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Home My WebLink About2015-03-09 FEDTCITY OF SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, & TECHNOLOGY REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MARCH 9, 2015 CALL TO ORDER: City Hall 20 Civic Center Plaza, Room 1600 Santa Ana, CA 5:30 p.m. ATTENDANCE: Council Committee members: Michele Martinez, Chairperson Vincent Sarmiento, Vice - Chairperson Vacant, Committee Member #3 MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: GUESTS PRESENT: PUBLIC COMMENTS None Francisco Gutierrez, FMSA Sergio Vidal, FMSA Waldo Barela, FMSA Teresa Ramirez, FMSA Sandra Simon, FMSA Arturo Rodriguez, FMSA Alvaro Castellon, FMSA Gerardo Mouet, PRCSA Haney Mostafa, PSA David Cavazos, City Manager Robert Cortez, CMO Kelly Reenders, CDA Marc Morley, CDA Leigh Eisen, CDA Sidney Stone, CDA Susan Gorospe, CDA Alma Flores, CMO Jorge Garcia, CMO Peter Katz, Com -Link; Blake Hopkins, AMCAL; Mario Turner, AMCAL; Tim Bretz, Keyser Marston; Jim Lentz, I.T. Contractor Blake Hopkins, AMCAL, Project Manager for 1440 E. First Street, Santa Ana. Here to answer any questions. • Mario Turner, AMCAL, also available to answer any questions regarding project. AGENDA DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. Approval of Minutes from the Special Meeting of January 27, 2015. MOTION: Sarmiento SECOND: Martinez March 9, 2015 1 Finance, Economic Development, & Technology Minutes VOTE: AYES: Martinez, Sarmiento (2) NOES: None (0) ABSENT: None (0) (Items taken out of order.) 5. AMCAL Financing Update (Strategic Plan No. 5,3a) - (CDA) Sidney Stone, Housing Division Manager, provided Power Point presentation on 15t Street Family Apartments, AMCAL and City of Santa Ana Partnership. Revitalization of area with 64 units of affordable housing. Project design may not be best, as unit occupancy could be up to five persons and parking is at a high ratio and may need more circulation. Presentation lists due diligence items, including zone change and developer deferred fee vs. upfront fees. Policy considerations also reviewed. Councilmember Sarmiento stated he has been a strong advocate of affordable housing. Needs to understand changes and new financing scrutiny. Kelly Reenders, Executive Director, stated this is new inclusionary, usual HUD/ Federal parameters to be set. Tim Bretz from Keyser Marston added that guidelines have changed and become stricter. Parking can be refined; three story tuck -under parking to be designed which allows for more circulation parking. Committee Chair, Michele Martinez, would like change in parking to not only include vehicles, as there are multiple modes. Would like to make sure there is opportunity for bikes, motorcycles, and pedestrians that need a safe path. People and cars need to be taken into consideration as development moves forward. Tax credits, developer fees, and any policy considerations to be reviewed and brought to council in April. Councilmembers would like equity across the board. We should be transparent and consistent. Developers encouraged to contact the City Manager's office for information or any questions. Budget Calendar and CIP Update (Strategic Plan No. 4, 2b) - (CMO) City Manager, David Cavazos, discussed calendar of upcoming events including the General Fund Trial Budget, Community Budget Outreach - Budget meetings, Capital Improvement Program (CIP), Planning Commission and others items listed on power point presentation. Committee Chair, Michele Martinez, would like explanation or guide available to help community understand what CIP is, source of funds, Measure M, priorities for capital and other topics. March 9, 2015 1 Finance, Economic Development, & Technology Minutes 2. Downtown Wayfinding and Streetscape Amenities (Strategic Plan No. 5, 4a) — (CDA) Leigh Eisen, Downtown Development Liaison, provided power point presentation of what wayfinding is and is not, and the progress to date. Funding allocated is $400,000. Process needs direction and knowledge of who's participating. Suggest an ad hoc group to review signs to decide what's important and provide feedback. Committee Chair, Michele Martinez suggests using Survey Monkey for all to input as parking is basic necessity for city. Councilmember Sarmiento agrees we need to give direction to move forward and is supportive of concept. Need to consider context, be sensitive to community and be respectful. Hopefully cost adjustments will not be big. Martinez would also like to see other amenities provided downtown, like restrooms in parking structures. Could be discussed when we're at line item from Wellness Center for budget. City Manager, David Cavazos, reiterated we have $400,000 budgeted to proceed and start process. Public restrooms are feasible and are part of downtown plan, but funding does not exist. 3. Downtown Parking Update (Strategic Plan No. 3, 4b) — (CMO) City Manager David Cavazos provided draft study of parking. There have been no rate increases for twenty years and beyond that there are no records. We've had lots of discussion; however not in a big hurry. Talk and listen at town hall meetings to build on our successes to make Santa Ana a great place to visit. Needs: restrooms downtown, police substations, parking, ambassadors, security cameras and other items listed in presentation. Rates of garages versus parking meter need to be fixed. Committee Chair Michele Martinez not supportive of increase. All modes of transportation should be included. Supports rideshare, circulation and other options for people. Many folks live within a three mile radius. Possible bond measure tax or DOF funds due to city may help fund. Councilmember Vince Sarmiento has heard comments on parking tickets and would like to know if we're on par with other cities. Where do we find monies to fund other modes? If increase, then soft on violations? Would like to see visitors return to downtown where it's safe and clean and not a place to be cited. City Manager, David Cavazos, stated other cities such as Huntington Beach, Long Beach, San Clemente, and Santa Monica can charge twice as much as Santa Ana for parking. Shuttle service will help with circulator as we phase in options. March 9, 2015 1 Finance, Economic Development, & Technology Minutes Susan Gorospe, Senior Management Analyst provided Memorandum from Special Counsel, Thomas Clark Jr. stating funds are frozen. `Redevelopment Dissolution Act does not currently provide authorization to expend bond proceeds in any manner other than to defease the bonds or purchase the outstanding bond on the open market for cancellation.' (Agenda item 9). Francisco Gutierrez added that financial advisors say defease is very expensive and not recommended. Michele Martinez would like more flexibility in fines and parking penalties. David Cavazos says lowering fine amount might be best approach. Will get recommendations and options. 10. I.T. Assessment (Strategic Plan No. 6, 1 i) — (CMO) Robert Cortez, Special Assistant to the City Manager, provided update: Phase I complete and 23 of 27 workshops done. Council to be included in workshop scheduled for end of March. Phase III is scheduled for May. 11. Wi -Fi Update (Strategic Plan No. 6, 1 i) — (FMSA) Francisco Gutierrez provided update: Phase I finishing up, Wi -Fi equipment installed at 24 sites. Broadband waiting on Time Warner installation of fiber optic. Phase II to include Police Admin with contract going to council in April. All should be active by the end of 2015. Committee Chair Martinez would like equipment selection to be in sync. Mayor and Council to review for additional sites if they want Senior Center or parks. Make sure we continue to be transparent and open. 13. Update on City Council Policy for Community Events (Strategic Plan No. 2) — (PRCSA) Gerardo Mouet, Executive Director, provided listing of 2015 City Events, budget, policy description and co- sponsorship application that requires his approval. Committee Chair Martinez: this is a good example of process that could be used by City Council who supports sponsorships and neighborhood association community participation. Council members would like to see some flexibility for options and possible waivers of permit fees. David Cavazos added that there are funds in council budget for flexibility. 12. Potential Bond or Tax Measure for Infrastructure and Transportation (Strategic Plan No. 4) — (CMO) City Manager provided memorandum from City Attorney regarding municipal revenue sources and information on potential bond election schedule. Various options will need to be reviewed and decisions made on how much and other factors; 2016 election is the goal. Councilmembers would like more information provided for voters to be supportive. March 9, 2015 1 Finance, Economic Development, & Technology Minutes 7. Retire Health Care and Pension Costs Update (Strategic Plan No. 4, 2d) — (FMSA) Committee Chair Martinez would like OPEB reduced more. Would like staff to look at South Lake Tahoe and see how their reduction was done. See if we can reduce liability and possibly work with negotiations next year. ITEMS MOVED TO NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING Due to time constraints, the following items will be placed on the next meeting's agenda. a Update on Down Payment Assistance Program COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS: STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS: City Manager, David Cavazos — Need Special Meeting to review block grants (CDBG) Adjournment — 7:23 p.m. Teresa Secretara/, CDA March 9, 2015 1 Finance, Economic Development, & Technology Minutes