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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - unsigned - 1988-11-28 City Council, Adjourned Regular Meeting City Hall Conference Room Redding, California November 28, 1988 5:15 p.m. The Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council was called toorder by Mayor Johannessen with the following Council Memberspresent: Buffum, Carter, Dahl, and Fulton. Jim Williams, Chair of the Redding Redevelopment Agency, calledthe Adjourned Meeting of the Redding Redevelopment Agency to orderwith the following Agency Members present: Ernst, Green, and Rutledge. Also present were City Manager Christofferson, Assistant CityManager McMurry, City Attorney Hays, Planning and CommunityDevelopment Director Perry, Director of Public Works Galusha,Housing Administrator Maurer, Accountant Robinson, and City ClerkNichols. JOINT MEETING WITH THE REDDING REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (B-080-370) The joint meeting was called to discuss how the two bodies can insure close cooperation in future activities for the benefit of the public. Phil Perry, Secretary of the Redding Redevelopment Agency (RRA),opened the general discussion by defining the RRA as a tool toraise money to finance projects. Mr. Perry described the overallscope and present status of the two project areas which are (a)the Midtown Mall Project and (b) the Canby-Hilltop- CypressProject. He provided everyone with a copy of the "Redding Redevelopment Report" dated February 1988, which summarizes variousactivities of the RRA. Mr. Perry also submitted an itemizedreport dated November 28, 1988, of the Canby-Hilltop-CypressRedevelopment Projects. Mr. Perry reiterated that the Agency isa tool which gains revenue from property tax from a frozen base.The Agency constructs projects to benefit the City that the Citycould not afford to do from regular resources. Mr. Perry reported that the next area that is designated forredevelopment is in the vicinity of Cypress Street and Highway273. It needs to include a base area value of $50 million. Ithas been suggested that the Midtown Mall Project be amended byexpanding it to include Public Works activities such as signals,bridges, street realignment, and street improvements. It couldbenefit Butte Street, Diestelhorst Bridge, North Court Street, thenorth side of the Sacramento River, and the Parkview Area. Mr. Perry reported that the Canby-Hilltop-Cypress Project couldalso be amended to include new shopping centers that are developing, bridges, and street and storm drain improvements. NorthMarket Street could be cleaned up and redeveloped to return it toits former status when it was known as the Miracle Mile. In answer to a question from Council Member Buffum, Mr. Perryadvised that State Law provides for designating blighted areas forredevelopment, but it requires that 80% of the area be alreadydeveloped. Mr. Perry said that the Park Marina area will be looked atclosely and noted that a lot depends on owner interest. Mr. Perry submitted an itemized report of RRA Housing Programsdated November 28, 1988, and he advised that Housing AdministratorJan Maurer, Senior Housing Counselor Dave Cook, and HousingSpecialist Sarah Haddox have done a good job on the HousingProgram. Ms. Maurer said the Downpayment Assistance Program isvery popular. She also reported on the Housing RehabilitationProgram, Mortgage Credit Certificate Program, Rental HousingConstruction Program, Cooperative Housing, Project Match, and theRental Assistance Program. In a review of the Benton Ranch property, Mr. Perry indicated thatthe City Council Planning Study would just be a concept design.He pointed out that the Community Development Block Grant Programset aside $15,000 for Museum design. Mr. Perry remarked that theRRA, as the owner of Benton ranch, must look to what type ofmunicipal uses could be placed on the property. The extension ofthe Sacramento River Trail will be one of the first items considered. Other projects to consider are the Carter House ScienceMuseum and a bridge. Mr. Perry observed that the Agency role is that of an owner andpartner with the City, and the Agency should be able to providefinancing for the projects. It was suggested that a different name be given to the area suchas Turtle Bay North, Seaport Village, etc. Council Member Buffum commented that defining the scope of theproject will be a monumental task and a priority list must beestablished. A General Plan Amendment may be required to accomplish what the City Council and the Agency want done with theproperty. Mr. Perry recalled that 20% of the land must be used for park andthe remainder will be for public uses. He recommended thatnothing be decided until the area is Master Planned. RRA Member Green commented that possible uses could be a ballpark,museum, civic center, theatre, and gift shops. In response to a question from Chair Williams, City Attorney Hayssaid it would be prudent to ask Mrs. McConnell for approval ofany plan. RRA Member Green recommended that a study include the ConventionCenter and adjacent areas and projects such as the Logging Museum. Mr. Perry opined that thought should be given to Master Planningwhere Redding is going in terms of a population growth of 100,000to 150,000 people. He said it takes about nine months to amend aRedevelopment project. Council Member Dahl said it would be good to establish the bestuse of the Benton Ranch property that meets the criteria set byLeah McConnell. RRA Member Green inquired how the Agency Memberscan assist the City to develop that site? Council Member Dahl asked if action could be taken quickly toextend the Sacramento River Trail? Mr. Perry responded yes, and noted that potential impacts on thelocation of the "trail" are the proposed bridges and bridgeapproaches. Chair Williams noted that the Agency, in a meeting earlier today,voted to proceed with the trail extension. They also voted toform a Citizen's Committee of merchants and owners in the SouthMarket and downtown area to build consensus on proposed projectsand expansion of the project area. Ms. Ernst inquired if there was a question of the placement of thereplacement bridge. Director of Public Works Galusha respondedno, and estimated that cost to be about $3.5 million and theCity's share would be about $700,000. Eihnard Diaz interjected that the cost of a bridge, along withtraffic projections, were addressed in the Park Marina Plan andthe Traffic Study performed by DKS Associates and would cost over$12,000,000. Agency Member Rutledge said that the DKS study,which was authorized by the Shasta County Regional TransportationAgency, should be used for review. Council Member Carter asked ifthe architect's study of Benton Ranch uses will include the costfigures for a bridge? City Manager Christofferson replied that the study will giveCouncil what is necessary to evaluate the project. He furtherstated that some of the information concerning basic infrastructure has to come from staff. Mr. Perry pointed out that the costof the infrastructure will probably remain true no matter how theproperty is used. Council Member Dahl concluded that it is good that the Agency andCouncil finally got together, and another meeting should be setafter receipt of the architect's study to discuss other thingssuch as traffic and grid lock. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at the hour of 6:40 p.m., ChairWilliams adjourned the meeting of the Redding Redevelopment Agencyand Mayor Johannessen adjourned the City Council meeting. APPROVED: __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: __________________________________ City Clerk 11-28-88