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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-08-05 City Council (19)City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT:CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE DATE:AUGUST 5, 2002 CMR: 361:02 SUBJECT: TOP 5 QUARTERLY REPORT This is an informational report and no Council action is required, DISCUSSION Staff has committed to providing the Council with a quarterly report on the status of the Council’s Top 5 Priorities. The format of the report identifies the milestones for each priority and lists the progress of each milestone. The current report provides Council with an update of Council’s newly selected Top 5 priorities. This report reflects the work accomplished through July 2002. ATTACHMENTS 1.The Top 5: Long Term Finances 2.The Top 5: Infrastucture 3.The Top 5: Land Use Planning 4.The Top 5: Alternative Transportation/Traffic Calming 5.The Top 5: Affordable/Attainable Housing PREPARED BY: Chris Mo:Assistant to the City Manager CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: Emil~y Harrison, Assistant City Manager CMR:361:02 Page 1 of 1 ATTACHMENT 1 Long Term Financial Plan July 2002 Develop Plan for 2002 Bond Measure On July 15, Council adopted a Resolution determining the public interest and necessity of improvements to Children’s and Mitchell Park libraries and to the Mitchell Park Community Center. In addition, an Ordinance was introduced for a first reading that would submit a proposition for incurring bonded debt to qualified ¯ voters for the improvements. Second reading of Ordinance will occur on August 5. Staff is in the process of assessing staffing requirements for the expanded libraries and potential funding sources will be identified ata later date. Approve and Implement Development Impact Fees , Council approved new fees for parks, communitycenters and libraries, and increased fee levels for commercial housing in-lieu and transportation on March 25, 2002 Council directed staff to assess if impact fee structure changes could be used to promote local-serving businesses, encourage smaller residential units, exempt BMR housing, and use traffic impact fees for alternative uses. Staff reported to the Finance Committee on July 16, 2002 and will forward the Committee’s recommendations to Council in September. The Finance Committee als0 directed staff to explore a potential exemption for nonprofit organizations that provide social services. Phase II impact fee study on Citywide Transportation, addressing alternative transportation solutions, will follow completion of the new traffic model, which is currently underway. Study results and fee recommendations will be presented to Council in June 2003. Develop a financial plan for traffic calming projects ® Staff is in the process of identifying sources of funding for traffic calming projects. Aggressively pursue grants Staff continues to actively pursure relevant grant opportunities. These efforts are enhanced through the use of the eCivis web-based grant Iocator. Business License Tax (BLT) ~ Consultant completed study of potential revenue generating models for a BLT. An election on a BLT is tentatively planned for Fall 2004. Staff will meet with business community prior to making recommendations to Finance Committee. Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Increase ®An election on a TOT is tentatively planned for Fall 2004.¯ Staff will meet with business community prior to making recommendations to Finance Committee. ATTACHMENT 1 Long Range Financial Plan and Model (LRFP) to Finance Committee (FC) ¯Update of LRFP will be presented to FC (October 2002) ¯City Auditor to provide comments on LRFP update (October 2002) =Data gathering and research, analysis, writing and Auditor review of draft LRFP (July - September 2002) 2 infrastructure July 2002 ATTACHMENT 2 Libraries andOther Community Facilities (Bond Measure): Conceptual designs, cost estimates and environmental review completed in June and presented to Council o Community Facilities Cost Advisory Committee convened to review cost estimates ¯Community survey of potential bond projects completed and presented to Council in June = $48M+/- bond package (Children’s Library, Mitchell Park Library &Community Center) preliminarily identified by Council in June Public/private partnership for Art Center renovation and expansion, with $5M match from City, proposed by Council in June Storm Drainage Improvements: Blue Ribbon Committee convened to develop funding strategy and implementation plan Police Building: o Environmental analysis completed in June =Four conceptual design schemes, with cost estimates, developed Homer Avenue Caltrain Undercrossing: ~ Conceptual design completed Parking Structures: $22.5M construction contract awarded in April to McCarthy Construction ~Construction started on Lots R and S/L in May Streets & Sidewalks: o $2.5M construction contract awarded to De Silva.Gates forFY02-03 street resuffacing Facilities: Fire Station and MSC Emergency Generator projects bid with Council award scheduled for July 15. ¯Data Management project bid with Council award scheduled for August 5. ¯Office Space Renovation - 7th floor phase - construction complete. ®Golf Course Maintenance Bldg. Renovation: Design is complete, project out to bid. Parks & Open Space: Projects completed durin.q period: Werry Park renovation project ~Robles Park renovation project ATTACHMENT 2 Bol Park renovation project Hoover restroom project Proiects continuin,q: Mitchell Park Improvements Phase 1 Seale Park Renovation Arastradero Preserve trail master plan Embarcadero median landscaping El Camino Real landscaping Baylands Parking Lots Facility Lighting Projects ATTACHMENT 3 Land Use Planning July 2002 Zoning Ordinance Update: Study session with the Planning and Transportation Commission (P&TC) regarding Industrial/Manufacturing Districts on 7/17/02. The P&TC began its discussion on potential changes to the Industrial/Manufacturing Districts and discussed the need for Transportation Demand Management Programs and business licenses in detail. The study session was continued to August 28, 2002. Community Meeting regarding accessory living units (to be held at Lucie Stern Center) on 7/23/02. Study,session with P&TC regarding urban design elements on 7/24/02. ~Study session with P&TC regarding low-density residential issues on 8/21/02. Study session with City Council regarding status of the update process and schedule on 9/23/02. South of Forest Area (SOFA) Coordinated Area Plan (CAP): Working group meeting to discuss draft economic analysis prepared by Bay Area Economics on 7/24/02. Public hearing with P&TC on 7131102. The Commission will be discussing the entire Plan, the economic analysis and the environmental review for the Plan. Public Hearing with City Council on 9/30/02. The Council will be discussing the entire Plan, the economic analysis and the environmental review and will make final decisions about the Plan. South El Camino Real Study: A City Council study session was held on 7/15/02. The traffic consultants are expected to. finish the traffic study by mid-August. Staff will meet with Caltrans during the third week in August to discuss the key exceptions being considered. A community workshop will be held in late September and the Architectural Review Board, Planning Commission and City Council will review a draft final plan at public hearings during October, November and December 2002. Housing Element Update: ~ In April 2002, Council reviewed the Housing Element siting criteria. Council referred the entire Housing Element to the Planning and Transportation Commission, ~ particularly to review the Housing Site Inventory in conjunction with the siting criteria. Staff received comments from the State indicating that the Housing Element is acceptable, but that some areas needed additional information. Staff evaluated the State comments and revised the document accordingly. o The Planning and Transportation Commission reviewed the revised Housing Element, including the Housing Site Inventory on June 26. The Commission is recommending adoption of the Housing Element to the City Council with no changes from those proposed by staff. Staff has scheduled the Housing Element for Council adoption on October 21. ATTACHMENT 4 Alternative Transportation/Traffic Calming July 2002 Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities: ® Draft Bicycle Transportation Plan presented at a Planning and Transportation Commission study session and to the City-School Traffic Safety Committee, Middlefield/Meadow pedestrian improvements (curb ramps, pedestrian protection from left turning vehicles) design completed. The PUC staff recommended approval of Embarcadero Bride Bicycle/Pedestrian Path, which will be heard by a PUC Administrative Law Judge on August 5. VTA approved Measure B funding for a new undercrossing of Caltrain and a new passenger platform east of the Caltrain tracks at California Avenue. Ten "Street Skills" training sessions held for adult cyclists. School Commute Safety: Fifty-eight pedestrian safety presentations made by Safe Moves for grades K-2 in all of the PAUSD elementary schools. Safe Routes to School grant prepared and submitted for bicycle lanes on Maybell and Donald. South Palo Alto School Commute Study consulted selected and preliminary work began. Crosswalk striping and signage improved in the vicinity of Duveneck School. =Transportation staff continued participation in the work of the City School Traffic Safety Committee and Gunn High .School’s "Go Fast" alternative transportation working group. Traffic Calming: Ross Road Traffic Calming Trial. (enhanced signage, voluntary "pace car" pledge, traffic safety awareness/education efforts, enhanced enforcement) initiated. "Speed cushions" for Louis Road Traffic Calming Trial received (note that the trial was initiated on 15 July). Alma/Lytton intersection improvements designed as part of the Downtown North traffic calming project. Design work also continued on proposed Downtown North street closures. o Indian and Moreno traffic calming plan (including speed cushions and a traffic circle) prepared. Churchill and vicinity residents decided not to proceed with a proposed traffic calming plan for Churchill (preference was expressed for a neighborhood-wide traffic calming and management plan). Transit: ~ New Shuttle Route D initiated to serve a downtown loop, PAMF, and the Senior Center while downtown parking structures are under construction. Shuttle schedules adjusted to serve PAUSD summer sessions at Jordan and Gunn. ATTACHMENT 4 Shuttle logo design consultants interviewed. Special events shuttle service provided to Black and White Ball. Transportation staff worked with VTA staff on detailed design of new VTA bus transfer center at the University Avenue Caltrain station (part of the Intermodal Transit Center master plan). Transit workshop held with area mayors and city managers, along with transportation staff of Palo Alto, Menlo Park, East Palo AIto,Stanford, VTA, and Samtrans to discuss improved coordination of transit services in the region. Transportation and Land Use: ¯Work continued on upgrade of citywide computer traffic model. ¯Consultant selected for citywide intersection "plan line"/congestion mitigation study. Travel Demand Management: = Annual bike to work and school day activity, including event promotion and staffing energizer stations took place. o The City of Palo Alto Commute Alternatives Program received an Environmental Merit Award from the US Department of Environment Protection. Traffic Safety Awareness banner design underway in consultation with a citizen committee. 2 ATTACHMENT 5 AffordablelAttainable Housin g July 2002 Oak Court Palo Alto Housing Corporation (PAHC)applied for tax credits for the Oak Court project in March. In late May it was informed that it didn’t receive the funding. o PAHC anticipates reapplying for tax credits during the next cycle in early fall 2002. ~PAHC indicated that it has met the conditions imposed by the ARB/HRB in November, so staff is scheduling an August meeting for the ARB/HRB subcommittee to review and approve those conditions. PAHC is going to file for a building permit for the development and the Planning department will assign a planner for the plan check. Staff is also in the process of resolving the relocation offsite of the oak tree currently in the center of the site. ~The final issue involves the joint ramp and the timing of development with the 250/270 project. Staff is meeting with Menlo Equities (the 250/270 developer) to discuss its development schedule and coordinate development of both projects. Opportunity Center: ¯Preliminary ARB application has been submitted and in-house review is in progress. ¯Tree issues have been identified which could result in a redesign of the project. The proposed height of the project is approximately 54 feet, which exceeds the maximum height allowed (50 feet) and will need to be addressed by the applicant. Funds are being sought for the development of the project. This funding will include Community Development Block Grant money. A formal application is expected either in late summer or early-fall of 2002. The project has gone to Development Review Committee (DRC) on two occasions. The development issues are fire access and staff is working with the Fire Department to resolve storm drainage, which requires 800 feet of pipe to be installed in Encina; and the retention of trees on the site which may reduce the development potential on site. =In order to apply for tax credits in the first round of 2003, the project needs to receive all of its entitlements by February 2003.