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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2009-02-18~~x S MINUTE S _ SPECIAL MEETING o REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY cAlIF R~~~ CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO O CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM 400 GRAND AVENUE SOUr1lH SAN FRANCISCO WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2009 City Council Meeting Called to Order: Redevelopment Agency Meeting Called to Order: City Council and Redevelopment Agency Roll Call: * For reporting purposes, participants are referred to in the remainder of the minutes by their titles affiliated with the City Council. Public Comments -Comments were limited to items on the Special Meeting Agenda. None. Mayor Matsumoto announced that applicant Kamala Silva Wolfe had withdrawn her application for ppointment to the Historic Preservation in a letter to Council. In the letter, Mrs. Silva Wolfe also endorsed applicant Ray Bava for appointment to the position. 2. Council interviewed applicants to fill a vacancy on the Historic Preservation Commission as follows: John Baker, Roy Bava, Linda Loeffler and Buenaflor "Flor" Nicolas. 6:01 p.m. 6:01 p.m. Present: Councilmen/13oardmembers Garbarino, Gonzalez and Mullin, Vice Mayor/Vicc Chairman Addiego and Mayor/Chairwoman Matsumoto. Absent: None. 3. Discussion/appointment of applicant to the Historic Preservation Commission. After discussion, Council voted by ballot which yielded the following result: Flor Nicolas and Roy Bava were tied for appointment to the vacant seat. Accordingly, the vote proceeded by motion. Motion- Vice Mayor Addiego/Second- Councilman Gonzalez: to vote to appoint Iiuenallor Nicolas to the Historic Preservation Commission. AYES: Councilman Gonraler, Vice Mayor Addiego and Mayor Matsumoto. NOF;S: Councilmen Garbarino and Mullin. Ali"hAIN: None. ABSENT: None. 1~Iotion-Vice Mayor Addiego/Second- Councilman Gonzalez: to appoint Flor Nicolas to the Historic Preservation Commission for a term to expire December 31, 2012. Unanimously approved by voice vote. 4. Closed Session: Anticipated Litigation (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956(c).) Initiation of Litigation: One Case. Closed Session opened: 6:44 p.m. Open Session resumed: 7:14 p.m. Report out of Closed Session: By a vole of 5-0 Council authorized the filing of a law suit against the State Board of Equ~~liration to recover sales tax revenues that should have been allocated to the City. 5. 7:00 p. m.: Downtown Strategy Discussion. Discussion began: 7:14 p.m. Manager of Housing and Redevelopment Fragoso stated staff had worked wit11 consultant Van Meter Williams Pollack ("VMWP") to develop a vision for Downtown revitalization. The result was a series of perceived opportunities and/or suggestions for the area. The purpose of developing die vision was not. to propose development but to provide a feeling of what development could look like on specific opportunity sites. Manager Fragoso then introduced a presentation by VMWP. Rick Williams of VMWP made t11e presentation and other staff from the firm was present. Mr. Williams explained the presentation was a collaborative effort including input from staff, property owners and businesses. The proposed vision was meant to be flexible and it was anticipated that it would be modified. over time. He then proceeded wide the presentation as follows: Development of the vision for the Downtown involved identification of key sites in the area, opportunities for redevelopment and public and private investment. Also essential to the vision was consistent with the Gener~il Plan. The plan promoted infill development and encouraged a mixture of commercial, retail and residential uses. The plan envisioned Downtown as the gateway to the South San Francisco community through a focus on the connection from the East of 101 area to the remainder of the Ciry. ~hhe large, picture vision for the Downtown would be dependent upon completion SPECIAL REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY & CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 18, 2009 MINUTES PAGE 2 ol~ a series of~ individual projects, including', Darks, neighborhood locus centers, mixed use Auld llighei- ~lensit}~ developments. Manager Fragoso explained that as part of the project, staff i<lcntilied City or Rc~levclo~>ment Agency owned properties. In addition, bulb public and privately owned tr~ulsition sites were identified. M~uiager hragoso dicn hresente~l neaps displaying transition sites dcpic'ting sub areas as well as priority opportunity sites. Mayor iVlatsumoto questioned the definition of a priority site. :Vlanag~er Tragoso advised priority silos were those that were ~ilready City or Agency owned or were presently on the market. ~l'hese locations were identified as priorities because there was more immediate potential for development and/or ch~ulge. Councilman Gonzales commented on the need for revitalization of the Downtown and questioned the feasibility ol~ die proposal given d1e charrettes that had been presented in the past. Manager Tragoso advised the present vision was more comprehensive than what had previously been developed and was consistent w~itll the General Plan. In addition, given the amount of publicly owned and/or transition property in die area, the opportunity was more realistic than in die past. Councilman Gonzalez noted d1e importance of bringing dle vision to d1e community and obtaining the property owners' impressions of~ dle proposal. He emphasized that die neighborhood's willingness to help the City improve die Downtown would be necessary. Mayor Matsumoto advised the Downtown vision and development strategry would be a part. of her presentation during the State of die City addresses. Mr. Williams then continued die presentation and displayed several slides pertaining to public investment in the Downtown area. The proposals depicted would create a strong identify for die Downtown Core and better connect it to the neighborhood. In die proposal, streets were modified to create open spaces and a plaza and park at. City Hall were depicted as were oilier public space and streetscape improvements. Mr. Williams stressed the importance of rerouting Downtown truck tr~tlfic as part. of the plan. Mayor Matsumoto noted drat Council had long supported die rerouting of truck tr~ilfic in dle Downtown area, however she understood bringing dus to fruition would be very difficult given drat Caltrans' assistance was required. M~ulager hragoso stated it was staff's proposal to begin die process of malting inroads wide Caltrans on die subject of rerouting truck tr~rffic. Assistant City Manager and Director of Community Development Van Duyn advised it would be a matter of restricting truck access off 101 from the south bound exit, which had been staff's proposal for sometime. C~iltrans had entertained die idea, but had demanded a subst~mtial amount of environmental studies. Staff was presently working on answering C~~ltrans' requests. SPECIAL REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY & CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 18, 2009 MINUTES PAGE 3 Mayor iVlatsurnoto stated that restricting truck access would 1>c crucial to snaking the area walkable. VIr. Willi~uns dlcn presented additional streetscape drawings and maps and cxplaine<l the proposals as follows: ~hhe proposal called Ior enhancements to Airport Boulevard and die ability to change Cypress Avenue into a more pedestrian oriented street This course ol~ action would sei~~e to anchor the Downtown at the lower end of Grand Avenue and expand commerci~il activity closer to 101 and Airport Boulevard. Adding mixed use commercial activity down ~~long the freeway would transform the :u-ea into a true gateway for the community. Grand Avenue Streetscape improvements had already begun testing, including Model Sites at Maple and Linden Avenues with the incorporation of benches and banners. Additional planned improvements included planters, bollards quid enhanced trash ~u1d recycling receptacles. The proposal celled for adding these improvements ~ilong the pedestrian gateway between C~~ltrain and the Downto~~l District and along Baden Avenue. Infill Development in response to the Miller Avenue Parking Structure was suggested. Enhancing d1e nearby streets and building on the existing fabric in the area with buildings that would lit the scale and size of die area was recommended. Priority steps included die following: (1) redesign the S. Linden/Shaw/San Mateo Ave. Intersection for truck traffic re-route; (2) develop Airport Blvd Streetscape; (3) implement Grand Avenue Streetscape; (4) design Cypress Avenue Phase l; and (5) 4'~ Lane lighting and improvement program. Councilman Garbarino questioned the proposal calling for 300+ sq. feet of off ce space near die freeway along Airport Blvd. Mr. Willianis responded the proposal was focused on anchoring commerci~il activity along die li-eeway. The proposed office space would house local-serving business such as banks, etc. Councilman Mullin stated he was excited by die prospect of developing a vision to improve die Downtown District. He questioned dle major hurdles confronted in bringing die charrette vision from the 1990s to fruition. He explained lus intent in asking dais question was to determine how to make die r~rocess work dlis time around. Manager Fragoso advised dle origin~~l charrette was done more dean ten (10) years ago and included good ideas. However, the ideas were in some ways not grounded in re~~lily. For example, die groundwork of identifying priority opportunities had not been undertaken. The current proposal incorporated real properties that were owned by dle City or Agency. Furdierrnore, present proposals were consistent will the General Plan, making diem more re~~listic. Councilman Mullin questioned the fin~ulcial vehicle proposed to make die vision a reality. SPECIAL REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY & CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 18, 2009 MINUTES PAGE 4 Manager Fragoso opined that much of~ the work could be accomplished throug~li the Downtown Redevelopment District. In addition, private businesses and property owners such as l~ronstein's Music, I3uon Gusto and Di Napoli were looking to make significant investments in the Downtown with Agency support. Assistant City Manager Van Duyn advised t}ie fimd~unental difference between the timing ol~ the old ch~u-rette tied the new vision ~-vas the availability of~ RDA 1un<ls. 'hlie availability of~ RDA funding had increased alloy-vin a number of Agency aa~uisitions in the District. Accordingly, the RDA had been able to assemble Downtown properties that were ripe for improvement. Councilman Mullin questioned whether quality residenti~il development would need to happen in the District before quality ret~ul ~uzd private investment would follow. Manager I'ragoso stated housing was a critical component because people with disposable income would be required to keep the economy going and m~~ke retail and restaurants in the ~u-ea work. Accordingly, housing was an essenti~rl first piece, but the infrastructure to improve the area was so import~uit that it was on a parallel track with plans for residential improvements. Mayor Matsumoto questioned whether the Downtown could be unproved according to the proposed vision while maintaining the character of some of the older Downtown developments. Mr. Williams advised the qu~unt older architecture actually fit very well with plans for modernization. He advised the newer buildings may be a little bigger in scale, but their overall style wouldn't have to differ. He opined drat Downtown had great bones that deserved resurgence. Mayor Matsumoto observed the plan called for the gentrification of t11e Downtown. She questioned the measures being employed to assist individu~ils/businesses that might be displaced. Manager Fragoso advised dle different interests were competing in slightly different categories. She opined the Mom quid Pop taquerias and businesses would always be on Grand Avenue, but that didn't mean upscale restaurants and business couldn't be added. In addition, staff planned social programming Lo maint~un support for the low income community. Vice Mayor Addiego stated that better stores might bring some consistency to the Downtown. Councilman Garbarino stated retail or restaurants that would serve as an attraction to the area were necessary. Vice Mayor Addiego observed some of the proposed enhancements could be moved on as large amounts of funding were not required. Assistant City Manager Van Duyn stated many changes to the Downtown were anticipated. Housing would be a priority as it was expected to bring a demand For retailers w1d resGrurants not presently in the area. However, the need to maintain businesses/rest<~urants for peripheral residents to dle Downtown would always exist. Council commented on the need for Downtown merchants to run promotions. SPECIAL REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY & CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 18, 2009 MINUTES PAGE 5 Mr. Willi~uns conuncntcd on the similarity of the Downtown demographic between South San Francisco and San Ralacl. He noted that although it took sonic lime, San Ralacl was able to develop a thriving Downtown while merging coillpeting interests. Mayor Matsumoto ctucstio~ic~l liow the roiling code would impact proposals for miYCd use and/or taller buildings on Grand Avenue. Assistant City Manager Van Duyn stated that with proper density adjustments, the development Icvel could be increased above tlic lirst Moor to accommodate either ollicc or residenti~~l uses. Mayor Matsumoto advised that ilcxt steps would include further review by the Downtown Subcommittee. She ~~lso wanted the Historic Preservation Commission to be invited to participate ~u1d become ~7iore actively involved in pl~uls for Downtown revitalisation. 6. Adjournment of City Council Meeting and Redevelopment Meeting. Being no further business, Mayor Matsumoto adjourned the meeting at 8:39 p.m. Submitted by: City o Clerk, 'Larson, City n Francisco pmcnt Ag~cncy Approved: ~-,,-~ U Karyl 1Vlatsumoto, Mayor City of South San Francisco Chairwoman, Redevelopment Agency SPECIAL REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY' & CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY I8, 2009 MINUTES PAGE 6