HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/29/2011MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2011 — 9:00 A.M.
LIBRARY COMMUNITY ROOM —.995 PALM STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
ROLL CALL:
Council Members
Present: Council Members Dan Carpenter, Andrew Carter, and Kathy Smith, Vice
Mayor John Ashbaugh and Mayor Jan Marx
City Staff
Present: Katie Lichtig, City Manager, Mary Bradley, Interim Finance and
Information Technology Director, and Elaina Cano, City Clerk.
(Department Heads and support staff were also present to respond to
questions.)
Mayor Marx discussed the format for public comment and introduced facilitator Don
Maruska.
City Manager Lichtig made some introductory remarks.
2011 -13 FINANCIAL PLAN: COUNCIL GOAL-SETTING WORKSHOP
Facilitator Maruska reviewed the agenda and described the process and guidelines for
the workshop.
Discussion ensued during which staff responded to questions and the Council
formulated candidate City goals by category and discussed the relationship of goals to
current activities.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Dave Romero, San Luis Obispo, suggested that. there be a pilot program for the process
of dredging Laguna Lake and stated his concerns regarding flood protection.
Allan Cooper, San Luis Obispo, suggested the City utilize all volunteer efforts to assist
with the downtown concept plan update and the pedestrian plan.
Andrea Miller, San Luis Obispo, suggested leasing the Laguna Lake Golf Course to a
private entity and having the review of the Hospitality Zone as a Major City Goal.
Following a lunch break, Council reviewed and discussed expenditure reduction and
revenue ideas, weighted the goals, and prepared a written ballot ranking the goals.
City Council Meeting
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Staff returned after a recess with the following tabulation of the ranking.
1. Major City Goals
Page 2
These represent the most important, highest priority goals for the City to accomplish
over the next two.years, and as such, resources to accomplish them should be included
in the 2011 -13 Financial Plan.
Community Development
Economic Development. Increase focus on economic development. Support creation
of head of household jobs 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.
General Government
Preservation of Essential Services and Fiscal Health. Adopt a budget that sustains
the City's short and long term fiscal health, preserves public health and safety and other
essential services in line with residents' priorities, and includes cost reduction
strategies.
Public Safety
Neighborhood Wellness. Embrace and implement pro- active code enforcement and
Neighborhood Protection policies.
Transportation
Traffic Congestion Relief. Continue efforts on projects and programs which relieve
traffic congestion (like street modifications, intersection improvements; pedestrian
improvements, bicycle facilities, sidewalks, trip reduction programs, traffic signal
operations, LOVR interchange, Prado Road and public transit).
2. Other Important Objectives
Goals in this category are important for the City to accomplish, and resources should be
made available in the 2011 -13 Financial Plan if at all possible.
Community Development
Open Space Preservation. Continue efforts to acquire, preserve, protect and maintain
open space in our greenbelt, implement the master plan for the City -owned agricultural
lands at Calle Joaquin and the updated conservation plan for the Irish Hills Natural
Reserve, and create a plan for maintenance'of Laguna Lake and Park, including a
funding strategy.
City Council Meeting Page 3
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Planning. Within the scope of the grant, undertake an update of the Land Use and
Circulation Elements, including "Health Cities" policies and creating a Pedestrian
Circulation Plan.
Affordable Housing /Homeless Services. Continue to facilitate provision of affordable
as well as market -rate housing and provide leadership in implementing the County's 10-
.year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.
Transportation
Infrastructure Maintenance. Increase infrastructure maintenance and investment.
Sustain an effective level of core existing infrastructure and proactively protect and
maintain physical assets (such as the Downtown streets, bikeways and sidewalks, flood
protection facilities, recreation facilities, City -owned historic resources, and urban
forest).
3. Address As Resources Permit
While it is desirable to achieve these goals over the next two years, doing so is subject
to current resource availability.
Community Development
Climate Protection. Implement greenhouse gas reduction and Climate Action Plan.
Conduct energy audits of all City facilities, increase energy conservation, invest in
infrastructure which will save energy and funds in the future.
Leisure, Cultural & Social Services
Parks and Recreation. Increase utilization of Damon - Garcia Sports Fields.
Historic Preservation. Continue to promote historic resource preservation
opportunities and update Historic Resource Inventory.
A brief discussion ensued regarding the next steps in the 2011 -13 Financial Plan
process.
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Marx adjourned
the meeting at 3:20 p.m.
Elaina Cano, CMC
City Clerk
APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 03/15/11