Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency
ARMY DEPOT
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Meeting Minutes Wednesday, April 27, 2005 5:30 p.m. George Sim Community Center 6207 Logan Street |
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Lien called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
Roll call was conducted.
RAC Members Present: Mario Affinito, Don Colquitt, , Burnie Lenau, Tim Lien, Dorothy Medley, Ted Ortiz, Steve Vourakis, Jose G. Chacon
RAC Members Absent: John Healy, Joe Hensler, Rosalie Vierra
Staff Present: Chris Pahule and Leslie Palmer
II. APPROVAL OF MARCH 23, 2005 MEETING MINUTES
The minutes were approved with a unanimous vote on a motion by Mr. Chacon, second by Mr. Vourakis.
III. Power inn bta pbid funding request
Mr. Pahule presented a report, which requested authority for the Agency to approve transfer of $75,000 from the Army Depot RDA to the Power Inn Business and Transportation Association (BTA) to form a Property and Business Improvement District (PBID). Mr. Pahule gave an overview of the PBIDs in Sacramento. A PBID is a benefit assessment district formed by property owners within established boundaries to provide agreed upon services. Many PBIDs provide services such as marketing, enhanced code enforcement, clean-up, and advocacy for the district. Many PBIDs have been formed in the Sacramento region that have improved the competitiveness of the districts. These include Downtown Sacramento, Florin Road, Fulton Avenue, Stockton and Franklin Boulevards, and most recently Oak Park. The $75,000 the Agency would provide to the PBID would be used by the BTA to hire a consultant to establish the PBID. The Consultant will perform the steps to form the PBID including meeting with property owners and preparing the management plan.
Mr. Pahule introduced Becky Heieck, Executive Director, of the BTA who introduced Mr. Trong Nguyen Chairperson of the BTA to speak on behalf of the organization requesting these funds. Mr. Nguyen said he has been involved with the BTA for over 10 years during which time the BTA has worked on traffic congestion, air pollution at source of employment and alternative means to get to work. Recently the BTA has made itself into a business services organization and has tried ways to improve the image and vitality of the area as an area to attract businesses and provide more employment for people in the area. Recently crime has become a ‘hot button’ issue and therefore affected the image of the area. The Crime and Dine dinner every quarter has hosted more and more people who meet with law enforcement and local community representatives. The last one attracted over 60 people and actually ran out of food. It’s nice to see people so interested but it’s sad that this is the reason they show up. Crime is one of the biggest issues in the area. Besides crime, traffic congestion and trash are big issues. The area is the home of the region’s recycling industry and there is much truck traffic. Dump trucks overflow at times and others do illegal dumping because they do not want to pay to dump debris at the landfills. The area looks messy and doesn’t give a good image. The Executive Director of the BTA is also asked to provide input on various government issues such as recycling expansion. It is always a struggle to find money to do everything that the BTA is asked and wants to do. The BTA asked its members how it can raise money to do this. It is pursuing a special district, a Property and Business Improvement District (PBID) where businesses tax themselves to pay for these things. The BTA floated the idea six months ago and much to its surprise, it has received great support for it. The idea is to pool its own resources. Members shared the idea with local representative Councilmember McCarty and SHRA staff and they support this. BTA is asking for the seed money of $75,000 to turn it into a larger investment of $200,000 or $300,000 over five years. It’s a great investment. The BTA can also leverage more money for more work to support these efforts. Mr. Nguyen asked for the RAC for the funding support.
RAC members asked several questions including whether the (geographic) area is set or will be changed during the study phase. It can change and many areas not in the draft geographic area may be included as it goes forward and vice versa. Another question is, can the PBID (area and services) be changed if needed? A PBID is established for a time, such as a five year period. Changes can then be made during the renewal period after the five years if the PBID is proposed for renewal. Members also asked about the other funding sources of the BTA and Ms. Heieck responded outlining the other funding sources and services of the BTA and that the PBID will complement these. The BTA also explored other funding sources but determined a PBID is the best option.
Mr. Pahule commented that the seed money for PBID’s has been used in other areas and their formation complements redevelopment objectives in the area. Mr. Nyuen commented that many of the area business people are already involved in PBIDs in other areas and are very happy with the results. Mr. Pahule explained the PBID establishment as a difficult three step including approval of 51% of the property owners in the proposed area to sign a petition to say they want this to happen, then there is an election of all the owners where there has to be approval of 51% of the owners of however they are being assessed to agree. For example, if it is decided to use square footage then there must be approval of those representing 51% of the square footage. Finally there is a public hearing at City Council to either approve or not.
Following discussion, a motion by Mr. Affinito to approve staff’s recommendation to transfer $75,000 to the Power Inn Business and Transportation Association for form a Property and Business Improvement District, 2nd by Mr. Ortiz was approved with vote of seven for and one abstention by Mr. Lenau.
IV. REDELOPMENT UPDATES
Mr. Pahule gave updates:
· 65th and Fruitridge construction on the gateway on the north and southwest corners is underway and should be complete by mid June
· Max Baer Lights; the lights on the actual club house have been completed and the City’s General Services Department is in process of designing lights for perimeter of park. Once we have more information on when that will be bid out we will provide at this meeting.
· 7940 Fruitridge Road, Disposition and Development Agreement with T and D Glass approved at the March RAC meeting has gone through the redevelopment commission recommended for approval and will go to City Council on May 3rd.
· There are 3 openings for the Army Depot RAC, one is a current member Mr. Hensler who has said he is reapplying, one will replace Mr. Mr. Affinito who is retiring today as he completes his term, one is for Mr. Dyer-Voss who is unable to keep serve but brought Ms. Dahlia Ward from his organization who is interested in replacing him.
· Ms. Palmer passed out the time schedule on the Town Forums for the City of Sacramento General Plan Update and the Snapshot of the Plan Update. These items highlight what the General Plan is, why is it updated and what it means to the community. The Town Forum important to this area is May 16 here at the Sim Center, at 6 to 8:30 pm with translation services.
V. PROJECT REQUESTS
Mr. Lein and Mr. Pahule explained the process the RAC is following to the set priorities for use of redevelopment funds. It is at the first stage of this process to solicit input and this is the first of two meetings to solicit input. It is gathering input in several ways: public meetings, phone, email, fax. The RAC packet includes an overview of what has been received so far. Following the next meeting SHRA staff will begin a process to cost out the projects that have been submitted. The following presented:
1. Raj K. Narayan on the Elder Creek Market, curb and gutters at 6228 Ring Dr. and relocation of Elder Creek Market to a larger site nearby.
2. Becky Heieck, Power Inn BTA re:
· Power Inn Road Widened/Landscaped from 14th Ave to Fruitridge Road
· Power Inn Road Widened/Landscaped from Fruitridge Road to Florin Road
· UP Project
· 14th Avenue through to Florin Perkins Road
· Florin Perkins Road Curb, Gutter, 8’ Sidewalk/Bicycle Friendly
3. Mr. Jake Salcone, Sacramento Hunger Commission; expansion of Elder Creek Market, Farmer’s Market, Lemon Hill Garden
4. Gary Gonzales, Sierra Towing, 8540 Elder Creek Landscape Concept Plan
5. Gladys Jackson, Capitol City 7th Day Adventist Church; low income multifamily housing with employment incubators and childcare
6. Anqunett Fazil, Christional Partnerships, Inc.; construct office complex for area families helping professionals, construct or renovate for supportive housing for disabled persons and emergency shelter for homeless families and women and children.
RAC members asked questions as proposals were presented.
VI. GENERAL COMMENTS
No general comments.
VII. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned on a unanimous motion at 730pm.