Day 1999.09.22HR

Members Present: Pat Gideon, Chair, Lee Kloppenburg, Shauna Manina, Denise Suihkonen, Steve Kappel, Pamela Ponce

Staff Present: Terry Rogers, Housing & Redev. Mgr., Cyndi Johnston, Housing & Redev. Mgr., Suellen Johnston, OHR Secretary

Others Present: Sue McManus, Executive Director, Downtown Vacaville Business Association, John Thompson, City Manager

Motion: To approve the revised minutes of the Housing and Redevelopment Commission meeting of June 16, 1999. Approved, Kappel/Kloppenburg, unanimous.

Motion: To approve the minutes of the Housing and Redevelopment Commission meeting of July 21, 1999. Approved, Manina/Kloppenburg, unanimous.

Chair Pat Gideon asked for approval to change the Agenda, at Terry Roger’ s suggestion, to move Agenda Item 8.b. to the second position under Reports, to become Item 7.b. and move Item 7.b to become Item 7.c.

The Redevelopment Agency is currently working with Vacaville Community Housing to refinance bonds that were issued in 1994. At the time of original issuance of the bonds, the interest rate was higher than what had been anticipated. A preliminary analysis has shown that refinancing of the existing bonds could result in savings of approximately $50,000 per year. Those savings would be realized by Vacaville Community Housing, rather than the Redevelopment Agency, and would enable VCH to expand housing opportunities and potentially reduce rental impacts to lower income families.

An agreement has been reached to provide a Head Start program at the Mariposa Center. A room has been retrofitted and will be occupied by a class of 18 to 20 children from 8:00 am to 3 pm. Head Start has also made a commitment to provide additional parenting and child development classes at the Center. Additional funding anticipated by Head Start will also result in a full-day child development and care program at Mariposa by Summer 2000.

b. Business Improvement District (BID) for Downtown Sponsored by Downtown Vacaville Business Association (DVBA) and Request for $10,000 in Bridge Financing for DVBA Through the End of the Year – Report by Terry Rogers, Housing & Redevelopment Manager

The Redevelopment Agency has provided funding over the past three years to the DVBA in the amount of $75,000. The intent of this funding was to establish the DVBA and allow it to become self-sufficient over that time. The DVBA is now requesting $10,000 of bridge funding to cover expenses incurred for efforts to establish support for a Business Improvement District and to continue operations through the completion of the BID formation.

Sue McManus, Executive Director of the DVBA, outlined the process required for the formation of the Business Improvement District and the dates proposed. A public hearing would be conducted on November 9, 1999 as part of the process. If approval for the BID is 50% or greater (represented in dollar value collected from businesses) the BID would be formed. Sue McManus has found, in preliminary surveys, that approval for the BID currently appears to be more than the 50% required. Handouts were distributed showing purposes for which the collected money may be used.

In addition to the approval of the proposal to form the BID, the Commission was requested to also approve the $10,000 bridge loan to carry the Association through the BID formation period. In the case of acceptance of the BID, the $10,000 would be paid back. If the BID were not accepted, the $10,000 would not be paid back. Payback of the $10,000, would be derived from business license taxes, paid in two increments.

After discussion by the Commission of the financial ramifications, the following motion was made by Chair Pat Gideon:

Motion: Recommendation to the City Council to 1) form a Business Improvement District and negotiate a contract for the administration of the funding; and 2) to approve $10,000 of bridge funding to cover expenses incurred for efforts to establish support for a Business Improvement District and to continue operations through the completion of the BID formation. Manina/Ponce, unanimous.

The Bella Vista/Davis Area has been added to the City’ s Strategic Plan for study for potential improvement. A traffic study and neighborhood survey are currently underway to determine possible improvements.

Construction is under way for the Outback Restaurant. Mason Street is being widened and power lines will be put underground. Grading is being done on the promontory. Stocking and Hearn construction is proceeding.

A request for qualifications is also being prepared by Mike Palombo, the City’ s Economic Development Director, to solicit a Developer of a Class A office building in that area.

An update of the Downtown Area Economic Development Strategy (DAEDS) has been drafted for July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2004 and a Community Forum will be held on October 6, 1999, at The Opera House at 7:00 p.m. Downtown businesses have been invited to attend, as well as Commission and Council members. A review of the vision for the downtown will be presented and input solicited from community business owners.

Terry directed the Commission’ s attention to the significant accomplishments reflected in the DAEDS, as well as additional and continuing projects yet to be completed.