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ITEM #12 CITY COUNCIL CITY OF COLTON For the City Council Meeting of October 4, 2005 TO: Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: Daryl Parrish, City Manager SUBJECT: Roles and Responsibilities of the Development Task Force DATE: September 22, 2005 BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION On March 1, 2005, the City Council established a Development Task Force (DTF) to outline projects that will enable the City to be prepared for development. On March 8, 2005, the City conducted a workshop to study its current economic development efforts and its Sign Ordinance. The DTF held its first meeting on March 31, 2005 and identified major areas that it would like staff to pursue in order to provide a community that is conducive and prepared for development. Notes from the DTF meetings are attached hereto as Exhibit "A' . The DTF has stressed the need for a more concerted effort on developing a master plan/vision for key commercial corridors to include: beautification of these areas to include design guidelines and code enforcement; an economic development strategy; review of signage guidelines; and, evaluation of the City's land use element of its General Plan. Beautification Design Guidelines from other California cities have been obtained and were provided to the DTF on June 21, 2005. Examples of Guidelines established within Colton (South La Cadena Drive Corridor Beautification and Public Improvement Plan — April 1988 and the Downtown Fagade Improvement Program - 1993) were provided on June 23, 2005. The DTF recommended (April 20) that the initial focus be placed on Valley Boulevard. Initially, it is recommended that the Community Development, Economic Development and Engineering departments work together by reviewing the Fagade guidelines for Valley Boulevard with the DTF to see if the document warrants any modification. The Valley Boulevard Business Walking Tour was concluded on September Ph. Thirty four businesses were visited over 5 -days. Several businesses expressed a need and desire to beautify Valley Boulevard, with specific reference to installing a median and enhancing the landscaping east of La Cadena Dr. As funding permits, these improvements will be included in the City's Capital Improvement Plan. During the early stages of the Walking Tours it was determined that business owners were likely to be more at ease and open to the DTF members if the Police/Code Enforcement were not present. This proved to be accurate. The few Code Enforcement and Police concerns that were voiced were forwarded to the Police Department by DTF members. Each issue was assigned to the proper Division and addressed by the appropriate personnel. This method of utilizing the Police/Code Enforcement as a support component to the DTF has proven to be efficient and effective. RAAdministration\Meetings\2005 MEETINGS\October 4, 2005\Development Task Force Roles and Responsibilities staff report.doc