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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/25/1962ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL Thursday, January 25, 1962 - 7:30 P. M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL Invocation was given by Mayor Clay P..Davidson Roll Call Present: Miss Margaret M. McNeil, R. L. Graves, Jr., Donald Q. Miller, Gerald W. Shipsey, Clay P. Davidson Absent: None City Staff Present: R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer, W. M. Houser, City Attorney, D. F. Romero, City Engineer, E. P. Thompson, Water Superintendent, J. H: Fitzpatrick, City Clerk 1. Mr. Miller, Administrative Officer, brought to the Council's attention that the Consulting Contract between the'City and the Engineering Firm of Bookman, Edmonston, and Gianelli will expire as the contract for 12 days has been used up. Mr. Miller stated that Mr. Edmonston stated the firm would be willing to continue until the renewal date of the new contract on the basis of $150.00 per day, which is their regular rate. Mr. Miller urged that the City Council authorize the staff to retain the firm on a per diem basis as needed, not to exceed three days, before the Council reconsiders a renewal of the contract. On motion of Councilman Graves, seconded by Councilman Shipsey, the Council was authorized to retain Bookman, Edmonston, and Gianelli on a consulting basis at the usual fee, not to exceed three days. Motion carried. 2. Mr. Miller, Administrative Officer, presented a letter from the County Health Department transmitting a report on the effects of fluoridation of the City water supply, enclosing a report released by the State Health Department. This report is the first five year study completed for the entire State on this topic and the results are very impressive, indicating that fluoridation has afforded a very hight degree of protection for children against dental decay, etc. W. Miller asked if the City Council wished to have this report publicized locally immediately, before State -wide publicity was started. Council instructed Mr. Miller to make the report available to the press and radio and T. V. stations. 3. At this time the City Council studied the matter of the sewer plant and water plant expanision programs and methods of financing the trunk line facilities to serve the industrial area. Mayor.Davidson read the following information regarding future growth of the State from the San Francisco Examiner: These early weeks of the new year of 1962 have been the best of all times for such a stocktaking. For this is the year when California becomes the most populous state in the Union. That single event dramatizes what we believe to be the overriding fact that Californians should keep always before them in the years ahead. It is . . . . . . bursting growth. Not normal growth. California has been growing faster than normal Not normal growth. California has been growing faster than normal for almost a half century. Nor yet accelerated growth. California has been growing at an accelerated rate ever since World War II. No, we literally mean bursting growth. Rushing, racing, spilling growth. Astonishing growth. Irrepressible growth. Growth that in a single generation will bring two Californians wherever one now stands. Today 16.7 million Californians. Just nine years from now, 21.6 million. In nineteen years, 28.2 million. In twenty -nine years, 37.6 million. Big numbers baffle. Let's think of it in the simpler terms of doubling everything around us in one generation - -twice as many houses, twice as many schools for the young; twice as many stroes and offices and plants for twice as many workers; twice as many automobiles crowding the streets and highways; twice as many people seaking refreshment of the spirit at seashores and parks and on mountain trails...... And do not let us forget, as we deal with these large numbers and dimensions, that we are talking about people -- -about ourselves, really, for most of us 16.7 million Californians of today will still be here to witness most of this growth. Let us think of it in terms of ourselves as, again casting our thoughts forward, we double.the five o'clock rush, double the distance we musttravel to reach the sweet smell of open country, double the collective wealth created by our minds and hands, double the range of opportunities.open to our children. Here, then, in bursting growth, is found the central fact of our time and place. It creates or underlies almost all of today's great municipal and State issues, from urban renewal to urban sprawl, from rapid transit to freeways, from school expansion to water supply, from protection of the threatened and treasured old to construction of the necessary but occasionally distrusted new. Those who fear the immense force of bursting growth will not be happy, but they should bring themselves to understand that it is inevitable and irreversible. ' Those who have understanding and no fear will see here a limit- less opportunity to impart to the.future all the vitality and rich variety of our free enterprise system. They will see a great challenge to build this future California with wisdom, so that it shall preserve its cherished heritage of outdoor living, of sparkling streams and clean skies, of urban parklands and untouchdd wilderness. On motion of Councilman Miller, seconded by Councilman Shipsey., the City use revenue bonds for financing the sewer plant expanision and water filtration plant construction. Motion carried. Mayor Davidson asked that the Council keep in mind the growth that will come to the City of San Luis Obispo in the future and that decisions made at this time would either accelerate or depress the future growth. He stated that he has studied this matter very completely and firmly believed that Trunk Line Plan A is the best for the future growth of the City and without this trunk line the City would grow, but it would be on a piecemeal basis which would-be very expensive as the cost would constantly go up and soon become economically unfeasible. Councilman Graves stated that he had originally thought Plan A of the Trunk Line Program would be best for the City, but after studying the matter fully, he felt that this plan did not consider any growth in the Los Osos area, Cuesta Area, and other potential growth areas in the City, and in the area covered by the General Plan. He also stated he did not like to place the trunk line facilities in an area that might not develop for many years. He further felt that this trunk line bond issue might hurt the sewer plan and water plant expansionp programs, and he believed more study should be given to this trunk line program in conjunction with water development for this area. Councilman-Shipsey stated that he agreed with the statement presented by Councilman Graves on this issue and further that no industry was planning to settle in this area for some time, and he believed industry should pay its own way for sewer and water development, and suggested that the City defer this trunk line program until a later date. Mayor Davidson asked the Council to consider what other small communities have done to encourage the settling of industry in their area, and his studies have shown industry must be encouraged to settle in an area by furnishing the basic utilities for their development. He also stated that he believed the City and this area was going to grow regardless of what the City Council did at this time, and the City Council would be faced with accelerated growth without adequate facilities to serve the area. ' Councilman Miller stated he, too, orginally thought trunk line plan A was the best of the trunk line programs presented for this industrial area, but he stated that he hasstudied this trunk line problem very seriously and honestly and he has determined that this trunk line is not needed, at this time, as we do not know what type of industry we are attempting to attract, and no plant may ever build in the area that this trunk line is proposed to serve. The reason- future industry that may locate here may use motor truck transportation instead of rail and, therefore, may locate adjacent to Highway 101. He also stated.that the construction of this trunk line in this area would justly be criticized by the public for extending utility services to areas outside the City, while areas in the City are still without adequate sewer facilities. Councilman Graves stated that if this trunk line were put into service in this area, it would mean that the City taxpayers would be required to pay for sewer trunk lines outside the City and if no industry hooked up, then the City might be required to place additional trunk lines wherever industry settled. Mr. Graves also stated that the Council should keep in mind that, along with sewer facilities, water service would be required at the same time as the sewers were put in. ' The City Council discussed the sewer trunk line facilities to serve the areas south and east of the City. Mayor Davidson stated for the Council's information that he does not own any property in the area to be served by the trunk line, nor does he have any interest in the property in the area. The City Council stated that they did not question his integrity or motives and respected his judgment and work on this program. On motion of Councilman Miller, seconded by Councilman Shipsey, that the scope of the sewer program be limited as follows: 1. Expansion of the sewer treatment.plant. 2. Construction of sewer trunk interceptor line from the intersection .. of Elks Lane and South Higuera to the sewer plant. Motion carried on the following vote: AYES: Miss Margaret M. McNeil, R. L. Graves, Jr., Donald Q..Miller Gerald W. Shipsey NOES: Clay P. Davidson ' ABSENT: None 4. At this time the City Council then took the discussion of the report of Paul Adamson, Consulting EnRineer,for construction of the new water treat- ment plant and transmission facilities for that plant. Mr. E. P. Thompson, Water Superintendent, reported to the City Council on conditions existing at the City's present filtration plant and the work necessary to rehabilitate this plant. Mr. Thompson briefly explained the location for the new plant and the easements that would be needed for the new transmission lines which are part of the new plant. Mr. Miller, Administrative Officer, reminded the City Council on the follow- ing points regarding financing of the plant. 1. Cal Poly's share of the construction. 2. Possibility of adding to the bond issue for rehabilitation of the old plant. 3. Maintenance and operation funds would be made available through the bond issue. By common consent of the Council it was decided to keep the rehabilitation of the present water filtration plant in mind, but not to include any specific amount of money in the bond issue for this purpose. Mayor Davidson recommended that the City Council adopt the proposed 8 M.G.D. plan and for the water superintendent to bring in a more complete cost estimate for the rehabilitation of the filtration plant for the Council's consideration. It was moved by Councilman Miller, seconded by Councilman Graves, that the City accept the 8 M.G.D. plan and the water superintendent bring in a more complete cost estimate for the rehabilitation of the filtration plant. Motion carried unanimously. Moved by Councilman Miller, seconded by Councilwoman McNeil that the City Attorney be authorized to inform the firm of O'Meiveny Myers to prepare a fbrmal contract for preparation of revenue bond procedures for the water ` ',and sewer plant expansion plan. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Davidson stated that he was disappointed with the Council's decision ' regarding the trunk line, but that it will take a lot of work by the City Council to sell the sewer and water program to the public, and he pledged to do all he could to bring this matter to a successful conclusion, and he would work whole - heartedly to work on this bond issue and hoped the Council would do the same. 5. Councilman Miller brought up the matter of the ownership of South Street, east from Broad Street lying between the Southern Counties Gas property to the Maino Construction property. After discussion with the staff the status of this street was still unknown and it was moved by Councilman Miller, seconded by Councilman Graves that the City order a preliminary title report on the ownership of this street. 6. Mayor Davidson asked that the City Council still consider placing a full Laguna Park Development on the June, 1962 ballot for a bond issue which might be included with the new proposal to acquire a cultrual center for the City of San Luis Obispo. Mr. Miller, Administrative Officer, asked the Council in these discussions regarding Laguna Park to keep in mind the annual deficit involved in maintenance of the park, which Fred Hector, the engineer who designed the park, estimated to be $50,000.00 per year. Mr. Miller asked the Council to consider at the same time as the bond issue a Charter Amendment to increase the Park and Recreation tax levy for park maintenance.