HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/12/1977Pledge
Roll Call
PRESENT
ABSENT
City Staff
M I N U T E S
ADJOURNED MEETING..OF:.THE.CITY COUNCIL..
CITY.OF.SAN- LUIS..OBISPO
TUESDAY, JULY.129..1977 -- 7:30.P..M.
990 PALM STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
Councilmen Dunin-,.Gurnee,.Jorgensen, Petterson and
Mayor Schwartz
None
PRESENT: J.H.. Fitzpatrick ....City..Clerk;..R.D. Miller,_Administrative
Officer; Rudy.Muravez ,..Finance- Director;.Roger Neuman,
Police Chief; Wayne Peterson, City Engineer; D.F. Romero,
Director of Public Services; Terry Sanville
-1:--• Wayne Peterson,.. City.. Engineer,. xeviewed.- .for_.the_.City..Council.the
action to date -(?n. the. parking _study.for.- downtown..San.Luis Obispo, prepared by .
Wilbur Smith. & - Associates ,.:consultants_.to_the:.City for:-the.-parking study and.
for the traffic.. circulation ..plan:.of:..the - City.- He stated - that' -.the circulation
plan had just. been. received -and _ that.:.the -_staff-. had.. not - as..yet -had an.oppor --
tunity to review the plan.with.the consultant-.:or.to.resolve.any questions.
He then introduced.Mr..Wm.. Shephard ,. - consultant representing the firm of
Wilbur.Smith.& Associates.
Mr. Shephard then:. reviewed- the.:steps.taken_.by- his_firm in arriving at
the recommendations for downtown. parking:
1) inventory location_and_.types.:of. existing parking
2) parker characteristics
3) current parking problems -
4) projected parking:demands:and..needs-
5) alternative parking .program:- and-.effect-on total transportation
system in the downtown .area.
He stated that no t: only must.. additional- parking...facilities be provided, .but
that the City must.also consider; as part of.the overall program, the
following:
1) addition_.of. major.- multi- stary--.parking...facilities:
2) addition -of curb..meters.at..selected- locations
3) adjustment.of:_curb=:parking.meter-rates-
4) restriction on :.curb--parking-at-.selected locations .
5) development of parking standards for future development
He then reviewed.. suggested - locations_ for; new ...parking,facilities,.improve -
ments to. existing- parking..lots- and_ possible :"sale_or.elimination:of existing
parking lots. After review of his report, Mr. Shephard.concluded.that the
proposed parking standards -and..in- lieu -fees provide- the.City.with sufficient
tools to properly.coordinate_. expansion:of : downtown_activities.with a proper
parking program. -.. The. proposed. - standards -.:would..allow.the:.City flexibilities,
provide.parking and - locations which. serve.. the -.most:people,.while.minimizing
traffic congestion and conflicts in the downtown area.
The City Council,. Staff.,. and_: citizens -of_ the - .audience:- then. dis cussed ...the points
brought out--by Mr. Shephard-_in the..draf.t- report of the consultant on downtown
parking and the consultant's.-recommendation to improve or upgrade public
parking in San Luis Obispo.
City Council Minutes
July 12, 1977
Page 2
Colonel L..Sorensen, Deputy Planning Director, County of San Luis Obispo,
appeared before the City Council stating that the County staff had spent
considerable time with the consul.tant.and the City staff in providing needed
information, concerning County parking needs and County concerns about parking
and traffic problems. He.felt that the .final document provided much needed
quantifiable-information concerning the much discussed traffic and parking
problems of downtown San Luis Obispo. He stated that a number of the
conclusions reached by the consultant verified.parking deficiency concern-
ing the County's needs:
1) The Courthouse block would have a deficiency of 243 spaces within the
block even with the parking potential of the.garage site being fully
utilitized. No County cars.were considered - (approximately 60).
2) Considering surplus space available the Courthouse uses in surrounding
blocks, the Courthouse block still had 170 space deficiencies and
again no County cars.were considered - (approximately 60).
3) These deficiencies did not .consider a possible peak demand period
when it would be possible to have several hearings and jury selections
happening in addition to.normal use. Should this occur, the
deficiency would certainly be much higher.
4) The people of.San Luis Obispo, City and County, simply did not want
to walk. Given the choice of walking more than 2 blocks or going
elsewhere, they would most likely go elsewhere.
5) The County block had the highest block unmet parking demand in the
City.
He continued that the consultant provided much additional information and data
which would help the County in planning for its present and future space needs.
The conclusion of the consultant was that two major multi -level parking
facilities should be constructed in or near the downtown area. In the
subsequent location and cost.feasibility.analysis, the consultant concluded
' and recommended the construction of the facility on site #3 and #9. Site 3,
across Osos from the Courthouse, would accommodate 144 cars per level and would
accommodate the present parking needs of the area only should a two story
structure be built. This site did not have the potential of accommodating the
parking needs of expanded County offices within the downtown, but would
be adequate to meet the present level of usage in the Courthouse block.
The use of the old County garage site was considered too far removed from
the downtown area to'meet shared parking needs. He concluded that it was
the County .staff's opinion that_the.report was well prepared and accented
the needs of downtown .San Luis Obispo very well. Although the proposed
solutions did not put the parking site outside the County's office door,
they did provide a workable program to address the immediate parking needs.
He stated that.the.County encouraged and supported the City in the imple-
mentation of the recommended alternative.to solve immediate parking needs and
hoped to participate in solving future problems.
Charles E..Dills, Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee, submitted the
following on behalf of the CAC. When the Council contemplated action on the
parking problems as result of the Wilbur Smith & Associates report on parking,
consideration should be given to the implementation of a heavy usage high
turn over program for the area bounded by Monterey to Marsh and Broad to
Osos Streets. Both on- street and off - street parking within this area should
be categorized in terms "relative desirability ". The premium parking
location should have the highest cost'to promote rapid turnover, possibly
as high as lOp for 10 minutes. The best off - street parking should cost
at least 15�^, per hour. In this way, usage would increase with the high
turnover and as a result, revenues would likewise increase. The CAC suggested
that the City staff check much of the data presented in the report, especially
as to the availability of parking locations throughout a typical day and
that no action be taken by the City Council in regard to the disposal of
City -owned lots until verification of low usage were obtained.
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City Council Minutes
July 12, 1977
Page 3
Mr. Wm. Shephard, representing.the consultant Wilbur Smith & Associates,
then reviewed the preliminary draft of the circulation study for the City
of San Luis Obispo. He stated that the study comprised .a general review
of major circulation of streets throughout the City as defined in the 1976
circulation element of the General Plan with.specific evaluation of the
streets in the downtown area. The review of the circulation element utilized
origin, destination data previously developed for the City and the County.
The detailed evaluation of the downtown street system identified the causes
and extent of traffic flow problems now emerging downtown. His firm submitted
specific recommendations for upgrading streets, closing some streets, traffic
control systems and other street improvements. The preliminary draft
circulation study consisted of the following general areas:
1) data collection and review of existing circulation studies
2) existing traffic characteristics on existing streets
3) projected future traffic patterns and resulting traffic problems
4) recommended circulation plan and street standards, not only for the
City as a while, but methods to improve the downtown street system.
The City Council discussed with the consultant various points brought out
in this preliminary overview of the circulation element of the General
Plan with particular emphasis on traffic as it affected downtown San Luis
Obispo.
The City Council then authorized the consultant to prepare his final reports
for presentation to the Council with a date set for August 31 and anyone,
staff or public interested, to submit their comments to the consultant prior
to the 30th of July.
9:10 p.m. Mayor Schwartz declared a recess.
9:25 p.m. the meeting reconvened with all Councilmen present.
1B. D.F. Romero, Public Services Director, presented the recommendations
of the Joint Business Improvement Area -City Staff Committee for changes
in the parking zones, time limits, parking fees, etc. for the downtown area.
He then reviewed the individual recommendations as submitted by this joint
committee, explaining that many of the recommendations were compromises made
in an effort to satisfy divergent views.
Charles Bove, Chairman of the BIA, stated that these recommendations were the
result of a study by the City staff to the BIA Board, who after review and
discussion with their own Board members, came to the consensus for the
recommendations being recommended to the Council.
Bill Hart was opposed to any increase-in parking meter rates; he felt it would
hurt business and that these increases were a disadvantage to retail business-
men,.,.
Don Lazdel (?), Miss Dee's Imports, Garden Street, was opposed to any
increase in parking meter rates in the downtown. He felt this would kill
San Luis Obispo business and empty the downtown stores.
Bob Leitcher, BIA Parking Committee, was opposed to any parking meter rate
increase at this time. He felt this was the wrong time to do this in San Luis
Obispo without some approved parking plan by the City Council. He was opposed
to a 10C rate and hoped that the Council would reduce the meter rates that
were raised last year.
City Council Minutes
July 12, 1977
Page 4
Myron Graham.was opposed to the increase in meter rates at this time due to
economic problems in downtown San Luis Obispo. He felt that this might be the
thing that killed the business district and sent the customers to shopping
centers.
Al Ingersoll felt that the problem-in downtown parking was the lack of en- _.
forcemeat of the present parking regulations. He was opposed to the proposed
parking meter rate increases. He felt that this increase would actually
economically hurt the business in town. He suggested that the City Council
order strict enforcement of parking times and time limits and that they
adopt a tow away ordinance to move the vehicles out of the downtown area
that were parked too long.
Charles Bove, Chairman of BTA, again stated that he felt the main problem in
the downtown was not the parking itself, but the misuse of parking spaces.
He felt that the employers and employees of downtown must not park in
customer spaces and the rate increases might help preserve parking spaces
for the customers and not the employees.
Marion Sinsheimer felt that the parking regulations-of the City should be
enforced and also the employers in downtown SLO should see to it that their
employees not park in front of business establishments.
Bud Idler asked if a car had been moved a short distance, could they still
receive a ticket if the mark had been covered up?
Police Chief Neuman stated yes they could be ticketed and were.
Pat Linington, Taxi operator in San Luis Obispo, objected to the elimination
of the Taxi zones which he said would hurt his business and were the life
blood although he would be willing to give up, on a trial basis, the taxi
zones in front of Rileys and the Anderson Hotel.
There being no more general comments to the City Council, the Council then
decided they would review the report on downtown parking as recommended
by the Joint BIA City staff committee on an item -by -item basis.
A. General
1. All meter rates should be lOC per hour. All revenue to be ear-
=marked only for parking enforcement and facilities.
On motion of Councilman Dunin, seconded by Councilman Jorgensen, that the
City defer parking meter rate increase for 6 months or until City Council
makes a commitment on a final parking solution. Motion carried, all ayes.
2. All taxi zones in the downtown area should be eliminated, with
taxis permitted to park in any metered space without payment, provided
the drive is present.
On motion of Councilman Petterson, seconded by Councilman Jorgensen, that the
City accept the offer of the taxi cab company and eliminate the taxi zones
at Rileys and the Anderson Hotel, with taxis permitted to park in any metered
space without payment provided the driver is present. Motion carried, all
ayes.
3a. All fine revenues should be used for enforcement costs and parking
facilities only.
City Council Minutes
July 12, 1977
Page 5
On motion of Council Petterson, seconded by Councilman Jorgensen, that the
item be dropped from consideration, once and for all, unless a different legal
opinion was received and apply all fine revenues in accordance with State
Law. Motion carried, all ayes.
3b. Fines for processing warrants should be raised to $25 (now $10).
City Council Action: Accept recommendation.
4. Time limits in all parking lots and on street spaces should be strictly
enforced.
City Council:Action:
B. Parking Lot
Accept recommendation.
1. Parking Lot #4 (Chorro and Pacific)-should be left as a 2 hour lot,
however, permit parking (at $15 per month) should be permitted for up to
35 of the 59 spaces.
City Council Action
C. Removal of Meters
Accept recommendation.
1. Remove meters from 1000 Block Pacific (Osos to Santa Rosa). Remove
daytime and nighttime restrictions.
City Council Action:
D. Additional Meters
Accept recommendation.
1. Install 2 hour meters in 1000 and 1100 Blocks of Nipomo Street
(Monterey to Marsh).
City Council Action: Accept recommendation.
2. Install 2 hour meters in 900 Block Mill (Morro to Osos).
City Council Action: Accept recommendation.
E. Green Zones
1. Meter all green zones except those alongside Post Office.
2. Change all green zones to 30 minute time period.
3. Install one 30 minute metered green space at beginning of each metered
Block in area bounded by Santa Rosa, Pacific, Nipomo, Palm (exclusive
of the border streets).
4. Remove green space in front of Credit Union, 1200 Block Osos Street.
5. Extend green unmetered spaces on west side of Morro (Post Office)
to Pacific Street.
6. Shorten green zone on north side of 800 Block Monterey Street
(P.G. &E.) to two spaces. Remove green spaces on west side of 900 Block
Morro Street (P.G. &E.).
City Council Minutes
July 12, 1977
Page 6
7. Remove green zone on west side of 700 Block Osos Street (Telephone
Company).
City Council Action: Accept recommendations.
F. Loading Zones
1. Remove 2 meters and extend loading zone on west side of 1000
Block Chorro (Monterey_;to Higuera - Sebastian's).
* 2. Shorten loading zone, north side 900 Block Monterey Street (between
Morro & Osos - Copelands).
3. Add new loading zone, north side 600 Block Higuera Street (between
Nipomo and Broad - McRlintock's).
4. Eliminate loading zone south side 600 Block Higuera Street (between
Broad and Nipomo - at Academy of Dance).
5. Relocate loading zone on south side 800 Block Palm Street (between
Chorro and Morro) from corner to in front of Shanghai Low.
6. Remove loading zone on west side 900 Block Osos Street (between Palm
and Monterey - San Luis Noodle Company).
7. Relocate loading zone on south side 800 Block Monterey from in front
of Forden's to past crosswalk to Penney's - Beverly's.
8. Relocate loading zone on east side 1000 Block Morro Street ( between
Higuera and Monterey Streets) from in front of Friar Tuck's to alongside
the G.E. Appliance Center.
9. Eliminate passenger loading zone on south side of 900 Block of Monterey
Street (Anderson Hotel).
*10. Shorten loading.zone east side 1200 Block Garden (between Pacific
and Marsh - Long's Piano).
11. Remove-loading zone south side 900 Block Mill (between Morro and
Osos) in front of Telephone Company.
*12. Remove loading zone west 1000 Block Nipomo (between Higuera and
Dana) in front of Tortilla Flat Restaurant.
13. Shorten loading zone north side of 800 Block Marsh Street (between
Broad and Chorro) alongside Title Insurance.
14. Shorten loading zone north side of 700 B1ock..Higuera Street (between
Garden and Chorro) in front of Baker Brothers.
15. Remove loading zone on west side of 1000 Block Morro Street (Monterey
to Higuera Street - Copeland Shoes).
16. Remove loading zone north side 800 Block Monterey (Holser's Attic).
City Council Action: Accept recommendations other than F -2, F -10 and
F -12; these items to be dropped.
H. Miscellaneous
1. Remove bike rack on east side Broad Street (between Palm and
Monterey) alongside the convent.
City Council Action: Accept recommendation.
The City staff was directed to prepare the appropriate legal documents for
implementation of the Council's actions later.
IC. Police.and Public Services Departments staff report on downtown parking
recommendations on downtown parking in areas outside BIA boundaries.
I. Change 1300 Block Osos Street (between Pacific and Pismo) from 10 hour
to 2 hour meters.
City Council Action: Accept recommendation.
City Council Minutes
July 12, 1977
Page 7
2. Change 2 hour meters-on east.side.of.1000_Block.of. Santa Rosa Street
(Ski Shell Station) to-10 hour. meters.
City Council Action:.. Accept-.recommendation.
3. Install.10 hour.meters in.1100 B1ock.Marsh_(Santa_Rosa to Toro).
City Council Action:. Continued.to.July.19, 1977 meeting in order
to.review area involved.
4. Install 10 hour meters in. 1100" Block.Higuera.(Santa.Rosa to Toro).
City Council Action: Continued .to.July.19,.1977.meeting.in order for Council
to review area involved.
5. Change 2 hour time limits on west sideoof.700 B1ock.Osos Street (Telephone
Company) to unrestricted parking. .
City Council Action: Accept but amend recommendation.to read "2hhour
metered parking ".
On motion.of Mayor.Schwartz,. seconded_ by .Councilman...Gurnee,.that.the matter of
time limits for Pacific. Street .(Osos;to.Broad)_Morro;:Chorro_ and Broad.on
' (Pacific to Pismo),.Garden and-Broad:(Marsh:to.Pacific), and Higuera and
Marsh (Santa.Rosa to..Toro).be continued.to.July 19,.1977 so -that the Council
could review the.recommendation for- 10:hour meter limit or requested 2 hour
limit. Motion carried, all ayes.
On motion of.Councilman Jorgensen,-_ seconded ,..by,.Councilman_Dunin, the staff
was.directed to.prepare.uecessary resolutions to.implement.Council action.
Motion carried.
II. On .motion of Councilman.Dunin,. seconded by:Councilman- Jorgensen; the
meeting adjourned to 12:10 p.m., Monday July 18, 1977. Motion carried.
APPROVED: September 6, 1977
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H Fitzpatrick City Clerk.