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Home My WebLink AboutRA Minutes 1997-01-06SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/6/97 Page 1 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1997 AT 7:30 PM Regular Meeting: San Rafael Redevelopment Agency: Barbara Heller, Member Cyr N. Miller, Member Gary Phillips, Member Present: Albert J. Boro, Chairman Paul M. Cohen, Member Absent: None Also Present: Rod Gould, Executive Director Gary T. Ragghianti, Agency Attorney Jeanne M. Leoncini, Agency Secretary OPEN SESSION - 7:00 PM - COUNCIL CHAMBER Chairman Boro to announce Closed Session item. CLOSED SESSION - 7:00 PM - CONFERENCE ROOM 201 1. 0 Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(b) One (1) case: San Rafael Studios Agency Attorney Ragghianti announced no reportable action was taken. OPEN SESSION - 8:00 PM - COUNCIL CHAMBER ORAL COMMUNICATIONS OF AN URGENCY NATURE: None CONSENT CALENDAR 8:00 PM Member Cohen moved and Member Miller seconded, to approve the following Consent Calendar items: ITEM RECOMMENDED ACTION 3. Unapproved Minutes of Citizens Advisory Committee Accepted report. Meeting of Thursday, December 5, 1996 (RA) - File R-140 IV -B 4. Resolution Accepting Proposal From RESOLUTION 97-1 - CSW/Stuber-Stroeh For Preparation Of Plans RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE SCOPE and Specifications and Bidding Documents OF SERVICES FROM CSW/STUBER- For Fourth Street Improvements, and STROEH TO PROVIDE PREPARATION Authorizing the Assistant Executive Director OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS (Public Works) to Enter Into An Agreement AND BIDDING DOCUMENTS FOR For Professional Services With CSW/Stuber-Stroeh FOURTH STREET IMPROVEMENTS AND In An Amount Not To Exceed $195,782 (PW) AUTHORIZING THE ASSISTANT - File R-377 x R-140 XIV EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (PUBLIC WORKS) TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH CSW/STUBER-STROEH IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $195,782. AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: None SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/6/97 Page 1 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/6/97 Page 2 The following item was removed from the Consent Calendar for further discussion: 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1996 (CC) Member Cohen noted the minutes should be amended, adding the word "prevailing" at the top of page 10, before "wage requirements on this project?". Member Cohen moved and Member Phillips seconded, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday, December 16, 1996, as amended. AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: None MONTHLY REPORT: 5. DEPARTMENT REPORT - REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (RA) - File (SRCC) 237 x R-140 #8 Economic Development Director Jake Ours presented a report which began by defining the legal foundation for the Redevelopment Agency, the project area size and location, the Redevelopment Plan, Powers and Authorities of the Agency, how the Agency gets its funding, and an overview of past projects from 1972 to present. Mr. Ours distributed a map detailing areas of twenty-four major projects currently being undertaken by the Redevelopment Agency. Mr. Ours reported he had spoken with Anne Brebner, Member of the Board of Directors and Project Manager for the Rafael Theater, noting she informed him they were very close to having obtained the funding needed for the Rafael Theater project. He reported there would be a demolition/ construction party at the end of January to kick-off the actual construction of the new theater. Mr. Ours reported the Fourth Street sidewalk project had been approved and is going forward, noting it was exciting to think about Macy's, the Rafael Theater, and new sidewalks all happening this year. He also noted the "C" Street Housing Project was expected to begin in the Spring, and the Shamrock project should begin the latter part of Summer. He stated the Agency would be doing the West End street lights this year, and at the next Redevelopment Agency meeting staff would be presenting a proposal to finish the new street lights all the way to "H" Street. Mr. Ours stated the BMW dealership was underway, noting this project was likely to result in some real revitalization in the area, particularly with some of the tough problems the City has been trying to deal with, such as the trailer park and Baxter's Alley. He noted it was possible that through private redevelopment, with some guidance from the City, these problems could be taken care of. Member Heller asked if any decision had been made regarding the newspaper racks? Mr. Ours stated the only thing that had been decided was that we do not like the racks which are there now. He noted they would be looking at new regulations in an attempt to limit the ability of those racks to be placed anywhere the news vendors want them on Fourth Street. Mr. Ours pointed out there were some very touchy Constitutional issues related to this, and the City had to be careful; however, everyone wants them changed, everyone wants a different look, and they are in everyone's way. He stated it was the Agency's intent to make them better, but they have not begun working on this issue, as yet. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/6/97 Page 2 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/6/97 Page 3 Member Heller asked what the Crocker -McDevitt project was? Mr. Ours noted this concerned Dominic's Restaurant, and involved the State Lands title settlement and the re-leasing of the restaurant. He stated the retail frontage would be changed, noting they are proposing to tear down the old buildings in front of Dominic's and build new retail structures. Member Cohen acknowledged we were not really in the driver's seat on the Shamrock Project, in terms of uses there, noting recent articles in the business section of the newspaper regarding the merger of Staples and Office Depot, and asked if it appeared that Staples was going to go ahead? Mr. Ours stated he asks this question of the people at Shamrock approximately once a week, and they keep saying Staples is going to go ahead. Mr. Ours noted when he questions why they would do that, and what is going to happen to the other building, he does not get an answer. Mr. Ours did note they are trying to keep the mix of CompUSA and Staples together; however, it seems unlikely they would open a Staples there and keep Office Depot. Executive Director Gould reported staff has a proposal for the developers to consider for a different partner for CompUSA, other than Staples. Member Cohen noted that in reading through the list of projects undertaken since 1972, there was an absence of development projects in the East San Rafael area, noting the Agency should be looking for opportunities, as this is overdue. Member Miller stated the problem in East San Rafael was a problem of circulation, and asked if we were moving in any way that would get the circulation taken care of, so the Agency can have development out there, other than storage centers? Mr. Ours reported studies were currently underway, noting the first study would be to identify what the problems are, and after that would come suggested directions to cure those problems, which may include changes in current policy. Mr. Miller stated this should be worked on as aggressively as possible. Executive Director Gould noted he, Planning Director Pendoley, Public Works Director Bernardi, and Economic Development Director Ours have had meetings with the City's Traffic Engineers trying to put together a game plan for dealing with some of the constraints built into our General Plan and Zoning policies, which make further development of East San Rafael very difficult, if not impossible right now. He reported they hope to come before the City Council with a plan and timeline in the near future. 6. AGENCY MEMBER REPORTS: None There being no further business to come before the Redevelopment Agency, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM. JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Agency Secretary SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 1/6/97 Page 3