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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/10/2002 B A K E R S F I E L D Alan Tandy, City Manager Sue Benham Staff: John W. Stinson Mike Maggard AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, June 10, 2002, 1:00 p.m. City Manager's Conference Room - City Hall 1. ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 1:03 p.m. Present: Councilmembers David Couch, Chair; Sue Benham and Mike Maggard 2. ADOPT MAY 6, AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted. 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding space needs and City Hall expansion City Manager Alan Tandy gave an update. For several meetings the Committee has explored options. Most of the options have been in the $90 to $110 million range, such as the concept in the Downtown Charrette for a new mall style facility located in the area north of the County Administrative Building, or demolishing the existing City Hall to build new, which would require moving into temporary quarters and moving back. At the last Committee meeting, Committee Member Couch raised the idea of building new facilities in Central Park. Staff has researched this concept. Any green space used would need to be replaced somewhere in the downtown. The green space could be partially replaced linearly north and south along the canal and at 515 Truxtun. AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING Monday June 10,2002 Page -2 - Using Central Park for a new facility is less costly than other options. There is minimal land purchase for green space and a parking garage, but far less land acquisition and less demolition. The relocation costs are less as there would be only one move. The Central Park location could be built in modules, so any future expansion would only require adding another module, so there would not be the initial cost of building extra floors for future use. The building pads would utilize about 40 percent of Central Park or about four acres, leaving the balance in green space. It was not fully discussed at the previous Committee meeting, but as the Police Department has expansion needs, this plan includes their utilizing the Public Works annex building. The current City Hall building could be leased for 10 years, and then at the end of 10 years, the Police Department could utilize the space. This plan would take care of facilities for Police for the long term. There are some negatives. The existing Senior Center in Central Park would have to be relocated. There are some people who will want to keep Central Park as it is and there may be opposition to building new City Hall facilities. The homeless have been using the park for a long time. Also, the Veterans group would like to use Central Park for their memorial plans. There are some positives. Using Central Park would cut the cost to about $55 million for three module buildings of 60,000 square feet each. This plan should encourage redevelopment in the area. It is more logical to have everything together to be able to deliver City services. It should be a 50-year solution. It would be a very attractive setting. The green space along the canal could have walks and would attract more users, as Central Park is under utilized. The parking garage could be used in the evenings and weekends for additional parking in the downtown. The annual debt service on $50 - $55 million is $4 to $5 million a year. The payments for leased space the City is currently paying could be deducted. Also there would be revenue from leasing the current City Hall building. This would bring the adjusted annual debt service to $3.6 to $4.1 million. This would be an ongoing yearly cost for approximately 25 years. The Central Park options were provided for the Committee's review to assist in formulating a decision on which direction they would like staff to proceed with researching the space needs issue. Raul Rojas Public Works Director presented two renderings showing different options of how facilities could be laid out in Central Park. AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMI'I-I'EE MEETING Monday June 10, 2002 Page - 3- Planning Commissioner Ron Sprague asked how Central Park was acquired and if there were any deed restrictions, which would prohibit use of the Park for other purposes. This was most likely researched when the Bakersfield Museum of Art property was deeded, but staff will double check. John Fallgatter spoke on behalf of the Veterans and their vision for a possible Veterans Memorial in Central Park. If that location is not going to be available, they would like another location in the downtown. Donna Lorenz, Wendell Gustin, and Russell E. Berry spoke regarding the need for a location for the Veterans Memorial and museum. In response to a question regarding the possibility of using the Mercy Hospital building for City Hall, City Manager Alan Tandy explained their management has not yet made a decision on the use of that building. Committee Member Benham wants to make sure the businesses in the downtown area by current City Hall will not experience a downturn if City Hall is relocated to Central Park. She would like Economic Development staff to meet with the development community before the next Committee meeting. Committee Member Couch stated he would like staff to further explore expansion, leasing or buying somewhere near the current location. Committee Member Maggard would like to further explore the 10-year plan of 50,000 square feet for $10 million, as the other plans are very costly. Staff suggested exploring a plan to build one module in Central Park as a starting point. If there were a decision to proceed, the construction process could begin within 18 months to two years. The Committee will continue studying the issue at its next meeting. 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding removal of trees in City right-of-ways (This item heard first) Assistant City Manager John Stinson provided an overview of the City's procedures for pruning and removal of trees in City right-of-ways, as outlined in the memo included in the packet. Usually tree removal is at the request of the property owner and evaluated by the Parks Division. AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING Monday June 10,2002 Page -4- Committee Member Benham explained she is interested in establishing a policy to protect mature trees in City right-of-ways and to develop a better process for alternatives to tree removal. Essential to achieving this process is communication between Public Works and Recreation and Parks. The situation that prompted her request was a call she received regarding three healthy trees on "C" Street just south of 24th Street, which Public Works had tagged for removal. The private property owner had requested removal of the trees due to buckled sidewalk. At this point, there should be communication between Public Works and the Urban Forester for evaluation of other alternatives to removal of trees. Dana Karcher, Tree Foundation of Kern, spoke regarding removal of healthy trees. Some cities are using other methods of repairing sidewalks, which allow the trees to remain. She suggested the Urban Forester be involved in assessing requests to take out the trees. Public Works Director Raul Rojas spoke about using other alternatives for sidewalk materials, such as rubber pavers, asphalt or the use of meandering sidewalks. Homeowners are responsible for repairs to the sidewalk. The Public Works Department tags trees causing damage to the sidewalk when they are called to repair the sidewalk, but the Parks Division is responsible for pruning and removal of trees when needed in the City right-of-ways. There was discussion about liability issues. The City trims trees and in some cases must remove trees for safety purposes. Committee Member Maggard expressed if the homeowner is responsible for repairs to the sidewalks, he is not ready to recommend passing on the burden to the homeowner of contending with a tree that is continually causing damage. Committee Member Benham requested staff to provide the Committee with the City's cost for flexible sidewalk in order to save the three trees on "C" Street versus the City's cost for removing of the three mature trees. 6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS Committee Member Maggard asked about the leaf blower information he requested. Staff replied it went out in General Information the previous Friday. 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 2:45 p.m. AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMI'I-I'EE MEETING Monday June 10,2002 Page -5 - Attendance - staff: City Manager Alan Tandy; Assistant City Manager John W. Stinson; Assistant City Manager Alan Christensen; City Attorney Bart Thiltgen; Development Services Director Jack Hardisty; Economic Development Director Donna Kunz; Public Works Director Raul Rojas; Police Chief Eric Matlock; Assistant Public Works Director Jack LaRochelle; Finance Director Gregory Klimko; Public Works Park and Landscape Designer Don Hoggatt; Urban Forester Paul Graham; and Assistant Finance Director Nelson Smith; Others: Ron Sprague, Chair, City Planning Commission; Wendell Gustin, Kern County Veterans Association; Scott Hair, Veterans Memorial Park Committee; Dana Karcher, Tree Foundation of Kern; Dale Wilson, Kern Veterans Memorial Park Committee; Donna Lorenz, recording secretary, Kern Veterans Memorial Park Committee; Laura Berry, All 2gether Web, Inc.; Russell Berry, All 2gether Web, Inc; Ed LeLouis, Consultant (VFW Post 1468; John Fallgatter; Renee Nelson; KUZZ news reporter; James Burger, reporter, The Bakersfield Californian; KGET-TV reporter; and Jim Scott, TV News 23. cc: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers P:\ud02May06summary.wpd