AgdaPkt 2008-07-21 - Laserfiche WebLink

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':~'::'::'h-',' .~~~.:;.;.;a~:";"''#:~~;~M--~~...::i.>.e..:.-;~.;~~",~~>T~.,;r~~~~~~~~';:ii:-~':'''';'-'':;'-';-''-,<;~~.~~,,"l:.~f:-?:<';:;,",,~~':';::~.;~~'~~~~""<:"~-;~~~~"'~:-<''''\-::''-'--'''-'---='''''''''' '.'-.' 6.2A Page 8 in recognition of the cultural activities on the Square. The community celeb~~~ . new Courthouse Square with free concerts, movies, dance lessons, art, Shakespeare plays, noontime performances, a blues festival and the 'Our Town, Downtown' festival. Summer 2008 will bring an expanded program of entertainment, including cultural performances from Germany, Ghana and Russia as well as the 'Target Family Days' funded primarily by a generous grant from Target. FY 2007/08 saw the completion of several other priority projects identified in the work program, including (1) the Gateways and Signage Project (directional and wayfinding program) (2) the Post Office Paseo Project (3) "Theatre Way II" improvements to Middlefield between Veteran's and Broadway. The Downtown Parking Management Program was also fully implemented and refinements continue to be made to enhance customer satisfaction, address current market realities, and maintain the ability to manage parking resources in a manner that can accommodate future retail expansion and increases in activity. In addition, the Phantom Gallery program was initiated with the installment of 14 exhibits in the vacant retail space in the retail/cinema complex, a seasonal banner program has been developed, and the "branding" of downtown as an entertainment complex enhanced with the new Downtown WOW campaign launched in conjunction with the 2008 summer programming for Courthouse Square. Several applications for housing projects have been received in response to the approval of the Downtown Precise Plan (DPP), which could lead to the addition of 300 units to the downtown. As part of furthering the goals of the DPP, Agency staff has also continued its involvement in the EI Camino Real Grand Boulevard Initiative (GBI). This included participation on the Working Committee and involvement in both the development of the awards process, as well as the preparation of the award-winning applications for the DPP and Villa Montgomery. Staff also continued active involvement in the committee working with Caltrans to identify a more streamlined design exception process for EI Camino Real improvements. Finally, staff also maintained contact with SamTrans staff regarding the status of the Footprint Study and the inclusion of an option and analysis related to the elevation of the train tracks pursuant to the oPP. A lease and license agreement for one of the vendor spaces in the Courthouse Square pavilions was completed and the vendor is scheduled to open for business in the 4th quarter of FY 2007/08. A short term lease for another space was approved in May. It is anticipated that the other two spaces will be occupied by the end of FY 2008/09. The proposed FY 2008/09 & 2010 RDA General Fund budgets (Attachment 1) and the RDA Housing budgets (Attachment 2) are reviewed in greater detail below. Proposed Redevelopment General Fund Operating Budget Estimated tax increment revenues for the RDA general fund are substantially reduced from previous years because this is the Fiscal Year that approximately $1.24 million of tax increment shifts back to the Housing fund pursuant to agreements with legal Aid Society of San Mateo County. Tax Sharing Payments are also higher because of an overall increase in tax increments from previous years. The proposed RDA General Fund Budget for FY 2008/09 reflects an increase in Employee Services due to staff costs related to downtown event programming. Attachment 3 summarizes the costs for FY 2008/09 related to downtown programming and the collaboration with the Parks and Recreation Community Services Department (PRCS). This summary includes both the PRCS staff services related to downtown