02-27-1984 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA February 27, 1984 The meeting was called to order at 5:51 p.m., b~ Mayor R. W. Luxem- bourger in Room 510, City Hall, 20 Civic Center Plaza. Councilmem- bers present were Gordon Bricken, P. Lee Johnson, Patricia A. McGuigan, Dan Young and Mayor Luxembourger. Also present were City Manager Robert C. Bobb, City Attorney Edward J. Cooper and Clerk of the Council Janice C. Guy, as well as members of the City's Executive Management staff and the press. Councilmember Daniel E. Griset arrived at 6:08 p.m. Councilmember John Acosta was absent. The City Manager explained that the objective of the meeting was to determine a direction for downtown Santa Ana, specifically for the central business district. He emphasized the importance of continual maintenance and improvements for this core area of the City. He then requested that Councilmembers give their perceptions of this area--not only as citizens and residents of the community, but as public policy- makers. The Deputy City Manager of Development discussed the various components of the downtown area, including the government offices and the historic retail/commercial center. He indicated future planning would be directed toward increasing tourism; constructing residences for such city dwellers as seniors, young professionals and artists; developing boutique shopping and open air markets; and utilizing Santa Ana's status as a known "end destination" to attract more people to the downtown area. He remarked that although the peri:met~r~of the district had been improved, the needs still existed to connect the downtown area to Fashion Square, to capture Santa Ana's historic perspective, and to pull the Civic Center and downtown areas together. The City Manager then enumerated what he felt were the downtown's strengths, including but not limited to: Santa Ana~s designation as the County Seat, its transit center, stadium, library and swap meet, close- in residential living and a lack of parking meters. Among its weak- nesses, he noted the lack of the following amenities: no major hotel, no downtown plan, no socially attractive gathering place, no central control of parking and no central planning agency. Councilmembers then responded with their perceptions of the central business district. Councilmember Young noted that it was incon- venient, that safety was a problem and that housing was needed. He also recognized the need for an advertising plan and a plan to attract investment dollars. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 64 FEBRUARY 27~ 1984