AgdaPkt 2003-04-28 - Laserfiche WebLink

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not going to work, but we are not even taking the time to revisit the issue. He further stated that if we are willing to not fight this issue and see whether we can actually build the parking lot at a cheaper price by getting a second bid, then this Council is not being fiscally responsible. It is important for the Council to be fiscally responsible in a time of budget crisis. John Anagnostou stated he has been attending meetings for five years working on the theatre project and people ask him what he now thinks about the project and what might be his biggest concern. He stated that his biggest concern is that this project does not happen. He stated that five years have been spent studying to make it happen and that he wants everyone to know that he supports to this day this project. He further stated that after hearing Mr. Liedstrand's remarks and other professionals such as Freedman, Tung & Bottomley bringing about recent additions to the project, he is very excited. He stated he supports staying with the original design plans and keeping the project on track. Paul Sanfilipo stated that he has been in favor of the project and that his main concern back in 1996 during his third term as Planning Commissioner was always the parking and traffic circulation. He stated that as a Planning Commissioner he drafted and submitted an alternative plan which was included in the draft EIR. Since that time, he stated his belief that the ingress and egress on Jefferson Avenue will cause a tremendous nightmare of traffic circulation problems with the fully operational 20 theatre complex and the new shops on the ground floor. He urged continuing with the project and to somehow come up with a new ingress and egress plan for the parking garage. Mario Martins stated that four years ago many within the downtown area were in support of the project. He stated that the plan today is much different from the plan presented and agreed upon four years ago. Just as the various businesses being affected by this project are requesting more time to negotiate and look for space, he stated that the City should step back and make sure it is doing the right thing. He further stated that it has been proven in the past that whenever Jefferson Avenue is impacted by delay or reconstruction the downtown area businesses are affected. Alan Bygdnes stated that he has consistently heard at meetings that there will not be a left hand turn off of Jefferson into the entrance of the underground parking garage. The alternative is to then come down Jefferson, make a left hand turn at Middlefield to a three -lane road, going down the propose one way street next to the restaurants. He stated his belief that this is not the proper way to go to get around the block and into the parking garage. He asked for clarification of the DDA section that states when any development occurs on Block 2, the City will need to build a comparable parking facility within the orange zone and that will add to the traffic and parking problem. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES APRIL 14, 2003 PAGE 6