CC MINUTES 07221980 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-6- "views this as an opportunity for cooperation -between .the City and • Apache and perhaps the. last opportunity _the City. will..have to. assure good -planning for this area for the .-next twenty-five years" . When Ed Oathout,. architect for the project,, said this. _was the first time the traffic ..problem had been mentioned, the Mayor told- .him complaints have been received regarding drivers cutting through the parking areas at angles and. that people coming off buses to the Center on, foot feel insecure when the lanes are. not striped. Councilman Ranallo .wondered: if more trees. could be provided than had been. indicated in .the landscape concept plan submitted by the Rein Company. He then- questioned whether the renovation.-.plan, as proposed, did not - "just cover the general upgrading of the. maintenance which has not been done. the. last nineteen years" . -Mr.. Zinner responded to- their concerns by indicating his willingness to meet with Short-Elliott-Hendrickson representatives and City staff to explore the recommendations .from the engineering firm for, defining a circulation pattern around.,the perimeter, of the Center, to the extent such improvements can be brought within. the confines. of- the project' s. fund limitations. : He said the tree plantings have to be planned so as not to interfere with the "line of sight" of potential customers driving down Silver Lake Road. The Rein counsel also said the priorities for .the project have , for the most part, been established from the demands from the merchants of Apache "who know what will bring the customers in to shop" . • Warren. Proeschel,. of the Miller Schroeder investment. .company, then suggested "since the acceptance of the existing .and- ,potential tenants to the revitalization plan have been so encouraging, bonding reserves of $_-7.5:,00.O might be. set aside, to. make additional improvements to the exterior of. the Center as can be worked out with the Council" . - In the agenda had been included a copy of the resolution from the Apache Plaza. Merchants Association supporting the .issuance of the revenue bonds "to make such repairs, improvements and changes to ensure a useful and .necessary. shopping center for the citizens of the surrounding. communities" . George Zahhos, spokesman for the association. Board. of Directors, said .he believes "the merchants and owners of the Center were the best judges of what should be done to get a viable shopping center and-.don't want the improvements to the roof,. flooring.;, lighting or additional. restrooms ,jeopardized by using all the funds to make aesthetic improvements- on the outside. " Mr. Oathout said . input from both the. Council and merchants had been included in the proposed.-plan as well as interviews of Apache shoppers he had. made himself. The project had been designed to provide funding for the beautification. of the exterior, parking and street improvements as .well , as the interior improvements including energy saving, with seventy-five percent of the ,proposed budget going for. exterior improvements. He said customer complaints regarding.-lack of- inventory are common throughout -the- retail industry because, of high interest costs.. 'He questioned-.the. need for sidewalks. Tim Hilger, who will be in charge of the project, told the Council it is imperative that construction not .be delayed, not only- because of the 38... leases- coming up for renewal, but also, because. costs can be expected to accelerate rapidly with any delay.