REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Appointment of a Santa Clara Station Area Plan Task Force
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Promote and Enhance Economic, Housing and Transportation Development
BACKGROUND
On September 13, 2022, the City Council approved the Cooperative Agreement between the City of Santa Clara and the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) for the preparation of the Santa Clara Station Area Plan. As presented at the hearing, the community engagement strategy includes the formation of a Station Area Task Force (SATF).
Since approval of the Cooperative Agreement, staff has coordinated with representatives of Santa Clara University, the Old Quad Residents Association, Reclaiming Our Downtown, and with the Historical and Landmarks Commission, Cultural Commission, and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to identify a list of specific candidates for the Task Force for Council approval.
DISCUSSION
Community engagement is an integral part of the Santa Clara Station Area Plan process to produce a final plan that is supported by the community and various stakeholders in Santa Clara, and that provides a clear vision for the ongoing development of the area over the next 20 to 30 years. Staff is recommending that the SATF be advisory and non-voting, and be time limited to the duration of the Plan process. The SATF meetings will be formally noticed and open to the public.
In order to proceed on schedule, the VTA is planning to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) in January 2023 for a consultant team to support the planning process. Appointment of the SATF at the December6th City Council meeting will allow SATF members to participate in the RFP process. Appointment at a later date may allow for participation in portions of the RFP process, such as consultant interviews, but staff is recommending that the SATF be formed at this time.
Staff encourages a Task Force size that is manageable and allows the group to have more in-depth discussions of key topics while also completing the Plan process in a timely manner. Staff recommends a seven-member task force made up of residents and stakeholders within the community to serve on the SATF. The proposed list below represents a balanced group of the multiple stakeholders in the Station Area:
§ TBD - Representative of Old Quad Residents Association (OQRA)
§ Dan Ondrasek - Representative of Reclaiming Our Downtown (ROD)
§ Dave Schoenwetter - Representative of Santa Clara University
§ Patricia Leung - Representative of the Historical and Landmarks Commission
§ Candida Diaz - Representative of the Cultural Commission
§ Rob Mayer - Architect and Santa Clara resident
§ Jane Casamajor - Representative of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Of this group, the Old Quad Residents Association (OQRA) member is yet to be identified. Upon staff request, OQRA nominated Jonathon Evans as the member to represent them. However, Mr. Evans shares a household with the representative identified for the Historical and Landmarks Commission. To provide the best opportunity for broader community representation, staff has requested for OQRA to identify an alternative member. Mr. Evans communicated to staff that OQRA feels his particular background makes him the best representative for OQRA and that they did not agree with staff concerns regarding two members of the same household serving on the Task Force. OQRA has however indicated that an alternative member will be identified by OQRA if the City Council agrees with staff’s recommendation that the Task Force include a broader representation of the community by not including two members of the same household.
Staff is seeking concurrence from the City Council to convene the SATF with the aforementioned list of representatives. The Task Force will meet once this year to determine the one member that will review the consultant Request for Proposals (RFP) alongside staff. The regular meetings will start early next year, and we are anticipating 15 SATF meetings to occur at key project milestones.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This is an information report only and no action is being taken by the City Council and no environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) is required at this time. The Downtown Precise Plan will undergo environmental review and an environmental document will be brought to the City Council at the time when the Council considers the Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City for appointing the Santa Clara Station Area Plan Task Force other than administrative staff time and expense.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and the Finance Department.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Appoint a Task Force to support the preparation of the Santa Clara Station Area Plan with membership including: Dan Ondrasek - Representative of Reclaiming Our Downtown (ROD); Dave Schoenwetter - Representative of Santa Clara University; Patricia Leung - Representative of the Historical and Landmarks Commission; Candida Diaz - Representative of the Cultural Commission; Rob Mayer - Architect and Santa Clara resident; Jane Casamajor - Representative of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee; and a representative of the Old Quad Residents Association (OQRA) to be subsequently determined.
2. Appoint a Task Force to support the preparation of the Santa Clara Station Area Plan with membership including: Dan Ondrasek - Representative of Reclaiming Our Downtown (ROD); Dave Schoenwetter - Representative of Santa Clara University; Patricia Leung - Representative of the Historical and Landmarks Commission; Candida Diaz - Representative of the Cultural Commission; Rob Mayer - Architect and Santa Clara resident; Jane Casamajor - Representative of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee; and Jonathan Evans of the Old Quad Residents Association (OQRA).
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Appoint a Task Force to support the preparation of the Santa Clara Station Area Plan with membership including: Dan Ondrasek - Representative of Reclaiming Our Downtown (ROD); Dave Schoenwetter - Representative of Santa Clara University; Patricia Leung - Representative of the Historical and Landmarks Commission; Candida Diaz - Representative of the Cultural Commission; Rob Mayer - Architect and Santa Clara resident; Jane Casamajor - Representative of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee; and a representative of the Old Quad Residents Association (OQRA) to be subsequently determined.
Staff
Reviewed by: Andrew Crabtree, Community Development Director
Approved by: Rajeev Batra, City Manager