HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/23/20031
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MINUTES
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
AND PLANNING COMMISSION
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2003 - 7:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 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
Planning Commission Members
Present: Planning Commissioners, Carlyn Christianson, Jim Aiken, Alice Loh,
Allan Cooper, Michael Boswell, Vice -Chair James Caruso, and
Chairperson Orval Osborne
City Staff:
Present: Ken Hampian, City Administrative Officer; Jonathan Lowell, City
Attorney; Lee Price, City Clerk; Mike Draze, Deputy Director
Community Development Department; John Moss, Utilities Director;
Neil Havlik, Natural Resources Manager and Michael Codron,
Associate Planner
BUSINESS ITEM
JOINT MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE
CONSERVATION & OPEN SPACE ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN (GPA AND ER
149-98).
Mayor Romero described the purpose of the meeting as follows: 1) to discuss the process
associated with the Draft Conservation & Open Space Element, 2) to review and respond to
concerns relating to the process, and 3) to develop a plan for proceeding toward
completion of the Element. Planning Commission Chairperson Osborne clarified that the
meeting was not to study, review, analyze or act on the content of the Draft.
CAO Hampian provided introductory comments. Deputy Director Community Development
Draze and Natural Resources Manager Havlik presented an in -depth staff report. CAO
Hampian reviewed the CAD recommendation, as outlined in the staff report. Brief
questions followed.
Public Comments:
Michael Sullivan, 1127 Seaward St., spoke in support of the formation of a task force and
suggested that the City conduct public surveys to get additional input into the process. He
asked that the matrix (comparison chart) be amended to more clearly indicate where to find
existing language proposed to be changed. Deputy Director Draze explained that the matrix is
Special Joint City Council and Planning Commission Meeting
Tuesday, September 23, 2003, 7:00 p.m.
Page 2
cross - referenced to reflect where to find the current goal or policy statement and, further,
where the new language is proposed to go.
Jan Howell Manx, 265 Albert Drive, voiced opposition to consolidating the Open Space and
Conservation Elements. She argued that the Open Space Element is working the way it is but
agreed that the Conservation Element should be updated. She cautioned the Planning
Commission to be diligent in their reivew of the documents to make sure that standards are
not being lowered, but rather raised.
Patricia Wilmore, Chamber of Commerce, commented in support of the CAD's recom-
mendation (letter on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
Pam Heatherington, Executive Director of ECOSLO, concurred with comments made by Jan
Howell Marx and encouraged the Council to consider the formation of a task force.
—end of public comments—
Planning Commission and Council discussion ensued. Vice Mayor Mulholland proposed,
and the Council majority supported, expanding CAD Recommendation #1 b to allow for
more public discussion in a meeting format less formal than typical public hearings at
which citizens are limited to three minutes to testify.
Council took no action on the Planning Commission's recommendation to form a task
force.
ACTION: Moved by Ewan/Settle to: 1) Direct staff to: a) Update the existing policy
comparison chart to make easier the review of the draft for the public and Planning
Commission. b) At the earliest reasonable time, schedule a series of public and
Planning Commission workshops in a discussion format so that the public and the
Planning Commission have ample time to review the proposed draft, page by page if
necessary, prior to holding formal public hearings on the revised Conservation &
Open Space Element. c) Proceed to the formal public hearings only after the
Planning Commission has completed the Housing Element Update. 2) Direct staff to
discuss with the Planning Commission how they want to break down the work
before proceeding; motion carried 5:0.
There being no further business to come before the.City Council, Mayor R ero adjourned
the meeting at 9:28 p.m. to Tuesday, October 7, 2003 at 4: p.m. he C6u il Chamber, 990
Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
Lee Prig
City Clerk
APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 10121/2003
LP:jo
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