HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/7/2023 Item 6d, Marx - Handout at the meeting
To: San Luis Obispo City Council
From: Vice Mayor Jan Marx
Re: Consent Item 6d
Date: March 7, 2023____________________________
I am sorry to say that I cannot attend the Council Meeting tonight, due to a severe virus, thankfully not
COVID. Please accept this written testimony and consider it in your deliberations.
1. The item should be pulled from the Consent Agenda.
2. This $7,619,960 project has come in $3,114,104 over budget. Council is being asked to approve
this expenditure before upcoming budget hearings. It should be considered as part of the new
budget, not rushed through before Council has the chance to weigh and balance the cut backs
and tradeoffs that would have to be made to other programs.
3. I support the REOC decision. The Staff proposal would deplete the remaining undesignated $1.6
million in the Local Revenue Measure fund balance. REOC is statutorily required to engage in
oversight of fund use and is not intended to be a rubber stamp of staff recommendations.
4. Allocating $218,708 from the Capital Projects Reserve Fund would likely deplete that fund.
5. The other transfers recommended by Staff (5.a – k) take funds away from other important and
already approved projects in the rest of the City, including the Railroad Safety Trail, and the
California/Foothill RR crossing among many others;
6. The project should be pared back, redesigned and rebid, not awarded in the amount of
$6,076,939 to the highest bidder, as recommended. This would save money and avoid possible
litigation brought by the lowest bidder.
7. I support the “Lincoln Compromise” which would route the bike path through Lincoln and West
Streets, saving at least $500,000 and obviate the need to remove parking from Chorro Street. As
I recall, 74% of the residents in that area opposed the plan and parking removal.
8. The project negatively impacts City residents who are frail elderly, disabled and/or needing to
park near their homes to unload groceries or other heavy items, or transport children.
9. I agree with European studies cited by residents which conclude that two way bike lanes that
increase the likelihood of head on collisions are dangerous, especially those crossing driveways
which create blind spots for drivers. This danger is multiplied, since the use of powerful electric
bikes has vastly increased since the inception of the program five years ago.
10. The $1.7 million dollar grant will not necessarily be lost. As staff states, the agreement “in place
between the CNRA and the City identifies a Project Performance Period ending 3/1/2024. This
date can, however, be amended with grant agency approval, but cannot extend past 3/1/2026”.
11. The most expensive solution is not always the best solution. This is an exorbitant “Cadillac”
project, when a more modest and fiscally prudent one is possible.
12. I would request that my colleagues consider directing staff to revise the project plans according
to the “Lincoln Compromise” and rebid the project with the goals of reducing project costs to
the original budgetary amount, increasing bicycle, resident and pedestrian safety, eliminating
bidder litigation and maintaining quality of life in this established neighborhood.