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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - May 23, 1988 - RA0 0 CITY OF AZUSA MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENCY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING MAY 23, 1988 - 7:30 P.M. The City Council and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Azusa met in adjourned regular session at the above date and time in the Senior Citizen Center. Mayor/Chairman Moses called the meeting to order and led in the salute to the Flag. The Invocation was given by Director of Finance Craig. ROLL CALL PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS/DIRECTORS: ABSENT : COUNCILMEMBERS/DIRECTORS: ALSO PRESENT AVILA, NARANJO, STEMRICH, LATTA, MOSES NONE City Attorney/General Counsel Thorson, City Administrator/Executive Director Fuentes, Community Development Director Bruckner, Director of Finance Craig, Utilities Director Hsu, Director of Community Services Guarrera, City Librarian Alaniz, Police Captain Russo, Redevelopment Manager Steel, Redevelopment Project Analyst Katchen-Gall, City Engineer Spindel, City Treasurer Talley, City Clerk Solis. Call to order Invocation Roll Call Also Present Lengthy discussions were held on the redevelopment projects Disc. re: now in progress, as well as anticipated development. Staff Redev. areas and Council/Agency discussed priorities and strategies to be used. Discussion was held regarding Azusa and San Gabriel Avenue being one way streets and that possibly CALTRANS would con- sider lowering the speed limit on these streets to aid the businesses, and requesting that two way traffic be restored to those streets. However, this has been requested in the past with negative results. Moved by Mayor/Chairman Moses that the downtown area be considered the number one priority for redevelopment. Motion died for the lack of a second. Staff advised that the rehabilitation program for the downtown area was in progress, however, that any work to be done on Azusa Avenue has to be approved by CALTRANS. Staff has been considering placement of awnings, trees and landscaping, but as stated, all this must be sanctioned by CALTRANS. Even though some obstacles exist, positive results should be seen sometime in December. Az & San Gab. disc. speed limits poss 2 way streets Downtown be #i priority (died) Rehab pgm for down- town area 0 0 It was then moved by Mayor/Chairman Moses, seconded by Councilman/Director Stemrich and unanimously carried by roll call to focus and prioritize the geographic area of Azusa/San Gabriel/Santa Fe/alley between Azusa and Alameda/Fifth Street in the downtown area for in -fill and commercial revitalization. Further discussion ensued regarding redeveloping some of the vacant lots in that area; allowing developers to come in and build; or assembling property for those developers to come and build; general rehabilitation; the Casden development in conjunction with the rehabilitation program; and the Crestmore Apartment site. Staff requested clarification of the Council's/Agency's direction and proposed that a site map be prepared for their perusal at the next meeting identifying the geographic area in question for full commercial revitalization and proposed redevelopment of residential areas so that it can be reviewed and determined thus affording Staff the direction needed to proceed. Moved by Councilman/Director Stemrich, seconded by Mayor/Chairman Moses and unanimously carried by roll call to defer further discussions on the matter until said site maps are prepared for Council/Agency review. The Crestmore Apartment site was discussed briefly with regard to proposed use for senior citizen housing. Discussion was held regarding the Krems site property. The Agency allowed Krems/Los Angeles Land Company their last extension to June 30th, to acquire a super market as an anchor for redeveloping the site. Staff advised that Lucky Market was the proposed anchor, but now that Alpha -Beta has bought the Lucky chain, they were no longer interested. Any other potential developer will have the same problem, as the key to the whole development is securing a supermarket. So, in the event a super market cannot be secured, other options with regard to the site would have to be considered. Further, Lewis Homes is still interested, and if Krems fails to live up to the exclusive negotiation agreement with the City/Agency, then Lewis Homes could be given a 120 day exclusive to try and secure the needed anchor. At any rate, staff will prepare the necessary agenda item for the first meeting in July. The Price Club site was then discussed at length. The Price Club is interested in moving out of their present facility and building a new building just east of their location. This would necessitate acquiring three parcels by the Agency. Their existing facility would be remodeled for use by either a Home Club, Sports Club or Levitt's Furniture. No solid tenant has been named, as yet. Staff has been working very closely with the Price Club and trying to work out the acquisition of the property and the relocation of the tenants/business owners of the property in question. Staff feels that the Price Club is very serious in utilizing the area for this venture, and it is hoped that a draft agreement will be presented to the Agency sometime in July. Savage BMW is interested in relocating their dealership to a freeway visible location. Staff has taken him to look at various sites in the City. His preference has been the southwest and northwest corner of Azusa Avenue and First Street because of the freeway exposure. However, car dealerships cannot afford to pay very much for land acquisition and the proposed site would entail acquiring several residences and businesses. The manufacturer has been pressuring Savage to move to a freeway location and the cities of Duarte, Monrovia and Glendora have been very aggressive and are offering low land acquisition prices. Staff is working with Mr. Savage and trying to negotiate the best deal possible for him as well as the City. Further developments will be presented as they arise. 05/23/88 PAGE TWO Redefining dowtown area Downtown redev. discussed Table disc until site maps are prepared Disc. Crest - more Apts. Krems area discussed Price Club site Savage BMW proposed project 0 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Pub Prtcptn Mrs. Gayle Avakian addressed the Council/Agency with several G. Avakian questions: Would the City sell property on Azusa Avenue to questions on anyone at $6.00 per sq. ft.; what is the vacancy factor of propty, va- industrial buildings in the City; does the County receive cancy factor 50% of the tax increment and what are we getting in return of ind.bldg. for this money? She deferred the answers to these questions until after she finished speaking and went on to state that the City should consider problems of water and air pollution and overtaxing of utilities, such as sewers in over developed areas; further that safeguards should be considered to balance out the problems. Mr. Mike Falletta addressed the Council/Agency and discussed M. Falletta the possibility of special taxes to be imposed on developers special fees coming into the City to accommodate the needs for parks, for develo- police and fire, streets, etc. He felt that the developers pers should pay on a percentage basis of their impact on the City. He was advised that the park assessment fees were in progress through the "Quimby Act," and that water line assessment districts were also in place. Mr. Falletta went on to state that many cities have other fees for developers as stated before, and that they cannot secure building permits until these fees are paid to various entities, such as schools, etc. Councilman/Director Stemrich inquired if Mr. Falletta would Forming be interested in formulating a task force to visit these task force various cities and receive input on their developer fees and re: fees he stated that he would be happy to do so. for deve- lopers to Discussion was held on creating an ad hoc committee and the be on 6/6 number of Councilmembers, Planning Commissioners, and agenda possibly staff members needed for such a venture. It was consensus that since this item was not on the Agenda, that it be placed on the Agenda for the June 6, 1988 meeting. Mrs. Gayle Avakian, again addressed the Council/Agency and G. Avakian asked whey her questions had not been answered. She responses to repeated them and staff responded that anyone, her queries theoretically, could purchase property on Azusa Avenue for $6.00 a square foot, depending upon what they ultimately built on the site. Residents and developers were always treated equitably. With regard to the vacancy factor in industrial buildings, our percentage is way below the national average. With regard to tax increment dollars being shared with the County, the answer was a definite "yes" and that many factors had to be considered on what the City received in kind from the County. She then went on to ask about property that is very valuable and is owned by the City of Glendora that is situated in the City of Azusa. She stated that it is water conservation property and what is the status of it. The Mayor/Chairman responded that at one time the City considered purchasing the property but the cost was prohibitive. Mr. Richard Medina addressed the Council/Agency and R. Medina requested information on the re -defined downtown site. His info on CBD -1 concern was if this redefinition was for the entire CBD -1 site site and how it would effect the rest of the site, and specifically his business. He was advised that the redefined site consisted the downtown as prioritized by the Council/Agency and that the rest of the CBD -1 site remained intact and that his business was still in the redevelopment project area. THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY RECESSED AT 9:28 P.M. CRA recessed 05/23/88 PAGE THREE The City Attorney advised the Council that there was a need Statement by for a CLOSED SESSION in order to instruct the City's Cty Atty re: negotiators in the acquisition of real property located at Closed Sess 741 North Dalton, Avenue, Ed Seidner. Said action was taken pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9. Moved by Councilman Latta, seconded by Councilman Naranjo Recess to and unanimously carried by roll call to recess to Closed Closed Sess Session. THE CITY COUNCIL RECONVENED AT 9:50 P.M. Reconvened Mrs. Gayle Avakian addressed the Council regarding G. Avakian procedures for appointing members to Board and Commissions, not allowed pursuant to the Civil Code. As the Public Participation to speak portion of the meeting was over, she was not allowed to speak. Moved by Chairman Moses, seconded by Director Avila and CRA adj unanimously carried to adjourn the Agency. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 9:51 P.M. Moved by Mayor Moses, seconded by Councilwoman Avila and Cncl adj unanimously carried to adjourn the Council meeting to 6:30 to 6/6/88 P.M., June 6, 1988, at the Senior Citizen Center for the @ 6:30PM purpose of interviewing applicants for the vacant position Sr. Cntr in the Planning Commission. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 9:55 P.M. NEXT RESOLUTION NO. 457 05/23/88 PAGE FOUR