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Home My WebLink AboutMAY 17,1993 I I 35: 0116 0//0_ "'-0 O'/79~~ CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS ARE TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY c.c. CLERK ROLL CALL FIRE STA. #2 COMTE. RPT. o 730.. ~() N:'fP DOWNTOWN REVITALI- ZATION UPDATE (M. Freedman) OGliO~O..a M I NUT E S CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA and the ARCADIA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING (WORK SESSION) MAY 17, 1993 The City Council and the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency met in Adj ourned Regular Meeting (Work Session) on Monday, May 17, 1993, 5:30 p.m. in the Conference Room of the City Council Chambers. an at PRESENT: Council/A~ncy Members Fasching, Harbicht, Lojeski, Margett SRd Ciraulo None ABSENT: ORAL COMMUNICATION None. Councilmember Margett reported on his meeting with a group of contractors and an architect to review the Merco Construction Company bid figures for the construction of Fire Station No.2. The group felt that the City had a pricy, tailor-made, turnkey job that included a 7% contingency, totaled $2.8 million, and was $500,000 over the architects estimate. The group looked at the figures for each part of the construction and saw many items that could be reduced. Councilmember Margett stated in part, that he did not like the numbers coming back that placed the bid over the estimate: He believes there is $500,000 that could be removed from the bid in construction materials, and the architect should go to work and get the $500,000 out of this project. Further, he would like Council to reject all the bids and start over again. After discussion, by general consent, Council determined to leave the item on the May 18, 1993 agenda and discuss it further at that time. At the April 12, 1993 City Council Work Session, Michael Freedman of Freedman, Tung and Bottomley, presented two plans for the rehabilitation of downtown Arcadia along Huntington Drive east of Santa Anita Avenue to Second Avenue, and north to Wheeler Street. His presentation included "Strategy A", which would limit the size of downtown to a core area.within a larger downtown district, between Santa Anita to just past the intersection of Huntington and First Avenue. .Strategy B" could be a larger area primarily on Huntington Drive between Santa Anita and Second Avenue. This plan would incorporate the placement of a train station at the Bonita Park site or on the north side of Huntington at Second Avenue. At the April 12th work session, Ms. Lampert of Mundie and Associates presented an "Economic Background Report," and a broad overview of economic conditions and market analyses of the project area. Mr. Freedman opened his presentation this date, May 17, 1993, with an explanation of Ms. Lampert's report of the economic conditions/market analyses as it was presented at the previous meeting. He also included in his presentation.a'review of "Strategy A" and "Strategy B" as presented at the same' work session. After considerable discussion of the placement of the train station and consideration of the possibility that the station may not soon come to Arcadia, Mr. Freedman advised Council that, at the next community meeting on downtown revitalization on May 24th he will specifically -1- 5/17/93 ..<II> --:,- 35:0117 recommend certain things for focused capital improvements to prime the pump to bring in private investment. First he will bring these recommendations to the community meeting, then he will bring the recommendations to the Council, as well as report on ...hat the community had to say. Other discussion centered on the Foulger Ford site; the possibility of a high density residential area on the south side of Huntington Drive bet...een First and Second Avenue; the development of First Avenue as a downtown area rather than Huntington Drive... he asked if Council ...ould like his firm to prepare "Strategy C" for this area; parking needs were considered. ..Mr. Freedman said parking could not be planned until Council decides ...here the pattern for downtown should be placed. . . on First Avenue or Huntington Drive......ith or ...ithout a planned train station? Also at this point he could not prepare a cost estimate until these things ...ere decided. "If the political ...ill is there, ...e can make this place immensely successful because of the presence 1 of the track and the visibility of Huntington Drive." Councilmember Fasching questioned the idea of depending on patrons of the race track to support a revitalized downtown area. After further discussion Mr. Freedman reiterated that it is important to commit to a site for a potenti~l train station rather than letting all the possible sites be l~ked up for any length of time. ADJOURNMENT At 7:12 p.m. the Council/Agency members ADJOURNED the meeting to . 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 18, 1993, in the Council Chambers for the Arcadia Beautiful A...ards and to conduct the business of the Council and Redevelopment Agency and any closed session necessary to discuss personnel, litigation matters and the evaluation of properties. ATTEST: ,J Alford, I -2- 5/17/93 ..<A ...z~