HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/12/19991
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MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1999 - 7:00 P.M.
THE FORUM, 751 MARSH STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
ROLL CALL:
Council Members
Present: Council Members John Ewan, Jan Howell Marx, Ken Schwartz, Vice
Mayor Dave Romero, and Mayor Allen K. Settle
City Staff:
Present: John Dunn, City Administrative Officer; Jeff Jorgensen, City
Attorney; Lee Price, City Clerk; Ken Hampian, Assistant City
Administrative Officer; Arnold Jonas, Community Development
Director; Bill Statler, Finance Director; Ann Slate, Human Resources
Director; Jim Gardiner, Police Chief; Bob Neumann, Fire Chief; John
Moss, Utilities Director; Mike McCluskey, Public Works Director,
Paul LeSage, Parks and Recreation Director; Wendy George,
Assistant to the City Administrative Officer; Linda Asprion, Revenue
Manager; Carolyn Dominquez, Accounting Manager; Mary Kopecky,
Assistant City Clerk; Diane Reynolds, City Clerk Secretary
1999 -01 FINANCIAL PLAN WORKSHOP: COMMUNITY FORUM
Mayor Settle provided introductions. CAD Dunn summarized the process, provided an
overview of past major City goals and reviewed the criteria for the fiscal outlook.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Karen Avdeloh, Chair of the Mayor's Youth Task Force, Will Jones, SLO HS English
Teacher, Martin Behn, YMCA Teen Leadership Committee Member, as well as a number of
local youth standing in support, requested that the Council appropriate $30,000 over the
next 2 years to assess and meet the needs of youth.
Fran Dukehart spoke in support of Children's Theater.
Bob Hatter spoke to the need for an emergency drought reserve for water.
Doreen Case urged the Council to improve public safety and neighborhood protection,
especially during night hours by putting more police officers where they are needed.
Ray Nordquist, Co -Chair of the Student Housing Advisory Committee, urged the Council to
enact new regulations that will provide greater incentives for Cal Poly to develop more
student housing.
Bill Storm, President of San Luis Obispo Chapter of RSVP, noted that he was speaking for
hundreds of seniors in the City who want to have a new senior center.
City Council Meeting
Tuesday, January 12, 1999 - 7:00 p.m.
Page 2
Starr Jenkins asked consideration to providing more street lights.
Pat Veesart, Director of ECOSLO, asked the Council to examine the Circulation Element,
complete the bike path, fund alternative transportation, protect the greenbelt, develop a
design for Court Street, including the close of Garden Street, consider an Urban Growth
Boundary, appoint a citizens task force, develop a comprehensive Y2K plan, open a natural
history museum, and continue funding an urban creek restoration and tree planting plan.
Ron Reeder, Mike Krukow, Rick May, Mark Buchman, Lois Gall and Fred Vernacchia spoke
in support of developing youth sports facilities.
Bruce Collier, member of the Bicycle Advisory Committee, urged continued development
of the bicycle maintenance plan.
Shelly Stanwvck, Debbie Nicholas, Dave Cox, Jeanne Potter and Dave Garth, of the SLO
Chamber of Commerce urged the following: 1) Completion and adoption of the specific
plan for and the annexation of the airport area, 2) Generation of revenue and infrastructure,
3) Water reuse and securing additional sources of water, 4) Maintaining current parking
and enhancing it by moving forward with the Marsh Street Garage, 5) Promoting tourism,
6) Complete more of sports facilities, 7) Continue the economic development program.
Loren Nicholson spoke in support of the arts and history by commenting on the
importance of Mission Plaza, the museum and the Performing Arts Center.
Joe DeLucia urged the Council not to be enticed by "sales tax give aways" as it relates to
"big box stores ".
Wayne Hansen spoke in support for greater financial support to the Mayor's Youth Task
Force.
Karen Kile, SLO Art Center, spoke in favor of expanding the Art Center and requested
assistance from the City.
Ernie Miller, Habitat for Humanity, urged the Council to develop low income housing.
Charlie Herrera, Residents for Quality Neighborhoods, asked the Council to consider
adding another position to support the Neighborhood Services Office.
Mark Shaffer, Director of Ride -On Transportation, proposed that the City co- sponsor
"HOP" shuttle for seniors.
Ann Ream, President of the SLO County Arts Council, complimented the Council for
reinstating 1% for the arts, requested that the public art program be continued and
expanded, and proposed the formation of a Public Arts Commission.
Jeff Lee, President of the SLO Little Theater, urged funding for arts in the community and
continued support for the Promotional Coordinating Committee.
Deborah Holley, Downtown Association, proposed goals to: 1) maintain parking enterprise
fund, 2) develop Court Street, 3) provide additional police in the downtown, 4) complete the
Marsh Street parking structure, and 5) add more restrooms in the downtown. 1
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Tuesday, January 12, 1999 -7:00 p.m.
Angie King, National Organization for Women, urged consideration of services for women,
including affordable housing and after school programs for child care.
Tom Kay, stressed the need for more student housing.
Gloria Larsen pointed out that senior citizens need a warm pool for exercising and spoke
in support of a new senior center.
Robert Lewin asserted that a traffic signal is needed to improve and assure pedestrian
safety at the intersection of Johnson and Pismo Streets.
Mike Spangler urged the Council to complete the Marsh Street parking structure and to
build other parking structures using enterprise funds to accomplish the goal of providing
more parking. He also spoke in support of a viable plan for economic development of the
downtown.
Rick Graves spoke in favor of a warm water pool and suggested a partnership with the
school district to re -open Nuss pool.
Ron Tilley suggested that the Council work to improve traffic circulation and develop bike
lanes and pedestrian walkways. He also proposed that a youth hockey rink would be a
worthy goal.
Mary Gamlin, President of the Friends of the Library, asked Council to consider additional
support of extended hours at the library.
Student Carrie Loarie, residing at 393 Buchon, stated that landlords charge students too
much and living conditions that students have to endure are horrible. She urged support
for better student housing.
Edmer Meier, Wallace Henry and others spoke in support of a new Senior Center and warm
pool.
Kate Stulberg, Executive Director of the SLO County Arts Council, spoke in support of
vocal and media arts, and requested a 20% increase in funding for the Promotional
Coordinating Committee (PCC). She also suggested revisions to the PCC guidelines to
allow for more than one grant application and for operating expenses to be covered. -
Pierre Rademacher, member of the Physical Downtown Concept Committee, spoke in favor
of moving forward with the plan to unify street furniture, signs, lights and newspaper
racks. He proposed that Fremont Plaza be re- paved, that Morro Street be closed to
vehicular traffic and that the Mission Plaza Extension be completed. In addition he
suggested the City acquire 975 Broad.
Heather Griczen, representing 100 neighbors in Laguna Jr. High area, asked Council to
consider funding new park equipment.
Lisa Wallender, President of the Inter -Faith Coalition for the Homeless, requested that the
Council increase funding for the Prado Day Center.
Del Ritchie, representing Central Coast Basketball Club, asked for assistance in the way of
courts and gyms for kids of all ages and help with tournaments.
City Council Meeting
Tuesday, January 12, 1999 - 7:00 p.m.
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Stephen Peterson, Member of Save the SLO Life, urged Council to litigate the decision by
the County regarding the Froom Ranch. In addition, he stated that goals should include
good land use decisions, housing balance, alternative methods of transportation,
improved transit services, and completion of the railroad bike path to Cal Poly.
Lauren Laioie spoke in support of maintaining youth sports fields and the Madonna Plaza
revitalization as two major city goals.
Brett Cross urged Council to complete the Laguna Lake Master Plan, particularly dredging
the lake.
Jana Nichols, Director of United Way of SLO County, asked for support of the Community
Health Assessment Project.
Steve Ware suggested traffic calming on Chorro and a change in the density rules to
encourage 3 and 4 bedroom condos.
Karen Adler, representing SLO for Pups, asked support for an off -leash dog park. Ann
Calhoun, County Parks Commissioner, read a letter from Pandora Nash, Chair in support
of the off -leash dog park concept.
Pragra Patel, owner of the Days Inn, urged the Council to fund and promote tourism
through hotels /motels by putting more of the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) collected
back into tourism.
Steve Barasch, SLO Business Coalition, provided an overview of economic development
requests summarized in a memo to Council submitted 1112199. 1
Don Pimentel, SLO County Y21K Action Alliance, encouraged the City to join the effort to
educate and prepare the whole county for the new millennium.
Bob Rowntree recommended pedestrian amenities for improved crosswalk and
intersection safety, as well as beautification.
Lora Hutson urged the Council to consider a domestic partnership ordinance. In addition,
she urged the Council to issue a 120 -day notice to vacate to the Boy Scouts of America
because of discriminatory practices.
Larry Bole f encouraged the Council to consider rejecting the DeVaul housing project and
to continue opposing the "big box" project proposed for the Froom Ranch property.
Judy Rohr asked Council to support additional evening and weekend hours for the library.
--End of public comments-- -
At 10:15 p.m., Mayor Settle called a recess; the meeting resumed at 10:20 p.m.
The City Council reviewed and summarized the various themes for goals presented for
consideration. There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Settle
adjourned the meeting at 10:32 p.m. to Tuesday, January 19, 1999 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council
Chamber, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. '
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Tuesday, January 12, 1999 - 7:00 p.m.
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City Clerk