Vice Chair Diaz - Is this anticipated to be built in phases?

Director Freeman - It was always anticipated this would be developed in phases. We don't know how many phases at this point. Community Development is going to be the one that dictates how many phases this gets built out in.

Vice Chair Diaz - Is this all going to be funded through the general fund?

Director Freeman - Ideally, we would put this out on a request for proposals to bring a master developer who potentially could build all of this at their cost.

Commissioner Huff - You mentioned that the center could accommodate 2,000 people. Is there going to be enough underground parking?

Director Freeman - Because of the limited space that we have at the surface, most if not all the parking requirements would be handled via subterranean parking.

Commissioner Wilson - How does the city plan on managing the property and the relationship between the developer that's eventually chosen to build the project?

Director Freeman - Everything is subject to change. The idea right now is that at some point we issue a request for proposals to bring on a master developer. It's not the city's intent to sell any of these properties. We would enter a long-term ground lease, probably 50 years or longer. That's how we would continue to maintain not just ownership but some level of control of the entire campus.

Commissioner Huff - How will that impact the Double-Tree Hotel?

Director Freeman - This would not replace the Double-Tree Hotel. The Double Tree is on a separate property. The Civic Center campus is owned by the city. The Double Tree is not part of this Specific Plan.

Commissioner Huff - So would we have two hotels?

Director Freeman - Yes

Commissioner Johnson - is there a goal for getting the project done?

Director Freeman - It's going to take some time. We still have some homework to do with staff before this gets presented to City Council. We feel this is an inspirational piece that we can use to drive the type of development that we want in the downtown area. This development will spur on other developments and will create ancillary economic benefits for the city as well.

Vice Chair Diaz - Will this go out to the union workforce as well?

Director Freeman - We do encourage local labor. I don't anticipate that being an issue but that will be something we have to discuss in the future.

Commissioner Wilson - Will there be any community outreach before it goes to council?

Director Freeman - We don't have any planned community outreach. The planning commission is one piece of that opportunity for the community to get involved and to voice their opinion. There will be other opportunities for the community to get involved before it goes back before city council.

Chair Thomas - With subterranean parking and all the earthquakes in California, what are we thinking here?

Director Freeman - If subterranean is constructed in accordance with the California Building Code it's very safe.

Brandon Kotler - I'm speaking on behalf of myself and not on behalf of Fairing or any of the other entity. It's not often that you have city staff members who so dramatically and aggressively try to set the tone for the private development community. I can tell you that's an amazing way of going around the project of this importance. This planning commission has often approved projects of much less grandeur recognizing the value it brings to the community. There's also part of the city led by the City Council, the Planning Commission, and city staff itself that reflect the idea that Carson deserves better, that Carson should not just take what is provided to them either historically or by the community at large, but that Carson should kind of put its foot down and say we deserve exactly the same things as any of the other spectacular communities. When you have city staff led by the City Manager  and his team that have put forward a vision of this scale, I think you can be very confident that you are in fact putting out there that Carson deserves better. Whether or not the Civic Center gets developed exactly like the renderings, as the director mentioned, this is a vision. This is early in the process. I would simply ask you not to quite accept the first response you get from the private development community. Don't give up on your vision too quickly. You are going to hear a lot of negative things from the private community. You're going to hear comments about the subterranean parking and the costs associated with that. You don't need to give in right away. You have set the vision and I'm excited to see it take shape.