City of Santa Clara
Meeting Minutes
Downtown Community Task Force
Draft
6:00 PM Hybrid Meeting
City Hall Council
Chambers/Virtual
1500 Warburton Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
07/20/2023
The City of Santa Clara is conducting the Downtown Community Task Force in a hybrid manner, in-person and a method for the public to participate remotely:
Via Zoom:
https://santaclaraca.zoom.us/j/91975789377
Meeting ID: 919 7578 9377 or
By Phone: 1(669) 900-6833
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The DCTF Chair, Adam Thompson called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Adam Thompson, Debra von Huene, Ana Vargas-Smith , and Chan Thai
Present 4 -
Dan Ondrasek, Rob Mayer, Mathew Reed, Butch Coyne, and Atisha Varshney
Absent 5 -
A motion was made by Member von Hunene to excuse Vice Chair Ondrasek and Members Mayer, Reed, Coyne, and Varshney from the meeting. The motion was seconded by Member Thai.
Aye: Thompson, von Huene, Vargas-Smith, and Thai4 -
Absent: Ondrasek, Mayer, Reed, Coyne, and Varshney5 -
CONSENT CALENDAR
07/20/2023Downtown Community Task Force Meeting Minutes
1. 23-918 Downtown Community Task Force (DCTF) Meeting Minutes of the December 16, 2021 Meeting
Recommendation: Approve the DCTF Meeting Minutes of the December 16, 2021 Meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Meeting Minutes of the December 16, 2021 Meeting
A motion was made by Member von Huene, seconded by Member Thai, that this item be Continued. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Thompson, von Huene, Vargas-Smith, and Thai4 -
Excused: Ondrasek, Mayer, Reed, Coyne, and Varshney5 -
2. 23-921 Downtown Community Task Force (DCTF) Meeting Minutes of the June 15, 2023 Meeting
Recommendation: Approve the DCTF Meeting Minutes of the June 15, 2023 Meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Meeting Minutes of the June 15, 2023 Meeting
A motion was made by Member von Huene, seconded by Member Thai, that this item be Continued. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Thompson, von Huene, Vargas-Smith, and Thai4 -
Excused: Ondrasek, Mayer, Reed, Coyne, and Varshney5 -
GENERAL BUSINESS
3. Chair Thompson will provide a review of information for Community Benefits in the Downtown Precise Plan.
Chair Thompson presented a concept for attaining community benefits by charging a fee on rentable square footage. The DCTF also discussed having a vacant storefront program requiring activation if spaces are vacant and fining owners who keep the spaces vacant; how rent can be subsidized for small businesses; and the funds received would be managed.
Public Comment:
- Donna West stated that she supported the concept.
- Mary Grizzle stated that the presentation contained good detailed information.
07/20/2023Downtown Community Task Force Meeting Minutes
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
There were five public speakers as follows:
- Mary Grizzle spoke for Dan Ondrasek by reading his letter, which stated, that for successful downtowns have both a Precise Plan and a Form Based Code created with the citizens. Objective standards ensure good development. The Planning Commissions recommended approval of the Monroe Street project does not
ensure successful ground floor retail. The Planning Commission needs to be trained on the Precise Plan and
the work that went into it.
- Mary Grizzle stated that the Planning Commission vote on the Monroe Street project was misinformed. The
Precise Plan and Objective Standards should be approved first and we should not be approving parcel by
parcel development. The Monroe Street project should wait until the Precise Plan and Form Based Code is
adopted.
- Adam stated that the Planning Commission meeting on the Monroe Street project was disappointing.
- Joanne stated that the Monroe Street project should wait until the Precise Plan is adopted as it will set a
precedent for future projects.
- Donna West thanked Adam for his participation at Planning Commission on the Monroe Street project and
indicated support for Mary's and Adam's comments.
STAFF REPORT
Staff Liaison, Lesley Xavier, provided an update on the Project Schedule (Downtown Precise Plan, Form Based Code, Environmental Impact Report) Status of the Project Schedule (Downtown Precise Plan, Form Based Code, Environmental Impact Report)
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Member Thai, and seconded by Member von Huene to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m..
The next regular scheduled meeting is Thursday, August 17, 2023 at 6 p.m.
07/20/2023Downtown Community Task Force Meeting Minutes
Aye: Thompson, von Huene, Vargas-Smith, and Thai4 -
Absent: Ondrasek, Mayer, Reed, Coyne, and Varshney5 -
MEETING DISCLOSURES
07/20/2023Downtown Community Task Force Meeting Minutes The time limit within which to commence any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City is governed by Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, unless a shorter limitation period is specified by any other provision. Under Section 1094.6, any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City must be filed no later than the 90th day following the date on which such decision becomes final. Any lawsuit or legal challenge, which is not filed within that 90-day period, will be barred. If a person wishes to challenge the nature of the above section in court, they may be limited to raising only those issues they or someone else raised at the meeting described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Santa Clara, at or prior to the meeting. In addition, judicial challenge may be limited or barred where the interested party has not sought and exhausted all available administrative remedies.
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