HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/23/2007•
B A K E R S F I E L D
Sue Benham, Chair
Rho da Smiley, Ass nt to the City Manager / P.I.O. David Couch
For: Alan Tandy, City Manager Jacquie Sullivan
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
LEGISLATIVE AND LITIGATION COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 -1:00 p.m.
City Manager's Conference Room -Suite 201
City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA
The meeting was called to order at 1:04:18 PM.
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmember Sue Benham; Chair
Councilmember Jacquie Sullivan
Councilmember David Couch
Staff present: John W. Stinson, Assistant City Manager
Ginny Gennaro, City Attorney
Josh Rudnick, Deputy City Attorney II
Rhonda Smiley, Public Information Officer
Rick Kirkwood, Management Assistant
Stan Grady, Development Services Director
Donna Kunz, Economic Development Director
Others present: James Geluso, Bakersfield Californian
Brian Todd, WPR Builder Services
2. ADOPT SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 MINUTES
Adopted as submitted.
3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
None
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
LEGISLATIVE AND LITIGATION COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
4. DEFERRED BUSINESS
A. Status Report -Program to Improve Vacant Commercial Buildings in the
Downtown Area -Donna Kunz
In July 2007, a report was prepared which addressed key elements to dress up
windows of vacant buildings along Chester Avenue and to examine the existing
infrastructure in the downtown including; streets, lighting, medians, and other
public improvements. The City, in partnership with the Kern Arts Council,
applied fora $10,000 Economic Development grant from PG&E to assist with
the "Window Dressing" program. On October 15, 2007 the City was awarded
$7,500, which will be used toward this program. The coordination and
implementation of the program will be through the Arts Council. This program
will also include individuals from the art community to dress up windows
through the creative use of storefront mannequins depicted in seasonal scenes.
In reference to buildings with "boarded up" windows, murals will be applied to
the wood in place of having the windows replaced at this time. Staff will provide
a quarterly update on the program.
City staff is working together to address landscaping trimming, power washing
of sidewalks and cleaning of street crossings and alleys. The current focus is
on Chester Avenue and many of the connecting side streets and alleys. Trees
near the lights and banner poles have been trimmed in preparation for the
installation of new banners and banner arms. Historic light fixtures have been
inspected for deterioration, and repairs and replacements have been arranged
for any broken banner arms and poles on these. Staff anticipates to have the
banners in place by December 6, 2007, in time for the Downtown Christmas
Parade. Two kiosks constructed in the first phase of the Chester Avenue
Streetscape have suffered serious vandalism and etching. The one located in
front of the bus station will be refurbished and relocated to 19th and Eye Streets
as part of the CDBG funded Eye Street project. Nearby businesses will adopt it
and post various announcements and public information on it. The one located
on the southeast corner of 19th and Chester Avenue will be taken down at this
time. Staff is exploring the possibility of refurbishing and relocating it to a new
location, and also locating a business to adopt it for future continued
maintenance.
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
LEGISLATIVE AND LITIGATION COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. Feasibility of Downtown Commercial Location w/Parking Above/Retail
Below -Donna Kunz
It was stated in a recent magazine report on downtown advocacy that there are
two types of parking structures. The first type would be those structures
intended for frequent users; for example, employees that park there everyday.
The parking spaces are much tighter and used by the same people daily. The
other type is intended for infrequent users, such as people shopping or taking
care of business in the area. This type of structure is not as efficient cost wise.
These structures have more requirements: larger parking spaces, a lot more
way-finding signs to direct users towards them, and more attractive amenities
attached to them to attract more transient type users.
Staff has explored the feasibility of developing a public parking structure
downtown that would provide retail on the ground floor and parking on floors
above. This type of facility must be located in an area that is pedestrian friendly
for safety concerns, and is dependent of the surrounding commercial
development and the availability of required land.
In pursuing another parking structure downtown within the next few years, staff
has determined the most logical location would be the Mill Creek area. This
land is City owned and has the highest volume of planned commercial,
restaurant and entertainment development, which will create a high demand for
parking. In order to make a proper size garage, it would require a full city block.
This would be looked at as a public/private partnership with opportunity to sell
additional land for commercial development, which will give us some funding
towards the garage construction costs. This proposed location is also within
the Southeast Redevelopment Project Area, which would allow the potential
use of new tax increment generated from development activity in the vicinity to
be used to assist in the financing of this project.
Committee member David Couch stated that there is a great need for public
parking east of Chester Avenue, and would like for any future development in
that area to attempt to include this type of parking facility. Economic
Development Director Donna Kunz stated that in order for such an attempt to
be made, the development project would have to include a large area of land,
and not just a few acres here and there. A large anchor is needed, such as the
anticipated Federal Courthouse.
Staff will continue to look for other suitable downtown locations, but to put a
facility in place within the next seven years, Mill Creek is the most feasible
location.
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
LEGISLATIVE AND LITIGATION COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
6. CLOSED SESSION
None
7. COMMITTEE COMMENTS
None
8. ADJOURNMENT 1:38:45 PM
cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council