contiguous with the Downtown Plan boundaries, as well as get the professional sector involved in this process. Member Thayer asked if their revenues had been used from previous years. Ms. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/93 Page 1 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/93 Page 2 Nicolai responded the revenues from the Agency, specifically $20,000, are from the Assessment District itself and that is a fairly static amount. Ms. Nicolai SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/93 Page N 3 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/93 Page stated this amount increased when staff changed the entire business license structure because the BID fee was set up to be one-half of whatever the Business License Fee is, so this is not something that is related to any of the fund- raising efforts, etc. Mrs. Thayer asked if anything had come from fundraising of any type, because the revenues shown in the staff report are just the Redevelopment Agency funds and from the Assessment District? Mr. Ours responded the BID was assessing themselves and their goal was to expand their boundaries so there will be more members of the Assessment District. Chairman Boro clarified Mrs. Thayer's question by asking if there was any revenue from any of the events that are ongoing, such as the Farmers' Market, etc. Mr. Ours responded there is no cash flow at this time from those events, but there will be in the future, because most of these events have start-up costs that are still being paid, which are covering their costs. Mrs. Thayer asked for clarification by stating that essentially if the revenues received by the Assessment District are $20,000 and our contribution is $42,000, then to reach the $62,000 figure, BID will have to almost double the size of their Assessment District. Ms. Nicolai responded this would not be difficult, because they have a fairly narrowly defined district now and if it is expanded geographically to include professional services, as well as property owners, it might go up more than that. Member Thayer moved and Member Breiner seconded, to accept the report. 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-332 x R-333 Assistant Executive Director Ours showed the renderings to the Agency that were on display for the public during the Classic Car Parade, May 22, 1993. He introduced Mrs. Ann Brebner, of the Northern California Film Institute, who gave an update on the progress of this project. Mrs. Ann Brebner, representing the Northern California Film Institute, stated the Theatre was open on the day of the Classic Car Parade, May 22, 1993, from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM. She stated over 1,200 people went through the Theatre to view these renderings. She noted there were several interested people in attendance who had grown up going to this theatre and she received much feedback on what the historical and sentimental meaning of this theatre meant to them. She stated the most significant offering she received for this was from a person who asked her if they had a theatre organ and when she indicated they did not, they offered an organ for the theatre. She stated they also received an offer of assistance in installing the narrative system for the seeing impaired individuals who will be attending the theatre. Mrs. Brebner stated they had almost 300 people sign up to volunteer and/or be informed of the progress on this project. She stated the architects have done a wonderful job of answering all of the historic inventory that needs to be answered, which they were very pleased with. She stated they would be in New York on another job and would be viewing the Film Forum there which is another three screen theater which is being built now to see what procedures are being used in this project to assist in the Rafael Theatre renovation. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/93 Page 9 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/93 Page SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/93 Page 5 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/93 Page Chairman Boro stated Mrs. Brebner described accurately the mood of the people who were there at the Classic Car Parade and their enthusiasm for this project. He commended her for the progress being made. Member Breiner asked what was the next step? Mr. Ours responded they have been working on a number of agreements for this and the key starting point was the environmental review. He noted this particular development of the theatre, in the opinion of the architect hired by the City who was to be the watch dog of the historic significance, might entitle the City to be able to get by with a much shortened process because this does not change the theatre in a way that it could not be brought back to its original form. He stated this could save as much as six months with this project. He stated after the environmental documents are done, the purchase agreement would be signed and the development agreement with the Film Institute, which are the two major issues. Member Cohen asked Mr. Ours what the progress was on the relocation of Rafael Book & News? Mr. Ours responded he had a meeting with the owner of Rafael Book & News on Thursday, who was very interested in moving his business next door to the Theatre and was in negotiations with the owner of the building at this time. Mrs. Brebner stated the Film Institute felt that the newsstand was a vital part of Fourth Street and they would like to see that business next door to the Theatre, including the expansion of their business at the same time. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM. JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Agency Secretary SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/93 Page 5