HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/17/1962ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
October 17, 1962 - 7:30 P. M.
Roli Call
Present: Miss Margaret McNeil, R. L. Graves, Jr., Gerald W. Shipsey,
Clay P. Davidson
Absent: Donald Q. Miller
Staff Present: R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer; William Houser, City Attorney;
J. H. Fitzpatrick, City Clerk.
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City Council discussed the matter of acquiring property on Monterey Street between
Chorro and Broad Street on the south side for development as a City parking lot.
Mr. Kamm, realtor, reported to the City Council on the'effect of his negotiation
for acquisition of these parcels: parcels A and B, $22,000 net to the seller and
parcel C, $11,000 plus sellers expense of escrow.
On a motion of Councilman Shipsev, seconded by Councilman Graves, the following
resolution was introduced. Resolution No. 1020, a resolution authorizing purchase
of parcels fronting on Monterey Street.
Passed and adopted on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Miss Margaret McNeil, R. L. Graves, Jr., Gerald W. Shipsey, 1
Clay P. Davidson
NOES: None
ABSENT: Donald Q. Miller
On a motion of Councilman Graves, seconded by Councilwoman McNeil, City Attorney
Houser was instructed to open the escrow with Security Title Insurance Company.
Motion was carried.
On a motion of Mayor Davidson, seconded by Councilman Graves that a letter be
written to Les Kamm thanking him for his efforts on behalf of the City.
Mel MacDonald, President of the Chamber of Commerce, appeared before the City Council
and introduced Mr.-Jim Balzaretti as the new Secretary - Manager of the-Chamber of
Commerce.
Joint meeting of the City Council and Parking and Recreation Commission.
Mayor Davidson thanked the members of the Park and Recreation Commission for attending
this meeting and also thanked them for their dedicated work for the City of San
Luis Obispo.
Mayor Davidson announced to the Commission that the City Council had taken action
this evening to acquire property for a landscaped parking lot on Monterey Street
between Broad and Chorro Street across from the Mission.
Mayor Davidson made the following statement:
"The City which is one of men's oldest and most valuable social and economic
cultural institutions is in full crisis and resurgence. What we do about out
cities everywhere in the world, but urgently in North America, will have a lot
to do with the kind of civilization we shall have.
We may ask what can we do? Let's consider San Luis Obispo!
population seems to be a continual crisis. The kind of opp
comes to people has arrived. There is a big job to be done
charged with that responsibility to give the leadership, to
and imagination and to organize the institutional framework
this City what it ought to be.
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The growth and
)rtunity that rarely
and we are here
inspire the thought
for the task of making
In a crowded world which is going to become more crowded we need to integrate
populations, to provide a model for a working citizenry. The City should provide
education, culture, self - government, self - knowledge, the processes of human and
social development. The City becomes the indespengable place of assemblage for
those functions that work best when they are superimposed one on another. A
center of affections, a source of shelter and nuture. The City can be a kind
of Mother to the people. People used to regard the City in =such terms. Let
us work in such a manner here in San Luis Obispo to make it so.
A vision of the future has been one of the sustaining marks of the American
experience. Without that vision and without the men and women who devote them-
' selves to realizing that vision, there can be no true American way of life. We
must beware of the thoughtless men who proclaim that a particular stage of our
development or any special set of conditions is the best that progress can offer.
These people would immobilize us in the great stream of history. They would
let its, great challenges and chances pass:�us by forgetting that the American way
of life is a life of action not a state of inactivity.
Laguna Lake park master plan is an example of a vision for the future of the
City of San Luis Obispo. As Fred Hector has said: "The stunning Laguna site
holds great potentials as the plan demonstrates, and I know you will, in the
years ahead, accomplish an outdoor center of which your city should be very proud."
This master plan was presented in February of 1961. Since this time as you know,
there has been some action. We as a City proceeded to exchange approximately
23 acres of this property to the school board. There were two good projects of
earth moving accomplished. One by the E: G. C. A. and another by Alex Madonna
and his employees. We have had tree planting by interested citizens. With this
type of development it seems logical to assume that this park could be completed
sometime within the next 35 years. I hope you agree that this is much too long.
This is not'a state of inactivity but it certainly borders on it.
The recent events regarding the development of the Laguna Lake Park site for a
junior high school should be of immediate concern to us at this time.
Ladies and Gentlemen at this time I present to you an agenda for action.
' 1. Consideration as to whether or not we should acquire the 23 acres now
owned by the school district.
2. Consideration and decision as to the best method of development of
Laguna Lake Park."
The City Council and the Park and Recreation Commission discussed the proposal
of the Mayor regarding the relocation of the proposed junior high school site
from the Laguna Lake area to some other part of the City aind..have the school
board return this acreage to the City for development as a park site.
Councilman Graves agreed with the Mayor that the City should attempt to reacquire
the school site at another location, but that he believed that the school district
could be better served if the City would acquire land somewhere else and exchange
the land to the school board so that the City could replace this parcel to the
park site.
Commissioner O'Daniels asked.if the Council was backing out of the deal with the
school district.
Mayor Davidson stated that the City was not backing out of the exchange of property
but that the City would purchase substitute land and give it to the school district.
' The City Council, Park and Recreation Commission and staff discussed the possibility
of re- exchange with the school board of the Laguna Lake site for some other adequate
parcel of land for school development.
Commissioner O'Daniels suggested that the City.keep the Laguna Lake parcel and
zdturn the Mitchell Park back to the school board and allow the school board to sell
Mitchell Park for the highest amount and with this money purchase an adequate school
site.
Commissioner Fryer stated that the City should keep Mitchell.park and allow the
school board to keep the Laguna Lake parcel as the school district can not afford
to buy anyDoth.er area or comparable parcel. He also wished to remind the Council
that the original idea in exchange of this property was to allow the school board
to build a school, put in the play field, tennis court, swimming pool, etc., for
use by the school and these facilities could also be used by the Recreation Department
as a first step to the overall development of Laguna Lake park.
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Dr. Fryer also stated that he believes that any attempt by the City to take back
the Laguna Lake school site would . endanger the school board development plans
and would most certainly jeopardize the proposed bond election.
Councilman Graves stated that no attempt was being made by the City Council to
renege on the property exchange with the school board but that the City and
school board should decide what is best for the City and the school district.
Mrs. Carcaden stated that she would like to see Mitchell park remain as a park
for use of the citizens and she also believes that the Laguna Lake property should
be kept by the school board for development of a school at this area.
Commissioner Mott stated that he agreed if it were possible that the City could
readquiYe the Laguna Lake school site, if an adequate substitute school site
could be acquired but-that he does not believe that this is possible, so he agrees
that the school development at Laguna Lake should proceed and through cooperation
with the Recreation Commission, this could be the first development of the school
site.
Commissioner Hollister stated that he believes that the development of the junior
high school at Laguna Lake would be advantageous to the Park Commission, as this
would allow the Commission to use the recreational facilities of the school.
Mayor Davidson stated that after hearing the discussion, that the consensus of
opinion of the group is as follows:
1. Approves a school site on the Laguna Lake property.
2. Urge the development of the school as soon as possible in order to help
the recreational facilities of the park.
Mayor Davidson then brought up the matter for consideration of holding a Bond
election to raise the money to develop the Laguna Lake park.-.,in its entirety,
in accordance with the Hector Plan. He stated that he had contacted adjacent
property owners and that they were very anxious to cooperate by giving the 1
City lake surface for dredged land for their use. The mayor also stated that
the residents of this City were starved for recreation and were required to go
elsewhere a great distance for their recreation. Developmentof a Municipal
golf course would be extremely advantageous to:the City. Further; he.stated
that he believes the only way this park will be built will be through a bond
election at one time and does not believe it will be done on a piece -meal basis.
Councilman Graves suggested that the Park and Recreation Commission prepare a
a priority list of land needed by the City for parks with the point in mind
that as the City grows land for park purposes which will become very expensive
and possibly land acquired on the periphery of the City should be of first
priority. After this is done the City Council and Park andRecreation Commission
can actually sit down and decide if a bond issue is the correct approach in the
development of.Laguna Lake park.
Mayor Davidson stated that he did not believe there was any need for more plans
as the'City has the plans for Laguna Lake which cost $3,500 and theCity should
continue to develop this plan in order to get their money from having this plan
prepared.
Councilman Graves stated that at the time the Hector Plan was developed, the City
Council was considering selling a portion of the Laguna Lake property as surplus
and this this master plan as prepared showed that all the land was needed.
Commissioner Fryer stated that if the Park and Recreation budget was increased '
substantially it would still take all the money to take care of what the City
now owns not including the development of joint facilities with the school
board at the new school site.
Councilwoman McNeil stated that she believes the City should develop what
park land it now owns and possibly acquire additional land for further.growth
on fringes of the City.
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Commissioner O'Daniels stated that he believes that instead of a bond issue that
a Charter Amendment be presented to the public to increase the Park and Recreation
monies and further he does not believe that bond issue for recreation has a ghost
of a chance of passing.
Councilman Graves stated that he would favor a Charter Amendment to increase the
Park Commission levy.
William Houser, City Attorney, stated upon question that there would be no
responsibility on the part of the City if someone using the lake drowned if
there were an attendant or not.
Commissioner O'Daniels stated that if the City Council would give them some
additional money they would like to make a start on the Laguna Lake development.
He also stated that the Park and-Recreation Commission have a priority list
for park development and money must be made available so they can place a dollar
figure on each item. They would like a chance to do it this way rather than in a
grandoise development.
Mayor Davidson asked the Council if it was the consensus of their thinking to
grant additional monies to the-Park and Recreation Commission for development
of Laguna Lake Park which would not be until the spring when the new budgets
are considered and bonds are sold for the sewer plant.
Councilman Graves briefed for the group the meeting that took place between the
City representatives and the school board representatives for preparation of the
C. L. Smith school site recreation plan. The City representatives told the
school representatives that they could not consent to the full request for
development of the C. L. Smith school as other developments in the City also
needed completion as part of the overall City recreation plan.
Commissioner O'Daniels stated that the Commission agreed that the City representati•.�es
stand on this matter.
Mr. Flory, Park andRecreation Director, read City Council Resolution No. 828, a
resolution of intention to cooperate with the school board in development of
recreational facilities dated July 17, 1961.
By common consent Mr. Flory was instructed to notify the school board just exactly
what theCity would do regarding recreational development at the C. L. Smith school
site as originally out =lined between the City and school district.
3. Communication from Tri- County Mdrt age Company requesting a variance to allow
a sign of 160 square feet on the Bianchi Ranch adjacent to the 101 Freeway.
The applicant stated that this sign would be of a temporary nature only and
requested that they be allowed to place the sign on this property.
On a motion of Councilman Graves, seconded by Councilwoman McNeil, the motion
was denied.
4. On a motion of Councilman Graves, seconded by Councilwoman McNeil, the Mayor was
authorized to accept on behalf of the City a Deed of Easement from R. & J. Hetfield
for sewer easement in the Yoakum Tract.
5. On a motion of Councilman Graves, seconded by Councilwoman McNeil, the Mayor
requested to be absent from the State on October 26 -30, 1962. Permission was
granted.
6. R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer, announced receipt of Yoakum Bond proceeds.
,7. Mr. O'Daniels, Chairman of the Park and Recreation Commission, thanked the
City Council for meeting with the Commission and discussing the problems of
park development and wished to assure the Council that the Commission would
always be available to meet with the Council and discuss these matters.
8. On a motion of Councilman Graves, seconded by Councilwoman McNeil, the meeting
was adjourned at 10:00 P. M.
Approved this 30th day of December, 1962.