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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/03/82 MINUTES RA MINUTES BAKERSFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY Regular Meeting---August 3, 1982 The Regular rteeting of the Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency was called to order by Chairman Lewis on Tuesday, August 3, I982 at 4 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. The Secretary called the roll as follows: MEMBERS PRESENT: Frank Lewis, Chairman John Mooneyham, Vice-Chairman Judy Clausen Randall Richardson Rollie Moore Gene Winer Richard Bilas STAFF PRESENT: Philip Kelmar, Executive Director Richard Oberholzer, City Attorney Richard Russell, Deputy Executive Director W. D. Higginbotham, Jr., Treasurer David Kennon, Economic Development Coordinator MINUTES Minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 22, 1982 were approved as mailed. FINANCIAL Voucher Approval - On a motion by Mr. Bilas, seconded by Mr. Mooneyham, Vouchers 263 through 297 totaling $83,443.38 were approved for payment. SCHEDULED PUBLIC STATEMENTS 1. Mr. Larry Guay was present and gave a status report on his proposed office/commercial project to be located at 18th and "K" Streets. He stated that he is still attempting to secure financing. He further stated that because of corporate problems there has been a delay with one of the prospec- tive tenants which has caused his project to be held back from any additional negotiations. Mr. Guay proposed to the Agency that the City should accept other proposals for this property since his exclusive right has expired. Mr. Kelmar suggested that the staff prepare a proposal giving developers certain parameters as to what is preferred for the property and give the de- velopers a certain period of time to respond with their proposals. Mr. Mooneyham made a motion to direct staff to define the standards for the development on available properties downtown; to send out proposals to interested developers and give them a certain period of time to respond. The motion was seconded by r~r. Bilas and carried. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Lewis, Bilas, Moore, Clausen, Richardson, Winer, Mooneyham None None CORRESPONDENCE 1. Upon request of Chairman Lewis, the Secretary read a letter from Mr. Benjamin D. Benton, General Partner of the Haberfelde Building, regarding the restoration and adaptive reuse of the Haberfelde Building. The request was referred to staff for appropriate action to assist the owner in his efforts to place the structure on the Historic Register and to define how additional assistance from the Agency may occur. AGENCY MEMBER STATEMENTS 1. Mr. Bilas stated that he feels the people who generally appear at the Agency meetings are the people who have some interest concerning an item on the agenda. He feels that with the large budget of the Agency, tax payers should be present. Mr. Bilas commented that things done by the Agency should be clearly presented to the public. Mr. Bilas further commented that in his opinion the Agency acted as a buffer between the tax payer and the elected body, thus reducing their accountability. Mr. Bilas made a motion that the Agency ask the City Council to desolve the Agency and replace it with the City Council acting as the Agency. Mr. Moore stated that the public is notified of the meetings and the actions scheduled to occur and can attend. He stated that the Council formed the Agency to have additional people review different proposals that come forward; that the Agency is an advisory agency and the Council has to approve all projects and agreements. Mr. Winer commented on that he agreed with Mr. Moore in that the Council sets the overall policy and it is the duty of the Redevelopment Agency to carry out that policy. Ms. Clausen stated that even if the Council were to take over the Redevelopment Agency that it would not ensure that more people would attend the meetings. She further commented that at most Council meetings people only attend because of certain issues which they are involved with. Mr. Richardson stated that he agreed with Mr. Bilas partially, in that there should be more ~omment from people in the community and their views on subjects before the Agency. He stated that it is difficult to make decisions without input from the public. Chairman Lewis stated that no tax dollars are spent without the proper guidance of the Council or as a means of carrying out some stated goal. He further stated that the Agency has established goals, and recommends only what is best for the City. There were no further comments; the motion died because of a lack of a second. REPORTS 1. Mr. Kennon stated that at the last meeting the Agency approved the agreement of a joint venture with GET and Kern COG for the purpose of genera- ting a study and strategy to improve the public transit in the downtown. Mr. Scales of Barton-Aschman, transportation consultants, was present to give a brief update as to the scope and effort of transit malls. Mr. Jim Gambel of Barton-Aschman, made a slide presentation to the Agency regarding the state of the art and feasibility of transit malls in the Central City. He stated that an off-street facility and an on- street type transit mall will be considered. 2. Upon a request by Chairman Lewis, the Secretary read a memorandum from the Parking Committee regarding the Sill Parking structure, It was noted that an Offer To Sell the subject property for $410,000 has been re- ceived from Mr. Hugh Sill. Additional data regarding the impact of building a parking structure on this property was delineated within the report based upon data provided by Agency consultants and staff. The market value of the property including land and improvements is placed at $370,000 which the Agency will provide, subject to the ability of the downtown businessmen to raise the additional $40,000. The proposed parking structure is to be located on 18th between "H" and Eye Streets. Mr. Treanor, President of DBA, stated that the DBA is still trying to raise the $40,000 of which $20,000 has been pledged. He stated that the businesses have suffered long enough without adequate parking. Mr. Roger Slesigner, Manager of the Brower Building, stated that they have spent $400,000 rehabing the Brower Building, and they are 90 percent finished but are at a standstill because of no additional parking. He stated the structure is needed desperately. Mr. Moore made a motion to approve the purchase of the property pending receipt of the $40,000 from the DBA and direct staff to take the necessary steps to construct the parking gara§e. The motion was seconded by Mr. Winer and carried. AYES: Lewis, Mooneyham, Clausen, Moore, Winer, Richardson, Bilas NOES: None ABSENT: None DEFERRED BUSINESS 1. A request by Bell Tower Associates, asking the Redevelopment Agency to participate in the landscaping and required public improvements around the Bell Towers project, was presented to the Agency at the last meeting. A staff report was submitted to the Agency members stating that these improvements, described by Bell Towers, are improvements that ordinarily would be required of any developer under the same circumstances. Mr. Mooneyham made a motion not %o provide funds to Bell Tower Associ- ates for landscaping improvements as requested. The motion was seconded by Mr. Moore and carried. AYES: Lewis, Mooneyham, Clausen, Moore, Winer, Richardson, Bilas NOES: None ABSENT: None 2. Chairman Lewis tabled the issue of approving the agreement between Rod Gunn and Associates and the Redevelopment A9ency to serve as the Agency's acquisition consultant pending further discussions with the hotel developer. 3. The Redevelopment Agency Budget was submitted to the Agency at its June 22, 1982 meeting. Mr. Richardson questioned how the funds would be acquired for the parking structure through the new budget. Mr. Kelmar stated that the Hotel and Auditorium projects are approximately $2.4 million and the rest of the funds have been allocated toward some addition-- al land banking. Mr. Kelmar stated that the purchase of the Sill Lot is in- cluded in the budget and that a portion of the $2.4 million would not be ex- pended until the next fiscal year. After further discussions regarding the Redevelopment Agency budget for 1982-83, a motion was made by the Chairman to approve the 1982-83 budget. The motion was carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Lewis, Clausen, Moore, Richardson, Winer, Bilas, Mooneyham NOES: None ABSENT: None 4. Mr. Kennon presented a report regarding the proposed historic preser- vation section of the Redevelopment Element. He stated that the Agency should provide input and concerns about the program, and approve the program and make recommendations to the Council to adopt the ordinance. Mr. Richardson stated that his concern is that he doesn't see how this program fits into the Redevelopment Plan. Mr. Kennonstatedthat the commission will be charged with putting into effect the final historic preservation program. The way the law is established, the City does a preliminary plan wherein staff identifies the resources within the community; the commission is established and charged with taking that pre- liminary plan and create a final plan for the preservation of those historic resources it deems important. It was pointed out that any successful down- town Redevelopment effort must strive to restore, preserve, and reuse existing resources including significant buildings when feasible. After further discussions Mr. Bilas made a motion to approve the Historic Preservation Ordinance. The motion was seconded by Mr. Winer and carried. AYES: Lewis, Mooneyham, Clausen, Moore, Winer, Richardson, Bilas NOES: None ABSENT: None 5. The issue of the proposed Housing Program was tabled until the next regular meeting so that the Agency members could have sufficient time to review the input from individuals and agencies and submit any questions or concerns regarding the resolution. 6. Mr. McBride of McBride and Watt Development Co. presented a brief status report on the proposed hotel project. A report was distributed to the Agency members from Pannell Kerr Foster, certified public account, regarding the market feasiblity of the proposed 300-room hotel. Mr. McBride circulated four brochures from other major hotels located in California for comparison. The report outlines the feasibility of developing a major hotel. Mr. McBride outlined certain aspects contained within the report identifying the con- vention market as weak in Bakersfield. Also, it is recommended that a 200- room hotel be considered. Mr. McBride stated that he is very optimistic about the project. Mr. Richardson questioned the effect that a lO0-room reduction would have on the development. Mr. Kelmar stated that additional study will have to be done regarding the economics of the project and the ramifications of having to invest the amount of money in a hotel of less than 300 rooms. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Bakersfield Redevelop- ment Agency, the meeting was adjourned at 5:37 p.m. Roberta F. Gafford, ~e~tary Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency MR. FRANK LEWIS~ Chairman Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency rg