minutes of the JOINT San José city council
AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD
SAN JOSÉ, CALIFORNIA TUESDAY,
OCTOBER 21, 2003
The Council of the City of San José convened
at 4:27 p.m. to hear Item 7.1 in a Joint Session with the Redevelopment Agency
Board in Council Chambers at City Hall.
Present: Council Members - Campos, Chavez, Chirco, Cortese, Gregory, LeZotte, Reed, Williams, Yeager; Gonzales.
Absent: Council Members - Dando. (Excused)
JOINT REDEVELOMENT AGENCY/CITY COUNCIL ITEM
The Council of the City of San José convened at 4:27 p.m. to hear Item 7.1 in a Joint Session with the Redevelopment Agency.
7.1
City Council and Redevelopment Agency actions related to parking priorities and parking
fund capacity.
(a)
Approval of shorter and longer-term priorities for
implementation of Downtown Parking projects; and,
(b) Direction for the
City Manager and Executive Director to report back to the City Council and
Agency Board during development of the FY 2004-05 Budget, recommending more
specific project implementation timeframes for both the shorter-term and
longer-term priorities based upon relevant economic and parking demand triggers
and efficient financing methods; and,
(c) Adoption of a resolution authorizing the Executive Director to negotiate and execute an amendment to the Development and Disposition Agreement with the CIM Group, directing the CIM Group to proceed with the Parking Plus design for Block 3, with the Redevelopment Agency reimbursing third party design costs associated with the removal of Parking Plus in the even that the Redevelopment Agency should elect, no later than September 1, 2004, not to proceed to fund Parking Plus on that site, and other minor technical adjustments
[MERGED]
Documents Filed: (1) Memorandum from Mayor Gonzales, and Council Member Chavez, dated October 21, 2003, recommending approval of Staff recommendations for Parking Priorities, with revisions. (2) Memorandum from City Manager Del Borgsdorf, and Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Susan Shick, dated October 16, 2003, recommending approval of shorter term and longer term priorities for implementation of Downtown parking projects, direction for the City Manager and Executive Director, and adoption of said resolution.
Discussion/Action: Mayor Gonzales stated he and Council Member Chavez in their memorandum dated October 21, 2003, recommended moving the Notre Dame site ahead of the Greyhound. He stated the Greyhound site is currently the preferred site by the Federal Government for a new Federal Courthouse. He stated in addition the Notre Dame site is located near the HP Pavilion, which will provide for greater opportunities to meet the parking demands of the facility, as well as the legal parking commitments that the City has in the contract with the HP Pavilion Management. He pointed out this is an opportunity to basically accomplish the redevelopment of the Greyhound site with a Federal Court Building that is both functional, and well designed.
Council Member Chavez moved approval of Mayor Gonzales’ and her memorandum. Council Member Yeager seconded the motion.
Council Member Cortese stated these sites were previously identified a year ago by the Board and Council action, but the last time the Notre Dame site came before the Board, there had been discussions with the property owners on a weekly basis and he expressed concern that the property owners may not know an action is forthcoming. Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Susan Shick replied Staff has not spoken to the property owners on the Notre Dame site since that project was dropped, but given the modification priorities today, Staff will look at whether or not there is the ability to proceed with some form of acquisition over time. Council Member Cortese expressed concern in regard to public relations, and respect for property rights when the City of San José takes this type of action. He did not think there is any legal notice required to move this action today in terms of the property owners, but it may come as a shock to the property owners as last they knew the Council put this action on hold months ago, only to discover the Council has re-instituted action, and targeted their property again. He recommended the property owners be contacted immediately. Assistant Executive Director Sharon Landers stated if the Board approves this action, the Agency and the City Manager would be required to come back as part of the next budget process. She stated Staff would alert the property owners to the fact there may be another action put forward recommending acquisition of the property. She stated Staff would ensure the property owners understand the timing of the events, and alert them before any action would come to the Board.
Council Member Cortese remarked in the past, the property owner expressed interest in doing a negotiated acquisition rather than a resolution of necessity being filed to take possession of the property. Assistant Executive Director Landers stated with the lead time that Staff has now, the property owner will be able consider what types of financial elements work best for them. City Attorney Richard Doyle stated for the record, this is not an authorization to sign an acquisition. Mayor Gonzales remarked the property owners should have been notified of the Staff Report, and that it was on the agenda, regardless of what the Board does to change those priorities, and Staff should keep that in mind for the future. Council Member Reed stated support of the motion. He pointed out it is critical to keep the Federal Court Building downtown if the City of San José is to be the Capitol of Silicon Valley.
Mayor Gonzales called for public testimony. William Garbett, Brian Chapman, Hensley Historic Preservation Society, Scott Knies, Downtown Association spoke on the issue of parking. On a call for the question, the motion carried unanimously, Redevelopment Agency No. 5446 was adopted, and shorter and longer-term priorities for implementation of Downtown Parking projects was approved, and the following revisions were approved, in order of priority: (1) Parking Plus at the Second Street and Santa Clara site (construction to begin February 2004); (2) Parking Plus at the Block 3 site; (3) Site acquisition of the Notre Dame location for future parking facility development; (4) Construction of the Notre Dame Parking Garage; (5) Site acquisition of the Greyhound location for future parking facility development; (6) Construction of the Greyhound Parking Garage; Staff was directed to contact property owners immediately regarding the City Council/ Redevelopment Agency Board action of October 21, 2003.
ADJOURNMENT
The Council of the City of San José and
Redevelopment Agency Board adjourned at 4:42 p.m.
RON GONZALES, MAYOR
ATTEST:
PATRICIA L. O’HEARN, CITY
CLERK