HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAC 2020-12-03 Agenda PacketAGENDA
CAC December Agenda (2020)_Final.docx
DECEMBER 3, 2020 AT 7:00 P.M.
CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
VIRTUAL MEETING
WATCH:
https://tinyurl.com/CAC-12-03-2020
Telephone ID: (669)900-9128
Meeting ID: 816-4120-8163
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of November 5th Meeting Notes
3. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items
4. Discussion and Presentation - Priority Development Areas - Paul Jensen
5. Update on Goldstone Project, 1001 Fourth Street – Danielle O’Leary
6. Project Updates
• Website: https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/major-planning-projects/
7. Discussion of Agenda Item re Southeast San Rafael/Canal for January
8. Election of Officers
9. Adjournment
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City of San Rafael
Citizens Advisory Committee for Economic Development and Affordable Housing (CAC)
Virtual Meeting Summary Notes
November 5, 2020
CAC Members Present: Mari Jones, Bill Carney, Kati Miller, Glen Koorhan, Dirck Brinckerhoff, Joe
McCallum, Gladys Gilliland, William O’Connell, Roger Smith, Madeline Silva Khan
CAC Members Absent: Andrew Naja-Riese
City Staff Present: Simon Vuong
Guests Present: Joanne Webster
Members of the Public Present: None
1. Call to Order: Chair William O’Connell called the virtual meeting to order at 7:03 pm.
2. Approval of October 1st Meeting Notes: Date of Item 2 was noted to be incorrect. Otherwise
approved as submitted.
3. Approval of Inclusionary Housing Letter: Approved as submitted.
4. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items: None.
5. Discussion – The View from the Chamber: Pandemic Effects on Business – Joanne Webster:
Ms. Joanne Webster of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce led an open format discussion regarding
the impact of COVID-19 on local businesses, their survival strategies as well as the road to recovery.
Ms. Webster generally noted that the pandemic has magnified inequities in the community, as well as
accelerated anything which was in the process of automation (i.e. online sales). Ms. Webster also
remarked that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how there was no County wide emergency
plan in place to protect businesses. The San Rafael Chamber has subsequently become involved in
Keep Marin Working (“KMW”), which is a group of business leaders who have assembled an eleven-
point framework for economic recovery.
Ms. Webster remarked that she felt the future of Downtown San Rafael retail was headed in the
direction of “experiential” versus “transactional,” as it historically has been. Optimistically Ms.
Webster felt that the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic could be an opportunity to pivot in that
direction. Ms. Webster spoke about how the Dining Under the Lights event has done well under the
circumstances and that the City of San Rafael did a great job of streamlining applications to ensure the
success of the event.
6. Project Updates:
As a follow up to the October meeting, Mr. Simon Vuong reported that there were no new updates from
the City of San Rafael planning department in regards to the approved 120-unit project at 703 Third
Street, as well as the 136-unit project known as Northgate Walk at 1005-1010 Northgate Drive. Chair
William O’Connell remarked that he had been told that the 703 Third Street developer was working on
setting in place financing which had held the project up to date, and that the project was likely to
commence in the first or second quarter of 2021.
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As a follow up to the October meeting, Mr. Vuong noted that the Goldstone Market Hall project at 1001
Fourth Street is still in the midst of an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (“ENA”) with the City of San
Rafael, and that the parties were still working on a parking arrangement. Mr. Vuong said the ENA would
likely need to be extended by an additional six months.
Mr. Vuong also reported that the Hampton Inn and Suites hotel project at 1075 E. Francisco Blvd was
expected to be completed at the end of 2021 or the beginning of 2022.
7. Discussion of Priority Development Areas for December Meeting:
Discussion revolved around focusing on the topic of the two named Priority Development Areas “PDAs”
of San Rafael, and honing in on the elements of the PDAs which would be of most importance to the CAC.
Ultimately, a presentation on the PDAs would also serve as an educational exercise for the CAC.
8. Discussion of Topics for Precise Plan for December Meeting:
Members of the CAC discussed potential topics to focus on in a future meeting regarding the Downtown
Precise Plan (“DPP”). Area of interest included parking, historical preservation and homelessness.
9. Election of Officers for December Meeting:
Members of the CAC discussed writing a letter in opposition to the proposed change of election for the
committee chair based on a seniority rule. For the December meeting, Mr. Vuong noted that
nominations for elections will be solicited per the usual protocol.
10. Adjournment: Chair William O’Connell adjourned the virtual meeting at 9:13 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Joe McCallum