CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION

OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING SPECIAL MEETING ITEM

ADJOURNMENT

January 29, 2018

________________________________________________________________ SPECIAL MEETING

1.

CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - The meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor John Marchand at 7:00 pm, in the City Council Chambers, 3575 Pacific Avenue, Livermore, California.

1.01 ROLL CALL - Present: Mayor John Marchand, Vice Mayor Bob Woerner, and Council Members Robert W. Carling, Bob Coomber, and Steven Spedowfski.

1.02 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

2.

OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING SPECIAL MEETING ITEM

Mayor Marchand reordered the agenda to receive the staff report and presentation for the Special Meeting item prior to opening public comment.

3.

MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION 3.01 Discussion and direction regarding the Downtown Concepts and Next Steps.

Recommendation: Staff recommended the City Council:

1. Discuss and provide direction regarding the development and evaluation of conceptual plans for the City's downtown catalyst sites; and

2. Adopt a resolution declaring it is a reasonable exercise of its legislative power and authority, and a public purpose, for accepting the offer from the Livermore Stockmen's Rodeo Association, and authorizing:

a. The City Manager to execute a First Amendment to an agreement with the Livermore Stockmen's Rodeo Association to accept an offer from the Stockmen to allow the civic center property to be used for affordable housing in exchange for an easement and a park in the downtown;

b. The granting of an easement to the Livermore Stockmen's Rodeo Association for a park in the downtown; and

c. Authorizing the City Manager to take all necessary steps and to execute all necessary documents to execute the First Amendment and the recording of the easements.

Planning Manager Steve Stewart presented the staff report. Consultant David Early, PlaceWorks, presented the background, key themes from public input, and concepts.

Mr. Stewart presented the Livermore Stockmen's Rodeo Association proposal and next steps for the project.

Stockmen's Association representatives Dave Finster, President, and Don Staysa, Past President, spoke regarding the 1962 Stockmen's agreement with the City, the proposal and community support from various organizations including the veterans.

Laning Thompson, Interfaith Housing President, spoke in support of the Stockmen's proposal.

Mayor Marchand invited public comment.

Evan Branning, Livermore, spoke in support of building the downtown now.

Steve Goodman, Livermore, spoke in support of the Stockmen's deal and building the downtown now.

Jacob Anderson, Livermore, spoke in support of building the downtown now.

Asa Strout, Livermore, spoke in support of the Stockmen's deal and building the downtown now.

Victoria Fierce, CALA, spoke regarding the placement of the affordable housing and repayment of the affordable housing funds.

David Kent, Livermore, said the Stockmen's Park was the catalyst for the downtown project.

Mike Madden, Livermore, spoke in support of moving forward with the project.

Karl Wente, Livermore, spoke about good government and in support of moving forward with the Downtown plan.

Lisa Tromovich, Livermore, spoke in support of the Stockmen's deal and Interfaith Housing.

Chris Chandler, Livermore Valley Wine Growers Association, spoke in support of either plan by the City, but did not support any outside plans.

Dale Kaye, Livermore, spoke of the uniqueness of Livermore and moving forward with the Downtown plan.

Rachael Snedecor, Livermore, spoke in support of the plans and the downtown would have something for everyone.

Simon Cohen, Livermore, spoke in support of the east side concept.

Brad Erickson, Executive Director Theater Bay Area, spoke regarding benefits of having cultural centers in the downtown

Patricia Munro, Livermore, spoke in support of the Stockmen's Park.

Lily Caster, Livermore, said she did not want to see Blacksmith Square overshadowed by a big building and that she looked forward to playing in Stockmen's Park.

Heidi Kaseff, Livermore, spoke in support of Stockmen's Park and supported a small theater in the downtown.

Elizabeth Judge, Livermore, spoke against subsidizing the Downtown project and addressed placement of the hotel, housing, parking and the Stockmen's monument.

Darcy Kent, Livermore, spoke in support of the plan and creation of an iconic downtown.

Richard Langlois, Livermore, spoke concerning the outreach process, PlaceWorks and review of other citizen plans.

Allen Burnham, Livermore, spoke in support of the plan, Stockmen's deal and the science center.

Brook Witherspoon, Livermore, spoke favorably of the consideration given to existing businesses and the desires of the community regarding the downtown plan.

Jim Schmidt, Livermore, spoke regarding the parking lot at the Bankhead, competing City center focal points and in support of an east side hotel.

Tamera Reus, Livermore, spoke in support of a hotel on the west side, against housing and a hotel on the east side, and placing parking on the east side.

Lynn Seppala, Livermore, said the hotel should be moved closer to Livermore Avenue.

Katie Marcel, Livermore, spoke in support of the Stockmen's deal.

Jean King, Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center President, spoke in support of handicapped parking and open space.

Kevin Laylor, Livermore, spoke regarding affordable housing in the downtown.

Michael Frederich, Livermore, spoke regarding the west side concept.

Rick Dobbs, Livermore, spoke of the community advantages in regard to the location of a hotel, and in favor of a hotel on the east side.

Chris Riley, Livermore, spoke in support of building the downtown now.

Jim Murray, Livermore, said neither plan addressed the parking needs.

Milo Nordyke, Livermore, spoke regarding east side versus west side hotel location, parking, and in support of a west side hotel.

Bill Dunlop, Livermore, spoke regarding rearranging four elements of the downtown project; west side hotel location, linear green space, housing on L Street and east side parking.

Rick Nordyke, Livermore, spoke in support of parking and ADA parking next to the Bankhead Theater.

Tom Bergeon, Livermore, spoke in support of the west side hotel plan, parking next to the Bankhead Theater and splitting the apartments with half next to the I Street parking garage.

Drew Felker, Livermore, spoke in support of the east side plan.

Alexandra Felker, Livermore, spoke in support of affordable housing.

Nancy Bankhead, Livermore, spoke in support of the hotel placed next to the theater.

Dawn Argula, Chief Executive Officer and President Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce, spoke in support of a downtown luxury boutique hotel and the Stockmen's Rodeo Association proposal, and opposed homes located on I Street by the railroad tracks.

Steve Larranaga, Chairman of the Board, Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce, spoke in support of either the east side or west side plan, the Stockmen's Rodeo Association proposal and moving forward.

David Rounds, Livermore, spoke in support of workforce housing but not on the east side, parking, Blacksmith Square and the Stockmen's proposal.

Michael Ferrucci, Livermore, spoke in support of the Stockmen's proposal and a black box theater.

Tom O'Neil, Livermore, spoke in support of the Stockmen's proposal, open space, black box theater, science center, and parking and housing next to the Bankhead.

Denise Leddon, Livermore, spoke in support of a west side hotel and green space, the Stockmen's proposal and a parking structure next to the Bankhead.

Brendon Finley, Livermore, spoke in support of the Stockmen's Rodeo Association, housing and a sustainable hotel location.

Richard Ryon, Livermore, spoke in support of open space, a downtown park and future parking uses and needs.

John Stein, Livermore, spoke in support of open space and the Stockmen's proposal, and looking at parking needs, potential traffic improvement needs and an underpass at L Street.

Nancy Mulligan, Livermore, spoke in support of a parking garage adjacent to the Bankhead Theater, handicapped parking, a west side hotel and green space.

Sherri Souza, Board of Directors, Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce, Realtor, spoke in support of the hotel on the east side and said housing on Railroad Avenue was a better fit.

Jeff Kaskey, Livermore, spoke in support of Stockmen's Park, hotel on the north west corner, housing on Railroad Avenue, a black box theater, science center and parking next to the Bankhead Theater.

Arlin Grimm, Livermore, spoke in support of Stockmen's Park and said housing should be on L Street and Railroad Avenue.

Connie Kopps, Livermore, questioned if there were other proposals besides the Stockmen's agreement and other affordable housing options.

Carrie Hernandez, Livermore, spoke in support of the hotel on the east side closer to the Bankhead.

Janice Turner, Livermore, said she was representing the Sierra Club and spoke regarding the need for more green space.

Veronica Stewart Long, Livermore, said having a community focus would build bonds and resiliency.

There were no more speakers.

In response to questions by Mayor Marchand, City Attorney Jason Alcala said to move forward with affordable housing in Area A, he requested the Council consider the following amendment to the resolution: direct the City Manager, or his designee, to immediately initiate a general plan amendment and zoning amendment to allow affordable housing in Area A, and to take all necessary steps to prepare and process applications for those actions.

ON THE MOTION OF VM WOERNER, SECONDED BY CM SPEDOWFSKI AND CARRIED ON A 5-0 VOTE, THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A FIRST AMENDMENT TO AN AGREEMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RODEO GROUNDS AND SUNKEN GARDEN AREA AS A CIVIC CENTER AND PARKS AND RECREATION AREA; AND AUTHORIZING THE GRANT OF EASEMENT TO THE LIVERMORE STOCKMEN'S RODEO ASSOCIATION FOR A PARK AND INCLUDED THE AMENDMENT TO DIRECT THE IMMEDIATE INITIATION OF A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND ZONING AMENDMENT TO ALLOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AREA A, AND TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO PREPARE AND PROCESS APPLICATIONS FOR THOSE ACTIONS.

City Attorney Jason Alcala said the City Council would be presented a new resolution incorporating the amendment to be ratified at the continued meeting on January 30, 2018.

AT 11:26 PM, MAYOR MARCHAND CONTINUED THE MEETING TO TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2018, 7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 3575 PACIFIC AVENUE, LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA.

4.

ADJOURNMENT - AT 8:46 PM IT WAS MOVED BY VM WOERNER, SECONDED BY CM COOMBER AND CARRIED ON A 5-0 VOTE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING TO A REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON FEBRUARY 12, 2018 AT 7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 3575 PACIFIC AVENUE, LIVERMORE.

APPROVED:

JOHN P. MARCHAND, MAYOR

ATTEST: