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Home My WebLink About01/17/2001i 1 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2001 — 6:30 P.M. THE FORUM ON MARSH STREET SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA ROLL CALL: Council Members Present: Council Members Jan Howell Marx, Christine Mulholland, Ken Schwartz, Vice Mayor John Ewan, and Mayor Allen K. Settle All Council Members Present City Staff: Present: Ken Hampian, City Administrative Officer; Jeff Jorgensen, City Attorney; Wendy George, Assistant City Administrative Officer; Lee Price, City Clerk; John Mandeville, Long Range Planning Manager; Tom Baasch, Chief Building Official; Ron Whisenand, Development Review Manager; Bill Statler, Finance Director; Ann Slate, Human Resources Director; Jim Gardiner, Police Chief; Bob Neumann, Fire Chief; John Moss, Utilities Director; Mike McCluskey, Public Works Director; Paul LeSage, Parks and Recreation Director; Jill Sylvain, Personnel Analyst; Betsy DeJarnette, Recreation Manager; Austin O'Dell, Transit Manager; Neil Havlik, Natural Resources Manager; Linda Fitzgerald, Recreation Manager; Karen Jenny, Risk Manager; Carolyn Dominguez, Accounting Manager; Linda Asprion, Revenue Manager; Sue Baasch, Administrative Analyst; Gill Trujillo, Assistant City Attorney; Shelly Stanwyck, Economic Development Manager; Tim Bochm, Deputy Public Works Director; Gary Henderson, Water Division Manager; Mary Kopecky, Assistant City Clerk; Diane Reynolds; Administrative Assistant; Sherry Stendahl; Administrative Assistant 2001 -03 FINANCIAL PLAN COMMUNITY FORUM City Administrative Officer Hampian provided an overview of the budget process. Finance Director Statler presented a summary of current City finances and projected revenues for the next budget cycle. Don Maruska, meeting facilitator, explained how the workshop would proceed. Public Comments: Bert Forbes and John Stipicevich urged Council to continue supporting the Performing Arts center. City Council Meeting Page 2 Wednesday, January 17, 2001 - 6:30 p.m. Karen Aydeloff, Darrell Daniels, Serena Genera, Lee Hollister, Rollie McCormick, Doug Rion, John Spatafore, Fred Vernaccha, Jeff Whitener, and Mitch_Wolf, asked Council to improve recreational opportunities for the youth in San Luis Obispo including completion of the Damon - Garcia sports fields, the addition of two more sports fields, lighting for ball fields, Babe Ruth ball fields, and consolidation of sports fields. Alan Spano, suggested creating an indoor multi - purpose sports facility for roller hockey, volleyball and indoor soccer. Sandi Sigurdson, Executive Director of San Luis Obispo Symphony, and Ann Ream asked Council to support the arts in the community. Patricia Gomez, Action for Healthy Communities Collaborative member, asked Council to continue to award their $15,000 grant. Paul Wolff, Human Relations Commission chairperson, requested an increase in funding for the Human Resources Commission Grants -in -Aid program. Sandy Barnhart, Executive Director of First Night, advocated continued support for First Night and asked Council to increase its contributions. Dean Miller, Friends of Las Casas de Adobes member, asked for continued support for restoration of the adobes in the City. Nick Giocana, homeowner near the Rodriguez Adobe, recommended that the City complete the Rodriguez restoration and build a simple park around the adobe. Stewart Jenkins, suggested using revenues from gas taxes to reduce pollution and study 1 ways to produce clean power in San Luis Obispo. Bill Storm and Agatha Reardon advocated the construction of a new senior center. Brett Cross, suggested the creation of a community sailing program at the Laguna Lake Park. Hank Alberts, urged Council to establish a citizens group to Investigate complaints about the police department and make recommendations to the Police Chief and Council. Mark Shaffer, Ride -On Transportation Director, asked for $20,000 to assist in the funding of the "Safe Ride Home Program" and the "HOP Program" (Dial a Ride). Tim Valentine. Chairperson of San Luis Obispo Bicycle Advisory Committee, asked Council to consider completing the bicycle path along the railroad tracks as well as the construction of other bicycle paths in town. Sam Aborne, Cal Poly Student Body President asked Council to sponsor an annual alcohol - free community event for young adults (18-24 years). Wilda Rosene. Chairperson of the Promotional Coordinating Committee, asked Council to fund an effective visitor signage program, Install pedestrian - friendly lighting in the downtown and increase funding for Grants -in -Aid. Steve McGrath, urged Council to adopt a sales tax surcharge to assist downtown business owners with building retrofits. He also asked Council to increase housing density in the City Council Meeting Wednesday, January 17, 2001 - 6:30 p.m. Page 3 downtown, to continue to support construction /demolition recycling and to reduce transportation in the downtown. Michael Sullivan, urged the City Council and the Planning Commission to follow the General Plan. Gary Ray Rogers, SLOCO Access member, suggested that Council adopt an ordinance requiring new home construction financed by City funds to be minimally accessible to the disabled. Dave Garth, Executive Director of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, asked Council to develop attractive pedestrian- oriented lighting in the downtown. Jeanne Potter, Chamber of Commerce representative, urged Council to give top priority to the completion of the Airport Specific Area Plan and Margarita Area Specific Plan. Angie King urged Council to request Cal Poly to offer incentives to students who live on campus and to build more housing on campus. Rob Strong stressed the need for adequate planning for improving Broad Street corridor. Todd Talley, Chamber of Commerce representative, asked Council to complete the Marsh Street Parking Garage expansion and to go forward with the construction of the Chinatown/Court Street Project. Dave Cox, Chamber of Commerce representative, supported continued funding for the Economic Development Manager position and requested that Council consider adding an Economic Development Element to the General Plan. Allan Cooper, Mission Orchard Neighborhood representative, requested that Council close the Highway 101 north and south bound off and on ramps at Broad Street. Robert Mueller asked Council to consider routing the trolley to the Day's Inn Hotel to transport guests to the downtown area. Margo Clark, downtown homeowner, asked Council to reinstate the low- interest loan program for the preservation of historically significant homes. Tom Cantrell suggested that Council prepare one comprehensive plan for the Airport Area Plan, the Margarita Area Plan and the Edna Islay Area. Bette Kulp. Meadow Park area resident, asked Council to reconsider construction of a connecting street between Broad Street and Johnson Avenue. Pam Marshall Heatherington asked Council to initiate an integrated pest management program in City parks and to ban the use styrofoam in the City. Jean Seav downtown resident, suggested a more integrated approach to transportation. - -end of public testimony -- ' Forum participants broke into discussion groups summarized themes and explored alternatives. Brief reports from each group followed. Common goals included the construction of more ball fields, support for the Performing Arts Center, solutionsthe City Council Meeting Wednesday, January 17, 2001 - 6:30 p.m. Page 4 downtown parking deficit, traffic calming, reduction of styrofoam reduction and increased pedestrian and bicycle access. Mayor Settle adjourned the workshop at 9:30 p.m. to Tuesday, January 23, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. 41 Mary Ko ecky Assistant City Clerk APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 216101 MK:dr L 1