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HomeMy WebLinkAboutrda min 1998/03/17 CC MI~JTES OF A JOINT ~LEETING OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY/ CITY COD~CIL OF THE CITY OF CR~rLA VISTA Tuesday, March 17, 1998 Council Chambers 8:19 p.m. Public services Building CALL TO ORDER 1. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Council/Agencymembers: Moot, Padilla, Rindone, Salas, and Mayor/Chair Horton ABSENT: Council/Agencymembers: None ALSO PRESENT: City Manager/Executive Director, John D. Goss; City Attorney/Legal Counsel, John M. Kaheny; and City clerk, Beverly A. Authelet 2. ~PROV~L OF MIN~JTES: February 24, 1998 MSUC (Rindone/Padilla) to approve the minutes of February 24, 1998. OR/~L CO~R~UNICATIONS There were none. ACTION ITEMS 3.A. COUNCIL RESOLUTION 18930 APPROVING THE LICENSE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AND SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC FOR USE OF SUBSTATION PROPERTY AS A PARKING LOT FOR THE OTAY RECREATION CENTER LOCATED AT ALBANY ANDMAIN STREETS-- The proposed 15,000 sq. ft. Otay Recreation center will include a 9,300 eq. ft. gymnasium with the remaining 5,700 sq. ft. to consist of a multi-purpose recreation room, offices, restrooms, and storage/maintenance space. The site will include 85 total parking spaces, with 49 spaces located on the SDG&E parcel. Staff recommends approval of the resolutions. (Community Development Director; Director of Parks, Recreation and Open space) Jess Valenzuela, Director of Parks, Recreation and open Space, stated we are seeking Council support for the license agreement for the parking lot that was constructed by SDG&E, the use agreement, and looking for approval of the design plans for the Otay Community Center and Gymnasium. He presented some slides on the progress of the project. Mayor/Chair Horton stated that the cost has escalated tremendously over a very short period of time. You are projecting an estimate of project costs of about $3.7 million. It started out to be a project of about $1.2 million. Mr. Valenzuela stated that it was about $1.2 million when we first thought the project would be located on School District property. At that time, the District had indicated to us that the land could be donated to the City. However, they changed their minds and decided to have us secure a joint use agreement and lease from the District, and we would have to go through the Division of the State Architect for review which escalated the cost of that project from the $1.2 to about $1.6. Then the District was interested in moving the actual location of the gymnasium further to the east of the campus adjacent to the chain link fence which called for even more utility runs which was costing the project even more both in terms of expense and the time in processing. We did some costing between the School District site and the possibility of purchasing the Main street site. We saw the Main Street site as something that the City would have control of. It may be a little more expensive, but not so expensive that it would be unrealistic. There wasn't much difference between constructing the facility on the District site or constructing the facility on a City purchased site where we had full control. So, there were a whole variety of issues that were not anticipated and came up after our first discussions with School District RDA Minutes March 17, 1998 Page 2 officials. In addition to that, there are street improvements that are being contemplated, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, street light, etc. that are not necessarily a part of the building but are support facilities that is incorporated into the S3.7 million. Member Padilla stated he was approached by some staff members who were concerned during the design process about the proximity between the office and the utility area. The concern is that people will abuse the facility if they are out of sight of the staff. He is hoping, as a community, we take pride and responsibility in the facilities and that we take good care of them. He also hoped that adequate resources are provided to make sure that appropriate supervision occurs. He felt that keeping the new facilities in appropriate condition is a function of management and not a function of the design of the building. The architecture of the building is going to be magnificent, but if there are concerns of this nature, then we need to make sure that once we get rolling and we celebrate the day it is used that it is well cared for as well. B. COUNCIL RESOLUTION 18931 AND AGENCY RESOLUTION 1574 APPROVING PROJECT AND DESIGN PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE OTAY RECREATION CENTER AT 3554 MAIN STREET LOCATED WITHIN THE SOUTHWEST REDEVELOPSENT AREA RESOLUTIONS 18930, 18931, AND 1574 OFFERED BY MAYOR/CHAIR MORTON, headings read, texts waived. Member Rindone asked what was staff's best estimate for the time line for when the contract will be let for the construction and approximately how long of a time period do we need for the construction. Mr. Valenzuela responded that staff was planning on having the bid awarded on June 2nd. It will take approximately six months to complete the construction of and opening of the building. VOTE: Resolutions approved unanimously 5-0. 4. COUNCIL RESOLUTION 18932 AND AGENCY RESOLUTION 1575 ADOPTING DOWNTOWN VISION STATEMENT AND FOUR FOCUS PROJECTS AS HIGH PRIORITY FOR TOWN CENTRE I AS PROPOSED BY THE DOWNTOWNBUSINESS ASSOCIATION, APPROVING THE CONCEPT OF RETAINING BUSINESS RECRUITMENT CONSULTANT AND DIRECTING STAFF TO SUBMIT FUNDING REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE FY 98/99 REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BUDGET, AND DIRECTING STAFF TO PREPARE APPROPRIATE REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS - The Downtown "Vision" statement and ways to implement the vision were formulated through two Roundtable groups consisting of Downtown Business Association (DBA) members, elected public officials, community and business leaders, a "Community Tune" consultant, and Chula Vista city staff. The DBA Board of Directors voted to submit the "Vision" statement and recommendations for implementation of the "Vision" for Agency/Council consideration. Staff recommends approval of the resolutions. (community Development Director) 5. COUNCIL RESOLUTION 18933 AND AGENCY RESOLUTION 1576 APPROVING THE CHULA VISTA DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOClATION'S (CVDBA) 1998 BUDGET AND DIRECTING THAT THE DBA'S REQUEST FOR $20,000 FROM THE PARKING NETERFUNDAND CITY SERVICES FOR 1998- 99 PROMOTIONALACTIVITIES BE SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE FY 98-99 CITYAND AGENCY BUDGETS AND $25,000 FROM TOWN CENTRE I REDEVELOPMENT FUND FOR SUBSIDY TO TOWN MANAGER POSITION AND MENTOR BE SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE FY 98-99 AGENCY BUDGET - In accordance with the Chula Vista Municipal Code, the CVDBA is required to submit an annual budget in March for the City Council's approval. The DBA's budget is funded by a special assessment applied to each business located within the District boundary and any income the District earns from promotional activities and other contributing sources. Staff recommends approval of the resolution. (Director of Community Development) Items 4 and 5 were handled together. Pam Buchan, Principal Community Development Specialist, stated that approximately a year ago the City Council held a workshop RDA Minutes March 17, 1998 Page 3 for the Downtown area. Shortly after that, the Downtown Business Association co- sponsored with Pacific Bell Yellow Pages a Community Tune program for the Downtown to establish a vision. It was also in cooperation with the Chamber and the Southwestern College Small Business Center, and International Trade Center. Through that process, two round table meetings took place. Those round tables involved some of our councilmembers and appointed officials, community and business leaders, and DBA leaders. The roundtables resulted in a vision for the Downtown which is to establish a Downtown as the business, social, and entertainment center point for the community. In addition to that, when the DBA Board met and put all the information from the roundtables and the consultant, they also came up with an implementation plan which is before the Council/Agency for consideration. The recommendation also includes asking the Council to direct staff to forward the cost impacts to the 1998/99 budget. In addition to that, we have the DBA proposed budget. The legislation which created the Business Improvement District requires that their budget be approved every March. Mayor/Chair Horton offered Resolutions 18932, 18933, 1575, and 1576 headings read, texts waived. Member Moot stated that he did not see much of a discussion about what needed to be done to create a critical mass of people in this area to support what the vision is, i.e. restaurants, downtown entertainment, etc. When we had our workshop, some ideas were kicked around which are not popular with some of the people who own businesses downtown. If you had more commercial/business tenants where you built more low-rise commercial businesses to house medical or other office, at least you create a critical mass to support restaurants for business luncheons that may spill over into a critical mass for nighttime restaurant businesses. He thought that one of the glaring discrepancies of what he saw in the vision statement was a failure to address from a practical perspective what we could do as a Council to try to create more of a critical mass that would support what we want to see there. Ms. Buchan stated that some of the discussion which was omitted in the report was regarding the business recruitment program. There are two aspects of that recruitment program that will precede the actual recruitment: a void analysis and a marketing trend analysis which should take approximately two to three months. That is exactly what we will be looking at. What can the market handle right now and what types of businesses are we missing. With our vision, how do we build that up. Mayor/Chair Horton stated the report mentioned the Leader Building and that there are some discussions currently going on with the owner, and they are finally cooperating. Chris Salomone, Conununity Development Director, stated that Ms. Buchan prepared a package of material for a potential development of that site. There are some things going on. There is more cause for optimism now than there has been in the past. Mayor/Chair Horton stated that site and the gas station site are critical to provide the window to this area. There are a lot of development opportunities with the two sites. She hoped the discussions do move forward in a manner that will help the City in the future, we need to take control of the situation and not let this linger for too much longer. There was reference to creating an increase in the fees in the BID, but there was no program as to when and what will be done to bring this about in the future. Ms. Buchan responded that we met with our attorneys and the finance department, and we are researching ways of doing that; what will work for the merchants and for the improvement district as a whole. We are looking at other alternatives for revenue generation. One of the things in the budget is the DBA has put in for a grant from the County Community Enhancement Grant. VOTE: Resolutions approved unanimously 5-0. RDA Minutes March 17, 1998 Page 4 OTHER BUSINESS 6. DIRECTOR/CITY MANAGER'S REPORT(S) - none. 7. CHAIR/MAYOR'S REPORT(S) - none. 8. AGENCY/COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS - none. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Beverly A. Authelet, CMC/AAE City Clerk