HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-17-2012 Agn C Murry B1council mEmonanOu m
January 12, 201 2
City Counci l
Katie Lichtig, City Manage ,
Derek Johnson, Community Development Department Directo r
Michael Codron, Assistant City Manage r
Prepared by :
Kim Murry, Deputy Director, Community Development Department
SUBJECT :
Item #B-1 : General Plan Task Forc e
Issue
Two questions have surfaced related to the impending update of the Land Use and Circulatio n
Elements (LUCE). The first question is how a task force should be structured to ensur e
stakeholder representation, and the second question is what relationship the Economi c
Development Strategic Plan has to the update . This memo addresses both of these questions .
In order to answer these questions, it is important to emphasize that the LUCE Update is focuse d
on the following areas :
•Policies that balance conservation and development to preserve the City's natura l
beauty, unique character and heritage while supporting housing opportunities an d
a vibrant econom y
•Consistency with Regional Blueprint policies hard copy:
•Complete streets and neighborhood s
•Areas for appropriate infil l
•Affordable housing
•Healthy cities policie s
•Alternative transportatio n
•Energy efficienc y
General Plan Task Forc e
Several members of the community have suggested the idea of creating two separate citizen tas k
forces to provide input on the LUCE Update : One task force comprised of residents and th e
business community and another task force comprised of representatives from the environmenta l
community . This suggestion is rooted in past practices and concerns about stakeholde r
representation which accompanied development of the 1994 General Plan Land Use Element .
The currently proposed update is grant-funded, limited in scope, and has specific timetables fo r
each phase and deliverable, and is therefore less suited to the interaction of two or more tas k
forces .
DATE :
TO :
VIA :
FROM :
RED FIL E
MEETING AGENDA
DATE ///7//2-ITEM #&/
email :
o COUNCIL
o CITY MOR
o ASST CM
o ATTORNEY
q CLERK/Mill
o PIB
o TRIBUNE
o NEW TIME S
o SLO CITY NEWS
o CDD DIR
o FITDIR
o FIRE CHIEF
o PW DI R
a POLICE CHIEF
o PARKS Sc REC DIR
o UTILDIR
a HRDIR
a COUNCIL
o CITY MOR
o CLERK
General Plan Task Force – Agenda Correspondence
2
For these reasons the optimal composition of the General Plan Task Force (GPTF) is for it to b e
representative of the entire community . As described thoroughly in the agenda report, the goal i s
for all citizens and all citizen groups to be able to provide input to a single GPTF without givin g
preferential treatment to any one stakeholder group .
If the Council feels the balance is not correct between the various interest groups identified in th e
agenda report, staff recommends adjusting the composition of the task force rather than formin g
an additional task force . Two task forces would require a substantial revision to the publi c
outreach strategy and the additional allocation of both consultant and staff resources . An
efficient and fair process to resolve issues will be imperative to meet the tight time fram e
associated with grant funding . Beyond grant deadlines, competing or conflictin g
recommendations from two task forces would be difficult to reconcile and could be divisive .
Economic Development Strategic Pla n
Regarding the second question, the City is currently undertaking creation of an Economi c
Development Strategic Plan . Some have questioned if the Economic Development Strategic Plan
and the associated steering committee will have undue influence on decision made during th e
LUCE Update .
With respect to the Economic Development Strategic Plan Steering Committee, this committee i s
advisory to staff only . Its purpose is to advise staff during the process of creating the Strategi c
Plan by reviewing the proposed consultant scope of work, helping to develop a definition fo r
"head of household" jobs, reviewing and evaluating consultant work product, and helping t o
improve public participation during four planned public workshops . The Steering Committe e
will be disbanded once the Strategic Plan is adopted, and the Committee will not act as advocate s
during the LUCE update process .
The purpose of the Economic Development Strategic Plan is to implement the Council's
Economic Development Major City Goal :
Increase focus on economic development . Support creation of head-of-household job s
through developing strategies for infrastructure, focusing on promising ,growth sectors ,
and expediting desired economic activity . Expand collaboration with Cal Poly, Cuesta ,
business community and responsible agencies.
The primary purpose of the Economic Development Strategic Plan is to provide direction an d
focus to the City's Economic Development Programs with respect to achieving the major cit y
goal ; it is not to inform LUCE policy changes .
The schedule for the Economic Development Strategic Plan envisions its review and adoption b y
the City Council during Summer 2012, which is likely to be a year or more prior to completio n
of the LUCE update . Statements by City staff that the Economic Development Strategic Pla n
will inform the LUCE update have been made merely in recognition of the chronology of the two
projects .