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04-29-1997 Council Minutes Adj RegularAPPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON MAY 13, 1997. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES ORANGE, CALIFORNIA OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING April 29, 1997 The City Council of the City of Orange, California convened on at 4:30 P.M. in an Adjourned Regular Meeting in the Library Conference Room, 101 N. Center Street, Orange, California. 4:30 P.M. SESSION 1. OPENING 1.1 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG Led by Mayor Coontz 1.2 ROLL CALL PRESENT - Murphy, Slater, Mayor Coontz, Alvarez ABSENT - Spurgeon NOTE Councilman Spurgeon arrived at 4:53 p.m.2. CONSENT CALENDAR 2. 1 Declaration of City Clerk, Cassandra J. Cathcart, declaring posting of City Council agenda of an adjourned regular meeting of April 29, 1997 at Orange Civic Center, Main Library, Police facility at 1107 North Batavia, the Eisenhower Park Bulletin Board and summarized on Time Warner Communications; all of said locations being in the City of Orange and freely accessible to members of the public at least 72 hours before commencement of said adjourned regular meeting.ACTION: Accepted Declaration of Agenda Posting and authorized its retention as a public record in the Office of the City Clerk.MOTION - Mayor Coontz SECOND - Slater AYES - Murphy, Slater, Coontz, Alvarez ABSENT - Spurgeon Consent Calendar Item No. 2. 1 was approved.END OF CONSENT CALENDAR 3. REPORTS FROM MAYOR COONTZ - None PAGE 1 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES April 29, 1997 4. REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS Mayor pro tem Slater reported that in 1993 approval was given to relocate the tree at Lucky's market on East Chapman Avenue and create an Ad Hoc Citizen's Committee to oversee the process. The City Manager was directed to formulate that Committee to follow the process for the next three years. 5. REPORTS FROM BOARDS, COMMITTEES, AND COMMISSIONS - None 6. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS 6. 1 Presentation by the Design Collaborative regarding the proposed Vision Plan for the Downtown Plaza District.Councilman Alvarez reported that his family owns a business located at 131 S. Glassell, which is within the Plaza District, and that his only participation will be to listen to the discussion.Mayor Coontz indicated a presentation was made by the Design Collaborative in the winter of 1996. Council suggested at that time the Design Collaborative go into the community and make as many presentations as possible to community groups.Leason Pomroy, representing the Design Collaborative, presented diagrams identifying specific elements that need to be further studied to enhance the opportunities for downtown, i.e. lighting,circulation, parking, signage, landscape and the stated goals for each element, indicating there has been tremendous support and enthusiasm throughout the community. Changes resulting from the facade studies include new improved facades and restaurants in the Downtown Plaza District. Various community groups met with the Design Collaborative and the meetings resulted in ideas for marketing, accessories and related fixtures, i.e. common benches, trash receptacles, bicycle racks, light poles, and improvements to pedestrian areas.The goal of the Design Collaborative is to create a business and physical environment to preserve and enhance the economic success of the community by:1. Establishing a Business Improvement District to be successful in retaining and attracting tenants and making future improvements in the downtown area.2. Creating a strategy of self-funding for the district so that no City tax dollars are relied on. 3. Maintaining and improving the cultural, social, historic qualities of Orange. A Business Improvement District would consist of a Board of Directors made up of all the groups that have a vested interest in downtown. An Executive Committee would be formed from the Board of Directors that would hire a Director; the Director would be held accountable for the success of the downtown improvement district. A consultant would need to be hired to assist with the structuring of the district. Mr. Pomroy presented the benefits of the establishment of a Business Improvement District and the general benefits the District will have to the City, property owners, merchants, and tenants. Any initial funding that the City might provide to get the Business Improvement District offthe ground would be paid back within the first ten years. PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES April 29, 1997 6. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS (Continued) THE DESIGN COLLABORATIVE REQUESTED THE FOLLOWING FROM THE CITY: Funding assistance as it is available. City staff assistance in modifying some existing ordinances that need to be changed in order to generate revenue out of certain elements of the City, i.e. outdoor dining, land use, parking, replenishment, signage. Cooperation in establishing the Business Improvement District. FROM THE PROPERTY OWNERS: Funding of the independent consultant to assist in establishing the Business Improvement District. FROM THE TENANTS AND MERCHANTS: Support, participation and the common vision. FROM CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY: Support and participation through cooperation in the business improvement district. FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS: Support and participation in the district. FROM THE DESIGN COLLABORATIVE: Continued volunteer effort. REVENUE PRODUCING AREAS INCLUDE: Planter areas in the Plaza quads (if removed, could create more space for outdoor dining). Creating Village signs and renting sign spaces to tenants. Parking Management - installation of parking meters as a primary source of revenue.The approximate initial cost to implement the Business Improvement District would be $40,000;80, 000 for the building and development of signs; $80,000 for remodeling the planters areas;and $ 350,000 to purchase the maximum number of700 parking meters. Mr. Pomeroy referred to a diagram of the Plaza area, prepared by Susan Secoy, which depicted potential revenue producing areas and an ambiance of the character of downtown.The Planning Manager summarized the key factors in the parking study and identified parking meters as an important management tool to provide effective and efficient parking in the downtown area. The City initiated a parking study approximately 1 ~ years ago; the purpose of the study was to determine if there is an adequate number of parking spaces in the downtown area. An Ad Hoc Parking Committee was formed at that time to participate in the parking study.Merchants placed a priority on the total number of parking spaces available in the downtown and the accessibility of parking spaces to store fronts. The study concluded that physically there are enough parking spaces in the downtown area, however, they are poorly distributed and managed.PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES April 29, 1997 6. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS (Continued) Also identified in the study, the City's contemporary zoning ordinance does not recognize the unique characteristics and design ofthe historic district and its parking needs; parking management needs to be improved by prioritizing parking; signage and lighting improvements are needed; and a long-term parking plan needs to be developed so that as businesses are successful and expand, new parking is added.Recommendations that will be brought forth by the Committee include:The creation of a Fair Share Replenishment Plan.The installation of Parking Meters.A Parking Permit Program to protect the neighborhoods in the area.Modifications to the Code to address administrative problems related to parking requirements, etc.COUNCIL COMMENTS:Mayor Coontz indicated the issue of parking structures will come up when discussion occurs regarding parking meters. It is important to note the Business Improvement District (BID) is a non-profit category. Public hearings will be held on land use issues as the planning process moves forward.Mr. Pomroy commented that a shortage of parking is anticipated as the town becomes successful.The shortage will occur at the same time money is raised to build a parking structure. When a revenue stream has begun, money can be borrowed against the revenue stream and a parking structure could be built.Mayor pro tem Slater asked if the parking study will be coming forward in conjunction with the recommendation and if the Design Collaborative will be coming forward with projected costs for the implementation of lighting, parking changes, and traffic patterns.Mr. Pomroy replied the parking study may be coming prior to the recommendation. Projections on the costs will take a tremendous amount of study and time.The City Manager commented on circulation issues in the downtown area, indicating that if roadways are blocked that have been identified in the County Plan of Arterial Highways, the City may be deprived of future Measure M monies. A recommendation will be made to Council for the allocation of some monies to help the City do more city-wide traffic studies that could assist the City to directly identify amendments to the Plan. Those amendments could provide additional Measure M funding, which would allow the City to reinvest monies in other CITY COUNCIL MINUTES April 29, 1997 6. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS (Continued) The following people spoke in favor: Bob Mickelson, representing Chapman University Joan Crawford, President of Old Towne Preservation Authority, presented a letter to Mayor Coontz (letter on file in the City Clerk's office) Lisa Ackerman, on behalf of the Downtown Professional Merchant's Association Joe Woollett, Design Collaborative member 7. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER - None 8. LEGAL AFFAIRS - None 9. ORAL PRESENTATIONS - None 10. ADJOURNMENT MOTION SECOND AYES Spurgeon Coontz Murphy, Slater, Mayor Coontz, Spurgeon, Alvarez The City Council adjourned at 5: 40 p.m.iC#/A4 CASSANDRA . ATHCART, CMC CITY CLERK j j; L I ... t/ /..l=. L/ . t%17t /~v/J , COONTZ U YOR PAGE 5