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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRA Minutes 1998-07-06SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 1 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, MONDAY, JULY 6, 1998 AT 7:30 PM Regular Meeting: Present: Albert J. Boro, Chairman San Rafael Redevelopment Agency: Paul M. Cohen, Member Barbara Heller, Member Cyr N. Miller, Member Gary O. Phillips, Member Absent: None 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: PM None CONSENT CALENDAR Member Phillips moved and Member Miller seconded, to approve the following Consent Calendar items: ITEM RECOMMENDED ACTION 1. Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of Approved as submitted. June 15, 1998 (AS) 7:55 2. Unapproved Minutes of the Citizens Advisory Accepted report. Committee Meeting of Thursday, June 4, 1998 (RA) - File R-140 IVB 3. Resolution Authorizing Transmittal of the Draft RESOLUTION NO. 98-20 Second Amended and Restated Redevelopment Plan for RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING the Amended Project, and the Environmental TRANSMITTAL OF THE DRAFT Documentation for the Amended Project (RA) SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED - File R-140 XVII REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE AMENDED PROJECT, AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTATION FOR THE AMENDED PROJECT. 4. Resolution Authorizing Execution of a Professional RESOLUTION NO. 98-21 Services Contract with Miller Pacific Engineering RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE Group for Geotechnical Investigations at the ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Proposed Corporation Yard Site in an Amount Not to (PUBLIC WORKS) TO ENTER Exceed $12,900 (RA) - File R-412 x R-405 INTO AN AGREEMENT SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 1 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 2 WITH MILLER PACIFIC ENGINEERING GROUP TO PROVIDE GEOTECHNICAL CONSULTING SERVICES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEW CORPORATION YARD IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $12,900. 5. Resolution Authorizing Grant Agreement for Ritter RESOLUTION NO. 98-22 House (RA) - File R-392 x R-173 x (SRCC) 13-16 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH RITTER HOUSE FOR HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAM. 6. Monthly Investment Report (MS) - File R-123 Accepted report. 8. Resolution Amending Resolution No, 97-33 Pertaining RESOLUTION NO. 98-23 to the Salary Range for the Economic DevelopmentRESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION Director and Events Coordinator (One -Year Agreement NO. 97-33 PERTAINING TO THE From July 1, 1998 through June 30, 1999) (MS) SALARY RANGE FOR THE ECONOMIC - File R-58 x (SRCC) 7-3 DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND EVENTS COORDINATOR (ONE- YEAR AGREEMENT FROM JULY 1, 1998 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1999) . 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: 7. RESOLUTION APPROVING REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY 1998/99 BUDGET (MS) - File R-103 Executive Director Rod Gould reported an article appeared in the Marin Independent Journal last week concerning the Redevelopment Agency's finances, which had been correct in its major thrust, that the Redevelopment Agency was running out of funding to continue projects. However, the article then went on the state there was no money budgeted for the relocation of the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room. Mr. Gould stated there were funds set aside in reserve for this, and the relocation can be carried out properly. Mr. Gould felt there had been some miscommunication between staff and the local reporter, and he did not believe the reporter had gotten a full picture of the Redevelopment Agency's finances. Mr. Gould reassured the public that the Redevelopment Agency had the means to carry out the relocation of the Dining Hall. Chairman Boro asked if the article as reported, based on what the reporter had been told, was correct? Mr. Gould stated it was. Economic Development Director Jake Ours stated that in addition to the funds set aside for the SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 2 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 3 relocation of St. Vincent's, there were also funds for the "B" Street Redevelopment project, which was another item the newspaper article stated was unfunded. Member Cohen moved and Member Heller seconded, to adopt the Resolution approving the Redevelopment Agency 1998/99 Budget. RESOLUTION NO. 98-24 - RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 1998 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1999 AND PROVIDING FOR THE APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURE OF ALL SUMS SET FORTH IN SAID BUDGET (IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,822,838). AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: None AGENCY CONSIDERATION: Heller, Miller, Phillips & Chairman Boro 9. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PREDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH BRIDGE HOUSING CORPORATION FOR THE CANAL AREA HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (RA) - File R- 413 x R-173 Senior Redevelopment Specialist Nancy Mackle reported that in January, the Agency approved the Canal Area Housing Improvement Program which included a budget of $250,000 per year from the Housing Budget. She stated that since then the Redevelopment Agency had secured $350,000 in the combined CDBG and HOME funds, and staff has been working with the Marin Community Foundation to see if they were interested in working with the Agency on this program. She reported one of the key players in this program was the housing Developer, who will be the one working to actually purchase the properties and rehab them, while the Agency will be assisting them along the way, working together as a team. She reported staff had issued a Request for Qualifications to solicit interest in the program, and set up a sub -committee to interview the Housing Consultants, noting the sub -committee and staff had determined that BRIDGE Housing Corporation was the most qualified and suitable Developer for this program. She stated BRIDGE Housing Corporation had experience working in low-income minority areas, and had a corporate policy to go out and work in pockets of poverty, explaining they were also embarking on a capital campaign to raise $15 million to help communities, such as the Canal, with housing. Ms. Mackle stated BRIDGE Housing Corporation applies a very comprehensive approach to neighborhood revitalization, noting they do not work only with housing, they work on all kinds of community development efforts. Ms. Mackle stated staff would like a partner like this to help the Agency in the Canal area, reporting BRIDGE Housing Corporation had extensive experience with tenant relocation, rehabilitation, and most importantly, in securing funding. She noted the Agency's money and the County's money were only a small portion of the millions of dollars it will take to purchase and rehab the property. She reported staff had put together a Predevelopment Agreement for consideration, noting the Agreement lays out the terms upon which the Agency would work together with BRIDGE Housing SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 3 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 4 Corporation for five years, and also commits the Agency's funding for this, once we have the projects. She pointed out staff would be bringing the projects back before the Agency Members before committing to an actual purchase. Ms. Mackle explained the Agreement committed the Agency to work exclusively with BRIDGE Housing Corporation, which would give them some comfort, and allow them to go out and begin working with properties, knowing that their investment in some of the predevelopment work would go somewhere, and that the Agency was not going to work with other Developers. Ms. Mackle stated staff hoped the Agency would do at least one apartment building per year, noting we would do more if we could, but staff was attempting to have a realistic goal for what the Agency could take on and finance. She stated the Agency would have a goal of reaching very low- income affordability, defined as 50% of the area median income, although staff was not certain we could reach that goal on every project, noting the Agency would have to look at each one on a project by project basis. However, at a minimum, we would meet the requirements of the Redevelopment Agency, CDBG, and HOME funding, which is a range of between 50% and 80%, depending on which pocket of funds we are looking at. She stated the Agency would go as low as financially feasible. Ms. Mackle stated each application would be brought before the Agency Members, noting staff would try to do this on an expedited basis. In addition to the $250,000 budgeted by the Agency, Ms. Mackle stated BRIDGE Housing Corporation would also be investing in this, noting they were going to be putting up the initial predevelopment funds, money that would be needed for an architect or contractor to walk through the property and see what kind of work needs to be done to rehab it, or for an appraisal or market study, the kinds of things conventional lenders or tax creditors, wherever we go for funding, will want to see. She explained that if an escrow closes on a project, the Agency would refund BRIDGE Housing Corporation out of the $250,000 that has been set aside. Ms. Mackle reported BRIDGE Housing Corporation would also be involved in all the tenant notification, noting there were some very specific requirements for both Federal and State funding concerning the notification to the tenants that a property was going to be rehabbed, and of their rights for relocation. She explained that once a project is completed, BRIDGE Housing Corporation, or one of their subsidiaries, would stay and manage the property; therefore, the Agency would have the housing rehabbed, we would have the rents affordable, and we would have the housing maintained properly every year. Executive Director Gould noted, as a follow-up to the Agency's meeting several weeks ago with the Marin Community Foundation, he had spoken with Dr. Thomas Peters, President of the Marin Community Foundation, reporting Dr. Peters had asked him to convey to the Agency Members that the Marin Community Foundation fully supported the Canal Area Housing Improvement Program. Mr. Gould noted the Foundation takes no position on which Developer to select, suggesting that as soon as the Agency makes a selection, the first task of the Developer, in conjunction with staff, should be to finish the application process with the Marin Community Foundation, for allocation of monies for the first project. Mr. Gould reported Dr. Peters had stated he and his Board of Directors wanted very much to be a part of this project, and felt this was vitally important to preserving affordable housing in Marin County, particularly in San Rafael. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 4 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 5 Carol Gallante, President of BRIDGE Housing Corporation, stated her company was very excited about the potential of working on the Canal Area Improvement Program in San Rafael, noting they felt this was a very exciting project being promoted by the Agency and its staff, and they hoped to be back in front of the Agency Members very soon with a building or two for which they could put together the financing and begin working on. Member Miller pointed out how important this particular program was to the comprehensive approach being taken by the Agency in terms of the revitalization of the Canal neighborhood. He believed this was a very key effort in the physical development, and also in terms of the other social developments with which this project connects. Mr. Miller stated it was very exciting to see BRIDGE Housing Corporation coming in with a comprehensive approach, and hoped the Redevelopment Agency Executive Director would invite them, as soon as possible, to join the Canal development team, so they can join us as partners in the total revitalization. Mr. Miller reported that what he has been hearing from the community as the key issue was for this project to have housing for those with limited incomes, noting this was an area within the City where we are woefully lacking, especially out in the Canal area. Member Cohen stated, as one of the Agency Members who had originally asked the Agency to step back from the initial staff recommendation and have a sub -committee look at the issue, he felt the Agency had been blessed with a couple of excellent choices, from firms who were both clearly able to do this kind of work. He stated he was excited at the opportunity for the Agency to work with BRIDGE, noting that during the process in which he and Member Heller participated with staff, BRIDGE clearly came in with a better presentation. He stated that even though they are not, theoretically, the "local" firm, they had clearly done their homework, spent time, and even had some specific buildings they identified, and areas within the Canal neighborhood they really believed should be targeted going in, and he felt that was impressive. In addition, he stated that, professionally, he has had experience working with BRIDGE on other projects, particularly the Marin City USA project, and he felt some of the things BRIDGE brought to the table opened up a number of opportunities for us, and the continuing work in the Canal, and he looked forward to those opportunities, as well. Member Heller agreed with Member Cohen, noting it had been an exciting meeting, listening to two groups who could do the job for the people of San Rafael. She stated both groups had a great interest, but she, too, had been particularly impressed when BRIDGE came in and explained what they wanted to do, the way they wanted to do it, and where we needed to start. She stated they were an excellent firm, and she believed they would serve the community of San Rafael very well. Member Miller moved and Member Heller seconded, to adopt the Resolution authorizing a Predevelopment Agreement with BRIDGE Housing Corporation for the Canal Area Housing Improvement Program. RESOLUTION NO. 98-25 - RESOLUTION APPROVING A PREDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH BRIDGE HOUSING CORPORATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE AGENCY'S CANAL AREA HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips & Chairman Boro SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 5 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 6 NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: None 10. SELECTION OF CINEPLEX OPERATOR AND AUTHORIZATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TO PREPARE AN EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO NEGOTIATE (RA) - File R-407 Senior Planner Katie Korzun stated the Agency was being asked to select an operator to operate a new cineplex on the site currently occupied by a 194 space parking garage on the corner of Third Street and Lootens Place. She reported staff's recommendation, and that of an Agency sub -committee, is that Century Theaters be designated our operator for this cineplex. She reported in April, the Agency circulated a Request for Proposals to develop this site, noting there had been ten objectives the Agency was trying to achieve. First of all the Agency wanted to get a multiple screen, state of the art theater; and we wanted to have a project that would generate substantial evening and weekend activity Downtown, pointing out that was one of the primary things the Agency was trying to develop in this particular section of the Fourth Street Core. The Agency also wanted to have a facility that would have a substantial physical presence on Fourth Street, and they did not want a theater that faced another direction, explaining that if we were trying to bring life to Fourth Street, it was felt the theater should be on Fourth Street. She stated the Agency also wanted a location for a Downtown Police Office sub -station, and wanted to keep the existing number of parking spaces on the site, and add parking to it. This was an objective which several members of the public who have called the Redevelopment Agency office have missed, as they thought the Agency was tearing down the parking structure to build the theater. She explained the Agency would be taking down the parking structure, increasing it, and then putting the theater on top of it. Ms. Korzun stated the Agency also wanted to gain additional benefits or contributions to the community, and staff left that up to the proposers to suggest what those might be. The Agency was going to enter into a long term ground lease, with no Agency subsidy, and also wanted to have the facility open and operating in 1999, and complete the project with a minimum of disruption to Downtown, and to the Downtown parking supply. Chairman Boro stated another one of the Agency's criteria, which had been left off the checklist, had to do with the Rafael Theater, noting the Agency was looking for a proposal that would discuss ways in which they would work with, and compliment, the Rafael Theater. Ms. Korzun acknowledged that was one of the Agency's criteria, and had also been evaluated. Ms. Korzun reported proposals were submitted by United Artists, Century Theaters and Pacific Theaters, which were reviewed by staff and an Agency sub -committee. She stated the summary of the evaluation for each of the criteria, which was included in the staff report, needed to contain a correction. She pointed out that in the comparison of "Lease terms for the City owned site, including the length and monetary considerations", under Century Theaters she had stated it would be thirty-five years, in seven consecutive options; however, she neglected to state that the "base term" would be thirty-five years, with thirty-five years of options. Ms. Korzun stated that after reviewing the material and interviewing representatives from each of the theater operators, the sub -committee determined that while all three were very well qualified, Century Theaters had the best combination of interest and experience for this particular SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 6 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 7 project, noting they presented some very schematic plans, showing between ten and twelve screens, which would occupy between 1,700 and 2,000 seats. In addition, they were going to replace the parking structure with approximately 311 spaces, and that parking structure would be constructed at their expense. Ms. Korzun reported the lease terms Century Theaters was suggesting would return approximately $105,000 in annual lease payments to the City over the term of the lease, and there would also be an 8% increase at every five-year term of the lease. The auditorium portion of the theater would be located at the back, over the parking structure adjacent to Third Street, and there would be a substantial presence that would come out to Fourth Street. Ms. Korzun stated Century Theaters did show some initiative in acquiring the corner building, noting that property was purchased by them prior to the interview, so they would actually have a fifty foot frontage on the corner of Fourth Street. Ms. Korzun reported the schematic floor plans being presented were exactly that, schematic, and she cautioned the Agency not to assume this was the actual floor plan being proposed for the lobby area, noting they would be working on that extensively, as it is an intregal part of the presence on Fourth Street. In terms of community benefits, Ms. Korzun reported Century Theaters suggested they would provide space for a Downtown Foot Patrol Office, provide a $100,000 contribution to the Downtown Plaza, and would promote local businesses in the theater. Ms. Korzun stated another very important component of this project was how they would inter -relate to the Rafael Theatre, pointing out the Agency had made it very clear we did not want a facility that would compete in any way with the Rafael Theatre. She reported Century Theaters feels they are a very different and distinct experience, offering films that would not be of interest to the Rafael Theatre, and rather than competing, they would be complimentary, so people coming Downtown for a movie would have a broader range of film experience open and available to them. Ms. Korzun noted staff had spoken with Mark Fishkin and Ann Brebner of the Film Institute, and went over the proposals with them. She stated they made it clear they had three primary concerns: that there be adequate parking; that the architectural style not be art deco, because that is the style of the Rafael Theatre; and that the theater name not include the words "Rafael" or "San Rafael". Ms. Korzun noted the last two requests were to make a distinction between the cineplex and the Rafael Theatre, and she believed those two issues could be easily dealt with. Regarding the parking, Ms. Korzun acknowledged this was going to be an issue; however, she believed there was adequate parking Downtown. She recalled when the Rafael Theatre was approved, the Agency did a parking analysis for them, and found that the theater portion of their proposal, which also includes a small cafe and some offices, would require between 114 and 143 spaces. She reported they had found there was adequate parking at that time in the two-story parking structure on the corner of Fifth Avenue and "C" Street, as well as in the "A" Street structure, noting there were approximately 421 vacant spaces at that time. Ms. Korzun stated the spaces the Rafael Theatre needs, and the estimate of 250 spaces in the "A" Street garage during peak use, would total approximately 400 spaces, which is fewer than the 421 that are out there; therefore, the Agency believed there was adequate parking. Ms. Korzun acknowledged Downtown activities have gone up during the past five years since the last parking analysis was done, but pointed out a drive through the "A" Street garage and through the structure on Fifth Avenue shows that parking in the evening is still SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 7 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 8 substantially low. She also pointed out the analysis the Agency completed was for a Saturday evening, which is peak; however, the weekday operation of a theater such as the cineplex is substantially less than their weekend peak. Ms. Korzun pointed out that with the cineplex project we would be adding at least 100 spaces to the Downtown parking supply, noting they were not just drawing down on evening spaces, they were actually adding to the supply. Ms. Korzun stated there were several elements which separated the Century Theaters proposal from the others. First, they showed a commitment by purchasing the corner property. They also offered to deposit one-half of the project cost in an escrow account upon execution of a Development Agreement. Ms. Korzun pointed out the project cost was in the area of $12 million and, therefore, that was a substantial commitment. Ms. Korzun stated they have an active retail component associated with Century Theaters and Syufy Enterprises; therefore, they do know how to do retail, so if we had any kind of retail component here, they would have the expertise to deal with that, reporting they are a San Rafael based company, having recently moved to new facilities on Pelican Way. In addition, they will own and operate the facility with locally based management. She clarified that in terms of owning it, they were not going to own the parking garage, but they would own the building up front, they would be the operators, and it would be local control. Finally, Ms. Korzun stated they were willing to match any other Plaza commitment. Ms. Korzun stated that in order to proceed with Century Theaters, or any other Developer, staff would also have to have authorization from the Agency to begin to develop an Exclusive Right to Negotiate. She noted staff would like to come back with that in twenty to sixty days, for review at a Public Hearing. Ray Syufy, principal in Syufy Enterprises, introduced his brother and partner, Joseph Syufy, stating it was a privilege to work with the Agency on this project, and promising to work with the Agency and the community to make this something that not only the residents of San Rafael could be proud of, but all those in the County, as well. Charles Bruce congratulated the Agency on an excellent choice in Century Theaters. He reported many members from the group which started out as the Macy's Ad Hoc Committee have had conversations about movie screens in the Downtown, noting they had originally hoped they would be in the Macy's building; however, he felt the outcome was probably better that they were not included, because now they would have a place of their own. He stated that when the finalists for this project were made known, the group got behind the "home town folks". He thanked Rod Gould and Katie Korzun for making available the staff report last week. Mr. Bruce asked that in the negotiations for the final contract there be clarification from Century Theaters on what kind of assistance they would give to the Rafael Theatre project, because he believed that was very important, and that the two have a synergy and work together. He also asked that the details be spelled out, because right now it was in very general language in the staff report. Referring to his other concern, Mr. Bruce stated he had already spoken with some of the representatives from Century Theaters, and they had assured him they would find a design that would fit in with the Downtown, so we will not go through "design by picture" in the IJ. Mr. Bruce stated he trusted that would take place, and congratulated the Agency. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 8 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 9 Sharon Fox, resident of San Rafael and President of "There's No Place Like Home Productions", noted she was also a member of the former Ad Hoc Committee, and thanked the Redevelopment Agency, particularly Katie Korzun, for making the report so clear, noting all the work Ms. Korzun had done in distilling the details made it a lot easier for her group. She reported the group had done a lot of homework on the three theater companies, including talking to employees of the three companies, and they were very impressed that the employees of Mr. Syufy's company, Century Theaters, were very happy. She believed that was an important point concerning "quality of life" issues, pointing out the Agency considers quality of life issues when judging projects. Ms. Fox stated the thing that stood out with Century Theaters, and something she was really excited about, was that it appeared that we have a family-owned business, noting, as someone who for years has worked with a number of the big corporations in the film industry, this was a real rarity, and she felt we were very fortunate to have a company like this. She stated the group was very excited about working with the new process of sitting down with the company and the architect, and the workshops that are to follow. Ann Brebner, Chair of the Rafael Film Center project, pointed out the Redevelopment Agency had placed faith in them a long time ago, and they had taken a long time to get here; however, she wanted to thank Ms. Korzun, Mr. Ours, and the people who did all of the work, for not only bringing them here, but also for allowing them to welcome another theater group to our town. Ms. Brebner noted she did have one concern, which she would discuss with Ms. Korzun, about parking, urging the City to set up some kind of mechanism where this could be reviewed, and pointing out that in the rather unusual circumstances of what two movie theaters Downtown would do, it was not as simple as counting places. She stated, for example, if both theaters do absolutely fabulous programming, which she believed they would, on a Saturday night we might actually have 1,000 cars coming into San Rafael, which she did not believe would be too far off the mark. She stated the customers would park and go to the movies, and half of them would stay and go out to dinner, go to galleries, and do all the things that have been programmed as part of what this will do to the Downtown, and they would stay right in the parking spaces they took. Ms. Brebner noted that very shortly after the original patrons get out of the movies, or even shortly before, there would be another 800 to 1,000 cars coming in, and if half of the first patrons are going to stay in town, these new cars coming in are not going to have anywhere to park, and they are going to have to leave. Ms. Brebner stated she felt very strongly that if we do not take very good care of this now, the movies will suffer, the businesses will suffer, and the patrons will get angry and never come back, being of the firm opinion that there is no parking here, even though there actually is quite a lot. Ms. Brebner reported they took those figures and looked at the number of parking spaces, with no theaters Downtown; however, what we are going to have now is radically different. She stated that when the Film Institute signed its contract with the Redevelopment Agency, their mutual wish was to revitalize the Downtown, and she believed it did seem that this had been accomplished. However, unless the City leads the way to a bountiful "pay - as -you -exit" parking program, we will be out of business again in a few years, and the Downtown will revert to what it has just been rescued from. Ms. Brebner stated she would be most willing to serve on some kind of an idea -producing group, and hoped Century Theaters would become involved, as well as the Agency, and come up with some brilliant solutions that will SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 9 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 10 work, so that all of the time invested in the Visioning Committee, and all of the hopes and dreams will actually happen. Chairman Boro reported he and Vice -Chairman Phillips were the two members of the Redevelopment Agency who met with staff and the three developers who came forward, noting all three offered very positive programs for the City of San Rafael; however, this particular applicant, Century Theaters, stood out, and he was very proud and pleased to recommend this to the Agency. He stated he understood Ms. Brebner's concerns regarding the parking, acknowledging parking was a big issue, and traffic was a big issue to be addressed. Chairman Boro pointed out the staff report does talk about additional parking that will be available at the new Oacis Building at Courthouse Square and at Macy's, which possibly could be used as a resource during the off -hours, when the tenants are not there. He stated there were other possibilities we could look at, and agreed we needed to address that issue, stating Ms. Brebner was correct in stating that if people cannot park here, they certainly will not want to try to come here. He pointed out Century Theaters would not want to build a theater and not have a place for people to park. Member Phillips complimented those who had direct involvement in summarizing the rather voluminous information that was provided, noting it did become apparent, when interviewing each of the three applicants and reviewing their materials, that Century Theaters truly had a great deal to offer. Mr. Phillips felt this particular corner leading further up the street had a lot to offer, and there might be some retail opportunities there that do not currently present themselves. He noted he and Chairman Boro had been impressed by the fact we were dealing with local owners, and that we could expect them to carry out their statement that this will be a showplace for their company to demonstrate to those visiting the company's headquarters from other cities, showing this as an example of what they have done. Mr. Phillips noted the fact that they were willing to contribute to the Plaza opened up opportunities to make the Plaza that much more of a reality. Member Heller referred to that portion of the staff report addressing "Community Benefits", noting she found the benefits to be wonderful. However, she wanted to suggest that we might have some non-profit organizations or the schools working with Century Theaters to do perhaps one fundraiser a year, or something like that. Member Cohen stated he was delighted we had a local firm to work with on this project, noting it was a wonderful opportunity for San Rafael. However, he agreed the parking issue was one that needed to be looked at, particularly the option to make use, at least during certain evenings, of the private parking that is around Downtown, which will not be used during those peak periods. In addition, he noted the City Council had participated in a Special Meeting prior to the Redevelopment Agency Meeting, at which they interviewed candidates for the Design Review Board. He reported one of the things that had come up during those interview discussions was the design process for the Macy's project, and how we kind of "backed into" that public process. He stated it had been suggested that perhaps on this project we start in a more open way from the beginning, and have an "up front" discussion about how to design this in such a way that it fits in with everything else going on Downtown, resulting in a better project for everyone. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 10 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 11 Member Miller reiterated Member Cohen's remarks concerning the process, noting the absolute critical factor would be if we could "grow this from the inside out", get the design and everything we need along the line, and have the whole community going with us, so that when it comes forward everyone is all together. He pointed out that whenever we have done something in that fashion, we always come out a winner, but whenever we have tried to do it some other way, we have always had problems. He stated he looked forward to seeing Century Theaters doing a great job here. Chairman Boro assured the other Members that when he and Vice -Chairman Phillips interviewed the applicants, they talked about this subject, telling each of the applicants that community involvement would be part of this process from the very beginning, and they all agreed to that, Century Theaters in particular. Member Phillips moved and Member Heller seconded, to approve the selection of Century Theaters as the operator of the cineplex project at the site of the parking structure at Third Street and Lootens Place, and to authorize the Economic Development Director to prepare an Exclusive Right to Negotiate with Century Theaters. AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: None 11. AGENCY MEMBER REPORTS: None. There being no further business to come before the Redevelopment Agency, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 PM. JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Agency Secretary SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 7/6/98 Page 11