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