HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-05-07 - AGENDA REPORTS - NEWHALL IMPROV (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO:; Honorable Mayor and Members of the City ouncil
FROM: George A. Caravalho, City Manager
DATE:: May 7, 1996 A/
SUBJECT; Downtown Newhall Improvement Program
BACKGROUND
Seven community workshops have been facilitated by Michael Freedman of the urban design firm Freedman,
Tung and Bottomley (FTB), to gather community consensus on issues to revitalize the core area Downtown
Newhall. Staff has conducted an extensive notification program that has included direct mail invitations, print
ads, radio spots, and press releases. Every workshop was taped and aired on public access television following
each meeting. Some of the workshops were re -aired at the request of certain participants.
Despite this comprehensive notification program, a group of property owners and merchants was concerned about
the adequacy of the public participation process and requested that the City meet with them separately to discuss
the program. As a result, a meeting was held on November 2, 1996 between this group, City staff, and Michael
Freedman where a parking analysis was requested by the property ownerslmerchants. Three additional meetings
with members of the same group and others were facilitated by staff (without Michael Freedman) on February
20, 1996, March 10, 1996 and March 24, 1996 to further discuss the issues, including financing, relocation, and
circulation. As a result of these meetings, the group recommended that a study session be conducted by Michael
Freedman to discuss the Downtown Newhall Improvement Program Document prior to presenting it to City
Council for formal consideration. Staff believes that a program update and additional public input from this
meeting will be beneficial to the Council, particularly an overview of Michael Freedman's proposal to utilize
redevelopment financing to implement the program.
The document describes a course of action that will result in the restoration of economic and physical vitality to
Downtown Newhall. The action plan is made up of a combination of community -sponsored policies, programs
and projects designed to positively affect the behavior of the marketplace in Downtown Newhall. The document
refers to revitalization issues that include design, capital improvements, parking, incentives, and a financing
strategy. The financing strategy offers three options to develop a redevelopment project area that benefits
Newhall.
Staff has mailed in advance to the study session a copy of the document to the downtown core property owners
and workshop participants as well as providing direct deliveries to the downtown core merchants, community
groups and organizations.
RECOMMENDATION
Receive presentation of the Newhall Downtown Plan from Mr. Michael Freedman and participate with the
community in this workshop. Refer to staff for compilation and analysis of information received and schedule
for City Council action at the regular June 1 I City Council meeting,
GAC:AV
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