Honda move, new hotel, city finances to be discussed by
council May 1
A report from the Committee of the Whole on city finances,
receipt of a letter appealing approval of a day care center, and steps
to more forward on the pool renovation are on the agenda for the City
Council meeting May 1.
In its capacity as the Redevelopment Agency governing board,
the council is scheduled to discuss a proposal from the owners of the
Best Inn to build a second hotel adjacent to the existing one, and Honda
of El Cerrito's plan to move to the Food Bowl site.
The council meets as the Redevelopment Agency at 7:30 p.m.
at the Community Center. The council meeting follows. Meetings are broadcast
live on KECG 88.1 and 97.7 FM radio and on Cable Channel 25. Channel 25
rebroadcasts the meetings the following Thursday and Monday at noon.
Best Inn: Sumrad, which owns the Best Inn at Eastshore
and Potrero, wishes to build a second hotel of about 80 rooms along Eastshore
Boulevard, near the freeway. The agency is considering an exclusive negotiating
rights agreement with Sumrad.
As proposed, it would cost the agency an estimated $189,000
to $217,000 not including any unknown costs of soils cleanup. The project
is estimated to annually generate $175,000 for the city from transient
occupancy taxes and $50,256 in property taxes for the Redevelopment Agency.
Honda of El Cerrito: The agency's involvement in
the relocation would include expenditure of up to $99,999 for demolition
of the existing buildings on the site and undergrounding utilities in
connection with vacating the northern half of Knott Avenue. Honda would
initially pay the costs, then be reimbursed from tax increments.
Still to be negotiated between the city and Honda is the
cost of installing a traffic signal at Knott and San Pablo. The Planning
Commission required the signal as a condition of approval of the project.
Honda and the city will likely share the cost of the signal, based on
an estimate of how much of the traffic through the intersection can be
attributed to Honda's relocation.
Report: The report from the city's Committee of the
Whole outlines a number of recommendations, including establishing a multi-year
master plan for infrastructure and re-evaluating the salaries and benefits
of city staff.
Day care: Hal Schultz of Lawrence Court is requesting
an appeal of the April 5 Planning Commission approval of a child care
center at Trinity Evangelical Free Church, 7200 Schmidt Lane. Schultz
said the main concern is the noise the center would create for neighbors
who share a back fence, many of whom are retired.
He notes the high number of child care centers and schools
in the neighborhood. There is another child care center at nearby Sycamore
Church on Navellier. Also nearby are Portola Middle School, Prospect Sierra
School, El Cerrito Day Care and Sycamore Christian Preschool.
The matter is on the agenda only as a written communication,
not for action.
Pool: The agenda includes several steps toward renovation
of the swim center. The renovation will be funded by Measure
A, approved by voters March 7. Items on Monday's agenda include selecting
Aquatic Design Group for achitectural services for the pool and Michael
Woldemar and Associates for improvements to Huber Park Clubouse, Poinsett
park Clubhouse, and Harding Park Clubhouse.
* May
1 council/Redevelopment Agency agendas
Run dates: 2000-04-29 - 2000-05-01 |
