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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/31/2005MINUTES ' ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2005 - 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER, 990 PALM STREET SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA ROLL CALL: Council Members Present: Council Members Paul Brown, Christine Mulholland, Allen K. Settle, Vice Mayor John Ewan and Mayor Dave Romero City Staff: Present: Ken Hampian, City Administrative Officer; Jonathan Lowell, City Attorney; Audrey Hooper, City Clerk; Wendy George, Assistant City Administrative Officer; Bill Statler, Finance Director; Deborah Linden, Police Chief; Wolfgang Knabe, Fire Chief; Jay Walter, Public Works Director; Paul LeSage, Parks and Recreation Director; Steve Tolley, Police Lieutenant; Tim Bochum, Deputy Director of Public Works PUBLIC COMMENT None. BUSINESS ITEM 1. MARDI GRAS 2005 POST - OPERATION OVERVIEW. Police Chief Linden and Lieutenant Tolley presented the staff report. Their presentation included a background of overarching strategies for the 2005 Mardi Gras operation, a comparison of the 2004 Mardi Gras event with the 2005 operation, and plans for the 2006 operation. Of particular concern was the risk that would result if the Parade returns in 2006. Chief Linden also provided Council with an update related to the public nudity ordinance which was adopted in October 2004. She explained why staff thinks the ordinance is still needed as a deterrent. Staff responded to Council's questions related to the need to stop the parade, who future Mardi Gras organizers will be, and whether incidents violating the nudity ordinance occurred apart from Mardi Gras. Public Comments Andrew Carter, San Luis Obispo, acknowledged the success of the 2005 Mardi Gras operation, supported a 2006 operation, and asked Mardi Gras organizers not to bring the parade back to the City. Tylor Middlestadt, ASI 2005 Vice President and 2006 President, stated that the students are willing to work with the community, but explained why he does not think this is just a Mardi Gras issue, but rather a community-wide problem. He suggested that a solution will only be arrived at by focusing on building positive relationships year -round with all stakeholders. He City Council Meeting Tuesday, May 31, 2005, 7:00 p.m. Page 2 disagreed that the tactics used in 2005 were the most effective and encouraged Council to guide staff in thinking outside of the box when developing a communitiy response to Mardi Gras in 2006. Ethan Weisinger, student, expressed concern about the police presence this year and the restriction on the students' mobility. He suggested that drunkenness was the problem in 2004, not the parade. —end of public comments— Council discussion ensued during which appreciation was expressed for student and community support in 2005. There was concurrence that the staff should proceed in 2006 using the approach used in 2005. During the discussion, Council Member Brown questioned the effectiveness of the nudity ordinance and asked that it be brought back to Council for review. Vice Mayor Ewan and Council Member Mulholland agreed that the nudity ordinance should be brought back to Council this summer with a report and recommendations. ACTION: 1. Received and discussed a report summarizing and reviewing the Mardi Gras 2005 operation, and provide staff with feedback as appropriate. Staff received direction from Council to continue with the approach used in 2005 in the upcoming year. 2. Received an update on the implementation of the Nudity Ordinance. By a majority consensus, staff was directed to return this summer with a report and recommendations related to the Nudity Ordinance. WORKSHOP 2. PRELIMINARY 2005 -07 FINANCIAL PLAN. Because she was not able to at the prior workshop, Deborah Cash, Downtown Association, explained at this time why there is a need for a Downtown Strategic Plan, why she thinks it should be funded by the City, the timeline for completing it, and the benefits the City will realize from the Plan. She responded to Council's questions. Discussion ensued during which Vice Mayor Ewan and Mayor Romero discussed the need for the Plan to include a method for paying for future updates to the Plan. They suggested that the Plan should be part of the Downtown Association's ongoing budget and not paid for by the City. Council recessed from 8:45 to 9:00 p.m. and the meeting reconvened with all members present. Finance Director Statler commenced the staff report and provided an overview of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). In response to Council Member Settle's request for the record, Finance Director Statler indicated that the Governor's plan to restore Proposition 42, Transportation Funding, is the only budgetary item that could have a positive impact on the City's CIP budget. Staff reviewed the individual CIP projects and responded to questions. Public Comments Andrew Carter, San Luis Obispo, spoke in support of web -based billing, concurred with the City moving forward with the Higuera Street project particularly as it could be a hallmark to City Council Meeting Tuesday, May 31, 2005,7:00 p.m. Page 3 the City, suggested that there should be three portions to the repaving program (i.e., the downtown, arterial streets and neighborhood streets), and suggested that the railroad bike trail could be considered as a linear park and that in the future, Council should consider whether it would be appropriate to use park in lieu funds for that project. Adam Fukushima, Bicycle Coalition, spoke in support of bike trails, particularly the railroad trail, and suggested that it is possible to decrease the possibility of urban sprawl by promoting intermodal transportation. —end of public comments— ACTION: Continued review and consideration of the Preliminary Financial Plan for 2005 -07. There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Romero adjourned the meeting at 10:30 p.m. to an Adjourned Regular meeting on Thursday, June 2, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 6121 /2005 1 Audrey Hooper City clerk