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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCVRC Min 2007/10/11 MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHULA VISTA REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (CVRC) October II, 2007 4:00 p.m. A Special Meeting of the Chula Vista Redevelopment Corporation was called to order at 4: I 0 p.m. in the John Lippitt Public Works Center, 1800 Maxwell Road, Chula Vista, California. CVRC ROLL CALL PRESENT: Director: Desrochers, Munoz, Paul, Reyes, Rooney, Salas, and Chair Lewis ABSENT: Director: None ALSO PRESENT: CONSULTANTS: Cynthia Henson and Mark Weaver of Henson Consulting Group STAFF: Executive Director/City Manager Garcia, Assistant City Manager Tulloch, Acting Community Development Director Hix, Planning and Building Director Sandoval, Development Planning Improvement Manager Lytle, Planning Manager Ladiana, Redevelopment Manager Crockett, Housing Manager Mills, Principal Community Development Specialist Lee, Senior Community Development Specialist Hines, Senior Community Development Specialist Jones, Community Development Specialist Johnson, Senior Management Analyst Stepnowsky, Senior Secretary Welch, Senior Deputy City Clerk Peoples, Senior Administrative Secretary Fields PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, MOMENT OF SILENCE PUBLIC COMMENTS There were none at this time. DISCUSSION ITEM I. BOARD OF DIRECTORS WORKING SESSION The Board of Directors held a half-day, offsite working session to discuss organizational matters about the Chula Vista Redevelopment Corporation, including roles and responsibilities, structure and processes, and interaction between the Board of Directors and staff. Page I of6 CVRe Minutes - 10111107 Special Meeting DISCUSSION ITEM (continued) A. Opening Statements and Overview Chairman Christopher Lewis opened the working session and made introductory comments to the Board of Directors about the purpose and importance of the session, including: . Open dialogue among the Board of Directors about the CVRe's purpose, roles and responsibilities, and processes. . Need for alignment on the Board to address past challenges and take advantage of current opportunities. Chairman Lewis made special note that, because the working session is aimed at facilitating open and informal dialogue among the Directors, public comment would be taken at the end of the session. Chairman Lewis then introduced David Garcia, Executive Director/CEO of the CVRC and City Manager, and Eric Crockett, Redevelopment Manager. Executive Director/CEO Garcia made welcoming statements and provided context for the working session, emphasizing Chula Vista's challenging economic and market conditions, and the opportunity to overcome those challenges through the CVRC Board's skills and expertise, and by employing smart redevelopment. Redevelopment Manager Crockett provided a historical overview of redevelopment in Chula Vista and more recent efforts by staff to strategically and programmatically plan for and carry out redevelopment activities in the northern, western, and southern sections of Chula Vista's Westside. Mr. Crockett then introduced the facilitators of the working session, Cynthia Henson and Mark Weaver of Henson Consulting Group. B. Working Session Steps and Goals (Presented by Cynthia Henson of Henson Consulting Group) Ms. Henson provided an overview of the goals and steps of the working session. C. Interview Themes and Recommendations (Presented by Mark Weaver, PhD of Henson Consulting Group) Dr. Weaver presented a synopsis of common themes and recommendations extrapolated by Henson Consulting Group from interviews with each of the CVRC Directors and specified staff - Executive Director/CEO Garcia, Redevelopment Manager Crockett, and Acting Community Development Director Ann Hix. General topics included, but were not limited to: Chula Vista's redevelopment process; positive outlooks about future redevelopment; Directors' personal commitments to revitalization of Chula Vista; areas where Directors believe they can make contributions to the redevelopment process; and broader strategies for accessing representative voices of the public. Page 2 of6 CVRC Minutes - 10111/07 Special Meeting DISCUSSION ITEM (continued) D. Discussion ofInterview Themes (Facilitated by Henson Consulting Group) The CVRC Board reviewed and discussed the interview themes and recommendations and agreed to spend the rest of the working session examining the redevelopment process and the CYRC's roles within that process. E. Review of Current CVRC Project Review Process (Presented by Redevelopment Manager Crockett) Mr. Crockett led the Board through a step-by-step review of the current process flowchart by which the CVRC reviews development projects. The Board asked clarifying questions and provided insights during the overview about the roles and responsibilities of the CYRC and staff within that process. Steps in the project review process included: I. Presubmittal Meeting with CYRC Staff 2. Application Submittal by Developer or Execution of Exclusive Negotiating Agreement by CYRC and Developer 3. Preliminary Design of Project by Developer 4. RAC #1: Public Forum and Input on Preliminary Design 5. Design Revisions by Developer 6. RAC #2: RAC Recommendations on Project Design 7. CEQA Review (if required) 8. Planning Commission (if required) 9. CYRC Hearing/Action on Project 10. City Council/Redevelopment Agency (if required) F. DINNER BREAK G. Input and Analysis on Possible Revisions to the Process (Facilitated Henson Consulting Group) The CYRC Board engaged in an in-depth dialogue about the CYRC's current project review process and their role as a Board and as individual Directors within the process. Generally, the Board did not propose any formal, structural changes to the steps in the current process flowchart. The discussion addressed where the Board can enhance and contribute to the existing process. Several Directors also emphasized the value of the role that the Redevelopment Advisory Committee ("RAC") plays in the process, providing the CYRC a connection and conduit to the public. Key themes, takeaways, and follow-up action items from the discussion and working session included, but were not limited to: I. Request by CVRC Directors for a staff presentation about the criteria used to evaluate redevelopment projects for Redevelopment Agency ("RDA") assistance. Page 3 of6 CYRC Minutes - 10111/07 Special Meeting DISCUSSION ITEM (continued) 2. Request by CVRC Directors for a staff presentation on the RDA's Five Year Strategic/Implementation Plan; the RDA's land inventory; and the RDA's developer interest list. The CVRe expressed an interest in the allocation of staff resources, monitoring of the progress of the strategic plan, and proactive measures the CVRC can take in attracting developers to Chula Vista. 3. Request by CVRC Directors for a staff presentation on Bayfront redevelopment planning activities, including the Pacifica and Gaylord Projects. The CVRC expressed a desire to better understand the Board's roles and responsibilities in these projects, without hindering the progress of the projects. 4. Request by CVRC Directors for staff to prepare a matrix summary report of all current and anticipated projects, visually displaying where each project is in the CVRC process. The summary report should be updated and provided to the Board on a regular basis. 5. Request by CVRC Directors for staff to forward RAC meeting minutes to the Board prior to CVRC action on a project. 6. Staff proposal for a presentation to the Board of the City's planning/entitlement process, particularly as it relates to the redevelopment process. This will enhance CVRC understanding of the related processes that may be required for different types of projects and decisions. 7. An important role of the CVRC is one of education (not advocacy). As a quasi-judicial body, the CVRC cannot be an advocate for a project. However, a two-way dialogue with the community directly impacted by a project is critical to ensuring all stakeholder voices are heard. Several Directors stressed the importance of the CVRC getting out into the community to take the first steps toward building trust. The Board discussed examples of methods for public engagement. 8. The possibility of the CVRC assigning a Director or Subcommittee to a particular project to use their skills and talents to enhance the communication between the CVRC, staff, and community. 9. The importance of good, competent staff reports in the CVRC's decision- making process. Brevity is important. 10. The pros and cons of a CVRC subcommittee structure to focus on particular elements of redevelopment projects, such as finance, real estate, and design. Page 4 of6 CVRC Minutes - 10111/07 Special Meeting DISCUSSION ITEM (continued) 11. Directors found the working session to be a beneficial format that encouraged productive dialogue and consensus among the Directors. Directors also noted that conducting meetings in the community may be beneficial to facilitating broader public input. The Board discussed options for ensuring productive CVRC dialogue and opportunities for public input. Examples included, but were not limited to: a. Hold one meeting per month out in the community. b. Conduct one formal meeting per month on the dais to review and consider project approvals, and one informal meeting off the dais per month in more of a workshop setting. c. Establish a consistent, special agenda item within the existing meeting structure for workshop-type discussions. d. Combinations of the above. H. Assignments for Next Workshop (Presented by Henson Consulting Group) Ms. Henson stated that Henson Consulting Group will compile the data collected from the working session and provide a summary report to staff. Working with a subcommittee of the Board, staff will prepare and present recommendations to the entire CVRC Board, at a follow-up workshop, on the key themes, takeaways, and follow-up action items from the working session. Directors Munoz, Rooney, and Salas volunteered for the subcommittee. I. Wrap-up and Close of Working Session by Chairman Lewis Chairman Lewis provided closing comments, emphasizing the value of holding the working session. He then asked for brief comments on the working session from all of the Directors. Each Director provided comments about the value and importance of the dialogue held during the working session. Chairman Lewis invited public comments. Public comments were provided by the following members of the public: Pamela Bensoussan, Chula Vista resident and member of the Planning Commission and RAC Bill Tripp, Chula Vista resident and Chair of the Planning Commission Patricia Aguilar, Chula Vista resident, representing Crossroads II Earl Jentz, Chula Vista resident Theresa Acerro, Chula Vista resident CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S REPORTS None. CHAIRMAN'S REPORTS None. Page50f6 CVRC Minutes - 10/11107 Special Meeting DIRECTORS' COMMENTS None. ADJOURNMENT At 9:25 p.m., Chairman Lewis adjourned the Chula Vista Redevelopment Corporation to their regularly scheduled meeting of October 25,2007 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. //~ Eric Crockett, Secretary Page 6 of6 CVRC Minutes - 10111107 Special Meeting