HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/12/1976MINUTES
Rob .Strong,.Community_Development - Director, reviewed -for the - City - Council
the.objections_of the Tolosa-Section, A.I.A., to-the revised grading.ordinance
stating.that.after personally going.,over..these.with..the architect's representative
Mr. Merriam, Subcommittee Chairman,.:they agreed that most of.the.objections
were covered in.the.staff changes.
The City Council then reviewed the - proposed ordinance on a page by page
basis asking.for public input as they went along.
Mike_.DeNeve ,..representing.- the_County.- Building .Contractors_Association, .
.took part-in the discussion with the City-Council as did.A.G. Merriam,
Architect.representing the.Tolosa,Section of_..the A.I.A.
After .discussion . and_review.of -- the.- proposed.grading ordinance,.- .the..City
.staff was directed by. the .City_Council_.to.correct.the ordinance.revisions
as discussed by.the City..Council,...the._ public- .and..staff..this..evening and
' bring back a final.draft for the City Council's consideration at their
meeting._of.February 2, 1976.
3. Councilman Gurnee .brought to.the Council's attention-the fact
that over 1 -1/2 years.,ago the-City Council approved a- .significant. - increase
- in.the.rates to_the� customers- of.Cable TV and that prior to the rate
..increase, the..Council_was.on.the receiving end of many a complaint regard-
ing quality of.Cable service. As part of the overall rate increase allowed
by the City Council that the money was to be used to pay for improvements
that would lead to better service, acquiring a new station, and to meet
ADJOURNED MEETING_ OF. THE . CITY. COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN.LUIS.OBISPO
MONDAY.;_JANUARY 12,..1976 - 7:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL-
Pledge
Roll.Call
.PRESENT:.
Councilmen.Gurnee,.Graham; Norris,..Petterson
and Mayor Schwartz
ABSENT: None
City Staff
... .
PRESENT:. R.D.. Miller, Administrative.Officer; J.H. Fitzpatrick,
City Clerk; A.J. Shaw, City Attorney;.D.F. Romero,
Director-of Public.Services.; Rob-Strong, Director of
Community Development; Wayne Peterson, City Engineer;
E.L.•Rodgers, Police Chief
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1.
Councilmen-reported on-activities of standing Council Committees:
A.. Area-Planning Council '. Councilman Gurnee
B.. Solid Waste Mayor Schwartz
C. Traffic Committee . Councilman.Norris
D: Tree Committee Councilman Graham
E. - .Waterways Planning Board . Councilman Petterson
F. .Whale Rock Commission Mayor Schwartz
G.. .Zone 9.Advisory.Committee. Councilman Graham
H... Water.Advisory Board Mayor Schwartz
I.- Central Coast Criminal Councilman Norris
Justice Committee
.J.
Mass - ..Transportation : .Councilman:Petterson"
K.- County Office of Manpower Councilman Norris
Services
.2.A
The City.Council.again reviewed -the revised grading.ordinance
.continued.from.the
meetings.of October 22, 1975,.November.11, 1975 and
January 5,
1976.
Rob .Strong,.Community_Development - Director, reviewed -for the - City - Council
the.objections_of the Tolosa-Section, A.I.A., to-the revised grading.ordinance
stating.that.after personally going.,over..these.with..the architect's representative
Mr. Merriam, Subcommittee Chairman,.:they agreed that most of.the.objections
were covered in.the.staff changes.
The City Council then reviewed the - proposed ordinance on a page by page
basis asking.for public input as they went along.
Mike_.DeNeve ,..representing.- the_County.- Building .Contractors_Association, .
.took part-in the discussion with the City-Council as did.A.G. Merriam,
Architect.representing the.Tolosa,Section of_..the A.I.A.
After .discussion . and_review.of -- the.- proposed.grading ordinance,.- .the..City
.staff was directed by. the .City_Council_.to.correct.the ordinance.revisions
as discussed by.the City..Council,...the._ public- .and..staff..this..evening and
' bring back a final.draft for the City Council's consideration at their
meeting._of.February 2, 1976.
3. Councilman Gurnee .brought to.the Council's attention-the fact
that over 1 -1/2 years.,ago the-City Council approved a- .significant. - increase
- in.the.rates to_the� customers- of.Cable TV and that prior to the rate
..increase, the..Council_was.on.the receiving end of many a complaint regard-
ing quality of.Cable service. As part of the overall rate increase allowed
by the City Council that the money was to be used to pay for improvements
that would lead to better service, acquiring a new station, and to meet
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JANUARY 12, 1976
PAGE 2
inflation. Councilman Gurnee said, yet, to his dismay and on behalf of
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the rate paying subscribers, it appeared that the quality of cable service
have gotten worse instead of better. He felt that there was a total loss
will
of a broadcast station, sound garbling and noisy static, snow, ghosting,
and otherwise inconsistent picture quality have become the rule rather than
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the exception. Also, Station RTVU from the Bay Area, promised by CCCC to
be on line by September, 1975, was still not on the channel.
service
Further, as he read the City -Cable franchise - the prescribed quality
'
performance standards to be required by the franchisee and that there were
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provisions for severance of the franchise, etc. It was his suggestion that
the City Council should hold a public hearing in February to review the
ers
Cable TV franchise, to get input from the public and allow the franchisee
to present its reasons for its failures to render a quality service to its
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subscribers and also to obtain the station it promised to have in the
City by September, 1975.
service provided by CCCC and the Microwave Transmission Corporation;
Secondly, he suggested in the interim before the hearing, the City
Council should retain an independent qualified professional on a short -
term basis to evaluate cable service as to its degree of conformance
to the technical performance standards set forth in the City's franchise.
Finally, as a.result of the public hearing and the findings of the techni-
cal expert, the City Council could consider a wide range of options, as
follows:
1. Severance of the franchise with CCCC and soliciting bids from other
companies;
2.
Give
notice that unless quality of service improves, the CCCC franchise
will
not be renewed by the City at its expiration in 1978;
3.
Roll
back subscription rates to their pre- August, 1974, level until
service
is improved and the new station.is on line;
'
4.
Roll
back subscription rates and require CCCC to rebate to its subscrib-
ers
the amount collected since August, 1974, due to the rate increase;
5.
File
a letter or a complaint with FCC regarding the poor quality of
service provided by CCCC and the Microwave Transmission Corporation;
6. If impossible to improve service, require CCCC to communicate to all
its subscribers that the best service they will get is lousy service
and it can't get any better, instead of touting the "high quality
service" offered by CCCC; and finally, the City could
7. Do nothing.
Art Hapgood, General Manager of the Southern Division of CATV, asked that
before the City Council took any action, they should first determine in
their opinion that there is a problem that has not been adequately explained
to the City. It was the opinion of CCCC through a series of progress reports
June 18, August 4, and October 7 to Richard D. Miller, Administrative
Officer, that CCCC had been trying to do the job and work with the
Microwave Transmission Corporation. Further, in mid -fall, a general
letter was mailed to all subscribers advising them of the work being
done, its nature, its consequences and the fact that until the work has
been completed, there would be additional outages. He then explained '
the problems involved between CCCC, the local cable company, and the
Microwave Transmission Corporation as follows:
1. To move the initial pick -up site closer to Los Angeles; and
2. To change the microwave frequencies on their main line from Ojai to
Cuesta Peak.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JANUARY 12, 1976
PAGE 3
Further, the delay in.getting Channel 2; KTW , to San Luis Obispo was
explained in the letter to the City Council on.October 17 stating that
the construction work had not been completed. Finally, Art Hapgood
reported on the construction work being done by both CCCC and Microwave
Transmission Corporation and also.to let the City Council know that the
progress reports had been made on a regular basis through the City's
Administrator to advise the Council that the subscribers have been
advised of the problems, further, to advise the City Council that the
cable company has employed a private consulting fam to evaluate the
microwave system, to advise the City Council that Channel 2 is now up
_and should be on line as soon as the microwave company completes their
leg, and further to advise the Council that the entire San Luis Obispo
system will be rebuilt and should be rewired-starting January 14, 1976,
and finally, to answer any questions the City Council may have.
The City Council discussed with the representative from the cable company
the problems involved in getting these.-new systems on line and the matter
was continued for further progress reports from Art Hapgood on behalf of
CCCC.
4. Memorandum from William Flory,-Park and Recreation Director,
recommending that the City Council consider $150.00 per dwelling unit
constructed.or placed in the City temporarily in lieu of present park land
dedication ordinance. This matter was.continued from the December 15, 1975
meeting.
Also, a memorandum from Rob Strong,.Director _ of..Community Development,
asking-Council consideration regarding.park.and recreation facilities,
General.Plan Revisions, considerations.of implementing methods, continued
from December.15, 1975.
J.H. Fitzpatrick, City Clerk,.submitted a summary memo on this matter
to the- City_Council stating-that-at the December.15; 1975 Council: meeting,
the City Council took the following action:
1.-. Continue-consideration to January 12,.1976`with
2. City- Staff (Strong)-:to--develop recommendations-on-:$150 per dwelling
unit construction tax.to ultimately supercede for supplement the Quimby
.Act provisions. Report to include what - average fees have been:tunning;
(high, low, etc.):
3. Contractor'.s.Association and-other-public representatives--ought-to be
invited.to Study Sessions prior to-recommendations being made to the
City-Council.
As of January 12, 1976, no-written report.on recommendations had been
received from staff.and.the Contractor's Association had_inot been contacted
for input.---Therefore, the City Clerk suggested that:the matter.-be.continued
to another.City Council - Study Session- after.the Council, Contractor's
Association representatives and general public had.an opportunity to.,study
the staff report.
Rob•:Strong, Director of-Community Development.,::stated he had no-written
report on this matter but.he had -in:.hand..certain drafts..and. notes -on-a
proposal that.he would. like to.make'- to.the-City Council.if they were_inter-
ested.•in,his feelings: If not, the.matter should be continued for input and
' discussion with.interested parties as suggested by the City Clerk.
It was- common-. consent-,,.of the- City_ Council:. that:_ without:- the information
in -hand, and without::prior input -from affected individuals_that.the matter
be continued.until after consultation with the Contractor's Association,
builders, etc.
B -1 The City Council considered the -bid received for furnishing
and installing a public address system in the City Council Chamber and
Hearing Rbbm in accordance with plans and specifications of the City,
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JANUARY 12, 1976
PAGE 4
of San Luis Obispo. One.bid received:. Hallikainen and Friends, Inc.;
$15,613.09...Engineer's Estimate, $10,000.00
Richard D..Miller, Administrative Officer,.presented a report the City
Council from -David Williamson, Assistant..Administrative Officer,..stating
that.Section.1210 of the City.Charter authorized.the.City_Council to
reject all:bids and to adopt by 4 /5..vote_a resolution.permitting work
to be done.by_the City's own employees.if estimates.approved by the
City Administrative Officer established the work.could be..done better or
more economically. Since the bid received from Hallikainen-and Friends
was considerably higher than the Engineer's estimate and -the budgeted
amounts, it.was recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution
rejecting.all bids. The principal reason for the bid being higher than
the Engineer's estimate; was that the bidder proposed equipment that was
quite a bit more sophisticated and expensive than called for in the
Engineer's specifications. The Electrical Engineer.Mr. Dickey had.gotten
together -with the bidder, Hallikainen and Friends, Inc., and the revised
..estimate for..the proposed work vas as..follows:. Bid total, instead of
$15,613.09, the new bid total would be $11,392.23. The equipment deleted
would be remote gain control,.remote_.control, and-the wireless microphone.
The - engineer did not recommend purchase of a time clock, recorder clock
and microphone.and use indicator at this.time. This equipment.was' not an
essential part of the system and they were -all features that could be
purchased at a later date:
R. Dickey,.Consulting Engineer,.recommended _ that.the planned installation
of.the City Council - Chamber public address system as follows: _ 1) accept
the basic revised bid of $11,392.23; -2) include two "Sure" microphones for
a total of $90.00; 3) include a wireless.microphone, $700.00; making a
total bid.of $12,182.23. He also recommended that the completion date be
extended to compensate for delay in acting -on this item.
Mr. Romero stated.that.his_cursory examination of-the.-specifications this
evening indicated areas.where substantial.cost savings..could:.be made.in
insurance requirements, bonds, and prevailing.wage rates, without a reduction
in the quality of the - original.project.. He requested permission for Mr. Dickey,
and the contractor and himself to review possible areas where the contract could
be modified in.order to reduce costs, without reducing the finished product.
On motion of Councilman Petterson, seconded by Councilman Gurnee, that the
Director of Public Services, Mr. Dickey and the contractor.be authorized to
review and reduce the costs when possible.on items included in the public
address system contract: Motion carried.
B -2 J.H. Fitzpatrick, City Clerk, reported on the following
bids received for supplying 5 motor vehicles to the City as.per adver-
tised specifications.
.Chief Rodgers, Police .Department,.recommended.that the City.Council
accept the low.bids of.Mission Pontiac.and, further,.that.the City
Council authorize_the.purchase of an additional patrol car in lieu of
the station wagon under Item 3. It was the Police Department's exper-
ience that the station wagon-had not lived up to- its.expectations, was
..a -very expensive piece-:.of equipment_and.that.the Police Department would
be better.served with an additional patrol unit. Further, Mission Pontiac
stated -that.they would-bid an additional patrol car for Item 3 under the
same conditions as Item I with a $500.trade= in.for..a net-of $3,658.42.
On motion of-Councilman-Petterson, seconded by Councilman Norris that the
low bid of Mission Pontiac be accepted including the.substitution of.a
sedan for.the.station wagon in Item 3 with the same cost as Item I.. Motion
carried.
The City.Council..adjourned to Executive Session.
On.motion:of._Councilman Petterson, seconded.by_Councilman Graham, the
Council adjourned to 12:10 p.m., Tuesday, January 13, 1976. Motion carried.
Approved: July 19, 1976
F zpatrick, City Clerk
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