CC Min 2003-04-14 Reg - Laserfiche WebLink

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contractual obligations, there are cost implications, changing the location of the entrance such as proposed will have a harmful effect on the overall project and overall development of downtown. (A graphic was used to illustrate these concerns.) In conclusion, Mr. Liedstrand stated that reopening the design has the substantial risk of endangering the existing leases and possibly the equity financing of the project placing the entire project at risk. Public Comment: Rudy Luca stated he was quoting the Council as stating, "when the finalization is approved, any changes would motivate that they drop the whole project ". He referred to a newspaper article stating Mr. Irmer's frustration with opposition to the project. He asked who is running the City, staff or the developer and that there will be an unbelievable traffic jam with no way to repair it once built. Ray Wang stated he shares some of the sentiment previously expressed in that we are in the midst of a budget crisis, we have a project where even the project manager and one of the top parking engineers in the country is saying that this is 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. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 14, 2003 MINUTES PAGE 6 MINUTES Book No. 59 Page No. 439