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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPCDC Minutes 03/13/1978MINUTES OF MEETING OF PETALUMA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MARCH 13, 1978 COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING The regular meeting of the Petaluma Community Devel- opment Commission was called to order by Chairman Putnam at 4:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Balshaw, Bond, Cavanagh, Hilligoss, Perry and Chairman Putnam. Absent: Commissioner Harberson APPROVE AGREEMENT General Counsel Larry Klose outlined the tentative STREET DEVELOPMENT terms of the agreement to develop one-half street WELLER STREET curb, gutter and sidewalk on the extension of Weller PCDC RES #24 Street. Mr. Klose indicated the Farrell House, which is presently owned by Skip Sommer, is required to construct in these facilities in front of the prop- erty. There is a portion of the street in front of City -owned property at the Jack Cavanagh, Sr. Mooring and Landing Facility and the remainder of the property is owned by Dr. Lawrence Jonas. The agreement would require Mr. Sommer to pay his proportionate share upon execution of the agreement. The City would pay its proportionate share at the same time and Dr. Jonas would be obligated to pay his share when his property is developed. The City would pay for the City's share and the portion on the Jonas property out of redevelop- ment funds and would be reimbursed later as the Jonas property develops. Commissioner Balshaw asked what the difference was between this situation and the one brought up by Mr. Doug McCabe on East Washington Street. Mr. Klose indicated there is no dedication of property involved on Weller Street. Executive Director Robert Meyer also stated Mr. Sommer has been able to get a contract estimate for the street development at a very good price and would like to award the bid while the contract is still available. P.C.D.C. Resolution No. 24 authorizing Chairman to sign owner participation agreement between Petaluma Riverfront Properties, Lawrence A. and Marie S. Jonas, Armand R. and Marjorie M. Bascherini, the Petaluma Community Develop- ment Commission and the City of Petaluma for Weller Street improvements was introduced by Commissioner Perry, seconded by Commissioner Hilligoss and adopted by six affirmative and one absentee votes. AUTHORIZE IMPROVE- Finance Director John Scharer advised the building MENTS KELLER STREET purchased by the Commission for the expansion of the PARKING LOT FOR Keller Street parking lot has now been removed. PUBLIC PARKING Presently an engineering study is being completed for PCDC RES #25 the entire area from Western Avenue to the Tuttle Drug Store. As an interim measure the staff is recommend- ing that the newly acquired parcel be converted to accommodate 22 permanent parking spaces. In addition, six spaces could be added to the Keller Street lot. The areas between the two lots would be fenced. Staff further recommends discontinuing selling permits for the "A" Street lot and that the Commission request the City Council to increase fees for permit parking from $8.00 to $12.00 per month. The cost for the interim proposal would be approximately $3,500 to be taken from redevelopment funds. Commissioner Perry questioned whether there would be a market for $12.00 permit parking fees and whether they would be accepted by employees in the downtown area. Mr. Scharer indicated the Project Area Committee has completed a survey of some of the businesses in the central business district and their survey indicated at least 42 requests for permits for employee parking and no objection to the $12.00 fee. Fred Schram, Manager of the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce, advised they had recently increased their permit parking fee from $12.00 to $15.00. -1- March 13, 1978 AUTHORIZE IMPROVE- Commissioner Balshaw stated he did not feel providing MENTS KELLER STREET permit parking for employees in the central business PARKING LOT FOR district was a function of the Commission. He stated PUBLIC PARKING this was a prime area and should be kept for customers PCDC RES #25 and not employees. He also suggested meters should be (Continued) removed in the outlying areas to provide parking for employees of the central business district. Deputy Director Frank Gray stated one of the problems in the downtown area is the fact that employees are presently using customers' parking spaces in the metered district and these spaces are then not available for the general public. Employees use the metered areas because there are no parking areas in the central business district. The suggestion of the staff is to make the 15 permit parking spaces in the "A" Street lot available for the general public and move all of the permit parking to this one concentrated area as an interim measure. Mr. Scharer stated he agreed with Commissioner Balshaw that the Keller Street lot extension is a prime area and should be ',available for cus- tomer parking; however, the staff felt this would be the least costly proposal for an interim basis as it would be necessary to purchase and install meters which may have to be removed when the parking lot is redesigned when the DeLeuw Cather Report is completed. Some discussion was held regarding the problems of policing the "A" Street lot where the general public is parking in the permit parking spaces. People who have permits in the area sometimes are not able to park in their spaces and park in other areas and receive citations for being illegally parked. Commis- sioner Hilligoss suggested the meters be removed from Mary Street and permit parking be installed on that street and the parking meters moved to the Keller Street expansion. Commissioner Balshaw also questioned whether it would not be feasible, since this was an interim measure, to allow public parking on the Keller Street lot expansion and enforce a two hour parking limit by chalking tires. Mr. Scharer indicated he felt this would cause an 'enforcement problem on that lot. Since it was the concensus of the Commission to provide public parking on the extension of the lot and retain the permit parking in the "A" Street parking area, some discussion was held on the configuration for the extension. City Engineer David Young stated he would prefer to go with the proposal presented. to the Commission at a prior meeting. Diagonal parking on the lot would give an additional 27 spaces and would provide for an exit with a right turn only on Western Avenue. Mr. Scharer indicated, on the basis of the suggestions made at this meeting, his recommendation would be to follow the layout as originally presented to the Commission by the City Engineer, install temporary paving, stripe the lot according to the plan, and install meters. Executive Director Robert Meyer stated it was his understanding the Commission and the:Council have had requests from the merchants in the area near the "A" Street parking lot for more customer parking and suggested the Commission may want to consider removing the permit parking from this area. Commissioner Cavanagh indicated he did not feel the "A" Street parking lot was being fully utilized and if meters were installed on the lot he felt it would not be used. The Commission indicated they wanted to retain the 15 permit parking spaces in the "A' Street lot. At the conclusion of the discussion, P.C.D.C. Resolution No. 25 authorizing the improvement of the Keller Street lot extension with parking meters and temporary pavement for public parking was introduced by Commissioner Bond, seconded by Commissioner Perry and adopted by six affirmative and one absentee votes. The approximate cost for the project is between $3,200 and $3,500 for the improvements plus $2,700 for the parking meter heads, posts and installation. PROJECT AREA COMMITTEE REPORT Mr. Richard Lieb, Chairman of the Project Area Committee, reported on the group's activities since the last PCDC meeting. They held a joint meeting with the AB 103 Committee and the merchants group. They voted that March 13, 1978 PROJECT AREA some way should be found to go ahead, within 90 days, COMMITTEE REPORT- on a plan -for downtown beautification to -Include (Continued) sidewalk and street furniture. He stated he under- stood the staff was looking into a proposal for a study to lead in this direction. The question was also raised whether AB 103 funds could be used for this purpose. Finance Director John Scharer stated he had reviewed the minutes of the meeting to which Mr. Lieb is referring. The minutes indicated the Committee wanted an accounting from the City on -the -funds. Mr. Scharer explained the City acts only as the agency for collecting the funds and the funds.pass directly from the City. He further stated the AB 103 funds can primarily be used for four basic purposes: 1) parking; 2), certain downtown improvements; 3), beautifi- cation; and, 4), promotion. Mr. Lieb then continued with his report. He stated the Committee discussed the future Keller Street parking lot and there was a question whether public restrooms could be provided when the structure is built. Another item dis- cussed at the meeting was the fact the streets in the downtown area are not being kept clean. Mr. Lieb indicated he knew this was not the responsibility of the Community Development Commission. He also reported the Committee was pleased with the staff support they are receiving and is hopeful some steps will be taken for the urban beautification program suggested by the Project Area Committee. The Project Area Committee talked briefly about the property recently acquired by Herold Mahoney on Petaluma Blvd. North and suggested it could be partially used for employee parking. Executive Director Robert Meyer stated this matter had just come to the attention of the staff and was not received in time to be an item for the agenda. He also advised the staff is exploring the matter and will make a report at a later date. Mr. Jeff Harriman and Mr. Clark Thompson, members of the Project Area Committee, advised they had helped to circulate the survey to determine the number of permit parking spaces which would be utilized. They were encouraged regarding the proposal for the parking lot on the land purchased by Mr. Mahoney. Their latest figures indicate there would be at least 56 permits sold if parking is made available at this location. LETTER MRS. MONA POWELL REGARDING PROPOSED PARKING GARAGE A letter dated March 3, 1978 addressed to the City Council, with a portion which pertains to the Petaluma Community Development Commission, was read by the Recording Secretary. Mrs. Powell indicated she felt the proposed parking garage on Keller Street was unnecessary and indicated her displeasure with the property taxes. The Recording Secretary was asked to respond to Mrs. Powell and advise any funds used for the parking structure would come from gas tax funds and not from property taxes. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m. Attest: Chairman (f. �Ay'�jm - 70epu+y Recolrding Secretary -3-