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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-04-04; Housing and Redevelopment Advisory Committee Ad Hoc; MinutesMINUTES Date of Meeting: April 4, 1983 Time of Meeting: 5:OO p.m. Place of Meeting: City Council Chambers Meeting of: HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT ADVISORY (BMMI'I'I'EE - CALL To ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Co-Chairman Hall at 5:04 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present : Matt Hall John McCoy Roy Sanchez Thelma Hayes Eva Carney Laura Moralez Roy Ward Red Helton arrived at 5:16 p.m. Absent: Robert Holmes A!lTE"CE : Chris Salomone, Cornunity Redevelopent Manager Council Liaison Kulchin Ron Beckman, Assistant City Manager, Patty A. Cratty, Administrative Assistant Developmental Services NEM BUSINESS: 1. Streetscape Imp lementation - State and Grand Chris Salomne, Cornunity Redevelopment Manager, gave the staff report, using wall maps to shaw Parallel Parking Plan and Diagonal Parking Plan. The Public Meeting was held March 28, 1983, and there was a great deal of testimony from the merchants, property owners and citizens regarding the mnf iguration of streetscaping proposed in the downtown area. The Parallel Parking Plan would change the diagonal parking on both State and Grand to parallel. The Diagonal Parking Plan would leave the majority of diagonal parking on the street in place and limit the scope of work to crosswalks and mrners. The mrners wuld be pulled out and rounded as Grand and State Streets are at present. crosswalks and the existing sidewalks would be replaced. mere would be mid-block Mr. Salomne stated he had petitions with over 1,000 signatures--730 advocating the retention of diagonal parking and over 200 for mre extensive treatment to be done with a change to parallel parking. There would be a significant difference in onstreet parking. spaces would be lost, and with parallel parking, thirty spaces would be lost. With the diagonal parking, probably ten The proponents of parallel parking pointed out they felt it very inportant to do a full-blown job on the downtown area to make a real pedestrian atmosphere. MEMBERS MINUTES April 4, 1983 Page 2 The proponents of diagonal parking stated it was vital to the merchants along the street to have easy access and they felt diagonal parkinq was far easier for most everyone and mre inviting than parallel parking. The offstreet parking that is being created will not be mnpleted until at earliest May 1, and there has not been an opportunity to see haw that would affect the onstreet parking. This Comnittee should try to decide tonight what they want to recommend to the Council, and, if possible, should send their recomnendations listed in the order of their priority. In answer to a question by Me&r McCoy as to whether an estimate was available for the cost of either plan, Mr. Salomne stated there is $350,000 available for these projects. estimated $12,000 per year as maintenance cost for this area. generating more taxes and mre mney being returned to the City. The Parks and Recreation Department had This type of redevelopment pays for itself by Member Ward questioned haw the center median would help create a better pedestrian atmosphere. He felt widening the pedestrian ways would be mre helpful rather than taking away from the ingress and eqress of the area. He stated he understood 174 new parking spaces would be provided with the new lots, but Mr. Salomne stated that was a little high. There will be 81 new spaces by the railroad tracks and 27 on the corner of Grand and State. The mid-block parking lot will not create more parking- it will just be cleaning up the existing area. Ward suggested that perhaps at a future date the parking behind the Chamber of Comnerce might be added to that qgregate number. Mr. Salomone added there are other areas downtown that will be examined for offstreet parking. with parking as a tool in the redevelopment area and a goal of additional parkinq as an inducemnt, it will allow for new construction in the village area over and above what is there now. %e prospect of a large amount of space for redevelopment is significant. reason, any existing parking should be protected and the future needs should be considered and not just what is there now. Median areas could be torn out when the circulation gets too bad-but the place for atmosphere is on the walkways. Me&r Mr. Ward stated that his reason for asking was For that Member Hayes stated that the Traffic Engineer was to have a report for the Comnittee, but nothing has mme to the Comnittee as yet. Mr. Salomone answered the Traffic Engineer felt no report was necessary; diagonal parking is mre dangerous than parallel and there are two to four times as many accidents with diagonal parking. However, Grand and State can't be considered so busy that it would be significant at this time. safer to go to parallel parking, and everyone agrees with that, but the accident rate there is not significantly higher. It would be MEMBERS MINUTES April 4, 1983 Page 3 Member Helton comnted that it is very dangerous to drive down State Street with the people backing out of the diagonal parking spaces. There is not enouuh space for them to stay in their own lane, so both sides of the street are blocked. parking is dangerous as far as pulling out. Helton said it is not as dangerous as diagonal parking. Mr. Salomne said the visible crosswalks should help and the treatment at the wrners. Member Hayes agreed that the mid-block crosswalks would be safer. Member Ward stated that parallel Mer Co-Chairman Hall invited the public to speak at 5:29 p. m. Mr. Harold Clarke addressed the Cornittee, adding that the point Mr. Ward made was interesting with regard to the possibility for additional development. expressed the thought that the Chamber of Comnerce wst have a position on this matter and wondered what it was. He felt that the City was looking at increased tourism and thought the Chamber's position should be known. He Member Hayes stated that the Design Review Manual listed pedestrian traffic as the number one item on the kinds of businesses for that area. The list included restaurants, boutiques, retail shops, craft shops, specialty shops, professional mnplexes, medical conplexes, etc., and what we have there now is not mnpatible with that plan. of the businesses out, but future plans should be geared to mnform with the overall plan. We don't want to drive any Mr. Bill Ryburn addressed the Cornittee stating that the goal should be to rehabilitate the downtown area and the stronger the streetscape, the better chance there would be for the rehabilitation. The buildings need to be revitalized in that area to keep up with the progress made in other areas in the City. Mr. Abel Garcia stated the diagonal parking plan looked good, except there were no trees in the center. He felt the diagonal plan would cause them to improve their property and let them keep the parking they now have. The parking in front of the business is the most inportant parking you will have. The median with trees might have a tunnel effect and not provide that nuch beautification. The question was asked haw wide State Street is from curb to curb, and staff answered it is 57 feet. Mr. Clarke mmnented on Mr. Garcia's concern about parking in front of the business, and asked how you could keep that space clear for your own customers. the parking behind the businesses was important and they had one of the better lots. The Clarke's were willing to gamble on gettinq sonethinq better for the area and would be disappointed if the inproverents are not the most amenities possible for the village area. He felt Member McCoy said he didn't mind paying for the medians out later. He felt the center medians would be a hazard; also, the trees are a problem. favor of the diagonal medians could be adddlater, if needed. , inproverents initially, but would hate to take the He was in arking with landscaping and the MINUTES April 4, 1983 Page 4 Co-Chairman Hall mmnted that he felt the plantings on Roosevelt were a hazard. was not the final plan and trees did not necessarily have to be planted in the medians. Staff answered that this plan Member Ward stated that he felt everyone felt a strong pedestrian oriented streetscape was necessary to attract pedestrians to the area. Also, the Comnittee wanted to acm-ate the businesses' needs for diagonal parking. He concluded the median planting should be minimized or deleted, at least on State Street, and the pedestrian right-of-ways should be heavily landscaped rather than the street-especially the sidewalks. Member Hayes expressed her concern for conpmmising on the street inpmvements and ending up with something that gave the appearance of skimping on the redevelopment, and not being the dream everyone had for the area. Co-Chairman Hall stated that on State Street it would be difficult to plant trees, even with parallel parking. He felt trees on that street would just add to the hazard that exists there now. He felt the sidwalks could be widened and all plantings put along the curb line, with nothing in the middle, and parallel parking. The plan is a twenty-five year option. there will be no cars on that street at all. Perhaps some day Member Ward again spoke about the need for diagonal parking dawntam for the businesses. percent of the businesses need diagonal parking. He suggested that perhaps they should do the mmer plantings and parking lots and let the rest ride for awhile. He stated 80 Mr. Salomne said that was a possibility, inasmch as it is a twenty-five year plan and the City is just now realizing the funding for the redevelopmnt. Member Ward made a mtion for discussion purposes that: The Comnittee recomnd to the Redevelopment Agency, and incude as a preamble, the fact that the City's obligation and redevelopment's obligation is to provide the maxim available amenities consistent with available funds in the redevelopment area; secondly, the Comnittee remmnds that the irrprovement plan for State and Grand include strong pedestrian and streetscape- that accomnodates existing businesses to the best of the plan's ability to provide the use of diagonal parking: and, three, that the enphasis on amenities and landscaping be adjacent to the pedestrian right-of-ways (sidewalks) rather than in a median divider in either street; and, four, mid-block pedestrian crossings be provided as appropriate with overall plan. There was a brief discussion about the different options available for landscaping. Member Helton asked Mr. Salomne if this motion would present a problem to the City, and Mr. Salomne said it would not as the Comnittee was saying it wanted to go with diagonal parking and the Council would have no problem understanding. MEMBERS ' MINUTES April 4, 1983 Page 5 Member Hayes remmnded an amendment with regard to the diagonal parking; that this a short-term interval parking until adequate offstreet parkinq can be provided, and that diagonal parking is in keeping with the Traffic Safety Codes of the City. The Comnittee discussed widening the sidewalks at a later date if the curblanes were opened up as wide as possible now. curbs, you have a total street redesign. Member Ward said if you start moving the Ron Beckman, Assistant City Manager, stated that would create many problem and would be costly to the City. Menber Hayes stated that State Street is dangerous now with the diagonal parking and nothing in the center-so she can't see mntinuinq a bad situation. there is room to go first class. On Grand, Member Ward said they could remmnd higher intensification of redevelopment on Grand, but State Street doesn't have the mom. Member Sanchez suggested perhaps the Cornittee was about a year ahead of time; that they should wait until the parking lots are finished and see the results of that offstreet parking. Member Hayes said the Cornnittee muld make an ideal decision and the Council would have to make a political decision. ideal dream they had hoped for. She felt the Comnittee should go with the The Comnittee discussed the proposed amendment of M&r Hayes, but felt as long as there is diagonal parking on State Street, there is no room to do anything else. The suggestion was made that perhaps the Comnittee should do nothing about State Street at this time, and wait until the offstreet parking is mnpleted and then reconsider whether parallel parking would be acceptable to the people on that block. At the same time, the Cornnittee would remmnd the Parallel Parking Plan on Grand. At this point, since the Motion by Me&r Ward had been seconded, the Cornittee voted on said Motion as follows: The motion did not carry. Chris Salomone stated one plan could be mnpleted before the end of the year. done before or after the first week in Noverber, which is the Fall Faire, and it would not be feasible to have the construction going on at that time. Member Hayes asked if it would be proper to table this item. She would like to have the Traffic Safety Comnittee get a report from the Traffic Engineer. However, the work has to be Carney Hall Hayes Helton McCoy Moralez Sanchez Ward A - x x x x x MINUTES April 4, 1983 Page 6 Ron Beckman, Assistant City Manager, stated the Traffic Safety Comnission had its first meeting today and the new Comnission's responsibility, as yours, is to recomnd policies to the Council and this would not be within their realm. this Cornittee, This decision mst be made with Member Hayes restated her desire to have input from the Traffic Engineer. Mr. Beckman and Mr. Salomone both stated that what Mr. Salomne had said previously was the Traffic Engineer's opinion, and the Cornnittee could make a remmnendation and if it were a hazard, it wouldn't be implemented. Member Hayes made a motion to coqlete Grand as remmnded in the Parallel Parking Plan from the railroad tracks to Madison and that State Street be coqleted at the corners and at mid-block. parking is not to be accepted, the City should wait with further implementation of the beautification of State Street. If parallel There was a discussion about delaying the beautification of State Street, with Member Hayes stating that after the parking lots are coqleted, streetscaping could be the next step. The Comnittee again discussed the difficulty with State Street as far as limitation of size and that any beautification would have to be along the sidewalks. Staff was asked about left turn lanes and answered they would be incorporated into the plan. Member Hayes stated the parallel plan as presented on the wall chart would not work for State Street and felt it should be returned for more work. Marty Orenyak, Building and Planning Director, stated they had spent three months getting the parking lots through and promised those people that if the parking lots went through, the City would redo State Street. Naw you say you might delay doing anything on State Street. Mr. Orenyak felt very strongly about delaying work on State Street at this time and felt it would be difficult to tell the people that State Street would not be beautified until later. Mr. Garcia stated that they don't want the Cornnittee to forget State Street-would go with diagonal parking on State Street and parallel on Grand. The buildings are the problem-they need to be changed-and need visible crosswalks for safety. not stop what they could do on the sidewalks as that would not cost a lot of money--benches and planting. suggested leaving the diagonal parking and start inproving State Street. Mr. Garcia felt the City should He Mr, Clarke agreed that they wanted everything possible done on State Street, and the City should go first cabin on Grand. Mr.Salomone mmnented there is a nice relationship between staff and the people in the redevelopment area and he would hate to see a decision made by the Contnittee that would alienate any group. MINUTES April 4, 1983 Page 7 The Comnittee approved the following motion: The Comnittee recomnds to the Redevelopment Comnission and includes as a preamble, the fact that the City's obligation and redevelopment's obligation is to provide the maximLlIIl, as available, amenities consistent with available funds in the redevelopment area; secondly, the Comnittee recornnends that the improvement plan for State and Grand include strong pedestrian and streetscape enpha- sis that accommdates existing businesses and to the best ( the plan's ability to provide the use of diagonal parking; and, three, that the enphasis on amenities and landscaping be adjacent to the pedestrian right-of-ways (sidewalks) rather than in a median divider in either street; and, four, mid-block pedestrian crossings be provided as a@ropriate with overall plan; amended to read Grand Avenue would be redone in accordance with the Parallel Parking Plan and State Street to be redone in accordance with the Diaqonal Parking Plan with no median. APPFKWAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the February 28, 1983, Meeting were approved as presented. CITY ENTRANCE AND CCMWNITY DIRECTIONAL SIGNS: Chris Salomne reported Research and Analysis will be taking this item to Council on the 19th and asking for funding. happening with the signs. draft a letter to CalTrans thanking them for their amperat ion. He wanted the Comnittee to know what is Mr. Salomne stated he would The question was asked whether traffic control signs auld be in the same mtiff and Ron Beckman stated that by State Law only signed approved by the State Comnittee can be used for traffic control, and if other signs are used, it is not enforceable. 3. ALLOCATION: ADDITIONAL CcIMMuNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT Chris Salomne reported there would be $33,000 additional mney in the block grant allocation, and staff should know by April 5. recomnend that the bulk go to Vocational Rehabilitation. There are a lot of new applicants. They are going to Staff is requesting $10,000 be allocated for the Signs Program. These will be den signs and will establish a mtiff for the village. They intend to take the legal signs and dress them up to have them fit in with the village atmosphere. ?he Comnittee agreed to approve this use of the funds as stated. MEMBERS Carney Hall Hayes Helton McCoy Moralez Sanchez Ward Carney Hall Hayes Helton McCoy Moralez Sanchez Ward 4 < b - , L . L r L L L r L r L r L 1 r L ? L ? L . L r L MINUTES April 4, 1983 Page 8 UPmTEs: Chris Salomone gave a brief report on the inprovements being made in the redevelopment area and the facades being added to existing buildings in the village. ADJOURNMENT: By proper mtion, the Meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. Reseectfully submitted, Minutes Clerk