HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/13/17 CC AGENDA HIGHLIGHTSAGENDA HIGHLIGHTS
DECEMBER 13, 2017 COUNCIL MEETING
i�. rent' 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 the workshop and closed session matters only. The
Council will 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.
WORKSHOPS
Item 3a. High Speed Rail. Staff from the Community Development Department will provide a
status update presentation on the station area planning effort and alignment development
associated with the California High -Speed Rail project. As part of a lawsuit settlement
agreement with the City, the California High -Speed Rail Authority agreed to study a new
alternative alignment through the City. This alignment generally parallels the Union Pacific
Railroad line, which travels through the intersection of F Street and Golden State in downtown
Bakersfield. This alignment is less impactful to property owners, is anticipated to cost less to
construct and would result in faster travel times than the original alignment. As part of the
settlement agreement, the City agreed to formally support this alignment. Therefore, staff is
requesting the Council's approval of a resolution supporting this alternative alignment.
CLOSED SESSION
There will be a conference with legal counsel regarding four items of existing litigation.
REGULAR MEETING - 5:15 p.m.
WORKSHOPS
Item 6a. Bakersfield Sports Village. The Bakersfield Sports Village is a large regional sports
complex and park located in south Bakersfield. The facility includes 12 soccer fields and 4
football fields. The facility plays host to youth leagues and large tournaments. Additional
improvements are currently under construction and include an entrance off Taft Highway, a
playground, restrooms, walking paths, picnic areas, and additional parking. Recently, Kaiser
Permanente representatives and City staff reached tentative terms for a multi -year naming
rights agreement. Upon approval by City Council, the complex will be known as Kaiser
Permanente Sports Village. The agreement is for a period of five years starting on January 1,
2018. In exchange for the naming rights, Kaiser Permanente has agreed to pay the City
$500,000. These funds will be used to make additional improvements at the Bakersfield Sports
Village. Representatives from Kaiser Permanente will be on hand to make a presentation to the
City. In addition, staff is requesting the City Council approve the agreement with Kaiser
Permanente. The City expresses its great thanks to Kaiser Permanente for its investment in the
community!
Item 6b. Community Branding_ Recently, staff was approached by the Chamber of Commerce
and several local businesses to gauge interest in participating in a community -wide branding
project. The goal of the project is establish a positive external brand designed to generate
economic development, promote talent attraction and tourism opportunities in Bakersfield.
Although these types of efforts have occurred in the past, there has not been the widespread
involvement from large private sector employers as there is as part of this effort. The Chamber
has indicating its intent to retain North Star Destination Strategies to complete the branding
process. Over the last 17 years, North Star Destination Strategies has partnered with more than
200 communities in California and across the nation to develop brands. City staff had previously
engaged North Star Destination Strategies to develop a brand for the City. However, at that
time, the City was to bare the entire cost of the project and could not do so given the fiscal
circumstances. This new approach proposes to get buy in from several local businesses and
government agencies, resulting in a more cost - effective and collaborative effort. Staff is
requesting the Council approve a $10,000 contribution to the project.
Item 6c. Polling Services. During the October 1 1 th City Council meeting, staff presented a fiscal
outlook for the City's general fund. The outlook included assumptions on expected revenue
growth and future cost increases. Based on several factors, the outlook showed the City's
stagnant revenue growth was not expected to keep pace with anticipated cost increases over
the next several years. As part of this discussion, staff presented an option for the Council to
consider placing a tax measure on the November 2018 ballot for consideration by the voters. As
a preliminary step in that process, staff noted most other California cities utilize a consultant to
conduct polling and public opinion research services. This work includes the polling of
prospective voters to determine viability of such a measure being successful. At the conclusion
of the staff presentation, the Council directed staff to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for
polling services and return the item back to the Council at a future meeting for consideration.
Staff issued the RFP and received three proposals in response. After review of the proposals, staff
is recommending the Council enter into an agreement with Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz and
Associates (FM3) to conduct the polling services. FM3 has worked with over 140 California cities
on a variety of local finance measures. Since 2002, the firm has produced research that has led
to over 90 successful sales tax measures, including several in Kern County and the Central
Valley. If the agreement is approved, FM3 will conduct a survey of 800 prospective local voters
and facilitate two focus group sessions. A final report and accompanying presentation would
be made to the City Council in March 2018.
HEARINGS
Item 10a. 24th Street Pedestrian Crossing. During the October 1 1 th Council meeting, the City
Council vacated the existing crosswalks at Alder /A Streets and Drake /D Streets along the 24th
Street Corridor, after receiving public comment, because they were determined to be unsafe in
the current location and design. In response to the comments received about the need for a
safe pedestrian crossing of 24th Street, the Council directed staff to bring back, for the Council's
consideration, a replacement location for a new pedestrian crossing along 24th Street. After
evaluation, the City's designer for the Project, TYLin, recommends that the new signalized,
pedestrian- activated crossing be constructed at Pine Street. This location was deemed the
most preferable for several reasons, including stopping sight distance and decision sight
distance. As the Council previously certified the Recirculated Final Environmental Impact Report
for the project, an addendum to the document is necessary should the Council approve the
new pedestrian crossing location. Staff is requesting Council's approval of the construction of
new pedestrian crossing of 24th Street at Pine Street and a resolution adopting an addendum
to the Recirculated Final Environmental Impact Report for the 24th Street Widening Project.
NEW BUSINESS
Item 13a. Micro breweries /Microdistilleries. Councilmember Gonzales previous referred an item
to the Planning and Development Committee requesting staff to review possible changes to
Agenda Highlights - December 13, 2017 Council Meeting
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the City's municipal code that would allow microbrewery and microdistillery operations in the
downtown area. The Committee met and discussed this item on two occasions, providing input
on staff recommendations that would allow small brewing and distilling operations with the
various zoning districts that overlay the downtown area. After this discussion, the committee
directed staff to present the Council with an ordinance that would allow for small brewing and
distilling operations to occur in the downtown area. In addition, the committee directed staff to
include the regional commercial zone (C -2) as areas where these types of operations could
occur by right and without the need to obtain a conditional use permit. Staff will provide a brief
overview of the changes to the City's municipal code to allow this use and is recommending
the Council take first reading of the ordinance.
Approved: Alan Tandy, City ManagerAT-
Agenda Highlights - December 13, 2017 Council Meeting
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