Loading...
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. ------------------------------------------------------=------------- -- ----- ------- - - - --- 1. 2. 3. 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. -1- 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. -2- 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. -3- 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.