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
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ATRICK, CITY CLERK