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
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