HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-08-2013 pc lopes1336 Sweetbay Lan e
San Luis Obispo, California 9340 1
January 7, 2013 COUNCIL MEETING : //8/e
ITEM NO ..
Mayor and City Counci l
City of San Luis Obisp o
San Luis Obispo, California 9340 1
SUBJECT : 2013-15 Financial Pla n
Dear Mayor and Council Members :
RECEIVEI5—
JAN 07 201 3
SLO CITYCLER i
Please consider my comments when you deliberate the Goals and actions for th e
2013-15 Financial Plan :
Set a goal to make substantial reductions in vehicle usage by improving ke y
pedestrian and alternative transportation linkages, connections and foca l
areas, to "tie together" and attract significant increases in pedestrian, bicycl e
and transit safety and travel within the city .
Important to make improvements that result in actual increases in pedestrian ,
bicycle and transit usage . Results from previous efforts are inadequate ;
additional infrastructure investments are necessary and recommended b y
transportation experts .
How?Set a percentage of transportation funds for this purpose ; base th e
percentage(s) on target percentages for each mode of travel . One approach
is based on fair share allocations : If we want to reduce vehicle travel by 20%
by 2020, then set travel increase goals to other modes and allocate thos e
increases in a dedicated budget for each mode . If we want to increas e
pedestrian travel to 5% of all trips, then allocate 5% of the transportatio n
budget to this mode . Pedestrian funds would pay for safe, inviting travel way s
and address safe and welcoming intersections with streets .
Architectural Review Commissio n
I agree that the Downtown Concept Plan should be updated but extended in th e
direction of Johnson Avenue . The Monterey Street area needs a specific pla n
actually, to create an office and services employment area with a downtown form .
The commission continues to recommend a plaza on Monterey Street between Sant a
Rosa and Osos Streets . The conflicts between this idea in the Downtown Concep t
Plan and the reality of vehicle circulation were addressed already in ARC review of a
previous staff proposal . A large civic plaza can be created on County property a s
part of the current landscape project around the existing buildings . Specia l
"streetscape" improvements can be created along the existing sidewalks and a mic-
block crossing . Closure of the street is a bad idea in itself in that it will result in a n
empty, underused space . It can easily be eclipsed by these other improvements .
Sincerely ,
James Lopes