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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/11/2001 BAKE R S F. IE LD Alan Tandy, City Manager Sue Benham John W. Stinson, Assistant City Manager Irma Carson AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE Wednesday, July 11, 2001, 1:30 p.m. City Manager's Conference Room 1. ROLL CALL Call to Order at 1:40 p.m. Present: Councilmembers Jacquie Sullivan, Chair; and Sue Benham Absent: Councilmember Irma Carson 2. ADOPT MAY 23, 2001 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted. (Committee member Carson absent) 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS 4. PRESENTATIONS 5. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. Staff report and Committee recommendation on use of facilities at International Square Park Jan Fulton gave an update on the progress of the Working Committee, which is comprised of Councilmember Benham; City staff; and representatives from the Association of Old Town Kern, Bakersfield Rescue Mission and Old Town Kern Pioneer Project Area Committee. The Working Committee developed the following short and long-term goals: Short-Term Goal. Develop the Square into a safe, clean and secure urban green space, promoting economic growth in the area. Lonc~-Term Goal. Redevelop the Square area into some type of alternate use. AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE Wednesday, July 11,2001 Page -2- The 'Working Committee made the following recommendations: 1. Keep International Square Park open. There are ample reasons to maintain and improve the Square because it offers the only public green space in the Baker Street area and can ultimately be a part of the area's revitalization efforts. 2. Identify funding source and obtain bids for manufacture and installation of fencing as soon as possible. The bushes have been trimmed so the light from the streetlights is brighter. Wrought iron fencing is being recommended with access gates that can be closed every evening to allow for greater control of Square activities. The long-term goal is to redevelop the square with an alternative use. 3. Coordinate with special user groups; enforce the Special Event permitting process in the near future when fencing is installed and the Rescue Mission project is completed. The permitting process is covered in the Municipal Code and used in other City parks. There are fees associated with the permits and there will be a "grace period" to educate the community and user groups. 4. Keep appraised of Rescue Mission activities. To relocate activities from the Square, the Bakersfield Rescue Mission has approved construction of a service pavilion and is currently working to develop its mission site located just one block east of the Square along Sumner. 5. Step up code enforcement efforts of the single room occupancy (SRO) hotels. Economic Development Director Donna Kunz stated we are very close to achieving some additional funding for improvements along the street and the Square is a part of that. An answer on the funding should be received within the next six weeks. 'Jim Alford, Clinica Sierra Vista/Homeless Healthcare Collaborative, stated the work being done is very appreciated, but it is important to evaluate the consequences of the decisions being made, so the decisions reflect the best for all people in the area. Bill Underwood, Clinica Sierra Vista, spoke and said he was acting for the Homeless Collaborative, but not speaking officially as the Collaborative Steering Committee has not approved any resolutions regarding this issue, as they are still exploring and would like to leave all options open for another month. Josh Rudnick, Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, stated he is not prepared to make any public comments regarding International Square and that he appreciated Bill Underwood's comments regarding the Homeless Collaborative Committee. Committee member Benham explained that one of her priorities when taking office was to help resolve some of the long-standing issues on Baker Street. She expressed her appreciation for the interest of the Old Town Kern Association, the great work being done by the Homeless Center and the Bakersfield Rescue Mission and the good collaboration by everyone involved. The efforts being make on many fronts came together in the form of the Working Committee, which has had great staff support from Economic/Community Development, Lt. Bivens from the Police Department, Ed Lazaroti from Recreation and Parks, and participation from the community. AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMI'I-I'EE Wednesday, July 11,2001 Page -3- Committee member Benham stated the recommendations are very sound and offer a lot of promise for progress on Baker Street. She agrees with the premise that the Square be preserved at the present time for urban green space and if redevelopment efforts present the opportunity for some other use in the future, is open to that possibility. Committee member Benham made a motion that the Committee approve the Working Committee's recommendations as presented by staff and forward to the Council. It was noted that all of the interested groups will have opportunity for further input when it reaches Council level. Committee Chair Sullivan stated appreciation for all the groups in attendance and their efforts to work together to balance the advantages and disadvantages to be able to use the Square in a positive way. She also expressed appreciation for all the work that has gone into the short and long-term plans and recommendations for the Square. Mary Ann Parker, Independent Living Center of Kern County, spoke regarding the recommendations being made and expressed concern if code enforcement issues are enforced at the SRO hotels and it results in people being relocated, especially the disabled and elderly who do not have the funds, everyone should be aware and will need to come up with answers on how to deal with it at that time. Committee member Benham requested Economic/Community Development staff to get the names of the organizations and members of the public present at the meeting to make sure they are notified of any further reports coming out of the Committee and also notified when this item goes to Council. The Committee voted to approve the Working Committee's short and long-term goals and recommendations as presented by staff and recommended forwarding to the Council. (Committee member Carson absent) The Committee directed staff to put this item on the agenda for the September 5, 2001 Council meeting. 6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m. Staff attending: Assistant City Manager Alan Christensen; City Attorney Bart Thiltgen; Economic Development Director Donna Kunz; George Gonzales Community Development Coordinator; Assistant Recreation and Parks Director Allen Abe; Police Lt. Bob Bivens; Economic Development Associate Jan Fulton, and Recreation and Parks Supervisor Ed Lazaroti Others attending: James Burger, Reporter, The Bakersfield Californian; Tammi Brown, KUZZ; Mike Gregor, Channel 29 -TV; Walter Williams, Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance; Tim Alford, Clinica Sierra Vista/Homeless Collaborative; Bill Underwood, Clinica Sierra Vista/Homeless Collaborative; Daniel Gorman, Bakersfield Rescue Mission; Josh Rudnick, staff attorney from Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance; Mary Ann Parker, Independent Living Center; Louis B. Gill, Executive Director, Bakersfield Homeless Center; and Diana Campbell Rice, Associate Director, Bakersfield Homeless Center. cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council S:~AC~001CSCommittee\cs01julllsummary.wpd