HomeMy WebLinkAboutAUGUST 23,1997
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CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS ARE AUDIO AND VIDEO TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE
IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIUREDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA
and the
ARCADIA PLANNING COMMISSION
JOINT MEETING
AUGUST 23, 1997
ROLL CALL
(City Council/
Agency)
(planning Comsn.)
(Others in
Attendance)
1.
2.
3.
WALKING TOUR
OF DOWNTOWN
ARCADIA
(Htg. Dr. - Santa
Anita to 2nd Ave.
& First Ave. -
Wheeler to
California St)
1:96 r< tl _ r . ..
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The City Council and the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency met in a Joint Meeting with the
Arcadia Planning Commission on Saturday, August 23, 1997 at 8:00 arn. at the Glendale
Federal Savings Bank, 100 South First Avenue, in the Community Room. The pwpose of
the Joint Meeting to tour and discuss the commercial Downtown area along Huntington
Drive and First Avenue. Mayor Hartlicht called the meeting to order.
PRESENT: Council/Agency Members Chang, Kulm, Young and Hartlieht
ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tern Kovacie
It was MOVED by Council/Agency Member Chang, seconded by Council/Agency Member
Young and CARRIED to EXCUSE the absence of Mayor Pro tern Kavacie.
PRESENT: Commissioners Bell, Bruckner, Huang, Kalemkiarian, Sleeter and
Murphy
ABSENT: None
City Manager, Wll1iarn Kelly; City Clerk, June Alford; Police Chief; Rounie Garner;
Economic Development Administrator, Peter Kinnahan; Community Development
Administrator, Donna Butler; Garland Roberson, President, Arcadia Business Association;
Donald Fraser and B3Ibara Yack, Arcadia Chamber of Commerce; and, Von Races,
Managing Editor of the Arcadia Weekly Newspaper.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION fROM CITY STAFF REGARDING
AGENDAlWALKING TOUR
None
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
None
Consideration of various issues impacting business in Downtown Arcadia. The City
CouncillRedevelopment Agency, Arcadia Business Association (ABA), and the merchants
in the area have suggested that the following issues be reviewed:
- Proliferation of beaulV/nail salons in the Downtown. The ABA has requested that the
City Council place a moratorium on any new beauty/nail salon use in the Downtown
CBD and C-2 areas.
- Front one-third of Irn)und floor building in CBD Zone must be retail (unless
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"lmlIldfathered" or constructed as office buildinel. Some Downtown landlords/owners
claim to be having trouble renting their space. They say the "retail only" requirement
makes it more' difficull
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- Definition of CBD "Retail". Definition of CBD "retail" is "75% of gross receipts from
the sale of retail merchandise to the general publie", yet the CBD Zone allows service
uses sueh as barber, beauty and nail salons; shoe repair; tailor and dressing making
shops whieh typically do not generate significant retail sales. The ABA has requested
that this be clarified or revised.
- Silrnaee (" A-Frame"l. "A-Frame" sidewalk signs are not permitted. Some merchants
both in the Downtown and in other business districts have asked that "A-Frame" signs
be permitted.
- Simaee /balloon. business window sims. external). These are not allowed. Internally
placed signs not exceeding 25% of the window area are allowed. Some Downtown and
other business district merchants have asked that this restriction be liberalized.
- Sidewalk disolavs. These are not permitted. Merehants in all business districts have
requested that this restriction be liberalized.
- Neon sil!llSlneon as a buildine decoration. Mayor Pro tern Kovacie has requested that
this issue be reviewed.
- Downtown oorkine. Some Downtown merchants, particu1arly on the southside of
Huntington Drive between Santa Anita and First Avenue, are concerned about the "lack
of parking" due to the new landscaped planter areas.
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- Farmers Market. The ABA is hoping to get merchant support for a F8J1Ilers Market on
South First Avenue beginning in March, 1998.
Following a brief explanation of the purpose of the Downtown walking tour, the tour group
proceeded to walk south on First Avenue noting existing uses of office and retai1 on the east
and west side of First Avenue, outdoor banners and dining, and street parking.
There is considerable existing office use on the east side of First Avenue. Staff noted the
buildings were designed for such use. Mayor Hartlieht noted some of the buildings on the
east side of First Avenue are not adaptable for retai1 use.
Referring to an illegal "homemade type" sign in the area, the Mayor noted this type of
signage would not help the retai1 environment Mr. Roberson agreed and said there should
be some kind of consistency throughout Downtown regarding signage.
Along the way staff noted several building facade's whieh were improved by use of the
funds provided by the City's commercial rehabilitation program. Counci1members noted
how attractive these buildings look and the potential for otherwise charming buildings to be
rehabilitated also.
The Conncil and Commission took note of several naiIlbeauty salons along First Avenue.
Counci1member Young felt that some retai1 establishments needed to do more or better
window dressing.
Referring to the many outdoor hanging flag/banners. it was noted these smaller pennants I
are currently illegal. Although extensively used in residential areas... should they be
prohibited or deemed legal in the commercial areas? Mr. Roberson felt the penrulnt<
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acccssorized the area and dress it up and should be allowed.
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Mayor Hartlieht commented he liked the outdoor dining areas. ' Mr. Roberson mentioned
that shops displaying merchandise out on the sidewalk help potential customers know that
the shops are open and draw their attention. Building colors also help to attract attention to
the business'.
The group stepped into the alley off of First Avenue just south of Huntington Drive and
noted there appeared to be quite a lot of parking in the rear of the buildings. Some Council
, - 'thought that people would have to have a strong destination attraction to pursuade them to
park off of an alley. Others thought if the parking in back of these shops could somehow be
shared it would be helpful to all the businesses. It was noted that the alley could be eleaned
up, plants added, and modified for potential customers to park.
Regarding advertising, Mr. Von Raees, Arcadia Weekly, said he believes that cable
television is the least effective way to advertise. Other forms of advertising, radio, direct
mail or newspapers are preferred to TV. Mr. Roberson drew attention to the importance of
visible signage along Huntington Drive sueh as an attractive stand-up sign in front of the
florist shop at the comer of Huntington Drive and Santa Anita. Proceeding along
Huntington, Council looked at the parking along the street, noting a long landscaped cut
out area whieh reduces parking spaces. Staff commented curb painting has been done to
limit the parking time along the curb, and striping the spaces has helped also. The Mayor
commented that parking is the "life blood" of retail.
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Council looked at a boarded-up store front on Huntington and briefly discussed what could
be done to alleviate this problem. Other buildings were noted for their good design and
attractiveness along the north side of Huntington, some of whieh were accomplished under
the City's facade rehab program. Mr. Kinnaltan, Economie Development Manger,
explained the benefits of the City Redevelopment Agency's Commercial Facade Rehab
program to property owners or merchants in the Downtown area, which allows them to
apply for "forgivable loan rebates" on improvements made to the facade and parking lot of
their store,
It was Mr. Roberson's opinion that the merchants in the area need information as to how to
market their businesses as well as tax information and other things to help them succeed
Mayor Hartlieht commented the Chamber of Commerce should provide such information.
During the walking tour many of the group commented that they did not realize that many
of the businesses along First Avenue and Huntington Drive existed. Mr. Roberson noted
this would be one of the values of the proposed Farmer's Market also... it would draw
people into the Downtown area.
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Returning to the Community room at the Glendale Federal Savings Bank, in summation,
Mayor Hartlieht noted the idea of improvement to the area began with the concept of
Huntington Drive as the City Downtown. Later on a consultant brought First Avenue into
the concept The Mayor felt that Council and the Commission did not have to think of
Huntington and First Avenue as one entity. The existing restriction on retail only in the
first floor of the front part of a building, for example. The Council and Commission may
want to look at these streets differently, or at least be open to that idea. Some of the things
observed on the walking tour sueh as the flag banners... they are illegal by City Code. The
balloons in front of the coffee shop are also illegal. Some consideration should be given to
these types of decorations... should the Code be modified to make this things legal and how
should this be done to contain such uses. Other specifie issues to the Downtown and
general issues to the City should be considered also.
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Mayor Hartlicht felt that at this point in time the City Council has a fu11 agenda and he
would like to use the Planning Commission for their planning-expertise. The Mayor
suggested these issues be turned over to the Commission for study and then back to the 1-
Couneil with some specifie recommendations for the City in general as we11 as the
Downtown area. This will require some study sessions in addition to the regular Planning
Commission meetings, and a ehange from a hearing review board to a planning body. He
believes the Commission contains people with certain knowledge and the City should be
taking advantage of ~ese talents. The Commission could do a mueli more intense study
over the next two or three months than the Council because of all the issues the Council has
before iL Councilmember Kuhn agreed and added she would like to see the Commission
also keep the other commercial areas in the City in mind while they are focused on
Downtown. Councilmember Chang felt the Chamber of Commerce could do more to help
business' in this area. He believes also that while some of the stores are really nice, others
could do more to improve the appearance of their shops. Couneilmember Kuhn mentioned
the Christmas Decorations program to encourage commereial businesses to decorate for an
award from the Arcadia Beautiful Christmas Decoration Committee. Garland Roberson
said he would like to see some Downtown merehants invol~ in the planning for the area
or just sit in on the Commission meetings. Mayor Hartlieht' felt the Commission would
welcome a group of three or four retail merehants to its meetings, also representatives from
the Chamber of Commerce Board, Chairman Murphy said it would be fine to have someone
from eaeh business district and three or four people from the Downtown area when the
Commission is focusing on that area... also City staff should be involved.
Planning Commissioner Huang expressed enthusiasm of the eharge to the Conuiussion and
felt it would be an opportunity for the Commission to expand its horizon and look for ways
to encourage economic development in all the commercial areas in the City.
Council concurred with Mayor Hartlieht that the issues discussed be referred to the I
Planning Commission. The Mayor suggested also that the Commission be vel)' specifie in
its recommendations to the Council of what codes to ehange and what to allow or disallow,
and move along as quiekly as possible.
Mr. Yon Races, noted there has been some discussion about Rick Gomez, former City
Director of Development Services, and felt Council should bring someone in to be in eharge
of economie developmenL The Mayor agreed the City does need someone in that position.
Councilmember Kuhn agreed this position should be fi11ed soon, but the initial action taken
at this point will provide information as to the direction the City should take.
Garland Roberson suggested merchants in Downtown be allowed to put displays on the
sidewalk and let the ABA police the area until Council makes a detennination about that
issue... a demonstration period Mayor Hartlicht requested that City Stall; Ms. Butler and
Mr. JCinrulrum, provide some ideas to the CounCil as to whether this idea would be feasible
or noL
Chairman Murphy felt the Planning Commission/Committee should focus on the
Downtown area instead of ttylng to encompass the Live Oak and Baldwin Avenue business
districts because there has been so much time and effort spent on the Downtown area.
What is accomplished in Downtown can be expanded to other areas and fine tuned and
handled without a lot of problems. Whereas other retail areas have other unique problems.
Councilmember Chang agreed and felt some of the issues resolved in Downtown can be
applied to other retail areas.
The Planning Commission agreed to meet on September 9th to begin its study of potential
improvements to City Codes. Ms. Butler noted this date wi11 allow staff time to process
information to the Commission regarding Downtown, economies, signage regulations,
design guidelines, etcetera. for the Commission to brainstorm.
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Mr. Roberson updated the Couneil and Commission on the plans for the Farmer's Market,
whieh will be held on Saturday mornings beginning March, 1998.. The ABA has sent a
mailing to the merchants in Downtown asking for. donations to provide seed money in
support of the Market. Mr. Roberson suggested the ABA meet with the Council after
September 30th, at whieh time they will know whether or not the Market can be
accomplished. ,.
At 10:53 a.m., the Joint Meeting of the City CouneillRedevelopment Agency and the
Arcadia Planning Commission ADJOURNED to Tuesday, August 26, 1997 for the
Counci1lRedevelopment Agency in the Couneil Chamber, and Tuesday September 9, 1997
at 7: 15 p.m. in the Couneil Chambers for a Planning Commission Study Session.
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Robert C. Hartlicht, Mayor of the City of Arcadia
A TrEST:
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