HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/14/2009MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2009
990 PALM STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
5:00 P.M. — SPECIAL MEETING — COUNCIL CHAMBER
ROLL CALL:
Council Members
Present: Council Members John Ashbaugh, Andrew Carter, Jan Howell
Manx, and Mayor Dave Romero were present at Roll Call. Vice
Mayor Allen K. Settle was seated immediately thereafter.
City Staff
Present: _ Ken Hampian, City Manager, Jonathan Lowell, City Attorney, Shelly
Stanwyck, Assistant City Manager, and Audrey Hooper, City Clerk,
were present at Roll Call. Other staff members presented reports
or responded to questions as indicated in the minutes.
BUSINESS ITEMS
City Manager Hampian discussed the schedule and process for tonight's meeting.
1. OVERTIME PRACTICES.
Human Resources Director Irons presented the agenda report, including
supplemental overtime information provided to Council under separate cover (on
file in the City Clerk's office). She and Finance & Information Technology Director
Statler responded to questions.
At the request of Vice Mayor Settle for the record, Finance & Information
Technology Directory Statler clarified that most benefits, such as retirement and
health coverage, do not increase with overtime. He explained that it is for this
reason that the cost of regular staffing and overtime are often about the same. He
also indicated that, in some cases, such as in 2004 when the City implemented
constant staffing in the Fire Department, it can be less costly to use overtime than
regular staffing in meeting service delivery goals.
Public Comments
No comments were forthcoming.
I—end of public comments-
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
ACTION: Moved by Marx/Ashbaugh to modify the City's Budget and Fiscal t
Policies to be included in the 2009 -11 Financial Plan to clearly define the use and
management of overtime costs throughout the organization; motion carried 5:0.
2. ECONOMIC STIMULUS UPDATE.
Assistant City Manager Stanwyck presented the agenda report. She, Finance &
Information Technology Director Statler, Public Works Director Walter, and Natural
Resources Manager Havlik responded to questions.
Public Comments
Andre Ourthiague, San Luis Obispo, discussed his belief that all future
applications for federal stimulus grant funds should also be approved by the City
Council.
—end of public comments-
-
A brief discussion followed during which City Manager Hampian clarified the
process that will be followed in submitting these grant appliations and responded
to questions.
ACTION: Moved by Marx/Settle to authorize staff to apply for American 1
Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants and authorize the City Manager to
execute any agreements related to such grants; motion carried 5:0.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION TOPIC
City Attorney Lowell announced the Closed Session topic indicated below that
was heard at 6:00 p.m.
The meeting recessed at 5:50 p.m.
6:00 P.M. CLOSED SESSION – COUNCIL HEARING ROOM
The Closed Session convened at 6:00 p.m. with all Council Members present.
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
Pursuant to Government Code § 54957.6
Agency Negotiator: Monica Irons
Employee Organizations: San Luis Obispo City Employees Association (SLOCEA)
San Luis Obispo Police Officers Association (SLOPOA)
San Luis Obispo Police Staff Officers Association (SLOPSOA)
San Luis Obispo Fire Association (Fire)
City Council Meeting'
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Page 3
San Luis Obispo Fire Battalion Chiefs Association
1 Unrepresented Confidential Employees
Unrepresented Management Employees
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEM
Mayor Romero called for public comments. None were forthcoming and the
meeting adjourned to the Closed Session.
THE CLOSED SESSION ADJOURNED AT 6:50 P.M.
7:00 P.M. SPECIAL MEETING – COUNCIL CHAMBER
The meeting convened with all members present.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Lowell reported that the Closed Session was held as indicated
above. Council provided direction to its labor negotiator regarding labor
negotiations with the specified organizations. There was no further reportable
action at this time.
BUSINESS ITEMS
3. CITY COUNCIL GOAL WORK PROGRAMS FOR 2009 -11.
City Manager Hampian made some introductory remarks, following which
Assistant City Manager Stanwvck presented the agenda report for each of the
following goals. She and staff as indicated below responded to Council's
questions throughout the presentations. Unless noted, no changes were made
to the goals or the related work programs.
Infrastructure Maintenance
Public Works Director Walter, Recreation Supervisor Fitzgerald, City Engineer
Lynch, and Finance & IT Director Stater responded to questions.
Public Comments
Steve Barasch, San Luis Obispo, suggested that it may be more cost effective for
the City to hire contractors to perform certain street pavement work on
easements over City property rather than having the street maintenance crew do
the work.
I—end of public comments-
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Public Works Director Walter explained when it is more cost - effective to use City
staff for street pavement work. I
Council consensus was to accelerate the repainting of light poles in the downtown.
Traffic Congestion Relief
Public Works Director Walter responded to questions.
Public Comments
Adam Fukushima, SLO County Bicycle Coalition, spoke in support of the
proposal for the Railroad Safety Trail.
Eric Veium, San Luis Obispo, spoke in support of infrastructure for bicycles and
buses.
—end of public comments—
Council consensus was to add language to this goal to reconsider the cost/benefit
of the planned median in the Mid Higuera Area Plan which covers improvements
on Higuera Street between Marsh and High Streets.
Economic Develoament
Public Comments
The following people asked Council to allocate resources in support of economic
development.
Clint Pearce, San Luis Obispo
Erik Justesen, RRM Design Group and Chamber member
Ron Yukelson, resident and Chamber Board member
Bob Stets, Chamber Board member
Eric Veium, San Luis Obispo
Kathi Main, business owner and Chamber member
Steve Barasch, San Luis Obispo
Carl Dudley, resident
Ken Smokoska, Work Force Education Training for a Green Economy,
encouraged staff to support green technology programs for students as well as
new jobs in the field of green technology.
Leslie Halls, San Luis Obispo, made several revenue enhancing suggestions,
including offering an incentive such as the City paying automobile registration for '
cars purchased in the City, giving out $30 gift certificates to shoppers who have
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Page 5
spent a designated amount during a one -day shopping spree, or paying an
' additional percentage to real estate brokers who sell vacant properties.
rend of public comments—
Council asked staff to identify the potential for added staff resources to support this
goal. They also suggested that references to AB 811 (regarding climate
protection) should be included along with clearer descriptions of the environmental
community's involvement in accomplishing this goal.
Preservation of Critical Services & Fiscal Health
Public Comments
No comments were forthcoming.
—end of public comments—
Council concurred that, with the exception of item 14e ( "Human Resource
Programs and Practices), most of task 14 ( "Resume Formal Organizational
Reviews on an Ongoing Basis ") will be removed from the action plan for this goal
and the funding allocation of $37,500 will be redirected toward supporting the
' economic development goal.
The following "Other Important Objectives" were continued to the meeting of April
21 at 3:00 p.m.:
Land Use and Circulation Revisions
Open Space Preservation
Green House Gas Reduction & Enerciv Conservation
Downtown Maintenance and Beautification
Historic Preservation
Council recessed at 9:16 p.m. and the meeting reconvened at 9:25 p.m. with all
members present.
4. STRATEGIC BUDGET DIRECTION.
Finance and Information Technology Director Statler presented the agenda report.
He and Fire Chief Callahan responded to questions.
Public Comments
Doug Dowden, SLOCEA President, offered to answer questions on behalf of
' SLOCEA and noted SLOCEA's support as Council seeks solutions to the budget
challenges.
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Page 6
Marta Peluso, resident and Executive Director of Arts Obispo, spoke in support of
retaining the Promotional Coordinating Committee (PCC) grants -in -aid budget.
Upon learning that this matter will not be considered until June 4, other speakers
supporting PCC grants -in -aid agreed to defer comments until that meeting.
Carol Florence, San Luis Obispo resident and business owner, spoke in
opposition to the proposed increase in development-fees. She suggested,
instead, that Council should explore a decrease in those fees for a specified
period of time as other cities are doing. She agreed with earlier comments in
support of economic development. In response to Council Member Ashbaugh,
she clarified that she does not object to a pre - application process.
—end of public comments—
The following is a summary of the strategies that were discussed, including
Council consensus and direction:
Reducing Reserves.
Council agreed to a limited use of the reserve (i.e., $300,000 annually) while still
maintaining a 20% reserve level. '
General Fund Capital Improvement Plan (CIP
Council supported reducing the CIP from the 2007 -09 levels by $4.8 million.
Revenue Enhancements
There was overall support by the Council to approve, in concept, the
recommended revenue enhancements as part of the budget balancing strategy.
However, Council provided additional direction on the following four items:
1. Child Care Fees. Staff will return with rate structure options for lower overall
cost recovery than initially proposed (i.e., along the lines of 10% versus 20 %).
2. Engineering Permits: Roll -Off fees. Staff will return with an additional
analysis and options for this fee.
3. Open Container Violations. Staff will return with additional analysis and
options that consider the seriousness of open container violations compared
with other offenses.
4. Encroachment Permits. Staff will return with additional analysis and options
for lower fees for small -scale curb/gutter/sidewalk and trenching
encroachment permits (such as residential sewer laterals).
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Council Member Manx reminded Council of its procedures to require a vote to
continue a meeting past 11:00 p.m. and moved to continue this meeting no later
than midnight. Motion failed due to lack of a second.
A brief discussion ensued during which Council indicated its desire to discuss the
Cost of Services Study at another meeting. During the discussion, City Manager
Hampian also clarified that the operating budget reduction options provided to
Council were for information purposes only. No further discussion or action was
requested from Council on these options at this time for reasons specified in the
agenda report.
Council concurred to continue implementation of the Cost of Services Study to
3:00 p.m. on April 21. Council agreed to continue consideration of the Council
Work Programs that were not considered at this meeting at that time.
Council Member Marx expressed concern with several of the initial proposed
budget reduction options and remarked on new ideas which she would support
when this matter comes back to Council.
ACTION: Council consensus and direction were noted above. No further action
was required.
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Romero
' adjourned the meeting at 11:30 p.m.
n
Audrey Hx
City Clerk
APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 06/02/09
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