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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/11/1971MINUTES ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA October 11, 1971 - 7:30 P.M. City Hall Pledge Roll Call Present: Emmons Blake, John C. Brown, Myron Graham, T. Keith Gurnee, Kenneth E. Schwartz City Staff Present: J. H. Fitzpatrick, City Clerk; R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer; D. F. Romero, City Engineer; A. J. Shaw, Jr., City Attorney, E. L. Rodgers, Police Chief; R. D. Young, Planning Director. 1. Council consideration of the Freeway Agreement with the State of Calif- ornia for construction of a section of Highway 1 betweendMarsh Street in San Luis Obispo and Pennington Creek (a portion through the City of San Luis Obispo). Mayor Schwartz reviewed for the public the events leading up to the meeting this evening for the Council to consider the agreement for freeway construction for a portion of Highway 1. He explained the public hearings that were held up to and through 1965 when the present proposed route was accepted by the City and.recommended to the Division of Highways for preparation of preliminary plans. He stated he felt the Council's action ' this evening could be (1) sign the agreement with the Division of Highways; (2) table any consideration of the agreement, which meant it could be reconsidered at some future date; or (3) take action to reject the agreement. E. Gregory, District Engineer with the Division of Highways, presented a brief review of the studies made by the Division of Highways in arriving at the approved route for Highway 1 from Marsh Street to Pennington Creek. He explained that the so- called freeway agreement only involved the City of San Luis Obispo when existing City streets were closed or changed due to the routing of a new freeway and in -so -far as the subject route was concerned, only a small stub street west of the Marsh - Higuera interchange was under consideration in the agreement. He stated the freeway agree- ment did not allow any changes in routing as the freeway route as presented had existed since 1965 when the City and County governments approved it. A. J. Shaw, City Attorney, upon question, stated that any action taken by the City Council relative to the signing of the freeway agreement would not be subject to referendum as the action was administrative and not legislative. D. F. Romero, City Engineer, stated that the reason for the need of a new freeway route for Highway 1 through the City of San Luis Obispo was due to the increase of traffic on Santa Rosa Street. He felt the traffic would be doubled by 1980. He also estimated that the traffic congestion on Santa Rosa Street and Foothill Boulevard would be intolerable by this date. He felt the only answer to this traffic problem was to follow the recommendation of the Division of Highways and allow Highway 1 to be diverted from Marsh / Higuera interchange to Pennington Creek. He recom- mended to the City Council that they sign the freeway agreement with the Division of Highways and proceed with the development of the freeway. Councilman Brown felt that if the City agreed to sign the freeway agree- ment, then the Division of Highways should be asked to make the route more attractive and more in the nature of a parkway through the use of a large amount of landscaping. City Council Minutes October 11, 1971 Page 2 Councilman Gurnee asked if the new freeway were built would the City have to assume the maintenance of Santa Rosa Street as a City street after the construction. Henry Case, Division of Highways, replied that after the new route was opened the existing route through the City would be relinqu•.ished for I City control. Councilman Blake reminded the Council and public that the purpose of the meeting was not to consider a new route for the Highway or a design for Highway 1 as these matters had already been determined at a public meeting and all that was being considered by the Council this evening was the signing of the freeway agreement involving the closing of exist- ing streets. The City Council received a communication from the Chamber of Commerce expressing Chamber support of the proposed route for Highway 1. The City Council also received a communication from Dr. C. Baring Farmer urging a negative vote on the freeway proposal in order to preserve. the Los Osos Valley in its present state. He asked the Council to consider the long range effects of its vote. Mayor Schwartz declared the public hearing open. Joe Greenberg asked if the City Council did not sign the agreement, could the Division of Highways move ahead with the new freeway construction anyway. A. J. Shaw, City Attorney, stated it was legally possible for the Division of Highways to proceed without an agreement, but that public I works policy was not to force freeways or freeway construction on cities and counties that did not wish it. Joe Greenberg asked for additional information on why the Marsh /Higuera interchange would be altered to accomodate the new Highway 1. D. F. Romero „ City Engineer, explained the proposed development of the Marsh /Higuera interchange. Joe Greenberg stated he was opposed to the development of a new freeway for Route 1 as he felt the new route would add traffic to the City rather than eliminate traffic. He also felt that the congestion on Foothill Boulevard would become intolerable but he felt the proposal was not a good one for the City. An alternate proposal shou•I:d be con- sidered that would better serve the tourist and the City. He urged the City not to adopt the plan. Larry Sousa was opposed to the freeway route due to the possible des- truction of the mountains between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay. He felt Los Osos Valley and the hills would be.of great use to the public for hiking, bicycle riding or horseback riding._ He then read a proposal which he felt would protect the hills of San Luis Obispo and Los Osos Valley for future generations. Mrs. Rose Barger stated she supported the proposal where it came into San Luis Obispo and felt that the design was good and urged the Council to sign the agreement. She also asked the City Council to protect the creeks in the City. Charles Dills opposed the new freeway route. He felt the route was a poor one. He was opposed to any attempt to bring growth to the City of San Luis Obispo as he felt that uncontrolled growth would be bad for the City. Enrico Bongio was opposed to the approval of the freeway agreement and hoped the City Council would not sign it. City Council Minutes October 11, 1971 Page 3 B. Holley opposed the proposal for Highway 1. He felt the plan would ruin the beautiful area in which.we live. He urged the Council not to sign the agreement. Alan Burkette opposed the development of the freeway in Los Osos Valley on the basis of the damage it would do.to the hills and the beautiful valley. He urged the City Council to.keep the areas around San Luis. Obispo open and ' clean for future generations.. Joan Rich, President of the League of Women Voters, stated that the League's official stand was opposed to the City Council signing the freeway agree- ment due to the potential.damage to.the environment of the City and possible ruination of open space.by construction of the freeway. She asked the Council not to sign.the. agreement. Bill Gatesby opposed the freeway development due to the possible damage to scenic and environmental.elements of San Luis Obispo. . Skip Kelly was opposed to the development of a new freeway and felt that the City should improve the existing route on Santa Rosa Street.to keep tourist traffic on the street so the local businessmen on Santa Rosa Street would not be hurt. He also felt the creeks of San Luis Obispo should be protected and he felt the new Higuera /Marsh interchange would.put much of San Luis Creek in that area under concrete which he felt was wrong. C. Maino felt the City should adopt the freeway agreement in order to con- struct a new route for Highway 1 and get the congestion off Santa Rosa Street and allow through traffic to bypass San Luis Obispo. He urged the City Council to adopt the freeway agreement for the good of the City. Glen Holstein, Chairman of Cal Poly Ecology Action, asked that the City ' Council take whatever action was necessary to protect the hills and open space surrounding the_City of San Luis,Obispo. He urged the Council not to sign the freeway agreement as he felt the .freeway would destroy the Valley surrounding San Luis Obispo. Miss Banshaw was opposed to the development of a freeway in Los Osos Valley and urged the City Council to protect.the environment. Bonnie Walters, SLO Zero Population Growth, urged.the City Council not to sign the agreement and further to find ways and means to stop the ever increasing automobile mania which requires more roadways each year to handle more cars. She urged the protection of the environment. Aryan Roest, President of the Morro Bay Audobon Society, opposed the pro- posed routing of the highway which would damage the natural ecology of the hil:is and the valley. Dan Stack supported the development of a new freeway from Morro.Bay to. Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo. He felt this highway was needed for growth and for transportation of.people from,one place to the other. He then pre- sented a statement in support of the freeway. Luther Petrano was opposed to the development of Highway 1 as suggested by the Division of Highways. ' George Williams was opposed to the Los Osos Valley Route for the freeway on the basis of damage it would cause. Neal Thorsten opposed the. freeway as.proposed. Alan Sindelar opposed the proposed route through Los .Osos Valley. 9:15 P.M. Mayor Schwartz declared a recess. 9:30 P.M. The meeting reconvened with all Council members present. City Council Minutes October 11, 1971 Page 4 Katherine Benoit was opposed to the new freeway or. any new route and felt that the City Council sho.u.la consider public transportation for students to avoid- the'congestion on Foothill Boulevard, California Boulevard, and Santa Rosa Street. Star Jenkins.objected to the City Council considering the proposed agree- ment without full approval of the citizens of the City. He felt that matters of this importance that would have a lasting effect on the community should be put to a vote of the people for their approval or rejection. Miss Carol Bodine asked the City Council not to sign the proposed agree- ment and not to approve any more freeways in and around the City of San Luis Obispo. She continued that she opposed all motor vehicles as they created smog.and she urged that the $16 million that was proposed to be spent on a new freeway be spent to develop a smog free internal combus- tion engine. She also urged the people to use public transportation rather than their private automobiles. Ed Chamberlain, Sierra Club, presented the following resolution for the Council's consideration: The Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club goes on record as opposing the presently proposed route for Highway No. 1 (From Pennington Creek to Madonna Road Interchange); and also opposing future construction of any major highway through Los Osos Valley Bruce Petroski was opposed to the development of more freeways in San Luis Obispo'due to the damage to the environment and the fact that it was not needed. Beverly•Tatem opposed the development of the freeway as she did not feel ' that the proposed routing would really alleviate traffic congestion on Santa Rosa Street and California Boulevard as the students, faculty and employees of Cal Poly would still have to get to the campus. Harry Woolpert opposed a freeway through or around the City of San Luis Obispo and urged the City Council to take whatever steps were necessary to preserve and protect all the peaks in the City and in the valleys. He felt better methods and plans could be developed that would allow the safe movement. of people without destroying the environment of the community.. He suggested that the simplest method would be to put.the matter of signing the agreement to a vote of the people. Linda Shore .opposed the freeway development in Los Osos Valley due to the damage she felt it would cause to the environment and ecology of the area. She suggested that rather than build a freeway, that the Division of High- ways make Santa Rosa a four -lane highway from Santa Rosa at Highway 101 to Highland Drive. Tommy Cox felt that since the original 1965- decision.to put the freeway in Los Osos Valley that the situation had changed and that freeway was not now needed. He felt that other..means were available to solve whatever traffic problems existed on Santa Rosa and Foothill Boulevard. Madeline Johnson opposed destruction of the.hills and valleys of San Luis Obispo County and was opposed to any new freeways in the area. Dr. Larry Field, Obispo Beautiful Association, was opposed to the, develop- ment of any freeway in the Los Osos Valley as he did not feel it was needed at this time and would.be a detriment to the Los Osos Valley and to Chorro Valley. Elsie Schmidt opposed the development of the freeway as proposed by the Division of Highways and urged the City Council -to reject the freeway agreement. City Council Minutes October 11, 1971 Page 5 Dr. George Harper, Obispo Beautiful Association, stated that the Board of Directors of the Association, wished to voice unanimous disapproval of any plan to.reroute Highway 1 through San Luis Obispo. Mr. William Leutz opposed any freeway plan that included an interchange on Foothill Boulevard which he felt would increase the traffic along Foothill Boulevard to an intolerable level. He also opposed the plans for construc- t tion of an interchange at Higuera /Marsh for 101 and 1 as he did not feel that what would be done would solve the problems of heavy traffic on Santa Rosa Street. Andrew Merriam opposed the basic route proposed for the freeway on the basis of damage to the environment and inefficient design. He presented for the Council's consideration sketches of other routes for Highway 1 through the City of San Luis Obispo rather than the Los Osos Valley route and suggested that the Council continue the matter so that alternate routes could be studied by the people of San Luis Obispo. Dr. Richard Kresia opposed the freeway route as designed by the Division of Highways. He also questioned the data presented by the Division of Highways in arriving at the criteria for the design of the proposed freeway. He also questioned the effect of the proposed freeway on San Luis Creek at the Marsh / Higuera interchange where 1500 feet of creek would be culverted or would be bridged by the freeway. He sincerely hoped that none of the work would be done in order to save the creek in this area which was presently very beautiful, wild and natural. Mildred Hagen opposed the development of a freeway through Los Osos Valley on the basis of the damage to the environment and she asked for protection of the ecology of the area. Liz Webre, Chairman of the Citizens to Save Our Valley, a group opposed to ' the development of a freeway through the Los Osos Valley, stated that the organization wished to keep the hills and valley pure and undeveloped and protect the environment for future generations. She also stated that her organization did not feel there was a need for this freeway development in Los Osos Valley. She urged that the Council vote no on the freeway agree- ment or put the matter on a special election ballot and let the people decide the issue. She presented the City Council with a petition signed by 2,725 people of which 1,728 were registered voters. Joan Buckley was opposed to the development of a freeway in Los Osos Valley and urged the City Council to listen to the people who had spoken on this subject. Richard Burke supported the proposal to build a freeway in Los Osos Valley. He felt it was a good design and would be needed by the time it would be constructed to handle the traffic around San Luis Obispo. Dorothy Riebel opposed the freeway as proposed for Los Osos Valley. She urged the City Council to reject the agreement. Robert Garing supported the development of the freeway. He felt it was a good plan and would relieve traffic congestion in San Luis Obispo. Dr. J. Jorgenson urged the City Council to be responsive to the people present at the meeting who were opposed to the development of a freeway in Los Osos Valley. He felt there had been no demonstrated need shown for this development. He "further felt that the,City of San Luis Obispo did not have any responsibility for helping tourists get through the City faster. He felt the City Council was responsible to the local people who were trying to protect the view and environment in which they had chosen to live. Douglas Cook opposed the development of the freeway due to its -spotential damage to the surrounding area. City Council Minutes October 11, 1971 Page 6 Loren Weiderman objected to the construction of a freeway in Los-Osos Valley on the basis of the detrimental effect it would have on wildlife if the freeway were built. He also felt that the new highway would bring smog and noise into a still pristine and rural area. He urged the Council to consider the effect of the fog on the area proposed for the new freeway and wondered if fog had been studied by the Division of Highways prior to their proposal. Jim Bean, County Contractors' Association, spoke in support of the pro- ' posed freeway development as a way for residents of Cambria, Cayucos, Morro Bay, etc. to come to San Luis Obispo easier for shopping, medical care and the various governmental services. He felt that ten years from now, the existing route would be intolerable and he felt the-.City Council could not stop growth but might slow it down. John Mason opposed the freeway development. Jim Alquist stated that he could support someisort of freeway through the City for Route 1 but was not sure that the Los Osos Valley route was the best solution.' John Harrington stated he would support the freeway as he felt it would help the community grow. Steve Overbey stated that he was in support of the freeway development and felt it was needed for the safe movement of persons and goods through the county. George Clucas opposed the new freeway development and felt the Council should not make a decision at this time but wait for all alternatives to be studied. Carlton Winslow opposed the development of the freeway in Los Osos Valley ' which he felt would be a disaster for the area and for the City, if the development were allowed to take place. Paul Landell suggested that rather than have a freeway go over Foothill Boulevard at O'Conner Way, that the freeway go under Foothill to lessen the physical impact from the surrounding properties. Steve Boyer objected to the new freeway route. He felt there were other places to put such a highway, for example, from Atascadero to then_ coast or from Paso Robles to the coast. Mayor Schwartz declared the public hearing closed at 11:40 P.M. D. F. Romero, City Engineer, commented as follows on some of the testimony presented during the hearing. He pointed out that the present route was adopted by the City Council and Planning Commission and that the Division of Highways had proceeded in good faith, expending many many hours in study and had cooperated fully with all City requests regarding details of design. The opponents to the freeway development have not presented a workable solution, thus, if the freeway construction is blocked, the congestion on City streets will continue with no prospect of relief.: The alternate of a freeway down Santa Rosa Street was the first alternate considered by Division of Highways in initial studies, and was rejected by both the Division of Highways and the City as providing the least traffic ' benefit with one of the highest costs. This alternate would also create serious displacement of businesses within the community and contribute to heavy congestion on Santa Rosa south of the.freeway. Of the alternatives considered, it was Mr. Romero's opinion that the adopted route through the Los Osos Valley presents the best compromise regarding traffic service and affect on the environment. City Council Minutes October 11, 1971 Page 7 Councilman Gurnee questioned the need for a freeway in Los Osos Valley.at this time to handle the tourist or through traffic. Also, he wondered if the new coastal protection legislation would allow the development of this type of highway in the coastal area. He questioned the statements in the environmental impact report prepared by the Division of Highways for Los Osos Valley freeway. He stated that he was opposed to the proposed development of the freeway in Los Osos Valley and he would vote against ' signing the agreement. Councilman Blake stated he would support the proposal for a freeway in Los Osos Valley as prepared by the Division of Highways in order to relieve the City streets of the developing traffic congestion. He continued that he felt that by the time the freeway was actually constructed, about 1980, and with normal City growth, that Santa Rosa would be impossible. He also felt that the citizens shouilld remember that this was only a short length of the fully proposed Highway 1. He stated he would support the Council signing of the agreement for the development of the freeway. Councilman Brown stated he would support the future development of a free- way in Los Osos Valley as he felt the route studies had been decided in 1965. He felt that the design of the Division of Highways would not affect or hurt the ecology or environment of the area and he would support the City Council signing the agreement. Councilman Graham agreed that Santa Rosa Street was getting more congested but did not feel this was sufficient reason to develop a freeway in Los Osos Valley. He also objected to making Highway 1 a freeway which to him was a high speed highway and urged that Highway 1 should be a parkway, fully landscaped and not developed for high speed. He felt that the proposed design was too severe and included too many overcrossings and interchanges in such a short distance. He felt some modification of the design could be worked out with the Division of Highways which would overcome some of ' the criticism of the citizens. He suggested the appointment of a citizens committee to work with the Division of Highways on a new design. Mayor Schwartz reminded the public that the Division of Highways had co- operated with the City Council and the Planning Commission on this routing and had been very cooperative in listening to the City's objections and had been very cooperative in making changes to the plan. He also felt that the freeway route was placed in Los Osos Valley as an alternative to the freeway route studies in the City due to the objections of the residents. He wondered what the City's responsibility was to the neighboring communities of Baywood Park, Morro Bay, etc. He continued that he did not feel the City would gain from the new freeway as he felt it was a poor choice of route and would not serve the traffic problems of the City of San Luis Obispo. He continued that he did not feel the City should sign the agreement at this time but that the City Council should study alternates within the City that would not only serve the citizens of San Luis Obispo but the traveling public as well. On motion of Councilman Gurnee, seconded by Mayor Schwartz, that the City Council reject signing the agreement for the Highway 1 freeway within the City. Councilman Gurnee felt Los Osos Valley route was wrong and the City Council ' should support the denial of the freeway agreement. Councilman Graham stated he would like to continue the matter for further study of alternates within the City. Councilman Blake felt the Council should sign the agreement so that the necessary steps could be taken to develop the route through Los Osos Valley. He urged the Council to vote against the motion and sign the freeway agreement. City Council Minutes October 11, 1971 Page 8 The motion carried on the following roll call vote: AYES: Myron Graham, T. Keith Gurnee, Kenneth E. Schwartz NOES: Emmons Blake, John C. Brown ABSENT: None 2. R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer, requested Council authority to fly the flags at City Hall at half mast in memory of E. Price Thompson, Water Director, and also requested permission to close City Hall from 2:00 to 3:00 P. M. on October 13 during the time of the funeral. On motion of Councilman Graham, seconded by Councilman Blake, the re- quest was approved. Motion carried. 3. R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer, reported that the Police Chief recommended that- low bid of Callahan Dodge be accepted to supply a police car for the City. On motion of Councilman Graham, seconded by Councilman Brown, the low bid was accepted. Motion carried. 4. Councilman Blake brought to the Council's attention the lack of en- forcement on zoning violations and use permit violations that he had pointed out to the Planning and Building Department several months ago. He stated the report of the Planning Department meant nothing if no action was taken to eliminate the violations. R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer, reminded the City Council that the zoning enforcement administrator had only been appointed in July and that with vacations, he was just getting his feet on the ground and was pre- paring his files to enforce the code on these violations. A. J. Shaw, City Attorney, stated he would be most happy to follow through on any complaints or enforcements requested by the Planning and Building Department. 5. The Council requested that the City Clerk again notify the State Senator of the continued opposition to the passage of A.B. 1098: Improved Retirement for Police and Fire Personnel. He was also asked to sendea similar letter to the Governor asking that he veto the bill if it passed the full Senate. 6. The City Council received a request from the Planning Commission for a joint meeting on October 19 to review a proposal to develop a recreational area at Camp San Luis Obispo. It was the common consent of the Council that the suggested date would be acceptable. 7. The City Council adjourned to executive session to discuss a personnel matter. 8. On motion of Councilman Blake, seconded by Councilman Brown, the meeting was adjourned. Motion carried. APPROVED: November 15, 1971 A. F PATRICK, CITY CLERK 1 1