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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-24-2011 Adopted CC Min Sp Mtg MINUTES OF THE CIlY COUNCIL OF THE CIlY OF DUBLIN SPECIAL MEETING - OCTOBER 24. 2011 A special meeting of the Dublin City Council was held on Monday, October 24, 2011, in the Regional Meeting Room of the Dublin Civic Center. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 . p.m., by Mayor Sbranti. .~. -'V ROLL CALL PRESENT: ABSENT: Councilmembers Biddle, Hart, Swalwell, and Mayor Sbranti Councilmember Hildenbrand n ___n___+ _ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 5:30 p.m. The pledge of allegiance to the flag was recited by the City Council, Staff and those present. .... 1. Report from City Staff and the Urban Land Institute's Technical Assistance Panel Regarding Proposed Ideas and Recommendations for the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan Area. Economic Development Director Linda Smith presented the Staff Report and advised that, in June 2011, the City retained the services of the Urban Land Institute's Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) to provide feedback on the recently adopted Downtown Dublin Specific Plan. The study session would provide an opportunity for City Staff and the TAP to present the reported findings and recommendations to the City Council. Ms. Smith asked the City Council if they had any ideas or questions regarding the presentation. Cm. Biddle asked if Wi-Fi technology implementation could be implemented the length of the commercial district along Dublin Boulevard. City Manager Pattillo responded that could be researched to include cost and other options in the follow-up by Staff. DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES VOLUME 30 SPECIAL MEETING OCTOBER 24, 2011 1 Mayor Sbranti asked the panel for recommendations about opportunities for the northwest side of Village Parkway abutting Highway 680. Mr. David Johnson, TAP member, stated that, in his experience, having mandatory street front business entrances on a case by case scenario could assist with pedestrian circulation. Mr. Gerry Tierney, TAP member, stated that the parkin'g codes would need to be addressed. Mr. Ron Golem, TAP member, stated that a long term approach could be a parking structure that could be shared by various businesses. Mayor Sbranti asked the panel how the 680 southbound freeway off-ramp and pedestrian circulation on Golden Gate Drive and Amador Valley Boulevard could be addressed in terms of safety concerns. Mr. Patrick O'Keefe, TAP member, stated that may be an issue that could be addressed with Caltrans in terms of signalization to ensure pedestrian safety. Vm. Hart thanked the ULI panel for the informative study of the Downtown area. Cm. Biddle stated the Transit Oriented District should be the focus and then the rest of the Downtown plan would follow. He stated the importance of incorporating bikeways in the streetscapes plan could be a challenge. Mayor Sbranti stated his recommended areas of focus are parking and the potential for a parking structure, and the incorporation of entertainment in the vicinity of the parking structures to encourage pedestrian traffic. Ms. Smith asked the ULI panel for their feedback regarding parking structures that were City owned as opposed to those incorporated in development projects. Patrick O'Keefe, TAP member, responded that approaching existing businesses with a partnership concept could be proven to greatly benefit all surrounding businesses. Ms. Smith summarized the City Council's areas of focus for the Downtown to include the following: Analyze the potential for Wi-Fi on Dublin Boulevard for both the long term and short term benefit; Village Parkway articulation; Address parking requirements, including sharing of parking and review of existing codes specifically in the Village Parkway District; Amador Plaza and St. Patrick's Way relating to freeway ramp exit and the possibility of lowering the speed limit; potential priority Infrastructure improvements on Village Parkway and Dublin Boulevard; Prioritize the Transit Oriented District; Incorporate bikeways into Dublin Boulevard streetscapes; Prioritize Golden Gate Drive and the connection into Dublin Place; Review existing fees to encourage development activity; DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES VOLUME 30 SPECIAL MEETING OCTOBER 24, 2011 2 Encourage pads along Dublin Blvd.; and Evaluate entertainment uses that could take advantage of the BART parking garage. Ms. Smith stated that Staff would continue to update City Council on activities that had occurred on the Downtown area. City Manager Pattillo stated that all of the progress in the Downtown area was with continuous engagement of the business community. Mayor Sbranti thanked the ULI panel and Staff for their work on the study session. --+- OTHER BUSINESS Brief INFORMA TION ONLY reports from Council and/or Staff, including Committee Reports and Reports by Council related to meetings attended at City expense (AB 1234) None. -. +-- ------- --, ADJOURNMENT 10.1 There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. in memory of Staff Sgt. Sean Diamond and our fallen troops. Minutes prepared by Dora A. Ramirez, Deputy City Clerk. ATTEST: b~ ~ / . Deputy City Clerk (J{~, Mayor DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES VOLUME 30 SPECIAL MEETING OCTOBER 24, 2011 3