Redevelopment Commission

TOWN OF GILBERT REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 19, 2022, 6:00 P.M. GILBERT POLICE DEPARTMENT AMPHITHEATRE 75 EAST CIVIC CENTER DRIVE GILBERT, ARIZONA 85296 COMMISSION PRESENT STAFF PRESENT TJ Claassen, Chair Dan Henderson, Director, Office of Economic Casey Kendel, Vice-Chair (via Teams) Development Cassandra Updike Amanda Elliott, Redevelopment Program Manager, Boe Bigelow Office of Economic Development Adam Baugh (via Teams) Sydney Bethel Price, Redevelopment Specialist, Office of Economic Development Chris Payne, Town Attorney (via Teams) Jocelyn Smith, Administrative Assistant, Office of Economic Development Jennika Horta, Management Analyst, Parks and Recreation Department Sean Carlin, Recreation Supervisor, Parks and Recreation Department. COUNCIL LIAISON PRESENT Kathy Tilque, Councilmember CALL TO ORDER OF THE REGULAR MEETING Chair Claassen called the regular meeting of the Redevelopment Commission to order at 6:01 P.M. ROLL CALL Amanda Elliott, Redevelopment Program Manager, called the roll and determined that a quorum was present. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS At this time, members of the public may comment on matters not on the agenda. Accordingly, the Commission’s response is limited to responding to criticism, asking staff to review a matter commented upon, or putting a matter on a future agenda. There were no citizens in attendance wishing to speak. Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting October 19, 2022 1 ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS 1. Meeting Minutes – Consider approval of minutes from the regular meeting held on June 15, 2022 MOTION: Commissioner Updike moved to approve the minutes of June 15, 2022, seconded by Vice-Chair Kendel. Motion passed 5-0 via roll call. 2. PR1040: Water Tower Plaza Repair/Upgrades (discussion only; no action taken) Aaron Allan of J2 Design presented on the Water Tower Plaza repair and upgrades. A public meeting was held recently, and based on the survey, citizens are interested in the following amenities: shady picnic areas, public restrooms, grassy areas for events, food truck connections, and a shady splashpad. Water for the plaza is recirculated and used in a responsible way. The new Ash Street realignment goes through the restroom area, which is required within a certain distance of the splashpad. Concept A would involve intimate gathering spaces and a flexible event space. It would also involve changing the parking on West Page Ave to parallel and an inlay of trees along the street frontage. Concept B maximizes the event space even more. The restroom is in the back corner with the shared pumphouse, and there is a rain curtain along the south edge. The granite ball would be relocated to the interior of the park space. Concept A received a higher score of 7.75, against 6.25 for Concept B. Feedback from the Parks Board has expressed preference for a flexible event space, not have solid shade over the splash pad, remove ground sprays outside the splash pad area, and show how the Water Tower and Paseo relate to each other as well as future projects. Commissioner Bigelow asked if the connection to the Paseo over the tracks on Ash Street will be pedestrian only. Aaron Allan responded that it will be pedestrian access only; however, there will be the ability for emergency vehicles to access the area. Commissioner Bigelow expressed preference for Concept A. It would be great for something to be done with the prison building in the area, whether it be converted into a museum, modified, or improved. Aaron Allan responded that the prison building is being considered. Commissioner Baugh expressed preference for Concept A. The shade elements are on the west side, where evening/afternoon shade is needed. There is much history with existing jail. The Miranda Rights case came out of this area. The green space could also be utilized for private events. Commissioner Baugh asked if the parallel parking proposed is currently angled, and how many spaces are lost by going parallel. Aaron Allan responded that it is currently angled and going parallel will bring it from 11 spots down to five. The effort is to create more of a pedestrian thoroughfare, as the Paseo will make this a heavy pedestrian access area. Vice-Chair Kendel stated that he was involved with the selection process for the contractor and the presentations received from said contractor were vetted extremely well. A lot of attention was paid to the structure of the Tower, which has become a symbol of the town. Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting October 19, 2022 2  It is his understanding that the Adobe Building will be used as a pumphouse for the water feature. He appreciates the tying together of the Paseo. If the shade is on the west side, it is possible it would close off the area, as a 60’ building was approved. The alleyway seems narrower than it is in the graphic, so there will have to be a lot of communication between the businesses in the area. Commissioner Updike expressed preference for Concept A, which honors the past while still moving forward. The smaller meeting spaces are ideal for the way the area is currently used. The parallel parking situation could be of concern, and she recommends sticking with angled parking. She likes the mass of shade structure. Chair Claassen commended the design. The flythrough is great. He asked about the materials for the shade structures. Aaron Allan responded that the concepts presented have placeholders, and the materials have not yet been decided. Chair Claassen stated that the size of the shade structure is not of concern. It could be viewed negatively that parking spaces will be lost both on the street and in the alleyway. He is good with the parallel because it connects with the east. He asked about the dimensions of the dedicated food truck parking. Aaron Allan responded that next to the picnic grove, food trucks could safely enter the park without conflicting with vehicles on the street or the parking. It is designed to be a temporary parking. Whether there is an electronic hookup, or they would run on generators is to be determined. Chair Claassen stated that it may be valuable to maintain the spaces for parking, and then flexibly convert to food truck parking as needed. He asked the town to think about the food truck program. He expressed preference for Concept A. The picnic area could be raised to be level with the grass. 3. Heritage District Update (discussion only; no action taken) Sydney Bethel Price, Redevelopment Specialist, Office of Economic Development, presented the Heritage District update. There is 1 million square feet of existing development in the Heritage District. There are nine active CIPS, and there is 30.2 acres of vacant land. As of fiscal year-end 2022, there is 840,000 square feet of approved new developments, 25 planned CIPs for fiscal year 2023-2033, and there will be 16.3 acres remaining after completion of these public and private projects. From fiscal year 2012 to fiscal year 2022, Heritage District sales tax revenue has increased by 313%. Gelato Cimmino and Heritage Park are currently in CD review. O.H.S.O Park is open as of August 2022. Six CIP projects were completed in fiscal year 2022, five of which were studies completed. Capital improvement projects are a main way that projects are completed in the Heritage District, but some were created through different avenues, ranging from new parking to placemaking opportunities to crosswalk upgrades. The University of Arizona had a build out on the fourth floor to expand their nursing program. There were several events completed in fiscal year 2022, led by the Parks and Recreation Department. The Heritage District won two awards with the AZ American Planning Association in 2021, and 2022, and the Pinnacle Award in 2022 from the International Downtown Association. Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting October 19, 2022 3 COMMUNICATIONS Executive Session – The Public Body may convene into an executive session at one or more times during the meeting as needed to confer with the Town Attorney for legal advice regarding any of the items listed on the agenda as authorized by A.R.S. §38-43.03.A.3. Council Liaison Kathy Tilque shared the following:  She thanked Sydney Bethel Price for reflecting on the good work done in the Heritage District.  There will be information on closing the gaps for mental health and suicide upcoming.  A Subcommittee of Communications has been created by council.  Work was performed on the police dispatch expansion.  A lease contract was approved with the Giving Machine, who will be downtown from November 6, 2022, to January 2, 2023.  Construction costs and lead times will be reviewed by Council.  The Vaughn Ventilator and the Basin are being combined.  Gilbert continues to have the lowest fees and taxes, with the highest levels of service.  The Veteran’s Day Ceremony will take place on November 10, 2022, at 5:30 p.m.  The Gilbert Sister Cities Friendship Garden Event will be on November 16, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. ADJOURN REGULAR SESSION Chair Claassen adjourned the regular meeting at 7:05 PM. __________________________________ TJ Claassen, Chairman Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting October 19, 2022 4