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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/20/16 CC AGENDA HIGHLIGHTSAGENDA HIGHLIGHTS � APRIL 20, 2016 COUNCIL MEETING I�',' -;a REGULAR MEETING - 3:30 p.m. NOTE: A separate meeting will be called to order at 3:30 p.m., followed by Public Statements that will encourage comments pertaining to Closed Session matter(s) only. The Council will then recess into Closed Session. Upon conclusion of the Closed Session, any Closed Session action will be announced prior to adjournment of the meeting. At 5:15 p.m., the Regular Meeting will be called to order to address the remainder of the agenda items. CLOSED SESSION There will be a conference with the labor negotiator, followed by a conference with legal counsel regarding one item of existing litigation and one item of pending litigation. REGULAR MEETING - 5:15 p.m. WORKSHOPS Item 6a. Economic Opportunity Areas. Community Development Department staff will provide a presentation regarding the establishment of three economic opportunity areas within the City. Since the state - mandated dissolution of redevelopment agencies, cities have had limited options to encourage redevelopment of underutilized or blighted areas. The proposed plan would create three areas where the City's portion of property tax growth (known as tax increment) will be reinvested back into each area to encourage further development and increase property values. The areas being proposed to be established include downtown, Bakersfield Airport area and Highway 58 /Mt. Vernon area. Examples of activities proposed under as part of the program include rehabilitation of existing buildings, infrastructure upgrades, aesthetic upgrades and fee mitigation. Staff is requesting the areas be established, however funding is not recommended to be allocated until a future fiscal year due to local economic conditions. APPOINTMENTS There will be one appointment to the Planning Commission and one appointment to the Kern River Groundwater Sustainability Agency. CONSENT CALENDAR Resolutions Item 8d. Ming Avenue Annexation. This item begins the formal process of annexing four properties located on the north side of Ming Avenue, east of Hughes Lane near the Valley Plaza Mall. Ming Avenue currently narrows to two lanes in each travel direction in this general location due to three properties which remain unimproved within an unincorporated IWIIIIII pocket of Kern County. This annexation is the first step in a process to widen the arterial roadway and improve traffic flow in this area. The proximity of the narrowed roadway to the mall and Kern County Fairgrounds creates traffic issues during the holiday shopping season and during large events at the Fairgrounds. Upon application to the Kern County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo), the annexation process may take up to 12 months to complete. During this period, County and City staffs are collaborating on obtaining the needed right -of -way for the widening project. In addition, City staff is planning to include the estimated costs to widen the roadway as part of the FY 2016 -17 capital improvement budget. Property Acquisition Agreements - TRIP Item 8u -x. Property Demolition Agreements for Centennial Corridor Proiect. These items represent the first agreements for the demolishing of structures on properties the City has previously acquired to construct the Centennial Corridor. The City has been acquiring properties since March of 2014 through a federally- authorized early acquisition program. To date, the City has acquired: 150 of the 199 single family homes (75%); 8 of the 9 multi - family properties (89%); and 9 of the 18 commercial /industrial properties (50 %). Most recently, Caltrans approved the Record of Decision (ROD) for the project which allows, among other activities, the removal of structures within the project area. The four proposed agreements total $1,104,000 and will allow for certain commercial and residential structures to be demolished. After removal of all above and below ground structures on each the properties, a wood chip cover will be applied to provide soil stabilization and weed control. BIDS Item 8aa. Mohawk Street Improvements. In summer 2014, the City completed a road project which extended Mohawk Street from its original end at Rosedale Highway to Siena Lane. Currently, Mohawk Street from Siena Lane to Hageman Road only allows for one lane of travel in each direction and does not include sidewalks, street lights or curb and gutter. Upon completion, this project will provide two lanes of travel in each direction, the installation of street lights and the construction of curb and gutter on the west side of the right -of -way. The work will also include median island construction and the installation of a traffic signal system at the intersection of Hageman Road and Mohawk Street. When completed, Mohawk Street will provide continuous four lanes for vehicle traffic from Rosedale Highway to Hageman Road. HEARINGS Item 10a. Appeal of Planning Commission Decision Regarding Maple Ridge Assisted Living & Memory Care Facility. On March 3, 2016, the City Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve three actions and recommended the same to City Council to allow the construction of a two - story, 112 unit assisted living and memory care facility in northeast Bakersfield. Following the Planning Commission action, two individuals appealed the decision, stating a variety of reasons for which the project should not be allowed. These reasons include concerns regarding previously unfinished developments in the area, lack of demand, no need for infill development, water usage and possible noise. Staff determined the information contained in the appeal does not show the project would be harmful to the Agenda Highlights - April 20, 2016 Council Meeting Page 2 surrounding community. For these reasons, staff is recommending that the City Council deny the appeal and uphold the Planning Commission's recommendation. REPORTS Item 1la. City -Owned Property on P/Q Streets. As requested by Councilmember Rivera, staff will provide a status update on the sale of City -owned property located on the corner of P/Q Streets and California Avenue. Approved: Alan Tandy, City Manager CHfor AT cc: Department Heads City Manager's File City Clerk's File News Media File Agenda Highlights - April 20, 2016 Council Meeting Page 3 No