HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/14/2002MINUTES
' SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
TUESDAY MAY 14, 2002 - 7:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 990 PALM 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 '
City Staff:
Present: Ken Hampian, City Administrative Officer; Jeff Jorgensen, City
Attorney; Lee Price, City Clerk; Wendy George, Assistant City
Administrative Officer; Bill Statler, Finance Director; John Moss,
Utilities Director; Mike McCluskey, Public Works Director; Mary
Kopecky, Assistant City Clerk; David Hix, Wastewater Division
Manager; Gary Henderson, Water Division Manager; Ron Munds,
Conservation Coordinator; Sue Baasch, Utilities Analyst
PUBLIC COMMENT
Finance Director Statler presented an overview of the Governor's recommendations for the
California State Budget.
Bruce Felton Magee alleged claims of discrimination and harassment.
Sifu Kelvin Berman Harrison reiterated claims of harassment and discrimination.
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BUSINESS ITEMS
Wastewater Division Manager Hix and Utilities Director Moss presented the in -depth and
technical staff report. Council questions followed. There were no public comments.
ACTION: Moved by Marx/Mulholland to authorize staff to file an appeal with the
State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) if the proposed National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit is not appropriately modified; motion
carried 5:0.
Mayor Settle called a break at 8:15 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 8:30 p.m.
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Tuesday, May 14, 2002 7:00 p.m.
2. WATER SUPPLY RELIABILITY RESERVE.
Water Division Manager Henderson and Utilities Director Moss presented the staff report.
Lengthy Council discussion ensued.
Mayor Settle voiced support for the construction of a desal plant as a permanent drought
solution for coastal cities.
City Administrative Officer Hamolan explained the make up of the City's water reliability
reserve and noted that rate payers spend about 1.3 million dollars per year on the water
reliability reserve whether the City uses the water or not.
Finance Director Statler presented an overview of the financial ramifications of maintaining
the 2,000 acre foot reliability reserve. He also illustrated that changing the per capita use had
little effect on rates and emphasized that the real rate driver was the cost to maintain the
reliabiltiy reserve.
Council Member Schwartz noted that San Luis Obispo voters passed the 2000 acre foot water
reliability reserve to guarantee that the City could ride out a seven -year drought He asserted
that the City had the potential to endure a seven -year drought without the 2000 acre foot
reliability reserve. He expressed support for working toward eliminating the reliability reserve
and presented several graphic illustrations depicting water usage and demonstrating his
point of view.
Public Comments:
Dave Romero . 2057 Slylark Lane, spoke against raising water impact fees and in favor of
eliminating the reliability reserve, connecting to State water, and having staff follow up on the
possibility of a future desal plant
Andrew Carter. 1283 Woodside Drive, voiced support for continuing the 145 gallon per capita
per day figure, favored keeping a reserve, suggested pursing other options including State
water and allocating siltation first before calculating impact fees.
Mary Beth Schroder, 2085 Wiling Lane, spoke against construction of a desal plant. She
urged Council to curtail development, consider using water on the Dalido property, and make
Cal Poly accountable for the housing and water shortage.
Patricia Wilmore, Municipal Advocate for the Chamber of Commerce, encouraged Council to
eliminate the reliability reserve and rexamine the gallons per capita per day to allow for
decreased fees.
end of public comments—
Council Member Ewan favored maintaining the 145 gallons per capita per day level and
recommend continuing follow up on "what if' scenario's. He stressed the Importance of
having multiple water resources.
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Tuesday, May 14, 2002 7:00 p.m.
' Council Member Mulholland concurred with staff's recommendation to eliminate the
reliability reserve and maintain the 145 gallons per capita per day. She spoke against build
out of the General Plan and pursuing State Water. She spoke in support of using
conservation techniques to make current water resources stretch farther.
Vice Mayor Marx did not support reduction of the 145 gallons per capita per day. She
favored finding water sources that do not rely on rainfall such as conservation, reuse and
desal. She also favored examining Whale Rock Reservoir and other City water resources to
give consideration to making non -City users accountable.
Mayor Settle was supportive of retaining the 145 gallons per capita per day level because it
provides a reserve without putting a financial burden on ratepayers. He restated his
support for desal.
ACTION: Moved by EwaniMullholland to direct staff to initiate the process to
eliminate the goal of a 2,000 acre-foot reliability reserve and retain the 145 gallon per
capita figure; motion carried 5:0. Staff was directed to return with an amended
resolution revising water impact fees.
COMMUNICATIONS
Vice Mayor Marx expressed concern about the lack of affordable housing in the community
and suggested Council investigate the possibility of initiating a future ballot measure that
would allow for property transfer tax for affordable housing for City police and fire safety
personnel.
Vice Mayor Marx suggested sending letters of support from the Council for the Land
Concervancy of San Luis Obispo County for their grant requests for stream restoration and
land acquisition. Council directed the City Attorney to prepare the letters.
Council Member Schwartz reported that 182 mothers and friends toured the Jack House and
the gardens on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 12, 2002.
Vice Mayor Marx asked the Mayor to prepare a letter to the County Board of Supervisors
extending her term on the County Flood Control Zone 9.
COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
Council Member Mulholland gave an overview of the May 14, 2002 San Luis Obispo
Downtown Association meeting.
Mayor Settle presented an update of a recent Cal Poly Dormitory Fund Meeting.
Vice Mayor Marx summarized the latest joint meeting of Caltrans and SLOCOG where she
learned of a plan to Install a median safety barrier on Highway One from the northern San Luis
Obispo City limits to Cuesta College. She urged Council to implore Caltrans to make the
median as attractive as possible. Staff agreed to follow up.
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Special City Council Meeting
Tuesday, May 14, 2002 7:00 p.m.
Page 4
Then: being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Settle adjourned the
meeting at 10:20 p.m. to Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 990 Palm
Street, San Luis Obispo.
APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 6/04/2002
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Mary Kopecky
City Clerk
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