January 10, 2006

SUBJECT:       Resolution Requesting that the Department of Defense Recognize the Sunnyvale City Council as the Local Redevelopment Authority for Onizuka Air Force Station

REPORT IN BRIEF

Staff is recommending that City Council approve a Resolution (Attachment A) requesting that the Department of Defense, through the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), recognize the City Council of the City of Sunnyvale as the Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) for Onizuka Air Force Station (AFS).  This is based on the boundaries of Onizuka AFS being completely within the jurisdiction of the City of Sunnyvale; the City Council is the sole body having zoning authority over Onizuka AFS; and the seven-member City Council is the duly elected body of the City of Sunnyvale.  As the LRA, the City Council will be responsible for preparing the Reuse Plan, the primary planning document for base redevelopment, and will establish a Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC) to provide input to the LRA during the planning process.  Once recognized as the LRA, the City of Sunnyvale will be eligible to apply for economic adjustment assistance and funding for reuse planning, which will be needed to initiate the planning process.

BACKGROUND

On May 16, 2005, the Secretary of Defense published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congressional Defense Committees and the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission a list of military installations that the Secretary of Defense recommended for closure or realignment. Onizuka AFS was included in the list of military installations recommended for closure, and the recommended closures have since been confirmed.

The Cities of Mountain View and Sunnyvale have a long history of working cooperatively on issues related to the future of NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Federal Airfield, and other military activities that may impact those entities.  In January 1996, the two cities entered into a Moffett Field Joint Powers Agreement to allow coordinated planning efforts and provide for joint consideration of land use plans, policies and strategies relating to the potential transition of Moffett Federal Airfield from its Federal use to other uses. In June 1996, as allowed by the JPA, the Moffett Field Committee of the Mountain View City Council was the designated LRA for the BRAC realignment of the Onizuka Air Station (the affected housing units were located in the City of Mountain View’s sphere of influence).  Then, in the June 1997 BRAC, the composition of the LRA was changed to be the same as the Mountain View/Sunnyvale JPA to reflect the shared interest of both cities in the Onizuka realignment (at that time, Onizuka property was included in both cities’ spheres of influence).   

The boundaries of Onizuka AFS are now completely within the jurisdiction of the City of Sunnyvale and on July 19, 2005 the Sunnyvale City Council unanimously approved Report to Council 05-217 recommending the City of Sunnyvale pursue efforts to seek designation as the LRA for the closure of Onizuka AFS.  On December 13, 2005, the Mountain View City Council also unanimously approved a Resolution (Attachment B), designating Sunnyvale City Council as the LRA for the reuse activities associated with the closure of Onizuka AFS.

EXISTING POLICY

Legislative Management Sub-Element, Goal 7.3C: Participate in intergovernmental activities, including national, state and regional groups, in order to represent the City’s interests, influence policy and regulations, and enhance awareness.

DISCUSSION

Staff recommends that the City Council consider approving a Resolution  recommending that the Department of Defense, through the OEA, designate the City Council as the LRA for Onizuka AFS.  In serving as the LRA, the City Council will fulfill a number of important roles.  The LRA serves as the primary community point of contact for all matters relating to the closure of the base.  The LRA conducts outreach efforts and designs a comprehensive plan for reuse of the BRAC property, culminating in a redevelopment plan.

If the City Council approves the recommended resolution, staff will forward the resolution to the OEA for consideration.  Consultation with OEA staff suggests OEA will reach a decision regarding formal LRA recognition within three weeks of request submittal. 

Development of the Reuse Plan will proceed according to BRAC reuse planning timelines and requirements, and will take several years.  City staff has already undertaken significant pre-planning efforts and will continue to keep Council informed throughout the process.  Over the next six months, once formally recognized, the LRA will need to take a number of initial steps to start the reuse planning process:

·         Determine status of the property after federal screening

·         Establish LRA by-laws

·         Develop the Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC) structure and a process for receiving input from stakeholders

·         Appoint members to the CAC

·         Develop a scope of work and apply for an OEA Planning Grant

City staff will provide a detailed project plan once the LRA has been formally recognized and established.

The proposed resolution incorporates the following reasons why the City Council should be designated as the LRA:

·         The 23 acre Onizuka Air Force Station falls entirely within the jurisdiction of the City of Sunnyvale.

The base operates on land directly adjacent to Sunnyvale general industrial properties.  As such, the redeveloped air station will be functionally integrated with the City of Sunnyvale.

·         The City Council is a duly elected body of the City of Sunnyvale, and as such, represents the citizens of the City of Sunnyvale and is the only jurisdiction with zoning authority over Onizuka Air Force Station.

The citizens of Sunnyvale elect seven City Council members to set the policy direction for the City.  Acting as the LRA, the City Council will be establishing important policies that will guide future development of Onizuka AFS.  Under applicable base closure regulations, the LRA must be comprised of representatives with zoning authority over the closed base.

·         The closure of Onizuka Air Force Station presents a significant opportunity for Sunnyvale’s community and economic development.

A variety of community and economic development opportunities will need to be carefully explored, all of which will benefit the citizens of Sunnyvale and the region, enhance the community and increase economic vitality overall.

·         The City Council, as the recognized and designated LRA will prepare a Reuse Plan, which will serve as the primary planning document that will establish the vision for base redevelopment.

The Reuse Plan will guide the planning process and identify feasible land uses for base redevelopment.  The Reuse Plan for Onizuka AFS will include the following components:

o        Suggested land reuses,

o        Infrastructure and utility appraisal and plan,

o        Market assessment,

o        Fiscal and financial analysis,

o        Historic evaluation and preservation plan,

o        Environmental review, and

o        Implementation program.

Federal law also requires the Reuse Plan to balance homeless needs in the City of Sunnyvale with other community development objectives.  The Reuse Plan is likely to take several years to develop and require significant staff time.

·         The City Council will establish a Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC) representing diverse stakeholders within the City and the region.  The CAC will provide input to the LRA during the reuse planning process.

The overall approach of the City as it pursues the reuse planning process will be to keep the public informed and solicit input in order to develop a Reuse Plan that reflects local and regional desires.  The LRA will form a CAC to provide advice on formation of the Reuse Plan.  The CAC will represent the interests of diverse stakeholders in the community and region with an interest in the redevelopment of Onizuka AFS and will be established for the duration of the reuse planning process.  Sunnyvale City Council, serving as the LRA, will also receive input from neighboring jurisdictions and public agencies other than the City in order to develop a Reuse Plan that reflects both local and regional interests.

·         Once the City of Sunnyvale is recognized as the LRA, it will be   eligible to receive economic adjustment assistance and funding for reuse planning.

FISCAL IMPACT

There is no fiscal impact to this report.

PUBLIC CONTACT

Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda in public places, on the City’s web page, and the publication of the general business/public hearing items in the San Jose Mercury News.

ALTERNATIVES

1.      Approve a Resolution requesting the Department of Defense, through the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), to recognize the City Council of the City of Sunnyvale as the Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) for Onizuka Air Force Station.

2.      Do not approve a Resolution requesting the Department of Defense, through the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), to recognize the City Council of the City of Sunnyvale as the Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) for Onizuka Air Force Station.

3.      Other action as directed by Council.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends Alternative #1, approve a Resolution requesting the Department of Defense, through the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), to recognize the City Council of the City of Sunnyvale as the Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) for Onizuka Air Force Station. 

This document will serve as a reference document throughout the Onizuka Air Force Station BRAC process to aid for all stakeholders in clarifying roles, expectations, and outcomes.

Reviewed by:

Robert Walker, Assistant City Manager

Prepared by: Coryn Campbell, Neighborhood and Community Resources Manager

Approved by:

Amy Chan

City Manager

Attachments

A.  Resolution (.doc)