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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/24/19741 1 1 Pledge Roll Call Present Absent: City Staff M I NUTES ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1974 - 12:10 P.M. CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL Councilmen John C. Brown, T. Keith Gurnee, Jesse E. Dorris, and Mayor Kenneth E. Schwartz Councilman Myron Graham Present: J.H. Fitzpatrick, City Clerk; R.D. Miller, Administrative Officer; David Williamson, Assistant Administrative Officer; E.L. Rodgers, Police Chief; D.F. Romero, City Engineer; Robert Strong, Building and Planning Director I. On motion of Councilman Brown, seconded by Councilman Norris, the following resolution was introduced: RESOLUTION NO. 2603, a resolu- tion increasing the 1973/74 budget. (Account No. 12, Capital Outlay - Planning Consultant. Account No. 851.4, Sewer - Collection System Motor Vehicle.) Passed and adopted on the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmen Brown, Norris, Gurnee, and Mayor Schwartz NOES: None ABSENT: Councilman Graham 2. Report by Robert Strong, Planning Director, regarding plan check procedures recently initiated in the Planning and Building Department in an attempt to alleviate delays in plan checking for building permit ap- proval. R. Strong stated that he was experimenting with a temporary ro- tation system of the four building inspectors which relieved the Chief Build- ing Inspector of routine public inquiries at the department counter, allowing the Chief Building Inspector to catch up on the back log of.plan checks. After this was achieved, possibly by the end of May, the ^hief Building Inspector would be asked to refine the procedures and develop a checklist for typical types of plan checks, to enable delegation of routine duties to subordinate inspectors. One of the problems in delays in approval of plan checks was the inter - departmental referrals to the Engineering, Water and Fire Departments. The Assistant Administrative Officer was attempting to work up an interdepartment Community Development program to correct this problem. The matter was ordered received and filed. 3. Memorandum from Robert Stronq,`Planning Director, reporting on Campaign Sign enforcement requested by Councilman Jesse Norris' memorandum of May 20, 1974, in which the Councilman felt that an arbitrary approach to controlling temporary signs on private property was wrong and ineffective. He felt that the method in which the City was proceeding to correct alleged violations was not correct and that the property owners were the ones who were responsible for placing signs on their property. Mr. Strong stated that although sign control and particularly temporary campaign signs had been a difficult enforcement problem in the past and remained so presently, it would be arbitrary not to encourage compliance and if necessary enforce all provisions. Without an in, depth review, he could not respond to whether or not, or why, the requirements have been City Council Minutes May 24, 1974 Page 2 enforced in the past, but in his regulations of the City must be forced to obtain compliance. He and ineffective" they should be and enforcement should continue were to be equitable. opinion, in order to be effective, the explained to those affected and then an- felt that if the regulations were "wrong amended or repealed, but interpretation to be consistent and persistent, if it He then reviewed the zoning and sign regulations relative to signs.which could be placed in various districts, definitions, and locations of tem- porary signs, etc. Councilman Graham arrived at the meeting at this time, 12:15 P.M. 12. Continued from the meeting of May 20, 1974. Memorandum from D.F. Romero, City Engineer, requesting Council approval of two actions taken by the Waterways Planning Board: Tropicana Footbridge 2. Sewer service to Hazard Mobile Home Park On May 8, 1974 the Waterways Planning Board took the final action and re- commendation to the City Council. The Waterways Planning Board does hereby recommend that the bottom of the easterly end of the footbridge at Tropicana be brought to a level even with the top of the easterly bank. The motion was adopted and unanimously carried by the members of the Waterways Planning Board. Jim Stewart representing Tropicana Village objected to both the recom- mendations of the City Engineer for a 2.8 foot higher elevation for the bridge and the Waterways Board recommendation for a 3.5 foot elevation for the bridge. He objected on the basis that to elevate the bridge either 2.8 feet or 3.5 feet would require great expense and little benefit to flood control. He offered to raise the bridge by 2 feet which he felt would be adequate and would protect the structural integrity of the bridge and also give more clearance to creek flow. He also reminded the City Council that this bridge located and constructed in its present location was approved and accepted by the City of San Luis Obispo. The City Council discussed with the City Engineer and with Jim Stewart of Tropicana the recommendation of the Waterways Planning Board and the basis for the recommendation. On motion of Councilman Brown, seconded by Councilman Gurnee that the City Council support the recommendation of the Waterways Planning Board and re- commend that the bridge at Tropicana be lifted 3.5 feet at the easterly end to be brought to a level which places the bottom of the web even with the top of the easterly bank. Motion carried, all ayes, Councilman Graham voting no. On May 8, 1974 the Waterways Planning Board made the following recommen- dation to the City Council, unanimously carried, that the Waterways Plan- ning Board hereby recommended that the City Council consider a sewer ser- vice across San Luis Creek at the Hazard Mobile Home Park as a hazard and set the matter for abatement hearings. D.F. Romero, City Engineer, reviewed the problems at this particular lo- cation. On motion of Councilman Brown, seconded by Mayor Schwartz that the public hearing be set for sometime in July for an abatement of the sewer line on the Hazard property. Motion carried, all ayes. 1 1 1 City Council Minutes May 24, 1974 Page 3 13 & 16 Memorandum from D.F. Romero, City Engineer, regarding in- stallation of traffic signals and hiohwav lighting at the intersection of Madonna Road and the north -bound off -ramps from State Highway 101 as pro- posed by the State, and too, Council consideration of amending the Annual ' Transportation Claim (additional funds having been made available to the City -- $56,502) D.F. Romero, City Engineer, reported that at the intersection of Madonna Road and the north -bound off -ramp from Highway 101 in the last three and a half year period there were 25 motor vehicle accidents, 18 of which he felt could have been prevented by the installation of traffic signals. He stated this was a most hazardous intersection. Recognizing this the State Transportation Department immediately prepared plans and were pre- pared to go to bid if the City indicated the willingness to bear its share of the cost. The City Engineer stated that the City's share would not exceed $27,000 and he had a cooperative agreement with the State of California to cover this matter. Memorandum from the City Engineer stating that having been notified by the San Luis Obispo County and Cities area Planning Coordinating Council that there would be an additional $56,502 available to the City in their transportation claim and the City Engineer recommended that Alternate A for the proposed expenditure of the funds if the Council felt that the signalization project above was of sufficient priority to proceed and then also complete the remaining six streets of the ten streets included in the local street Priority No. 7, or if the Council felt that the sig- nalization was not of sufficient priority, then alternate B could be con- sidered, which sould be to complete the remaining six streets of the ten streets in local street Priority No. 7, and complete the five streets included in the local Priority fist No. 8. The City Council questioned the City staff on what the responsibility was of the City being required to participate in the signalization of an inter- section when the traffic was coming off a state highway owned and controlled by the State Transportation Department, and they did not see why they should have to pay any portion of that improvement, and would like to know why. The City Council then asked the City staff to try to dig out the historical data and reasoning why the City had any responsibility at this intersection. On motion of Councilman Graham, seconded by Councilman Brown that Alternate A which would be to complete the remaining six streets of the ten streets included in the local street priority program, and financing the City's share of U.S. 101 north -bound off -ramp signal at Madonna Road be included in the amendment to annual Transportation claim: RESOLUTION NO. 2609, a resolution of the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo revision the City's 1974/75 Annual Transportation Claim against the local transportation fund of the County of San Luis Obispo. Passed and adopted on the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmen Brown, Graham, Gurnee, Norris and Mayor Schwartz NOES: None ABSENT: None City Council minutes May 24, 1974 Page 4 14, Presentation by the City Engineer of plans and specifications for City Recreation Center addition, City Plan No. 27 -74. Engineer's es- timate $14,000. He then presented the plans showing the scope of the work to be accomplished under this contract. On motion of Councilman Graham, seconded by Councilman Brown the plans and specifications were approved and the City Engineer was authorized to call for bids. Motion carried. 15. City Engineer presented plans and specifications for retain- ing Wass construction and drainage protection work in Mission Plaza, City Plan Flo. 21 -74. The engineer's estimate $44,000. The City Engineer presented the plans showing the scope of the work to be accomplished to be done under this contract and the extent and type of improvement to be made in the plaza. On motion of Councilman Gurnee, seconded by Mayor Schwartz the plans and specifications were approved and the City Engineer was authorized to call for bids. Motion carried. A. D.F. Romero, City Engineer, presented a report to the City Council stating he had received a request from the Central Coast Lab- oratories for issuance of a grading permit on the French. Hospital and Clinic Property. Due to the controversy on.previous permits on this parcel, he was submitting construction plans and typical cross - section for Council review. He continued that the applicant proposed to place approximately 4,000 cubic yards of material in an embankment area souther- ly of the existing__parkinq lot. The material will be obtained from grad- ing necessary.to develop-the parking lot near the clinic and from the excavation for the clinic basement. A great deal of this material was already stockpiled on the property. The City Engineer stated that the final placement in the embankment area would provide for a smooth transition at Ella Street or easterly limit of the fill, with the main part of the embankment being brought to substantially the grade of the present parking lot, and with 2:1 slopes along the westerly edge of the fill. The existing banks slope from the parking lot would be shifted approximately 60 feet westerly of their present location. The fill will be placed over an existing corrugated metal pipe storm drain and would not interfere with drainage in any way. The fill would also be placed across undeveloped portions of George Street and Iris Street rights -of- way, however, the City has no plans for utilization of these undeveloped stubs. The applicant proposed to plant native grasses on the finished slopes. The maximum bank created by the slope will be approximately six feet high. For this reason and due to the quantity of fill material, the ap- plicant had submitted these plans to the Planning Commission for an environ- mental impact determination at its meeting of May 21, 1974. David Williamson, Assistant Administrative Officer, stated that the Planning Commission had considered this at their meeting and determined that an en- vironmental impact report was not required. On motion of Mayor Schwartz, Council approved the issuance the Planning Commission felt but they asked that the slope the City staff, with the tops and the bottom with some type voting no. seconded by Councilman Graham the City of the grading permit on the basis that there was no environmental impace problem, banks be landscaped in cooperation with of the banks to be developed with schrubs of ground cover. Motion carried, Gurnee 1 1 1 City Council Minutes May 24, 1974 Page 5 B. The City Council again undertook discussion of the complaint of Councilman Norris regarding enforcement by the City of Campaign Signs on private property. ' Councilman Norris felt that temporary election campaign signs should be excluded from the sign ordinance, and should not be enforced because this is a way for the average person to show his support for individuals running for political office. He felt this should be considered an ex- empt temporary sign and as the election campaign was normally of such short duration no one really could be offended by their presence. Mayor Schwartz stated that he disagreed with the request from Counci_Iman Norris as he felt the sign ordinance was attempting to clear up the com- munity from the deluge of signs on private property placed without permit which he felt gave the City a very tacky, dirty look. On motion of Mayor Schwartz, seconded by Councilman Gurnee, the staff was instructed to continua to enforce the existing ordinance unless the ordinance was amended (at Council instigation). Motion carried with Councilman Norris voting no. C. Progress report on the request of Kathy Scala for clean -up of the City operation at the north end of Pismo Street was continued to the City Council meeting of June 3, 1974. The City Council discussed with Clint Milne, the Assistant County Engineer, various plans and programs envisioned by the Flood Control District Ad- visory Board and the Board of Supervisors for Zone 9 flood control projects and studies. Councilman Gurnee stated that he was opposed to Zone 9 and to the tax rate measure as he felt the City was being taxed without representation as three supervisors who were opposed to the City plans to attempt to correct flood control problems in this watershed do not even live in this area and yet they would have the right to veto and have vetoed past plans. He also felt that the Zone 9 approach through Measure B was too little, too late, and not enough funds to really accomplish anything for the next four or five years. He was also opposed to adding to the property D. At this time the City Council again discussed what action, if any, the City Council should take in the matter of Measure B.on the June 4th primary ballot which was the tax rate provisions for Zone 9 of the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. 1 Councilman Brown, representative of the City Council to the Advisory Board for Zone 9, felt that the proposed Zone 9 was the only vehicle now available to the City and its citi =ens to do anything in relation to flood control. He felt the advis6ry board was doing a g,J -d job with representatives from both the City and the County areas working together to try to arrive at a fair program for future implementation of flood control projects. He urged the City Council to endorse the measure on the June ballot as he felt it was the,only way to go for the City and County in the water sheds of San Luis Obispo Creek and its tributaries. While he realized that this measure would not give sufficient funds to actually do any projects, he felt that the studies had been discussed and he felt that they were needed and should be accomplished. The City Council discussed with Clint Milne, the Assistant County Engineer, various plans and programs envisioned by the Flood Control District Ad- visory Board and the Board of Supervisors for Zone 9 flood control projects and studies. Councilman Gurnee stated that he was opposed to Zone 9 and to the tax rate measure as he felt the City was being taxed without representation as three supervisors who were opposed to the City plans to attempt to correct flood control problems in this watershed do not even live in this area and yet they would have the right to veto and have vetoed past plans. He also felt that the Zone 9 approach through Measure B was too little, too late, and not enough funds to really accomplish anything for the next four or five years. He was also opposed to adding to the property City Council Minutes May 24, 1974 Page 6 tax rate for flood control expenditures when the Board of Supervisors was sitting on a tremendous amount of funds from the Federal Government which have not been allocated or even planned to be spent by them. Finally, if Measure B passed, he warned his fellow Councilmen that he would attempt to revise the City tax rate by lowering it 3Q per $100 evaluation so that the City tax payers would not be hit twice for the same purpose. He recommended that the City Council opposed the issue not because he was against flood control but because he did not feel the projects as envisioned would help the City of San Luis Obispo. On motion of Councilman Brown, seconded by Councilman Norris, that the City Council endorse Measure B, tax increase on the June 4, 1974, pri- mary ballot to raise tares to pay for Zone 9 studies and operation.. Mayor Schwartz stated he would reluctantly support the motion as he felt that the existing program as proposed by the Zone 9 Advisory Board has been poorly devised and the results .would be negligible, but he felt it was the only vehicle available to do anything for fl.00d control within the San Luis Obispo Creek watershed. Now that the County had formed the district, there was not much that the City government could do. Motion carried on the following vote: AYES: Brown, Norris and Schwartz NOES: Gurnee and Graham On motion of Councilman Brown, seconded by Councilman Graham, the City Council adjourned to 12:15 P.M. Tuesday, May 23; 1974to continue Council study of the 1974/75 City budget. Motion carried. APPROVED: August 19, 1974 .H. PATRICK, CITY CLERK 1