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RA1987/09/085`:~ Anaheim Civic Center, ANAHEIM REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY eptem er , , PRESENT: AGENCY MEMBERS: Ehrle, Hunter, Pickler, Kaywood and Bay ABSENT: AGENCY MEMBERS: None PRESENT: CITY MANAGER: Bob Simpson CITY ATTORNEY: Jack White SECRETARY: Leonora N. Sohl EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING: Norman J. Priest ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: Lisa Stipkovich A complete copy of the agenda for the meeting of the Anaheim Redevelopment Agency was posted at 4:20 p.m. on September 4, 1987 at the Civic Center kiosk, containing all items as shown herein. Chairman Bay called the regular meeting of the Anaheim Redevelopment Agency to order at 1:33 p.m. MINUTES: Agency Member Kaywood moved to approve the minutes of the regular meetings held June 23, July 14, and August 18, 1987. Agency Member Ehrle seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. FINANCIAL DEMANDS AGAINST THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY: Financial demands against ,,,,~ the Anaheim Redevelopment Agency, in the amount of X538,941.15, in accordance with the 1987-88 Budget, were reported. CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS: On motion by Agency Member Bay, seconded by Agency Mem er is er, t e o lowing actions were authorized in accordance with the repozts and recommendations furnished each Agency Member and as listed on the Consent Calendar Agenda: 1. Receiving and filing the Financial Statement for the fiscal period ended July 31, 1987. End of Consent Calendar. 161.].23: APPEAL OF COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION DECISION - BACKS HOUSE N T T E QiJARE: Letter dated September 4, lytS/, from Ron and Sarah Waltz, was submitted appealing decision of the Community Redevelopment Commission on September 2, 1987, concerning proposal by Mr. and Mrs. Waltz to remove the Backs House from its present location in Parcel 5 of Redevelopment Project Alpha and relocate the dwelling to Heritage Square. Agency Counsel Jack White stated that actions taken by the Community Redevelopment Commission may be appealed to the Redevelopment Agency; the decision in question was not to move forward with an exclusive agreement to negotiate with Mr. and Mrs. Waltz relating to the proposed relocation of the Backs House to Heritage Square. Mr. Ron Waltz, 225 North Rose Street, Anaheim, advised that he and his wife had, in good faith, submitted a proposal for the relocation of the Backs 87-61 X60 Anaheim Civic Center, ANAHEIM REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY eptem er , , P.M. House, which was the highest of five proposals considered. He and his family intended to move the structure and restore it to its original use as a residence. If the structure was not moved by September 27, 1987, it would be torn down to make way for a development on Redevelopment Pro3ect Alpha Parcel 5; it was going to cost $33,000.00 to move the structure. If there was any further delay, the house could not be moved in one piece due to closure and reconstruction of Lincoln Avenue; they would have to move it in two sections along an alternate route, causing the cost to double. Earl Rhoads, 122 North Vine Street, Redevelopment Commissioner, addressed the Agency expressing a desire to see the historic Backs House moved to Heritage Square.. His neighbors on North Vine and Rose Streets were looking forward to the completion of Heritage Square, and felt the addition of the Backs House would attract more vintage homes. Due to his proximity to Heritage Square, he had abstained from voting on disposition of the Backs House during the Community Redevelopment Commission meeting. Four developers had submitted proposals for Parcel 5 contingent upon removal of the Backs House, and Mr. Rhoads requested that the City Council uphold the original decision to allow relocation of the house. Sally Horton, 226 North Claudina Street, a member of the Pro3ect Area Committee (P.A.C.), stated that. no one on the Redevelopment Commission or P.A.C. had been unsympathetic to Mr. and Mrs. Waltz's proposal. She resided dust across the street from the Backs House, and had invested considerable funds in repairs, as had four other families with children residing on that street. There had been no Environmental Impact Report pertaining to the effect on their homes, and they felt removal of the Backs House would be detrimental to their neighborhood. Ms. Horton further advised that when the requests for proposals were sent out, prospective bidders were told they must bid based on moving the house; she regested that the house be left on the site as part of the neighborhood preservation program. Donna Berry, 500 East Broadway, addressed the Agency stating that it was her understanding that a request for proposals including preservation of the Backs House had never been issued for Parcel 5. She felt it was a disservice to the citizens to strip the city of its architectural heritage; the Backs~House was one of the few historical landmarks remaining, with the Pickwick Hotel about to be demolished, and the Kroeger House already gone. She pointed out that once the building is relocated, it would no longer remain on the National Register of Historic Places, a designation which gives the structure status. Bill Taormina, 300 North Anaheim Boulevard, advised he was one of the bidders who submitted a proposal, and perhaps a policy should be established to guide bidders for redevelopment pro3ects. He suggested that the Backs House be retained where it was; that the old train station be preserved and moved to Lot 5; and that a proper theme be established for North Anaheim Boulevard, while being responsive to the needs and wishes of ad3acent property owners. The Backs House could be converted to office use, while the train station might become a theme restaurant. A citizens' committee comprised of residents and property owners in the area could be appointed to work on a site plan for 87- 62 ~r! Anaheim Civic Center, ANAHEIM REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY September 8, 1987, 1:20 P.M. consideration by the Redevelopment Commission and P.A.C. and for recommendation to the Agency. Al Clendenen, 900 E. Cypress Street, owner of a restored home, was opposed to turning the Backs House into a restaurant or office, feeling that it should be preserved intact as a residence. Ms. Betty Ronconi, 1241 South Walnut Street, expressed sympathy for Mr. and Mrs. Waltz, and agreed that the house should be preserved in its present location, which would be an attraction in the downtown area. Gerald Ebner, 200 N. Vintage Lane, also speaking for Mary Ferguson, owner of a house in Heritage Square, urged the Agency to allow the house to be moved into the square as originally expressed to her four years ago; she felt that the integrity of the house would not be changed by the relocation but would be enhanced as a showcase in the area designated for the preservation of historic homes. Randy Fos, 210 North Vine Street, reported that he moved into his home in February, and one of the selling points was the proximity to Heritage Square. He felt the homes there were enjoyable whether or not theq were included on the National Register of Historic Places. Chairman Bay declared public input on Mr. and Mrs. Waltz's appeal closed. Chairman Bay cited his involvement with Redevelopment Project Alpha since his service on the Commission in 1976; the idea was to make it economically feasible to retain, restore and preserve some of Anaheim's fine examples of architecture. When Redevelopment Agency Staff was working on a development plan for Parcel 5, the location of the Backs House presented a problem; at the direction of the Agency, Staff acquired the property and the intent was to encourage someone to relocate and preserve the house. He expressed the opinion that the action taken by the Community Redevelopment Commission on September 2, 1987, should be reversed and the Backs House relocation plans be restored to allow redevelopment of Parcel 5. Agency Member Hunter spoke in favor of retaining the structure in place, with redevelopment of Parcel 5 to include the Backs House. He noted that some private individuals are attempting to coordinate a historic district on Anaheim Boulevard, and noted his own restoration of the Kate and Ella Rhea House on Broadway which was currently used as the office for his law practice. Mr. Hunter further expressed concern that the Agency should refocus on plans for redevelopment of the downtown area, while being careful to preserve the City's heritage. Agency Member Ehrle concurred with Mr. Hunter, and saw no reason why the .---- private sector could not make a great contribution to redevelopment in Anaheim. If the Backs House and the old train station could be preserved in the downtown area, he suggested the historic section could be designated something like "Founders' Square". $7- 63 +'. Anaheim Civic Center, ANAHEIM REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY September 8, 1987, 1:20 P.M. ^ Agency Member Kaywood felt that the Backs sisters would have wanted their home to be retained for residential purposes, and would not have been concerned that it might be relocated to an area of other vintage homes. She supported the original direction given by the Agency to relocate and preserve the Backs House. MOTION: Agency Member Bay moved to authorize the agreement drafting and finalization of an exclusive right to negotiate with Ron and Sarah Waltz for removal from Parcel 5 of the Backs House and relocation thereof to Heritage Square. Agency Member Pickler seconded the motion. To this motion, Agency Members Hunter and Ehrle voted "no". MOTION CARRIED. ITEMS OF PUBLIC INTEREST: No items of public interest were addressed. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Redevelopment Agency, Mr. Bay moved to adjourn. Agency Member Hunter seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. (2:34 p.m.) ~,~5~ LEONORA N. SOHL, SECRETARY 87- 64