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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/15/1974MINUTES ADJOURNED MEETI:NG.OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA August 15, 1974 - 12:15 P.M. CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL Pledge. Roll Call Present: City Staff Absent: John C. Brown, Myron Graham, T. Keith Gurnee, Jesse Norris and Mayor Kenneth E. Schwartz. None Present: J.H. Fitzpatrick, City Clerk; R.D. Miller, Administrative Officer; A.J. Shaw, City Attorney; David:Williamson, Assistant Administrative Officer; William Flory, Director of Parks & Recreation; Robert Strong, Planning Director; Wayne Peterson, Assistant City Engineer 1. David Williamson, Assistant Administrative Officer, presented a report to the City Council entitled, "Organization of City Departments," dated August 12, 1974. He reviewed in detail the concept of management as it applied to the Community Development Department, which consists of the Public Works, Planning &.Building, Water, .and.Parks & Recreation Departments. He stated the purpose of the report was to analyze and make recommendations which would lead to improvements to be made to help the efficiency and effectiveness both within the community development organization and in the delivery of services to the public. After reviewing in detail the proposed organization and alternate schemes, he concluded in summary that the principal purpose for the preparation of the report was to report on the City's existing organizational structure, ,and report on means by which efficiency and effectiveness in the-delivery of services to the public could be improved while at the same time capitalizing upon the experience and skills of.peisons in the organization. The City organization was faced with an increasing scope of responsibilities and this trend was expected toincrease. While,:the- current departmental structure had served well, it would be subjected to greater..stress in the future because the successful delivery of services required a more compre- hensive program approach than had been true in the past. The Federal and State bureaucracies were the first to experience this stress. The public shifted its increasing demand for services to State and Federal agencies once it was'realized that these agencies had greater financial resources than cities. These agencies attempted to provide the services, but soon realized they could not, and through revenue sharing were now transferring both resources and ' responsib -ility to local government. Dave Williamson stated, in his opinion, reorganization was essential if the City was to regain the level of-productivity that..was possible prior to the advent of revenue sharing, increasing subventions, environmental concern, ' greater citizen participation and the greatly increased work load required to administer these responsibilities. While there were a multitude of organizational possibilities, he recommended that the organization shown as "Exh:ibit C" represented the best thinking for maximizing functional structure, ease of administration, operational effective- ness, future growth of the organization, and the very important factor of the skills of the persons now part of the organization. Reorganization could be by means of a series of phases beginning with those who were employed in City Hall and then those who work fron decentralized facilities.- City Council Minutes August 15, 1974 Page 2 He concluded that he fully recognized that change was difficult and initially might appear to be counterproductive. He felt it would be several months before improvements would be.evident and in the final analysis, the success of the reorganization would depend largely upon the support it received from those who made up the.organization. (See report from David Williamson, dated August 12, 1974 for further detail.) The City Council discussed in detail with the Assistant Administrative Officer the various proposals for a functional organization of City Depart- ments within the Community Development Area and the Hu' ^n Resource Area of the community. R.D. Miller, Administrative Officer, stated to the City Council that he had reviewed the organizational plan submitted by his assistant, and he felt it would be a good approach, should be tried, and he would do all he could to implement the plan if adopted.by the Council. On motion of Mayor Schwartz, seconded by.Councilman Brown that the City Council accept the organizational concept Exhibit "C" for the City of San Luis Obispo as presented by the'administrative staff, and the administrative staff was requested to bring back a final report on implementation including assignment of personnel. Motion carried, all ayes. 2. Agenda Item No. 3 from the August 12, 1974 meeting; a memorandum from Councilman T. Keith Gurnee regarding the approval by the City Council of a questionnaire which would provide a.direct assessment of management and administrative personnel and department heads by those who worked within City government. He'felt that by having the subordinates. complete a questionnaire on various management personnel,, it would be extremely valuable in determining the problems of management, the image City employees had of management, and possible areas for improvement. He felt the'answers to the proposed questions would reveal important information for those involved in. devising new management strategies. The City Council rejected without motion the proposal of the management questionnaire as proposed by Councilman Gurnee. 3. William:Flory, Director of Parks & Recreation, presented the following recommendation from the citizens' committee engaged in studying the Laguna Lake.Golf Course and whether it should be acquired by the City of San Luis Obispo. The citizens' committee recommended: 1. That the City purchase Laguna Lake Golf Course and continue to use It as a golf course. 2. That the City purchase that property now used as a driving range and continue its use as such. 3. That the City purchase the 2.4 acre parcel of land that lies west of the parking lot and develop it as a children's playground. These recommendations by the citizens' committee were based on the following: 1. The recreational value of the activity. 2. The use of the area by all sections of the community, and by a wide range of age groups within the community. 3. The aesthetic value of the open space area within what. will become a densely populated area. 4. The probability that in years to come the City would want. to con - struct a course for citizens, and the stated purchase price of Laguna Lake Golf Course was now approximately one -half the cost to replace it in kind at today's price of- land and construction. I 1 City Council Minutes August 15, 1974 Page 3 After discussing the recommendations as presented by the citizens' committee, the Park 8 Recreation Commission recommended to the City Council that the City negotiate a one -year lease of Laguna Lake Golf Course at approximately $1,000 per month and retain the option to purchase said property; that the City investigate the asking price and availability of those parcels of land that were now driving range and citizens' committee proposed park; should the City accomplish the lease, the City would install a water meter of a size capable for sufficient flow to irrigate the course in an acceptable manner; and that this remain the property of the City or.the City to be reimbursed by the property owner should the City not exercise its option at the end of the lease. The motion was unanimously carried by all commissioners present at the Park 8 Recreation Commission meeting. David Williamson, Assistant Administrative Officer, also reported to the City Council that the Planning Commission and the planning staff also recom- mended to the City Council that the City purchase the Laguna Lake Golf Course and also the parcel for the needed driving range. On motion of Mayor Schwartz, seconded by Councilman Gurnee the matter was continued to the next Council meeting, August 19, 1974, with the staff to report on the area for the driving range and.neighborhood park location; also a financial report by staff on availability of funds for purchase or lease of the property and the effect on the Capital Improvement Project. Motion carried, all ayes. 4. On motion of Councilman Graham was period August 19, 1974 Councilman Brown, seconded by Councilman Gurnee, authorized to leave the state for vacation for the .through September 1, 1974. 5. The City Council adjourned to Executive Session. 6. On mot.ion of Councilman Brown, seconded by Councilman Graham the meeting adjourned. Motion carried. APPROVED: November 4, 1974 . FPrYPATRICK, CITY CLERK