HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/22/1982City Council Minutes -
Monday, March 22, 1982 - 12:10 p.m.
Page 2
for owner to make a just return under the established.formula; 11) to be
added to Section 4805, "Determination of Base Rent and allowable
increases ", Subparagraph 2, to read: "An increase over the then existing
space rental equal to 3/4 (75 %) of the cost -of- living increase (Bureau
of Labor Statistics, U.S. National Consumer Price Index) for the preced-
ing 12 -month period." See also the new definition of-capital expendi-
tures- -only subject to consideration under hardship if approved by more
than 50% of tenants or directed by a public agency.
Councilman Settle submitted additional changes as follows:
1) Page 2, Section 4800, "Purpose and Intent," Subsection (c), add:
"Therefore, the Council will appoint a subcommittee to work with
park and tenant representatives for a long -term solution of owner -
tenant matters primarily through developing a minimum standard
uniform lease of a form for a specific number of years, assumable by
new owners, transferable to new tenants and automatically renewable.
Page 5, Subsection (d), modify: Date should be "1984."
Page 5, Section 4804, Subsection (a), add: "Personnel" should be
added to the section of sentence "...to utilize the city offices,
and facilities and personnel as needed..."
Page 6, Subsection (b), add: After the words "...in this Chapter,"
add the words "or to any decrease in or charges for service or
facilities."
Page 6, Subsection (d), add: After "maximum rents," add the words
"either up or down..."
2) Page 7, Section 4805, add: New Subsection (d) to read: "No owner
shall effect a prohibited rent increase through the reduction of
general park facilities and services."
Page 7, Section 4806, Subsection (a), add: The underlined words in
the following sentence: "...may file with the Board an application
for a rent increase for one or more spaces or application to reduce
or charge for certain services or facilities."
Page 8, Subsection (c), add: After the word "increase," add "or
change in services or facilities." After the word "Board" in.that
sentence, add a new sentence simply stating "Service shall be
thirty (30) days prior to date of application."
Page 10, Section 4809, add: "(b)(3) Permit or deny extra charges or
changes in general park facilities or services."
Art Jack was concerned that a statement be added stating that for any
new tenants coming in after the effective date of the ordinance of March
15, 1982, that the tenant be made aware that should they sign a lease
with the park owner, the ordinance would not be binding upon them; and
they would have no opportunity for readdress.
George Thacher, City Attorney, suggested having an additional statement
that would require that the mobilehome park owner, prior to offering a
lease agreement with the tenant, must provide a copy of the ordinance to
the tenant.
Upon general consensus, Council concurred with this wording change
Paul Dunmire questioned Section 4808, "Standards of Review ", and
requested an additional statement be added to read "In evaluating the
rent - increase application, the Board may consider, items not covered in
the normal operating expenses, along with all other factors it considers
relevant..."
George Thacher, City Attorney, explained that this was covered in a
preceding section and did not feel it was necessary to add it again to
this section.
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City Council Minutes
Monday, March 22, 1982 - 12:10 p.m.
Page 3
After brief discussion, Council concurred to leave Section 4808, "Stan-
dards of Review" as is.
Mayor Billig stated that after the adoption of the ordinance, she would
like to see a letter sent to all mobilehome parks and associations
explaining to tenants that the ordinance was in effect and for them to
be aware of those conditions, especially in light of the leases coming
up, and reminding park owners to provide a copy of the ordinance to
their tenants.
Morris Levin stated he would like to see Council separate out amenities
versus park services. He felt that any reduction for amenities should
result in reduced rates as is set forth in the Pismo Beach ordinance
regarding rent stabilization.
George Thacher advised the City Council against adding any language that
might inhibit the landlord and tenants from negotiating into future
leases.
Councilman Griffin suggested two additional changes: 1) Section 4806,
Hardship Exceptions: Application, Subparagraph (b) to add, "...The
amount of the requested rent increase, the effected date of the
requested increase, and the fact supporting the requested increase." He
also suggested adding additional language in Section 4807 to add the
government code section which constitutes the Brown Act.
Upon general consensus, Council concurred with both changes.
On motion of Councilman Settle, seconded by Councilman Dunin, the
following ordinance was introduced: Ordinance No. 923 (1982 Series), an
ordinance of the Council of'the City of San Luis Obispo adding Chapter 8
to Article 4 of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code to establish a
mobilehome park rent stabilization system-with changes as submitted by
City Attorney, Councilman Settle and Councilman Griffin but excluding
paragraphs submitted by Councilman Settle on page 2, Section 4800,
Purpose and Intent, and page 8, Subsection (c), the last sentence.
Introduced.and - passed to print on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Settle, Dunin, Dovey, Griffin and.Mayor Billig
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
After brief discussion and upon general consensus, Council agreed that
staff be directed to prepare a resolution setting forth the role of the
subcommittee to work with the mobilehome-park. owners and tenant
representatives.(5 -0).
2. HRC GRANT RECOMMENDATIONS - ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Council considered a recommendation from the Human Relations Commission
to authorize a $6,000 grant to provide seed money for a.city -wide
volunteer bureau operated by the Economic Opportunity Commission.
Steve Henderson, HRC Coordinator, briefly reviewed the proposal submit-
ted by EOC requesting expenditure - -of $6,000 from the HRC!contingency
fund to provide seed money for a city -wide volunteer bureau operated by
the EOC. The EOC has documented the.need for volunteer services through
a needs assessment which was included in the proposal. Agencies and
municipalities contacted had indicated that they would use the
volunteers as soon as they were available. EOC would recruit, train and
recognize volunteers and provide a 10 percent match to secure funding.
Councilman Dunin questioned why the city should carry this program.
Dan Herron, Community Planning Director for EOC, stated that volunteer-
ism is the right direction for many of the human services programs,
City Council Minutes
Monday, March 22, 1982 - 12:10 p.m.
Page 4
especially with CETA sources and other funds becoming tighter,.volun-
teers are more important.
Councilwoman Dovey stated she could not support the proposal for several
reasons: 1) HRC has historically been very sticky about having their
procedures formally followed in each proposal for request of funds, they
have traditionally turned down.other agencies who have not followed
those procedures; 2) this was a last minute, rather hastily thrown
together proposal as far as HRC was concerned. HRC was unable to get
into depth with this proposal as they were in the process of revising
their forms; 3) the proposal asks for a four -month funding and one month
of this has already been used up; 4) funds are being primarily asked to
pay for salaries, which is also traditionally not supported by the
Council; 5) the original request was for $4,350 and prorated to four
months would make it $5,800, not $6,000; 6) some of the budget figures
seemed rather high, i.e., utilities, insurance, and mileage. She felt
that use of volunteers in City government is a good idea, but not
something the city should jump into. She felt that staff and others
needed to be worked with and the program developed more slowly.
Councilman Dunin agreed with comments made by Councilwoman Dovey and
would emphasize that if there was.to be a volunteer program, he felt
that it should be done by City staff and not an outside agency.
Councilman Settle stated he could support the volunteer bureau under the
following conditions: 1) Beginning date to be April; 2) procedures be
followed in the future so as to not have the program rushed; 3) to be a
one -time request in the amount of $5,000 to be used as seed money., and
paid on a voucher basis; 4) reporting system to be established.
Councilman Griffin felt the proposal should have to compete on the same
basis as the other human services programs; in this case the timing was
extremely poor. He would suggest referring the proposal back to HRC as
part of the 1982 -83 process.
Mayor Billig felt that an overall approach needed to be developed under
the City Administrative Officer so that maximum intent of voluntary
efforts could be reached and integrated with City staff. If the Council
approved of the proposal, possibly a city person could coordinate this
type of activity.
Gwen Ekelund, Community Volunteer Bureau Consultant, explained in
response to some of the Council's questions that the program had not
been put together hastily, but in fact, she had spent months on the
program developing it and working with other volunteers to come up with
a viable proposal. It was put into HRC format in a hurry, but the
proposal itself was well thought out. Further, she had contacted every
service agency in town, approximately 28 of them and only two had been
unable to provide the help that had been requested. She urged the
Council to be supportive of the project; it was a new concept and would
not be perfected over night but needed support.
On motion of Councilwoman Dovey, seconded by Councilman Dunin, to deny
the request for $6,000.
Motion carried on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Dovey, Dunin and Mayor Billig
NOES: Councilmembers Griffin and Settle
ABSENT: None
On motion of Councilwoman Dovey, seconded by Councilman Dunin, to direct
the Administrative Officer to research the possibility of a city estab-
lished volunteer program to be considered at budget time. Motion
carried, all ayes.
City Council Minutes
Monday, March 22, 1982 - 12:10 p.m.
Page 5
3. DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES
Council continued its consideration of proposed guidelines for the
downtown area of San Luis Obispo (continued from 11- 10 -81):
Jeff Hook, Assistant Planner, explained that at the November 10 meeting
Council had heard the presentation by the consultant and referred the
Downtown Improvement Manual to the Downtown Business Improvement Area,
Planning and Architectural Review Commissions, the Tree Committee and
staff with direction to review and forward comments. This was done and
the Downtown Improvement Manual was being returned to the Council for
final review. He stated that the Manual covered three key issues on
downtown design: 1) An analysis of the existing design character of the
downtown; 2) recommended public improvements; and 3) recommended private
improvements. The Manual's general assessment of downtown's problems
and opportunities and recommendations for private improvements had
received mostly favorably comment; however, recommended public improve-
ments on sidewalk "bulb- outs ", street lighting.and furniture, paving,
street trees, and signage had been the focus of most concerns. Impli-
mentation of the Manual had also been discussed. Staff would support
the design guidelines for private sector improvements as being appro-
priate recommendations for the downtown and useful to both public and
staff.
1:35 p.m. Councilman Griffin left the meeting.
The Council then made comments on the matrix provided regarding recom-
mended public improvements.
1. Pavingj- .Manual recommended changing the city's present style
mission style paving to reduce installation and maintenance costs.
The new design would be similar in color and materials but have tile
banding only along the curbside border; tree wells and at .
"bulb- outs ".
Upon general consensus, Council concurred with paving as recommended by
the Manual (4 -0, Mayor Billig stated that-Councilman Griffin also
concurred):
2. Bulb -outs - Reaction to staff recommendations had been generally
negative due to concerns with traffic impacts, effect on ability of
street to carry storm -water runoff, and pedestrian safety at corner
bulb -out. Consensus was that additional study of.the bulb -out
concept was necessary before any city.endorsement.
Councilman Settle stated he had real problems with the bulb -outs as
outlined due to the safety factor and liability issue and would like to
see that resolved first.
Councilwoman Dovey agreed with Councilman Settle. She questioned
whether we really wanted a lot of people on the street corners. She
felt it needed additional study.
Councilman:Dunin stated he-would oppose the present program as outlined.
He would rather see a program similar to that of the City of Santa Cruz
with a semi mall atmosphere.
Mayor Billig felt -that the bulb -outs were.a good idea but-not on every
street corner. She wants to see traffic slowed down in the downtown
area. She felt that.the.downtown should be a-;pedestrian-orientated
area. She would support an overall approach. She stated.that Council-
man Griffin also agreed with taking the overall approach.
After brief discussion and-upon-general consensus,-.Council agreed that
the bulb -out program be supported using an overall approach with further
study as to which intersections should have bulbed areas (4 -1).
City Council Minutes
Monday, March 22, 1982 - 12:10 p.m.
Page 6
3. Street Trees - Public Services and the Tree Committee had expressed
general support for the recommended tree types and planting program
but had additional questions regarding planting and tree well
details. Both the Architectural Review-and Planning-.Commissions
voiced concerns with street tree recommendations and felt
recommended tree types needed further study.
Councilman Dunin could not support the present tree list as he felt many
of the trees were unsuitable for the downtown area as they dropped
berries and encouraged birds. He felt that this needed to be looked at
very carefully. Although pruning of the trees was important, he was not
critical of the staff or present maintenance program as past.Councils
had not been clear as to what they wanted in the way of trees in the
downtown area.
Councilman Settle agreed with ARC recommendations as well as the Tree
Committee and Public Services' concerns. He would also like to see
additional information on maintenance costs.
Councilwoman Dovey was anxious for the city to take actions. She felt
that staff and past Councils had been talking about this for a long
time. She would suggest using planters as a possibility vs. trees in
certain areas. .
Mayor Billig felt that part of the_problem was the maintenance and
pruning programs. She felt that the variety of trees proposed would be
acceptable. Pruning was the number one key in getting.rid of berries
and birds. She felt that planting of trees was extremely important as
they have such a heavy impact on the sidewalks. She stated that
Councilman Griffin also agreed with the recommendations to look at
street trees with additional study.
After brief discussion and upon general consensus, staff was directed to
prepare a specific proposal on landscaping for the downtown including
specific maintenance approach, types of trees and timing.
4. Tree Well Design - Council agreed that the tree well design needed
additional study, especially regarding the impacts on safety;
maintenance, trash, etc.
After brief discussion and upon general consensus, staff was directed to
continue the tree well policy in much the same manner as previously
adopted but for safety purposes only. In the interim, Council to look
at additional options, review designs and concepts that they would like
to see integrated and submit these suggestions to staff to be made a
part-of the total implementation program. , .
5. Street Furniture - The Architectural Review Commission had disagreed
with the recommendation that all "unnecessary street furniture,
including benches; be eliminated from downtown sidewalks" and felt
existing seating areas should be retained and additional seating
added where appropriate.
After brief discussion and upon general consensus, Council agreed to
support the addition of more benches than that recommended by the
consultant for the downtown area.
6. Signing - Signing recommendations for the public sector were
endorsed by the Architectural Review Commission and Planning staff
with strong support for the use of American Institute of Graphic
Arts Signs and removal of existing "hairpin" signs on sidewalks.
The City Engineer also supported removal of "hairpin" signs but
voiced reservations with the recommendation to relocate street
signs onto light poles due to conversion costs.
Council was supportive of the international symbols on signs and con-
solidation of signs where possible and using single poles where con-
solidation wasn't feasible.
City Council Minutes
Monday, March 22, 1982 - 12:10 p.m.
Page 7
Upon general consensus, staff and ARC directed to come up with options
for consolidation of signs, keeping in mind visibility aspects that
signs be aesthetically pleasing. The Council would be supportive of the
international symbols and use of fewer poles (5 -0).
Upon question by Mayor Billig, Ken Schwartz explained that the city had
purchased some time back three pole forms which permited the handling of
temporary banners for La Fiesta and other events, both'to help promote
the events and add color in the downtown area. He was unaware of what
happened to those poles.
After brief discussion and upon general consensus, Council directed
staff to reevaluate the use of banners and report back as to what had
become of them.
7. Lighting - Concerns had been voiced about the cost efficiency of
converting downtown street lighting to the recommended "two tiered"
system.
Councilwoman Dovey could support pedestrian lighting in the mid block;
she felt that was a good idea. She felt that the city had sufficient
lighting in the downtown area but would,•of course, like to see replace-
ment of more intense lighting if it was economically feasible.
Councilman Dunin would like to see staff address the present city
lighting looking at it from the standpoint of aesthetics and quality.
He would not be prepared to spend the money for additional changes now
but would look to this as a long term possibility.
Councilman Settle agreed to comments made by Councilman Dunin and felt
that the lighting was sufficient in the downtown area from the
standpoint of poles but would agree that the economic feasibility would
be the deciding factor. He was primarily concerned that there would be
sufficient lighting from the standpoint of crime
measures.
Mayor Billig felt that lighting was a critical e
treated very sensitively. She would not wish to
lighting system until after the trees and street
completed. She felt that lighting must be keyed
conservation and safety.
prevention:and safety
lement but must be
change the present
improvements have been
to aesthetics, energy
After brief discussion and upon general consensus, Council agreed to
support the "two tiered" lighting system but not pursue high intensity
lighting.
8. Private Improvements - Council agreed with the Private Improvements
as suggested by the consultant.
Mayor Billig summed up the Council's comments and stated she would like
to see a resolution come back from staff to adopt the private
improvement guidelines. She felt that there was some work to be done
before the public improvements could come back in light of two projects
coming before the city in the downtown area in the near future. She
would like to have this done prior to that time. B.I.A. should be
notified that the city supports the guidelines and that they should be
implemented as soon as possible. She would be willing to write a letter
to the B.I.A. regarding this. On the issue of bulb -outs, the City
Attorney was directed to report back on the liability and safety
features.
Sandra Gillespie, B.I.A., stated she would like to see page 22 of the
report, regarding materials to be used for paving, rewritten in a more
positive manner, stating what materials could be used and what should
not be.
On motion of Councilwoman Dovey, seconded by Councilman Settle, to
endorse the Downtown Improvement Manual as an informational guide for
City Council Minutes
Monday, March 22, 1982 - 12:10 p.m.
Page 8
the private improvements with staff to come back with additional
recommendation for.public improvements. Also, to amend.page 22 of the
document. Motion carried, all ayes. Councilman Griffin absent.
Upon comment by Mayor Billig, Council also supported the Architectural
Review Commission working with the City Administrative Officer to hold a
workshop to discuss the public improvement'feedback aspects (4 -0;
Councilman Griffin absent).
Ken Schwartz felt that it was important for the Council to remember that
most major decisions regarding type of trees, hairpin signs and sidewalk
improvements, were the result of probably 75 percent of all the citizen
committees, i.e., Tree Committee, Design Review Board, Architectural
Review Commission, etc., and not the recommendations by staff. He felt
that this document should be used as a guideline only and would not like
to see the city taking a "cookie cutter" approach. The most important
priority as far as he was concerned was maintenance. If what exists in
the downtown area is not kept up, this would lead to the degradation of
the downtown faster than anything else. He felt it was critical that
the street system, sidewalks, and furniture be kept up. He would hope
the private sector would be willing to do the same. The second priority
would be the tree program. It takes time for trees to grow but if the
Council felt confident with the tree program, then he felt this should
be implemented and supported. The remainder of the items, i.e.,
sidewalks, crosswalks ,.street.furnishings,.etc., would not make much
sense until a. significant determination is made regarding parking to
allow additional pedestrian traffic. He suggested that the program be
done in units or by segments, relative to circulation, trees, lighting,
etc., because if it is not done in increments, it will probably never
seem feasible to do.
There being no further business to come.before the City Council, Mayor
Billig adjourned the meeting at 2:55 p.m. to Monday, March 29, 1982, at
12:10 p.m.
V
amela Voges, Ci Clerk
APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 5/4/82
M I N U T E S
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1982 - .12:10 P.M.
HEARING ROOM, CITY HALL, 990 PALM STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
STUDY SESSION
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers
Present: GlennaDeane Dovey, Ron Dunin, Robert Griffin, Allen
. Settle and Mayor Melanie C. Billig
Absent: None