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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-06/2021 Item 14 - Codron (2)City of San Luis Obispo, Council Memorandum Council Agenda Correspondence DATE: April 5, 2021 TO: City Council FROM: Michael Codron, Director of Community Development VIA: Derek Johnson, City Manager DJJ SUBJECT: Item #14 - General Plan Annual Report Questions Staff is providing this memo in response to a variety of questions posed regarding the General Plan Annual Report. Page number references are to the General Plan Annual Report, which is a reading file linked within the City Council agenda packet. Question: Page 8, it seems the Noise element is over 25 years old. Is this because it still works well for the city or for some other reason? Response: The Noise Element will need to be updated after the two ongoing updates (Park and Recreation Element and Safety Element) are completed. As part of developing the Land Use and Circulation Element Update, new noise contours were developed that staff has been able to use when assessing projects. The current policy structure of the Noise Element continues to be a relevant policy document and solid standard of review and effectively implemented by the City’s Noise Control Ordinance (SLOMC 9.12). Consideration of a Noise Element update will be made as part of the Community Development work program for the 2023-2025 Financial Plan. Question: Page 10, last sentence--did the Housing Element get approved by HCD on March 22? Response: No. The State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) provided its response to the City regarding certification of the recently updated Housing Element and identified that some relatively minor changes and further explanations of the background information are required. HCD requested additional information on the timing and phasing of build out for each of the specific plan areas. Additionally, they requested more information regarding the City’s lateral offset program. And lastly, HCD requested changes related specifically regarding policies in support of the provision of farmworker housing. City staff is working with HCD on how to address that request. HCD has accepted the City’s inventory of housing sites for the purpose of meeting RHNA requirements, which is a major milestone in the process of certification. General Plan Annual Report Memo Page 2 Question: Page 14, under ALUC (Airport Land Use Commission) - what is the actual current adoption window for the updated ALUP (Airport Land Use Plan)? Response: Adoption of the ALUP Update and environmental determination is currently scheduled for consideration on the April 21, 2021 ALUC Hearing. The Public Hearing Draft of the updated ALUP was published on March 30. Staff will be participating to suggest some minor changes and encourage adoption of the updated plan, which substantially reduces restrictions on development of zoned land in the City. Question: Page 15, under Amtrak-LOSSAN. What exactly did staff say to Amtrak and UP about the expanded layover proposal with regard to "compatibility, historic preservation, design and circulation?" Response: These issues were discussed at length during the Planning Commission meeting of March 10, 2021. The meeting was held for the purpose of scoping the EIR for the project. LOSSAN will be the lead agency for the EIR, and City input was specifically to use City of San Luis Obispo thresholds for evaluating impacts to historic preservation, noise, air quality, active transportation and other topics that will be reviewed. Although a conditional use permit is not required for the project because LOSAAN is a lead agency (the City of SLO is actually a member of LOSSAN), LOSSAN staff have been very responsive to City input. Staff expects opportunities to work with LOSSAN during the course of developing the EIR and will be providing comments on the EIR once it is published. LOSSAN is also open to non-regulatory reviews with the Cultural Heritage Committee and other City advisory bodies and staff will pursue those opportunities to help ensure that the community is informed about the project and that the project design is consistent with City development standards in the historic railroad district. CEQA analysis is requirement and the context of facilities in a historic district will be a required component of environmental review. Question: Page 16, Caltrans--Prado is scheduled for 2024--so is it time to put into the budget some kind of policy for large city CIP projects, to require consideration or attempt to do a Project Labor Agreement (PLA)? Response: This is a topic that can be discussed as part of the City Council’s review of departmental work programs and the CIP on April 20 during the Strategic Budget Direction agenda item. It is included in the work plan for the Major City Goal for Economic Development as follows: f. Establish an internal working group to research methods to support local contractors, local vendors and labor through workforce agreements, local purchasing requirements, alternative project delivery methods and other options to support local businesses and employees. General Plan Annual Report Memo Page 3 Question: Page 18, Tables 2 and 3--the reports language is probably confusing to some, since it talks about the strong CDD year and then notes a significant reduction in some applications/permits. In reviewing the tables, the issue is not 2020 and perhaps 2019 was an anomaly. Can you explain why 2019 was so extra-extra busy? Response: 2019 was a particularly strong year for residential additions/alterations. This was likely due to lower interest rates, ADU permits, and refinancing for the purpose of reinvesting in the property. The General Plan Annual Report tracks calendar year statistics. As a result of the pandemic, the statistics for the 2020 calendar year were more heavily impacted than the 2019-20 Fiscal Year, or the current 2020-21 Fiscal Year. Question: Page 33, first paragraph, isn't the statement about ADU applications flipped? Shouldn't it be 70 in 2020 and 35 in 2019 if indeed it has doubled? Response: This is a typo in the report. The sentence should say 70 applications in 2020 and 35 applications in 2019. Question: Page 35 first paragraph Economic Development-- Is the EDSP (strategic plan) going to be revised in this next budget cycle? Response: The current work program includes an update of the EDSP during the second year of the 2021-23 Financial Plan. Question: Page 39, last paragraph, there is a typo on the year used for the city's population, it says 20209...so what year was used? Response: The year used was 2020. This is a typo that will be corrected. Question: Page 45, near the bottom, it says Marsh Street elevator repair should be completed Feb 2021, was it? Response: The elevator upgrade work was completed in March 2021. Question: Page 54, last part of Hazardous Materials Inspections. Will the City replace the retired Hazardous Materials Coordinator position? Those inspections and oversight are crucial to keep the community safe. If the hire hasn't taken place, when will it? Response: The recruitment for this position began March 24, 2021 and the department hopes to have the position filled within the next two months. Prior to the open recruitment, many of the Hazardous Materials Coordinator inspections and duties were maintained by a Fire Captain while on an extended light duty assignment. The Fire Captain filling this role is a member of the County’s Hazardous Materials Team and had the opportunity to shadow the retired Hazardous Materials Coordinator prior to retirement. Additionally, the Fire Department has contracted with County Environmental Health to perform underground storage tank inspections until the position is filled.