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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/04/74 MINUTES RA-37- Bakersfield, California, November 4, 1974 Minutes of a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Bakersfield, California, held in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 8:00 P. M., November 4, 1974. followed Curtis D. Present: Absent: The meeting was called to order by Vice-Mayor Heisey by the Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation by Reverend Moore of the Ming Avenue Christian Church. The City Clerk called the roll as follows: Councilmen Strong, Barton, Bleecker, Heisey, Medders, Rogers Mayor Hart, Councilman Thomas Minutes of the regular meeting of October 28, 1974 were approved as presented. Vice-Mayor Heisey recessed the for a Joint Public Hearing of the Council and the Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency. Joint Public Hearing of the Council of the City of Bakersfield and the Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency on the proposed amendments to the Redevelopment Plan and Draft Environ- mental Impact Report for the Downtown Bakersfield Redevelopment Project and the area proposed to be added to the Project. VICE-MAYOR HEISEY: This is the time and place set for the special joint meeting of the Council and the Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency for the purpose of conducting a joint public hearing on the proposed amendments to the Redevelopment Plan for the Downtown Bakersfield Redevelopment Project and the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Redevelopment Project and the area proposed to be added to the Project. The Notice of Public Hearing was duly published and is in the record. That Notice and accompanying documents were mailed regular Council meeting of the City of Bakersfield as required by law. -38- Bakersfield, California, November 4, 1974 - Page 2 AGENCY VICE-CHAIRMAN CASPER: Requested the Secretary of the Redevelopment Agency to call the roll: Present: Agency Members Casper, Lee, Poehner, Taber Absent: Agency Members King, Puder, Stewart VICE-MAYOR HEISEY: The record contains the proposed amendments to the Redevelopment Plan and the Redevelopment Agency Report to the Council on the proposed amendments, which contains the Draft Environmental Impact Report. The record also contains the Amended Rules Governing Participation by Owners, Operators of Businesses and Tenants, and the report and recommendation of the City Planning Commission approving the proposed amendments to the Redevelopment Plan. Cards were distributed to those persons in the audience requesting to speak or express their opinion of the proposed amendments. VICE-MAYOR HEISEY: Under the law every person speaking must be sworn in by the City Clerk. Copies of the Agenda are available in case you did not take one at the door. I now declare the public hearing open for the City Council. AGENCY VICE-CHAIRMAN CASPER: I now declare the public hearing open for the Redevelopment Agency. VICE-MAYOR HEISEY: Under the law it is my responsibility to preside over this joint public hearing. We shall have the presentation of the Agency. At this time, I would like to call on Mr. Bergen, Community Development Direcfor of the Agency, to introduce the persons who will participate for the Agency and have them stand and be sworn in. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BERGEN: I am Harold Bergen, Community Development Director For the record, of the Bakersfield -39- Bakersfield, California, November 4, 1974 - Page 3 Redevelopment Agency. Those persons who will be participating for the Agency are: Eugene Jacobs and Mark Breakstone, Special Counsel for the Redevelopment Agency Richard Foster, Community Development Director Nelson Jones, John S. Griffifh Company The Agency participants were sworn in as a body by the City Clerk. Mr. Eugene Jacobs, Special Counsel for the Redevelopment Agency, presented background information on the proposed amendments to the Downtown Redevelopment Plan and the Draft Environmental Impact Report. Mr. Nelson Jones, representing John S. Griffith Company, gave a status report on the proposed downtown regional shopping center. Mr. Jacobs stated that the agreement with John S. Griffith Company for the development of a downtown regional shopping center will be presented at a later date to the Redevelopment Agency and City Council for approval after a public hearing is held. Community Development Director Bergen stated that this concludes the Agency Staff's formal presentation and we are avail- able for clarification or questions on this project. Vice-Mayor Heisey requested that the cards distributed to the public requesting to speak or expressing their opinions of the proposed amendments be picked up. Vice-Mayor Heisey requested the City Clerk to read the names and addresses of all persons who have submitted written communications in favor of the adoption of the proposed amendments to the Redevelopment Plan and/or Environmental Impact Report: Communication was submitted by Richard Foster, Community Development Director, in regards to a verbal approval of the proposed amendments from Charles J. Lindgren. Bakersfield, California, November 4, 1974 Page 4 -40- Vice-Mayor Heisey asked for oral statements and questions by persons in favor o£ the adoption of the proposed amendments to the Redevelopment Plan and/or Environmental Impact Report. The Clerk reported that no one wished to speak in favor. Vice-Mayor Heisey requested that the City Clerk read the names and addresses of all persons who have submitted written communications objecting to the adoption of the proposed amendments to the Redevelopment Plan and/or Environmental Impact Report. The following communications were received objecting to the adoption of the proposed amendments to the Plan and/or Environ- mental Impact Report: Rex R. Mull and Edwin W. Wilson Property located at ill0-1112 Truxtun Avenue Doughty-Calhoun-O'Meara, Inc. Signed by Gino J. Fanucchi, President, Edna L. Fanucchi, Secretary-Treasurer and James E. King, Owner of Blackwell Building Property located at ll00 & 1122 Truxtun Avenue John E. Clare, Agent for Hamilton and M. Stoakes Property locafed at 1623, 1629, 1631 & 1633 19th Street Vice-Mayor Heisey asked £or oral statements and questions by persons objecting to the adoption of the proposed amendments to the Redevelopment Plan and/or Environmental Impact Report. After being sworn in by the City Clerk, Marvin Lipco, owner of property located at 1209-1217 - 19th Street and 1223-1229 - 19th Street, stated his concern for the small businessman. Councilman Bleecker questioned several items and a lengthy discussion took place ~egarding rates that would be charged for leasing space in the regional shopping center. The following written statements were submitted by persons in the audience: Opposed to the proposed amendments and/or EIR: Anthony Cueto 1616 19th Street -41- Bakersfield, California, November 4, 1974 - Page 5 In favor L. Jack Wiener ll00 18th Street Best Cleaners - N. 8abonjian 1608 "F" Street of the proposed amendments and/or EIR: John Brock 1918 Chester Avenue No position on the proposed amendments and/or EIR: Community National Bank 1803 Chester Avenue R. A. Stoner 17th & Chester Avenue W. I. Toso, Western Union Western Union Office Phillip A. Niederauer 19th & "K" Streets, Woolworth Building Lawrence Lake 22nd & Chester Avenue & 21st & Eye Streets Mrs. Florence I Clare 22nd & "L" Streets Written communication from Rex R. Mull, Attorney at Law, 1112 Truxtun Avenue, dated October 31, 1974, was read into the record. After being sworn in by the City Clerk, R. A. Stoner, property owner of the southwest corner of 17th Street and Chester Avenue, asked several questions regarding the effect and stated he now objects to the proposed amendments ment Plan. After being sworn in by the City Clerk, Michael Belluomini, representing a family owned business in the downtown area, stated that they have not been given enough detailed information on this issue to make a decision and asked several questions regarding the regional shopping center and relocation. Mr. Belluomini requested a copy of the Environmental Impact Report. Mr. Jacobs stated that Mr. Belluomini would be furnished a copy of the EIR. of this project to the Redevelop- Bakersfield, California, November 4, 1974 - Page 6 -42- After being sworn in by the City Clerk, Jack Wiener, owner of property located at 1100 - 18th Street, spoke in opposition to the opening of a regional shopping center. After being sworn in by the City Clerk, Lawrence Lake, owner of property located at 22nd & Chester Avenue and 21st and Eye Streets, stated he has a lot of confidence in the City staff and is willing to go along with the redevelopment of the downtown area if it is necessary and will help the City of Bakersfield. Councilman Medders did not feel that there would be sufficient time to answer all the questions and moved that the Joint Public Hearing of the Council and Redevelopment Agency be continued until a later date. During discussion, Councilman Rogers asked specific questions and requested that a list be compiled of business owners, in the affected area, who have indicated a desire to participate in the project. Councilman Barton stated that he would like to see more community participation, especially owners of property in the affected area, and requested that written questions or comments be submitted. Councilman Bleecker stated that more homework needs to be done on this matter before the amendments to the Redevelopment Plan are adopted, and comments from property owners and tenants in the downtown area would be welcome. After discussion, upon a motion by Councilman Medders, Joint Public Hearing before the Council of the City of Bakersfield and the Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency on the proposed amendments to the Redevelopment Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Downtown Bakersfield Redevelopment Project and the area proposed to be added to the Project was continued until Monday, November 18, Bakersfield, California, November 4, 1974 - Page 7 -43- 1974 at 8:00 P. M., in the Council Chambers of City Hall, by the following roll call vote: Councilmen Strong, Rogers Ayes: Noes: Absent: Barton, Bleecker, Heisey, Medders, None Councilman Thomas Upon a motion by Agency Member Poehner, seconded by Agency Member Lee, Joint Public Hearing before the Council of the City of Bakersfield and the Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency on the proposed amendments to the Redevelopment Plan and Environmental Impact Report for the Downtown Bakersfield Redevelopment Project and the area to be added to the Project was continued until Monday, November 18, 1974 at 8:00 P. M., in the Council Chambers of Cify by the following roll call vote Casper, Lee Poehner, Taber Agency Members None Agency Members Hall, Ayes Noes Absent: King, Puder Stewart VICE-CI-I~IxI~MAN of/~ Bakersfield Redevelopme"fit Agency SECRETARY to the R~e ~nt Agency