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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRA Minutes 1997-07-21SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/21/97 Page 1 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, MONDAY, JULY 21, 1997 AT 7:45 PM Regular Meeting: San Rafael Redevelopment Agency: Barbara Heller, Member Cyr N. Miller, Member Gary O. Phillips, Member Present: Albert J. Boro, Chairman Paul M. Cohen, Member Also Present: Rod Gould, Executive Director Gary T. Ragghianti, Agency Attorney Jeanne M. Leoncini, Agency Secretary CLOSED SESSION - 7:00 PM None ORAL COMMUNICATIONS OF AN URGENCY NATURE: None CONSENT CALENDAR: 7:45 PM Member Cohen moved and Member Phillips seconded, to approve the following Consent Calendar items: ITEM RECOMMENDED ACTION 1. Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of Approved as submitted. Monday, July 7, 1997 (AS) 2. Unapproved Minutes of Citizens Advisory Committee Accepted report. Meeting of Thursday, July 3, 1997 (RA) - File R-140 IVB 3. Resolution Authorizing Management Contract With RESOLUTION NO. 97-31 Business Improvement District for Lindaro StreetRESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A Parking Lot (RA) - File R-389 x (SRCC) 224 MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH DOWNTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID) TO MANAGE A PARKING LOT LOCATED ON LINDARO STREET. 4. Monthly Investment Report (Admin. Svcs.) - File R-123 Accepted report. AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: None The following item was removed from the Consent Calendar for further discussion: 5. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING GRANT AGREEMENT FOR RITTER HOUSE (RA) - File R-392 x R-103 Member Heller stated she had not been aware of this program, and asked how long it had been in effect, and how many people it served? Rob Simon, Executive Director of Ritter House, explained the City was helping to fund the Housing 101 program, noting this was a fairly new program, although they have been providing housing assistance to families for approximately ten years. He reported the financial assistance portion of the program helps SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/21/97 Page 1 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/21/97 Page 2 approximately thirty families per month to stay in their housing by granting rental assistance, security deposits, automobile repairs, and other types of assistance for things people might not normally think of. As an example, he explained that if someone needs their car to go to work, and if the car breaks down, this program would pay for the car repair so the person can get to work, pay their rent, and continue to stay in their housing. Mr. Simon stated Housing 101 consists of a group of five workshops that teach people, once they have gotten into housing, how to stay there. The workshops focus on everything from money management to how to build a community. He noted they had found a number of homeless people who, after having to wait months and sometimes years, would finally move into housing, but would have lost the social skills needed to stay in housing. He noted they might invite their entire community in with them, which was not healthy, and they would lose their housing, or they might not have been able to manage their money properly and would lose the housing. Mr. Simon reported there are people from the County helping with the workshops, along with people from approximately six other agencies who come in and provide the workshops. Mr. Simon stated this was a hugely beneficial program, and it does keep people in housing, pointing out it costs a whole lot more to get people into housing than it does to keep them in. Mr. Simon expressed his appreciation, thanking Chairman Boro and the Agency for all of the City's support for Ritter House, and for the City's help with the Housing 101 program. Mr. Simon referred to a letter from the Continuum of Housing and Services, who also expressed their appreciation to the City. Member Heller moved and Member Miller seconded, to adopt the Resolution authorizing a grant agreement in the amount of $35,000 to Ritter House for the Housing Support Program. RESOLUTION NO. 97-32 - RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH RITTER HOUSE FOR HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAM (In the amount of $35,000). AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: None AGENCY CONSIDERATION: 6. STATUS REPORT ON FOURTH STREET SIDEWALK RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT (PW) - File (SRCC) 4-1-489 x R-140 #8 Acting Assistant Executive Director (Public Works) Matt Naclerio reported the Fourth Street Sidewalk Improvement Project has a construction schedule of twenty-two weeks, noting the project began on schedule on June 2, 1997, and is currently two weeks ahead of schedule. He stated the contractor is Ghilotti Brothers Construction, and the construction cost is $990,000. Mr. Naclerio stated, as with any construction project, they have encountered previously unknown conditions since construction commenced. He reported there are some basement roofs along Fourth Street, and explained that when plans were developed the consultant did not realize that the existing sidewalk over the basement areas were actually structural roofs for these basements. He stated this was soon discovered when Ghilotti Brothers began their construction between "B" and "C" Streets, in front of the Rare Coin Shop. Mr. Naclerio reported they have postponed the work at this location, and are working with SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/21/97 Page 2 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/21/97 Page 3 the consultant, noting there are currently three structural designs being considered, but the City will have to meet the new UBC (Universal Building Code) requirements, which were not in effect when the sidewalks were originally built. Mr. Naclerio stated those three designs have gone to the contractor for bid, and based on the feedback and prices we receive, the correct alternative will then be selected and construction will proceed. Mr. Naclerio noted construction is then expected to last approximately five weeks once the design is finalized for the basement roofs. Mr. Naclerio reported there are five other basement roofs along Fourth Street, and the City will be redesigning the elevation of the sidewalk so these roofs are not touched. He stated they were considering a brick treatment over them, with thin tile bricks, but noted this was still being discussed. Concerning the street trees, Mr. Naclerio noted the project specifications require that all the tree wells have a percolation test performed, explaining the tree wells are filled with water, and then they time to see how long it takes for the water to percolate into the soil. He reported that when this was done on the first block, between "C" and "D" Streets, there were reports of water actually being percolated into some basements. Therefore, this has been redesigned, and there are now pipes that connect from one tree well to the next, and the water will outfall into the catch basin at the low point of the block. He stated they had also removed three street trees between "A" and "B" Streets at the request of the property owner, and also because there is also an existing basement at that location, and there was some concern we might run into the same problem with the percolation tests. Mr. Naclerio reported there had also been some changes to the electrical plans for three main reasons: first, the conduit sizes required upgrading from what was initially approved in the plans; secondly, as they were discussing what should be included under the sidewalk, they felt it made proactive sense to provide some spare conduits for future designs, should the City need to do some interconnect with our signals, so this is now included in the new design; and lastly, the Agency had requested electrical outlets be provided at all tree wells. Mr. Naclerio stated these modifications were being made, and staff is currently negotiating the Change Order with the contractor. Mr. Naclerio reported the Rafael Theater has requested the City not construct the improvements along their frontage, as they are currently under design, and that construction will require heavy equipment along the sidewalk in front of the theater. He stated it did not make practical sense to put in the improvements knowing that they would be damaged; therefore, that portion of the improvements will not be done during this project. Mr. Naclerio stated staff feels this project is proceeding smoothly, again noting we are two weeks ahead of schedule, and the project is expected to be completed within schedule, if not ahead of schedule. He stated the Change Orders he has outlined will affect the price of the contract construction cost, noting that while they do not have an estimate at this time, a 15% contingency had been included in the contract. Member Miller referred to water faucets for use in washing down the sidewalks, asking how many we have in place, and if they are staggered along the street, or installed only for those who requested them? Mr. Naclerio reported this has been based on the request of the business owner, noting he believed there were two who had actually gotten the hose bibs. He stated the contractor had ordered five hose bibs, but only two have been installed. Mr. Miller referred to areas where there is a bulge out, and there is eating along those areas, noting he SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/21/97 Page 3 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/21/97 Page 4 has already noticed that on the new sidewalks where eating takes place there is a great deal of soilage already; however, he saw no way for the business owner to wash down the sidewalk. He asked if the City had an Ordinance in place which requires the business owner to care for the sidewalk and make sure that it is cleaned up? Mr. Naclerio stated he was not certain there was an Ordinance in place, although he would assume there was. He noted if there was not an Ordinance addressing this issue, it would be something Code Enforcement could handle. Mr. Naclerio felt if the businesses were having their customers eat outside, it just makes sense that it be kept clean to attract customers. Mr. Miller stated it would make sense that these areas be washed every day, but noted we know from past practice that has not been the case, and we are seeing otherwise with the new sidewalks, as well. He stated he was concerned that we have nice facilities for the Downtown, and that they are maintained. Chairman Boro suggested perhaps when there is a request for a build -out for seating the City might require the owner to have a hose bib so he can properly maintain the area. Mr. Ours stated we had not done that to this point because hose bibs have been an optional item. He reported they had noticed with the first build -out that there was a lot of dirt, and Senior Planner Katie Korzun asked the owner to clean it up, which he did the very same day. Chairman Boro noted that since we are still in the process of doing the improvements, and there are already some Change Orders to be done, perhaps this could be made a requirement. He asked how expensive a hose bib would be? Mr. Naclerio stated it would depend on the individual site, noting the extension of the plumbing to the face of the building is pre-set, because that distance is set; however, depending upon how they get to the plumbing within the building itself, the cost would differ from building to building. Ms. Korzun reported there were three people who would be constructing expanded sidewalks, and they all had hose bibs on them, and in addition, two other businesses have installed them for their own purposes. Therefore, everyone who has an expanded sidewalk does have a hose bib. Ms. Korzun felt this problem would be handled by the owners, noting at Red Boy Pizza the owner had installed redwood planters, which flooded with water and left redwood stains in front of his building, but he has been scrubbing the sidewalk, and was very upset about the stains, asking if he could shellac the sidewalk to make it easier to wash. Ms. Korzun reported the hose bibs themselves are in a brass box and cost $200 a piece, with an additional cost for installation of between $200 to $300 for each one. She noted in one instance three of the merchants were going to chip in and share a bib hose, and stated she believed we would be seeing cleaner sidewalks. Member Cohen moved and Member Miller seconded, to accept the report. AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: None 7. AGENCY MEMBER REPORTS: None There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 PM. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/21/97 Page 4 JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Agency Secretary SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/21/97 Page 5 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/21/97 Page 5