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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/09/2002 B A K E R S F I E L D ~ ~' David Couch, Chair Alan Tandy, City Manager Sue Benham Staff: John W. Stinson Mike Maggard AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, September 9, 2002, 1:00 p.m. City Manager's Conference Room - City Hall 1. ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 1:08 p.m. Present: Councilmembers David Couc,h, Chair; Sue Benham and Mike Maggard 2. ADOPT JULY 15, 2002 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted. 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding space needs and City Hall expansion Over the past few months, the Urban Development Committee has met several times to study current and future space needs, alternative expansion plans, and viable options in regard to financing. City Manager Alan Tandy gave an overview of a memo he had sent out previously to the Council, which included different alternatives considered by the Committee to date. Early in the process there were discussions about a variety of very comprehensive long-term alternatives for City space. Some involved implementing ideas from the Downtown Charrette and the Vision 2020 suggestion to build a new complex north of the County Administration building. These alternatives are in the $100 to $110 million range and while being optimal in terms of. having a desirable long-term structure, are very costly and the annual impacts on the General Fund would be dramatic. ADOPTED AS SUBHITTED ON SF. PTEHBER 27~ 2002 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING Monday September 9, 2002 Page - 2 - The Committee explored the potential for savings by relocating to Central Park where the City would not have the costly land acquisition and temporary relocation costs while building a new complex. This option was in the $50 to $60 million range. The positives are that it represents a long-term solution, has the potential of spurring redevelopment and connecting redevelopment to the core downtown. The negatives are moving away from the current corporation line of governmental functions on Truxtun Avenue and it would be very costly. Another option the Committee requested staff to explore was a lower-cost option of purchasing an existing building downtown and to analyze what term that would give for growth and the cost. Staff focused on the Borton Petrini building as an example. This space plan based on keeping the City's current facilities and purchasing an additional building would give all departments room for reasonable growth for a minimum of 10 years at a ballpark cost of $10 million. At the last meeting, the Committee requested research on other possible buildings. In response, staff developed criteria that could be used to evaluate existing buildings for possible purchase: Location is critical: 1,000 feet or no more than three city blocks from the current City Hall. The closer it is the more convenient it is for the public to avoid having to travel all over town to obtain services; Availability is essential. If a building has tenants with long-term leases or it is not on the market, it should not be considered; Suitability for City offices. Subjectively analyze how much remodel is involved, would it serve long-term, is the space appropriate for our needs and is the design correct for the kind of functions we perform; Parking is critical. We have substantial numbers of employees and public that need to be accommodated; Cost is obviously important. On the early scenarios, there will not be a final cost, but analyze ballpark price to know if the building merits further consideration. If the Council approves moving forward with more detailed discussions on purchasing a building, cost would be a point of substantial study; Size. With a minimum of a ten-year plan, nothing less than 40,000 square feet should be considered; Long-term possibilities beyond a 10-year plan. For future growth, is there anything that would afford an opportunity to make this a 20 or 30-year plan, such as a connecting vacant lot, which could be used to build a second structure, or a second building nearby, which could be purchased. AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING Monday September 9, 2002 Page - 3 - Staff looked at five buildings based on location. Using the criteria for evaluation, review was based on how well the buildings adapted to the City's needs. · The Washington Mutual building is available, close, suitably designed and has parking. It merits further consideration. · The Borton, Petrini building is potentially available, close, suitably designed and has parking. It merits further consideration. · The Bank of America building is too large for our needs, not on the market and is fully leased. Staff did not recommend further consideration. · The Great Western has some merit, but the building is a considerable distance and would need major changes and remodel to fit the City's needs. Staff did not recommend further consideration. · The Haberfelde has merit, but the building does not have adequate parking and would need significant remodel to fit the City's needs. Staff did not recommend further consideration. It was discussed this alternate plan to keep the City's current facilities and purchase an additional building to meet the City's space needs is not as good as rebuilding new; however, with cost in mind this approach is reasonable. Committee Member Maggard stated he had received a hand-delivered memo on Friday from CB Richard Ellis regarding an option on California Avenue, which is outside the distance criteria. City Manager Alan Tandy responded he also received this proposal and others. Part of the reason staff developed the criteria for evaluation was to give clarity to exactly the City's needs. Committee Member Benham expressed since the focus is now on the downtown close to City Hall, and Central Park does not fit the criteria, she would like to formally take Central Park off the table. The Committee unanimously agreed to remove Central Park from further consideration because of the distance from City Hall and the cost of building a new complex. Committee Member Benham encouraged staff to continue to include the private development community for their input on expansion plans. She would also like to explore efforts that might include redevelopment potential on any decision that might be made on a location. The Committee was in agreement. AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING Monday September 9, 2002 Page - 4 - Committee Member Benham recommended exploring open space possibilities when making acquisition of a building. Part of the Charrette was to have downtown open space, pocket parks with trees and water elements. The Committee unanimously agreed if space allows, pocket parks with trees and water elements would enhance the look of the downtown. The Committee agreed among the five buildings discussed, the Washington Mutual and Borton, Petrini buildings were the most suitable to the City's needs. Staff recommended adopting the evaluation criteria to analyze suitability of possible buildings and requested authorization for staff to proceed with more detailed discussions with the owners of the Washington Mutual and Borton, Petrini buildings and to undertake a serious study of purchasing an existing building to meet the City's space needs, including negotiating on pricing issues, evaluation of remodeling costs, duration of existing leases and how that fits with timing of the City moving in and other obligations the City has over time. The Committee unanimously approved staff's recommendation and forwarding a recommendation to the City Council to authorize staff, using the evaluation criteria outlined, to proceed with more detailed discussions and negotiations to further explore purchasing an existing building. With Council's approval to proceed and based on the additional research, staff will bring a recommendation to the City Council On a comprehensive plan to meet the City's space needs complete with financing options. B. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding removal of trees in City right-of-ways (This item heard first) At the Urban Development Committee meeting in July, the Committee requested staff to prepare draft ordinance language, which would require commercial tree trimmers to obtain a City permit to prune trees in public right-of-ways. A draft copy of the proposed ordinance changes was included in the Committee packet as well as a memo regarding "Contractor Annual Permits" from Parks and Recreation Director Stan Ford and Urban Forester Paul Graham. Assistant City Manager John Stinson gave a report on the proposal to require a permit to perform commercial tree trimming work in public right-of-ways. Staff recommended an annual permit, which would be administered by Parks and Recreation/Urban Forester. Staff also recommended meeting with members of the tree trimming industry to discuss the proposed ordinance change and other educational information relative to trees. It was noted that the Tree Advis°ry Committee is nearing completion on their recommendations and perhaps that information may be ready as well. AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING Monday September 9, 2002 Page - 5 - The Committee unanimously approved the proj3osed language changes to the tree ordinance, which would require an annual permit for commemial tree trimming in public right-of-ways and also approved staff's sending out letters to tree trimmers/tree industry in order to have an educational meeting and receive their input. This item will return to the Committee for their recommendation to the City Council. 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding arterial/collector (Brundage Lane) The Council referred this proposed amendment to the Cimulation Element of the General Plan to change the designation of Brundage Lane between Wible Road/Oak Street and the intersection of Brundage Lane and Union Avenue from "arterial" to "collector" to the Urban Development Committee for further review and recommendation. The Planning Commission recommended adoption of this amendment. Staff explained an arterial road is a six-lane road with three lanes in each direction with a median island and is usually 110 feet wide. A collector road is a four-lane road with two lanes in each direction, generally with a center painted for two-way left turn pockets and is usually 90 feet wide. Public Works Director Raul Rojas explained this was a request from a business that wants to do an expansion on Brundage Lane. As it is designated an arterial, any new building construction is required to develop with the setback for an arterial. When there is an arterial designation, it is difficult to give up because the City will not be able to get the arterial designation back once it is downgraded. If there is a future need to widen the road, all the properties will have to be purchased. However, traffic models at the present time do not justify arterial status because much of the area is completely built out. However, if there is change and new businesses along this area would create additional traffic, the traffic model would also change and there are other vacant properties along this stretch that might be developed. It was discussed as this was originally a collector and there are property owners who have not put in these improvements and are built out, requiring new development to setback for an arterial causes some properties to be notched out along the property line. However, some property owners have already spent substantial amounts of money to develop their properties with the setback for an arterial. Planning Commissioner Ron Sprague spoke regarding the Planning Commission's recommendation to adopt this amendment. Mr. Clarence Cullimore spoke in support of keeping the current arterial designation. AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING Monday September 9, 2002 Page - 6 - The Committee discussed there are not sufficient reasons to downgrade from an arterial to a collector and there is a need to keep the designation consistent. Stockdale Highway west of Oak is an arterial. Brundage Lane (name changed going east from Oak) is also designated an arterial road although it is not at standard as some properties were developed to collector standards. The County has also designated Brundage as an arterial road and some areas in the County have already been widened to arterial standards. As new businesses have come in to the County, they are required to develop to the arterial standard. The Committee unanimously approved forwarding a recommendation to the City Council to deny this proposed amendment to the Circulation Element of the General Plan to change the designation of Brundage Lane between Oak Street and the intersection of Brundage Lane and Union Avenue from "arterial" to "collector." Staff was requested to include as background the reasoning to retain the arterial status for future widening and consistency with past practices. This will be placed on the Agenda under General Plan Hearings. This is a circulation element and, therefore, will not hold up the process. The Committee further requested staff to notify Councilmember Carson of this action, as this is in Ward One. 6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS Committee Member Benham requested staff to look into a concern on the 2600 through 2800 block of 16th Street. There is a large scale pipe storage/transport operation on the south side of the street in direct proximity to the residents. 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 2:05 p.m. Attendance - staff: City Manager Alan Tandy; Assistant City Manager John W. Stinson; City Attorney Bart Thiltgen; Development Services Director Jack Hardisty; Public Works Director Raul Rojas; Assistant Public Works Director Jack LaRochelle; Urban Forester Paul Graham; Real Property Manager Don Anderson; Public Works Traffic Engineer Stephen Walker; and Public Works Engineer Arnold Ramming Others: Pauline Larwood, Smart Growth Coalition; Jimmy Yee, Yankee Communications; Joe Colombo, Colombo Construction; Dana Karcher, Tree Foundation; Ernest Rice, CTI; Annemarie Braun, Yankee Communications; David Williams, Colliers; Ron Sprague, Planning Commission Chair; Chuck Waide, CCAPE; and Denny Haynes, CCAPE; Clarence Cullimore; Tami Brown, KUZZ News; and Percy Edmalino, The Bakersfield Californian cc: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers S:~JOHN\Council Committees\Urban Dev2002\ud02sep09summary.doc