Economic Development Advisory Commission (EDAC) Meeting - Minutes December 5, 2007
Economic Development Advisory Commission Approved Minutes Wednesday December 5, 2007 Commissioners Present Connie Barton Barba Laura Battaglia (Secretary) Bob Farkas Mark Green Mark Lockenmeyer Mark Luckenbach Scot Marsters (Chair) Harold Schuette Gary Wiessinger (Vice Chair) Staff Present: Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager Deborah S. Nelson, Planning Manager Mark Sawicki, Economic Development & Housing Manager 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m. by EDAC Chair, Scot Marsters. 2. Review and Approval of Minutes – November 7, 2007 EDAC Meeting
Motion: Connie Barton Barba moved and Bob Farkas seconded that the minutes be approved with one requested change from Commissioner Farkas: adding the words “or zoning administrator” to the end of the first sentence of the second paragraph from the Discussion of Downtown Interim Zoning Ordinance. Action: The motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting with the requested revision was approved by a unanimous vote of the Commission. 3. Old Business and Reports
A. Discussion of Downtown Interim Zoning Ordinance
Deborah S. Nelson discussed with the EDAC Commissioners the Planning Commission’s recommendation to the City Council regarding the current downtown interim zoning ordinance.Specifically Deborah discussed the consideration of an Ordinance Amendment to the City of San Carlos Municipal Code, Prohibited Uses in the C-R (Central Retail Core District), C-P (Central Perimeter District) and the C-S (Highway Service Commercial District) for the 600, 700 and 800 Blocks of Laurel Street and the 1100 and 1200 Blocks of San Carlos Avenue. Economic Development and Housing Manager Mark Sawicki, Planning Manager Deborah Nelson and Chair Scott Marsters presented the Planning Commission recommendations and asked for input from EDAC for the City Council to also consider at the City Council meeting of January 14, 2008. Commissioners Green and Lockenmeyer asked questions of Staff regarding the Planning Commission decision to remove the language “deep-discount.”The Commissioners also discussed adding a purpose statement for Laurel Street zoning district, using blended language from the Economic Development Plan and the Downtown Retail Advisory Report. The Commissioners also suggested adding specific language for 1) permitted, 2) conditional, and 3) prohibited uses. Planning Commission Chair Randy Royce was in attendance and responded with general comments supporting the EDAC suggestions. Discussion ensued regarding: - Defining uses that are not desirable
- What uses define economic vitality
- The potential for some uses to be successful but not wanted
- Low margin/low rent businesses vs. high margin/high rent business
- Type of use and quality of goods
Specific changes to the ordinance to recommend to the City Council were discussed. - Add a definition of “dollar store” use.
- Add to the prohibited uses wholesale only on the ground floor
- Require a Conditional Use Permit for resale, consignment, dollar store, etc – regardless of size, in the downtown retail core
- Add economic findings to evaluate conditional uses
EDAC Commissioners Green and Wiessinger proposed the following Motions: 1) Move the Section prohibiting “retail orwholesalesale or consignment sale of used, secondhand furniture, furnishings apparel or merchandise, damaged or blemished merchandise or apparel…….. “ from prohibited use to conditional use and remove the word “wholesale”. 2) Research the definition of “dollar store” and include as part of the conditional use list above.Also keep, as part of that list, closeout and deep discount. 3) Add to prohibited uses wholesale business on the ground floor in the downtown retail core. Motion:Mark Green moved and Bob Farkas seconded that the three Motions above be approved. Action: The three Motions were approved by a unanimous vote of the Commission. Commissioners wanted to ensure that within this process we do not lose sight of promoting economic vitality for the City’s downtown retail district. This includes decreasing costs to the owners/tenants and speeding up the process of use permits. B. Updates from Staff
RDA Bond refunding – The City is refunding Redevelopment Agency bonds and replacing it with bonds at a lower interest rate. The agency will also borrow an additional $7M in taxable and tax-exempt bond debt, providing flexibility for future spending.
RDA Plan – The Redevelopment five year implementation plan mid-term review is underway. EDAC is expected to receive an update during the January 2008 meeting. The review will focus on how to spend the $7M of new bond debt. Ideas include: Holly/Industrial interchange and other traffic and circulation improvements ($3-4M), as well as land assembly for a Wheeler Plaza development and/or a landmark hotel ($3M).
East Side Opportunity Booklet – A draft booklet including aerial and parcel maps is being prepared to use as a tool to bring in retail to the City. It will help identify where a mid to large-plate retail business location would best be suited.
Wheeler Plaza – Design and feasibility studies are underway. Staff will provide EDAC with an update during the February 2008 meeting.
Bell Market – The owner is negotiating with potential new users and staff expects a grocery market will soon occupy the space. C. Update on Economic Development Partnership
Commissioner Wiessinger shared with EDAC that the partnership group is having great discussions and action taken since the group formed. EDAC Commissioners reviewed the Appendix B spreadsheet and list of priorities. Chair Marsters observed that Green initiatives are farther down on the priority list. Brian Moura added that the City is doing a lot to support green initiatives. Commissioner Green added that the difference between priority 2 and 6 isn’t that significant. For progress to be seen, Commissioner Wiessinger suggested, effort is going first to the highest priorities by the Partnership even though City Staff is working all items as appropriate. D. Continuation of discussion of potential businesses to attract to San Carlos and Appendix I of the Economic Development Plan
EDAC Commissioners took turns sharing his/her top three businesses from the spreadsheet provided. Mark Sawicki asked that each Commissioner send this list to him before the next EDAC meeting.
4. New Business
A) Commissioner term limits – Are any Commissioners leaving office in January? No Commissioners thought any term limits were due in the near future. Mark Sawicki will follow up during the January 2008 meeting. Do we elect new officers in January? – Mark Sawicki will also follow up and let us know.
B) San Carlos Marketplace – Is it proving to be successful? Brian Moura shared that the City expects approximately $300,000 in annual sales tax revenue generated from the Marketplace.
5. Old Business continued
Agenda Review – Commissioners reviewed the list of potential meeting topics leading into 2008.
6. Other
A) Next meeting date and time
January 9th from 4:00-5:30 p.m. in City Hall room 207. 8. Public Comment
No public comment for the December meeting. 9. Adjournment
The EDAC meeting adjourned at 6:04 p.m. |
