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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 1998-04-01 Mayor Eugene R. Mullin Council: James L. Datzman Joseph A. Fernekes '--Karyl Matsumoto Iohn R. Penna MINUTES City Council Municipal Services Building Community Room April 1, 1998 s_ _P_ _E C ! A k MEETING CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO APRIL 1, 1998 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 54956 of the Government Code of the State of California, that the City Council of the City of South San Francisco will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, the 1st day of April 1998, at 5:30 p.m. in the Municipal Services Building, Community Room, 33 Arroyo Drive, South San Francisco, California. Purpose of the meeting is a study session to discuss: Downtown Charrette - continued from the 3/18/98 meeting City Clerk City of South San Francisco Dated: March 19, 1998 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN CALL TO ORDER: (Cassette No. 1) 5:40 p.m. Mayor Mullin presiding. ROLL CALL: Council Present: Council Absent: Datzman, Fernekes, Matsumoto and Mullin. Penna. Downtown Charrette - continued from the 3118/98 meet- ing. ~O qj q .... ~uncilman Penna Arrived at 5:44 p.m. Director of Economic & Community Development Van Duyn related: a summation of what was brought to Council at the last meeting; there are several issues in the design concepts - the Caltrain Station, City entrances and the Grand Avenue streetscape; the Caltrain Station relocation and rede- sign is the key issue, but that does not mean we will abandon the present facility but would look for activity to relocate and how we interface with the Caltrain riders with an extension of the platform and allowing expansion of the access; next was Grand Avenue and the Charrette components - the gate- 4/1/98 Page 1 A.GEND A ACTION TAKEN }55 Downtown Charrette - Continued. 4/1/98 Page 2 ways and towers as a possible way to relate changes to the downtown and for the purpose of creating an architectural statement and definition for the down- town; modify the street with furniture and eliminate some of the on-street parking that will bring more businesses out to the street and take advantage of the sunny side of Grand Avenue border and enhance entrances; enhance facades, improvements with street furniture and street activities and to redesign the entire section of Grand Avenue and Linden Ave.; it is staff's recommendation to build on the recommendation and move to the next step for more serious evaluations on what Council likes in the Charrette and evaluate the realities of the existing things out there and some would impact operating businesses in the downtown and interfacing with significant activities, either proposed or existing with the CDBG funds coordinated; at the last meeting staff demonstrated the activities downtown and the Charrette is another step for more activity to address the issues and the design solutions must be further evaluated and implemented; staff wants to make sure whatever comes out of the Charrette is supported by the umbrella of the general plan for it will focus on the downtown; staff had several meetings with the JPA regarding the detail of the station and gave them the recommendation of the Charrette; staff followed up by providing the Joint Powers with copies of the Charrette and have received a good reaction and want to broaden that with their coming back with the feasibility including land acquisition, and if they are supportive then give us financial assistance in order to achieve it. Discussion followed: the composition of the JPA will be supplied to Council; there are nine members in total; there will be political changes that will go through this Board and Mayor Mullin feels it is important who is on the Board; one of the recom- mendations is to allow staff to proceed and if so that will be included in the work program; recommenda- tions for Airport/Linden in the Charrette; just the the track relocation and platform are $1 million which does not include everything needed; the Fed- eral transit bill is reported to be out and is ready for signature and there is going to be ISTEA money for transit operated projects and we are going to analyze that; that was brought up at the last meeting, so when this City has a project is joint transportation multi-model opportunities we are trying to get our transportation interfaced, but at the same time we AGENDA ACTION TAKEN Downtown Charrette - Continued. 4/1/98 Page 3 also offered our powers of the Redevelopment Agen- cy to be used for land assembly; Mayor Mullin wants to see an analysis of how that breaks out and what can be emphasized so that can be adopted to meet the Federal requirement; City Manager Wilson stated yesterday, they talked about another use that may augment that and that is daycare; C/CAG has to propose a budget and one petitions, for it is a point system and the higher you are in achieving goals allows you to be placed higher for funding; what we have is a potential, a design and proposal that is almost implementation that gives us a leg up in seeking money because you are showing a project with feasibility and real opportunity because the land use has been determined compatible; it is not like you are going to start and it is three years down the road, for this is one year; staff is suggesting the comprehensive plan for the downtown and it will take into consideration the land use feasibility and the plan for recruiting retail business and financial assistance; the general plan will address the down- town development in the context of growth and future changes; high density housing will be an important element in the area; staff is asking Coun- cil to direct the preparation of a detailed work pro- ject and proposed budget for the Agency program; the Director had to submit his budget and included the funds necessary to carry out the work program; test out density and a concern that housing needs may have to be accommodated by the density; Councilman Fernekes is against high density; if density is not addressed it affects other areas such as transportation, air quality, congestion, but this gives the opportunity to down size the risk; Mayor Mullin stated there are certain scenarios where high density is something he would not reject that would be a stimulant to the downtown; in S.F. there is a combi- nation going into commercial in the south of Market St., so as the consultant goes forward all scenarios should be looked at; they would have to go up in building, thus maximizing air space so there are things that are not a change that the consultant will talk about on 4/15/98 and staff will look for direc- tion; staff gave a presentation on 3/25/98 to the Chamber which was well received and staff was asked to sponsor another forum Tuesday at the Mag- nolia Center at 8 a.m. for businesses and owners in the downtown; staff has appreciated the Chamber's enthusiasm and interest in the project and want to continue with them irrespective of how this is ap- proached; using in the general plan staff looks AGENDA ACTION TAKEN Downtown Charrette - Continued. 4/1/98 Page 4 at a scenario of increasing density or moving resi- dential with other uses; Vice Mayor Datzman likes the changes in San Mateo to the downtown area; Mayor Mullin agreed with the Vice Mayor's ideas of taking advantage of the inter-model hubs and using them to revitalize transit communities, and making housing more affordable; he feels this will make housing more affordable and the ability to be in a transit hub can allow you to not have a second or third auto and gives you a focus and commitment to work because they are building new communities; he believes this is an exciting concept; Vice Mayor Datzman stated change is difficult and Charrettes often result in dust on a shelf; he saw an area that where a natural evolution took them down and when he took office he said the downtown will go up or down; he is pleased with this and feels they should analyze all things, for what he sees does not encour- age traffic in the downtown; etc. Further discussion followed: hiring ESE and what hindrances they faced; the Chamber has been work- ing on ways to reach the property owners and get an opportunity to make a case for a longer term use or some variety of use that we are not seeing; is there a way the Council can be proactive; using a bond program and being a partner; we looked to purchase the Crocker Bank and use it as a leverage to turn around that portion of the corner; staff asked the Council to get a bond program to purchase and assemble properties and some money to assist busi- nesses or those coming in, like the Bacchanal Res- taurant; staff needs something dramatic to demon- strate the joint public/private partnership for it is a lot of risk on the developer's part; staff has not been able to land that, but does have another proposal; ESE suffered by being a southern California firm; Mayor Mullin knew that two years ago; when he walks a neighborhood, acting like an out of towner, he questions what would he spend his money on, and sees that it is all neighborhood oriented; staff is looking for attractive retail uses; Vice Mayor stated the downtown merchants say the City does not care about the downtown, only the East of 101 and there needs to be more dialogue about what the City has done in the downtown like the ArtRise on Linden which the future will determine if that is successful; ArtRise must bring in a business plank; if the dream does not materialize, why not put them elsewhere in the downtown; the Vice Mayor would like Council meetings back in the downtown and use the MSB for AGENDA ACTION TAKEN .Downtown Charrette - Continued. ADJOURNMENT: other things; Councilman Fernekes does not mind exploring that, but he likes the MSB and it is in the downtown; have to expand the platform and move spur tracks for direct access, and if they are relocat- ed further north or eliminate them - that will have an affect on the cost; Mayor Mullin feels it is im- portant to make that sort of a hub but he does not see how it is possible with all the other things; people will be able to see into the downtown from the turn around of the station; Councilman Penna does not feel the station is a friendly place, but if moved further then people can walk from Grand Ave. and it can be a destination station for now it is wide open, cold and windy; Vice Mayor Datzman asked if there is consensus of moving the Council meeting; Councilmember Matsumoto stated, as a Westborough resident she supports meetings at the MSB; Mayor Mullin stated he likes the meetings at different place and has no objection to that; Council- man Penna stated the floor in the MSB shakes and he would hate to be here in an earthquake; Mayor Mullin stated there is consensus to go forward with the Charrette. M/S Fernekes/Penna - To adjourn the meeting. Carried by unanimous voice vote. Time of adjournment was 6:44 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, APPROVED. Barbara A. Battaya, City Clerk City of South San Francisco Euge e~. Mullin, Mayor City of South San Francisco The entries of this Council meeting show the action taken by the City Council to dispose of an item. Oral communica- tions, arguments and comments are recorded on tape. The tape and documents related to the items are on file in the Office of the City Clerk and are available for inspection, review and copying. 4/1/98 Page 5