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Minutes 2001-04-30MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CYPRESS CITY COUNCIL HELD April 30, 2001 The adjourned regular meeting of the Cypress City Council was called to order at 5:35 p.m. by Mayor McGill in the Board Room, West Wing of City Hall, 5275 Orange Avenue, Cypress, California. PRESENT: Council Members Keenan, McCoy (arrived at 5:38 p.m.), Piercy, Mayor Pro Tern Sondhi, Mayor McGill ABSENT: None Also present were City Manager Importuna, City Attorney Wynder, and staff members Acosta, Belmer, Commerdinger, Dadbeh, Gorin, Hensley, Liu, and Storey. The Community Development Director stated a workshop would be presented regarding the proposed development of VVicker Drive. He stated the Civic Center consists of the library building and everything to the west. The Wicker Drive property is an approximately 7.5 acre unimproved site located to the east of the library that is Agency and City owned. Construction of the Civic Center dates back to the 1960's; City Hall and the Council Chambers in the late 1960's. The Library was constructed in the late 1970's and in 1983 the Police facility was completed. A courthouse, from original plans, was excluded from the larger Civic Center plan. The tennis courts were constructed in the early 1980's and in 1998, there was an interior remodel of City Hall. Since 1983, there have not been any major renovations or expansions. In 1982, the Civic Center Redevelopment Project Area was formed and specific uses for Wicker Drive were identified. These included: a senior housing project, office condominiums, residential condominiums, or open space/cultural arts use. In approximately 1982-83, the City began acquiring Wicker Drive property as they became available for the possibility of expanding the Civic Center or for developing private uses. The Community Development Director stated that in 1989 the Civic Center Project Area was amended to include the Sorrento housing development. At one point, the Agency and School District entered into an agreement where property the District owned on Wicker Drive was swapped with Agency owned property (where the Senior Center now exists). In 1994, the Agency and School District swapped the property back with the Agency retaining the property for the Senior Center. A W~cker Drive Advisory Committee was formed in 1995 by the City Council to study potential development options both public and private uses. The committee reported to the Council in 1996 with no consensus for one specific land use, but did identify a series of uses including Fire Authority consolidation of Stations 12 and 17 to one facility, Police Department expansion, Civic Center expansion, a senior day care facility, and residential development. The Council did not make a decision at this time because the Council felt that additional information was needed. In 2000, the City Manager formed a staff ad hoc committee to analyze Wicker Drive/Civic Center development options. The committee concluded that many of the public uses previously identified were no longer needed, but other public uses were identified. These include: additional art exhibit space, conference and meeting space, additional tennis courts and a skate plaza, relocation of the Chamber office, City Hall expansion space, and redesign and expansion of Civic Center parking. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 30, 2001 Based on the identified needs, the staff committee established the goals of developing an improved Civic Center that accommodated the public uses identified as needed, determining suitable land uses for Wicker Drive property, and agreeing upon an acceptable Wicker Drive development scenario that balances land use with economic benefits and provides a funding source. The Planning Manager reviewed the three design scenarios for the Civic Center and Wicker Drive. The first option would provide a 13,000 square foot conference center, six new tennis courts, 281 parking spaces, and storage facility for Public Works and the Police Department. The second option would provide a 13,000 square foot conference center, five new tennis courts, a skate park, 298 parking spaces, and storage facility for Public Works and the Police Department. Option three would provide a 13,000 square foot conference center, five new tennis courts, a skate park, 319 parking spaces, and storage facility for Public Works and the Police Department. The Planning Manager stated the benefits of all three options include providing a much- needed conference and meeting facility in the City, expanded art exhibit area, and Chamber office space. A conference center would produce revenue to offset operating costs. Other benefits include an increase in the number of tennis courts, improved parking and circulation in the Civic Center, and an opportunity to incorporate a skate plaza. Staff recommendation is for the third design option. The Community Development Director stated the improvement of the Civic Center would leave 5.2 to 5.52 acres for development. The market dictates that the highest and best use is residential. Density options for the site are from 4.6/acre to 13.38/acre. The higher the density, the higher the land sale price. Staff recommendation is for 8.7 units per acre. The Community Development Director discussed the potential land sale proceeds, development values, and tax increment revenues. He also discussed the Agency's Wicker Drive debt owed to the City and the project cost and revenue analysis. The total one-time cost for the project is $4,115,480. One time revenues used to offset construction costs is $3,335,065, leaving a gap of $780,415. Further efforts were made by staff to reduce this shortfall including a Jobs Housing grant and some funds that have already been appropriated, which then reduces the gap to $415,255. The City Manager stated that all stages of the plan would be brought back to the City Council for approval before commencing. Steve Young, President, Cypress Tennis Club, stated that new tennis courts are needed. There are approximately 150 members in the club and they are currently using the courts at the high school. He stated he would like more courts but feels a skate park next to the tennis courts would be distracting. Gary Hunt, Cypress Tennis Club, stated the club continues to grow and currently anywhere from 4 to 10 people are waiting every morning to play. He said he would also like to see more courts. Lew Prather, Field Advisor, AYSO, stated each year there are 200 more children signing up to play soccer. He stated he would like to see two fields placed on the Wicker Drive property, as this would help all of the youth in the community. Abel Barboza, Cypress, stated he is glad to see the land finally going to be developed and that the City will also receive revenue. He said he is not opposed to having a skateboard park at the location. Nancy Draper, Cypress, stated she is concerned about increased traffic on Grindlay and the increased number of cars that would be parking on the surrounding streets. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 30, 2001 Vern Draper, Cypress, stated he was concerned about the grading problem because there is a three-foot grading difference between the Wicker Drive property and the tennis courts. Paula English, Cypress, stated her opposition to residential housing being built. Council Member Keenan stated it would be nice to have public restrooms for the tennis cour[s. It was moved by Council Member Keenan and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Sondhi, to authorize staff to prepare a Request for Proposal for architectural/engineering services to refine the Civic Center project design and cost estimates, and to prepare a Request for Proposal for residential development. The motion was unanimously carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: 5 NOES: 0 ABSENT: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: Keenan, McCoy, Piercy, Sondhi, and McGill COUNCILMEMBERS: None COUNCILMEMBERS: None ITEMS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS: No items were presented. ITEMS FROM CITY MANAGER: No items were presented. CLOSED SESSION: The City Council meeting was recessed at 7:02 p.m. to Closed Session. The City Council meeting reconvened at 7:33 p.m. REPORT OF CLOSED SESSION: The City Attorney reported that the Council met regarding Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (a), Walters v. City of Cypress, et al., Case Number 00-113117-FMC, United States District Court. The City Attorney briefed the City Council on the ongoing negotiations between legal counsel for the City and legal counsel for the plaintiff, and advised the Council that the terms and conditions are present under which a settlement may now be possible. The Council unanimously authorized the City to make a settlement proposal, which if accepted by the plaintiff would result in settlement of the case. The City Attorney advised the Council that if the plaintiff accepts the final terms and conditions of the proposed settlement, that the settlement agreement will be agendized for approval on the consent calendar for the May 14, 2001, City Council meeting. The City Attorney reported that the Council also met regarding Conference with Labor Negotiators, pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6, Employee Negotiators: Richard Storey and William W. Wynder; Employee Organization: Cypress Police Officers Association. The City Attorney and the Director of Finance & Administrative Services reported to the Council on the latest negotiation session between them and representatives of the Cypress Police Officers Association, discussed various proposals and counter proposals that have been exchanged between the parties, and the Council unanimously reconfirmed the negotiating authority of the City's negotiators. No other action was taken in Closed Session nor was any solicited. 3 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 30, 2001 ADJOURNMENT: Mayor McGill adjourned the meeting at 7:35 p.m., to Monday, May 14, 2001, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Executive Board Room, 5275 Orange Avenue, Cypress, California. MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS ATTEST: !_c~ C,E~X o, T.~ C~' O. CY,,ESS 4