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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRA Minutes 1999-06-07SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/99 Page 1 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1999 AT 7:30 PM Regular Meeting: San Rafael Redevelopment Agency: Present: Albert J. Boro, Chairman 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 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS OF AN URGENCY NATURE: PM None. CONSENT CALENDAR: 8:05 Member Miller moved and Member Cohen seconded, to approve the following Consent Calendar items: ITEM RECOMMENDED ACTION 1. Approval of Minutes of Special Joint Meeting andMinutes approved as Regular Meeting of Monday, May 17, 1999 (AS) submitted. 2. Monthly Investment Report (MS) - File R-123 Accepted Monthly Investment Report for month ending April, 1999, as presented. AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: Member Phillips arrived at 7:40 PM, and was absent during approval of the Consent Calendar. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/99 Page 1 AGENCY CONSIDERATION: 3. 4. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/99 Page 2 DISCUSSION OF PRELIMINARY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY TWO-YEAR BUDGET FOR 1999/2001 (MS) - File R-103 Assistant City Manager Ken Nordhoff presented a summation of the Agency's budget for the next two fiscal years, 1999/2001, which he explained reflected a summary of work done by staff, input regarding goals and objectives discussed during the budget hearing of June 1, 1999, and uses for the bond proceeds. He stated the budget had been prepared under the presumption that the bonds would go forward, all agencies involved would approve the necessary documents, and that the proceeds would be available by June 30th, noting he expected the bonds to be sold within the next couple of weeks. Mr. Nordhoff stated the budget had been developed to reflect what staff believed to be the estimated debt service on the bonds for the next two years, as well as the continued debt service on the 1992 and 1995 bonds. He noted that together with Redevelopment Agency staff, they had also identified related administrative costs from both Economic Development and Public Works. Mr. Nordhoff reported staff had estimated appropriations of $20.4 million for the first fiscal year, of which $14.5 million was associated with project -related expenses, and $5.6 million for the second year. Chairman Boro invited comments from the public, and there were none. Member Heller noted Mr. Nordhoff expected the bonds would be sold during the next two weeks, and asked if that was a firm timeline? Mr. Nordhoff stated all the agencies should have signed the necessary documents as participatory agencies, and the bonds were scheduled to be sold on the 16th of this month. He explained the Agency would take the AA -rated bonds to the marketplace, obtain the best possible interest rates, and generate as much money as possible for the Redevelopment Agency. Mr. Nordhoff pointed out that pursuant to discussions during the budget hearings last week, staff had made a minor adjustment regarding support for the Chamber of Commerce, noting that had been increased by $2,500 during the first year, and $5,000 in the second year of the budget. Mr. Nordhoff stated staff would come back before the Agency on June 21, 1999, for formal approval of the budget for the next two years. Member Heller moved and Member Miller seconded, to accept the report as presented. AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: None CONSIDERATION OF REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FUNDING OF CITY'S EXERCISE OF MARIN HOUSING AUTHORITY'S OPTIONS TO PURCHASE TWO BELOW MARKET RATE UNITS AT THE MARIN LAGOON CONDOMINIUM PROJECT: 33 MARINERS CIRCLE AND 29 MARINERS CIRCLE (RA) - File (SRCC) 229 x (SRCC) 9-3-16 x R-140 #8 x R-173 Senior Redevelopment Specialist Nancy Mackle explained this item would be heard before the City Council; however, it was also being discussed by the Redevelopment Agency, because one of the options being presented to the SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/99 Page 2 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/99 Page 3 Council would require Agency funding. Ms. Mackle explained there were several options available, noting one was to not exercise the option. She acknowledged it was unfortunate to continue to lose these units; however, staff was recommending this option because of the unknown cost of repair. She pointed out that even if the settlement money went toward the cost of repairs, there could be unforeseen costs, which would then be assessed to the property owners, and the City would be one of the property owners. Ms. Mackle reported another option would be to provide downpayment assistance to help someone else become an owner. She explained this could be done with City funds, noting there were some repayment/recapture funds that have been recouped from this project, and the City could work with the Marin Housing Authority to try to get new buyers in. She pointed out there was little time for the one unit which was coming up soon, although this would be a possibility for the second unit, in terms of getting someone qualified, and getting a loan in place before the expiration date. Ms. Mackle stated staff did not recommend the City step into title; however, if the City could find a buyer, and assist the buyer in the purchase, that would be another option. Ms. Mackle stated the third option would be for the City to purchase the units outright, explaining Redevelopment Agency funds would have to be used to do that; however, if the City was unable to sell them after the rehab, there would have to be some kind of management in place, as the City and Redevelopment Agency were not staffed to be able to deal with rentals. Ms. Mackle reported staff inspected one of the units, noting that while they did not look bad to the eye, as stated in the staff report, there were problems. She noted the one unit staff inspected had looked fine; however, the owner reported there was a leaky roof, which was leaking all the way to the downstairs. Ms. Mackle stated there were serious issues, which were condominium -wide, and staff recommended that the City not purchase the units. Chairman Boro recalled this issue had come up a couple of months ago during a City Council meeting, where they had also discussed the issue of second units. He felt it was a shame to lose two units in town; however, now that staff had taken the time to look at the condition of the units, and the liability associated with them, he was satisfied that it just would not be a prudent move on the part of the City to acquire these units, although he was sad to lose the housing stock. Chairman Boro referred to staff's recommendation concerning the option of downpayment assistance, noting Ms. Mackle had qualified that option by stating the City might not recapture any of the second mortgage money, and based on staff's examination of the project, and particularly these two units, he believed the City's best effort would be to follow staff's recommendation, and allow the units to go for sale. Member Heller stated she appreciated the fact that Chairman Boro had tried to fight for these two Below Market Rate units, noting she, too, was sad the City would not be able to keep them for the public. She felt Chairman Boro had done a very good job of bringing this issue to the Agency's and Council's attention, and hoped he would continue to do so any time the City was in danger of losing additional units. Member Cohen noted that when this item had been addressed before the City Council, they had touched upon the idea of bringing the issue to the attention of one of the non-profit housing developers the City partners SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/99 Page 3 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/99 Page 4 with, and asked if any of those conversations had taken place, and what their assessment had been? Ms. Mackle reported she had spoken with EAH (Ecumenical Association for Housing), noting they own four other units in Marin Lagoon; however, they had made it very clear that this was not working for them, noting they had the same liability issues, and adding two units to their four would be a real problem to manage. Member Cohen moved and Member Phillips seconded, to approve staff's recommendation, and decline to fund the purchase of the two available BMR (Below Market Rate) units at Marin Lagoon. AYES: MEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips & Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: None 5. AGENCY MEMBER REPORTS: None. There being no further business to come before the Redevelopment Agency, the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 PM. JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Agency Secretary SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 6/7/99 Page 4