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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 2004/11/23 RDA MINUTES OF ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA November 23, 2004 6:00 p.m. Adjourned Regular Meetings of the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Chula Vista were called to order at 7:28 p.m. in the Council Chambers, located in the Public Services Building, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, California. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Agency/Councilmemhers: Davis, ChairlMayor Padilla Rindone, Salas, and ABSENT: Agency/Councilmembers: McCann (excused) ALSO PRESENT: Executive Director/City Manager Rowlands, City Attorney Moore, and City Clerk Bigelow CONSENT CALENDAR 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of September 21, 2004 and October 26,2004 Staff recommendation: Council! Agency approve the minutes. 2. COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2004-382 AND AGENCY RESOLUTION NO. 1899, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH ADVOCATION INCORPORATED, EXERCISING THE CITY'S OPTION TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT FOR THE 2005-2006 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR/CHAIR TO EXECUTE THE SECOND AMENDMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA On December 31, 2004, the current agreement with Advocation Incorporated expires. This agreement is for the provision of legislative representation in Sacramento throughout the 2003-2004 legislative session. Based on the firm's success in promoting Chula Vista's legislative agenda, staff recommends exercising the City's option to extend this contract. (Director of Community Development) Staff recommendation: Council!Agency adopt the resolution. ACTION: Chair/Mayor Padilla moved to approve staffs recommendations and offered the Consent Calendar, headings read, texts waived. The motion carried 4-0 with Councilmember McCann absent. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were none. ACTION ITEMS 3. CONSIDERATION OF THE FORMATION OF A 501(c)3 PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION FOR PURPOSES OF CONDUCTING REDEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE URBAN CORE PLANNING AND REDEVELOPMENT AREAS OF CHULA VISTA On February 3, 2004, the Council directed staff and consultants to prepare an analysis and discussion paper on the creation of a 501(c)3 Redevelopment Corporation. As part of the preparation for this report, two facilitated workshops were held on the formation of the corporation. A detailed report was distributed to the Council and the public on July 20, 2004. The report builds upon the conclusions and recommendations from the workshops, the July report and a recent legal analysis prepared by Rutan and Tucker, LLP, attorneys, on behalf of the City Attorney's Office. (Director of Community Development) Assistant City Attorney Hull reported that the Fair Political Practices Commission has advised that, although Deputy Mayor Salas and Councilmember Rindone both own real estate on the western side of the City, since these discussions are solely procedural, focused on the structure of an alternative agency, there is no conflict of interest with the properties they own. In addition, the nature of the Councilmembers' real estate holdings are such that a previously supplied opinion indicates that their participation would fall within the general public exception. Community Development Director Madigan presented the 501(c)3 report. Steve Molski opposed the formation of the corporation, stating that the City does not need another agency since it has qualified Planning Commissioners and staff. He cautioned against creating a monstrous bureaucracy and associated expenses. Mayor Padilla clarified that the City would not be creating another agency; it would be changing an existing agency and, in so doing, creating a streamlined process. Norma Cazares, President of South Bay Forum, expressed concern about the inadequacy of public noticing and asked the Agency not to approve the formation of a non-profit corporation, since it would be a disservice to the members of three Commissions proposed to be eliminated from the process. She stated that citizens should be encouraged to participate more in civic matters, not less. She asked the Agency/Council to continue on its path of inclusiveness and transparency and to hold public workshops regarding the 50 I (c)3 plan. Chris Lewis, Chair of the Chula Vista Urban Development Committee, commended the Council and staff for its research and stated that the proposed plan should be a flexible tool for redevelopment, with room for evolutionary processes. He believed that a combination of public and private entities would create a synergy that would attract investment to the City, creating cash flow, income and revenues to allow the City to continue with redevelopment without tapping into general funds and allowing investors to help pay the way. He stated that the proposed plan is a good initial step in the process. Page 2 CouncillRDA Minutes 11123/04 ACTION ITEMS (Continued) John Chavez asked the Council to defer voting on the item; and to continue to respect and engage the public and allow sufficient time for public dialogue. He stated that he was perplexed that this item was not mentioned at any of the numerous Urban Core Specific Plan meetings and believed that by fonning the corporation, significant expertise within the City's current Commissions would be bypassed. Lupita Jiminez stated that citizens believe that development needs to be sustainable both environmentally and economically. Citizens are not convinced that the Council has considered the true costs of growth, environmentally, socially and economically. She stated that by eliminating consideration and analysis by the City's Resource Conservation, Design Review, and Planning Commissions, a part of community expertise and input would be eliminated. She stated that citizens must have a voice in the City's growth, and she requested that the Agency/Council defer its vote and proceed with timely community outreach efforts. Lisa Cohen, representing the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce, spoke in support of the proposed plan. Patricia Aguilar encouraged the Council to direct staff to begin a dialogue with the community, prior to the fonnation of the 501(c)3, on operating rules for the structure to ensure uequent and early opportunities for public input. Pamela Bensoussan recommended that the Council proceed cautiously and expressed concern that eliminating the review process by three advisory Commissions could result in a disconnect with the community. She urged the Council to consider appointing a delegate from each of the three advisory Commissions to fill seats on the proposed corporation's board and expressed the need to strive for maximum citizen participation. She also recommended placing the Historic Preservation Plan on a fast track. Sandy Duncan expressed concern about the process, stating that there had been insufficient noticing and infonnation regarding the meeting. She asked the Council to defer action to allow for further public input, to notify citizens of any meetings about the plan, and to appoint local citizens to the corporation's board. Frank Zimly suggested that the plan be presented to residents who reside in the urban core. Deputy Mayor Salas expressed the need to move forward with the plan, stating that the Council will continue to engage the public in future discussions ofthe plan. Councilmember Rindone stated that change must occur in the downtown core to provide attractions and investment opportunities, and the proposed plan would jump start the development of the urban core. Mayor Padilla stated that the best public policy is to have all redevelopment areas under the same umbrella process for purposes of procedure, planning, legal and financial. He stated that the proposed plan provides the Council with the ability to move forward. Page 3 CounciVRDA Minutes 11/23/04 ACTION ITEMS (Continued) Deputy Mayor Salas asked about areas being adopted by resolution and about multiple projects coming forward at one time. City Attorney Moore clarified that staffs recommendation allows for the eventual flexibility to change territorial boundaries by resolution or ordinance and directs staff to provide an analysis to be brought back to the Council in April 2005 to consider areas to be included in the initial fonnation of the corporation. Councilmember Davis stated that the proposed plan would not impede public input, and people on the west side of the City deserve the benefits to be derived from the development of the urban core. Mayor Padilla expressed the need to revitalize the City's core, connect the east and west regions of the City, incorporate public input, and respect the uniqueness of the City by preserving and enhancing its heritage. He also commented on the need to create a balanced community of investment, jobs, and housing, stating that a purpose, plan, and streamlined process must take place in order to develop a successful urban core in the City. ACTION: Mayor Padilla then offered Council Resolutions 2004-383 and 2004-384 and Agency Resolutions 1900 and 1901, headings read, texts waived: COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2004-383 AND AGENCY RESOLUTION NO. 1900, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA (I) AUTHORIZING THE FORMATION OF A 501 (c)3 PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION FOR PURPOSES OF CONDUCTING REDEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING ACTIVITIES; (2) DIRECTING STAFF TO PREPARE NECESSARY LEGAL DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR THE 501 (c)3 FORMATION; (3) APPROPRIATING FISCAL YEAR 2004-2005 OPERATING BUDGET AND COMPENSATION SCHEDULE FOR THE 501 (c)3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS; AND (4) DIRECTING CITY STAFF AND THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REPORT BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL BY APRIL 2005 WITH DRAFT LEGAL AND OPERATING DOCUMENTS COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2004-384 AND AGENCY RESOLUTION NO. 1901, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA DIRECTING STAFF TO RETURN BY APRIL WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE TERRITORY BOUNDARIES OF THE ALTERNATIVE AGENCY STRUCTURE IF APPROVED The motion carried 4-0. Page 4 CounciVRDA Minutes 11/23/04 OTHER BUSINESS 4. DIRECTOR/CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS There were none. 5. CHAIR/MAYOR'S REPORTS There were none. 6. AGENCY /COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS There were none. ADJOURNMENT At 9:00 p.m., Chair/Mayor Padilla adjourned the meeting to a Regular Meeting of the Redevelopment Agency on December 7, 2004, at 4:00 p.m., immediately following the City Council Meeting in the Council Chambers. ~tu~~~ Susan Bigelow, MMC, City Clerk Page 5 Council/RDA Minutes 11/23/04