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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/12/1972Pledge Roll Call Present City Staff MINUTES ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA June 12, 1972 - 7:30 P. M. City Hall Emmons Blake, John C. Brown, Myron Graham, T. Keith Gurnee, Kenneth E. Schwartz Present: J. H. Fitzpatrick, City Clerk; R.. D. Miller, Administrative Officer; E. L. Rodgers, Police Chief; A. J. Shaw, City Attorney; D. F. Romero, City Engineer. 1. The City Council discussed the request received from the County Engineer's Department that the City of San Luis Obispo take formal action regarding the construction of the Diablo Canyon Desalting Project. The City Council received a communication from Dr. Richard Krejsa questioning the Council making a decision regarding such an important item as the desalinization project without a public hearing. He listed a number of questions regarding the environmental statement prepared by the State and Federal desalting offices. The City Council received a communication from the League of Women Voters objecting to statements in the State Environmental Draft for the proposed Diablo Canyon Desalting Project. The City Council received a communciation from the Sierra Club, Santa Lucia Chapter, stating they opposed the construction of the plant as injurious. to the environment, unneeded and economically unfeasible. D. F. Romero, City Engineer, briefed the letter from the County Engineer's Department regarding the proposed prototype desalting plant at Diablo Canyon. Clint Milne, County Hydraulic Engineer, explained in detail what was being proposed by construction of the prototype desalter. He explained the type of plant to be built and the ultimate use of the water produced by the plant. (See Feasibility Report, Diablo Canyon Desalting Project, March 1972.) The City Council discussed with C. Milne, the details of construction., operation and delivery and financial arrangements for the desalting plant and also the proposal in light of the existing county contracts for Naciemento water and water from the California Aqueduct. C. H. Dills, chemist, discussed the problem of water quality when a mix- ture of desalted water and natural water is created. He felt the quality would be inferior. Joan Rich, League of Women Voters., discussed with the City Council, the pipeline route from Diablo Canyon and the question of who would pay for the equipment necessary at Whale Rock Reservoir prior to mixing the twb waters. Harold Miossi, President of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club, wondered if the money to be spent on the desalter would not serve a better purpose in trying to solve the water problems in the county and he also wondered what would happen to the radio active nuclei in the steam at the plant. 1 i City Council Minutes June 12, 1972 Page 2 Robert Barrows, 870 Meinecke Street, wondered if the Council was aware of the corrosive quality of desalted water and the affect it would have on the City water lines. L. McChesney asked what affect recent water rights decisions at the Salinas Dam would have on the water supply for the City of San Luis Obispo. Clint Milne explained the action of the Water Rights Board in ruling that riparian and appropriative water in Salinas reservoir had priority over impounded water for transportation by the permittee to areas outside the watershed. He concluded that the water rights decision was adverse to the interest of the City of San Luis Obispo. The City Council felt this matter should be set for a public hearing on July 10, 1972 at 7:30 P. M. to hear discussion on the desalting project. 9:10 P. M. the Mayor called a recess. 9:20 P. M. the Council reconvened with all members present. 2. At this time the City Council discussed the enactment of a utility tax for the City of San Luis Obispo. A. J. Shaw,.City Attorney, briefed the proposed ordinance, stating that in effect the ordinance placed a 5% tax on all electricity, natural gas, cable television and telephone bills which would be collected by the utility company at the time the bills were paid and then transferred to the City on a quarterly basis. Councilman Graham wondered if the ordinance as presented could be amended to grant an exception to low income persons.or a rate less than the 5% as proposed. He felt that something should be done to help the low income person. A. J. Shaw, City Attorney, felt it would be most difficult to write such a condition in an ordinance. He felt that any such condition adopted by the City Council would add a burden in the administration of the tax and any reduction would require a refund to the user of the utility by the City. Mayor.Schwartz explained the reasons for the Council's consideration of this new tax as the City Charter limited the tax rate for library service and for parks and recreation! The City Council felt that as the City had grown, the 20¢ tax limit had proven to be inadequate; also the City had maintained a tax rate of $1.50 per hundred for twenty -one (21) years by getting the additional funds needed for services from the sales, license and other revenues. He stated with the cost of operating the City, the City Council must find new sources of revenue in order for the City to keep up with the service needs of its citizens. Councilman Brown agreed that a new source of funds for the City was needed so that the City could finance an adequate park and recreation program for its citizens. ' Councilman Graham agreed that the utility tax was needed in order to finance an adequate recreational program for the City and to complete the parks owned by the City. He felt a percentage of the utility tax should be ear - marked for specific expenditures such as parks and recreation. Councilman Gurnee suggested that the City Council set this matter for a public hearing for citizen input as he had some reservations on adding a new tax to the citizens, although he did agree that the recreational pro- gram and parks program needed improvement. He concluded that the construction tax would be his first choice to raise funds for parks and recreational needs. City Council Minutes June 12, 1972 Page 3 Councilman Blake felt the utility tax was needed to finance parks and recreation programs although he did not agree that the funds should be ear - marked for specific departments or programs, but felt they should be looked at each year when the City Council considers the budget. He firmly supported the adoption of a utility tax to finance the needs of a growing City. Mayor Schwartz felt it was desirable to hold a public hearing prior to adopting the utility tax in order to get the feelings from the public. He also felt the City Attorney should look into the.possibility of granting refunds to people of low income. The public hearing was set for 7:30 P. M. on Monday, July 24, 1972. 3. The City Council discussed the Council work program established April 27, 1971. Item #9, Initiation of a code enforcement program. R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer, was asked to prepare a report on the code enforcement activities to date. Item #10, City to undertake a thorough study to determine the feasibility of a bus system for San Luis Obispo. Councilman Graham felt the City Council should proceed with the formation of a County- wide.transportation district with the County using the new sales tax revenue to develop the system. Councilman Gurnee agreed that the City should move ahead with investi- gating a bus system to at least serve the residents of the City. R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer, commented on the bus system which was developed at Pomona to serve Cal Poly and the City which had been a real problem for the City. Councilman Blake felt the City was in real need of a bus system to serve Cal Poly and the low income areas of the community. Councilman Graham felt a committee should be appointed which would con - sist of Councilmen, Cal Poly representatives, interested citizens, and County government representatives, to see to the formation of county- wide transportation district. Mayor Schwartz appointed Councilmen Graham and Gurnee to be a Council sub - committee to contact other cities for support of a transportation system within the county. Item #12, Completely revise the Hector Plan for Laguna Lake Park to include possible expansion of lake front property and to include the two' cerros and the saddle as per the General Plan: R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer, was asked to request that the Parks and Recreation Commission follow through on this item and make recommen =9 dations to the City Council. The balance of the study items were continued for further discussion. 4. The discussion of the Legislative Bulletins from the League of California Cities-was continued. 5. D. F. Romero, City Engi.neer, presented to the City Council his engineering priority schedule for preparation of projects for the summer and fall of 1972. He stated that he had moved the traffic signal design for Oceanaire and Madonna Road ahead as far as practical to present plans by July 17, 1972, for installation in late 1972. 1 1 1 r-7 City Council Minutes June 12, 1972 Page 4 After discussion, the City Council approved the change in priority for the Oceanaire traffic signal with plans and specifications for Council approval on July 17, 1972 and completion of the project before the rainy season. 6. On motion of Councilman Blake, seconded by Councilman Gurnee, the following resolution was introduced. RESOLUTION NO. 2323, a resolution tabulating EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT APPROPRIATIONS for the fiscal year 1972/73 and total accumulations for each piece of equipment. Passed and adopted on the following roll call vote: AYES: Emmons.Blake, John C. Brown, Myron Graham, T. Keith Gurnee, Kenneth E. Schwartz NOES: None ABSENT: None 7. On motion of Councilman Gurnee, seconded by Councilman Graham, the following resolution was introduced. RESOLUTION NO. 2322, a reso- lution establishing salary ranges for employee classifications for 1972/73 and assigning City employees to classifications and salary steps, etc. Passed and adopted on the following-roll call vote: AYES: Emmons Blake, John C. Brown, Myron Graham, T. Keith Gurnee, Kenneth E. Schwartz NOES: None ABSENT: None 8. D. F. Romero, City Engineer, presented to the City Council specifications for repairing.ahe heat exchangers and valves in the No. 1 Sludge Digester at the Sewage Treatment Plant. He explained the scope of the work to be accomplished under the contract. On motion of Councilman Blake, seconded by Councilman Gurnee, the plans and specifications were apporved and the City Engineer was authorized to call for bids. Motion carried. On motion of Councilman Blake, seconded by Councilman Brown, the meeting was adjourned. Motion carried. APPROVED: July 17, 1972 H. F ATRICK, CITY CLERK