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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-12-02 City Council (7)City of Palo Alto . C ty Manager’s Repor TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT:CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE DATE: ’ DECEMBER 2, 2002 CMR: 460:02 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 for each milestone. Because the reports are prepared at the end of each quarter, they are not meant to provide updates, but to be a summary of progress made in each quarterly reporting period. At Council’s request, staff has committed to providing updates on the status of the Youth Master Plan (YMP). The Ybuth Master Plan Committee’s work has been completed, and a report of the YMP results will be presented to Council in January 2003. ATTACHMENTS 1. The Top 5: Long Term Finances 2. The Top 5: Infrastructure 3.’ The Top 5: Land Use Planning 4. The Top 5: Alternative Transportation!Traffic Calming 5. The Top 5: Affordable/Attainable Housing CMR 460:02 Page 1 of 2 PREPARED BY: Chris Mogensen,;tant to the City Manager CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: Emily [arrison,City Manager CMR 460:02 Page 2 of 2 ATTACHMENT 1 Long Term Finances July - September 2002 Develop Plan for 2002 Bond Measure On August 5, the City Council completed reading an Ordinance that submits to qualified voters a proposition for incurring bonded debt for $49.1 million in capital improvements to the Children’s and Mitchell Park Libraries and the Mitchell Park Community Center. Now known as Measure D, this proposition has been placed on the November 5, 2002 ballot. On August 21, 2002, staff conducted a community meeting at the Mitchell Park Community Center to describe the proposed projects on that site and take public input. Staff received comments on such issues as the design, size and cost of the facilities, the programs proposed for the facilities, and the location of the Mitchell Park tennis courts. A second community meeting was held on September 18 at Mitchell Park to receive input on the design of the Mitchell Park Library and Community Center. This meeting was well attended by residents, Council Members, City Commission members, and City staff. Two designs, one with the tennis courts next to the new buildings and one without tennis courts, were outlined and spiritedly discussed. Questions on financing, library and community center needs, the scale of the project and other issues were discussed. Staff is in the process of assessing staffing requirements for the expanded libraries and potential funding sources will be identified at a later date. Ad=Hoc Economic Base Committee An ad-hoc 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, have had three meetings since July 2002. The purpose of the committee is to identify and address issues related to maintaining a solid economic base that results in stable revenue sources to the City and in keeping the City a Vibrant environment for businesses. In September and October, committee members met with businesses such as Agilent, the Stanford Mall, Park Motors, and Bell’s Books to determine key business issues and ways in which the City can assist and promote their success and enhance City revenues. The Committee’s goal is to discuss and address issues raised at these meetings. Approve and Implement Development Impact Fees 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 forwarded the Committee’s recommendations to Council on September 17. The Finance Committee also directed staff.to explore a potential exemption for nonprofit organizations that provide social services. ATTACHMENT 1 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 o Staff is in the process of identifying .sources of funding for traffic calming projects. Aggressively pursue grants o Staff continues to actively pursue relevant grant opportunities. An additional captain’s position has recently been added within the Police Department to be responsible for identifying and writing grants to assist with funding the City’s homeland security efforts. Business License Tax (BLT) Consultant completed study of potential revenue generating models for a BLT. Staff will meet with the business commun.ity prior to’making recommendations to the Finance Committee.An election is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2004. Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Increase An election on a TOT is tentatively planned for Fall 2004. Staff will meet with the business community prior to making recommendations to the Finance Committee. Long Range Financial Plan and Model (LRFP) to Finance Committee (FC) ¯City Auditor provided input to staff on the LRFP in August 2002. ,Between August and October of 2002, staff conducted data gathering and research, analysis, writing and obtained Auditor review of the draft LRFP. An update of the LRFP will be presented to the Finance Committee in Novembeir 2002. A City Council study session on the LRFP is scheduled to take place in December 2002. 2 ATTACHMENT 2 Infrastructure July - September 2002 Community Facilities (Bond Measure): o Community Facilities Cost Advisory Committee submitted its report to Council. o Council approved a $49.1 million bond package for the November 5 ballot for Children’s Library and Mitchell Park Library and Community Center projects. Council approved a memorandum of understanding with the Art Center Foundation to create the Art Center Challenge Grant program, a public/private partnership for the Art Center renovation and expansion project with a $5 million maximum match from the City. ~Community meetings were held August 21 and September 18, 2002 to-answer questions re: Mitchell Park Library/Community Center project. Council approved relocating the Mitchell Park Library/Community Center building on the site to save two tennis and two paddle tennis courts. Storm Drainage Improvements: ~ The Blue Ribbon Committee continued its bi-weekly meetings to develop a funding strategy and implementation plan, increasing the frequency of its meetings to weekly to finalize a funding strategy and implementation plan. Public Safety Building: Environmental matrix summarizing potential impacts was completed in June. ~ Four conceptual design schemes, with cost estimates, were developed. Homer Avenue Caltrain Undercrossing: o 80% design completed. ¯Completed the CEQA review process and obtained Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board approval to execute the construction, maintenance and ancillary agreements for the project. " Submitted right-of-way certification and plans, specifications and estimate to Caltrans for authorization needed by 9/30/02. ¯The California Public Utilities Commission reviewed the project in August. ~Obtained additional funds totaling $1.5M, raising the total funding to $4.3M. Total project cost at 80% design is $5.05M Parking Structures: ~ Excavation for the two basement levels is proceeding at Lot S/L. ® Preparing to pour the foundation at Lot R. Streets & Sidewalks: ~ $2.5M construction resurfacing. contract awarded to De Silva Gatesfor FY02-03 street ATTACHMENT 2 FY01-02 Phase 2 Sidewalk Replacement Project $598K contract is 85% complete by Vanguard Construction. Sidewalk replacement areas bounded by Waverley, Loma Verde, Cowper and El Dorado; east side of Waverley from Colorado to East Meadow. Intensive-use replacement locations are the 400 block of Ramona and 400 block of High Street. FY02-03 Phase 1 Sidewalk Replacement Project: $895K contract awarded to J.J.R. .Construction, contract being routed for signatures. Construction scheduled to start in October. 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, construction scheduled for spring 2003. Facilities: ¯ ~ Fire Stations and MSC Emergency Generator Project awarded by Council on July 15. Project currently in construction, phase, with completion scheduled for December 2002. ¯Data Management Project awarded by Council August 5. Project currently in construction phase with completion scheduled for January 2003. ,Office Space Renovation - 7th floor phase - construction complete. ¯Golf Course Maintenance Building Renovation: project was bid and all bids declined due to cost. Project currently out for re-bid. Construction completion scheduled for December. Civic Center Infrastructure Upgrades: consultant selection process completed, project currently in award phase. Parks & Open Space: o Projects completed during period: Seale Park Renovation Projects continuing or started: Mitchell Park Improvements Phase:l & Phase 2 (Phase 1 grand scheduled for October 24) ¯Arastradero Preserve trail master plan o Foothills Parktrail master plan ¯Embarcadero median landscaping ¯El Camino Real landscaping ¯Baylands parking lots ¯.Facility Lighting Projects e Baylands Athletic Field Electrical Renovation ~SOFA Park design - request for proposals distributed ~Playground renovations- Johnson Park neighborhood meetings held .Open Space amenity replacement (tables, benches, etc.) ~San Antonio Road median landscape design o Jordan School field renovation design opening ATTACHMENT 3 Land Use Planning July September 2002 Zoning Ordinance Update: The Planning and Transportation Commission (P&TC) had a study session on October 23 to review and forward its preliminary ordinance recommendation regarding Office Research and Industrial/Manufacturing Districts. The Council is expected to review the Commission preliminary recommendation in January or February 2003. Study sessions are scheduled with P&TC and Architectural Review Board (ARB) regarding urban design elements and parking in November and December. The next phases of the zoning ordinance development will be low-density residential, commercial and parking standards. Staff will continue to utilize the focus group format during these areas of development. ~Staff has contracted with the parking consulting firm Nelson/Nygarrd Consulting Associates to provide analysis and recommendation regarding parking issues for the zoning Code update. The firm of Strategic Economics has been selected to provide economic consulting services for the update. South of Forest Area (SOFA) Coordinated Area Plan (CAP): The Working Group met to discuss draft economic analysis prepared by Bay Area Economics on July 24, 2002. ~ Public hearings with P&TC took place on July 31, 2002, August 7, 2002, August 21, 2002 and September 5, 2002. The P&TC will be discussing the entire Plan, the economic analysis and the environmental review for the Plan. Public Hearing with City Council on October 7, 2002. 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 July 15, 2002. Staff and the consultant met with Caltrans in August and September to discuss the key exceptions being considered and a process for providing substantive agreement of Caltrans to the project in a MOU. ®Community outreach continued with a September 22 meeting at College Terrace Residents Association, and a second Community Workshop on September 28. There will be a meeting with the Barron Park Association in mid,November and a study session with the Planning and Transportation Commission on November 19. Public hearings on the draft final plan are scheduled to begin with the Architectural Review Board in November, the Planning and Transportation Commission on December 11, and City Council in January 2003. Housing Element Update: Staff has reviewed and revised the Housing Inventory to ensure compliance withAB 2292, pending legislation related to housing elements. ATTACHMENT 3 Staff completed the environmental review for the Housing Element and prepared an addendum to the Comprehensive Plan EIR: CEQA Standards of Significance Staff .is preparing a work program to take to Council in late 2002/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. Draft interim traffic significance thresholds were reviewed by the Planning Commission on September 19 and October 9. The Commission requested some further staff analysis of one of the suggested criteria changes. The Commission review of that criterion is scheduled for December 11. ATTACHMENT 4 Alternative Transportation/Traffic Calming July - September 2002 Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities: The Draft .Bicycle Transportation Plan was presented to and recommended by the Planning and Transportation Commission. adoption. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Embarcadero Bridge Bicycle Path project. project has been 100% designed. The Plan now goes to the Council for issued a favorable decision on the All approvals are now complete and the The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle Advisory Committee and Technical Advisory Committee each recommended to the VTA Board transfer of $1 million to complete funding for the Homer Bicycle/Pedestrian Undercrossing and the Embarcadero Bridge Bicycle Path projects. If approved by the VTA Board, this will complete the funding package for both projects. A new series of "Street Skills" training sessions for adult cyclists was initiated. Bicycle Level of Skills (LOS) methodology were proposed as part of revised (Interim) CEQA significance standards for traffic to be considered by the Planning and Transportation Commission. School Commute Safety: South Palo Alto School Commute Safety Study advisory committee of PTA, school and neighborhood association representatives being formed. Traffic Calming: ¯"Pace Car" Pledge Program launched citywide. ~Louis Road Traffic Calming Trial initiated. ¯Design work completed on proposed Downtown North street closures. ,Indian and Moreno traffic.calming plans (including speed humps and a traffic circle) and specifications completed. , Report on Churchill traffic calmingwork, including recommendation for a future area- wide traffic analysis, prepared for consideration of Planning and Transportation Commission. ~Annual Neighborhood Traffic Calming report, including recommendations for Program revisions, presented to and recommended by the Planning and Transportation Commission. A report to Council is being prepared. Transit Facilities and Services: Marketing initiative underway to promote City Shuttle and new Shuttle Route D serving downtown while downtown parking structures are under construction. ®Shuttle logo design consultant selected. o Special events shuttle service provided to Art and Wine Festival. ,Transportation staff continued work with VTA staff on detailed design of expanded VTA bus transfer center at the University Avenue Caltrain station. ATTACHMENT 4 Transportation and Land Use: o Work continued on upgrade of citywide computer traffic model. o Citywide intersection "plan line"/congestion mitigation study underway. .New proposed interim CEQA traffic standards prepared for consideration of Planning and Transportation Commission. Travel Demand Management: ¯Traffic Safety Awareness banner design completed ¯Work began on a draft citywide travel demand management ordinance. ~Way2Go alternative transportation modes flyer distributed in Palo Alto utility bills. 2 ATTACHMENT 5 Affordable/Attainable Housing July- September 2002 Oak Court Palo Alto Housing Corporation (PAHC) did not receive tax credits during the fall application process~ Staff and PAHC will discuss the next steps after the November 5 election when potential for funding from Prop 46 is known. PAHC prepared documents reviewed by staff verifying that the project complies with the conditions that required further Architectural Review Board (ARB)/Historic Resources Board (HRB) approval; staff and PAHC architect’s met with the ARB/HRB in late September to review those conditions. The subcommittee determined that the conditions had been met. PAHC has filed for a building permit for the housing development; the contract planner who reviewed the ARB/HRB submittal continues to review the plan . check. The City Arboris[ has been working with the applicant to ensure that the relocation offsite of the oak tree currently in the center of the site is completed. ~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. Opportunity Center: , The preliminary plans were recently redesigned to retain all the significant trees on the site. The redesign has resulted in a loss of five housing units. Although parking is limited, the traffic report justifies the reduced parking based on use. Staff has met with Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) to discuss compatibility issues and ensure that PAMF facility is not adversely affected by the adjacent use. The conceptual plans were presented to the Development Review Committee (DRC) on two occasions. The development issue is storm drainage, which requires 800 feet of pipe to be installed in Encina. A community meeting to discuss the project with the neighborhood was scheduled by the Community Working Group for September 19 Housing Authority needs to file "order of possession" with court to initiate eminent domain process and retain site control. Currently, City staff meets biweekly to review the project’s progress and keep plans on track. At the September 9 meeting, the Housing Authority indicated that site control should be obtained by September 17 and the final application should be filed on September 25 and October 7. 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. The application for the Planned Community Zoning for the Opportunity Center was formally filed in early October. . The Planning and Transportation Commission is scheduled to hear the project at their meeting of November 13, 2002. This will be the first preliminary hearing for the Commission. A second hearing is tentatively scheduled for January 29, 2003. o The ARB is scheduled to have its first hearing on the revised project on November 21,2002. ATTACHMENT 5 Staff is currently preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the proposed project. The circulation of the DEIR is scheduled for the first week in December. BMR Loan Program Staff prepared a program to establish a below market rate program emergency fund to prevent the loss of BMR units and provide emergency loans for BMR unit owners. City Council approved program on September 9, 2002. City Council authorized City Manager to prepare application for a HELP loan. Staff prepared a resolution for Council approval in order to apply to state by September 27 deadline. Staff held a meeting on September 18 to discuss loan program process in order to fund loans to qualified owners as soon as possible. On September 23, council approved a resolution authorizing an application for a State HELP loan. Staff submitted the application on September 27, 2002. Staff prepared the loan application form and a detailed description of the loan program and process. This information was distributed to all Abitare and Redwoods BMR owners. Staff is working with the Palo Alto Credit Union to establish the credit union as the loan administrator. Loans should be available in mid-November. Staff is setting up a loan review committee comprised of City staff to review applications and decide on the loan funding.