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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/02/2016  B A K E R S F I E L D Committee Members Staff: Chris Huot Councilmember, Bob Smith Chair Assistant City Manager Vice Mayor, Harold Hanson Councilmember, Ken Weir REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Tuesday, August 2, 2016 12:00 p.m. City Hall North – Conference Room A 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT The meeting was called to order at 12:16 p.m. 1. ROLL CALL Committee members: Councilmember, Bob Smith, Chair Vice Mayor, Harold Hanson Councilmember, Ken Weir City Staff: Alan Tandy, City Manager Chris Huot, Assistant City Manager Christopher Gerry, Administrative Analyst – City Manager’s Office Caleb Blaschke, Management Assistant Andy Heglund, Deputy City Attorney Richard Iger, Associate Attorney Nick Fidler, Public Works Director Doug McIsaac, Community Development Director Jacqui Kitchen, Planning Director Cecelia Greigo, Associate Planner Darrin Budak, Recreation and Parks Assistant Director Devin Daugherty, Park Construction and Facility Planner Additional Attendees: Bob Bell, Downtown Bakersfield Development Corporation (DBDC) Cathy Butler, Downton Bakersfield Development Corporation (DBDC) Dave Dmhowski, Quad Knopf Troy Hightower, TDH Association International Adam Cohen, Bakersfield Resident Roger McIntosh, McIntosh and Associates Theo Douglas, The Bakersfield Californian A Member of KGET 17 News /S/ Chris Huot   Planning and Development Committee August 2, 2016 Agenda Summary Report Page 2   2. ADOPT APRIL 19, 2016 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT The report was adopted as submitted. 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. High Speed Rail Station Plan Update Community Development Director McIsaac stated preliminary work was nearly completed. He stated 11 visioning workshops had been held and the information gathered at them was summarized into a “What We Heard” report by the consultant firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. Mr. McIsaac presented to the Committee an existing conditions report analyzing transportation, economics, urban design, etc. including several vision concept alternatives prepared by the consultant as well. The vision concept alternatives will be presented at the upcoming Stakeholder Committee meeting, and then at the first citywide community meeting tentatively scheduled for late August. It will be held at the Rabobank Convention Center. City Manager Tandy stated that as part of the area planning efforts, conceptual planning for a street scape project along 34th Street, a designated economic opportunity zone, was also being planned with the assistance of Dignity Health. The project is in conjunction to a Pacific, Gas, and Electricity (PG&E) project to burry overhead lines planned for 2017. Planning Director Kitchen stated the purpose of the review process is to engage the community in order to design visual concepts from their responses and feedback. Committee Chair Smith stated all the vision concept alternatives were headed in the right direction. Several contain components which could be implemented with or without the High Speed Rail. Committee member Hanson asked if the city was being reimbursed for the staff time being used for this part of the process. Mr. Hanson also inquired if any information was available regarding any private sector businesses partnering with the High Speed Rail Authority. City Manager Tandy stated staff time was being reimbursed and explained the two components to the reimbursement agreement. One component reimburses the time of three planners dedicated to the Station Area Planning study and the second component reimburses staff time spent on the cooperative efforts associated with the High Speed Rail. He also stated he was not aware of any private equity partners connected with the construction of the project. The outcome of the current planning efforts could be used as a guide by private developers who may be interested in investing in future development. Committee member Weir stated the planning exercise is very beneficial as it allows for the incorporation of what the community envisions for the area.   Planning and Development Committee August 2, 2016 Agenda Summary Report Page 3   5. NEW BUSINESS A. Proposed Friant-Kern Canal Project Update City Manager Tandy stated staff has been working diligently with the Bureau of Reclamation and its designated Use Committee made up by 13 different water districts, for some time now, to develop a concept of a multi-use path along the federal waterway known as the Friant–Kern Canal. The idea was referred by Committee Chair Smith in response to the absence of a north to south passageway for bicycles and pedestrians. He stated there is federal legislation which encourages the Bureau of Reclamation to make multi-use elements out of the canals. Mr. Tandy stated that if approved, the project could be funded through several grant opportunities over a period of several years. Management Assistant Blaschke presented a brief slide show containing images from several areas along the Friant-Kern Canal and renderings of a multi-use path along the canal and referred to the memorandum included in the meeting packet. He stated a six mile multi-use path along the canal would connect north Bakersfield to central, east, and west Bakersfield. Staff will continue to have dialogue with the Friant Water Authority, identify grant opportunities, and provide periodic updates to the Committee as the project progresses. Committee Chair Smith thanked staff for all their time and efforts in moving the project forward. Committee member Weir asked who would be maintaining the multi-use path if it is funded, built and completed and what the timeframe of the project was. City Manager Tandy stated the city, specifically the Recreation and Parks Department, would be responsible to main the pathway in the same manner it does the bike path. Public Works Director Fidler stated staff is reviewing several options to alleviate the added workload to the Parks Department including the Adopt-A-Highway program in which several sections of the multi-use pathway could be adopted and maintained by sponsors and volunteers. He stated a small segment could be constructed in 2018. 6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS None 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 12:57 p.m.