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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRA Minutes 2000-08-21SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 8/21/2000 Page 1 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2000 AT 7:30 PM Regular Meeting: San Rafael Redevelopment Agency Present: Albert J. Boro, Chairman Barbara Heller, Vice -Chair Cyr N. Miller, Member Gary O. Phillips, Member Absent: Paul M. Cohen, Member Also Present: Rod Gould, Executive Director Gus Gunan, Assistant Agency Attorney Jeanne M. Leoncini, Agency Secretary ORAL COMMUNICATIONS OF AN URGENCY NATURE: 7:32 PM None. CONSENT CALENDAR: Member Miller moved and Member Phillips seconded, to approve the following Consent Calendar items: ITEM RECOMMENDED ACTION Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting and Special Joint Approved as submitted. Public Hearing of Monday, August 7, 2000 (AS) 2. Appointment of Dirck Brinckerhoff as Member of the Approved staff recommendation. Citizens Advisory Committee on Redevelopment to Fill One Unexpired Term with Term to Expire End of June, 2003 (AS) — File R-140 IVB AYES: MEMBERS: Heller, Miller, Phillips Et Chairman Boro NOES: MEMBERS: None ABSENT: MEMBERS: Cohen AGENCY CONSIDERATION: 3. REPORT FROM THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION REGARDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PICKLEWEED COMMUNITY CENTER EXPANSION (CS) - File R-140 #8 x (SRCC) 12-15 x 12-5 x 2-1-55 Executive Director Rod Gould introduced Community Services staff member Dave Donery to make the presentation regarding this item. Mr. Donery reported that before the Agency this evening are the results of a year-long community outreach project, which was presented to the Park and Recreation Commission at their July 201h meeting. Mr. Donery then introduced Park and Recreation Commissioner Patrick Webb to elaborate on the project. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 8/21/2000 Page 1 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 8/21/2000 Page 2 Mr. Webb stated the project represents the Pickleweed Advisory Board's most valid view of the direction the community should take. He noted the Park and Recreation Commission is very enthusiastic and willing to move forward with the plan. Dorothy Vesecky, Chairperson of the Pickleweed Advisory Board, began her remarks by recognizing her fellow board members present this evening, as well as those who were not able to attend. She thanked the following individuals for their tireless efforts in the realization of the project: Saul Alcantara, Welcome Fawcett, Zeva Longley, Ana Mendoza, Angela Mendoza, Man Minh Phan, Jeannette Sotomayor and Hank Jespersen. Ms. Vesecky gave special thanks to Mr. Jespersen, noting this was his last official duty with the Board, as he would soon be moving out of the area. Ms. Vesecky commended Mr. Jespersen for his commitment to the community and for having added tremendous depth to the Board's discussions. Ms. Vesecky stated that in reality, the project is the result of a very intense five months' worth of work that began last March. She then gave a brief history of the project's genesis. A long-standing problem in the Canal neighborhood regarding access to Pickleweed Center was largely solved when the City revised user fees and policies that were more realistic for the neighborhood that the center serves. In response, the center became the most heavily used facility in the City's system. In fact, the changes were so successful, that a new problem arose. Currently, there is not enough space in the center to accommodate the demand for positive and productive activities to fulfill neighborhood needs. Ms. Vesecky explained that the vast majority of Canal residents live in multi -family dwellings with very little space for social, recreational, and educational activities. Most families do not have access in their homes to home computers, let alone office or study space. Nor do they have entertainment areas for family and friends to meet and socialize, or space for basic recreational and creative outlets. This situation makes Pickleweed Center substantially different than other community centers in the City's system. The center fulfills the basic needs of many residents of San Rafael and is the heart of the Canal's social and cultural life. A new, expanded center would further enhance the community's needs. In finalizing the report at the Advisory Board's last meeting, the Board voted to add a recommendation that City officials work toward the goal of including neighborhood residents in the economic and employment opportunities presented by the project. Such a policy would be in keeping with the spirit of strong community desire for self-improvement, as reflected in the results of the Board's meetings and surveys. Ms. Vesecky thanked the following facilitators for working diligently with the Board and the community: Vinn Luu, Sue Severin, Hilda Castillo, Nancy Ducos and Rycke Harman. Ms. Vesecky also thanked the following City staff members for their tremendous contributions to the project: David Donery, Ulla -Brit Jonsson, Stephanie Lovette, Jeannette Sotomayor. SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 8/21/2000 Page 2 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 8/21/2000 Page 3 Lastly, Ms. Vesecky gave special thanks to Member Cyr Miller, Rod Gould, Linda Jackson and Carlene McCart for their assistance with the Board. Ms. Vesecky then introduced Saul Alcantara to conclude the presentation. Mr. Alcantara noted for the Agency the following summary recommendations made by the Canal community; 1) Proceed with hiring an architect to design a facility based on the community survey results, a facility that includes a multi -use gymnasium which would also be appropriate for dances as well as sporting and general activities; 2) Keep the community informed as to how the project is progressing. Mr. Donery reiterated his thanks to all the volunteers who helped realize the project, adding that he hoped they knew how much they have benefited their community in putting their time into the project. He noted that all of the surveys and meetings for the project were translated in three languages, with the assistance of Trang Nguyen, who provided Vietnamese translation, and Isabel Montoya, who furnished the Spanish translations. Mr. Donery commented that in addition to providing excellent translation, both Ms. Nguyen and Ms. Montoya were wonderful to work with. Mr. Donery invited the Agency's questions and comments. Member Heller stated she was very pleased with the project. Having attended the meeting at which the project was presented to the community, she was able to see first hand how well it was received. She added a very delicious dinner was served as well. She was also very pleased to find that the top five survey items the community is asking for involve more assistance in self-education/self-help programs, something achievable through the Park and Recreation Commission over the next few years. She expressed her strong support for moving forward with the recommendations. Chairman Boro thanked Ms. Vesecky, on behalf of the entire Agency, for all of her efforts, as well as that of all the individuals who participated in the project. He stated he was very much looking forward to the process evolving over the next several months. Member Phillips also commented on the delicious dinner served at the meeting. Like Member Heller, he was struck by the fact that the top five survey items involved education. He thanked the Board for their efforts, stating that the project helps to keep the City on the mark in terms of the community's needs. Member Miller expressed his appreciation at being able to call the Board members and other individuals involved in the project his friends. He explained the Board's mission was to bond people and to bridge interests, goals which they met handily. The group bridged interests including recreation, education, socialization, culture and housing. In bringing everyone together, they were able to speak as one voice to the entire City, setting the fine example of how a neighborhood builds on its assets. Mr. Gould interjected that the City is very ready, with the Agency's blessing, to work up designs on the expanded community center and present those to the community and ultimately to the Agency for approval. He pointed out that the programs will spring from SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 8/21/2000 Page 3 SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 8/21/2000 Page 4 the community themselves and the partnerships made with many non -profits and CPO's that work in and around the Canal neighborhoods. Mr. Gould noted Staff's recommendation is to continue to maintain the same no -cost structure to any member of the community wishing to use the expanded facilities. Member Miller moved and Member Heller seconded, that the Agency proceed with the hiring of an architect to design a facility based on the community survey results and meetings that includes a multi -use gymnasium appropriate for activities and dances, as well as sports activities, dedicated art space, and classrooms. The community will continue to be informed and engaged as the project progresses. AYES: MEMBERS: NOES: MEMBERS: ABSENT: MEMBERS: AGENCY MEMBER REPORTS: 4. None. Heller, Miller, Phillips Et Chairman Boro None Cohen There being no further business, the San Rafael Redevelopment Agency meeting was adjourned at 7:50 PM. JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Agency Secretary SRRA MINUTES (Regular) 8/21/2000 Page 4