Meeting Minutes
PRESENT: Council Members Campos, Chavez, Cortese, Diquisto, LeZotte, Reed, Shirakawa, Jr., Williams, Yeager; Gonzales.
ABSENT: Council Members – Dando (Excused).
Documents filed: (1) Study Session Agenda. (2) Memorandum from Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Susan F. Shick, dated March 15, 2001, transmitting a draft copy of the Downtown Parking Management Plan. (3) Report entitled: Draft Strategy 2000 San José Greater Downtown Strategy for Development, Parking Management Plan, dated March 2001, prepared by the San José Redevelopment Agency, San José Department of Streets and Traffic, and KAKU Associates for the Development Strategy Task Force, San José Redevelopment Agency. (4) Report entitled: Strategy 2000, San José Greater Downtown Strategy for Development, dated February 2001, prepared by Field Paoli/SMWM.
JOINT SAN JOSÉ CITY
COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY STUDY SESSION ON THE GREATER DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGY
Welcome,
Introductions, and Recognition of Task Force Members – Mayor Gonzales
called the Study Session on the Greater Downtown Development Strategy to order
at 7:10 p.m. Council Member Yeager entered at 7:55 p.m. Mayor Gonzales and
Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Susan F. Shick welcomed and recognized
the Task Force members. Mayor Gonzales stated the City is in an excellent
position to achieve dramatic and positive changes to create a more liveable
downtown with new office buildings, homes, shopping and entertainment
opportunities while maintaining the health of the neighborhoods surrounding the
downtown and continuing to develop transit and traffic solutions, and
realistically addressing parking needs in the downtown. He stated Council will
take no action tonight, that the purpose of the Study Session is to hear
presentations on the Greater Downtown Development Strategy, and Council will
have the opportunity to ask questions of Staff about the recommended strategy
and the next steps in the process.
Executive Director
Susan F. Shick introduced the presenters to review the economic assumptions and
recommendations of the Task Force, and the priorities which are critical to
determine an approach to the mixed use project downtown and other projects as
development continues.
Introduction/Overview
– Karen Altshuler of Field Paoli/SMWM and Tim Kelly, representing
Keyser-Marston Associates, presented the Greater Downtown Development Strategy.
Top Priorities
– Task Force Co-Chair Leon Beauchman, Michael Mucahy, and Laura Winter gave
information concerning possible top priorities of the Greater Downtown
Development Strategy.
Transportation
& Parking – Pat Gibson of Kaku Associates lead a presentation on
parking and transportation issues.
Discussion
– The City Council and Redevelopment Agency Board discussed the presentations
and information given and determined the need for a further Study Session.
Council comments are summarized below.
Council Member Chavez spoke in support of the Downtown Strategy Task Force’s having some type of follow-up role, possibly with annual or semi-annual status reports. She commented on the difficulties of integrating work across the City’s boards and commissions, citing as an example, how the views of the Downtown Strategy Task Force about St. James Park differ from those of the committee currently working on the park. She commented on the need for a continuing role for the Agency Board and for the various organizations that are responsible for protecting the integrity of building in the downtown and recommended the role those entities should play be assessed as part of updating the zoning code. She stated she would like to see a master plan for the area immediately surrounding the Arena in order to coordinate that area with the San José Water Company location. Referencing the transportation access study, she expressed concern about ensuring linkages between neighborhoods and work in the Frame to the needs of the core, i.e., reviewing one-way streets and traffic flow relative to walkability and livability in the core. As building density increases in the core, she stated concerns that the City has no acquisition strategy for open space, both along the Guadalupe River park and in the community at large and recommended putting a strategy and acquisition plan in place.
Council Member
Cortese stated concerns about disrupting St. James Park for parking purposes,
that Palladium prepare an economic investment analysis to ensure economic
assumptions will materialize, and stressed the need for analyses which go
beyond job creation to analyze whether workers would be residents or commuters
and what transit modes would be affected.
Responding to Council Member LeZotte about the outcome of this Study Session, Executive Director Susan Shick stated a number of recommendations for actions are included and unless Council directs otherwise, Staff will proceed with the environmental review which, as the basis of a Master EIR, should work through the CEQA issues for development over the next ten years. She stated Staff will begin working on back up issues, one of which is parking, and the report recommends review of the pros and cons of the different options presented, that a major access and circulation study under way will come to the appropriate Council Committee and to the Council, and Staff will make budget recommendations for interim parking. She stated these beginning steps will come to Council either as recommendations to enter into contracts or as budget recommendations to proceed with studies. Elaborating on the access and circulation study, Executive Director Shick stated the next stage is to draft an RFP for design of the structure and Staff will work with the Parking Board on final options for the parking structures and report to Council with a series of recommendations. She stated Alternative B is not a complex or unusual design whereas Alternative A could require the parking designer, working with an architect, to go through a schematic design, and develop perspectives for both the Cesar Chavez Plaza and St. James Park that would help Council make a final decision. Answering questions about the lighting study, Executive Director Shick stated the goal of the study is to resolve poor lighting in parts of Downtown and develop a uniform downtown lighting pattern to improve safety. Council Member LeZotte expressed concern that the goals of the lighting study may be excessive as pertains to the appearance of streetscapes, especially on Santa Clara Street, about linking the various plans pertaining to the historic elements in the downtown, and about coordinating the various agencies involved in transportation modes to ensure that new transportation efforts do not create additional problems. She reiterated her prior comments about her disappointment that nothing is being planned to the east of the new City Hall.
Council Member Yeager entered the meeting at this point.
Council Member Williams commented
on maintaining walkability in the core and stated available housing and
transportation should be top priorities. Council Member Reed commented on the
need for public involvement in the process and for the members of the Task
Force, the Planning Commission and Council to play a continuing role. He stated
Council should have another study session on implementation of the plan and stressed
the importance of preserving what is already there. He stated in terms of
development, resources should be focused on in-fill, that Saint James Park,
Cesar Chavez Plaza and the historic structures should be protected, that
existing businesses should be allowed to survive and encouraged to grow, and
preservation of open space should be a prime objective. Regarding the possibility of disrupting
Cesar Chavez Park for underground parking, he stated he is not prepared to move
ahead on that option until assured no other options exist. He stated
development must account for public realm improvements and parking, and
Redevelopment funds should be focused on public improvement, parking,
historical preservation, contruction mitigation and infrastructure. He expressed
support for the plan in concept and stated Council should be involved in the
various elements of implementation as the the plan moves forward.
Responding to Council Member Yeager about guidelines for development around the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens, Executive Director Shick stated there are presently no written guidelines, however, Staff will work with the applicable groups to formulate guidelines for developers in the area of the park.
Open Forum – The following individuals addressed Council: Beth Wyman, Bill Passman and Karita Hummer, Downtown Development Strategy Task Force, Jack Douglas, Preservation Action Council, and Jonathan Kim.
Next Steps and Wrap Up – Executive Director Shick stated a summary of short-term action items will begin coming to Council and the Agency Board for approval and will appear in the budget over the next several months. Mayor Gonzales thanked the Downtown Development Strategy Task Force for their efforts. He stated that parking and other problems are part of having a large urban City and should be kept in perspective. As Council addresses the issues which result from creating a downtown where people want to come for shopping, entertainment and other activities, he expressed concern about the potential to over-plan at the expense of the kinds of spontaneity and creativity at which the private sector excels. He commented on the benefits of considering the results of previous studies which were never implemented and being cognizant of the potential for creating negative impacts from unintended consequences of major changes made in the City. He stated as process goes forward, the plans under consideration provide opportunities to make San José an ever greater place to live, work and play.
Adjournment –
The Study Session was adjourned at 9:24 p.m.
PATRICIA L. O’HEARN
CITY CLERK