HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM III-FDOWNTOWN
A7GBURN F * DRAFT
REDEVELOPMENT
WASHINGTON COMMITTEE
April 8, 2008
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER -
Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 3:40 p.m. in the Council Conference Room
located on the first floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA. Committee
members present were: Chair Lynn Norman, Member Sue Singer and Member Gene Cerino.
Also present were: Mayor Pete Lewis, Planning, Building & Community Director Cindy Baker,
Public Works Director Dennis Dowdy, Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Economic
Development Manager Dave Baron, City Attorney Dan Heid, Planning Secretary Kirsten
Reynolds, Robert Whale, Troy Humphrey and Spencer Alpert.
II. MINUTES
Member Singer moved to approve the March 11, 2008 minutes as amended; Member Cerino
seconded.
The minutes were approved as amended unanimously 3-0.
III. REVIEW NEGOTIATION PROCESS
Mayor Lewis talked about the RFP process; this was first discussed at the Council Retreat,
and then at the Committee of the Whole (COW), next will be to discuss with the developer
the negotiation period. City Attorney Dan Heid and Spencer Alpert talked about the newly
revised letter of intent; it was distributed to the rest of the group. Mr. Alpert was comfortable
with several changes in the letter and spoke of the last section in the letter that stated the
group would form a strategy to get the agreement done if the 90 days expires.
The next step would be to get a clean copy of the letter of intent signed. The letter would
then need to go to Full Council as a Resolution, this could happen directly from the Downtown
Redevelopment Committee or via another Committee. Members Gene Cerino and Sue
Singer were in agreement that having a second committee review it before going to Council
was a good idea as long as it didn't slow down the process. Mayor Lewis asked for a clean
copy of the letter to be forwarded on for review to Municipal Services, Planning & Community
Development on Monday, April 14, 2008, as well as the Finance Committee.
Member Singer moved to approve the letter of intent; Member Cerino seconded.
The motion was approved unanimously 3-0.
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Downtown Redevelopment Committee Minutes April 8, 2008
IV. INFORMATION
1) Master Plan Downtown - discussion and schedule
Discussion took place about when and how to have regular and special meetings. There is
a 24 hour advanced notice required to cancel a regular meeting or hold a special meeting.
Staff will spend time in-between the meetings working on issues/concerns then bring them
back to the Committee for answers.
The group discussed issues regarding land acquisitions, visioning, and expectations for
working together. This project is very unique because of all the moving parts such as third
party property owners associated with it. Chair Norman stated it will be very important to
retain a residential component in the development. Mayor Lewis stated discussions involving
threshold issues such as property acquisition and visioning of the project will all begin in
meetings to come. During the 90 day period for the agreement all the pieces will be moving
forward at the same time.
Dan Heid clarified the formal negotiating agreement will come first or a letter of intent, then
the development agreement will follow. If a development agreement is not reached within
the 90 day negotiating period then the negotiating period could be extended if agreed to by
both parties. The official start of the 90 day period will begin after Council takes action on
the resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign the letter of intent.
The group spent some time reviewing the importance of having a vibrant community that
would include all ages and provide for different types of retail. The aim is to meet the needs
of a combination of individuals yet retain the historical flavor of the downtown area. The
group was in agreement that they will be able to learn from other projects in the area that
didn't include the residential portion or connect to the existing downtown. Director Cindy
Baker stated the group may want to look at phases and different perspectives if all the land
isn't acquired. There was a clear indication that both parties involved will do their best to
make this agreement work.
Regular meetings will continue as scheduled. It was suggested that everyone should develop
a list of questions for the next meeting, Tuesday, April 22, 2008; finance staff will need to be
present.
V. ADJOURNMENT at 4:50 p.m.
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