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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/13/79 MINUTES RA MINUTES BAKERSFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY Special Meeting - March 13, 1979 A Special Meeting of the Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency was called to order by Chairman Casper, Tuesday, March 13, 1979 at 4 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. (The Regular Meeting scheduled for February 27, 1979 was cancelled due to lack of a quorum.) The secretary called the roll as follows: PRESENT: Vincent Casper, Chairman Robert E. King Jeanne Foth Frank S. Lewis Dr. Glenn D. Puder ABSENT: John S. Mooneyham Ralph H. Poehner, Vice Chairman STAFF: Dennis S. Needham, Deputy Executive Director Philip Kelmar, Treasurer Calvin A. Bidwell, Building Director Richard Oberholzer, Assistant City Attorney Euguen B. Jacobs, Agency Special Counsel OTHERS: Harry Tow, Quad Consultants Chairman Casper introduced two newly-elected Councilmen who were in the audience--Messrs. John Means (Ward 5) and Tom Payne (Ward 6). MINUTES Minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 16, 1979 were approved as mailed. FINANCIAL a) Voucher Approval - On motion by Ms. Foth, seconded by Mr. Lewis, and carried, Vouchers Nos. 44 through 57 (with the exception of Voucher No. 55), totaling $14,867.49 (Voucher Register dated March 13, 1979), were approved for payment. PROJECTS a) Downtown Parking; 1) Letter to D.B.A. - Mr. Needham reviewed the Agency's letter of January 30, 1979 responding to one from the Downtown Business Assoclatlon dated December 19, 1978 which requested information on various parking in the downtown area which might be made available to the public. 2) "K" Street Parking Garage Operating Agreement - Mr. Needham reported meetings to renegotiate this Agreement had been held in San Francisco with ARCON and Bank of America, two of the principals involved. Meetings will continue in an attempt to resolve parking problems and the feasibility for an additional level of parking on the facility. 3) Mr. Needham further stated that staff was directed to have Quad Consultants ascertain the value of parking throughout the downtown area and report to the Agency. Mr. Tow gave a verbal report on this matter. In summary, the City is not charging enough for parking downtown where the demand is high. Mr. Tow also reviewed Quad's Phase Three report on the Downtown Parking Plan Study which was handed to each Agency memb er. He stated his next, and final, report with Quad's recommendations should be available to the Agency in approximately 30 days. Sill Parking Lot - Mr. Needham noted the Agency had instructed him to refer this item to the City Council's Business Development and Parking Committee. He stated that due to the effect of the election on this Committee, he had not done so, but now that the election is over and the Committee will have a new member, he will do so. Mr. King, Chairman of the Agency's Parking Committee, instructed Mr. Needham to set up a joint meeting of the committees before the next Agency meeting. 4) Proposed Hotel - Chairman Casper noted this project now has a new partner- ship consisting of Mr. Robert Schwartz, Hotel Development Consultants, Inc. (who originally presented the project), and Guay & Danielson (developers of the Bank of America Tower and the California Republic Bank Building now under construction). The proposed hotel remains essentially the same--a 15-story building, with over 300 rooms. Chairman Casper stated he expects the Developer and the Agency could be in a posit~on to nego- tiate a Disposition and Development Agreement in approximately 60 days, with the possibility for groundbreaking by the end of 1979. (MR. KING WAS EXCUSED TO KEEP A PREVIOUS 4:30 APPOINTMENT.) 5) Proposed Shopping Center - Chairman Casper announced the May Company is now ready to come to downtown Bakersfield. He introduced Mr. Dan Donahue who described the proposed multi-level, enclosed and air-conditioned regional shopping center for downtown Bakersfield, with boundaries of 23rd Street on the north, "K" Street on the west, 2Oth Street on the south, and "0" Street on the east. He read a letter from Mr. R. D. Wolfe, Vice- President, Department Store Real Estate, The May Department Stores Company, to Mr. Donahue dated March 2, 1979, stating "This letter will evidence interest on the part of The May Department Stores Company to construct a department store building of 1~0,000 to 160,000 square feet within the above described regional shopping center." Mr. Donahue noted that The May Company will be partners with the John S. Griffith Company in this venture. Mr. Donahue requested the Agency to enter into a "Negotiation Agreement" with his firm to negotiate exclusively though April 30, 1979, during which time Disposition and Development Agreements will be developed. Following discussion, Ms. Foth moved, seconded by Dr. Puder, to enter into, and authorize the Chairman to execute Agreement RA1-79. The motion carried. Mr. Jacobs, Special Counsel, explained that the Agency will apply for funds to assist financially for the acquisition of land and provision for parking facilities for both the hotel and regional shopping center, and reviewed the types of governmental funding (UDAG, EDA, etc.) which might be avail- able for assisting the Agency in such an endeavor. GENERAL a) Design Review Board Recommendations - Mr. Bidwell reviewed the Board's recommendations for Agency approval of the following: 1) Parkin9 Structure Remodel at northwest corner of 17th and "K" Streets (owned by Mr. Ben Benton), with the condition that a color rendering for landscaping and signage be submitted for approval prior to occupancy. 2) Title Insurance and Trust Building Remodel at the northwest corner of 17th and Chester Avenue (for Santa Barbara Savings), with the condition that a color rendering for landscaping, and the proposed signage for the 17th Place frontage, be submitted for approval prior to occupancy. Following discussion, on motion by Ms. Foth, seconded by Mr. Lewis, and carried, the Agency approved the above recommendations by the Board. Correspondence: 1) Two letters from Jacobs, Weiser, Kane, Ballmer & Berkman (dated 1/29/79 and 2/5/79); no action required. 2) Four letters from Katz, Hollis, Coren & Associates (dated 1/18-25/79 and 2/13/79); no action required. Three memorandums received (dated 1/29/79, 2/2/79 and 3/5/79); no action required. 3) A letter from Stone & Youngberg (dated 1/29/79); no action required. Mr. Needham read a letter from Ms. Judie A. Cooper (dated 2/6/79) stating her preference for a regional shopping center in the central business area of downtown Bakersfield. Staff was directed to respond to Ms. Cooper, thanking her for her letter. 5) A letter from Quad Consultants (dated 1/31/79) re costs of municipal services vs. revenues derived from commercial developments. (MR. KING RETURNED TO THE MEETING AT 5:10 P.M.) 6) Two letters from the Downtown Business Association (both dated 3/7/79) dealing with downtown parking, it was agreed, are to be forwarded for discussion at the joint meeting of the Council and Agency committees on parking to be held prior to the next Agency meeting. ADJOURNMENT There bing no further business to come before the Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency, Chairman Casper adjourned the meeting at 5:30 p.m. Bernice E. Stewart, Secretary to the Redevelopment Agency