HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPJT Minutes 1985-06-12SRRA/SRCC SPECIAL JOINT WORKSHOP MEETING 6/12/85 Page 1
In the Public Works Conference Room Third Floor, Wednesday, June 12, 1985
at 6:00 PM.
Special Joint Workshop
Meeting: Present: Lawrence E. Mulryan, Chairman/Mayor
Dorothy L. Breiner, Member/Councilmember
Richard Nave, Member/Councilmember
Jerry Russom, Member/Councilmember
Absent: Gary R. Frugoli, Member/Councilmember
Also Present: Pamela J. Nicolai, Acting Executive Director/Acting City
Manager; Jeanne M. Leoncini, Agency Secretary/City Clerk;
Stewart R. Andrew, Assistant Agency Attorney/Assistant City
Attorney
1. WORKSHOP MEETING TO DISCUSS DOWNTOWN AREA - File 10-2 x 183
Chairman/Mayor Mulryan opened the workshop meeting indicating that the
purpose of the meeting was to discuss specific steps to improve the
downtown area to keep it competitive and expressed concern about keeping
and attracting retail businesses to the downtown area, especially with
the soon to open shopping centersin Corte Madera.
Chairman/Mayor Mulryan mentioned two specific areas: 1) Promotion and
2) Additional personnel to help coordinate the Redevelopment effort.
Member/Councilmember Russom indicated that the City should take
aggressive action to encourage some quality retail and that the Chamber
of Commerce should be a participant, with the possibility of putting
together a much larger improvement district. He also mentioned that he
was pleased about the encouraging news that Macy's is planning to stay
in San Rafael.
Member/Councilmember Nave stated that the additional personnel should
be able to work with developers, multi -ownerships and new businesses.
Member/Councilmember Breiner stated that it is important that the
Agency/Council know what the goals and uses are to be in the downtown
area.
Member/Councilmember Nave commented that the downtown area is as
diversifed now as it was 10 years ago, and indicated that Pier 39 in San
Francisco and Carmel have various mix uses in the way of shops and
restaurants and have events held there which attract people to their
areas.
Acting Executive Director/City Manager Nicolai indicated staff will be
bringing a report to the Council at the July 1st meeting on AB1693 re
creation of an assessment district to provide ongoing funding similar to
the funding for the Business Improvement District (BID).
Member/Councilmember Russom also suggested that the City could help by
providing some "seed money" for advertising and promotion to attract
developers. He stated there is a need to convince the property owners
as well as the merchants that they could be facing a very serious
problem downtown.
Chairman/Mayor Mulryan agreed with this suggestion.
Mr. Dirck Brinckerhoff of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, mentioned
that a letter will be forthcoming from them recommending Mr. Lee Strong
who they feel would be able to do the promotion work on the assessment
district.
Attorney David Hellman indicated a Con4nittee would do the "leg work" in
creating a budget for the proposed assessment district and stated there
may be as much as $100,000 to $125,000 generated each year. He also
mentioned the assessment district process would take four to six months
to set up.
SRRA/SRCC SPECIAL JOINT WORKSHOP MEETING 6/12/85 Page 1
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Discussion was held among staff and Members/Councilmembers re adding
additional personnel to the Redevelopment Agency. It was stipulated
that the new person's prime responsibility would be to work with the
Agency, Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director and property owners to
establish goals for the downtown area, and work out a plan on how these
goals can be accomplished. He/she should have extensive experience in
public presentation, in retail/commercial, marketing/advertising
programs, knowledge of the planning and approval process and have some
background with economics in the retail/commercial operations. A title
of Economic Development Director was proposed.
Member/Councilmember Breiner suggested the Agency/Council have
discussions with the property owners in the downtown area and requested
that the Redevelopment Office keep on file knowledge of how much retail
space is available and what the rental costs are, to assist developers.
She also asked that the City Attorney's office review steps to be taken
to possibly initiate a retail use permit process for the downtown area.
Albert Bianchi, Attorney, commented on the City having to create an
image to attract businesses.
Member/Councilmember Russom suggested having the new person on a six
months' basis, but Acting Executive Director/City Manager Nicolai
stated that six months may be too short a time and suggested a longer
period of one year.
Ms. Nicolai was asked to have a job description for the new position
submitted at the Redevelopment meeting of June 17, 1985.
Chairman/Mayor Mulryan also requested that Assistant Executive Director
Ours contact the property owners to find out what they are doing to
promote their own properties.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
A.
JBS&qnE M. LEONCIN�Agency Secretary/
City Clerk
APPROVED THIS DAY OF , 1985
CHAIRMAN/MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
SRRA/SRCC SPECIAL JOINT WORKSHOP MEETING 6/12/85 Page 2