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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/02/1970Roll Call MINUTES ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA June 2, 1970 - 12 :15 P.M. Conference Room Present: Emmons Blake, Myron Graham, Arthur F. Spring, Donald Q. Miller, Kenneth E. Schwartz City Staff Present: J. H. Fitzpatrick, City Clerk; R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer Others Present: John Evans, Chairman of the Planning Commission; John Brown, Member of the-Planning Commission ---------------------------- ------ --- ------- --- ---- -- -- -- - -- ---- -- - - --- 1. John Evans, Chairman of the City Planning Commission, requested that the City Council reconsider the appeal of the Planning Commission for the additional staff member in the Planning Department in order that some planning work could be ac- complished which cannot be handled by the existing staff. Mr. Evans continued he did not feel that the existing staff was capable of handling the necessary planning studies needed for advanced and future planning projects, such as updating the Zoning Ordinance Master Plan. He felt the reason the existing staff was not able to perform these studies was that they had become too involved with normal routine of the Planning Department to take on these additional planning studies. Mr. Evans also felt that the Planning Department staff was overworked with extra duties which did not leave them any time for additional planning studies.. He continued that the Planning Commission would like the City Council to hire a person to handle the planning studies and advanced planning which are not being accomplished at the present time due to the workload in the Planning Department. He stated the Com- mission would oppose the hiring of a consultant to perform the work as they felt a consultant would only add to the problem as it would create additional work as the department would have to supply the consultant with the needed information for his studies. Mr. Evans stated he wished to remind the City Council that the City of San Luis Obispo spends less money per capita on planning than other cities of the same size. John Brown, member of-the Planning Commission, stated he agreed with the comments of Mr. Evans on the need for an additional employee in the Planning Department in order to keep up with the work load in the office. R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer, brought to the Council's attention the ex- isting lack of space in the Planning and Building Office. He also stated that the City Council had already placed in the budget funds for the hiring of a consultant to handle specific assignments for the Planning Commission. John Evans stated that after discussing this matter with the City Council, he felt the solution desired by the Planning Commission fell in the following priority. 1) Add a new staff member to the City Planning Department, 2) Additional funds for hiring additional help in the Planning Department, 3) Hire a consultant for specific assignments, 4) Do nothing. Mr. Evans continued that he felt the following projects were necessary so that the Planning Commission could intelligently do some planning work for the City. 1) Re- vision of the Zoning Ordinance which is presently in poor shape due to the number of amendments that have been made in the last-few years. 2) A Neighborhood Devel- opement Program. 3) Update the Land Use Map. Councilman Graham suggested that the Planning Commission could look into the pos- sibility of hiring Cal Poly staff members who are on vacation to handle special projects. Mayor Schwartz felt that the rewriting of the Zoning Ordinance could be best handled by a consultant as the consultant could bring in experiences of other cities in pre- paring a Zoning Ordinance, whereas if the work were done by a new staff member, he would not have the benefit of knowing the experiences of other cities. City Council Minutes June 2, 1970 Page 2 Councilman Blake explained that the City's experience with consultants on other special projects has been good. Councilman Spring stated he felt he could go along with the plan to hire a con- sultant for 1970 -71. Mayor Schwartz stated he felt that due to the tight condition of the budget for 1970 -71 and other commitments that must also be met it was the Council's feeling I that no additional staff be added to the Planning Department, but that a consul- tant would be made available for special projects. . 2. Mayor Schwartz again brought to the Council's attention his proposal for a comprehensive city advertising promotional program as follows: A. The City Council establish a lump sum of. money....iin'eai:h fiscal::budget.to be.! devoted to promotion of the City. B.. .That this. lump .sum to be .established from a. formula which - would -devote a fixed percentage of the City income derived from sales tax, bed tax and business license revenues. The amount of advertising would vary from year to year in relationship to the revenues collected. C. The City Council appoint a promotion coordinating committee to recommend to the Council a long -range promotional program and annual programs. D. That the committee hear all requests for funds and recommend to the Council those requests which best fit into the annual promotion program. E. That this committee meet in open session at least four times per year to formulate programs and recommendations and that minutes of these meetings be forwarded to the City Council. F. That the promotional program for the ensuing fiscal year be presented to the ' City Council at its first regular meeting in May. Mayor Schwartz continued he felt that for the fiscal year 1970 -71 the maximum amount of public funds to be expended for advertising and promotion should.be $51,000 based on the following formula: Bed Tax (20%) $23,547.00 Sales Tax (2 %) 142488.00 Business License (15 %) 12,952.00 $50,987.00 Mayor Schwartz stated that a promotional coordinating committee should be appointed by the Council to screen all requests for the appropriation of these funds. Councilman Miller stated that he would oppose any expenditure of City funds for advertising and promotion as he has in the past. He felt that there were other needs in the City which were not being met by the City Council such as housing, a municipal bus system, recreation for the elderly, etc. which were more important. Councilman Blake stated he would go along with the Mayor's proposal with a ceiling of approximately $51,000. On motion of Councilman Blake, seconded by Councilman Graham, that Mayor Schwartz' proposal be accepted with an expenditure of $49,967 for advertising and promotion with $1,020 being set aside for possible additional expenditure during the year for unforeseen purposes. Motion carried, Councilman Miller voting no. On motion of Councilman Blake, seconded by Councilman Miller, the meeting adjourned to June 4, 1970 at 12:15 P.M. Motion carried. . . FI ICK, CITY CLERK APPROVED: July 6, 1970