APPROVED MINUTES
SUNNYVALE JOINT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND CITY COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2007 

 

At 9:47 p.m. Mayor Lee convened the Redevelopment Agency to meet in joint session with City Council.

 

ROLL CALL – JOINT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY/ CITY COUNCIL

 

PRESENT:

Agency Chair/Mayor Otto Lee

Agency Vice Chair/Vice Mayor Anthony Spitaleri

Agency Member/Councilmember John Howe

Agency Member/Councilmember Dean J. Chu

Agency Member/Councilmember Ron Swegles

Agency Member/Councilmember Melinda Hamilton

Agency Member/Councilmember Christopher Moylan

 

ABSENT:

None

STAFF PRESENT:

Amy Chan, Agency Executive Director/City Manager

Robert Walker, Assistant City Manager

David Kahn, Agency Counsel/City Attorney

Robert Paternoster, Agency Secretary/ Director of Community Development

Katherine Bradshaw Chappelear, Agency Clerk/City Clerk

 

JOINT SESSION - PUBLIC HEARINGS / GENERAL BUSINESS

 

4.

RESOLUTIONS (2)

RDA 07-001

 

Approval of Amended and Restated Disposition, Development and Owner Participation Agreement with Downtown Sunnyvale Mixed Use LLC (RREEF and Sand Hill Properties Joint Venture) for the Redevelopment of the Town Center Property

 

 

Agency Counsel/City Attorney Kahn introduced Lee Rosenthal, Agency Redevelopment Counsel, who was in attendance to assist with any questions Agency/Council may have.  Agency Counsel/City Attorney Kahn then presented the staff report and explained that the Redevelopment Agency is legally considered a separate agency.

 

Agency Member/Councilmember Chu asked if the City will own all of the parking within Block 18.  Agency Counsel/City Attorney Kahn stated the City will own all of the public parking.  Agency Member/Councilmember Chu inquired as to where the private parking would be located in this area.  Agency Counsel/City Attorney Kahn stated there will be private parking spaces dedicated to office and residential townhomes within this development. 

 

Agency Member/Councilmember Chu confirmed with Agency Counsel/City Attorney Kahn that the parking area under the Target store is owned by Target and is private parking.

 

Agency Member/Councilmember Moylan questioned what would happen if the Reciprocal Easement Agreement (REA) is not signed by all parties.  In the recent past, this issue occurred as part of the previous developer’s breach of the Disposition and Development and Owner Participation Agreement (DDOPA); whereas, the developer stated Macy’s would not sign the agreement.  Agency Member/Councilmember Moylan stated he thought it was understood that dates would only be placed on the calendar after Macy’s signature had been received.  However, the staff report lists hard and fast dates, but does not list a date by which the REA must be signed.  Agency Member/Councilmember Moylan asked for clarification regarding the consequences should one of the anchor stores not sign the new REA.  He questioned if the entire project would be halted. 

 

Agency Counsel/City Attorney Kahn stated there is a structure in place under the DDOPA where closing is required to occur by April 15, 2007; however, for good cause it could be extended by the Agency Executive Director.  Staff and the developer anticipate that the signatures and the approvals for the REA and DDOPA will be obtained prior to April 15.  The milestone dates were added (with flexibility) and with the understanding that commencement of demolition and excavation has to occur by October 15, and completed by December 31, 2007.

 

Agency Member/Councilmember Moylan asked what would occur if all parties do not sign by April 15, 2007.  Agency Counsel/City Attorney Kahn stated the Agency Executive Director would have the discretion to extend the closing date if it appeared that a signature was imminent.

 

Agency Member/Councilmember Moylan asked, if an extension had to be granted (which would require a modification to the milestone dates), what would be the process for amending the dates.  Agency Counsel/City Attorney Kahn stated the DDOPA can be amended.  Should unforeseen circumstances occur, the developer may immediately come before the Agency with an explanation of why the delay occurred, along with a request for an extension to the milestone dates.  Agency Member/Councilmember Moylan confirmed with Agency Counsel/City Attorney Kahn that the Agency has the prerogative to decide whether to approve or disapprove any modifications to the milestones. 

 

Public hearing opened 9:56 p.m.

 

Peter Pau, applicant, stated his company is currently under contract with Fourth Quarter Properties and there is not an unlimited amount of time to close escrow.  He stated his company is on a deadline to perform, and they must get approvals from the City, Macy’s and Target.  If these approvals are not received by March 2007, Fourth Quarter Properties can cancel the transfer to Mr. Pau (Sand Hill Properties and RREEF).  Mr. Pau stated they are hopeful they can get started and meet the deadlines.

 

Agency Member/Councilmember Hamilton left the dais.

 

In his closing statement, Mr. Pau stated his company did not get everything they asked for, but he has been treated fairly.  Mr. Pau stated that the City Attorney’s numbers are conservative.  He believes shared tax increments to the Agency from this project will be significantly higher.  Additionally, the sales tax projections were somewhat conservative and Mr. Pau believes that should a hotel be approved, the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) would be approximately seven-hundred thousand dollars.

 

Agency Member/Councilmember Hamilton returned to the dais.

 

Public hearing closed 10:13 p.m.

 

MOTION: Agency Member/Councilmember Howe moved, and Agency Member/Councilmember Chu seconded, to approve Alternative No. 1: Agency/Council approves Resolution authorizing the Agency Executive Director/City Manager to execute the Amended and Restated Disposition and Development and Owner Participation Agreement with Downtown Sunnyvale Mixed Use LLC (RREEF and Sand Hill Property Company).

 

Agency Member/Councilmember Howe asked if he should make the motion as a joint Agency Member/Councilmember.  Agency Counsel/City Attorney Kahn stated the motion should be made by the Agency Member as this is an agreement with the Agency only.

 

Restated MOTION: Agency Member Howe moved and Agency Member Chu seconded to approve Alternative No. 1: Agency approves resolution authorizing the Agency Executive Director to execute the Amended and Restated Disposition and Development and Owner Participation Agreement with Downtown Sunnyvale Mixed Use LLC (RREEF and Sand Hill Property Company).

 

VOTE: 7-0

 

Agency Counsel/City Attorney Kahn stated that although this is an Agency approval of the DDOPA, City acknowledgement is also required.  He stated City Council will now need to act on this item.  He stated he neglected to add an alternative for this item in the staff report but that Council would need to vote on Council’s approval of the resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the Amended and Restated Disposition and Development and Owner Participation Agreement with Downtown Sunnyvale Mixed Use LLC (RREEF and Sand Hill Property Company).

 

Agency Member/Councilmember Hamilton left the dais.

 

MOTION:  Councilmember Howe moved and Councilmember Moylan seconded to approve proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the Amended and Restated Disposition and Development and Owner Participation Agreement with Downtown Sunnyvale Mixed Use LLC (RREEF and Sand Hill Property Company).

 

VOTE: 6-0 (Agency Member/Councilmember Hamilton was not at the dais)

 

5.

RDA 07-002

 

 

Construction Mitigation Plan Submitted by Sand Hill Properties for the Construction Phase of the Town Center Mall Redevelopment

 

 

Karen Davis, Economic Development Manager, presented the staff report.

 

Agency Member/Councilmember Hamilton returned to the dais.

 

Agency Member/Councilmember Howe confirmed with Manager Davis that she attended all three outreach meetings and felt the City did adequate outreach on the mitigation plan.

 

Public hearing opened 10:21 p.m.

 

Jeff Wermuth, Sand Hill Property Company, thanked staff for holding comprehensive public outreach meetings.

 

Public hearing closed 10:23 p.m.

 

Agency Member/Councilmember Chu inquired if the heritage oak tree should be an amendment to Mitigation Requirement 20 (Protect the six heritage resource redwood trees during construction).  Agency Secretary/Director Paternoster stated the tree would be covered by City Council’s earlier action on the Special Development Permit, but it could also be specifically identified in the requirement if requested.  The developer has committed to have an arborist take whatever steps are necessary to save all the trees on the site. 

 

Agency Member/Councilmember Hamilton confirmed the first of the monthly meetings with the developer and the downtown businesses will be February 21, 2007.  Manager Davis stated that staff has offered to hold an earlier meeting, if requested, but they will not meet any later than February 21, 2007.  The meetings are to be held at a minimum of once a month, but certainly may meet more often.

 

MOTION: Agency Member/Councilmember Chu moved and Agency Vice Chair/Vice Mayor Spitaleri seconded to approve Alternative No. 1: Council/Agency approves Sunnyvale Town Center Construction Mitigation Plan.

 

Agency Member/Councilmember Chu stated he did not add in the heritage oak as staff stated it was covered in the motion for the Special Development Permit approved earlier this evening.

 

Reopened public hearing 10:27 p.m.

 

Chris Beardsley inquired about bus schedule and routes around the proposed development.  He lives near the project and is concerned over increased bus traffic near his home.  Agency Secretary/Director Paternoster stated it is premature to discuss the operation of the buses as it does not pertain to the construction mitigation. 

 

Agency Member/Councilmember Howe requested that Agency Secretary/Director Paternoster obtain a copy of Mr. Beardsley’s speaker card and contact him with updates on the project and all transportation issues.

 

Public hearing closed 10:28 p.m.

 

VOTE: 7-0

 

Agency Member/Councilmember Hamilton stated she had electronically voted on the Council portion of Item 4 (RDA 07-001) prior to leaving the dais, but her vote was not counted and she would like to request that Council re-vote on this motion.

 

Agency Counsel/City Attorney Kahn agreed a re-vote (of the Council) would be in order.

 

Item 4 Resolutions (RDA -07-001):

Approval of Amended and Restated Disposition, Development and Owner Participation Agreement with Downtown Sunnyvale Mixed Use LLC (RREEF and Sand Hill Properties Joint Venture) for the Redevelopment of the Town Center Property

 

Restated MOTION:  Councilmember Howe moved and Councilmember Moylan seconded to approve proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the Amended and Restated Disposition and Development and Owner Participation Agreement with Downtown Sunnyvale Mixed Use LLC (RREEF and Sand Hill Property Company).

 

RE-VOTE: 7-0

 

 

ADJOURNMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL

 

Agency Chair/Mayor Lee adjourned the Council Meeting portion of the Redevelopment Agency/Council meeting and continued the Redevelopment Agency Meeting at 10:32 p.m.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

MOTION: Agency Vice Chair Spitaleri moved and Agency Member Howe seconded to approve the Consent Calendar.

 

VOTE: 7-0

 

RDA 1. A.

Approval of Draft Minutes of Regular Redevelopment Agency Meeting of December 12, 2006

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

None

 

NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS

 

AGENCY:

None

STAFF:

None

 

ADJOURNMENT OF REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

 

Agency Chair Lee adjourned the Redevelopment Agency meeting at 10:33 p.m.

 

 

Katherine Bradshaw Chappelear

Agency Clerk