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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPCDC Minutes 01/09/1978REGULAR MEETING ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES MINUTES OF MEETING FEB. 2 1978 OF PETALUMA'COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION JANUARY 9, 1978 The Regular Meeting'of the Petaluma Community Development Commission was called to order by Chairman Helen Putnam at the hour of 4:20 p.m. Present: Commissioners Bond, Cavanagh, Harberson, Hilligoss, Perry, and Chairman Putnam Absent: Commissioner Balshaw The Minutes of the combined meeting of the Petaluma. Community Development Commission and the Special Council Meeting of December 12, 1977, were approved as mailed. AUTHORIZE The proposal dated January 5, 1978, from DeLeuw Cather & FEASIBILITY STUDY Company directed to Robert H. Meyer, Executive Director of FOR MULTI -STORY the Petaluma Community Development Commission, submitted PARKING FACILITY-,- and filed. DeLEUW CATHER & COMPANY Executive Director Robert Meyer stated the City Engineer, RES #23 Commissioner Cavanagh, and Finance Director John Scharer would report on the proposal for a parking structure on Keller Street and Western Avenue. City Engineer David Young stated, as a result of a request at a previous Commission meeting, the firm of DeLeuw Cather had been contacted and the pro- posal for double -decking or possibly triple -decking the Keller Street Parking Lot was discussed with them. The proposal from DeLeuw Cather is in two phases. The first phase would be the Keller Street Parking Garage Feasibility Study, and the second phase would be the final design and contract documents. As a part of Phase I, there would be a task of data collection which would .involve the City in order to find out the rights the City may have for building parts of the structure over streets. The City would also investigate the titles of adjacent properties. This information would be provided to the consultant. After the topographical survey, material, and other investigations made by the City are completed, the consultant would then begin the geometric layout schemes for the two-level or three-level structure. They would investigate the overhang of the alley or Keller Street, taking into account the vertical clearance for vehicles traveling on either one of these roadways, It was the City Engineer's opinion to overhang Keller Street would probably require a three -deck structure. Also included in their investigation would be narrowing Keller Street and revenue control. Mr. Young stated this was relatively important as a decision would have to be made whether it.would be a metered parking facility or atten- dent parking. If fees are to be collected at the entrance, the design would have to be such as to allow for stacking of some vehicles at the entrance. The consultant would review'the access/egress plans taking into account that Western Avenue is a very busy street. Cost estimates for various types of structures would also be prepared. Mr. Young stated there could be a great differential in the cost, and the firm would prepare the cost estimates with a double set of standards. One would be assuming there would be virtually no,problem with a foundation; the other would be the extreme that the soil conditions are poor and pilings would be necessary. Mr. Young stated the actual design would come at Phase II because one of the more expensive engineering costs associated with a project such as this is the soils survey, test borings and analyses. Mr. Young then related to the aesthetics of the project, and he felt it was very important that the architectural scheme concept of the project be brought in under Phase I. This requires the consultant to hire an architect,during Phase I of the project. Mr. Young stated if the Commission decided to go.ahead with the project, the Environmental Impact Report would be the responsibility of the City. AUTHORIZE Mr. Young advised his reason for selecting DeLeuw Cather was FEASIBILITY STUDY that the City had worked with the firm on the construction FOR MULTI -STORY of the Washington Street Bridge. He had also worked with PARKING FACILITY, them previously on another project. They have also done many DeLEUW CATHER & parking structures and projects, as well as traffic studies, COMPANY and he feels they have the expertise and professional skills RES #23 necessary for the project. Commissioner Cavanagh was the next to report and stated in mid-December he, the City Engineer, the City Manager, and the Finance Director visited the City of Richmond and the Richmond Redevelopment Agency. There is a 225 -space, two-level parking garage in Richmond. The structure is prefabricated. Commissioner Cavanagh stated they visited the Redevelopment Agency Office and were given the dollar amounts for the construction of the facility. They were also given some guidelines on procedures to follow on the construction of such a structure. Commissioner Cavanagh stated he always felt a double -deck parking structure would cost between $10,000 and $12,000 per stall. However, the one constructed in Richmond is considerably less than that. This proposal from DeLeuw Cather is the first step in the procedure recommended by the Richmond Redevelopment Agency. Finance Director John Scharer indicated he would report on the financing aspect of the project. Mr. Scharer stated he wanted to find out how much could be financed and the various alternatives for financing, so he contacted Stone and Youngberg, a municipal financing firm which the City has used on many occasions. He called on Lee Mitchell who has previously worked with the City of Petaluma on other projects. Mr. Scharer stated he explained to Mr. Mitchell what the Commis- sion wanted to do and how much leverage there was to meet debt service. He asked the municipal financing consultant firm to respond to the best way for funding - whether it be tax allocation bonds through the Redevelopment Agency or assessment district revenue bonds, as the original parking district was built, by pledging the revenues from the meters to the bonding payment. Mr. Scharer then referred to a letter dated January 4, 1978, from Lee Mitchell, Senior Vice President of Stone and Youngberg, a copy of which is on file with the Recording Secretary. The recommendation from Mr. Mitchell is that the City create a parking authority which would issue leased revenue bonds, finance the construction and related costs, then the City would lease the parking structure from the parking authority and sublease it to the Redevelopment Agency. The ultimate payment of the debt service would be through the increment funds generated through the Redevelopment Agency. Mr. Scharer advised presently the Commission has sufficient increment monies to leverage revenue bonds in an approximate amount of.$800,000 to $850,000. City Engineer David Young described the difference between the City going out to bid on the project and the parking authority, such as the City of Richmond had done. If the City itself bid on the project, they could not use the method used by Richmond because of Charter constraints. However, if the parking authority is formed, the method used by Richmond could possibly be used. Mr. Young stated this probably would have to be researched by the City Attorney. There was some discussion on the project, and Commissioner Cavanagh stated the stalls for the facility in Richmond cost approximately $3,500 each. Mr. Young stated'a three-level facility would raise the cost to about $3,700 per stall. The facility in Richmond was three levels but provision had been made to add another -level at some future date. Mr. Young also stated if the City feels they would like to have firm control of the architectural design of a facility, it would probably require staying with the traditional method of bidding for the project instead of bidding for design and construction as had been done in the City of Richmond. Commissioner Hilligoss asked what would 'be the comparative cost for expanding the "A" Street Parking Lot or the area which had been discussed on Petaluma Blvd. North. Finance Director John Scharer stated the property on Petaluma Blvd. North is in the process of being sold to an individual who plans to put in parking, and this will provide some additional parkingthroughthe private sector. The cost for the "A" Street Parking Lot expansion is not known at this time because the Commission and the owners of the property in the area have not been able to reach AUTHORIZE an agreement on the appraisal of the properties. Commissioner FEASIBILITY STUDY Perry indicated. he felt the pattern of traffic has changed FOR MULTI -STORY drastically in the.area of.the "A" Street Parking Lot, and he PARKING FACILITY, feels this should have a higher priority than the Keller DeLEUW CATHER & Street Lot. Mr. Scharer indicated with the methods being COMPANY discussed, the Commission would not be precluding talking RES #23 about this area also. Plans at the present time are to have financing available to do both lots. $300,000 has been appropriated to the Petaluma Community Development Commission from revenue sharing funds. Those funds would not be used for double -decking or triple -decking Keller Street. The Keller Street Project would not use the funds allocated for constructing the 21 additional spaces at the corner of Western Avenue and Keller Street, and this money will be available for the "A" Street Parking Lot or other parking. Commissioner Harberson questioned the time necessary to complete Phase I. City Engineer David Young stated it would be approximately three months from the time the City gave the consultant the necessary data. The anticipated time of getting the information to the consultant would be by March 1, and the first phase should be completed by June 1. Executive Director Robert Meyer stated the one thing that impressed him on the Richmond facility was the utilization of ramps. He stated they did not, however, make any provisions for campers to park in that lot. City Engineer David Young stated it may be necessary to have the structure built strong enough -to bear fire -fighting equipment in order to protect the buildings which have the backs of their structure on American Alley and face on Kentucky Street. Mayor Putnam asked since there were representatives from the Chamber of Commerce present if they had any comments on the project. Mr. Jim Williams stated the Chamber is interested in the project and is happy to seeitgoing along this way. The Chamber feels it will be a benefit to the community and to the downtown business district. Mr. Williams stated he felt it was important to proceed as quickly as possible. Resolution #23 of the Petaluma Community Development Commission authorizing com- prehensive feasibility study and financial project from DeLeuw Cather & Company for possible construction of a multi -story parking facility on the corner of Western Avenue and Keller Street, Petaluma, was introduced by Commissioner Perry, seconded by Commissioner Cavanagh, and adopted by six affirmative and one absentee votes. DISCUSSION Mr. Fred Schram from the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce REGARDING FIRE reported the Project Area Committee has not had an opportunity ON EAST to meet since the fire along East Washington Street, but he WASHINGTON ST. has been in contact with members of the Committee. They have expressed a desire to encourage uniform development in that area. Frank Gray stated the staff would also like to see a uniform development take place, but the Petaluma Community Development Commission's powers are limited. The Commission does not have the power of condemnation to bring the entire area into one parcel, and there is a possibility that each parcel might be for sale individually. Commissioner Cavanagh stated there also may be a problem with State Lands Division clearance before any of the property in the area is sold or developed. PARKING IN THE VICINITY OF CENTER PARK Mr. Victor DeCarli expressed concern regarding the parking around Center Park. Since the theater has opened and there will be other restaurants opening in the area, parking is becoming more difficult daily. Mr. DeCarli stated he doesn't know how the problem can be alleviated but felt the Commission should give consideration to the problem in the area which'is now becoming heavily developed. -3- ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m. to an Executive Session. ATTEST: cordin Secretary QM Chairman