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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-02-18 City Council (5)City of PaRo Alto C ty Manager’s Repor TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL 1 FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT:CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE DATE: SUBJECT: FEBRUARY 18, 2003 CMR: 161:0~ REVIEW OF COUNCIL’S TOP 5 PRIORITIES RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council review the accomplishments on the FY 2002-03 Top 5 Priorities and discuss potential milestones for 2003-05, or any changes to the Top 5 Priorities. BACKGROUND During the City Council Retreat on February 11, 2002, Council discussed its Top 5 Priorities for 2002-03. Council approved the priorities and related milestones on May 6, 2002. The current priorities are: Long Term Finances, Infrastructure, Land Use Planning, Alternative Transportation/Traffic Calming, and Affordable/Attainable Housing. The Top 5 Priorities remain in effect through June 2003. DISCUSSION Staff made considerable progress on each of the Council Top 5 Priorities during the past six months. The October - December 2003 Quarterly Report provides specific details on staff accomplishments during this time period. Additionally, staff has provided a mid- year status report on the Top 5 Priorities (see attachments). This report provides Council with the current status of the milestones and updated completion dates. It is important to note that significant, reportable work on specific milestones might not occur within any given quarter. CMR: 161:03 Page 1 of 3 There are several reasons, from staff’s perspective, to maintain the current Top 5 Priorities: it takes a number of years to make significant progress on priorities of the breadth selected by the Council; and shifting priorities too frequently, will limit opportunities for success. Another very important consideration in continuing with the current Top 5 Priorities is the City’s escalating budget deficit. The current estimate indicates a $9 million shortfall in FY 2003-04. The $35 million state budget deficit continues to pose a significant fiscal problem for the City. To meet the required General Fund reduction targets, staff propose freezing or eliminating several of the General Fund’s current 38 vacant positions. Other restructuring proposals may also be made. These budget reductions may impact the amount of resources dedicated toward Council priorities. It will be difficult in the midst of such significant changes to organize efforts towards a new Council priority. RESOURCE IMPACT The City Manager’s budget message to Council identifies resources dedicated towards the delivering the Council’s Top 5 Priority-related services as well as their relevant milestones. Any shift in Council’s top priorities must be done in a timely manner for inclusion in the budget process review and document submission to Council in May. ATTACHMENTS Long Term Finances Attachment AI:Top 5 Quarterly Report (October- December 2002) Attachment A2:Top 5 Mid-Year Status Report Infrastructure Attachment B 1 : Attachment B2: Top 5 Quarterly Report (October - December 2002) Top 5 Mid-Year Status Report Land Use Planning Attachment C 1 :Top 5 Quarterly Report (October - December 2002) Attachment C2:Top 5 Mid-Year Status Report Alternative Transportation/Traffic Calming Attachment D l:Top 5 Quarterly Report (October - December 2002) Attachment D2:Top 5 Mid-Year Status Report Affordable/Attainable Housing Attachment El:Top 5 Quarterly Report (October - December 2002) Attachment E2:Top 5 Mid-Year Status Report CMR: 161:03 Page 2 of 3 PREPARED BY: Chris Mogenset~, Assistant to the City Manager CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: Emil} HarrisOn, Assistant City Manager CMR: 161:03 Page 3 of 3 ATTACHMENT A1 Long Term Finances October-December 2002 Develop Plan for 2002 Bond Measure o Bond measure election conducted in November 2002 and was not approved. Approve and Implement Development Impact Fees o Remaining Phase 1 assignment of studying exemption for nonprofits providing social service still under study (Key staff involved in study have been on leave from City). Develop a financial plan for traffic calming projects o Staff still is in the process of identifying sources of funding for traffic projects. Economic climate and drop in key revenue sources may difficulties in finding new revenue sources. calming result in Aggressively pursue grants o Staff continues to actively pursue all relevant grant opportunities. During this quarter, staff worked closely with The Ferguson Group to identify the City’s federal FY 2004 project requests. Business License Tax (BLT) and Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Increase o An election on a TOT increase and a BLT is tentatively set for Fall 2004. o State of the economy and City revenue streams~will affect staff proposals and election dates. Long Range Financial Plan and Model (LRFP) to Finance Committee (FC) ~During October, staff researched and wrote the LRFP. ~Update of LRFP was presented to FC December 3, 2002. ~Staff is presenting LRFP to all City Boards and Commissions during months of December 2002 - February 2003. Ad-Hoc Economic Base Committee During October, the Economic Base Committee (consisting of four Council members and senior staff from the City Manager’s and City Auditor’s offices as well as the Administrative Services, Planning and Utilities departments) was busy visiting a wide variety of businesses in the City. Visits to Agilent, the Stanford Mall, Park Motors, the Sheraton, and small retailers were conducted to determine key business issues and ways in which the City can assist and promote business success and City revenues. On October 23, the Committee met to review requested information on City revenue sources and to hear a sales tax expert’s views on City sales taxes. Issues such as competition from "big box" stores, surrounding malls, and the Internet were discussed. It became evident that the City faces challenges in maintaining and expanding its sales tax base, particularly in the face of a weak economy. Completed first phase of business outreach visits in November 2002. ATTACHMENT A 1 Second phase of visits will be completed by February 2002. Economic Base Committee work is ongoing. Committee extended outreach based on success of first set of visits. Staff has implemented solutions to business issues where possible and followed-up with information and help when requested from businesses. Z Z ©c~5 5 5-5-0 ~D 0 0 m 0 0 ATTACHMENT B 1 Infrastructure October = December 2002 Storm Drainage Improvements: o The Blue Ribbon Committee finalized its funding strategy and implementation plan and submitted its final report to the City Manager. Staff is negotiating with a consultant to assist with public outreach and education on storm drain funding. This winter, staff is tracking City costs attributable to deficient storm drains. o Council awarded a $260,000 contract to K.J. Woods Construction for storm drain improvements on Walter Hays Drive and Charleston Road/Park Boulevard. Construction started in late November and will be completed in February 2003. Public Safety Building: o Four conceptual design schemes, with cost estimates were developed. o Studies for a Mitigated Negative Declaration have begun including traffic and parking impact analysis and historic evaluation of the police wing of City Hall. Homer Avenue Caltrain Undercrossing: o 99% design completed o Submitted right-of-way certification and plans, specifications and estimate to Caltrans for authorization ~ Obtained additional funds totaling $1.5M, raising the total funding to $4.3M. Total project cost at 99% design is $5.05M Parking Structures: Excavation is complete at both sites and the concrete pouring for columns is in progress. o Ground floor and first floor slabs have been poured at Lot R. ~Sub-basement floor slab and ramps have been poured at Lot S/L. ~Re-striped Emerson and Hamilton Avenues to provide additional on-street parking spaces. There is now street parking on the north side of City Hall. Roth Building: The City and SummerHill Homes entered into an agreement in which SummerHill will do the design and demolition of the non-historic wings and the City will then reimburse SummerHill for the design and demolition costs and allow SummerHill to use the resulting site as a staging area for their development project on the same block, providing bids are within the City’s budget. Design completed. Bids to be received in February. Streets & Sidewalks: ~ $2.5M construction contract awarded to De Silva resurfacing. Work 95% complete. o Design of the 2003 street resurfacing project has begun. Gates for FY02-03 street ATTACHMENT B 1 FY01-02 Phase 2 Sidewalk Replacement Project $598,000 contract is 100% complete by Vanguard Construction. FY02-03 Phase 1 Sidewalk Replacement Project $895,000 contract is 46% complete by J.J.R. Construction. Sidewalk replacement areas bounded by Oregon, Greer, Channing, St. Francis, Embarcadero and areas east of Highway 101. Also, portions of Lytton and Emerson downtown. Plans & Specifications being prepared for FY02-03 Phase 2 Sidewalk Replacement Project. Bid opening is January 14, 2003, and construction scheduled for Spring 20.03. Arastradero Bike Lane improvements, which will add bike lanes on both sides of Arastradero at Gunn High School, is under construction and scheduled for completion in February 2003. Facilities: o Construction for the Fire Stations and MSC Emergency Generator Project is completed. Project closeout will be completed in January 2003. Data Management Project in construction phase. Completion was scheduled for January, but has been delayed to February due to delays with permitting and City- installed computer racking equipment. Golf Course Maintenance Building Renovation Project was bid and all bids declined due to cost. Project was re-bid and construction phase started November 18. Construction will be complete in February 2003. Civic Center Infrastructure Upgrades: consultant selection process completed, project currently in award phase. Fire Stations 1 & 2 Improvements Project is in the design phase with final design scheduled for completion in 2003 and construction in 2004. Parks & Open Space: Projects continuing or started: :~Mitchell Park Phase 2 in design ~Arastradero Preserve trail master plan in phased construction ~-Foothills Park trail master plan in phased construction ~San Antonio median landscaping in design ~El Camino Real landscaping in design ~Baylands parking lots in public review ~Facility Lighting Projects in ARB review ~Baylands Athletic Field Electrical Renovation in design >SOFA Park design - designer selected ~Playground renovations - Johnson and Eleanor Park neighborhood held, designs in progress > Jordan School field renovation in design > Open Space amenity replacement in construction meetings Fire Stations Seismic Evaluation: Evaluation completed and report delivered, stating: e Relatively minor retrofits are needed at Fire Stations 1,2, 5 and 8 ATTACHMENT B 1 o Fire Stations 3 and 4 are in a low-to-moderate liquefaction zone and would require substantial foundation improvements. However, this is not a cost-effective solution considering the age and condition of the buildings. Seismic retrofits at Fire Stations 1 and 2 are included in a current improvements project (see Facilities list). Seismic retrofits at Fire Stations 5 and 8 are proposed in the ClP. A feasibility study for replacing Fire Stations 3 and 4 is proposed in the ClP. 00O0 o~0 Z Z Z Z > ~~ > ©©0 0 0 ~D C) N~00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ~D ~D ATTACHMENT C 1 Land Use Planning October - December 2002 Zoning Ordinance Update (ZOU): o At its meeting of December 11,2002, the Planning and Transportation Commission (P&TC) reviewed and forwarded its preliminary ordinance recommendation regarding Office Research and Industrial/Manufacturing Districts to the Council. The City Council will review the preliminary ordinance in January 2003. On December 18, 2002 a study session was held with the P&TC regarding the results of the Phase I analysis for the urban design elements. The ARB will be discussing this further at their retreat on January 30, 2003. The Council will review the Phase I progress on the urban design issues in January 2003. The next phases of the zoning ordinance development will be developing the parking component of the ZOU and integrating both the parking and economic analysis with the design phase. Staff will continue to utilize the focus group format during these areas of development. Focus group discussions are anticipated for early February. Staff is analyzing recently adopted State legislation that addressed second dwelling units in low-density residential districts. South of Forest Area (SOFA) Coordinated Area Plan (CAP): ~ City Council approved BAO request for funds for massing model on December 16, 2002. Additional review by the HRB and ARB on specific issues and the massing model is scheduled for January 15 and 16, 2003. South El Camino Real Study: e The traffic study is essentially completed.Staff and the consultant team continue meeting with Caltrans to discuss substantive issues and process for CalTrans agreement to the project in an MOU. In November, City staff met with Assemblymen Simitian, Caltrans staff and representatives from Menlo Park and Redwood City to discuss progress for planting trees in the median. In December, the City received a letter from the CalTrans Director stating that the El Camino Real project would be a pilot study that would include planting large trees in the median. A final Advisory Group meeting to discuss project phasing is scheduled for February 2003. Public hearings on the draft final plan are scheduled to begin with the Planning and Transportation Commission in March. ATTACHMENT C 1 Housing Element Update: ~ The Housing Element was approved by City Council at its December 2, 2002, meeting. ~ Staff is completing revisions to the Housing Element based on Council comments and technical changes from recent census data. The Housing Element will then be sent to the State. CEQA Standards of Significance Staff is preparing a work program to take to Council in early 2003 identifying a program/process to adopt significance thresholds. The-program will identify funding needs to document and re-evaluate existing criteria. Funding will be necessary for both additional staff and consultants. In December, the Planning and Transportation Commission dropped the proposed interim traffic significance thresholds, Transportation Planning staff will complete the transportation plan review in Summer 2003. 2 Z 0t~o~ ©0 ©© 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 3 3 ¯¯¯¯ ¯¯¯(D o~ 0 0 0 ~ 0 ATTACHMENT D 1 Alternative Transportation/Traffic Calming October - December 2002 Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities: The VTA Board of Directors approved transfer of up to $1million to complete funding for the Homer Bicycle/Pedestrian Undercrossing and the Embarcadero Bridge Bicycle Path projects. Request made to Caltrans for Advanced Construction Authorization for the Homer Bicycle/Pedestrian U ndercrossing. The Transportation Division sponsored a second series of "Street Skills" training sessions for adult cyclists. Public Works completed construction of Arastradero Road bicycle lanes project in vicinity of Gunn High School. Preparation began on a bid package (which went out on January 21st) for the Embarcadero Bridge Bicycle/Pedestrian path project. School Commute Safety: The South Palo Alto School Commute Safety Study was initiated. School Commute Corridor Advisory Panel met on December 9 to consider criteria for School Commute corridor designation (recommendations will be completed at a February 10 meeting). Walk to School/Way to Go day held on October 2; City staff and Council members participated in Walk to School events at various schools. Evaluation of Ohlone School traffic safety issues undertaken. Adult Crossing Guard Studies performed for Louis/North California Avenue. Neighborhood Meeting with Georgia Avenue residents held at Gunn High School to discuss traffic impacts of school commutes on Georgia Avenue and Hubbart Drive. Traffic Calming: The Transportation Division submitted an application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for a Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) Planning Grant for the SOFA Streetscape Concept Plan, including a traffic calming component. Louis Road Traffic Calming Trial completed. At Planning and Transportation Commission recommendation, an expanded working group was formed to re- formulate a traffic calming plan for Louis. Working group formed and traffic calming plan under development (including speed humps - to be installed during February 2003) for Moreno between Middlefield and Ross. Four electronic speed read-out advisory sign purchased for residential arterials. The signs are to be installed and made operational during January 2003. Working group formed and traffic calming plan under development for Waverty between East Meadow and El Verano. ATTACHMENT D 1 Education and enforcement traffic calming January 2002) evaluation being prepared. Transit Facilities and Services: plan for Ross Road (implemented Palo Alto Shuttle logo and bus signage design study initiated with first meeting of advisory committee. Logo design alternatives prepared. Downtown Shuttle marketing efforts continued. A larger capacity shuttle bus was put into service on the cross-town route to accommodate peak loads associated with commute trips to and from Gunn High School. Stanford-Downtown Palo Alto shuttle integration project (service hours expansion and route extension to PAMF) readied for implementation (the grant-funded service began in January). Travel Demand Management: Advisory reviews of travel demand management (TDM) plans for land development/re-development projects continued, including Alma Plaza. Transportation and Land Use: ~Work continued on upgrade of citywide computer traffic model. o Citywide intersection "plan line"/congestion mitigation alternatives at sixteen major intersections study continued. o New proposed interim CEQA traffic standards considered by Planning and Transportation Commission. Changes deferred until completion of citywide traffic study, including traffic model upgrade/update and congestion mitigation alternatives at major intersections. ~Analysis of traffic impacts of land development/re-development projects continued, including Alma Plaza and Edgewood. 2 ~" 000 0 ~ 0 0 © --~. O0 0 > r~ 0 ~D 0 0 o 0 0 0 0 0 r.,,D (’D (’DO~ 0 0 ATTACHMENT E1 Affordable/Attainable Housing October - December 2002 Oak Court o PAHC will be applying for next round of bond funding from Proposition 46. Staff and PAHC will discuss next steps in January and staff is reviewing first submittal of building permits. o PAHC and Menlo Equities (the 250/270 Homer developer) continue to meet to discuss the development schedule and to coordinate the construction of the joint ramp and the timing of development of both projects. 250/270 Homer developers are expected to file for building permits in January (including shared ramp). Opportunity Center: o The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) was circulated onDecember 13, 2002 and comments will be received until January 13, 2003. On December 18, 2002, the Planning and Transportation Commission held a public hearing on the DEIR for the proposed project. Public testimony and written comments were received for inclusion in the Final EIR. At the December 19, 2002, meeting, the Architectural Review Board recommended that the DEIR is adequate and that the proposed project should be approved by City Council. The CDBG Steering Committee will be reviewing the Housing Authority of Santa Clara County’s application for City Housing Reserve Funds on January 28,2003. The City Council is scheduled to hear the FEIR and project at their meeting of March 3, 2003. The applicant’s deadline for filing with the State for Multifamily Housing Program is March 18, 2003. BMR Loan Program Staff continues to work with City Attorney and the Palo Alto Credit Union to establish the credit union as the loan administrator for the BMR assessment program. A loan review committee comprised of City staff has been established to review applications and decide on the loan funding. City staff processed the first two loans, which closed in December. 0 Z Z --t --I --I Z --I000~0 Z © ©Z c