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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRDA Reso 01-2011RESOLUTION NO. 01-2011 REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF TAX INCREMENT FUNDS FOR SP>=CCIFIED PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND REDEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, ADOPTING FINDINGS REQUIRED BY HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 33445, AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO WHEREAS, the Redevelopment Agency of the City oaf South San Francisco ("Agency") is a redevelopment agency formed, existing and exercising its powers pursuant to California Community Redevelopment Law, Health and Safety Code Section 33000 et seq. ("CRL"); WHEREAS, the City Council ("City Council") of the City of South San Francisco ("City") has adopted and. amended, from time to time, the Redevelopment Plans (collectively, the "Redevelopment Plan") for the Downtown/Central, El Camino Corridor, Gateway, and Shearwater project areas (collectively, the "Project Area"); and WHEREAS, in keeping with the goals of the Agency to eliminate blight in the Project Area in accordance with the Redevelopment Plan and Agency's current Implementation Plan ("Implementation Plan"), the City and Agency have been. working cooperatively regarding the development of certain public improvements in the Project Area; and WHEREAS, the City and Agency have determined that it would be mutually beneficial to enter into a Cooperative Agreement (the "Agreement") a copy of which is on file with the City Clerk and Agency Secretary, pursuant to which the Agency would agree to pay for certain public improvements and other activities to be undertaken by the City in the furtherance of the redevelopment of the Project Area; WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 33445 of the CRL, the Agency may, with the consent of the City, pay for all or a portion of the cost of the land for, and the cost of construction of, any building, facility, structure, or other improvements that are publicly owned and located within or contiguous to the Project Area if the Redevelopment Agency finds based upon substantial evidence that: (1) The acquisition of the land or the installation or construction of the buildings, facilities, structures, or other improvements that are publicly owned are of primary benefit to the Project Area; (2) The acquisition of the land or the installation or construction of the buildings, facilities, structures, or other improvements that are publicly owned benefits the Project Area by helping to eliminate blight within the Project Area, or will directly assist in the provision of housing for low- or moderate-income persons; (3) No other reasonable means of financing thc; acquisition of the land or the installation or construction of the buildings, facilities, structures, or other improvements that are publicly owned, are available to the community; (4) The payment of funds for the acquisition o~f land or the cost of buildings, facilities, structures, or other improvements that are publicly owned is consistent with the implementation plan adopted pursuant to CRL Section 33490; and (5) The acquisition of land and the installation of each building, facility, structure, or improvement that is publicly owned is provided for in the Redevelopment Plan. WHEREAS, the Agreement requires the completion of environmental review pursuant to CEQA prior to the commencement of any public improvement listed in the Agreement; and WHEREAS, pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4), approval of the Agreement itself is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), because the Agreement is related to a government funding mechanism or other government fiscal activities which do not involve a commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment; WHEREAS, a "project" requiring CEQA review, is an activity that has the potential for resulting in either a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and expressly does not include government funding mechanisms or other government fiscal activities which do not involve any commitment to any specific project (CEQA Guidelines, § 15378(b)(4)); and, WHEREAS, the degree of specificity with which an EIR must analyze impacts, should correspond to the degree of specificity associated with the underlying activity described in the EIR (CEQA Guidelines, § 15146); and, WHEREAS, many of the potential future redevelopment projects that will be funded were analyzed in certified EIRs at the time the applicable Redevelopment Plan, or previous amendments thereto, were proposed for adoption; and, WHEREAS, once an EIR has been certified for a redevelopment plan, individual component of the redevelopment plan and subsequent activities within the scope of the redevelopment plan, are subject to limited CEQA review (CEQA Guidelines, § 15180); and, WHEREAS, potential redevelopment projects that have not been approved, but that may be funded, will be subject to CEQA analysis at the time that a. particular scope and design for the project is proposed, as that is the time that the potential projects could result in a physical change in the environment; and, WHEREAS, the City's General Plan EIR disclosed and analyzed the environmental impacts of various projects, including but not limited to, creation of local job opportunities and preservation of the area's existing job base; promotion of downtown as a central financial hub and activity center; and, WHEREAS, the City's General Plan Update EIR disclosed and analyzed the environmental impacts of various projects, including but :not limited to, the Oak Avenue Extension; achievement of an environment with a higher level of concern for historic fabric; elimination of impediments to development and redevelopment and creation of job opportunities; and., WHEREAS, the Redevelopment Plan for the Downtown/Central Redevelopment Project EIR, certified in 1989, disclosed and analyzed the environmental impacts of various redevelopment projects, including but not limited to, enhanced linkages from downtown to transit centers, creation of street connectivity with the neighborhoods and improved utilities, lighting and other public facilities; creation of a pedestrian environment to increase foot traffic in the Downtown area; continued support for cultural and civic uses and promote downtown as a financial hub for South San. Francisco; retention and expansion of retail opportunities and provision of diversification of uses, including retail, commercial, residential, and recreational; preservation of historic fabric and style of architecture; Baden Avenue development; Oyster Point improvements and support to encourage and facilitate development; expansion and upgraded housing opportunities in the community; and, WHEREAS, the El Camino Real/Chestnut Avenue Area Plan EIR ["ECR/Chestnut EIR"], which is expected to be certified in 2011, will have disclosed and analyzed the environmental impacts of various redevelopment projects, including but not limited to, the Oak Avenue Extension; development of the South San Francisco BART area as major pedestrian neighborhood; development of the El Camino Corridor consistent with Grand Boulevard Design Elements; and, WHEREAS, the El South El Camino Real General Plan Amendment EIR ["South ECR EIR"], which was certified in 2010, disclosed and analyzed the environmental impacts of various redevelopment projects, including but not limited to, development of the El Camino Corridor consistent with Grand Boulevard Design Elements; and, WHEREAS, the El Camino Corridor Redevelopment Plan Amendment Supplemental EIR ["El Camino SEIR"], which was certified in 2000, disclosed and analyzed the environmental impacts of various redevelopment projects, including but not limited to, expansion of open space and pedestrian access, including the expansion of Orange Avenue Park; development and implementation of a Business Retention and Development Assistance Program, including a Commercial Rehabilitation Program, to encourage private sector investment; increases in sales, taxes, and revenues to the City; acquisition of Chestnut Avenue /Cal Water site for infrastructure development; continued rehabilitation efforts in Willow Gardens Neighborhood; and, WHEREAS, the Redevelopment Plan for the El Camino Corridor Redevelopment Project EIR, which was certified in 1993, disclosed and analyzed the environmental impacts of various redevelopment projects, including but not limited to, development of a spectrum of housing types for all segments of the community; and, WHEREAS, the U.S. Steel Redevelopment Project EIR ["Shearwater EIR"], which was certified in 1985, disclosed and analyzed the environmental impacts of various redevelopment projects, including but not limited to, improved pedestrian access to open space; elimination of impediments to development and redevelopment and creating; job opportunities; expanded and upgraded housing opportunities in the community; and, WHEREAS, the Staff Report accompanying this Resolution, including Attachment A, the Redevelopment Plan, and the Implementation Plan provide additional information upon which the findings and actions set forth in this Resolution are based; WHEREAS, the expenditure of tax increment funds for the projects identified in the Agreement will be of benefit to the Project Area by facilitating the elimination of blight and the development of affordable housing; WHEREAS, the improvements to be funded pursuant to the Agreement are provided for in the Redevelopment Plan, and the expenditure of tax increment funds for such improvements is consistent with the Implementation Plan adopted by the Agency pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 33490, in that they will further the goals and objectives of the Redevelopment Plan, improve the appearance of the Project Area, eliminate blight, improve access to Project Area businesses, support economic development, and support the development of affordable housing; and WHEREAS, the activities and improvements proposed to be funded pursuant to the Agreement will not generate cash flow to the City or Agency, and therefore cannot support debt service; the City has no unrestricted general fund revenue available for such purposes without a reduction in vital community services; and the City does not have and cannot reasonably obtain revenue available for such purposes, and therefore no other reasonable means of financing the Project exists. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Redevelopment Agency of the City of South San Francisco that it hereby: 1. Finds based upon the foregoing recitals and the evidence set forth in the Staff Report and Attachment A, accompanying this Resolution that: (i) the expenditure of tax increment funds for the projects and programs identified in the Agreement will be of primary benefit to the Project Area by helping to eliminate blighting conditions and facilitating the development of low and moderate-income housing, (ii) no other reasonable means of financing such projects and programs is reasonably available, and (iii) completion of such projects is provided for and consistent with the Redevelopment Plan and the Implementation Plan adopted in connection therewith. 2. Approves the Agency's expenditure of tax increment funds in the amounts and for the purposes specified in the Agreement. 3. Approves the actions to be undertaken and the services to be provided by the Agency as specified in the Agreement. 4. Authorizes the Executive Director to execute the Agreement on behalf of the Agency substantially in the form on file with the City Clerk and to undertake such actions and to execute such additional instruments as may be necessary or desirable: in order to carry out the intent of this Resolution. I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was regularly introduced and adopted by the Redevelopment Agency of the City of South San Francisco at a special meeting held on the 14t" day of January, 2011 by the following vote: AYES: Boardmembers Mark Addieg_o, Pedro Gonzalez and Karyl Matsumoto, Vice Chair Richard A. Garbarino and Chairman Kevin Mullin NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None t~ '~ ATTEST: _ ~~ ~~ City Clerk ~./