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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/30/1999 BAKERSFIELD ~~~-~ Randy Rowles, Chair Alan Tandy, City Manager David Couch Staff: John W. Stinson Mike Maggard AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Monday, August 30,1999 1:15 p.m. City Manager's Conference Room 1. ROLL CALL Call to Order at 1:15 p.m. Present: Councilmembers Randy Rowles, Chair; David Couch and Mike Maggard 2. ADOPT JULY 12, 1999 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted. 3. PRESENTATIONS None 4. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None 5. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. Update on current status of Bakersfield area freeway projects - Rojas Public Works Director Raul Rojas gave an update on various freeway projects. He indicated the resurfacing of highway 178 would be finished in about a month according to Caltrans. There was a discussion about the Kern River Freeway environmental ADOPTED AS SUBmiTtED SEP~ER 27, 1999 'IL£ COPY URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Monday, August 30, 1999 Page -2- assessment continuing and possible acquisition of land for right-of-way by Caltrans. Councilmember Couch requested a memo from Public Works regarding Caltrans freeing up funds for these purchases. Gene Bogart gave an update on the recharge test ponds. Councilmember Couch also requested Development Services staff prepare a report on the transfer of development rights, including a possible program for the protection of water recharge areas. Robyn Cady, representing the California Trucking Association expressed concerns regarding the safety and environmental impacts of the proposed Kern River Freeway. She cited recent problems with the Century Freeway in Los Angeles as an example of poor highway planning. Staff was asked to prepare a summary of issues involving the Century Freeway for background information. B. Discussion of possible incentives to encourage planting of trees in the downtown area - Stinson There was a discussion regarding the planting of trees in the downtown. Ruth Simonson from the Downtown Business and Property Owners Association (DBA) spoke regarding the need for an Urban Forestry Plan and an Urban Forestry Planner. Cathy Butler from the DBA commented that there needed to be a comprehensive and uniform process for planting and maintaining trees that ensures conformity in the downtown. She said it would be helpful to downtown businesses if there were a program similar to the Unreinforced Masonry assistance program to provide funding for additional tree improvements. Ms. Simonson provided the committee a brief memorandum regarding the Urban Forestry Plan and some publications regarding urban forestry. Staff provided the committee with cost information to provide a typical tree in the downtown including the cost of the tree, grate and' irrigation. Rick Hewett of the Tree Foundation of Kern provided a "50 Year Strategic Plan for Kern Community Forests." Staff indicated that it was proceeding with expanding the landscaping of downtown beyond Chester Avenue to other adjacent streets such as 18th Street which is in the 1999-00 budget. Staff is also looking for grant funding to further expand the effort. A major concern is the need to have areas in maintenance districts to provide funding for ongoing maintenance of the trees. The city needs the support of property owners to be added to the maintenance district. It was suggested that staff investigate a program similar to the refuse program, which is done by agreement with the DBA for the watering and maintenance of trees. The Committee requested that staff provide a summary of the 3rd party relationship with the DBA regarding providing refuse services, a 5 year plan for planting trees in the downtown, the cost of a maintenance URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Mohday, August 30, 1999 Page -3- district for the area, and to contact the DBA and Tree Foundation regarding their interest in participating in options for planting and/or maintaining trees in the downtown. This report is to be brought back to the Committee at their next meeting. C. Discussion of Transportation Sales Tax Measure - Rojas Public Works Director Raul Rojas gave a brief overview on the transportation sales tax survey done by the Kern Transportation Foundation. Preliminary results indicate insufficient countywide support for additional sales taxes for road maintenance or construction. The final report should be prepared within the next month and when it is available, it will be brought back to the Committee for further discussion. 6. NEW BUSINESS A. Review of Transportation Development Fund Projects - Rojas Marion Shaw gave a brief overview of the project list and reviewed the list with the Committee. Councilmember Couch asked about deferring the signal project at Hageman and Patton to a later time on the schedule. Staff will reviewthe accident records for that intersection and make the change to delay it if appropriate. It was discussed that the list of projects must be mutually reviewed and approved by both the City and County. City and Cobnty staffs will be meeting to discuss projects directly affecting both agencies in the next week or so. The list of projects will be reviewed with the Building Industry Association and brought back at the next Committee meeting for review prior to recommendation to the City Council for approval. B. Discussion about Downtown Park and Square - Tandy The Committee had a discussion regarding the Council goal of developing a downtown park and square. Councilmember Rowles discussed the charrette process and suggested that it could be useful to identify the image the public would desire for the downtown. He requested that Mr. Hardisty explore the costs for such a process and bring back information at the next Committee meeting. Councilmember Couch requested information from staff on the use of transfer of development rights in the downtown, the process and forms of property acquisition in the identification of specific sites and that staff investigate the charrette process as recommended by Councilmember Rowles. City Manager 'Tandy discussed the complexities of attracting developers to a potential downtown project including potential site location and economic concerns. The Committee also discussed potential incentives to encourage downtown development. The Committee will continue discussion of this issue at future meetings. URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Monday, August 30, 1999 Page -4- O. Set Next Meeting Date The next meeting was set for September 27, 1999. 7. COMMITTEE COMMENTS 8. ADJOURNMENT Adjourned at 4:05 p.m. cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council Attendance: Staff: City Manager Alan Tandy, Assistant City Manager John Stinson, City Attorney Bart Thiltgen, Public Works Director Raul Rojas, Development Services Director Jack Hardisty, Economic Development Director Jake Wager; Water Resources Manager Gene Bogart; Stan Ford, Parks and Recreation Director; Civil Engineer Marian Shaw; Water Resources Director Florn Core; Water Department Engineer Tera Entenman. Public: Ron Brummett, Kern COG; Michael Green, Reporter - The Bakersfield Californian; Brian Todd, Building Industry Association of Kern County; John Fallgatter, Smart Growth Coalition; Robyn Cady, Chairman, Kern Unit of the California Trucking Association; Ray Hewett, Tree Foundation of Kern; Cathy Butler and Ruth Simonson, Downtown Business Association; and Roger Mclntosh. s:John\UrbanDev\UD99aug30summary.wpd