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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-08-2013 community priorities surveySection 3 Recommended City Goal s COMMUNITY PRIORITIES SURVEY • RESULTS OF COMMUNITY BUDGET BULLETIN SURVE Y BACKGROUND Since these are "open-ended" responses, it is no t possible to provide a simple, analytical summary o f the results . Nonetheless, clear themes emerged . The sidebar charts summarize "Top Themes," presente d in order of the most common responses . In addition to encouraging participation in th e budget workshops, the community survey asks th e City's residents to share their priorities and the mos t important things for the City to accomplish over th e next two years . Additionally it asks for feedback o n possible program and service adjustment in order t o accomplish the goals . SURVEY DISTRIBUTIO N In order to reach as many residents as possible, th e City utilizes several outreach methods . They rang e from : •Online & Facebook availabilit y •Utility Invoice insert s •City public counters and the Senior Center , Swim Center, the Golf Course, and th e •Public Library •Newspaper ads •Outreach to 200 community group s SURVEY PARTICIPATIO N By December 14, 2012, 279 online and hard cop y individual surveys were received . This is especiall y notable since the survey is an "open-ended" template (it did not provide pre-determined "check-off ' answers) and requires thought and effort on the par t of respondents . As surveys continue to be received, the Council will receive an updated summary o n January 18, 2013 . SURVEY RESULT S It is important to point out that this is not a "scientific survey" and as such caution should be used when interpreting the results . Nonetheless , staff believe the results are useful—especially whe n viewed in conjunction with the other forms o f feedback the Council will receive in this process—i n gaining additional insight into the wishes, views, an d • concerns of the community . How Does this Compare with Other Surveys ? Two Years Ago .The same survey on priorities wa s conducted two years ago as part of the 2011-1 3 Financial Plan . The results are similar for both , community priorities and related progra m adjustments . Although the importance of prioritie s have changed over time, the themes have bee n consistent over the past four years . TOP 10 THEMES : PRIORITIE S Based on 279 Response s TOP 5 THEMES : ADJUSTMENT S 70 v4 t vv,,c efi~~v 5~~~¢~~erd `wi 41 No s.s 00, O~ `~Q,•Qe cc 0 JQ'oa Qte Qe'E'e.to,GQ'IS'it a.°09 2 0 Reduce salariesService Delivery5cale back non- Public Transit, Raise taxes/j & benefits Method essential bike,&fee s (contract,services pedestria n volunteers)services Citizen feedback and input is a cornerstone of th e City's budget process and an integral part to th e decision making on Major City Goals . Page 1 COAIAILA'11A BL 1)GET BELLE LIN SURA EA RESPONSES : PRIORI FIE S What should be the most important, highest priorit y goals during 2013-15 ? Responses are reproduced verbatim . Where a response is shown more than once, it was received in duplicate . iaee OarrsV Roa fibax Higitera to Madams l 1.Be fiscally responsibl e 2.Prado Rd . overpas s 3.Los Osos Valley Rd . overpass 4.Bike Path extension-town to Avil a 5.Fix Tank Farm 4 lane s 1.Resolve the homeless parking concerns (permit free parking in certain areas). Officer s should be more understanding and (indecipherable word) and less "officers". 2.Repair the streets (holes and rough areas ) 3.Fire personnel are great and caring-Police should be more so and remember that they ar e here to serve and not "impose" strict law interpretations 1.Reduce size of Fire Dept . by 1/3 to '/2-paying them to chase ambulances and sleep is bad . We sprinklered downtown and removed over'/2 the fire load-so set . We do not have a major fire in year-get real ! 2.Cutting over-paid staff to save public money ; stop over paying City staff-they are no t magi c 3.Return the SLOPD to community policing-they have lost their way a bit . 4 Foster greater use of public - system by offering more free rides (or would tha t decrease ow`l ..w e •: .)~revenues?) 2.With so many trails don't a th r 'about entry fees 1.Repair of roads 2.Build the homeless shelter • • • Page 2 ('OAIAIt'NIIA BODCET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S • • 1 . Balance budget or create surplus for times of true need? Sound reasonable? P .S . You can't do this S{'7 1.Fiscal health/preserve essential service s 2.Economic wellnes s 3.Neighborhood wellness 4.Traffic Congestio n 5.Downtown preservation & suppor t 1.Fiscal stability 2.Comprehensive homeless pan with housing/social services/meal s 3.Support housing development in genera l 1 . In these times a balanced budget is the highest priority. 1.Continue to limit or prevent big box stores from locating within the SLO City limit s 2.Provide a traffic light at Broad & Stoneridge (on Broad & Lawrence provided access t o the latter from Stoneridge ) 3.We have owned a home on Bluerock Ct. for 12 years, 11 of which we rented, now we live in it a few months each year until we retire in about 4 years-then full time! We lov e SLO, and we appreciate all the efforts made to make it so wonderful . git®utCity its miiue eI mtti ai tines;lower speed limits i we drop to two lanes doWatown 1 .Preservation of Fiscal Healt h 2 .Maintain Infrastructure (streets & utilities ) 3 .Neighborhood wellnes s 4 .Keep San Luis Obispo awesom e • Page 3 COAIAILNITN BUDGET BEI .I .ETI,A SLRV V RESPONSES : PRIORLFIFS • 1.Keeping SLO attractive to tourists . The restrooms at Mission Plaza should be updated o r at least kept clean . 2.Additional parking on the core will be needed a more residences are built downtow n 3.Continue to make the City supportive of new companies-the Chamber does well with thi s x traffic Iii?)its to reduce range *sties created tt# 'connect east side 1 . Please do not raise water and sewer rates again . We conserve on water . Retired peopl e cannot afford another rate increase . tlt' 1.Student rentals in residential areas that fill the streets with cars (5 cars with room for tw o in driveway ) 2.Enforce the existing No Smoking law downtow n 3.Continue to encourage Cal Poly/Cuesta to provide housing for their students ytuphigh friv And lower Mein families Why MAW 1.Live within a balanced budget 2.Maintain sewer, water and roads 3.Maintain law and order-address drinking downtown and law-breaking bicyclist s 4.Focus schools on basic skills-"3R's " 5.Support regulated growt h 1 Dealing with the 1 eless . they are loitering downtown more than in the past an d getting more * e. 1.Infrastructure-keeping it up to dat e 2.Recreational activities for families that are affordable for al l 3.Low cost housing for young families 1.Address homeless issues in die City of San Luis Obispo 2.Traffic float 3.Vibrant downtown core-love lie #lie Granada hote l 4.Rye paths and safe Sys &t liav 5.More library Troars 1.Continue to acquire Open Spac e 2.More senior housing units • • Page 4 • • CO'NIAIt ALtS BDDCET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 1 . Thank you for the realignment of lane markers on our City streets . The use of reflectiv e paints is a big plus . 1.Addressing homelessness, physically and psychologicall y 2.Providing affordable housing for low-income/student s 3.Continue to exclude big-business like Wal-Mart and drive-thru s 4.Consider extending bus route #1 or #3 to SLO Airpor t 5.Cut/reduce programs that are not being use d 1 . Get rid of the homeless in Meadow Park!!! 1.Continue careful budgeting (compliments for good job currently ) 2.Best care possible for homeles s 3.Maintain City parks-wonderful close-to-home recreation for family healt h 4.Maintenance of infrastructure-roads, street s 5.Watchful eye on Diablo plant-on offshore well s 1 : Neese.ahateMent, 1> y fs in t effetlive beea it to sign a O " don' want their names on tli s a f fi-ar of Maack and Pets should allow t lcontinuousllar throughouty or at regu Intervals tl~e day or night. 1.Street and utility services 2.Police and fire service s 3.Maintain parks we have ; no new ones 1 .Homeless-Issu'.Parlallover the City all day, downtown it has become very seedy ? 1.Sidewalk repai r 2.Enforce lights on bicycles after dark Page 5 (C OAIaI1 NI IA I30DGICF 131iL1 .F7IN SORV EA RESPONSES : PRIOI4IIIE S Provide some dedicated accessible (blue) curbside parking spaces downtown-one pe r block would be idea l Encourage new businesses that would bring jobs to SLO for our high school grads wh o currently often have to leave the area to find permanent full-time job s Bring cable TV options to SLO-ATT, Verizon, Co x . .1n good repair 2.Stop tnakmg ri3les~like the garbage on LOVR overpass/interchange and related HORRIBLE traffic in that area ; includin g Madonna R d Prado Road overpass! ! Development has exceeded what these roads can handle . Circulation (three lanes merge to two) are unsafe!! 1 . Reducing price of wate r 2 . Civilized solution to homelessness issue s 3 . Reduce parking fees 1 . )En-overpass and roadthnrto Broad St. Fran Madonn a 1 . Availability of housing-we have to move our family out of San Luis because of the cos t of living her e 2 . 3.Promote eccnomy andencoraage small business, technology and industty 4. Remove homeless !tam downtown and reddential area s 5 . hnprove and develop bike bids and pedestrian corridor s 1 . Major pursuit of a major department store retailer . Get Macy's in SLO ! 1.Move Caltrans outside City i its 2.Develop convention center and hotel atMadonr Jiguera 3.Stop residential developmen t 4.Think Gateway to San this Obispo 1.Population is overwhelming infrastructur e 2.Water-sewer-police-fire protection are all stretched to the max or becoming to o expensive ts:pt+pc-soo long to wait at snob irr front yaa .dsand trai ers permanently in streets roimr is RVs dc behind Trader Joe's 3 . 4 . 5 . 1 . 2 . • • • Page 6 COAIAII'SIII RIIIGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S • 1.Keep expenses dow n 2.Minimize lawsuits, buyouts, and bad press by improving the safety of employees , establishing ethics and behavior rules, etc . 3.Make it easier for small businesses to thrive 4.Completely revamp our permitting proces s 5.Improve the homeless situatio n 1.Fix streets 2.Fix old sewer s 3.Help homeles s • • 1.Reduce number of bars and alcoholic outlets on Higuera Stree t 2.Encourage a Department Store-high end on Higuera Street 3.Encourage a Whole Foods grocery downtow n 4.Encourage an art gallery-such as Hand s 5.Have sidewalks washed down a few times a yea r homeless pawns need bob ..etter lined in downtowncorek r ss2. A sit1~tie ordinance need to beadci as Be t a l t a dogs Litt dotto...re 1.More bike paths through town and widen Orcutt at least to Biddle Ranch Rd . 2.More public ar t 3.Free downtown parking-don't like new extended parking hour s 4.Continue Concerts in the Plaza, Art After Dar k 5.More help for the hungr y 1 . Downtown streets and sidewalks arctftrty Page 7 (OAIAIl NIT)131 DOET 131 I LL YIN SI R\ FV RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 2.Too ml moiling idowntown 3.ovemigbk patgon streets 1.Maintain downtown spiri t 2.Support youth and families-focus on parks, programs, education and safety . Our tow n needs young families ! 3.Support Cal Poly excellence 4.Support public librar y Sl the use of public streets as storage for boats, campers, trailers (see Prelim) Canyon brush control and fun - 1.Fiscal responsibility-specifically pension and budget refor m 2.Sensible regulations-make SLO more business friendly • L Los Osas fey Rd . & Flay 1 : ovapassTenpansion .Tic is horrible) ld dr 0.,fA~M 1.Stop all new construction and road work . (We moved here for peace and beauty-not L A north) 2.Add/restore more/lost green spac e 3.Sit on the Community Development plan for these years-staff has rushed development o f this draft 4.Do not approve any more bars/taverns downtow n 1.Homeless people ALL OVER TOW N 2.Road Repair (streets ) 3.Increasing traffic 1.Bicycle network: paths and bike boulevards ) 2.Innovative adaptive reuse of un /o4d strip mall s 3.Downtown traffic calming (remove parking, mid block crosswalks, wide sidewalks ) 4.Increase police enforcement of traffic violations (speeding, cell phone use ) 1.Preservation of essential service s 2.Fiscal health 3.Neighborhood healt h 4.Provide homeless housing and service • • Page 8 • • (Y)\111I NIi1 BUDGE]1311I .LE FIN SURVEY RESPONSES :PRIORI]IE S 5 . Improve softball fields : better maintenanc e 1.Infrastructure maintenance-fully fund repair to replacement need s 2.Homeless population-appropriate new shelter and program s 3.Economic development-controlled growth to touris m 4.Maintain public safety (police and fire) at their present good level of servic e 5.Water rates adequate to fully fund a sustainable syste m 1.Air pollution including Thursdays Farmers Market, etc . 2.Vehicle safety esp . higher volume sites (i .e . LOVR in congested zones ) 3.Somehow monitor animal dropping disregard by some owners who just leave the `mess ' and leave the poop dropping for you to clean up and if you complain to them you only ge t cussed at or called insulting names . I think such people who do this should be fined eac h time they allow their dog to do this . 1.Traffic congestion . 2.Homeless people . 1.Stop relentless growth . 2.Require all new construction to incorporate solar energy (install solar panels ) I . Extend Prado Lane to said you were going t Tank gaol Rsl ` for i aflio flow,especially on a bike 2 . Coos r b> g an overpass (noon or oflramps)aver 101 at Dalidio to tabs the off of LOW., also y conked acrd dang rs for b kin g 3.Atleast a partial dredging of Laguna Lake! 1.Review retirement formulas & adjust them so that retirements don't undermine/bankrup t city's finance s 2.Affordable housing priority : require 50% of new housing to be affordabl e 3.Streets : resurface Higuera below Marsh, add lights to dark Broad Street below Sout h Street, widen Tank Farm Page 9 COAIVlt NIT\ BUDGET RI 11EFIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 4.Create cross town arteries to improve traffic flow—extend E-W corridor from Johnson t o South; extend Prado to Broad 5.Establish day-care centers for working moms using a sliding pay scal e 6.Continue plans for homeless accommodation s downtown and some other areas cityy. Medical 3 R p is bag or entree des to provide paper bags at no cue. 4 Need mote tenideitial 1 . Very melt to build in this city due to per,reports, st . Takes too long and very wive 5 .1 fees ail hurt basins.Shops go Sunday ` `be free. This city is expensive ! 1 . Please reduce or eliminate the invasion of transient panhandlers in SLO, especially th e downtown which our family has stopped walking thru and shopping there . Our city ha s become a `magnet' for transient people along the West Coast . The word appears to be ou t that the city of SLO is a great place . 2 . Reduce the number of alcohol outlets downtown, again, we don't go there anymore in th e evenings because of so many "college-age" people who are eneborating or "celebrating " somethin g 3 . Infrastructure—road maintenance, sign maintenanc e 4 . Maintain/improve public parks and open space, hiking trails, etc . 1 . Cities and communities, especially near coastal areas, gradually taken over by th e homeless population. Many of these people choose not to work . Cannel, C A does not have a homeless problem . It would help to take into consideration families, an d people of the community who go to Barnes and Noble, Thursday Farmers Market an d Trader Joes that have been threatened by the homeless . 1.Neighborhood wellness (rentals, RVs—boats on street, noise, trash cans out of sight) 2.Senior Center &saner issues (safety, recreation, nutrition) 3.open spaces-(parts; , trails,green zones,&accessible ) 4 Fiscal responsibility (no big pay raises for anyone,phase downtown imp .) 5 . Crack down on street+crime-!,facilitate homeless shelter &guideline s 1.Infill—not spraw l 2.Extend protected space rather than developing it as Neil Havlik di d 3.Protect and develop local enterprises over national franchises, etc . for fees.I pay $5641y#ar and my neigh .W bills are atrocious! l rrblall??Really? 4 Fix Tank Farm from Broad Street .to Higaeta.It should be 5 lane with bike lane . • • • Page 10 • • CO \l V l AIll Bt DCLT 13LLI Ll SCR\ LS RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 4 . Protect SLO's historic character vs . strip mall mentalitie s 1 . Better public transportation for students, the disabled and elderly and tourism . The buse s hardly ever run, they stop way too early, the rates often don't make sense and don't sto p in Avila Beach or near Bob Jones Trail or new mt . bike and biking path . There should b e safe and available public transportation options for evenings so that people don't drin k and drive . 1.Keep city employee salaries & benefits in check 2.Balance budget 3.No tall buildings (more than 3 stories) downtow n 4.No more bars—we need sustainable businesses for community downtow n I;jla Road d lases li . 1.Consistent enforcement of traffic laws . (i .e ., if you ticket a skateboarder for riding in th e bike lane, joggers should be ticketed also ) 2.Los Osos Valley Rd @ 101 overpas s 3.Maintain balanced budge t 1.-some are so old d se r>they am a danger. Repair and removing between Broad &Jo on.fh soft Rd i r ity.. on Frill & Blvds. ,. 2.W i ofT~r Faro ( Broad t e of dri veal-e out the.Etna g> s should but d i the `no left Via' sisoukl ltie to tlt .They aT£'a vemely and many 3.Pill is ,the city does a gI job of POorittiiiig andkee g tl city a gleamingeiitt l 1.Services for the middle & low income families and the homeless, especially affordabl e housing 2.Open space maintenance and expansio n 3.Continue to attract and keep qualified, experienced, competent, and forward-lookin g management and staff as city employee s 1.Clean out trees,.bans and debris fr,m_cheeks 2.Increase library funding Page 11 COIUII'N111 131 DUCT 13l I .LE FIN SI RlE1 RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S eatemtoa 1 . The hedge along Madonna Road is becoming more and more bleak and sparse and gian t see thru holes . The city used to provide a water truck occasionally to maintain growth . This has not been the case during the past year or more . Once this vegetation dies, it wil l take years to replace by growth alone . Or building a brick wall would be at prohibitiv e cost . Why is this not very preserved—to save money in the future . The hedge is there , maintain it! Also, the prisoners always did a better job trimming it than City employees . 1.Trat a halreame al intolerable on LOVR. What can be done? 2.conrinue.offering before/Aar school care for elementary children through the ree dept. 3.Eapamd tppo .tics far whore to be active . 1.Ease traffic congestion especially at LOVR and 10 1 2.Figure out good solutions for the homeles s wed s t ree t lines andr c ur b s a n d cabs ®fire. (These ace necessarl y the highest priwky bu t edt at needed neighbodwod services and was 1.Solving the homelessness problem : By 1) Interviewing the homeless . 2) Taking stock o f what each person can do . 3) Provide training for basic survival . 4) Empower the homeles s population by encouraging base-line employment, socialization, and recreatio n venues/option s 2.Use real solutions, not band-aiding ! 1.Lights for Sinsheimer Park tennis court s 2.Extend Prado Road to Broad Stree t 3.Build new homeless center/shelte r 4.Create another community garde n Make the Dept . Heads see t lit the work gets done . The neighborhood enforcement patrol is a good example oft ising on-nothing'Look at the mess at Johnson an d Sydney—gone by it taking kids to school and the mess gets worse week by week . Looks like the Nipomo Mesa—not SLO 2.Keep the The Dept and its **yam in line 1.Homelessness, a new center, using grant money if possibl e 2.Downtown transient and homeless loitering—our downtown business sector is not bein g helped with this proble m 3.Streamlining residential and commercial permitting processes and lowering permit fee s 4.More head of household jobs with affordable housin g Kemple the ordinance that discliminates against the physically disabled, the eidetly,the those afffected by bad weather disallowing drive-thnr services . • • • Page 12 • • COMMUNITY BL'UGF:T BULLETIN St RVFA -RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 1.Bring Mardi Gras bac k 2.Create dog friendly events—these critters are essential family members you ban the m from everything 3.Close Garden Street for one block—you know where 4.Enhance small business—NOT corporate . Get all stores to conserve energy by closin g their damn doors 5.Cut top management salarie s 1.Safety—I think you should patrol streets more and be more of a presence in residentia l areas . I live on Laurel Lane and never see polic e 2.Seniors—help seniors understand resource s 3.Library—please consider having the library open Sundays and Monday s 4.Bus Service—please fund buses for public transportatio n 1.of utility infrashwettwe, electrical,gas,water,trash and sewag e 2. vt.t green~:}ectsor miens/pensions a're .it ion 3.for :accost an liar, not just i`create dgOVOUIBalf, 4.f .`to k gro a cet with rem 1.Add to greenbelt 2.Support county, cities, and conservancy organization in Count y 3.Avoid getting trapped into responsibility for homeless . This is a county problem . City should not be financially responsible 4.Continue to expect that all respect city streets and private property laws and enforce th e same 5.Continue "bike friendly" trave l 1.witli homelessness--focus on locals,not transients. Don't become a magnet. 2.Honor the intent ofMeasure Y--$ got new things,not existing services Page 13 ('OAI At l'SffA BUDGET BU 1 LE7IN SCRVI :1 RESPONSES : PRIORI TIE S fields, skate park,bike trails, open space ... rates! • 1 . 2 . 3 . 1.The homeless shelter, food, medical care . Jobs for people of all ages . 2.More loft/business housing . More retail, upper-scale businesses . 3.Help curb noise from businesses that are surrounded by housing areas . Traffic—especially around Costco/Target and S . Higuera Street—it is awful ! Boats/RVs, business trucks parked in residential areas for weeks on end—stored and no t temporar y Bikes and skateboards on downtown streets i foor the tax payers,not the revease.?. i money for pa s t due and newproject,.ce the • 1.Provide a city team of 5 or 6 to work with the homeless agencies creating new ideas, ways whereby these folk s 2.Maybe a safety team to monitor alcohol use on weekends when Poly students over-drink , get assaultive, ruin their college goals and create difficulties for SLO residents, the Cit y and themselve s 3.Slow down traffic on Johnson Avenue . People now drive in the bike lane on south sid e past Laurel Lane . A number of animals are hit ; cars are dented by hit/run drivers, our va n was totaled last year . In 31 years I have seen many accidents have taken people to th e hospital . A number of accidents near the apartments just up from the Unity Church, mor e signs needed, people drive over 35 mph . 4.Cut trees, bushes, which make stop signs very hard to see . Trim trees outside the cit y 5.Develop a larger senior center . More activities, courses to study, sports . 1.Public Transportation . 2.Keeping c*ecks clean. 3.Curb cuts on more sidewalks .11 4.Smooth rough roads . 5.Keep Iib ary open . Page 14 • • • COIL IIUN III BUDGET BI lit RN SURF EI RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 1.Finish Bob Jones Trail . 2.If you are going to allow all bars downtown then clean all the puke up and wash all th e urine off of our sidewalks and parking areas . 3.End spending useless $$ on re-doing perfectly good sidewalks . 4.Spend some of the sidewalk $$ and new sign $$ on helping the homeless ! 1.Remove parking along Higuera Street downtown and increase sidewalk width on bot h side s 2.More bike paths/lanes through town and in open space 3.More open space around cit y 1.Cleaning up neighborhoods . I haven't seen any enforcement of tidying up ordinance s 2.Noise downtown—reducing bar activity . This is not a nice place to be in the late evening s 3.Homeless—closer cooperation with CAPSLO on addressing this issue in a meaningfu l and humane wa y 4.Traffic congestion—where is all the new traffic on S . Higuera going to go ? 5.Completing Class I bike lanes—bike lanes in SLO are totally inadequate . Study Davi s 1 . Reduce sewer fees . My water usage is $31 .25 and my sewer fee is $48 .38 . 1.Reduce geedeSssions 2.Reduce tenet &head disease &diabetes 3 Reduce water polluhonnmoff &gwtmdwate r. 4.Reduce carbon fivotpritit 5.Improve the quality of our topsml---vesto' habitat to original quality 1 . Obtain funding as needed and construct improved LOVR interchange (including new southbound onramp to 101 ) 3.Keepupgv®d ;ofpolice keep their good respcuuse to part s a 1 1 4.Keep new buildings leers llee,always enjoy rite mwmta s--art and have good aculatlon ofaiz o Ptecen=etmxicu quesetiiag 3 n Page 15 COMMUNITY R I• UGFT BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 2.Fund and construct improvement to San Luis Creek between Madonna Rd . and Marsh t o reduce flood hazard 3.Fund and conduct dredging to central portion of Laguna Lak e 4.Modify circulation element to show arterial street connection between LOVR and Buckley R D 5.Fund, acquire needed right-of-way and widen Mid-Higuera near High Street and nea r Marsh Street offram p 1.A pedestrian bridge over Santa Rosa (Rtel) by Boysen Avenu e 2.Renaoftate the noise generated by Cal Poly's new P.A. system—it can be heard 3 issue s torte } I t to trearthese people with dignity and respe toO Ys the wind will spread and and more and mom A 1.Bike path from Cal Poly to train depo t 2.Connecting green space trails . These first two will help attract head of household jobs . 3.Fiscal responsibility—be more transparent on the `why' of the spending . Use a website to explain everything . 4.Better town and gown relationships . You have a university—use it . 5.Tourism is not an answer for high paying, head of household job s Is not.the 'happieg. city' fora large amber of residents who their heads and for those are homeless . City employees have well as retirement pin;many other residents do not whe n pmgrans,pioneering with basic necessities for opera tg and f m lift .4 residents (paying people to give cis left oatt®rr long necessary.} Casts ofr~tltiae q,_no r y riewagesformanypeople, do not Please be as;. 1.Homeless—I don't feel safe in the downtown area s 2.Salaries/benefits of City employees . I still feel they are excessive in comparison to othe r cities . 3.Complete bike path across 101 freeway 4.A more diverse downtown, after 9 pm it's active for Cal Poly students, not 30-50 yea r olds . 1.Cut exorbitant police and fire retirement packages . I'm having to work 40 years to come close to what they get. 2.Fix stoplight problems promptly when reported 3.Continue good job on paviag//uraiutenanc e 4.Install solar panels on public buildings—ifit would save money long-term 5.t live near two elderly care centers . There are constant fire responses from Laurel Lane station. I hope these facilities are paying for these services . • • • Page 16 • COA1NILNI"El .BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 1.Remove panhandlers/beggar s 2.Remove uncontrolled crosswalks on Marsh and Higuera at Copeland Center—interfere s with traffic flow 3.Stop spending money on fancy trashcans & cutesy signs are more maintenance o f propertie s 4.Hire fire chiefs, police chiefs and managers locall y 1.Public safety—crime and fire prevention and hazard mitigatio n 2.Proper management of open space 3.Create an atmosphere that does not attract transients from all over the countr y 4.Keep our children safe ! 5.Do something with our streets that create better traffic flow • • 1 . Overall I feel the City Council does an amazing job! Opening up Prado Road woul d release traffic congestion on Los Osos Valley Road . 1.Have better laws on street parking, Poly students renting in neighborhoods wher e residents can't find places to park in front of their own houses or guest s 2.People with multiple cars, 2 cars in driveway not able to run, park on street . 3 cars or more belong to same peopl e 3.Need to have more street sweeping . Get odd or even days to sweep different areas . Ge t people to move trailers, cars, boat s 4.Better street repair to roads look for storm drains that are dirty, clean out before rain s 5.Better tree maintenance branches over sidewalks, over stop signs in tow n 1 .Stag trying to make downtown like Santa Barbara . All those condos, hi many: The quaintness is going to the dogs . atethe .wa rp thatbeenpea for.M y with ayard,r Pmonafxedi o eetrI "fr nwater bill if-tf q Page 17 C0AlVII NIlY BUDGET 131 1 .l .EIIN St RN EN RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 2 Shorten the end of islands so as to not hit tires on the turns,such as Mafia &LOUR , Br( and Sonar streets 3 .The Bill Rohner bike crossing at Buchon/Moun sucksl The melgingnuming law like tlew one on Tank Farm are accidents waiting to happen with impatient mad drivers . 1.Fiscal Conservanc y 2.Infrastructure Improvement s 3.Improve Swim Center facility and cleaner changing rooms ! 4.More tennis court s 5.Develop parts of Laguna Lake Park for turf and hard-court sport s 6.Better bike paths and lane s I .Com+i+uto acquire opentace for the mvhi-use trail access, more is needed. Just look a t the and Bid Peak•areas every day of the week!,oF et ty 'bicycle friendly, one lane of ca traffic on Pismo.Si 3.l swag-ems botmd, one lane of ear ttravei.and a bike lase 4.to l SW *Avila class I bike rose with County 1.Cut salaries, benefits, starting at top and middle management . We cannot afford all this ! 2.Fire all employees involved in toxic waste scandal at Corporation Yard, and all involve d in cover-ups . We can do better ! 3.Eliminate overtime for SLOPD/Fire as much as possible . They should pay their employee contribution, not us tax payers . 4.Cut all nonessential services . Get our fiscal house in order! Cut homeless services . The y don't vote ! 5.Eliminate prevailing wage for city-funded projects ; we can do this as a charter city an d fund CIP that wa y 1.SLOPDshol neighboring coties'PDs to the north and south to suppress Po!satellite activity here.2.su Maintain the integrity of the downtown charm. Revenue from tourism relies upon a unique vacation destination area. 3.Develop inflastructurefseatims mobility for tourists arriving by train . Post feasible way s for people to visit without renting a ca r 4.NEVER ALLOW A WAL-MART . (Actually,this should #2,not #42i-with5.Postpone low income housing In metropolitan areas, the travel timtraffic)to lov e income housing equates to the travel time to SLO outlying areas. 1.Remove the R . turn only sign at Pereira and Madonna . Also crossing Madonna on both sides of Madonna Road at Pereira . 2.The traffic mess near Target was very poorly planned . 3.We are boxed in and forced to travel to Oceanaire and make a U turn to go to Spencer's Market Center—a waste of gas and time . • • • Page 18 • • CO \I \ICAttM BUDGET 13LLLETTA SURVlEN RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 1.Watch spending—check on high pensions from the past that retired employees ar e getting . Can they be lowered to fit the times ? 2.Important projects like keeping the road repaired should come 1 s`before expensiv e artwork is purchased, etc . 3.The homeless should be considered but the homeless should help out in helping coo k food, clean premises, even growing a garden . 4.Parks and Rec join with senior citizens (Senior Center). Seniors need special needs and should be allowed to give info to receive better help .Programs ! 5.Many tickets for driving mistakes are very expensive and many people just make a mistake . Do we have to have such costly fees ? 1 . Neighborhood Preservation : (a)There continues to be noise, drunken crowd-roaming, parking and bligh t problems in neighborhoods . We need to continue to try to improve those issue s and provide funds for additional enforcement tools, including, but not limited to , (I) additional police patrols assigned to neighborhoods on weekends and specia l event or problem holidays ; (ii) a rental inspection program to improve the rental housing stock to maintain property values and to help students who often time s live in substandard housing ; and (iii) a solution to the extreme parking problem s in many neighborhoods from single family homes being rented to 5 (or more ) students, each with their own vehicle . (b)Revamp our residential business license program by attaching requirements t o the owners' license since he is operating a business in our neighborhoods (i .e ., requirements similar to those under our Home Occupation Permit program tha t contains 16 requirements for the owner to run a business out of his home . (c)Do whatever necessary to convince Cal Poly to build more on-campus housin g toe relieve the rental market in SLO, making it more affordable to families . (d)Do more to improve neighborhood streets and sidewalks . This was one of th e promises made in Measure Y promotion but has not been done, while Downtow n area streets have continued to take priority over neighborhoods . (e)Make the street sweeper program function properly in the neighborhoods b y not allowing vehicle to be parked in the street on street sweeper day . This would help our storm drainage because there would be less debris flowing down th e gutter into storm drains . Page 19 CUJI AI I'1LIA BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 2.Infrastructure maintenance : Maintain our infrastructure including replacing aging utilit y lines, repair streets and sidewalks, trim city trees more often, and paint red curbs aroun d fire hydrants, throughout the city, not just in the downtown area . 3.Economic Development : Continue to try to encourage more head of household jobs in th e City . We have many low paying jobs which does not allow many families to work an d live in SLO . The rents are too high for families to afford compared to the salaries offere d in the City . I cumpiet stop adding any more people or houses to San Luis Obispo, via infi11 an d want Start focusing omm people already living here . Improve their safety,welfare, and quality of life .Plus,S Luis Obispo needs to live within its means . Paying money to sere a water sou re.. Then pushing to add more people to the tap, is irresp rble. 2 Insert the San Luis Obispo polies Department enforce The laws pertaining to : Limit lines, st s. yellow lights.r lights,residential speed limits .I am armed at haw e ate at breaking traffic laws . Given the heavy hand the San Luis Police rim thiscity.I am surprised this public saslY issuehas ottt of hand Iiow =ay stop ~n running automobile drivers should I mybicycle ►?Before suing the city for not enforcing traffic laws; I have M.we e thisweek .;ARthr drove away witboacheekatg my'welfine. 3.' r L t ispo Police #Part.s.atalso need to enforce tmspassmg laws . Also, e the criminal ent form thedowntown .Make it a safe Estimation day or night: 4.ri °safety tbnxtgbout the cit y 3 . T e CCiyof Luis Obis installe d oa speed bump on our family's str .Thin did not s down drivers Who use our street as aI shortcut::thestop sips at a Fix the proem. b ..: Obispo City ems that drive Citymarked . lea . That the stop signs and tralaws,apply to them also . 7.Stop "&Finch" from polluting the air downtown and downwind . No one should have to smell this ac ii stench. 8.The Los Oros Valley Road isa disgusting mess of traffic and valuable farm land paved over with chain stores offering up low paying, part time jobs selli ng foreign mad e products . This mess is a clear indication hired and elected officials could care less about this city. 9.Make it a criminal offense for the San Luis Obispo City Council to lower building fees for developers. Why should a developer,for example "MD2 Communities", receive a discount-for damaging the quality of life in San Luis Obispo. 1.Public drunkenness on Thursday, Friday and Saturday on downtown residentia l neighborhoods where college students are staggering hom e 2.Sidewalk repairs needed due to tree root encroachmen t 3.Decrease in payroll and benefits to all new employees and a restructuring of med an d retirement benefits to existing employees . It is all unsustainable . 1 . Reduce the number of homeless people sleeping under the creek bridges . Require them to clean up their trash and debris, In return for this you might provide them with a card good for one meal at Prado . All using our City should pay something . • • • Page 20 COVIA!1 NIiA BUI)CET REELEI IN SURVEY RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S • 1.Develop policy to deal with Downtown panhandlers . 2.Deal with traffic congestion at Los Osos Valley Road and 101 intersectio n 3.Maintain SLO creek bed with appropriate shrub/tree pruning and/or remova l 1, 'Phe a T wh 3 .?I'aia1 F ;head Sr. 1.Bike and pedestrian pathways : widen downtown sidewalks, encourage alternativ e transportatio n 2.Strengthen downtown business zones . Recognize the changing demographics—"save ou r downtown" too rooted in past policy and economics . 3.Discourage spraw l • • 1.Lower residential water rates ! 2.Lower residential sewer rates ! 1 . Public safety—police and fir e 1 . space fox the ,antprog .S to I tltear. Perks rent a j vet o space is c `la T vrgnad at jobs training, 1.Hold the line on personnel costs and reduce the number of employees . Have employee s pay their own pension contributions . 2.Conduct hearing tests on all patrol officers—most/many are unable to hear loud partie s when they respond to residential complaints . 3.Allocate a higher percentage of maintenance funds to our residential neighborhoods . Nearly $1 million to a few blocks downtown is disgraceful ! 4.Keep up and expand the excellent work of the neighborhood services specialists . They are making improvements each day! Kudos ! 5.Teach police officers to recognize those drivers using cell phones . I've nearly been hi t twice while walking this past summer and fall . Page 21 COMMUNITY BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S I .Providing for the homeles s 2 . i path, pool, b,sebali ma,needs renovatio n 3.Help, natant ' local businesses, limit franc]ttse s 4.Fix, Upgrade Marsh Street offsaiup appearance—it's a mess . Higttera interchange with 101 is awful. 5.Recstablish Obispo Bea*tifiiL . Reduce signage on our streets—consolidate and eliminate. 1 . The City's highest priority goals should be no growth . By that I mean no building . No new homes, no new industrial structures . The city must encourage any new or growin g businesses to utilize existing buildings that are currently empty . Secondly, the city shoul d make every effort to keep the cost of utilities low for all . Cable, water, electricity, gas ar e all charging fees and taxes which are going up and up . The added costs of living in SL O are out of sight . I for one (not to mention those folks in my neighborhood and with whom I work) cannot afford to live here on a reduced income . Working for the governmen t (which I do) has continued disadvantages because I am furloughed indefinitely and thu s cannot save . Further, pensions are being cut as well as health care benefits . The cost s cannot continue to rise and the income continue to be lower . My hope is that SLO will take heed if they want a diverse population which supports a positive living environment . If not, only the extremely wealthy will live here, who will spend the bulk of their money in SF or LA . Justice and saui remove the system's (city, county,std a)automatic and ' scams by having 1) 3 retired lit people. Replace fast tr la if each siriti agrees of others' lies (liars are ified, fined,i im irone d China,.a.)Justice . You and everyone SAVE, civilize,etc. 1 . Councilmembers should exert their individual and collective political skills to accomplis h the following objectives as quickly as possible : a)Permit local governments to collect sales tax on all internet sales of merchandise . Work with other local government agencies and, especially, The League o f California Cities to accomplish this task ASAP . Equity with `brick and mortar ' merchants is essential as is the additional tax revenues . b)Exert pressure on Copeland Brothers to initiate its China Town project in 2013 . Objectives : to stimulate commercial activity downtown ; remove the appearanc e of blight; and produce increased production of sales and bed tax revenues . c)Insist that SLO County government recognize its rightful responsibilities in th e areas of health and welfare and reorganize, if necessary, a fair and effectiv e program to deal with homelessness through the County. A complaint to the Grand Jury might be an effective starting point . d)Work with other local governments to pressure the PUC to establish mor e generous contributions from utilities presently maintaining overhead distributio n systems to speed up pace of undergrounding systems by setting aside larger sum s of funds for this purpose . Reevaluate undergrounding priorities and raise the • • Page 22 • • • CO,AIAIUAFT) BUDGET BULLETIN St RVTl RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S City's north Monterey Street entrance to number 1 and underground immediately . This visual blight should be eliminated at once . 2.Resurrect the priority established by the 2000 and 2002 City Councils to construc t landscaped dividers in LOVR between the NW City limits and Madonna Road on a n annual, incremental basis .Rationale : when the Los Osos—Baywood Park sewer plant i s completed and the long-standing building moratorium is lifted, there will be a n unprecedented surge in new home-building in Los Osos—Baywood Park that wil l generate a flood of new traffic on LOVR into and through SLO to Highway 101 . Th e remainder of undivided LOVR must be physically divided and traffic effectively controlled for the safety of SLO residents . 3.Place a temporary moratorium on the building of new sports facilities in favor of th e promotion of `cultural facilities,' especially cultural facilities in our downtown in order t o stimulate symbiotic relationships with commercial and tourist serving facilities tha t generate economic interaction and produce tax revenues . 4.Design and construct a Mission Plaza `First Phase Dogleg" from Palm and Broad t o Monterey and Broad Streets as shown in the Downtown Concept Plan . `First Phase ' meaning to design and construct as a one-way street with traffic entering from Palm an d exiting Broad with diagonal parking adjacent to the Mission and eliminated fro m Monterey . Only minimum expenditures need be made for new signing, moving o f parking meters, and paint striping for the parking . This `First Phase' could be kept i n place until either a new Art Museum is built or a new addition to the Historical Museu m is constructed at which time all vehicular traffic (except emergency) would be remove d and the Dogleg converted to pedestrian ways as per rendering on display in the Ar t Museum . (Planning reminder: a major cross-town water line is buried beneath this dogle g section). 5.Make monetary contribution to speed the completion and opening of the Railroa d Museum . This facility, largely remodeled and refurbished to date by donations and th e labor of citizens, needs to be recognized as another element in SLO's growing inventor y of visitor attracting facilities, which if effectively promoted should generate a fair return in sales and bed tax revenues . 1.Police between assigned to particular residents could Gail them direc t 2.Fix s on lligueia and Madonna downron attractive' 3 . Help businesses prevent sr mach turnover and vacant store s neighbors 4_ I e s Luis more to encourage 1.Pro-active police –enforce quality of life laws, Neighborhood Wellnes s 2.Clean up creeks—get homeless out and into proper shelter s 3.Open space—buy more—spend lots more on restoring what we hav e 4.More art in tow n 5.Cut down on number of bars in town—way too man y 1 . Stop new growth ap Just let t'e'' listen well,I ithknowthe residents I speak w £ I you are all pro-business and not huasansi SLO W DOWN PLEASES No more houses–=and STOP the road consruetionf We pay a high Page 23 CO,AI,PILSLFI BUDGE! BULLETIN St 1 KV EN RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S price to livehere—please don't continue to cheapen the experience by building 600 more cracker boa houses and five more business parks . 1.Fiscal responsibility . Reasonable and sustainable pensions and benefit s 2.Improve efficiency, e .g . don't send multiple vehicles on a fire truck to respond to mino r medical 911 call s 3.Landscaping—more tree s 4.Continue supporting athletic events—SLO Tri, Marathon, City-to-Sea, and consider Tou r of C A 5.Noise—police and fire siren use is excessive ! 1.Pramote agood and nm as economical as possible 2.,.Try:to ev tithe same— $ire fire lithe with a home project the same time and respect as big deveapeF.giving away City property. 1.More housing units for fixed-income seniors 2.Continue expanding the use of recycled water into all parks and ball fields and any publi c buildings 3.Put a planted median or a stop light on South Broad between South and Orcutt to slo w traffic and allow residents to carefully cross Broa d 4.Any time that a cut is made into a street for repairs, upgrade any other pipes along tha t same street • • 1.Maintain budget expenditures! Conserve our $$! 2.Limit generous pay for public employee s 3.Fire and Police (traffic=speeding, cell phones, texting everywhere!) 4.Preserve historic history (architecture) and limit housing spraw l 1.Homeless `will not' and please do not doanything that will attract other homeless to the area 2.Major changes to the employee benefit expenses are necessary,stop hiring $250K+ employees! 1.Go green : renewable energy, low emissions, plants tree s 2.Vibrant downtow n 1 . Further reduce employee expenses especially police and fir e 1 . Abandon the homeless shelter project slated for South Higuera . Cutback or eliminat e homeless services • Page 24 COAL N I A BUDGET 131 It E IN SERI EI -RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S • 2 . To the City Manager : If you have the courage,WALK the streets of town . You'll readily see and experience the `new' ambiance we have . Thanks for reading . k .Awmaghaving to do *nth ntauStantswatThatffit 1 . Maintaining quality service without sacrificing cost or personnel or charging public mor e 1 . The downtown restaurant scene is terrible . Horrible food . We go to Morro Bay an d Cayucos and Cambria for meals out . Pismo Beach, also . This is not my community fo r fun, good food or adventure . I travel a lot so maybe I will the in Crete . • • 1.Bike blvds that connect places 2.Bike lanes that connect place s 3.Get `cut through' traffic out of residential neighborhoods (Buchon/Pismo ) 4.Fund the skatepark s 5.Make our downtown residential areas more walkable by slowing down cars o n connectors and arterial s 1 . Keeping the City clean! ! Please. It is pretty dirty . 1.Less late night bars—like Bulls-.where the only activity is alcohol based--mor e downtown recreation for ages s e 2.More focus On shops/small businesse s 1.Open pelf2.Corgi sprawl 3.Old town circulation ' s Page 25 COAI,II LNIIS HEDGE]BELLE SERVE1 RESPONSES : PRIORITIES • Please bring back free meters on Sundays and wouldn't it be nice to encourage downtow n shoppers during holidays,by giving a free week—no meters—a gift from our City! 1 . Preservation of nice neighborhood s 1 . Pay attention to how many places serve alcohol downtown!! So sorry you gave permission to move Downtown Brew to f iguera—it will destroy the atmosphere of dthe whole plaza noise of this type can never be contained . Note the increase of gang nnemhers shopping for anyone but college students: Gone at the dress shops , department stores and variety stores 1."Neighborhood wellness . Take care of residents . Do more . 2.Open Space - maintain what we own ; water bars, closing shortcuts . Continue aggressively buying Green Bel t 3.Maintain building and development standards, don't lower . Add bond requirement t o planned developments so we don't get stuck with partially built projects that sit there and deteriorate ." 1 . Neighborhood Wellnes s 1.More police for safety in ouicity 2.Fire faded well so response I wish' good and earntgh fir an 3.pub is vitality this community and erring areas more route s 1 . Making sure that the city is resident-centered . Just saying you have meetings isn't enough- especially when the main people there are NOT residents . A real outreach need s to be done, residents don't have paid lobbyists to keep track of what is being done at city hall . 1.Complete the skate park project -too much time has passed and the kids still need it ! 2.Provide more job opportunities within the City by enhancing economic development . 3.Take steps to improve employee morale -it is the lowest it has been in years and starting to filter out into the public. 4.Complete LOUR overpass improvement s 1 . Controlling growth ; possibly limiting it to 1/2 % per year and a target cap of 48,000 t o 50,000 population . 1 . Having a resident centered city government • • Page 26 • COAIAIt'Nlll f3000El Rl LLET LN SURV ES RESPONSES :PRIORITIE S 1.Council is to be congratulated in the LUCE update process for giving direction that inpu t to the City from people who did not live in the city needed to be identified as such . THIS SURVEY DOES NOT FOLLOW COUNCIL DIRECTION . 2.On the other hand, the 25,000 LUCE surveys and more than 2,100 responses d o 3.The highest resident priorities identified in the City LUCE survey are acquiring an d maintaining open space to protect the City's hillsides, Peaks, creeks, marshes, and ope n space in the greenbelt . These are THE ONLY THINGS A MAJORITY OF RESIDENT S WERE ALSO WILLING TO PAY MORE FOR WAS ACQUIRING AN D MAINTAINING OPEN SPACE . These priorities should not be watered down by thi s survey or paid lobbyists . 4.The BIGGEST THREAT to natural open space that residents so highly value i s commercial pressure to turn it into parkland and/or to ""commercialize it"" as a majo r tourist attraction under the guise of ""economic development"" BUT there has been N O equivalent input from the residential neighborhoods adjacent to open space who are already being affected by increased use (Highland Dr, etc .), and there was N O environmental or neighborhood committees to balance the input of the economi c committee . • • 1 . A higher/tourist attraction level of usage was never intended for the city's natural ope n spaces ....trailheads are in residential neighborhoods, there are no parking lots, n o facilities etc . (for years after the early 90s Open Space element the City actively did NO T allow natural open space to be advertised beyond the "greater community"...that change d WITHOUT input from the residential neighborhoods being affected or any meaningfu l input from residents who so highly value NATURAL open space . PLEASE PROM : ,THE CITY'S NATURAL OPEN SPADE AS A NATURA L REFUGE FOR RESIDENTS AS WELL AS WILDLIFE AND THEIR HABITAT S 1 . Continue the top 4 goals with the exception of traffic congestion relief ; rather than focu s on congestion relief, goal should be providing for increased mobility needs with even greater provision for alternative mean of transportation 1.Get Cal Poly to build more student housin g 2.C Cuesta to st,add+hw,out of town students without adding st Page 27 COAIAD'vIll -BL DOLT Ill LLI :TIN SIRV EA RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 3.Focus upon naighbmhoods that are being destroyed by student renters and inconsiderat e landlords,and do whatever is possible totum things aroun d 4.Take better care of city properties, including empty lot s 5.Resolve any safety problems (such as missing sidewalks) righ t 1.Maintaining the current level of city services to ensure public safety and our way of lif e in this beautiful city . 2.Increasing business in downtown area and city of SLO AND decreasing vagrancy , loitering etc ., crime that seems to have increased in downtown area . Decrease stree t parking/homelessness . STRICT POLICE ENFORCEMENT . 1 . Close the Gaps in disconnecte d. or incomplete facilities,e.g.~street repairs, str tre€s,f '< < <s,etc. and residential, tied together and lit to 1 . The section of road on Los Osos Valley Rd between Madonna Rd and the entrance to th e 101 south freeway suffers from painstaking gridlock during peak and off peak times .I realize aesthetics played a huge role in the development of that area, but let's be honest , we don't need the landscaped median that separates both sides of traffic . We also don't need the landscaped and expansive sidewalks . Remove the aesthetics and add an additional lane to one direction to improve this awful layout that was indeed poorl y planned and executed . If an additional lane is not an option, then manipulate the existin g layout to improve the flow of traffic . LOVR is a major artery for thousands of daily commuters in San Luis Obispo, Los Osos and Mono Bay . How did the City fail t o anticipate this nagging gridlock? People reside here to avoid the hassles of big-cit y living, yet this section of road suffers from metropolitan style traffic . 1 . Maintain emergency service levels to be prepared for un-forseen disasters and daily emergencie s 1.Homeless people taking over SL O 2.Downtown beautificatio n 3.More tree lights downtow n 4.Wider sidewalks more outside eateries • • • Page 28 • • • COAIAIUNIIV BUDGET M .LIT FIN SUIfl EA RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 1.Pay off all loan s 2.Close all city departments except essential service s 3.End all low income programs and require work camp s 1.Stop allowing corporations such as Compas Health from using our emergency services t o do what they should do . 2.For example, why should we send a fire engine with three people to lift someone off th e ground when the facility has able bodied staff? The corporations have a hands off polic y so there staff cannot lift their patients . Obviously, this is for insurance purposes . Instead they put the risk on the city and our firefighters . Create a new policy that prevents thi s and save the city big money in work comp injuries . Not to mention it keeps the fire engine available for true emergencies in the city . I .° e e t r safetyand services like public works . The many specialty projects tha t ty is great fay d® ake the city but as-.we rebuild we that learn ft the past and put our pnonhes first . 1.We HAVE to maintain our police and fire protection . We can NOT let that be taken fo r granted . It's easy to dismiss them ...until they're needed . A life is not worth taking fo r granted . I . nag len3s of setyiee and i asflctil cerS p e :e 2.the ofy+c Ut:ea~o es, whichyouhave lost e bg the Council and EAU " 1 . Keeping the homeless people from absolutely ruining our city and especially ou r downtown . I do not feel safe downtown any more with my family . I also would like a 'e need to stick to 2.polity of life through sating 3.lt*a veegsadto melba' we have such a hi, createt ,it isfact.Thisal Gsourc Page 29 COVIVILNIII 13L DUET BULLETIN SERVE\RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S better police presence downtown and laws in place to rid of the pan handling, drug using , dangerous homeless vagrants . Safety 2.Open space 3.Keep downtown historic 1.Attempt to complete and connect Class I & Class II bike routes across the city . 2.Rehabilitate parks, especially Sinsheimer . It is very "tired". Hazardous paths , deteriorated parking lot, awful playground, poor picnic tables and layout, and no direc t bike path link from parking and park to RR Safety Trail and Sinsheimer School . 3.Neighborhood improvements program for sidewalk repairs and street tree replacement s 4.Work with SLO County and land owners to get Tank Farm Road improved, with ampl e bike lanes, as soon as possible . It is deteriorating and hazardous . Similar for Buckley Road . 1 .Live &let live!Too many ins i,gain.cant regtdations (trash can police, over the top code too Much over per.Reml of treatment far folk'', less special trot of big name local tannin's They ate the backbone of the services you provide . not frills like public art, open space, and the Laguna Gol f g but it feeling more like it every year . not the few squeaky wheels who seem to hoid sway 1.Resolve traffic issues @ LOVR & 10 1 2.Alleviate traffic issues at Madonna & Atascadero, and Madonna & LOVR . 3.Repair city streets 4.Neighborhood bligh t 1 Have the police go to the graduate 990 industrial way at 1 :45am and note how loud th e music is, you are cracking down on the bars downtown but not addressing the issues at the grad.Check the police log for all the assaults . it is disturbing the neighborin g residents from sleeping 2 .Change the way they are doing the water monitoring, 3 months is too lon g 3 . Stop the tattling on neighbors' whose yards don't meet others standard&it's no ones business unless it's a hazard .You are going too far with the program . America was built on freedom and not restrictia people on their own property unless is a danger to someone t 1.Public safety 2.Deal with our terrible homeless problem . Stop the homeless from camping anywhere i n the city . Stop the homeless from begging down town . 3.Assist the homeless that don't want to be homeless that are from San Luis Obispo . • • • Page 30 COA1,AICAIll BOUGEr RI LEEIIN SE RN E\ RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 4.Assist the homeless that want to be homeless and by getting them transportation back t o where they are from . 5.Do not build the large homeless campus . This will not help . It will just make more com e to our area and tax our already over taxed police department ." 1.Recruit physicians to San Luis Obispo . The most frequent comment I have heard fro m residents since I moved to the area 3 years ago is "Good luck finding a doctor ." Indeed , many of the higher rated physicians are not taking new patients . Several more have retired or are near retirement . Mine retired a few months after he agreed to take me as a patient . So I'm back to square one . 2.Allow more residential housing developments. 3.Consider an indoor mall near Madonna Plaza . There is a need for more high end store s like Nordstrom's, Williams Sonoma, etc . 4.Public safety should be a top priority along with . quality medical care . Mea re Y. 1 . Affordable Housing for young professional s 1 .Budget responsibility . Balanced and forward thinking. • 2 .Housing--SLO is extremely overpriced for the average worker . It has become a bedroom/retirement village for L .A. and San Fran . 1.Balanced btKlget , 2.No raised taxe s 3.Maintantrs;e eta parks 4.Public 5.Continued strung support of the PAC aad SLOMA " • • Page 3 1 COAIVILNI1 A BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEYRESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 3 . More housing downtown so that locals can participate in a vibrant community without a car . Mid-rise apartment complexes close to city center . i .Tecreate a pin to assist the homeless population - giving them access to assistance . 1 . Widening Los Osos valley overpass/Tank Farm road (from Broad to Higuera). 1 . Really focus on neighborhoods, where the majority of residents live . A lot has been done for downtown, so it's time to shift gear and try to attract families back to SLID b y improving condiitlons. 1.Traffic Congestion and speedin g 2.Neighborhood Wellnes s 1 .Trae,mauy new large stones are congesting streets LOS OSOS VALLEY RD, TANK FARM&rIIGUERA,BROAD ST. 1.Our City has an opportunity to be a leader as a truly sustainable community : economically, socially and environmentally . Here's an amazing possibility that can fulfil l on this entirely ... 2.Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is a market-based approach toward energy us e and generation that would powerfully change the way we have a choice about where our energy comes from and how to generate our own effectively . 3.Any community -- individual city, group of cities and county, or any combination -- ca n form a not-for-profit organization (CCA) to efficiently manage the ratepayers in thei r jurisdiction . The CCA can create programs that the customers want such as 100 % renewables, low and stable rates, and feed-in tariffs . Right now, there is no choice abou t energy . 4.The utility company will continue to deliver the energy and maintain the transmissio n and distribution as before . Our City would benefit by having a steady stream of revenu e (approx . $10 million annually) to be able to buy power on the wholesale market and t o issue bonds for building local clean generation such as solar . 5.A CCA creates more local jobs, provides long-term stable rates regardless of marke t fluctuations, strengthens the local economy, reduces greenhouse gas effectively, an d creates a future based on clean energy . 1 . Invest in a more robust Economic Development program- give program resources t o implement strategic pla n 2.Invest in the health Mission plaza/downtown - address exploding transient problem , downtown safety 1 . Preservation of the environment and open spac e 1.Make sure the budget is in the, black . 2.Finish the bike paths 3.Get businesses in the Monterey street • • • Page 32 • • COAI NIL NLIV BUDGET BULLETIN SL RV EA RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 1 . Safety on the street s 1 . Conservation of open space 1.Support the growth of Mindbod y 2.Maintain trails and outdoor spac e 3.Support local busines s 4.Improve SLO tourism efforts/marketing campaign . (Paso has seen a prolific influx wit h their marketing). 5.Extend the Bob Jones trail to San Luis Obisp o 2. 31 4.It 5.Reverse l law.Yon cotes abot t arming Great recycle, bl~ should elm • 1.Neighborhood wellnes s 2.Crumbling sidewalks in older town neighborhoods present safety issue s 3.Simplify the planning departments permitting process 1.Lower the c ost of r.Too wive .All the plants in the City an dying inn lack of water, 2.N e 3 . Fix —gavel !met.All of erstt is the area were redone.Why weet'sNipoi o c 4.Pat a stop sign at 4-way intersection at Islay sad Ntpomo . Cars drive to o 1.Solve the homeless problem and keep Downtown lighted and safe . 2.Upkeep of roads (painting red on curbs ) 3.Keep development under control . Page 33 COA191UNIT Bt UGEt BULLETIN SUR\ ES RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 4.Keep taxes lo w 5.Keep warning people to NOT be distracted by anything while driving . No texting or fumbling at radio dials . Check with Governor Mitch Daniels in Indiana as to how he doe s it. 6.Traffic lights are too long vs . time to walk across which is just seconds . 1.Neighborhood wellness including crime & graffiti controls . 2.Traffic congestion and flow. 3.Greenbelt/preservation of !open space : 4.Encoutagement of public transpo ; use and alternative modes of transportation . 5.Continue funding and constructing the bike path from Cal Poly to Bob Jones Trail. 1.Fix the street s 2.Help the homeless and disadvantaged in our community . 1 . Finish the Bob Jones Trail . 2 . Get the din bags off our downtown streets and plazas . 3 . "2" lanes all the way to Buckley out Broad. This is way more important than tearing up all our sidewalks everywhere . 1» ,Racal organic food a q to all. I Comte Bab Jeges Trail aid Skate r 3.work towards greenest city in Califrnw' 4 . LII? water retention/stormwster management . 5 . Compact mixed use development . 1 . Complete the RR bike path to Cal Poly . 2 . Construct bridge (bike/ped) from Sinsheimer Park to Villa Rosa/Broad across RR tracks . 1.Economic development 2.Fiscal health 3.Reform pensions sous sustainable 4.Invest in roads,transportatio n 5.Solve homeless 1.Preserve essential services/fiscal healt h 2.Economic development 3.Infrastructure maintenanc e 4.Traffic congestion andclose-by area population growth . Already too many people and cars, • • • Page 34 CO'NI11t'SIEV RUDOET BI Ii ,TIN SURVE) RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S •1'.ltra c 1.Police presence downtown . 2.Dredge Laguna Lake 1.LOVR widening near Costc o 2.Traffic congestio n 1 . Improving and expanding the transit system . • 1 .Encouraging local small busines s 2 .Preserving and expanding open space . 3 .Smart growth 4 .Target our strengths for tourism 1.The clean environmen t 2.Parks and recreatio n 3.Preservation of green space and hiking trail s 1.Clean air and clean wate r 2.Conservation of wate r 1 ...I lomeless issue s 2.Long teitnhomeless ing 3.Downtown area Heeds patrolling There arehomeless 1 i 1.The Eavotmzent . 2.Climate action glare 3.Asnt of local resources ; 4.IdeatiSCati of mm-government agency resource s 5.Increase awarenesstofea ' isst facing our eity 6.Increase awareness and doceai lead homes to open spaces Page 3 5 ( O~L~II NlI A RU DGE I BE I .T . ETI N SURVE\ RESPONSES : PRIORITIE S 3.Reduce pollutants 4.RE : agriculture-real food-not GMO's-will have a healthier population-lower medica l costs Animal waste-negatively effects water quality disturbing amount of dog waste left in parks,reseal yards, etc . 1.Reduce the number of public employee s 2.Simplify building permit proces s 3.Simplify planning process ; shorten revie w L Fix the hie pertbole os Tom St . between Pismo and Marsh . It's been there for a long time. 2.T~~~hRe~ creek{~ e- along floe of Marsh Is overgrown d needs to be cutback . Along 1 t*tilt Riv x4 .R Rf E t e ...the si alkJ . 3.L: oft&homeless.Ws out of control . 1.Having a balanced budge t 2.Bike path constructio n 1.Get the cost of water ainl sewer under c ontrol 2.Get rid-of the two deck bus. Costto operate and street maintenance is excessive. 1.Invest in utilities and roads to maintain them in sound condition (replace old deteriorate d lines) 2.Economic Developmen t 3.Make roads safer by maintaining center stripes that are almost invisible now in many places 4.Fix the traffic mess at Broad and Tank Farm created by the offset new lanes-somebody i s going to be killed there due to a horrible, non-standard design ! 5.Address the ever-worsening homeless problem • • Page 36 • • • COMMUNITY BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PROGRAM ADJUSTMENT S How might the City adjust other programs & services t o accomplish these priorities ? Responses are reproduced verbatim. Where a response is shown more than once, it was received in duplicate . 1 . T have not livedhere long enough >S a!1 tithe 1 . Reduce programs, increase transparenc y Give them some extra fouling from the millions stolen 1.Eliminate unnecessary city services . Example : every 0 Thursday street sweeper sweep s out already clean street . Suggestion :Target the service where needed . 2.Stop the stupid laws having nothing to do with health and safety . Example : tras h receptacles in front of homes, couches on porches . Stop trying to control with you r concept of aesthetics . 3.Use parking revenues to foster greater use of public bus syste m 4.Do not charge entry fee s 5.Cease operation of red light camera s 1.Cut the fire department 2.Renegotiate retirement benefits with all City unions, especially early retirement of polic e and obscene retirement fire fighter benefits!!! There are a number of occupations wit h higher deaths per capita that firemen or policemen ; example : 3`d shift convenience stor e clerks . Go Google ! 1 . Tiave unity voluffiteer erects to clean or repair ~,,cEncouramorecotnmu~Y vohmteer Projects, 1.Stop adding so many conditions to permits so that businesses can grow . 2.Move faster! Change isn't all bad!! 1 . Adjust ad ativeexpenses in line with communities of similar s 1 . Make sure resources match goals (don't overwhelm staff/depts) Don't really care what you adjust as long as it becomes safe ailpleasurable to go ' downtmim again_During the day it's a challenge to walk ovedamund the homeles s -and bike riding on the sidewalk .late nights after the movies are just as . disgusting with all the drinks leaving the bas.We are embarrassed to take kttd downtown Page 37 COMMUNITY BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PROGRAM ADJUSTMENT S 1 . There seems to always be a police car at the SLO Airport-parked near the terminal and i t sits there all day . Couldn't the cost of that vehicle be used in another way ? 1 . Reduce pension and retirement benefits for safety personnel to more reasonable an d sustainable levels . 1 . Make the fine for violating the smoking ordinance high enough to cover the enforcemen t 1 Use the fiords from the new Sunday parking and additional ticket revenue from Sunday rise (e7ess loitering in downtown).Additional patrol,programs to keep them downtown,housing,etc . 1 . Encourage builders to create bungalow type housing similar to that created after WWII t o returning vets and their families . Santa Barbara to catch license numbers of cars turning w from Broad to Santa Barbara : You'd make a fortune. 1 . Focus on revenue and/or cost saving measures all the time.Charge everyone $1 .00 month in taxes to pay for/offset cost of water/electricity . 1 . Stop funding for the Downtown Business Associatio n 1 . Relit at ghborhood improvement police and support the real polic e 1 . Administrative belt tightenin g 1 .Build more normal-sized house s 1 . Reduce police and firemen pension s 1 .2-5 year moratorium on residence building to allow a settling period-prior to issuin g additional bating permits 1 . Devote Public Works hours to review all signals . No added work . 1 .Quit spending on sidewalk repairs/comer ramps . Total waste of money ! 1 . You figure that out 1 . Eliminate waste and duplicatipn of government service s 1 . An architect (not in practice) should be hired to be on City staff-many of the ne w develops could be assessed prior to going through long CHC, ARC, and Council mtgs . • • • Page 38 • • COMMUNITY BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PROGRAM ADJUSTMENT S 1.Redistribution of excess produc e 2.Pay for bike paths with monies granted for alternative/environmentally beneficia l transportation 3.More tax revenues from more shoppers downtown could offset parking $ losse s tea qualified tiveMnmpsitOverall'L aru:pleased with hew theCity is rim 1.Encourage the construction of storage yards/facilities to accommodate rec . vehicles 2.Keep up the good work on quickly eradicating graffiti when it occur s 1 . Stop greenlighting new developments/business centers, etc . Just let the City Breathe! I t has been breakneck development for threat thereof for the 5 years we have been her e 1.IJ €ter buses and barns for bus must st 2.spearing aipainlitig—ay boxes saast stop. 1 . Take another look at your sewer/water bill-I have single family home and MOST of m y (your) water goes in my garden-not down (your) sewer!! 1."3 strikes you're out" program for deviant repeat homeless offenders . Keep the services , eliminate the deviant s 2.Repair the roa d 1.W'-Pr 2.Overpass – LOVRLCrado • 1.Alert Caltrans re : LOVR overpass . will be save money. 2.Perhaps Measure Y can be used lbr a of lira below Marsh, adding lights t o Broad Street below South Street and widen Tank Farm and maybe to create crosstow n arteries to improve traffic flow by extending E-W corridor from Johnson to South. 3.Grants may provide some fns for the day tare centers. Page 39 COMMUNITY BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PROGRAM ADJUSTMENT S to ielp find facilities for the homeless (the homeless come fro m the responsibility of all levels of government to provide, not just 1 . Reduce money spent on "public arts," some is fine but some projects have been excessive, in bad taste or simply not appropriate . 1 .The Cal PolyJCtresta students need to help pay for police—ambulance---road services , etc instead of just SW property owner . Tax beer &pizza! 1 . Solve the [homeless] problem or attempt to—people without roofs over their heads .A homeless shelter that works for people who have a need . 1 .Continue: upgrading downtown inc mixed-use/residentia l 2..ContSe.limiting-Pow*to 1 % 3 .Continure,imptovmg &recreational areas 1 . Drop Laguna Lake dredging ideas—so 19 `h century . 1. Alttheauoneg the city .getsiin DUI fines could definitely go toward beer public ttaa tat; 1 . Implement a big box tax on purchases as big box store in the big box district . 1.l vtiabte=new hire salaries--especially in departmentmanagemen t 2.Limit new kc4ebbuddags 3 stones-of3.ll ake existing spay for shame police and public safety costs . 1 . When the time period (December, January, February) determines your base usage fo r water, I would like to know if the exact date that time periods starts and ends . That could be sent out with the November billing for each address . I am sure that could b e programmed to be done automatically for each address . Require more aecouutability various departments;use of personal vehicles, us e ofcity vehles, expeaditure9 ifiom monitored . 1 . Readjus t 1 .Continue cost efficiency measure s 1 . Reserve a parking area in or near the Prado Road facility and provide 2 portable toilets t o allow those who must sleep in their cars to use these facilities . They have a right to sleep in their cars, but need the facilities for restrooms . 1 .I guess the [Parks and Rec]fees could be raised $1 or $2 per activit y 1 . • • • Page 40 • COMMUNITY BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PROGRAM ADJUSTMENT S 1 . We're fairly new to the area and so don't know a lot about what is needed and what's been done . But we love it here, appreciate the friendly atmosphere, good library and plenty of outdoor facilities and biking trails . 1 . Stop this pompous attitude that SLO is something special . It is run by a bunch of idiot s with their heads in the sand . Look at LOVR/US 101 from 3 :30-6 :30 pm . Anti-big box ? Thank God Alex got the big boxes through or you would be bankrupt . IDIOTS! Aren't you embarrassed ? 1 . New parking seems a waste of money . Tathe BlAerDA to are• • 1 . I think too much money is spent on publicity making special events so fancy . It seems City dollars should not be spent on events and promotions . I .Advt cue and tt e appmach to Ml 't pay obscen e for `s es'that don't easy to fru tioa . Cou~sider flue of 'o the . over experimental support of ' projects. Keep employees =coontal~3e. 1 . I saw three City workers cleaning a bus stop enclosure ...really! Payroll is our bigges t liability—reassess and contract out municipal services . Put "Public Art" money to artisti c landscaping. Listen and aggressively recruit retired public service workers ideas fo r getting more explicit use of their old departments . Now they can be bold and truthful a s they have nothing to lose and still get paid . I .ONE st wised ca otmd wide mks and requirements. 1 . Maybe having volunteer neighborhood patrol to help keep crime and noise in check . ases tourism--have BBB and Dottown Org endorse r vai of parkmg along H guera dowatown - too in the pockets ofretailers, A more pedestrian -tha t' dly downtown Page 41 COMMUNITY BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PROGRAM ADJUSTMENT S 1.Move quickly on widening 101 overpas s 2.Have patrol cars cite . Don't need to wait for complaints . 3.Return of walking and/or bike-riding police in downtown core . 1.Don't Californians have a canal? Stop waiting. 2.We already have nwilsir Ans,enforce them 3.Listen or we could steer econom c problems 4.Use 3%for pre-identified'immediate needs . 5.Free Saturday/Sunday parking helps business . 1.Look at other cities in the U .S . which are very safety conscious . 2.In Germany, while in the army we had a safety squad—bring soldiers out of bars befor e they were arrested by German police, and back to the base without arrest . 3.Just returning from Virginia in September, they cater to seniors there . Dancing classes , shows, many fun activities, etc . Maybe SLO could start to develop a bigger center wit h more opportunities . 4.Slowing traffic down will be a priority, too . Folks in Virginia, Kentucky, even in bi g cities they drive slower . I have lived 42 years and have noticed a real increase . Thanks ! 1.Offer incentives for homeowners, businesses, etc . to install solar panels . 2.Remove select cross streets from vehicle traffic . 1 . Ta t 1 . Find out why you can't combine accounts! [re : multiple water bills arriving to the same household in separate envelopes]. I .How about trying traffic circles instead of lights ? 1 . Most of these priorities don't take added cost at all . 1.All of the above [reduce: greenhouse emissions, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, pollution, carbon faot improve top soil] are accomplished with reducing the meat and dair y intake. 2.How about meatless Mondays?Or going all vegetarian and really being green .=) 1 . Many of these projects have languished in the City pipeline for many years . Unless th e city sets a priority and funds them, they City will continue with the current less-than- satisfactory conditions . With current better times more funds will be available . 1.While I can appreciate the goad intention to support the arts, mandatory public `art , should be reprioritized . Sorry,,I am non-phased by most of the statues (SLOLT)(Cit y Hall) 2.Thanks to all who do a wonderful job to make this city a wonderful place to live . • • • Page 42 • COMMUNITY BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PROGRAM ADJUSTMENT S 1 . Look for ways to trim/combine administration work flows, and systems . 1.Have less chiefs and more Indians in police and fire departments . 2.Make them work more than 20 years for a full retirement ! 3.Thank you—I even used my own postage! r retirement benefits froM 7%to i close the ap of nnftmded vate 1.Increase funding for prevention programs . 2.Provide funding for open space vegetation management with oversight by the fire dept . 3.Keep transients out of our parks and creeks . • • 1 . Get city workers to clean creeks of willows and underbrush so doesn't get caught unde r bridges during rain storm . More police presence in some neighborhoods will not hav e taggers painting signs, buildings, more is better than none . liv 1 . Increase participation in the CP Federal Work-Study . CProgram allows you to hire 4 student employees/interns for the cost of 1 . Saves S . 1 . Put more focus on open spate and its Value to our community, both for residents (g peke outside en dying i .beaa y ofa ur home, inter health and l ss)and risit s(boosts our economy with vis ors corm g hereto enjoy char e beauftfnl outdoors 1 ....cos**out services ., lllce ting utility boxes,art stuf€ let Rot do it. And please removwe H RIBLE of blobby €ets ale forma ~'It's an insultto women! Get tough on -slier on FTigitera! 1 . Realize transients are not the area's homeless and treat accordingly . Unless you hav e been homeless yourself you have no idea ; nor could it be explained to you, how difficul t Page 43 COMMUNITY BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PROGRAM ADJUSTMENT S and hopeless the situation is . Provide a place to sleep and shower . Encourage th e purchase of NGV cars and trucks by lessening the price of CNG here . 1 .Consult with neighbors before making decisions. Mrs. De Martin, 1633 Pereir a 1.Increase enforcement against camping in vehicles . 2.Increase collaboration with Cal Poly, CMP, Calfire and County agencies . 1 . Those people sleeping in vehicles as long as they do not disturb the neighborhood an d keep the area clean—should be allowed to do so.Be careful about a new expensive paring structure . The lot at present is not being used . 1.Reduce the amount of money that gets spent for improvements in the downtown area . Make the business owners pay some of the upkeep of the downtown areas surroundin g their businesses as other businesses have to do in outlying areas like Madonna Plaza an d the shopping centers on Los Osos Valley Road and Broad Stree t 2.Stop hiring consultants for every little thing. Our Staff should be able to do research an d come up with ideas—that's what we pay them to do . 3.Spend less money on signs. We have way too many signs in this City, which are ver y unattractive and many are not even maintained . 4.I also wonder about the money we contribute toward the PAC . Maybe it's time we reduc e our contribution . I'm not sure that is really drawing people into our area as often time s the venue is quite empty . Perhaps if they have less subsidy, they will do more to make u p the difference by booking more crowded drawing entertainment . SLO has that need upgrading and improvement that the high initial fees an d restrictions as well as permit delays etc. prohibited many of these projects from even being planned-more efficient and informative programs of encouragement would nit these upgrades possilile . 1 . Prepare for more shortfalls as Fed taxes, state taxes and sales taxes rise . It will affec t charitable giving as well as reduce spending power for local use . P .S .—over the years I have removed an enormous amount of trash, thrown away sleepin g bags, broken glass, worn out batteries of various size and innumerable amounts of broke n glass, rotten food, etc . And I am rather tired of this ! 1 . The Councilis very intelligent and logical They should be able to resolve thes e problems . 1 . Reduce management, increase efficiency of infrastructure, reduce wasteful use of wate r on open areas . Eliminate duplication of positions within employment sections . Reduc e pensions and vacation costs . Increase retirement age . 1 .Eliminate the two neighbor services positions to achieve "active code enforcement ." 1 . Address the homeless problem . Page 44 COMMUNITY BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PROGRAM ADJUSTMENT S • 1.Beautify Tank Farm Road . 2.Clean up SLO school district dump-bus barn area. A blight ! u iti earltotc+iuld be " `Apsog sxkwe I tiDti ffifI CFittiiig ffi h4f tile. • • 1 . Write, petition, ballot measures, etc . until the County, etc . gets rid of the expensive, lying , lawyers! DA could then be called `County Chief Investigator.' –Anton Hoffman PO Bo x 476 Avila Beach, CA 93424 . 1 . Quit funding bars downtown . The last survey we filled out you all poo-pooed right o n camera at the City Council Meeting—saying "it wasn't a representative sample—" Wh y do you ask our input then ignore it roundly? The only people that wanted the new SL O Brew on Higuera was the business, Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtow n Association—no one else asked for it . Make them (Hammish) pay BIG and at least no t just in political contributions . 1 . Sm ai eaa le for iiar State aid l el by filet 1 . Let's look at saving a lot of money now and in the future—let contract fire protection t o Calfire—they provide everything and the city City does not have to worry about funds fo r pensions—Calfire is a professional unit with a good name—the SLO City Fire Dept is a joke and has the City Management and Council buffaloed with their union—the image i s terrible—several mason type working there—and what type of image is it when fo r example at the old Scolaris store the big ladder truck is parked in the bike lane while th e crew of 3 is in the store—one time I watched as the other helped themselves to candy — (shoplifting). Is that the image City workers should project ? 1 . IfO officials c fla iuie to be finally become rye available to fttad these . 1 . Adjustments to make commercial growth to south and west of town more expensive , subsidize downtown with the added income . Page 45 COMMUNITY BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PROGRAM ADJUSTMENT S 1.Better use oftaxes/income . 2.Less liberal use of City/County employee benefits . Stepped up enforcement of traffic laws! Police out and ticketing, source of revenue a s well as maintaining order and public safety! 1 . Go with the greenest alternatives for all upgrades . 1 . I would love to see the City invest in a baseball complex for youth . SW Stadium i s sought after by many groins now—it was built for use by Babe Ruth kids and the hig h ::all soils of groups are fighting for time .Our city has not placed any priority on this for many years and it should. 1.Reduce City employee costs furthe r 2.Repair STS/ improve circulatio n 3.Reduce water cost . 4.Develop Prado Road/Hwy 101 overpass . The City of SW, especially the Downtown area, has lost its ambiance due to the over- abundance of transients and "Immless people ." The City continues to cater to these people and _ attracts these tshsavoty characters .I have rived and worked in SW since 1969 and no longer feel `good about' or safe in town .I am seriously consideringselling my property in .SW, which I have owned since 1977 because I feel it is le ing value due to the above situation. 1 . Look at administrative expenses . 1 Forego salary and benefit increases to City employees . Thanks . 1 . I know you need money, but the City has lost its charm . I used to walk into town, stop a t a local book store, meet my husband for coffee, shop for clothes . Now there is nothin g for me . College aged kids and Fresno types . I know things change, frankly . L Take some of the fimding for auto infrastructure—say 8-10%--and give that to peds an d bikes. 1 . Don't let big trucks park by homes for more than a few hours . Don't allow low-cost apartments to be built in single home neighborhoods . Provide homeowners with sticker s on something that will allow them to park by theft own homes . Others who have parke d on the street rather than the provided business parking lots would get ticketed . 1 . Once a CCA is established,the program operates without any adjustment to other programs and services. Since it's based on the revenue that would otherwise go t o investor-owned utility, the organization is self-sufficient and can provide for many other programs. 1 . Address fiscal issues-- pension and benefits • • • Page 46 • COMMUNITY BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PROGRAM ADJUSTMENT S 1.Hold off on further expenditures on beautification on downtown street lighting in cooperation with Downtown Assoc . 2.Hold off new Parking Structur e 1.Public transportation - even if it runs in the red - increase our taxes to cover the shortage - I have a car, but others don't 2.Police/Fire - review city budget for areas that can be better handled by combinin g departments . Think outside the box - times are different, look for technology . 3.Let us sign up to receive our water bills via email . Savings, paper, postage and handling. Encourage more residents to pay on-line so you don't have to handle depositing checks . l .. 'sT1 1.A real outreach needs to be done, residents don't have paid lobbyists to keep track o f what is being done at city hall . 2.Seek other funding sources - grants, fundraising,etc . Develop a non-profit foundation fo r P&R programs and projects (see Paso Robles and Santa Maria for examples). If you must, increase sales tax but do not include law enforcement as a beneficiary ; shoul d cover those services that have been getting cut for the last five years . • e that. a ::Of..4&. is .. • 1 . The budget must reflect resident's top priority of acquiring and maintaining natural ope n space as a refuge for residents as well as wildlife and their habitats .... even if they are no t the top priorities of commercial interests or city staff. 1.Don't hire outside consultants, but let your city teams do the jobs for which they wer e hired . 2.Stop focusing so much on downtown, and more on neighborhoods . 1 . Put a priority of this or more people will move out of SLO . sbased rig o citq safe,ewe 'stafreg afOOliee an d in .` area to dec se the dgressiv e +ail for business and tlse general Page 47 COMMUNITY BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PROGRAM ADJUSTMENT S f Give &ration to the nprlate of the LUCE to emphasize resetting the city's direction awa y from tourism and low-wage jobs and toward more compact size, a jobs-housing balance, and safe and busy alternative transportation . 2.Re-focus infrastructure funding and improvements to meet these goals socaer than later . 3.Train City staff in the advantages of compact, transit-oriented growth, and hire peopl e well-skilled achieving it . 4.Have =Ms conducted of programs and processes that are concerned with these goals ; get thud-party, professional opinions that do not varnish or self-jwthfy current practice s or viewpoints 5.Look to the Cities of Paso Robles and Ventura for their work with consultants to re-thin k their direction away from sprawl and auto-centric culture . Use those consultants to go than one better . 1 . Appropriate Measure Y funds to this transportation problem, since among the uses fo r this bogus tax increase was to alleviate traffic congestion . I know the money exists fo r this project because revenue from Measure Y averages between $5 to $6 million a yea r and there are surpluses that have carried over from previous years . 1 .Less na~ey scsh0meless services, if you care for them they will come . 2 Allow here ;es to builds increase tax base. 3 .R emwiax measum Oink itsmeasu Y or increase taxes,c c,bed tax, BAR T10 1 t 1 . We need to consider a scale back of the nonessential services, such as continua l expansion of open space, public art, enhanced neighborhood wellness, and other topic s that do not relate to basic fundamental City services . 1 . Not spend Si 400 on painting boxes and spending 2 million on bathrooms . 1 . Some thoughts would be, more of a police presence in the areas that homeless camp an d hang out. Foot patrolled areas at night (i do see the police on bicycles). 2 . I wish I could give some great ideas, I just don't know that there are any . 1.Stop all programs for two years hike art, green space, homeless campus . 2.Re evaluate IT and there cost benefi t 3.Eliminate all analysts, assistant CAO " 1 . Limiting special projects or non-essential cost items . 1 .Rednre financial support ofpet-projects that only benefit certain blocks & businesse s downtown,or small groups of vocal people who have hijacked your clear vision . 1 . A bigger police presence, especially downtown . Have the business involved to repor t any suspicious activity and have the police actually do something about it rather than move them along . Also, maybe don't allow them to move into and live in the creeks . Our SLO is being ruined by these people . • Page 48 • COMMUNITY BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PROGRAM ADJUSTMENT S 1.Use some of the Measure Y funds for bike and pedestrian improvements (Complet e Streets) - which benefit both the community and tourists . 2.Direct developer in lieu fees to also rehabilitate existing parks, plus city funding, grants , etc . 3.Create additional (short-term?) utility tax for neighborhood improvements, or creat e special districts for same . 1.We pay way too much for police and fire protection (wages too high)! 2.Obtain grants/state $ or raise taxes ." 1 . Provide more staffing to police and fire department s • • 1 . I don't know, but staff seems to be doing adequately . 1.Stop wasting money on painting utility boxes so you can spend on helping the poor . 2.Cut the pay of the City manager and hire another cop or fireman . 1 . Ticket traffic offender s pol ' 1 . Promote open space more and reap the benefits all the way aroun d restrictions. Page 49 COMMUNITY BUDGET BULLETIN SURVEY RESPONSES : PROGRAM ADJUSTMENT S 3.Don't sell a million dollar property to the Copeland's for 1 million dollars . You coul d hire a lot of cops and firemen for that . I .Accomplish goals with savvy financial management . 1.Reduce pension cos t 2.Reduce number of employee s I .Reduce staffing and payroll — make do with fewer bodies without reducing core service s 1 . May have to expand lanes on overpas s in line. Look at alternatives to just saying "don't have the money". Alves ban been given every time this comes up but none are looked at. 1.Reduction of minimum parking requirements, and increase in bicycle parking i n downtown areas . 2.Quick approval and leadership towards well constructed longterm homeless housin g (efficiency apartments) to reduce hospital and law enforcement costs . 3.Maximize existing retail space instead of building more ...Promote increase of business o n Marsh St as extension of Higuera St . Consider remodel of Promenade shopping center t o increase retail space, build parking garage, and make it more walkable/inviting (think th e Grove shopping center in Los Angeles). 1 .Cuts 1.The Environment . 2.Increase awareness of environmental issues facing our city . 1.Grams and loan programs to small businesses, streamline regulations/processe s 2.Partner with NGOs, expand luking programs, continue Neil Havlik's legac y 3.Continue support for SLO City Farm as an Ag tourism/education site, buil d hiking/biking/outdoors guide 1.Freeze top level staff salarie s 2.I am not sure where the city currently spends its money to address which program s should be cut or diminished . 1 .Maintain efforts to rein in salaries and benefits; as needed, make across-the-board cut s where it is impossible to agree on particular programs that can be reduce d 1 . Dog bags available help, but it maybe more of the attitudes of certain dog owners wh o allow dogs to be off leash-not sure how to change tha t 1.Education in schools 2.Inform the public (ongoing) of all the health and financial advantages of healthy living . • • • Page 50