Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency
ARMY DEPOT
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Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 23, 2005 5:30 p.m. George Sim Community Center 6207 Logan Street |
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Lien called the meeting to order at approximately 5:35 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Roll call was conducted.
RAC Members Present: Mario Affinito, Don Colquitt, Joe Hensler, Burnie Lenau, Tim Lien, Ted Ortiz, Rosalie Vierra, Steve Vourakis
RAC Members Absent: Jose Chacon, Ron Dwyer-Voss, Dorothy Medley,
Staff Present: Chris Erias, Chris Pahule
Mr. Lien used this opportunity to state that Maria Alvarez, the District Director for Kevin
McCarty would be attending the meeting. He also mentioned to the group that the
discussions should stay on track and focus on items that the group can control.
Mr. Lien also asked Mr. Erias for information requested at last week’s meeting.
1. The Set Aside Portion of 1.2 million did not break out proportionately. There were less funds in the 20% set aside. Mr. Erias stated that $800,000 was a result of the loan to the RDA. Per redevelopment law, this money can be used for commercial and/or housing projects. Therefore, the Agency put the funds into the more flexible account.
2. How soon does the RDA need to spend the funds? Mr. Erias thought there was not a time frame but would check to make sure.
III. APPROVAL OF JANUARY 26, 2005 MEETING MINUTES
The minutes were approved with a unanimous vote.
IV. Refining the Army Depot Five-Year Implementation Plan
Mr. Erias distributed the final draft mail out for the Community Outreach letter packet. It included a letter which asked for community input for prioritizing projects in the area. The packet included a form for the organizations to complete and a map of the Army Depot Redevelopment Area. Mr. Erias also mentioned that he planned to have this sent out the next day.
Mr. Affinito commented that he thought the last sentence of the first paragraph of the letter will not encourage development in Army Depot. The sentence in questions is, “The funds cannot be used for services such as police, cleaning up dumping or anything of this nature.” It was stated that this sentence may prevent most businesses from moving into the Army Depot Area.
This comment brought forth a lengthy discussion on how best to deal with the police, litter and other like nuisances. Some felt the Army Depot RAC should not be engaged in solving these issues. Comments from members and staff included;
· Regular City services should take care of these problems, not redevelopment money.
· Redevelopment cannot be spent on these issues.
· Neighborhood organizations and neighborhood watch programs can help.
· The Weed and Seed program is supposed to be working on these problems.
· The RAC should be focusing efforts on development matters.
· City departments such as Neighborhood Services can help.
Some in the group offered ideas for the RAC to stay involved and help with these issues. They are as follows:
· Have department heads of these City services make presentations to the Army Depot RAC.
· Partner with other organizations like the BTA to help mitigate some of these problems.
· Form a subcommittee to help spearhead a joint effort.
· Bring in Tim Quintero to describe potential solutions.
· A committee of CBO’s was put together to discuss these problems.
While many issues and potential solutions were mentioned, the group was divided on the larger issue of the RAC’s role in working these problems.
The group also spoke about how to schedule responses from the outreach efforts. The March and April meetings are to be set aside for community presentations. The meetings are to be half hour for regular business and the rest devoted to presentations.
V. AGENCY PROJECT REVIEW GUIDELINES
Mr. Erias gave a brief presentation on the Agency’s recommendation to establish guidelines for individual project review and sole source negotiations. The guidelines will outline information required for evaluating a proposed project and development team, as well as clarify current redevelopment policy and practices.
Mr. Erias also handed a copy of the staff report and the proposed guidelines. RAC members received a copy of the staff report before the meeting but not a copy of the guidelines. Most RAC members expressed the need to thoroughly review the guidelines before taking a vote. Having just received them, it was difficult to make an informed decision on the topic. Mr. Erias agreed to bring the item back to next month’s meeting for vote. Members also requested that they receive other information before the meeting if there will be a vote. It was readily agreed by the Agency.
Mr. Lien suggested that he work with the Executive Committee to review the proposed guidelines and for other RAC members to contact him if they had concerns about the Agency’s request.
VI. REDEVELOPMENT ITEMS
1. Vacant Lot Program - Mr. Erias distributed a sample vacant lot criteria form that the Army Depot RAC Executive Committee worked up. Mr. Erias reviewed the recommendation with the group. The group agreed with the Exec Committee recommendation. However, there were a few changes before finalizing the document. They included;
· Add 3 car garage worth 10 points to the discretionary category
· Remove the construction verbiage from the narrative on top of the page
· Make points total 60 with 25 potential bonus points.
Mr. Lenau made a motion to accept the VLP criteria, pending the aforementioned
changes. Mr. Affinito seconded the motion and all voted yes.
2. 65th Street and Fruitridge Road Intersection Improvements - Mr. Erias stated that Golden Valley Construction was selected and should start construction soon.
3. Max Baer Park Lighting Project – Mr. Erias announced that construction has ended for Phase I (building lighting). Phase II (park perimeter lighting) is now being designed.
4. 7940 Fruitridge Road – Mr. Erias mentioned that the Agency should be ready to ask the RAC for authority to sell Tam Do, owner of T&D Glass, this parcel.
VII. COMMUNICATION FROM RAC MEMBERS AND PUBLIC ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
None.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned on a motion by Mr. Lenau.