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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-26-2013 community groups - otherSection 4 Recommended City Goal s COMMUNITY GROUPS/OTHERS I • San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerc e 1039 Chorro Street • San Luis Obispo, California 93401-327 8 (805) 781-2670 • FAX (805) 543-125 5 Ermine Karim, President/CE O January 2, 201 3 Mayor Jan Marx and Members of the City Counci l City ofSen Luis Obisp o 990 Palm Street San Luis . Obispo, CA 9340 1 Re : City of San lads Obispo goal-setting and budget process for 2013 .15 Dear Mayor Marx and Council Members : The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors respectfully submits our top prioritie s listed below as the most important goals for the City to accomplish in the next two years . These recommendations were reached after extensive discussion and evaluation that directly engaged nearl y 250 business and community leaders, You'll notice that many of them are directly consistent wit h priorities the Chamber has advocated forin .recentyears and that they represent long-term investment s in the quality of life for San Luis Obispes residents and businesses . As indicated in the City's recently published Five Year Fiscal Forecast, the projected budget surplus in th e comingbudget cycle creates unique opportunities as the City's planning efforts move forward. It i s important to keep in mind that the road . to fiscal sustainability Is ongoing, despite these projections . Efforts consistent with the cost containment measures such as the reform of the City's retiremen t benefits, of which the Chamber advocated for and that began in the 2011-13 budget cycle must b e ongoing. We submit the following recommendations with those realities in mind . 1 .Implement the Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP) •Investment in economic development improves the lives of our citizens by providing greater opportunities to live and work her e Increases our city's base-of revenues so city services can be preserve d Creates opportunities to retain and grow businesses and the pool of head of household job s •Sends amessage that we are "open for business " •Assists the local community to navigate economic challenge s •Supports development of much-needed infrastructure •Implement the strategies of the community-driven EDSP focusing on those initiatives identifie d for completion in years one and two, including : a) Provide predictability and clarity in the permitting process : identify opportunities for permi t streamlining (Strategy 1 .1); build on existing efforts that offer site selection assistance , business liaison services, pre-application meetings, quick response team meetings, and fas t track permitting and review (Strategy 1 .2) slochamber@slochamber :org • www .slochamber.org • www .visitslo.com o www .slo-business.com Why: 1 b)Analyze infrastructure plans : ensure they are "right-sized" for the community and reasonabl e (Strategy 1 .3); incentivize creation of head-of-household jobs through city investment i n infrastructure projects (Strategy 1 .SE); convene a broadband infrastructure team (Strateg y 2 .2 ) c)Conduct a fair share analysis (Strategy 1 .4); expand to include development impact Fe e analysis of surrounding communities d)Provide a regularly updated portfolio of available properties (Strategy 1 .8) e)Evaluate the supply of land in expansion areas to prioritize areas ready for developmen t (Strategy 1 .9) fJ Invest in local efforts to grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem (Strategy 2 .1 ) g)Continue and increase support of diverse programs and events to promote San Luis Obisp o (Strategy 3 .4) Ii)Enhance data collection (Strategy 4 .3A, 4.4) i) Continue to provide support for the downtown (Strategy 4 .7) 2.Focused effort on revitalization of Mission Plaz a Why: •With hazardous bridge conditions, poor lighting,and the appearance of blight, this area needs focused attention to bring it back to the . high standard expected of our landmark location s •Continuous care is needed to enhance Downtown SLO, particularly the Mission and Mission Plaza , which are the physical, cultural, and spiritual heart of the city •Mission Plaza is critical to our city's economic development and tourism bran d •Attracts residents and visitors to bring in needed sales tax and TOT revenue s •Enhances the image of San Luis Obispo as a unique destinatio n •Core to the . city's sense of place, community pride and community gatherin g How: •Develop a plan to finance public improvement s •Further implement the vision of the Downtown Concept Plan; with a focus on the Palm and Broa d to Nipomo and Higuera street are a •Invest inadequate lighting for safety and beautificatio n •Through public-private partnerships, work with businesses that face the Plaza to create a safer , more attractive ambiance The Chamber believes that our two top priorities address the City's desire to both increase revenues an d cut costs. In addition, the following recommendations will further these goals . 3.Long-term fiscal health : pension reform and a contingency budget for Measure Y Why: •Ensure long term fiscalsustainability by controlling costs in order to be able to meet the curren t and future needs and priorities of the community •Continue to address growing operating costs, particularly in the area of staffin g How: Continued focus on addressing a reduction in General Fund staffing costs as a percentage of revenu e •Engage public discussion on future pension liabilitie s •Create a contingency budget without Measure Y funds and provide enough time for adequat e community understanding of impacts ; make documents publicly available no later than Januaryr • 1 I 2014 • Continue to employa bottoms-up spending approach that critically evaluates the entire ecosyste m of city operations Thank you for your consideration of these suggested goals and for inviting input from the community. W e look forward to participating in the Community Forum on January 8 and in the other remaining steps i n the budget and goal-setting process for 2013-2015 .We believe your leadership on these priorities will ensure a sustainable and prosperous economic future for those who live and work here . Cc :Katie Lichtig, City Manager Michael Codron, Assistant City Manage r Kris Yette r Chairperson of the Board • S S SIERRA CLU B FOUNDED 1892 Santa Lucia Chapter P .O .Box 1575 5 San Luis Obispo,CA 9340 6 (805) 543-871 7 www.santalucia.sierraclub.org e January 4, 201 3 Re: Goal Setting and the 2013-2015 Financial Pla n Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council , The Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club and its members who reside in the City of San Luis Obispo hav e supported the City's Open Space program for decades . It was therefore with great interest that we read of the more than 2,100 responses to the detailed survey the City sent to 25,000 city residents and business owners as part of its LUCE update process . Respondents were asked this question, which is also at the heart of your goal setting/budge t process : On a scale of I to 5 with I being less and 5 being more, do you think the city should provide less, about the same , or more of each of the following services? Ifyou think the city should provide more or less of a certain service , indicate whether you would be willing to pay more for it or whether you would divert funds from that use to othe r services. When staff collated the more than 2,000 responses received, they found that just four service areas were supporte d by a majority of respondents who approved of seeking additional facilities and services : 58% support acquiring an d maintaining open space for peaks and hillsides, 54% support acquiring and maintaining more open space land fo r the city's greenbelt, 53% support more open space land for creeks and marshes, and 50% would like more bik e lanes . Further: "Despite support for some services, only a slight majority of respondents said they would support payin g more for just two; 54% for open space for peaks and hillsides, and 52% for open space for the City's Greenbelt ." To a survey question seeking input on the most and least important aspects of "quality of life," respondent s overwhelmingly rated the natural environment (air quality, open space) as having the highest impact on quality o f life (71 .1%). This was true for all categories of respondents, including the employed (74 .7%), retired (69 .2%), students (69%), and owners of businesses in the city (73 .4%). The "runner up" was "crime levels," at a significantl y lower 62 .9%. Even' job opportunities" rated only 38 .2%, and "housing opportunities" 35 .3%. At the bottom of th e list were "Shopping opportunities," rated a mere 15 .7 %; and "entertainment opportunities, at 16 .9%. That's what we call a mandate. Natural open space is clearly the top priority of city residents, and the role th e results of this survey should play in your Goal Setting process is obvious . Thus we were more than a little puzzled to hear that Staff proposes that these 2,100 responses from residents an d business owners be excluded from the Goal Setting process . This would be disrespectful to the thousands of residents and business owners who responded to this survey at the City's request, and would represent an obviou s waste of city funds at a time of painful budget cuts . We support Staff s proposal to use the 279 responses it received from the separate Community Priorities Surve y (SLO City 2013 Financial Plan, Goal-Setting Agenda Packet). In addition to these responses,we strongly urge tha t the City Council not exclude the 2,100+ LUCE Update survey responses from residents and business owners , specifically the responses to the question ofwhich services the city should increase or decrease, and for whic h residents and business owners are willing to pay more . Thank you for your attention to this matter , Andrew Christi e Chapter Director 1 Budget Roambation Worksho pTuesday, Dauber 18 .201 2 *00 pm . W ripen Suggestion s Please send them to Charts Jkntrbma by.Friday,14, 201 2 990 Palm Stie d San Luis Obispo, CA 9340 1Fax.781 .740 I Rnai1 :cbmrteasl mw. tag Commukty Forum Tuesday, January6:00 p .m . to 9 :00 pm . Ludwick Coranunty Cente l S64 Santa Rosa Street Goa 1-Sett] rig WorkshopSaturday, January 26, 201 3 8 .30 cm. to 4 :00 pm . Mkt-Year Budget ResinsTuesday, Ftbmay h 9, 201 3 6:00 p .m . Strategic Budget Direction &Majo City Goal Programs Wordaho pTuesday. April 9.201 3 600 p m , Budget Workshop sJune 10, 1 I & 12, 201 3 6OfJ p m 2013-15 Budget Adoption Tuesday, June 18, 201 36:00 p .m . 01 Please submit your kitten comment by Friday, December 14,2012 to Orri nRoud+mu, Director of PO1foot & Initxrmtk m Technology,by mat at 990 Palm Street, Sa n Luis Obispo,CA,93401 ; by tax at 781 .7401 ; or by email at ehowbeciiatoeity tag,For more. mbmiaion on the goal-selling and budge tproem, contact Charles m 781 .7125. © macmy d SnL Obispo k etmn tinsb=eak dimmed pmamis in as d owanion, cowanu and edits . Tstamm,nkawns ante torte Beat.0010 767410 city o f sari luis omspo 201345 Financial Pla n What are the mos t important issues facin g the City of San Lui s Obispo? The City Council want s to Naar from you about what is truly importan t for the community . Of all the things that ca n be done to make the City an even better place t o live, work and play, whic h are the most important? What Are the Most Important Needs of tit icy Over he Next Two Years ? Tht City Warta Year bps, l$vety two yeas, the City estabiits the to p priorities to make San Luis Obispo an eve n better place to live, work and play . Then the City Council matches the sesames to achiev e thaw pxiaities dimlgh adopting the trtdgm i n hoc This sets the City's course of action ta t the twit two years aid helps the City to *Moue to provide the exceptional scrvicxs s and programs the community cherishes . The City anticipates entering the 2013 .1 5 budget planning tams in better tlnancia l shape than two years ago .. Some revenu e soma have Mounded, budgets have bee n trimmed and the City has taken steps to reduce costs. All of thole adieu have helped keep th e City tumidly healthy, even in a time of th e "Great Recession ."However, ethos economi c sew Arum linger with the State and Federa l budgie, the City 's budget is still tight, and w e free at ongoing need to reiiwea in streets , bridges• tecimology, vehicles and facilities . Al l often may lead to potentially rnnpdex budge t de ision& of the specific fisca l is critical lint we have an ing the most irportmt , h' phedty things kit the City to do in th e net two years . That's where you can help , Slott Your Tkoagnts oa the Oty's Priorities! You have the opportunity to tell the City: •What jaunts inportant b the commie ty l •Witt priorities Auld the Cry test on durin g meted aw ys:S •How night the City adjust otter service need s to uoonpliah iltisa pnontest 29t -u hta aY The City Cowed needs to know you antghla on what the cam isuty's priorities should be ao that available resources can be best allocated to achieve than . Now it's time fat you to that your ideas for2013-l5 priaites Major City Goals are identified as the meet important, highest priority goals for the City to aecomgidt ever the next two years Current Major City Cask s e Busunie L)evt4opmrt a •Pisa Ube *tat Sautes &Fist Ila n •Ne . Wdlness •Tapc Congestion Relie f Current Measure Y Prioritie s Adopt by the voters in November 2006 , Meant Y net an added %-cait City salts cox . This Minding unties the City to provide value d services to the community for boat day-toda y operating programs and one-time capita l improvements . The Council prioritizes the us e of this risotto& so it is important that they integrate Mare Y gal idmtifcation into the overall gal-setting pmts. •Masts**Menerorio e +Traffic Congestion Relie f •Ott Space Promotion •Dewitt'Moment It lnatiRarion •Piaavaoa ofEssmtin Senates: o Pudic Sty o Maintenance Sou s o Nti eshood tbda l>nbremnnt YawRepot atRot is thishoots The City needs the help of the community in two important ways: 0 Mead the Community Forum o n January & 2013 from 6 :0O p .m, to 9 :0 0 pm.at the Ludwick Community Center,964 Santa Rosa &reet. This thrum is an opportunity to rest your ideas to the Council and discuss than wit h other oonmtuitity members . City staffwill cum**the community feedba g for the Council to review in advance of its goal - sewing workshop on Stanley . January 26. 2013. Dung this Odic wordtMp, the Counci l will deliberate to set the Major City Goals and Other hnpottantCoweil Objectives for the net t two years. 6 Provide feedbac k Community input will be presented to d l Courts members . It will be specially hdptt l if yar written comnerts address:tat need s you believe are the highest piotity goads f0r th e community ; wiry they are important : and an y creative ideas you have about haw to achiev e them, such as alternative approaches a opportunities br partner* with other . •