HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/20/20001
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2000 - 7:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 990 PALM STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
ROLL CALL:
Council Members
Present: Council Members John Ewan, Jan Howell Marx, Dave Romero, Vice
Mayor Ken Schwartz, 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 CAD; Whitney Mcllvaine, Associate Planner; Jeff Hook, Associate
Planner
Mayor announced Items #2A and 2B will be continued to 7/5/00.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Luther Bertrando, Chairperson of San Luis Obispo Archeology Society, summarized
comments submitted to the Council (letter on file in the City Clerk's Office) asking Council to
assist the Society with funding obligations necessary for local curation and maintenance of
an archive facility. (See note on page 6).
Michael Bovay, Project Coordinator for the SLO Drug Core Program, summarized goals of the
program and announced that a sober - living facility for men will be located in San Luis Obispo.
Gary Fowler, Mill Street resident, reiterated concern regarding the City's red -curb painting
policy.
David Jeffrey, Jason Berg, Mike Brennler, Dale Strobridge, Carlene Christianson, Mike Hey[,
and Molly Culver spoke to the issue of binding arbitration for public safety employees.
Karen Kyle, Executive Director of the San Luis Obispo Art Center, spoke in support of Item C6,
the renovation and expansion concept for the Art Center.
Eugene Jud and Jean Shay, on behalf of Save SLO Downtown, asked Council to broaden the
concept for the Downtown Strategic Plan (Item C9) and allow a larger community input
process as described in a memo dated 6/20/00 (on file with the City Clerk's Office).
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Tuesday, June 20, 2000 - 7:00 p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA 1
ACTION: Moved by Romero /Schwartz to approve the consent agenda as
recommended by the City Administrative Officer with the exception of C2, C6, C9 and
C10; motion carried 5:0.
C1. COUNCIL MINUTES OF TUESDAY, MAY 16.2000 AND TUESDAY, JUNE 6.2000.
ACTION: Moved by Romero/Schwartz to waive oral reading and approve as
amended; motion carried 5:0.
C2.
This item was pulled for comment by Council Member Marx, who voiced concerns that the
Downtown Association Administrator and the Thursday Night Activities and Promotions
Coordinator are City employees who do not report to and are not evaluated by anyone at
the City. She proposed an audit of the Downtown Association's budget and suggested that
the development of a method to provide for greater accountability and communication with
the Council. CAO Dunn explained that a joint meeting of the Downtown Association and
City Council is in the planning stage. City Attorney Jorgensen reported that the Association
was formed primarily to enhance the economic health of the downtown, acts as an advisory
body to the City Council and provides services that the City would otherwise have to
provide or do without. He noted that the relationship between the City and the Association
is a unique one because it is made up of business people in the downtown, and concluded '
that some autonomy is appropriate because major funding comes from a tax assessment
on the businesses in the downtown. In addition, he reported that it is appropriate that the
Board of the Downtown Association supervise the activities of staff. City Administrative
Officer Dunn pointed out that the City has a dedicated member of staff working to ensure
constant coordination with City staff.
ACTION: Moved by Ewan/Romero to adopt Resolution No. 9052 approving the
contracts of employment between the City of San Luis Obispo and the Downtown
Association Administrator and the Thursday Night Activities and Promotions
Coordinator; motion carried 5:0.
C3 ACCEPT THE CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT
PURCHASE PROGRAM GRANT.
ACTION: Moved by Romero/Schwartz to accept the California Law Enforcement
Technology Equipment Purchase (CLETEP) Program grant award and approve an
amendment to the budget appropriating $65,000 from CLETEP grant revenue funds
to department program funds; motion carried 5:0.
C4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PARS (PUBLIC AGENCY RETIREMENT SYSTEM)
DEFINED CONTRIBUTION SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLAN FOR
DEPARTMENT HEADS AND MANAGERS.
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Tuesday, June 20, 2000 - 7:00 p.m.
Page 3
' ACTION: Moved by Romero /Schwartz to adopt Resolution No. 9053 authorizing the
establishment of the PARS Defined Contribution Retirement Plan for Department
Heads and Management Employees and direct the Finance Director to transfer
funds from unallocated General Fund balance in the amount of $6,800 to the Human
Resources Department budget for the setup and first -year expenses of the PARS
Defined Contribution Plan; motion carried 5:0.
C5.
ACTION: Moved by Romero/Schwartz to 1) approve the work scope for cultural
resource services in connection with the Copeland's Downtown Project and
authorize staff to proceed with sending out Request for Proposal (RFP) documents
to qualified consulting firms. 2) Authorize the City Administrative Officer to award
the contract to a qualified consulting firm, contingent upon the developer
depositing with the City the amount of the contract plus 30 %; motion carried 5:0.
C6. EXPANSION AND RENOVATION OF THE SAN LUIS OBISPO ART CENTER.
Council Member Marx pulled this item for questions. City Administrative Officer Dunn
clarified that the SLO Arts Center building is owned by the City and that, as the property
owners, the Arts Center is seeking conceptual approval for expanding and renovating it. He
reported that a proposed project will go to the Architectural Review Commission for
approval and that after the ARC takes action, the matter will come back to Council for final
approval. Council Member Marx requested that staff and the commissions review the
project in concert with other things that are going on in the downtown.
ACTION: Moved by Romero/Schwartz to provide conceptual approval to the
expansion and renovation planned by the San Luis Obispo Art Center to the City-
owned building at 1010 Broad Street; motion carried 5:0.
C7. ADOPT A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE CITY'S APPROPRIATION LIMIT FOR
2000-2001.
ACTION: Moved by Romero/Schwartz to adopt Resolution No. 9054 establishing the
City's appropriations limit for 2000 -01; motion carried 5:0.
C8. SOLICITATION OF MATERIAL TESTING SERVICES — MARSH STREET PARKING
GARAGE.
ACTION: Moved by Romero/Schwartz to 1) approve the Request for Proposal
package and authorize staff to solicit proposals for material testing services with
selected firms. 2) Authorize the City Administrative Officer to award a contract with
the selected firm if the cost of services is within the Engineer's estimate of $35,000;
motion carried 5:0.
C9. DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC PLAN REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
Vice Mayor Schwartz pulled this item to submit suggestions for changes in the description
of the work. Council Member Ewan voiced concerns that parking and access are not
1 mentioned in the RFP. Council Member Marx addressed preservation issues in the scope
of the work. Mayor Settle spoke in favor of an expanded community input process, as
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Tuesday, June 20, 2000 - 7:00 p.m.
proposed by Save SLO Downtown. Assistant to the CAO George pointed out that a "town
hall" meeting or focus group meetings for public input is included in the scope.
Public Comments:
Deborah Holley. Downtown Association Administrator, spoke in support of the staff
recommendation and suggested that the joint City Council/Downtown Association Board
study session currently being planned is intended to provide the Council with additional
clarification of the Downtown Association's mission and the goals of the strategic plan.
Eugene Jud stated that while he understands that there is a "town hall" meeting planned,
is only one meeting. He reiterated his desire to see the Council seek greater community
participation.
—End of public testimony—
Council discussion ensued. Council Member Ewan suggested that the scope be revised to
provide for two or more "town hall" meetings. Council concurred with the suggestion.
Council Member Marx proposed that the Strategic Plan objectives be amended to add:
"analyzing design, beautification and preservation opportunities." Council agreed. Vice
Mayor Schwartz summarized recommendations for revisions to the Strategic Plan, as
outlined in his 6/20100 memo (on file with the City Clerk).
ACTION: Moved by Romero/Ewan to 1) approve Downtown Strategic Plan Request
for Proposals, as amended. 2) Authorize the City Administrative Officer to sign the
contract if the proposal is within the allocated budget of $25,000; motion carried 5:0.
C10. REVIEW COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULES FOR THE MONTHS OF JULY AND 1
AUGUST.
ACTION: Moved by Marx/Ewan to 1) call a special City Council meeting for Tuesday,
July 11, 2000. 2) Cancel regular City Council meeting of Tuesday, August 1, 2000.
3) Call a special joint City Council - Planning Commission meeting for Thursday,
July 20, 2000; motion carried 5:0.
C11. POLICE PATROL VEHICLES FOR 2000 -01.
ACTION: Moved by Romero/Schwartz to approve a sole source procurement by
purchase order in the amount of $129,619.44 to Downtown Ford Sales for four police
patrol sedans and one police patrol utility vehicle; motion carried 5:0.
APPOINTMENTS
Al. APPOINTMENT TO THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
ACTION: Moved by Settle/Marx to appoint Pamela Suraci to the Human Relations
Commission to fill an unexpired term to end on 09/30/02; motion carried 5:0.
A2. APPOINTMENT OF A_CI_TY REPRESENTATIVE TO THE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
VISITORS AND CONFERENCE BUREAU BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Vice Mayor Schwartz voiced opposition to the appointment of a member of '
administrative staff to the Board because he feels it is a poor use of a valuable
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Tuesday, June 20, 2000 - 7:00 p.m.
Page 5
resource. Council Member Ewan and Council Member Romero expressed support,
1 given the amount of funding the City contributes to the VCB. City Administrative
Officer Dunn reported that all agencies are represented and urged approval.
ACTION: Moved by Ewan/Romero to appoint the City Administrative Officer
or his designee to represent the City on the San Luis Obispo County Visitors
and Conference Bureau Board of Directors; motion carried 4:1 (Schwartz).
PUBLIC HEARINGS
ADOPTION OF 2000-01 BUDGET.
Finance Director Statler presented the staff report.
Mayor Settle opened the public hearing.
MarvLou Gooden, elementary school principal, voiced support for the enhancement of the
STAR program.
Eugene Jud suggested that the use of the funds from the Parking Fund for the Marsh Street
Garage Expansion is improper and not economic.
Pete Dunan, Vice Chair of the Parks & Recreation Commission, reported that the
Commission enthusiastically and unanimously approved the recommended funding
requests for seniors and youths and urged approval.
David Jeffrey 1128 Iris Street, asked if there was funding budgeted for neighborhood
enhancement and advocacy. He also inquired if $30,000 is sufficient for biannual traffic
counts.
Mayor Settle closed the public hearing.
Finance Director Statler responded to questions. He noted that significant resources are
allocated towards the Council's neighborhood enhancement and preservation goal, which
includes the positions of Neighborhood Services Manager and Code Enforcement Officer.
Assistant City Administrative Officer Hampian added that the Associate Transportation
Engineer requested in this budget is to address neighborhood traffic issues.
Council Member Romero voiced disapproval of the use of street maintenance funding for
the Railroad Transit Center (RTC). Discussion ensued regarding funding recommendations
for the RTC.
ACTION: Moved by Schwartz/Romero, to modify funding for the Railroad
Transportation Center in the 1999 -00 Budget as follows: the Parking Fund share
($150,000) is to be repaid from the General Fund over three years, less any related
parking revenues, beginning with the 2001 -03 Financial Plan; and the "STIP backfill"
share ($275,000) will be eliminated, and this amount funded by an appropriation
from the unreserved General Fund balance, 3:2 (Ewan/Marx).
Council reviewed the preliminary CIP budget for 2000 -01. Staff responded to questions.
Vice Mayor Schwartz proposed that the budget be augmented to include sufficient funding
to hire an intern to prepare a three - dimensional model of Orcutt Road overpass
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Tuesday, June 20, 2000 - 7:00 p.m.
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configurations. A majority of the Council concurred. Public Works Director McCluskey
reported that, with direction, staff can make the operating program change, plug in the
dollars and designate part time help. Staff will determine the cost and if it can absorbed
with current resources, no further action is needed by Council. Otherwise staff will come
back for further direction.
ACTION: Moved by Ewan/Marx to adopt Resolution No. 9055 approving amendments
to the 1999 -01 Financial Plan and appropriating funds for fiscal year 2000 -01 in the
amount of $69,444,300; motion carried 5:0.
Note: Council referred the request from the San Luis Obispo Archeology Society to
staff.
2. MUSCARELLA/COWAN TRUST TRACT MAP SUBDIVISIONS: 936 FULLER ROAD
AND 906 CALLE DEL CAMINOS.
ACTION: Continued to 715/00.
BUSINESS ITEM
3. CONSIDERATION OF THE CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE (CHC) "WHITE
PAPER" ON THE STATUS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN SAN LUIS OBISPO.
Associate Planner Hook provided the staff report.
Public Comments: '
Luther Betrando, Foothill Blvd resident, commented that he thought the CHC did an
excellent job and that the modest proposals will bring practice and goals closer together.
Astrid Gallagher. Arroyo Grande resident, suggested that businesses throughout the
community need assistance. Sandercock Moving & Storage and others have been in SLO
for generations and the City should recognize unique and historic qualities, she added.
Bob Schrage, member of the CHC, expressed support for the recommendations set forth in
the white paper and urged the Council to not lose sight of dwindling historic resources.
Steve McMasters, CHC member, summarized in -depth the recommendations outlined in the
white report and provided background in support.
Paula Carr, 615 Lawrence Drive, CHC member, pointed out that secondary commercial
buildings and residences along the outside corridor of the community are being lost. She
suggested that there is a need to develop better designs for incorporating new and old
development.
Patricia Wilmore , SLO Chamber of Commerce, voiced concern about the potential
requirement that an environmental impact report be prepared prior to demolition because it
could result in discouraging re- development opportunities, particularly in the downtown.
---end of public comments —
Individual council comments followed. Community Development Director Jonas staff is '
implementing recent changes in state law as it relates to historic preservation and are
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Tuesday, June 20, 2000 - 7:00 p.m.
working on updates to current city regulations to reflect those changes. Additional funding
was approved earlier this evening to evaluate the city's historic resources. Consider as
part of the goal setting process devoting some resources to historic preservation.
Council Member Marx recommended that staff come back within 90 days with a precise,
grid -style report outlining recommendations made by the CHC that have already been
implemented and those that have not. Staff agreed to return within 120 days with a status
report on the recommendations set forth in the white paper, as requested.
COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS ( SLOCOG) AND SAN LUIS OBISPO
REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY ( SLORTA) MEETINGS.
Council Member Romero gave an overview of the June 7, 2000 SLOCOG Board Meeting as
well as the SLORTA Board Meeting of June 7, 2000 (memo on file in the City Clerk's office).
DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION
Council Member Ewan presented the highlights of the June 13, 2000 Downtown Association
Meeting (memo on file in the City Clerks' office).
COMMUNICATIONS
Council Member Marx requested that property acquisition for the Multi -Modal Parking
1 Structure be agendized for a future Council meeting. The City Administrative Officer noted
that staff expects to bring back a full analysis of options regarding the off -site transit center
in the very near future.
Council Member Marx suggested that the Council agendize for discussion the request by
Save SLO Downtown to establish of a citizen's task force for the downtown. Council
agreed to postpone the matter until after the City Council/Downtown Association Joint
Study Session currently in the planning stage.
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Settle adjourned the
meeting at 11:29 p.m. to Wednesday, July 5, 2000 at 5:00 p.m. In the Cq�cil Chamber, 990
Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. 7 7
APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 7/18/00
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Lee Price, C.M.C.
City Clerk