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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-25-2025 City Council Minutes - Special Meeting 1 Council Minutes February 25, 2025, 5:30 p.m. Council Chambers, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo Council Members Present: Council Member Mike Boswell, Council Member Emily Francis, Council Member Jan Marx, Vice Mayor Michelle Shoresman, Mayor Erica A. Stewart City Staff Present: City Manager Whitney McDonald, Christine Dietrick, City Attorney, Teresa Purrington, City Clerk _____________________________________________________________________ 1. CALL TO ORDER A Special Meeting of the San Luis Obispo City Council was called to order on February 25, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, by Mayor Stewart. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Boswell led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA ONLY Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment-- 4. CONSENT AGENDA Vice Mayor Shoresman requested Item 4a be pulled from the Consent agenda. 4.a APPROVE THE DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE 2025-27 MAJOR CITY GOALS Motion By Vice Mayor Shoresman Second By Mayor Stewart Approve the descriptions of the 2025-27 Major City Goals with the following changes: 2 Cultural Vitality, Economic Resilience, and Fiscal Sustainability • Improve the local business environment, support Downtown vitality, and help entrepreneurs and businesses thrive. • Support Downtown vitality and the cultural arts, centering on including the Cultural Arts District. • Support initiatives to assist the local workforce to develop the skills needed to secure quality jobs and local businesses and employers to attract and retain talent. • Promote the City as an appealing community destination for people to live, work, visit, and invest. • Balance operational needs and infrastructure investments with consideration of the long-term fiscal sustainability of the City organization. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion • Support increased access and belonging for all community members. • Facilitate programs and initiatives to support diverse community engagement and representation, including climate justice initiatives. • Operationalize inclusive practices in City processes and policies. • Foster an inclusive organizational culture with equitable practices in recruiting, hiring, and retention. Homelessness Response • Collaborate with partners to prevent and reduce homelessness. • Leverage external funding with regional partners to expand crisis response and continuum of shelter and support programs. • Implement the Homelessness Response Strategic Plan (HRSP). • Refine approaches to reduce the impacts of homelessness to balance safety, health, and community well-being. Housing and Neighborhood Livability – Healthy, Safe, and Affordable • Facilitate sustainable growth that aligns with climate, economic, and housing goals. • Promote the expansion and diversification of housing opportunities for all. 3 • Ensure housing is safe, healthy, and affordable, while facilitating stronger strengthening protections for renters. • Foster diverse, connected, and safe neighborhoods that are livable for all. Infrastructure and Sustainable Transportation • Advance street safety improvements and support Vision Zero goals for all road users. • Continue implementation of the Active Transportation Plan, including expansion of multimodal transportation networks to improve connectivity, advocating for regional financial support as necessary. • Ensure public spaces, roads, and utilities are well maintained and sufficient to support planned future growth and development • Build out park infrastructure to support community recreation and accessibility. • Support policies and programs aimed at expanding mass transportation and public transit. Open Space, Climate Action, and Resilience • Advance Continue implementation of the Climate Action Plan and Lead by Example Plan Work Programs • Implement disaster mitigation efforts to reduce risks from floods and fires • Strengthen community resilience through emergency preparedness, community networks, and planning efforts • Protect, sustain and enhance advance open space and natural and historic resources • Expand trail connectivity and accessibility to support biking, hiking, and outdoor enjoyment for all community members Ayes (5): Council Member Boswell, Council Member Francis, Council Member Marx, Vice Mayor Shoresman, and Mayor Stewart CARRIED (5 to 0) 4 5. BUSINESS ITEM 5.a 2024 STATE LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING (Estimated Time: 45 Minutes) Deputy City Manager Greg Hermann and Policy & Programs Manager Natalie Harnett provided an in-depth staff report and responded to Council questions. Public Comments: None ---End of Public Comment--- Motion By Council Member Francis Second By Council Member Boswell 1. Receive and file a report on the 2024 State Legislative Briefing which summarizes the adopted laws from the 2023-24 regular session of the California State Legislature (December 2023 through October 2024); and 2. Appoint Council Member Marx and Council Member Boswell to an ad-hoc committee to review the current legislative platform and suggest changes for the 2025-26 legislative session. Ayes (5): Council Member Boswell, Council Member Francis, Council Member Marx, Vice Mayor Shoresman, and Mayor Stewart CARRIED (5 to 0) 6. STUDY SESSION ITEM 6.a STUDY SESSION: REVIEW THE ADMINISTRATIVE DRAFT OF SLO TRANSIT'S SHORT-RANGE TRANSIT PLAN Council Member Marx declared a conflict on this item due to her house being within 500 feet of the proposed new bus route. Council Member Francis declared a conflict on this item due to her house being within 500 feet of one of the proposed bus routes. Council Members Marx and Francis left the meeting at 6:30 PM. Public Works Director Matt Horn, Deputy Director-Mobility Services Jennifer Rice and Mobility Services Business Manager Alex Fuchs provided an in-depth staff report and responded to Council questions. 5 Public Comments: Rachel Whalen Louise Justice Annie Secrest Aaron Posternack ---End of Public Comment--- ACTION: By consensus, the Council provided comments and approved the Mass Transportation Committee’s recommended changes to the implementation timeline as follows: FY 2025-26 • Reinstate services to pre-pandemic levels • Increase Routes 4A/B service frequency • Revise Routes 2A/B to serve San Luis Ranch and reduce headways to 45-minutes FY 2026-27 • Modify academic service to align with Cal Poly’s transition to a semester system • Operate B Routes on weekends, sooner if feasible FY 2027-28 • New direct route to serve the Avila Ranch development • Microtransit pilot program to supplement evening service FY 2028-29 • Provide academic service year-round, to align with Cal Poly’s schedule for year-round semester system Make sure to pay attention to cross street access when it comes to bus stop locations. 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the City Council will be held on March 4, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. _________________________ APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 03/18/2025