Vallejo Independent Bulletin - Your City Council Report--for December 7, 2010

Your City Council Report

For December 7, 2010

By Katy (ADQ) Miessner

Lots of good news last night – and Joe Tanner’s back in town! He’s working as a consultant with Mare Island Studios.

Here are the details:

The great news is that this will cost the City nothing. Mare Island Studios is picking up all the costs.

It appears that Mare Island Studios is quite serious. In the first 30 days, they have to determine if they have the ability to: obtain site control of the Navy owned property (for project financing); provide adequate security for the project; resolve traffic circulation issues; get required BCDC approvals; and confirm that approval of the bankruptcy court will not be required for their agreement to purchase and develop the property.

After the thirty days, Mare Island Studios must pay $100,000 to the City, or the exclusive right to negotiate is terminated. We’ll know fairly quickly whether they are serious or not.

After that, Mare Island Studios has exclusivity for six months, with the possibility of a two month extension.

Tom Sinclair—who was at one point the City’s Interim Finance Director—is working on the project with Craig Whittom for the City. Whittom reported to the council that Mare Island Studios has created an excellent team (Carissa Carpenter, CEO of Mare Island Studios, hinted after the meeting of some big league-rs involved but everything is confidential) and as we all discovered last night, they have also employed Joe Tanner as a consultant. As many may recall, Tanner was instrumental the development of the large outdoor shopping complex near highway 80 in Emeryville, and there was hope he could help with Vallejo’s economic development when he was Vallejo’s City Manager. I guess it took getting “fired” (no renewal of his contract) for Tanner to do his job. Whatever works, I guess. Thank goodness City Manager Batchelor has replaced Bob Adams; I can’t imagine Batchelor putting up with what I hope hasn't been large resistance to working with Tanner from his detractors (our council majority), even on a project like this that could be of significant stature for Vallejo. Batchelor reminded council that this has the potential to be a quality development on Mare Island; that Mare Island Studios could become a credible employer creating jobs. And that Mare Island is one of the most beautiful resources in our community. Even the trade unions were there in support; there certainly could be jobs for them as well. According to Tanner, this project will be union.

Ms. Carpenter thanked the council for their consideration and said Mare Island Studios is forthright in their intentions and that they (the un-named backers too?) are known to put a lot of their proceeds back into the community and charity. Ms. Carpenter shared afterward with VIB that that her company is “ready to go, full-time, for at least the next five years.” adding that she expects the facility to be “bursting at the seams from day one.” Hope so.

So with a unanimous vote, Mare Island Studios now has the Exclusive Right to Negotiate with the City of Vallejo to develop and acquire 157 acres of Reuse Area 1A (north end) for a motion picture and media production campus. .

Community Forum

Marion Swanson and Tony Pearsall from Fighting Back Partnership reported that the City’s robust participation (42 events across the city!) in the August 3^rd National Night Out garnered Vallejo special recognition from the National Night Out folks out of 3.7 million participants in all 50 states! Pearsall congratulated the neighborhoods on a job well done.

Diana Lang – reported on the incredible success of this past weekend’s “Mad Hatter” parade and related events. There was a buzz (not that kind!) of activity and excitement, with so many great things happening: art cars, marching bands, kids, neighbors and friends greeting each other and then everyone tromped down to the Waterfront for the tree lighting. And it’s all happening again this Saturday too. The Empress Theatre also premiered—for the first time--a full length feature by former Vallejoan Roko Belic. Describing his documentary “Happy” as an “amazing documentary about what makes people happy.” Lang said the events restored her faith in Vallejo’s ability to do something different.

Native American advocate Gray Eagle urged the City not to allow GVRD to go forward with the Glen Cove Waterfront Park because it is a sacred site and there were—allegedly—ancestors buried there; remains 3500 years old some of which are now at UC Berkeley.

Consent Calendar had the Council setting their annual schedule and after complaints from Burky Worel, Mayor Davis said he would consider adding a community forum to special meetings.

A public hearing to amend the White Slough plan to accommodate additional uses in the Redwood Shopping Center passed, with Council Member Brown requesting that in the future, the county be allowed to weigh in, as they helped create the plan to begin with. Davis recused himself as he represents the owner of the property and the council approved it. As a nearby neighbor, I like the expansion idea; it’s a cute and convenient shopping center (with a surprisingly beautiful view of the White Slough in the back) that is currently underutilized.

The Council also approved a “Mayor’s Task Force on Prostitution” with Fighting Back, Neighbors in the area targeted, a Police representative, Mayor Davis and Councilmember Gomes. Davis said he doesn’t think the City’s lack of resources should make us avoid problems that are “staring us in the face.” Speaker Kathy Berstall from Kentucky St. thanked the council for their attention to the issue; they have already seen a significant amount go away with arrests made. She hoped it would permanently go away and that the momentum to address the issue wouldn’t go away either. She cited other cities and towns that have instituted programs which cost little: no tolerance zones, and stiff fines for being caught which escalate: double the second time caught, three times the third time, and then jail. San Francisco has a “Johns' School” for Johns caught in the act to learn about the ills of prostitution as well as pay fines, or face jail time.

It was passed unanimously

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Paula McConnell

|December.15.2010

I meant to write "working 'so' hard, but you work too hard as well.

Joe Tanner will add great expertise to the new Mare Island film studio. Thank God he is on board with this one.

Paula McConnell

|December.15.2010

This is a comprehensive and thorough overview written in a manner sans bias.
Thank you Ms. Miessner for working to hard to report the city Council meetings in greater detail than we are able to see anywhere else.

You are a tremendous asset and a blessing to the city of Vallejo.
Feliz Navidad!

VALLEJO THINK TANK

|December.10.2010

Our professional at the "Vallejo Think Tank" says keep all the positive momentum going. He quotes "an object in motion tends to stay in motion." Push hard all the positive projects forward, forget about ones own ego, needs and aspirations, work TOGETHER. He quoted "United we stand, divided we fall." He says Vallejo has been "divided" for a long time, the reuniting of people, ideas and the pushing forward of good positive projects will not only help Vallejo recover, but will attract others who will want to come to Vallejo, move their businesses to Vallejo.
Everyone wants to cheer on the "underdog." The "professional" asked about our potential projects again, I told him about "CaliforniaDryDocks," "Lowes," "The Transit Center," We spoke of possible projects like Mare Island Studios, CalPoly in the Downtown, Fairgrounds reuse, Fresh and Easy, In and Out. I told him Vallejo citizens have started facebook pages to allow citizens to cheer on bringing businesses like Trader Joes, In in Out, IKEA, Dave and Busters to Vallejo. I also told him what a great success the Mad Hatter Holiday Festival was and the
huge turn out. The professional said "folks want to have a reason to celebrate, to participate to make a difference in the climate." Start pushing forward and demand better projects, keep all the positive energy moving. Things will all come together and Vallejo will be able to turn the corner and begin anew. Wow, I felt inspired!

Happy in Vallejo

|December.09.2010

Thanks so much, Katy! Things are looking up!