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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 01-14-03 Community Dev. Comm MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY JANUARY 14, 2003 The Community Development Commission of the City of Downey held a regular meeting at 7:31 p.m., January 14, 2003, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, Chairman Rick Trejo presiding. PRESENT: Commissioners: Rick Trejo Chairman Kirk O. Cartozian Vice-Chairman Keith McCarthy Anne M. Bayer Meredith H. Perkins ALSO PRESENT: Gerald Caton, Executive Director Charles Vose, Attorney Kathleen Midstokke, Secretary Lee Powell, Assistant City Manager Desi Alvarez, Director of Public Works John Finch, Police Chief Darrell George, Assistant Executive Director Bonnie Kehoe, Acting Director of Community Services John Michicoff, Finance Director Mark Sauter, Fire Chief Ron Yoshiki, Asst. Director of Community Dev./City Planner Kevin O’Connor, Theatre Manager Ed Velasco, Manager of Housing Christina Vogel, Assistant to the City Manager Steven Yee, Economic Development Coordinator Shirley Conte, Executive Secretary InvocationFlag Salute The was delivered by Council Member Keith McCarthy. The was led by Council Member Kirk Cartozian. HEARINGS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN MID- Chairman Trejo opened the public hearing on the TERM REVIEW FOR THE DOWNEY REDEVELOPMENT AND WOODRUFF INDUSTRIAL PROJECT AREAS , which was continued from the Community Development . Commission Meeting of December 10, 2002 There was no correspondence regarding this matter. Community Dev. Comm. Minutes 1/14/03 -1- Mr. Velasco referred to changes in California’s redevelopment law in October 1993, which required a five-year plan and that Redevelopment Agencies hold public hearings to review the progress on their five-year plans and allow community testimony. He advised this is Downey’s second five-year implementation plan and covers the period from July 99 to June 2004. He noted the plan has two components, redevelopment and housing, explaining the redevelopment component revisits the initial redevelopment plan and the short term strategies to address issues in that initial plan. The Housing component indicates how the Commission will satisfy its statutory requirement of providing low and moderate income housing with redevelopment dollars set aside for housing. He noted the review encompassed revenues and expenditures over the first three years of the plan and those projected for the next two years. He pointed out both project areas experienced growth in property tax assessed values, with the Downey Project Area experiencing a 23.3 percent increase and the Woodruff area experiencing a 5.1 percent increase, which resulted in additional redevelopment dollars for the Agency and its activities. He noted expenditures also showed an increase. He reviewed the projects the commission was involved in that occurred within the project area, such as Downey Avenue street improvement project, which added $1.3 million in improvements, the Petco project involving a disposition and development agreement, the transit station is also within the project area, as well as the current project involving Home Town Buffet and CVS Pharmacy, which will add significant retail space at a cost of $7.5 million, noting there were nine projects undertaken. He referred to the Housing Component, stating the Agency had a housing production requirement to provide 57.5 units, which was reduced by 35 units, with a 22.5 unit requirement remaining that can be realized within the plan’s remaining two years provided the State does not significantly reduce the dollars within the City’s Housing Fund. He responded to comments from the Council. Commissioner McCarthy inquired about possible effects to the housing fund from proposed State budget cuts and was informed no final details have come down to City levels yet. He asked if the remaining units are required to be for low, very low or moderate-income housing and was referred to the table in the report that indicates the units are for a combination of low, very low and moderate income. It was pointed out the remaining units are mostly for moderate income, which is easier for the City to produce. He referred to Table 2, Page 6, of the Second Implementation Plan, where it lists various communities in this area and the funding in their redevelopment agencies. He noted Table 2 shows that in 1997-1998 the amount Downey collected was just over $2 million, while other cities had as much as $18.5 million. He stated he appreciated the fact Downey was conservative when managing its Redevelopment Agency. Commissioner Cartozian noted the minimum requirements for Community Development Block Grant funding and asked if staff is still looking at the area just south of Firestone Boulevard as potentially the area that will satisfy this requirement. Mr. Velasco responded the City would want to undertake a project in the project area as it receives a 1 to 1 credit, rather than outside the project area where it receives only one half of this credit. Commissioner Cartozian mentioned the City is looking at one project to satisfy the 22.5 unit balance previously noted. He stated he felt this conservative program is working as the City would like it to in both the redevelopment for commercial and residential and he commended Mr. Velasco for doing a great job. Commissioner Trejo asked if anyone present wished to speak regarding the Implementation Plan Mid-Term Review. Community Dev. Comm. Minutes 1/14/03 -2- There being no speakers, it was moved by Commissioner Cartozian, seconded by close the public hearing. Commissioner McCarthy, and unanimously carried to It was moved by Commissioner McCarthy, seconded by Commissioner Cartozian and receive and file the Implementation Plan Mid-Term Review for the unanimously carried to Downey Redevelopment Project and Woodruff Industrial Project areas. CONSENT CALENDAR It was moved by Commissioner Cartozian, seconded by Commissioner McCarthy and approve the Consent Calendar as recommended: unanimously carried (5-0) to MINUTES: ADJOURNED AND REGULAR MEETINGS, DECEMBER 10, 2002: Approve. WARRANTS ISSUED: (contained in Council Packet) - Approve. CERTIFICATION OF ANNUAL ELECTION FOR THE PROJECT AREA COMMITTEE (PAC): Approve. CARRY-FORWARD APPROPRIATIONS: Approve $20,722.41 in carry-forward appropriations as itemized in the report: Approve. OTHER COMMISSION BUSINESS: None recessed The meeting at 7:45 p.m. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS reconvened The meeting for Oral Communications at 8:37 p.m. with all Commissioners recessed present; (see Oral Communications under the Regular City Council Meeting) and at 9:16 p.m. reconvened The meeting at 10:49 p.m. with all Commissioners present. ADJOURNMENT: 10:50 p.m. adjourned The meeting was to 5:30 p.m., January 28, 2003, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall. Kathleen L. Midstokke, Secretary Rick Trejo, Chairman h:\cclerk\sconte\MINS-CDC-01-14-03 Community Dev. Comm. Minutes 1/14/03 -3- Community Dev. Comm. Minutes 1/14/03 -4-