HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/01/2003MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2003 - 4:00 P.M.
COUNCIL HEARING ROOM, 990 PALM STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
ROLL CALL:
Council Members
Present: Council Members John Ewan, Ken Schwartz, Allen K. Settle,
Vice Mayor Christine Mulholland and Mayor Dave Romero
City Staff:
Present: Ken Hampian, City Administrative Officer; Gil Trujillo, Acting City
Attorney; Lee Price, City Clerk; Wendy George, Assistant City
Administrative Officer; John Mandeville, Community Development
Director; Mike McCluskey, Public Works Director; and Mike Draze,
Deputy Director Community Development
Design Team:
Present: Charles Crotser, Andrew Merriam, Pierre Rademaker, Ken Schwartz
Absent: Rod Levin
STUDY SESSION
1. MONTEREY STREET PLAZA MAJOR CITY GOAL.
Deputy Community Development Director Draze reported that the City hired a consultant to
create possible design options for the block of Monterey Street between Santa Rosa and
Osos Street He presented plaza schemes developed by the consultant, Kaplan McLaughlin
Diaz (KMD). Then he introduced members of a local design team consisting of architects
and designers who previously developed the Conceptual Physical Plan for the City's
Center. He explained that today's study session was an opportunity to review the KMD's
plaza schemes as well as an alternate conceptual plan for the plaza treatment developed by
the local design team, which Is intended to provide additional input to the consultant. He
clarified that because Council Member Schwartz is a member of the team, the study session
was an opportunity for all members of the Council to review the progress of this project.
Pierre Rademaker presented the team's conceptual design for the Fremont Plaza. Andrew
Merriam discussed traffic circulation and anticipated impacts to traffic patterns.
Community Development Director Mandeville emphasized that a thorough public hearing
process would follow with input from the Cultural Heritage Committee, the Architectural
Review Commission and the Planning Commission. He noted that the consultant is done
for the most part but in order to finish out the contract, could be asked to pull all the design
concepts together into one package for presentation to the advisory bodies.
City Council Study Session
Thursday, May 1, 2003,4:00 p.m.
Page 2
Public Comments:
Tom Copeland expressed concern about permanently closing Monterey Street because of
traff ic impacts and the potential negative impact to local businesses relying upon store-
front exposure. He added that access is important for businesses to remain viable and to
handle pick -up and deliveries. He also shared concerns about how to control vagrancy.
Duane Leib, County General Services Director, shared the County's long -range planning
goals and expressed support for the concept of a plaza and street closure. He noted,
however, that the County has no necessity for a pedestrian bridge (as depicted in the KMD
schematics) to connect the courts to County general government. Referencing the design
team's alternative, he explained that because of the County's current construction project
(the new general government administration building), it is committed to conventional curb
and sidewalk on Monterey. CAD Hampian speculated that the County will be less interested
in financially participating in the plaza concept if Monterey Street is not closed. Mr. Leib
confirmed, indicating that from the County's perspective street closure would be preferred
and would not have a detrimental traff ic Impact.
Dean Miller explained that he was excited about the concept because it will pull together
downtown and Monterey Street north of Santa Rosa, but observed that Mr. Copeland's
arguments have merit.
Jean Anderson explained that as a pedestrian and cyclist, she would support the concept
and street closure.
Tom Bello expressed some reservations about the street closure by pointing out that
Monterey Street is an important arterial for tourists and is the only access to downtown
from "motel row ".
--end of public comments—
Individual Council comments followed.
The Council mutually agreed that the consultant's schematics were not very inspired, nor
did they reflect the community's needs and interests. The Council was generally supportive
of the plaza treatment concept presented by the local design team, but agreed that much
more discussion will need to take place, particularly as it relates to any options involving
the closure of Monterey Street. Council provided Input to staff as follows: Consider the
impacts on local businesses of special events or other reductions in the traffic flow; issues
regarding drainage, pick -up /drop -off and deliveries; potential impacts to the transit system;
ADA issues; economic incentives for outside cafes and/or other ideas for expansion out in
the plaza In support of providing additional exposure to the businesses. The Council
encouraged staff to proceed with more study and the public process of considering the
plaza concept and possible street closure.
There being no further business to come before the City Council, mayor ftmem adjourned
the meeting at 5:18 p.m. to Tuesday, May 6, 2003 at 7:00 p.kfi. i e C un il.Chamber, 990
Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
Lee Price, C. .C.
City Clerk
APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 5/20/2003
LP:jo