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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/22/19711 Pledge Roll Call Present City Staff .M:I:NUTES ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA February 22, 1971 - 7:30 P.M. CITY HALL Emmons Blake, Myron Graham, Donald Q. Miller, Arthur F. Spring, Kenneth E. Schwartz Present: R. D. Young, Planning Director; J. H. Fitzpatrick, City Clerk; H. Johnson, City Attorney; R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer; D. F. Romero, City Engineer; W. Flory, Park and Recreation Supervisor; E. L. Rodgers, Police Chief. 1. The City Council discussed a possible bus system. Robert E. Kennedy, President of Cal Poly, again reviewed for the City Council his meeting in Washington, D. C., with representatives of the Federal Transportation Agency regarding the acquisition of grant funds by the college and /or City for the initiation of a bus system to serve both. He then introduced members of a senior student study team who had been working this quarter on a project to prepare a feasibility study for a bus system to serve the college campus and student housing areas within the City of San Luis Obispo. The spokesman for the study team explained the procedures used by the students to arrive at their conclusions which was that a bus system was needed for the greater San Luis Obispo area including the college campus. The student project recommended that eight (8) forty -five (45) passenger diesel buses would be needed for the system at a cost of $235,000; term- inal facilities: land, $30,000; Pavement, $11,000 and buildings $25,000. The group felt that the buses would travel 210,000 miles annually at a cost of approximately $124,000 per year for operation. The student group also found in their survey that at least 3,400 students would use the bus on a minimum of one round trip per day, five days a week, at an estimated fare of 10¢ per trip. The revenue realized would be approximately $102,000 per year. The capital needs would be paid for by Federal grant but some local subsidy would be needed to help defray the annual deficit. President Kennedy stated that based on the preliminary studies of the senior students, he hoped that the City would consider using some of the funds derived from annexing the college and then the college could put some of its funds into projects that would benefit both the City and the college. Douglas Gerard, Executive Dean, reviewed with the'City Council the contents of a preliminary application for the purpose of establishing the eligibility of the applicant and the project and the availability of funds. He reviewed ' briefly each of the twelve sections of the preliminary application that must be completed for a grant. The Council discussed with him various points of the preliminary application. Councilman Spring stated that he was in favor of a mass transit or bus system for San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly but would need more information before he could approve a sign -up for Federal Funds and agree to support a deficit for the operation. City Council Minutes February 22, 1971 Page 2 Councilman Blake felt that a bus system was needed for both the City and the College. He felt that the preliminary studies made by the student group were excellent and further felt that the proposal by the College was a good one. Councilman Miller stated he would support the implementation of a tran- sit system for San Luis Obispo as proposed by Cal Poly as he had always ' urged that the City do so as he felt there was a desperate need for such service. He further felt that there were sufficient funds available for matching funds required by the local agency to implement the system and also sufficient funds were available to make up any operating deficit. He felt funds were available from the following sources without hurti.ng any other City.project: (1) a portion of the funds received through annexation of Cal Poly; (2) by inauguration of a sales tax on gasoline at the pump; (3) taxes on all utility billings. He stated further that he would urge the Council to apply for a grant so that the bus system could be initiated as rapidly as possible. Councilman Graham stated he too would support an application for pre- liminary transit system grant as he felt the bus system was needed in the community and he too congratulated the student team for the fine committee report. D. Gerard suggested that if the Council agreed with the concept of the college proposal, he would ask the Council to instruct the City staff to work with the College staff to prepare the preliminary application. Mayor Schwartz stated that he was convinced that there was a crying need for a mass transit system for the City and the College. He con- tinued he felt that the need was for a public owned system, adequately financed to acquire good equipment, proper routing and maintenance of a schedule that could be depended upon. He.felt the City should pro- ' ceed with the preliminary application for a grant of the U.M.T.A.A. of 1970 and further that properly organized and promoted, he felt the annual deficit could be very nominal and still amortize the bus equipment. R. D. Miller, Admin.istrative Officer, commented on the experience of California cities that operate transit systems as follows: "Of the more than 400 cities in California, only sixteen (16) were operating bus systems, according to the latest Controller's report. Most were losing money." R. D. Miller stated he felt the Council should be careful before pledg- ing funds from the City to the bus system because he felt the need was primarily for transportation for the college and to a lesser extent for the citizens of the City. Councilman Spring stated he would not vote for the system until he saw more concrete figures and also a demonstration of need for the citizens of the City. Mayor Schwartz suggested the Council should appoint a committee to work with the City staff and Cal Poly staff in preparing the preliminary application and the report to the Council with their recommendations. I The Council had no objections to this suggestion and the Mayor appointed himself and Councilman Blake as the committee members. 9:OO P.M. The Mayor called a recess 9:10 P.M. The City Council reconvened with all members present. City Council Minutes February 22, 1971 Page 3 2. R. D. Young, Planning Director, presented to the City Council the recommendations of the Planning Commission who had conducted two public hearings regarding house numbers and street name changes in accordance with the Master Street Numbering Plan. D. F. Romero, City Engineer, reviewed for the City Council the individual changes both to street numbers and names recommended by the Planning Commission using the base maps prepared for the Master Plan. The City Council set a public hearing for April 12, 1971 to consider street name changes and number changes only. 3. The City Council reviewed the six months' status of the 1970/71 Capital Improvement Program as prepared by R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer. The status report covered the first twenty -one items in the 1970/71 Capital Improvement Program. On motion of Councilman Blake, seconded by Councilman Graham, the meeting adjourned. APPROVED: March 15, 1971 1 1 ATRICK, CITY CLERK