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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 8.1 Downtown Econ Vitality Pln - 'I, .... . _. .. CITY CLERK File # D~[t]~-~~ . AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: January 5, 1999 SUBJECT: Downtown Economic Vitality Plan (Report Prepared by: Greg Reuel, Economic Development Director)Gf::. Exhibit 2: 1998 City of Dublin Downtown Economic Vitality Plan Exhibit 1: Area identified as "Downtown" by the Downtown Study Task Force 10-15-97 City of Dublin Inventory ofIndustrial, Office & Retail Space Dublin Downtown Specific Plan StrategieslPrograms Already Accomplished Project Entries Drawing Downtown Entry Elements Drawing Other Center Median Theme Potentials Drawing ATTACHMENT A: Exhibit 3: Exhibit 4: Exhibit 5: Exhibit 6: ATTACHMENTB: . RECOMMENDATION: Downtown Study Task Force Recommendations ~0~ 1. Accept Report. 2. Direct Staff regarding which Task Force recommendations should be included in the 1999-2000 preliminary Goals and Objectives program for future Council prioritization. This would include only those recommendations which the Council has not already funded (see Attachment B). FINANCIAL STATEMENT: The 1998-99 FY Budget includes funding for the following activities: . $5,000 for community promotion of Dublin Farmers' Market. . $10,600 for the purchase of new festive Downtown Street Banner to promote shopping in Dublin · $25,000 to fund consultant services to analyze the feasibility/desirability of creating a redevelopment agency in the City. The costs associated with those Downtown Economic Vitality Plan recommendations that are not funded in the 1998-99 FY budget have yet to be determined. . COPIES TO: ITEM NO. 8~ t H:\GREG\AGDASTMT - dstf.doc JII"'"' ,- , t .. DESCRIPTION: . The Downtown Study Task Force (DSTF) was established by the City Council in October of 1997 to analyze the current and future market conditions affecting the Downtown area of Dublin. The Task Force was asked to meet on a regular basis and with the assistance of City Staff formulate a Downtown Economic Vitality Plan that could be reviewed by the City Council for implementation. The Plan (Attachment A) is the cumulative effort of the DSTF to accomplish this goal. The Downtown Economic Vitality Plan gives an overview of the process and issues studied by the DSTF and contains recommendations to the City Council by the DSTF. The recommendations contained in the Downtown Economic Vitality Plan were majority consensus recommendations by members of the DSTF that may need additional Staff analysis before the Council can act on them. Additional Staff analysis of recommendations deemed meritorious by the Council might include expanded input from Planning, Building, Public Works and the City Attorney's Office, along with a cost analysis associated with a given recommendation. Recommendations are listed as short term and long term objectives, with the short term objectives viewed as actions that the City could implement within a one year period to help stimulate economic commerce in Dublin's Downtown. Members of the DSTF expressed a desire to have the City Council review and implement both short and long term recommendations presented in the Downtown Economic Vitality Plan as expeditiously as possible. As Council reviews the recommendations listed in the Downtown Economic Vitality Plan, certain recommendations will require funding in order to be implemented. The current 1998-99 Budget includes funding to implement the following recommendations found in the Downtown Economic Vitality Plan: 1. Continue the promotion of the Dublin Farmers' Market with the market being moved, if possible, to a location more central to Dublin's Downtown. . 2. Purchase new festive banners that would promote a "Shop Dublin" campaign. 3. Commission a Redevelopment Feasibility Study in order to determine whether the adoption of a redevelopment plan is legally, politically and financially practicable. All other recommendations found in the Downtown Economic Vitality Plan have yet to be analyzed with respect to cost and, in some cases, feasibility (see Attachment A). RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends that the Council select any of the remaining recommendations that should be included in the preliminary Goals and Objectives for Council consideration during the Goals & Objective Study Session in early- _1999. This will give Staff time to provide some preliminary cost/resource analysis ofthese recommendations. Recommendations given a high priority by the Council at the Goals & Objectives meeting would then be presented in the Fiscal Year 1999-2000 budget. . - 2- , '. , .. . Downtown Study Task Force Recommendations Attachment 8 RECOMMENDATIONS CURRENTLY FUNDED AND PROCEEDING WITH IMPLEMENTATION 1. Continue the promotion of the Dublin Farmers' Market with the market being moved, if possible, to a location more central to Dublin's Downtown. 2. Purchase new festive banners that would promote a "Shop Dublin" campaign. 3. Commission a Redevelopment Feasibility Study in order to determine whether the adoption of a redevelopment plan is legally, politically and financially practicable. RECOMMENDATIONS NEEDING APPROVAL AND PRIORITIZATION BY COUNCIL Short-term recommendations: . 1. Continue City sponsorship of the annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration and support of a 2nd major festival in the summer, such as the Dublin Pasta & Jazz Festival. 2. Commission design study for integrated approach to improving the physical appearance to the Downtown area. This study would bring back to the Council specific design ideas and estimated costs for new signs, flags, banners, streetscape, monuments, project entries, street and sidewalk medallions, light standards, benches and any other physical improvements ideas deemed appropriate for the Downtown. 3. Appropriate additional funds to help market Downtown properties. These funds might include the creation of a new brochure highlighting the Downtown, participation in area trade shows, such as the International Council of Shopping Center Conventions, etc. Lona term recommendations: 3. 4. 5. . 6. 7. 8. 1. Initiate specific land use studies for designated areas of Dublin's Downtown that would include the following areas: a) Village Parkway commercial area, b) West BART Station area, c) Downtown core shopping area that would include both the Mervyn's and Target anchored shopping centers. 2. Promote the creation of Downtown gathering places to enhance the image of Dublin's Downtown. This might include the creation of a location with public art or a fountain; the development of a performing arts building; or private developments that bring people Downtown to gather and enjoy their surrounding. Promote public/private development of the West Dublin BART Station for a mixed- use development. Implement a Facade Improvement Program that provides incentives for individuals wanting to improve the condition and appearance of Downtown storefronts. Modify the General Plan in the Downtown area to encourage uses that would improve the vitality of the Downtown. Create new flexible zoning to accommodate multiple downtown uses. Review and change, where appropriate, restrictive zoning policies. Encourage the development of a new downtown supermarket before one is built in eastern Dublin. ATTACHMENT B