10-1005_CRA_Minutes_Regular MeetingMINUTES
October 6, 2010
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
{ REGULAR MEETING
CLOSED SESSION (610.86): None
RECESS UNTIL 6:30 P.M.
BUSINESS SESSION
Chair Freese called the Regular Meeting of the Community Redevelopment Agency
Board of Directors to order at 7:43 p.m.
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DIRECTORS PRESENT: Tom Hribar, Dr. Londres Uso, Mark Nielsen,
Vice -Chairman Sam Allevato and Chair Laura Freese.
DIRECTORS ABSENT: None
Agenda items are presented in the originally agendized format for the benefit of the
minutes' reader, but were not necessarily heard in that order.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Board Action: Moved by Director Nielsen, seconded by Director Hribar and carried
unanimously to approve items 1 and 2 as recommended by staff.
1. COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES — REGULAR MEETING
OF SEPTEMBER 21, 2010, APPROVED
2. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE WARRANTS DATED SEPTEMBER 14, 2010, IN THE
TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1,603,384.31-, RECEIVED AND FILED(300.30)
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
BOARD ACTIONS:
1. STAFF DIRECTED TO PREPARE DOCUMENTS FOR THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT
TO NEGOTIATE WITH HOME DEPOT U.S.A, INC. A DELAWARE
CORPORATION FOR PURCHASE OF LOUVER ROSAN RANCH FOR AGENCY
BOARD CONSIDERATION (600.40)
Cindy Russell, Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer, provided a staff report and
responded to questions.
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Public Comments:
• Ken Steelman, Home Depot, stated that once the Board of Directors approve
the Exclusive Right to Negotiate, Home Depot will bring forward a site plan
that would carry the approval of all affecting parties; and responded to
questions from the City Council.
• Tom Gronewald, City resident, expressed opposition to a "big box" adjacent
to the Mobilehome Park; concern with impacts to local businesses in town,
noise, and the dirt level; and felt a Home Depot would bring illegal workers.
• Bobby Decker Austin, City resident, expressed concern with impacts to local
businesses; felt that the City Council should look into other alternatives; and
asked that the 2002 Advisory Vote be honored.
• Bill Marine, City resident, felt that there's no rush for a Home Depot;
expressed concern with the impacts to local businesses;- and asked the City
Council to look at other alternatives.
• Steve Behmerwohld, City resident, expressed support for a Home Depot with
a 176 ft. buffer; felt that due to the City's financial situation; Home Depot is
the best option.
• Richard Gardner, Capo Beach resident, spoke regarding importance in
working together with the City of Dana Point to gain access to the land and
add value to the property.
• Jim Sorensen, City resident, felt it is important to have a skilled land deal
negotiator through the process.
Directors Comments:
• Deed to be responsible for all the resident and fiduciary responsibility to the
entire town; the downturn in the economy hurt the City by depending on the
City's 40%® of saler tax in the auto dealers; imperative to address the
concerns from the Capistrano Valley Mobile Home Estates; after a
professional planning agency conducted a study, a retail component with fast
food, and a gas station was the preferred option for the property, providing
the highest fiscal benefit and diversifies the City's portfolio and is consistent
with .the industrial land designation of the General Plan; need to look into
ways of generating revenue in order to provide services in the City; and
stated that that if the project would have been approved back in 2002,
it would have generated $400,000 a year, and the City would be in a
better financial position.
• Felt that the property requires improvements that are costly in order to build;
in favor of approving an exclusive negotiating agreement with Home Depot
to start the process; and stated that if the project would have been
implemented back in 2002, the Agency would have $1 million less in debt.
• Stated that the City looked at many projects for that property, without
success in finding one that would benefit the entire City; the City presently
leaks 75% of tax revenue; need to work together as a community to mitigate
impacts; would like to get a guarantee from Home Depot that if the project is
approved, it would be built in the near future rather than later; and expressed
lack of support for advisory votes, as the Council/Directors need to make the
tough decisions.
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• Troubled due to the Advisory Vote that took place in 2002, and tried to put
the issue back as an Advisory Vote on the upcoming election without
support; cannot support the project as of today, but need to move forward
with an exclusive negotiating agreement in order to do what is fiduciary
responsible for the citizenry.
• If a project such as Home Depot was to move forward it would need to be
away and small enough not to affect the adjacent Mobilehome Park, and
have all impacts mitigated, or could not support; felt that a project is not
appropriate unless it fits into the town, and it does not destroy the quality of
life of too many residents.
Board Action: Moved by Director Nielsen, seconded by
Director Hribar, and carried unanimously to direct staff to prepare ,,and bring back
documents for the exclusive right to negotiate with Home Depot U.S.A, Inc. a
Delaware Corporation for purchase of Lower Rosan Ranch.
2. REGULAR MEETING OF DECEMBER 21, 2010 CANCELLED; AND START
THE REGULAR MEETING OF NOVEMBER 2, 2010, AT 7:00 P.M. (610.15)
Maria Morris, City Clerk, provided a staff report and responded to questions.
Council Comments:
• Preference in not holding an additional meeting for the Historic Town Center
Master Plan before the joint schedule workshop of November 2, 2010.
1St. Board Action: Moved by Director Nielsen, seconded by Director Hribar, and
carried unanimously to cancel the December 21, 2010, Community
Redevelopment Agency Meeting.
2nd. Board Action: Moved by Director Nielsen, seconded by Director Hribar, and
carried unanimously to start the start the regular meeting of November 2, 2010,
at 7:00 p.m. (with Closed Session at the end of the meeting), in order to hold a
Joint Workshop for the Historic Town Center Master Plan at 3:00 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, Chair Freese adjourned the meeting at 8:53 p.m. to
Tuesday, October 19, 2010, at 5:30 p.m. for Closed Session, and- 6:30 p.m. for the
public Business Session; and then to Wednesday, October 20, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. for an
Adjourned Regular meeting (Long Term/Strategic Business Plan), in the City Council
Chamber.
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Approved: October 19, 2010
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