MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL

 

 

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA                                                     WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2000

 

 

The Council of the City of San Jose convened in adjourned regular session at 8:11 a.m. at the Biblioteca Latinoamericana, 921-A South First Street, San Jose, California.

 

               Present:      Council Members -  Chavez, Dando, Diaz (arrived at 8:50 a.m.), Diquisto, Fiscalini, LeZotte, Matthews, Powers (left at 9:10 a.m.), Shirakawa, Jr., Woody; Gonzales.

 

               Absent:       Council Members -  None.

 

 

GENERAL GOVERNMENT

 

9a           (1)        Acceptance of the Final Conceptual Design of the New San José Civic Center Project as shown on Attachments A-E titled “Final Civic Center Conceptual Design,” dated March 17, 2000, for additional environmental review and initiation of General Plan Amendment.

               (2)        Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute the first amendment to the consultant services agreement with Richard Meier & Partners, Architects, for architectural services to include the completion of the Schematic Design in the amount of $750,000, and the Initial Design Development Drawings in the amount of $1,850,000, for a total agreement in the amount of $5,100,000, and to extend the term of the agreement from April 1, 2000 to December 31, 2000.

                           CEQA:  Resolution No. 68905.  (Public Works)

 

               Documents filed: (1) Agenda of the meeting on the Conceptual Design of the New San José Civic Center Project. (2) Memorandum from Director of Public Works, Ralph A. Qualls, Jr., dated March 20, 2000, recommending Council accept the Final Conceptual Design of the New San José Civic Center Project as shown on Attachments A-E dated March 17, 2000, for additional environmental review and initiation of General Plan amendment and adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute the first amendment to the said consultant services agreement with Richard Meier & Partners, Architects. (3) Memorandum from Mayor Gonzales, dated March 27, 2000, recommending Council approve the revised conceptual design for the new City Hall, direct the Mayor’s Office to continue to work with the architect to develop the next level of design for the Council’s review; and direct the Administration to schedule Council agenda items for review of revised designs at the completion of both schematic and design development phases. (4) Correspondence from approximately 45 individuals commenting on the subject proposal.

 

               Discussion/Action: Mayor Gonzales stated Council will consider the conceptual design being proposed for the New Civic Center, that the process has involved a great deal of public input, and if approved, the next step in the process is for the architect, working with the design team, to finalize the plans. After today’s actions, he stated the issue should be taken back to the community for further input, and recommended Council refer to the Design Committee a public input process that would include previously involved groups as well as a City-wide effort. He stated this is a special day in the City’s history, one that gives this Council the opportunity to put its stamp on a very important building in the community. He thanked the architect, Richard Meier, for devising an excellent conceptual design which reflects the City’s past and projects its future and which has the potential to be a truly great Civic Center by fulfilling its functional purpose and serving as a gathering place for the community. To make the presentation on the Conceptual Design, Mayor Gonzales introduced Architect Richard Meier. Mr. Meier used charts and models to illustrate the configuration of the revised conceptual design being recommended, explained the development of the basic architectural massing and conceptual design, and responded to questions from the Council. Council discussion began with comments by Council Member LeZotte about the impacts of wind and light on the complex. She suggested Council not be on the 20th floor of the tower as was being considered, preferring the six-story building where the Council Chambers will be located. Council Members Matthews and Powers stressed the need for good acoustics. Council Member Dando commented on known dangers associated with water features and requested special attention be paid to safety. She reiterated previous concerns about the need for a child care facility, raised the potential for experiencing afternoon winds in the open areas, and suggested attention be paid to both indoor and outdoor lighting. Council Member Chavez expressed concerns about incorporating pedestrian friendly features, especially on the back side of the complex, which would interface with the University and the neighborhood, about facilitating pedestrian safety through lighting of walkways and other areas, and requested further discussions on these issues. She suggested exploring the potential of activating portions of the complex for community uses on weekends. The Council of the City of San José recessed at 9:22 a.m. and reconvened the meeting at 9:37 a.m., to continue Council’s discussion. Concerns about parking requirements, incorporating design features which facilitate maintenance of the facilities, and providing adequate signage were addressed by Director Qualls, who stated those issues will be part of the next phase of development. Council Member Diaz raised the issue of including elements for the required noticing of meetings, to be accessible to the community 24 hours per day and to accommodate the multi-ethnicity of San José’s residents. The following individuals spoke on the proposed Final Conceptual Design of the New San José Civic Center Project: Ellen Garboske and Dave Pitman, Preservation Action Council of San José; Carol Savoy, HMNA; Russ Westbrook, Walk San José; Albert J. Ruffo, Walt Phillips, Horace Mann Neighborhood Association; Mike Macarelli; Olga Enciso Smith, Inca Gardens Restaurant; William J. Garbett; W. Banker, Pat Havey, Keith Alan Watt, Le Petit Trianon Theater, and William A. Thomas. Mayor Gonzales closed the public hearing and resumed Council deliberations. Concerns about impacts from shadows, parking and soil issues were addressed by Richard Meier and by Director Qualls. Council Member Diquisto asked Staff to respond to a speaker’s comment about the parking required for the facility by the San José Municipal Code. Director Qualls stated the parking demand developed through the environmental review process was carefully determined and will be met by the proposed conceptual design. Vice Mayor Fiscalini thanked the public for their input and expressed his commitment to adhering to the constraints of Measure I, the statute by which voters approved moving the Civic Center downtown. Vice Mayor Fiscalini moved approval of the Staff recommendations dated March 20, 2000, recommending Council accept the proposed Final Staff Conceptual Design of the New San José Civic Center Project, and approval of Mayor Gonzales’ recommendations dated March 27, 2000. Council Member Shirakawa seconded the motion. At Mayor Gonzales’ request, the maker and second of the motion accepted a referral for the Design Committee to add a public input process that would include those groups previously involved in the process and other neighborhoods in San José. Council Member Woody stated her preference for the current City Hall location is well known and while concerns remain about traffic and parking issues and the financial aspects of the project, she is pleased with the revised design and will support the proposal. Council Member LeZotte stated her views about the building site and using Redevelopment funds also are well known, that concerns about financing, parking and environmental issues will be addressed in a later phase of the project, and she supports the conceptual design proposal. Council Member Chavez stated the revised concept being proposed will provide an opportunity to integrate the design into the community in a pedestrian friendly way that maintains a sense of neighborhood. She stressed the importance of receiving continued public input through meetings with the Parking and Traffic Committee, with Preservation Action Council, and with the Safety Committee, and suggested Council’s review of the schematic designs be scheduled for an evening meeting. Mayor Gonzales thanked the public for their involvement in the current process and for supporting moving of City Hall downtown. He stated the change in orientation of the site plan raises some legitimate concerns and as the process moves into the schematic design phase, it will be necessary to revisit issues such as the Fifth Street entrance, accessibility for various modes of travel, and concerns about potential impacts of the project on the Horace Mann school. Mayor Gonzales thanked Richard Meier and the architectural team, City and Redevelopment Staff, and his staff for the contributions each has made to moving the project forward to this point. On a call for the question, the motion carried unanimously, and Council approved the Final Conceptual Design of the New San José Civic Center project, as recommended by the Administration in memorandum dated March 20, 2000; approved Mayor Gonzales’ recommendations dated March 27, 2000; referred to the Design Committee direction to add a public input process which includes groups previously involved in the process and other neighborhoods in San José, and Resolution No. 69468, entitled: “A Resolution of the Council of the City of San José Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a First Amendment to the Agreement with Richard Meier & Partners, Architects, for Architectural Services for the New Civic Center Project, in an Additional Amount Not to Exceed $2.6 Million, for a Total Amount of Compensation in an Amount Not to Exceed $5.1 Million”, was adopted. Vote: 10-0-1-0. Absent: Powers.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

            The Council of the City of San José adjourned the meeting at 10:34 a.m.

 

 

RON GONZALES, MAYOR

 

ATTEST:

 

 

PATRICIA L. O’HEARN, CITY CLERK