Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/28/2000 BAKERSFIELD _~l~ ~ Randy Rowles, Chair Alan Tandy, City Manager David Couch Staff: John W. Stinson Mike Maggard AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Monday, February 28, 2000 4:00 p.m. City Manager's Conference Room 1. ROLL CALL Call to Order at 4:05 p.m. Present: Councilmembers Mike Maggard, Acting Chair; and David Couch and Councilmember RandY Rowles, Chair arrived at 5:15 p.m. 2. ADOPT JANUARY 31, 2000 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted. 3. PRESENTATIONS None 4. PUBLIC STATEMENTS Renee Nelson spoke regarding ThomerSchool pedestrian issues at Thorner Drive and Panorama due to construction. Her concerns were referred to Public Works staff for a response. 5. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding Downtown Business and Property Owners' Vision effort--Downtown Parking Herman Ruddell of the Downtown Business and Property Owners Vision Committee spoke regarding the possibility of establishing a parking authority in the downtown. He discussed possible use of redevelopment funds, developer fees and enforcement revenues as possible revenue sources. Staff indicated that a previously existing business improvement distdct assessment was eliminated at the request of the property owners in the downtown. ADOPTED AS SUBI~TTED ON HAl[CH 2000 FILE COPY URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Monday, February 28, 2000 Page -2- There was discussion of the pros and cons of having additional assessments and who would pay them. Staff presented information on the costs of constructing additional parking structures. Concern was expressed about adding an additional layer of government in the downtown with the creation of a parking authority. The committee asked that Mr. Ruddell meet and work with staff and then come back to the committee for further discussion of this issue. B. Review and Committee recommendation regarding Shellabarger Road access The Committee discussed opening the west end of Shellabarger Road where it intersects with Pepita Way. Shellabarger Road is essentially a 3/4 mile long cul-de-sac in an unincorporated area adjacent to the City, which has given both jurisdictions cause for concern with respect to the safety of the residents under emergency situations. A survey of City residents in the area voted 18 to 1 to not support the opening of the road, due to concerns about increased traffic within the adjacent subdivision. The City has received letters from both the City Police Chief and the County Sheriff as well as the Fire Chiefs of both jurisdictions requesting that the end of Shellabarger Road be opened to through traffic for safety reasons. A petition from 89 residents of Shellabarger Road was received by the City that also requested the opening of the road. A survey of residents on Shellabarger Road voted 30 to 15 to open the road. Staff indicated that the simple removal of the gate at the end of Shellabarger Road will not result in a street width that will be adequate for two directions of traffic. Opening the road will require the purchase of additional right-of-way to finish the construction of the knuckle at the end of Pepita Way, in order to complete a paving tie-in with the existing roadway on Shellabarger Road. While the completion of Pepita Way will help the residents of Shellabarger Road, it was discussed that another road connecting Shellabarger Road to either Palm Avenue or Brimhall Road would improve public safety response and address the traffic circulation concerns of both county and city residents. It was suggested that the County should pursue roadway construction connecting Shellabarger Road to either Palm Avenue or Brimhall Road, or both, to address these concerns. The Committee recommended the following: 1) That the City Council consider opening Shellabarger Road at Pepita Way due to public safety concerns expressed by Public Safety agencies and the majority of residents on Shellabarger Road; and 2) That staff proceed with any environmental reviews required by such consideration; and 3) That consideration of the opening of Shellabarger Road be referred to the Planning Commission for determination of consistency with the 2010 General Plan, including a public hearing; and URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Monday, February 28, 2000 Page -3- 4) To direct staff to obtain an appraisal of the property required to complete the opening of · the road and initiate informal negotiations for the purposes of voluntary acquisition of the property with the property owner; and 5) That a letter be conveyed by the Mayor to the Kern County Board of Supervisors requesting that the County pursue roadway construction connecting Shellabarger Road to either Palm Avenue or Bdmhall Road, or both, to improve public safety response and address the traffic circulation concerns of both county and city residents in the area. C. Review and Committee recommendation regarding right-turn channelization at signalized intersections Traffic Engineering staff made a brief presentation on "free right turn" traffic channelization at intersections. Councilmember Couch expressed interest in this design in order to enhance traffic flow. Staff expressed concerns regarding potential increased liability with this design. Staff will review current traffic engineering standards and return with some possible options for consideration. D. Staff update and possible recommendation regarding Charrette Process Development Services Director Jack Hardisty provided information on the cost and possible funding of a Charrette process for the downtown. He explained that the Charrette process is a broad based, focused effort to work on community design ideas. He estimated that $60,000 would be needed to fundthe program. He indicated that he had applied for a grant from the Great Valley Center for $40,000, however it was uncertain if all or a portion of the request would be funded. It was suggested that $20,000 of the funding come from private contributions, $20,000 come from grants and the remaining $20,000 come from Council Contingency. It was recommended that this issue be put on the March 15 Council agenda for approval to proceed and funding from Council Contingency. 6. NEW BUSINESS None 7. COMMITTEE COMMENTS The Committee determined that the Urban Development Committee meeting scheduled for March 20 needed to be rescheduled due to a conflict with the joint City Council/County Board of Supervisors meeting on that day. The Urban Development Committee meeting was rescheduled to March 22 at 4:00 p.m. in the City Council chambers. URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Monday, February 28, 2000 Page -4- 8. ADJOURNMENT Adjourned at 6:25 p.m. cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council Attendance: Staff: City Manager Alan Tandy, Assistant City Manager John Stinson, City Attorney Bart Thiltgen, Development Services Director Jack Hardisty, Public Works Director Raul Rojas, Economic Development Director Jake Wager, Public Works Civil Engineer Marian Shaw, and Traffic Engineer Stephen Walker. Public: Herman Ruddell, DBA; Cathy A. Butler, DBA; Renee Nelson; John Kind, Carriage Homes; Mark Smith, Grubb & Ellis/ASU & Associates; and Laura Fanucchi, 10915 Shellabarger Road. S:John\Urban Dev\U D00feb 28Sumrnary.wpd