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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCVRC Min 2008/06/12 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHULA VISTA REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (CVRe) June 12, 2008 6:00 P.M. A Regular Meeting of the Chula Vista Redevelopment Corporation was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Conference Room, C-IOl, located in City Hall, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, California. CVRC ROLL CALL PRESENT: Directors: Munoz (arrived 6:02 p.m.), Paul, Reyes, Rooney, Salas, and Chair Lewis ABSENT: Directors: Desrochers ALSO PRESENT: Executive Director/CVRC CEO Garcia, Deputy City Attorney Marshall, Redevelopment & Housing Assistant Director Crockett, Redevelopment & Housing Principal Project Coordinator Lee, Redevelopment & Housing Project Coordinator I Blackmar, Senior Deputy City Clerk Peoples, Senior Administrative Secretary Fields PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, MOMENT OF SILENCE CONSENT CALENDAR (Items I & 2) 1. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION A. Memorandum from Hector Reyes requesting an excused absence from the CYRC meeting of May 22, 2008. B. Memorandum from Sal Salas requesting an excused absence from the CVRC meeting of May 22, 2008. Staff Recommendation: That the CYRC excuse the absences. 2. APPROY AL OF MINUTES Staff Recommendation: That the CYRC approve the minutes of the joint meeting with the Planning Commission of February 25, 2008 and the regular meetings of March 13, 2008, April 24, 2008, and May 22, 2008. ACTION: Director Paul moved approval of the Consent Calendar, Items I and 2. Director Rooney seconded the motion, and it carried 6-0 with Director Desrochers absent. Page 1 of 5 CVRC - Agenda - June 12, 2008 PUBLIC COMMENTS Ed Herrera, Chula Vista resident representing the Southwest Chula Vista Civic Association, spoke regarding waste contamination issues and requested the City involve local businesses in finding outside funds to assist property owners in cleaning their sites. 3. PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS A. SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY CONVENTION Assistant Director Crockett introduced Project Coordinator Blackmar who provided a brief video of the April convention and overview of the plans for the June 21 st "Southwest United in Action" convention, to be held from II a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lorna Verde Recreation Center. Executive Director/CEO Garcia explained how staff was developing a "model" to be used in different areas of the community in the future in order to get the community involved in providing input. B. BROWNFIELD GRANT UPDATE Assistant Director Crockett introduced Principal Project Coordinator Lee, who provided an update on the Brownfield Grant, announcing that staff had been notified in April of 2008 of the selection of the Redevelopment Agency by the EP A for two $200,000 Community-wide Brownfields Assessment Grants. Mr. Lee explained that the focus area for implementation of the grants would be Southwest Chula Vista and that the Southwest United in Action effort would be a vehicle for public involvement on the Brownfields Grant. The Agency will be awarded $400,000 in October of 2008, $200,000 for hazardous substances assessments and $200,000 for petroleum assessments. Mr. Lee then provided an overview of the grant process, which will include an inventory of existinglknown sites; Phase I assessments for 12 to 15 sites per grant; Phase II assessments for up to five sites per grant; feasibility studies to work with property owners on possible cleanup and redevelopment plans, and, where appropriate, health monitoring plans. Mr. Lee indicated that funding would then need to be secured to leverage resources toward the physical remediation and redevelopment of the properties. Mr. Lee emphasized that the Assessment Grants can only be used to study contamination and cannot be used for actual physical cleanup. Mr. Lee stated that next steps will involve development of a Community Outreach & Involvement Strategy, and he referred to how the strategy would seek to include property owners at the beginning of the process, as was commented and requested by Mr. Herrera under the public comments segment of the meeting. C. DEVELOPMENT FEE DEFERRAL Principal Project Coordinator Lee, provided an overview of the Joint City/BIA study on the potential deferral of capital facilities fees for development projects, which included: the objectives of the study; the types of fees being reviewed; relevance of "Pay to Play" Best Practices, 200] report published by the California Department of Housing and Community Development; questions the study will seek to address, and the three phases of the study. Page 2 of 5 CVRC - Agenda - June 12, 2008 Patricia Aguilar, Chula Vista resident representing Crossroads II, stated that the Urban Core Specific Plan called for over 7,000 new dwelling units, which equaled additional traffic, pollution, etc., and that Crossroads II had accepted this with the understanding that the end result would be a better community. Further, that the Walter Kieser report regarding development fees stated that they were a minor issue compared to the overall project costs. While she did not have concerns about deferring fees, Ms. Aguilar expressed concern over the potential use of redevelopment tax increment monies to offset fees for developers, since those funds should go toward public improvements and neighborhood amenities. ACTION ITEMS 4. LETTER OF INTENT FOR LAND TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE SPACE FOR SWEETWATER AUTHORITY Staff is presenting for CVRC consideration a working draft of a Letter of Intent ("LOI") by and among the City, Redevelopment Agency ("RDA"), and Sweetwater Authority ("Authority") involving the potential relocation of the Authority's administrative operations to new commercial-office space located at a key regional transit node next to the E Street Trolley Station. Assistant Director Crockett recognized Sweetwater Authority representative Jim Smyth, Chief Engineer, who was present in the audience, and then presented the staff report. Patricia Aguilar, Chula Vista resident representing Crossroads II, stated that her organization felt the land use/density was fine, but that the parking plan was not sufficient. She also inquired as to where the park called out in the Urban Core Specific Plan would be placed if the project were to become a reality, adding that they would be opposed to the proposed "land swap" if the intent is to acquire Sweetwater Authority's Garrett Avenue property only to turn around and give it to another development entity. Assistant Director Crockett responded to questions of the Board noting that the Agency would maintain ownership of the land. Director Rooney stated that, regarding Ms. Aguilar's statement on parking, the requirements are lowered in transit areas to encourage people to take mass transit. He also expressed that most developers would still provide more parking to be able to market their projects to buyers. He also stated that there was still potential in the area for linear parks along the transit-oriented development corridor that should be considered as they have been very successful in San Diego. ACTION: Director Salas moved the adoption of Resolution No. 2008-005, heading read, text waived: CVRC RESOLUTION NO. 2008-005, RESOLUTION OF THE CHULA VISTA REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR THE APPROV AL OF A LETTER OF INTENT CONCERNING THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SWEETWATER AUTHORITY ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES ON CITY-OWNED PROPERTY AND RELATED LAND TRANSACTIONS Page 3 of 5 CVRC - Agenda - June 12, 2008 Director Rooney seconded the motion, and it carried 6-0 with Director Desrochers absent. 5. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S REPORTS A. GALAXY Executive Director/CEO Garcia stated that the Galaxy proposed project had dropped in scale and that they had given up the option on the motel, but were still interested in the Corp Yard area. He further stated that there was still significant information to be provided by the end of the agreement term, but that they remained optimistic about providing a revenue producing project. B. SWEETWATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT Executive Director/CEO Garcia reported that a meeting had been held with the Sweetwater representatives who still have some of their consultants engaged. They seem sincere about restarting the project, but staff has not seen much difference in their current proposal from the initial proposal. An additional report will be provided to the Board once received. Executive Director/CEO Garcia next stated that the Council had requested a work session be held in the Council Chambers on July 10, and requested and received concurrence from the CVRC Board to cancel their meeting, which had also been scheduled for July] O. 6. CHAIRMAN'S REPORTS Chairman Lewis thanked Executive Director/CEO Garcia and Assistant Director Crockett and their staff for all of the hard work they had been doing. He then stated that he had attended another ULI in Encinitas regarding agencies with contracting agreements with legal firms, and suggested they too consider this in the future. He also stated that early public input was critical to expedite projects, and incentives between the City and developers were needed. Executive Director/CEO Garcia advised the Board that Senior Assistant City Attorney Miesfield had been appointed Interim City Attorney, and that with the legal staff being so short-handed with recent retirements, they had discussed contracting out the redevelopment needs. Chairman Lewis then stated that there was a need to call for an annual meeting soon according to the Bylaws. 7. DIRECTORS' COMMENTS Director Paul requested a printed copy of the Bayfront Master Plan Revised DRAFT EIR Executive Summary, and Executive Director/CEO Garcia stated that one would be provided to him, as well as a CD for each Director who wanted one. Page 4 of 5 CVRC - Agenda - June 12, 2008 ADJOURNMENT At 7:53 p.m., Chairman Lewis adjourned the meeting to the Regular Meeting of July 24 2008 at 6:00 p.m., noting that the June 26th meeting was canceled per prior action of the Board, along with the meeting of July 10,2008, which was cancelled this evening. ~ // /-/ 4~ Eric C. Crockett, Secretary Page 5 of 5 CVRC - Agenda - June 12, 2008