Discussion of Downtown Parking District 

August 20^th, 4:30-6:30pm

Meeting Agenda:

4:30-5:15 pm: meeting with Jayson Architects

5:15-5:30 pm: Update on AB411

5:30-6:30 pm: Presentation from Staff and Questions from Subcommittee

Meeting Overview

The Subcommittee first met with Jayson Architects, the firm that has been hired to completed the scope of work for the Downtown Library Renovation Cost Assessment. This portion of the meeting was closed to the public, but a summary of the discussion has been included below:

• Goal of the subcommittee is to have a transparent process that really evaluates what can be accomplished within a renovation. They want to better understand what goes into the estimated costs and to be responsive to key questions renovation feasibility. 
• Goal of the subcommittee is to have a modern library and to understand what it will take to be responsive to all of the programmatic needs identified in the Facilities Master Plan and Downtown Library Advisory Committee (DLAC) Process. 
• Clarity on the scope: Architects will be looking at how much of the program can be accomplished within the existing building and existing budget. The architects and subcommittee will not be making any final decisions on which programmatic needs are prioritized or included in a final design.The community will be engaged in future processes that develop program prioritization if not everything can be included in the budget. The community will be engaged in future processes that develop the final design for a building renovation. The scope of this assessment is to support the subcommittee and provide them with information as part of their charge to assess all of the library options. 
• Project timeline: The City needs to have a concept by June of 2020, so that the City can then move forward into the design phase. It will take about 2 years for design (including a community process), construction documents, permitting, and bidding. Then another 2 years for construction.
• Contract timeline: Scope of work is estimated to take about 11 weeks to complete. The contract will begin the first week in September and is estimated to wrap up mid/end of November.

The public can direct comments and concerns about the library renovation assessment to staff at arotella@cityofsantacruz.com. All emails will be reviewed, but may not be responded to. 

The second half of the meeting was open to the public and an Audio recording of the meeting is here. (minute markers are noted in italics) Note: audio picks up mid way through the AB411 presentation. 

AB 411 (0:01): The Subcommittee next heard a quick update from Economic Development Director Bonnie Lipscomb on Housing Assembly Bill 411 (AB411). AB411 would allow the City of Santa Cruz to use proceeds from debt issued by its redevelopment agency (RDA) in 2011 for affordable housing projects. AB411 has already gone through 6 hearings and is now in the State Senate Appropriations Committee. Once the Bill goes through Appropriations Committee it will go the Governor's Desk to be signed into law. 

Parking (5:12) : The majority of the meeting was spent on a presentation and Q & A with Public Works Staff on the Parking District. Claire Fliesler, Transportation Planner, and Mark Dettle, Public Works Director attend the meeting. Deirdre Hamilton, Chair of the Downtown Commission (DTC), also attended to answer questions and speak to the DTC recommendations.