SPECIAL MEETING OF THE March 6, 2008
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, 6:30 p.m.
CITY OF CULVER CITY,
CALIFORNIA
Call to Order & Roll Call
The meeting of the Agency was called to order at 6:30 p.m.
Present: D. Scott Malsin, Agency Chair
Gary Silbiger, Agency Vice Chair
Alan Corlin, Agency Member
Carol A. Gross, Agency Member
Steven J. Rose, Agency Member
o0o
Reconvene
Chair Malsin reconvened the meeting at : p.m. with all Members present.
o0o
Invocation/Pledge of Allegiance
The invocation was led by and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by.
o0o
Public Comment for Items NOT On the Agenda
None.
o0o
Public Comment for Items On the Agenda
None.
o0o
Consent Calendar
Moved by Member, seconded by Member, and unanimously passed to approve
the Consent Calendar.
Page 2 of 4
Agency Minutes
March 6, 2008
Item C-1
Special Meeting Notice
The Agency approved the Notice of the Special Meeting.
o0o
Joint Item
Item J-1
A Joint Item before the City Council and the Redevelopment
Agency: Discussion of Washington/ National Development and Planning
(The tape begins at 6:42 p.m., in the midst of a slide presentation by Community
Development Director Blumenfeld)
With the aid of slides, Community Development Director Blumenfeld presented
an overview of the development and planning. Issues and topics in the
presentation included: a look at other like-developments and their effect on the
Washington/National planning; financial and sustainability issues with the project
and proposed solutions; parking and traffic issues; and building design including
surrounding pedestrian and open space plans. He asked that the Council move
forward with the project by agreeing on a development path on the Triangle site
using the new mixed-use ordinance. Six development options were then
presented and reviewed.
Marta Zaragoza, Hayden Tract Community Council, East Culver City
Neighborhood Alliance: commended staff on their presentation; requested a copy
of the fiscal analysis; and asked that the project remain transparent with lots of
community input.
Andy Weissman urged the City to pursue surplus parking at the proposed site
and questioned what happened to transit oriented development if transit doesn’t
get there, as circumstances could prevent the transit from going through.
Ellen Berkowitz, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, land use and CEQA counsel for
Urban Partners, voiced concern with the aspects of the presentation that
suggested a new RFP would be used to replace Urban Partners as they had
been under the impression that their Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA)
with the City would be extended. She reviewed the history of Urban Partners’
dealings with the City and introduced executives from Urban Partners.
John Gunn, Development Executive, Urban Partners, explained the difficulties
they faced with the project, including dealing with the MTA and private property
owners. He reviewed his company’s efforts and asserted that they had been Page 3 of 4
Agency Minutes
March 6, 2008
assured the ENA would be extended.
Paul Keller, Founding Member, Urban Partners, reviewed their efforts on behalf
of the City and asked that the ENA be extended.
Paul Sly, Brentwood Capital Partners, expressed concern with the timeline,
stating that it was critical to move forward quickly.
Andrew Sobel, Partner, Brentwood Capital Partners, asked that their project be
released, as it was in compliance under the original mixed-use ordinance, and
would be modified to be compliant with the new ordinance. He also spoke in
opposition to minimum retail requirements, and in favor of flexibility with
community benefits.
Staff asserted that the meeting was not meant to include a discussion contracts
or the acquisition of properties and that they would respond to the Urban
Partners’ allegations at a future meeting. It was also stated for the record that
the Agency had entered into two ENAs with Urban Partners, that both had
expired and that there was currently no contractual relationship between the
Agency and Urban Partners, and that the only way a new agreement would come
about would be as a result of a public meeting.
Agency and staff discussion included the following topics: the lack of a project
completion date; concern that the project could become delayed with excessive
studies and public comment; the need for a high-end hotel in the City; concern
that cultural requirements could become a burden to businesses and the City; the
cost of the 23 million dollars invested by the City; a call for affordable housing to
be included in the project; a call for a recreation area for young children to be
incorporated into the project; the need for community input to be heard at the
beginning of a project; concern with the public notification of the meeting;
concern that State TOD money was not applied for; compliments from Agency
members on the financial analysis; PUC findings that could delay or jeopardize
completion of the transit line; parking and traffic impact if the station is the end of
the line; the need for cooperation with MTA and the City of Los Angeles; the
need for shuttle service from the station to downtown Culver City; the possibility
of the private developers creating their own EIRs and making technical studies
and traffic data from the City’s EIR available to them; the project absorbing the
cost of Metro parking; approval for underground encroachment; and the next
steps to be taken in moving the project forward.
o0o
Public Comment for Items Not on the Agenda (Continued)
None. Page 4 of 4
Agency Minutes
March 6, 2008
o0o
Receipt of Correspondence
Moved by Member Rose, seconded by Member Silbiger and unanimously
passed to receive and file correspondence.
o0o
Items from Staff
None.
o0o
Items from the Agency
Member Gross asked that the meeting be adjourned in memory of Sam di
Felicio, a long time member of the community who was active with St Augustine
Church.
o0o
Adjournment
There being no further business, at 8:54 p.m., the Agency adjourned in memory
of Sam di Felico to a regular meeting on Monday, March 17, 2008, at 5:30 p.m. in
the Mike Balkman Council Chambers.
o0o
Alice Prasad
SECRETARY of the City of Culver City Redevelopment Agency, California
APPROVED
D. SCOTT MALSIN
CHAIRPERSON of the Redevelopment Agency, City of Culver City, California
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE March 10, 2008
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, 5:30 p.m.
CITY OF CULVER CITY,
CALIFORNIA
Call to Order & Roll Call
The meeting of the Agency was called to order at 5:30 p.m.
Present: D. Scott Malsin, Agency Chair
Gary Silbiger, Agency Vice Chair
Alan Corlin, Agency Member
Carol A. Gross, Agency Member
Steven J. Rose, Agency Member
o0o
Closed Session
The Agency immediately recessed to Closed Session to discuss the following
item:
CS-1 Conference with Real Property Negotiators
Re: Washington/National and Agency owned properties bounded by Washington,
Venice and National Boulevards
Agency Negotiator: Sol Blumenfeld, Assistant Executive Director, Todd Tipton,
Redevelopment Administrator and Murray Kane, Agency General Counsel
Other Parties Negotiators: Ben Kalmuk - 8930 Venice Melvin Segal - 8918, 8916,
8912, 8910 Venice Max & Florence Rhodes - 8926 VeniceGordon & Patricia
Dawson – 8936 Venice Pacific Investments – 8902 Venice
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Acquisition and Disposition of Property
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956
o0o
Reconvene
Chair Malsin reconvened the meeting at 7:39 p.m. with all Members present.
o0o
Invocation/Pledge of Allegiance
Covered during the City Council meeting.
o0o
Page 2 of 3
Agency Minutes
March 10, 2008
Closed Session Report
Chair Malsin reported that no action was taken in closed session.
o0o
Public Comment for Items NOT On the Agenda
None.
o0o
Public Comment for Items On the Agenda
None.
o0o
Consent Calendar
Moved by Member Corlin, seconded by Member Gross, and unanimously passed
to approve the Consent Calendar.
Item C-1
Special Meeting Notice
The Agency approved the Notice of the Special Meeting.
o0o
Public Comment for Items Not on the Agenda (Continued)
None.
o0o
Receipt of Correspondence
Moved by Member Rose, seconded by Member Gross and unanimously passed
to receive and file correspondence.
o0o
Items from Staff
None. Page 3 of 3
Agency Minutes
March 10, 2008
o0o
Items from the Agency
Member Rose read excerpts from a New York Times article on restaurants in the
United States that included Fresh in Culver City.
Member Gross reported that a recent broadcast on a local restaurant opening
portrayed Culver City in negative light. She also clarified that she preferred to
have materials provided on items and if the official record is not practical she
would like to receive a condensed version.
o0o
Adjournment
There being no further business, at 7:43 p.m., the Agency adjourned to a regular
meeting on Monday, March 17, 2008, at 5:30 p.m. in the Mike Balkman Council
Chambers.
o0o
Alice Prasad
SECRETARY of the City of Culver City Redevelopment Agency, California
APPROVED
D. SCOTT MALSIN
CHAIRPERSON of the Redevelopment Agency, City of Culver City, California