HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/19/2003, COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT2 - SLO COUNTY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (SLOCOG) MEETING OF AUGUST 6, 2003 M"SING����� AGENDA
DA
- -T ITEM #
2
August 19, 2003
Liaison Report
To: Council Colles
From: Ken Schwa r
Copies: Ken Hampian, dy George, Mike McCluskey, Tim Bochum,Austin O'Dell
Re: SLO County Council of Governments(SLOCOG)meeting of August 6, 2003
This was an unusually quiet meeting;there was no meeting of SLORTA.
The Caltrans Director's report contained a note about the impending completion ofthe
101 soundwall between the Marsh Street on-ramp and the Broad Street off-ramp. I.
complimented Cahms for preserving the landscape on the easterly 101 shoulder that
almost completely shields the soundwall from northbound users of the freeway who see
the landscaping/wall tangentially from an acute angle. (This is not the case for
southbound travelers whose view is match more direct and the wall is much more visible.)
The view from Brizzolara Street is another issue. (If you haven't gone over to Brimolara
to see the wall from the City side, I encourage you to do so.) Caltrans did"articulate"the
wall so that it is not one continuous mass of concrete;however, landscaping is not yet
installed. I presume some shrubs and especially some vines will help modify the stark
gray appearance. The surface texture is pretty subtle.
A bit later in his report,the Caltran's Director noted some proposed"operational
improvements"including two in SLO. One involves the southbound off-ramp connecting
to Santa Rosa and the second is the addition of another lane between—you guessed
Marsh Street on-ramp and Broad Street off-ramp. This added lane would improve
"operations"much hike the lanes recently added between.Marsh and Madonna and
Madonna and Marsh. To install this new lane will require the removal of all of the east
shoulder landscaping so that the new lane can be built right up to the soundwall. A
second choice was presented that involved shi$ing all three lanes to the west. This would
eliminate the landscaped median strip. In any case, we will lose a landscape amenity on
one side or the other of the northbound lanes. This seems to be a classic case of Caltrans
giveth with one hand and taketh away with the other. (Good ole urban densification!)
COG Director De Carli brought the Board up-to-date on the impacts of the State budget
on COG and the cuts that have been made. The cuts are not expected to impact COG
operations in a significant manner. Cats by the State in the transportation network,will
have the effect of slowing highway improvement projects.
The Board ratified a scope of work for a North County Transit Study and Long Range
Transit Plan. As you may know,the North County recently achieved metropolitan status
and will have to play by the same rules that apply to us.
CLi2a- �
C
Page 2: SLOCOG Liaison report
Staff presented recommended actions for a spectrum of State legislative bras. The Board
modified two ofthe recommendations that seemed questionable to County
representatives. None impacted on our positions.
Finally,two draft reports were submitted by staff (1)Three chapters of SLOCOG's
2003 Regional Profile dealing with(a)population, (b)housing and(c)land use;and(2)
SLOCOG's Annual Report. The first ofthe two reports is an extremely useful
compilation of data for the county and all of the components thereof including our City.
The second report is useful in that it summarizes the annual activities/accomplishments of
SLOCOG.
I will place one copy of each report in our Council Office reading files. Should you wish
a copy of either report, ask our Clerk's staff to run off a copy for yourself
One last comment, I had some concerns that a Consent Item related to our SLO Transit
System might spark some comments. It didn't. SLOCOG's staff noted favorable
progress has been made by our staff in working out some previously noted problems.