CC MIN 2014-05-12 Joint w Planning Commission

Browse Search

____ _ _ __. �.__ in the report. Mr. Ekern said that those items and any other recommendations will come out of the EIR mitigations. And with regards to BIAC, the Council Member wanted to know if this issue will be decided at a future time. Mr. Ekern replied that he had encouraged the Task Force to not get specific on any individual use such as BIAC or the Marine Science Institute. This Council Member was concerned that the City will not be able to anticipate the needs of these institutes, but Mr. Ekern said the sloughs would eventually have to be dredged to determine the depth and then determine what the depth needs are of those organizations. He stated that his focus is to get direction from Council in that it is okay to have things on the water and if so, he then can proceed. Dr. Bell clarified that the intent tonight was to share potential uses for the area based on the Task Force inputs. He said that the detail to the plans will be addressed later with the Council and Planning Commission. Another Council Member asked Mr. Ekern to explain again the difference befinreen a Specific Plan versus a Precise Plan. Mr. Ekern clarified the reasoning. With regards to a Precise Plan, there is infrastructure in place like the Downtown and it supports the general development. The Specific Plan is used to identify the needs of the infrastructure or the funding to make that development be able to move forward. He said this is a tabula rasa and it is both an opportunity and challenge. This same Council Member also wanted reassurance that whatever the Council chooses the Task Force will be okay with their decision since the group didn't choose either A or B but rather had a consensus. Mr. Ekern confirmed and stated that the Task Force will be involved with the EIR and public hearings and there will be community outreach. This Council Member clarified that Staff is not asking Council to redo the work of the Task Force. Chair Schmidt said that he appreciated the comment from Mr. Ekern regarding needing to think globally and thinking more further out. He also discussed the General Plan connecting the downtown to the Bay and he wants all to remain open and keep this in mind. In addition, he referred to the Jay Paul property and how that project is looking at 10 stories and what could be given back to the community. Mr. Ekern said that one of the critical pieces of doing the plan is now Staff could ask the developer what they plan and what they have to deliver and offer. The Chair added that he does not want communities to be isolated. Mr. Ekern agreed that this is a critical piece to development and we need to find and make clear what the standards are. Mayor Gee thanked Assistant City Manager Ekern for the presentation and the community for a year of ineetings. He recognized the Task Force for participating in 11 meetings, and thanked each one of them for their diligence and coming to a consensus. He also thanked the Planning Commission for their availability in joining the Council for this Study Session on this complex issue. The meeting was recessed at 9:20 p.m. and restarted at 9:35 p.m. CITY COUNCIL RECESS (approximately 15-minutes) 11. STAFF REPORT(S) II (City Council only) JOINT CITY COUNCIUPLANNING COMMISSION May 12, 2014 MEETING MINUTES PAGE 14 MINUTE BOOK NO. 65 Page No. 161