REDWOOD CITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

CHAIR  DIANE HOWARD
VICE CHAIR  IRA RUSKIN

AGENCYMEMBER RICHARD S. CLAIRE
AGENCYMEMBER JIM HARTNETT
AGENCYMEMBER JEFF IRA
AGENCYMEMBER COLLEEN M. JORDAN
AGENCYMEMBER MATT LEIPZIG

SPECIAL MEETING
May 17, 1999

CALL TO ORDER - 7:32 p.m., Vice Chairman Ruskin presiding

ROLL CALL

Agency Members Present: Claire, Hartnett, Ira, Leipzig, Vice Mayor Ruskin

Agency Members Absent: Jordan, Mayor Howard

Staff Present: City Manager Everett, City Attorney Schricker, City Clerk Howe, Redevelopment and Planning Manager Church, Engineering and Construction Manager Patterson, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Superintendents Centeno and Hover, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Manager Gibbons, Community Development Director Nelson, Traffic Engineer Haygood, Finance Director Ponty and Agency Volunteer Balsamo

1. PUBLIC COMMENT - No public comment

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A. Approve the Minutes of the regular meeting of April 26, 1999 as submitted;

M/S Hartnett/Ira to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 26, 1999. The motion passed by unanimous roll call vote by those present with Director Jordan and Chairwoman Howard absent.

MINUTE ORDER RD 99-005

3. GENERAL

A. Keyser Marston Associates Consultant Services Agreement

Planning and Redevelopment Manager Church gave a background on the proposed agreement renewal with a not to exceed cap of $100,000, and utilization as projects dictate.

M/S Hartnett/Claire to adopt RESOLUTION RD 99-23 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF REDWOOD CITY AND KEYSER MARSTON ASSOCIATES, INC. FOR PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES

The motion passed unanimously by those present with Director Jordan and Chairwoman Howard absent.

B. Downtown Retail-Cinema Project-Selection of Master Developer for Exclusive Right to Negotiate (ERN)

Vice Chair Ruskin explained the discussion would not be to approve a final project, but one in a series of steps in regards to a potential retail cinema project downtown. Proposals have been sought and the process now is to grant one of the master developers the exclusive right to negotiate.

Planning and Redevelopment Manager Church explained the recommendation is to select the team of the Innisfree Companies/Century Cinemas to negotiate a disposition development agreement between the Redevelopment Agency and the development team. This agreement would provide the parties to the agreement 9 months to negotiate an agreement. The time involved is required for the developer to do an Environmental Impact Report on the area prior to entering into a disposition development agreement and either begin if not complete the architectural review process.

Sub-Committee Chair Hartnett added further background dating back to May of 1997 when theatre operators and developers inquired about locating a multi-complex theatre in that specific downtown area. After extensive work by the committee which included members from the Planning Commission and the Architectural Review Committee and site visits to the two final developer teams, the committee is recommending unanimously, the Innisfree team be granted an exclusive right to negotiate which would start a further public process. At that point, the design would be aired, the public and the Council can comment, Architectural Review Committee involved, the EIR done and further negotiations with the development team can occur on the substance and financial side of the project.

Directors comments included concern with Architectural Concept (item 6a of agreement) needing to be more thorough; need for true analysis of parking needs and traffic flow; need for public input and a projection as to how the theatre complex and other businesses downtown will coexist profitably. Concern with the area possibly catering only to a young clientele was also expressed as well as concerns about traffic, communication with the public, both property owners and tenants, and final cost of project.

City Attorney Schricker explained in response to previous knowledge of concerns with item 6a, a modified version of the agreement is provided.

8:05 p.m. - Public Comment

Don Wilson, a business operator at 928 Middlefield Road, commenting that there must have been some type of conceptual program presented to Council, asked when that would be made available to the general public.

Committee (Council) Member Hartnett indicated the very broadest conceptual plan had been discussed at the public Planning Commission session with the Architectural Review Committee. More specific information will be provided in the next 30-45 days.

City Manager Everett indicated an informational packet with the basic information describing the type of tenants, the height, etc., along with the process expectations on the project could be available in one week.

William Abney, restaurant owner on Broadway, announced a public information meeting he is organizing with other merchants and has fliers with details. He supported the different levels of public input requested and the awareness that this project will fit in with the downtown area.

Irene Forster, owner of Creations, asked if a survey or input from the community at large had ever been solicited.

Committee (Council) Member Claire said there had been none, except that there has been a great deal of input from the community at large about the downtown in general. Consensus is that the community wants to see the downtown come back to life.

M/S Hartnett/Claire to amend 6a. of the agreement to read: Architectural Concept. The design and architectural features of the Development subject to said review and approval shall be submitted by way of documents including but not limited to basic concept drawings and preliminary schematic plans; and
adopt RESOLUTION RD 99-24 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT FOR EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO NEGOTIATE (WESTERN INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE TRUST AND THE INNISFREE COMPANIES)

The motion passed unanimously by voice vote of those present with Director Ira abstaining; Director Jordan and Chairwoman Howard absent.

8:18 p.m. - Director Ira returned to the dais

4. CLOSED SESSION - None scheduled

5. ADJOURNMENT - 8:19 p.m.

M/S Liepzig/Claire to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

Respectfully submitted,

Patricia S. Howe, CMC
Agency Secretary

Copyright © 1999. The City of Redwood City. All rights reserved.