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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/10/1976MINUTES ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO MONDAY, MAY 10, 1976 - 7:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL Pledge Roll Call PRESENT: Councilmen Petterson, Graham, Gurnee, Petterson and Mayor Schwartz ABSENT: None City Staff PRESENT: J.H. Fitzpatrick, City Clerk; D.F. Romero, Director of Public Services; Wayne Peterson, City Engineer 1. Reports on activities of standing Council Committees. City Council- men, members of various standing committees report on the activities to date: A. Area Planning Council Councilman Gurnee B. Traffic Committee Councilman Norris C. Tree Committee Councilman Graham D. Waterways Planning Board Councilman Petterson E. Whale Rock Commission Mayor Schwartz F. Zone 9 Advisory Committee Councilman Graham G. Water Advisory Board Mayor Schwartz H. Central Coast Criminal Justice Committee Councilman Norris I. Mass Transportation Committee Councilman Petterson ' J. County Office of Manpower Services Councilman Norris 2. Wayne Peterson, City Engineer, submitted a lengthy report to the City Council on studies to date on the relative merits of proposed overcrossing sites at either Orcutt Road or South Street extended. He stated they had made a comparison of the two overcrossings to determine which would stand the better chance of receiving financial assistance from the State Public Utilities Commission. As a result of this study, the staff felt that the Orcutt Road Crossing stood an excellent chance of receiving a high rating and therefore they recommended that the Council allocate funds for the completion of an initial study in presentation before the Public Utilities Commission next winter. If the Council wished, the staff could also represent the South Street Overcrossing but they did not feel that they could justify the crossing adequately before the P.U.C. and therefore did not recommend that the City go any further with review of that crossing unless additional new information became available. Paul Landell, from the Engineer's Department, then reviewed in detail the relative merits of the proposed overcrossing sites at Orcutt Road and /or South Street extended including cost estimates, construction plans, etc. and based on the facts considered, he recommended the following action to the City Council: 1. Prepare an application for financial participation by the P.U.C. in the construction of an overcrossing on Orcutt Road. This would probably cost the City about $3,000.00 which should be appropriated for the 1976/77 fiscal year as the hearings would be held in early 1977. 2. Adopt an alignment for the South Street Extension and acccurately define the necessary limits of needed right -of -way for both South Street and the Florence - Rachel connection. Right -of -way would then be obtained by dedication as a condition of adjacent development. City Council Minutes May 10, 1976 Page 2 3. If the City is interested in trying to obtain P.U.C. funding for the South Street overcrossing, an application should be prepared and sub- mitted at the same time as the Orcutt Road application. This would give us the true picture, that only the P.U.C. can.give, of the relative chances each project would have and how they would fit on the state- wide priority list. After discussion with the City staff, the City Council authorized the staff to prepare proposals to the P.U.C. on both.the South..Street Extension and the Orcutt Road proposed overcrossings. 3. The City Council considered revisions to the City's Tree Ordinance. D.F. Romero, Director of Public Services, submitted the Public Services Department and Tree Committee version of the tree ordinance and stated that the Park Department had been planting.the trees in-new subdivisions and planned developments utilizing funds deposited by the developer. This resulted in City forces conducting work or administering contracts which could more easily have been conducted by the developer. Therefore, the Public Services Department recommended a change in the Tree Ordinance whereby developers would be responsible for new tree planting, as had been the policy for a number of years in the past. He then reviewed provisions of his ordinance together with rewording to bring about changes in.the composi- tion of the Tree Committee to reflect recent - Council actions and due to the reorganization of the various City departments. Rob Strong, Director of Community Development, submitted for the Council's consideration the Community Development version of the revision of the Tree Ordinance. This revision reflected major changes, some clarification and some accommodations to the City's recent reorganization. The study represented many hours of work by the Community Development Department and the Public Services Department of over one year. He stated that the reason that there were two proposed revisions of the ordinance before the Council at this time instead of one (as the revision date is September 10, 1975), reflected the Tree Committee's thoughts directly and the Community Development Department did not feel that it accommodated the reorganization.of• the City's departments or the "permit.center "operation adequately. In general, the proposed ordinance made street tree planting a.requirement of major subdivisions, minor subdivisions and building permits and made it the applicant's responsibility to plant the trees. Also since the applica- tions were.processed primar.iliy by the Community Development Department, -this ordinance made it that department's responsibility for enforcing the planting requirements and processing tree removal requests for proposed development projects. He agreed that the Tree Committee played a part in preserving and protecting the quality of life in San Luis Obispo, but the Community Development Depart- ment felt only in true sense of an "advisory committee ", the Tree Committee should concentrate its efforts on formulating policy and leave admin- istration to the staff. He felt.that once the Tree Committee had firmly established its policies and standards for staff use, it should be inactive except on an appeal basis or when the staff felt inadequate to make a decision. Finally, he foresaw under the ordinance that tree planting and removal would be considered as part of the total design concept of the project at hand and not as an isolated independent permit requirement confronting an applicant. He supported the elimination of the Tree Committee in the ordinance or reducing their influence or input into daily operation as it was time consuming for staff. He felt the Tree Committee got too involved in the actual department operation in- checking each tree. He agreed that citizens should participate in government but they always want to.get into the actual administration. of the departments concerned. Councilman Graham, a member of the Tree Committee, spoke in support of the good affects of the Tree Committee in the City and felt that it should be continued and not turned over to just staff who did not have the sensitive feelings that the Tree Committee would have in approving or disapproving various individual tree problems. City Council Minutes May 10, 1976 Page 3 He then submitted the minutes of the March 22, 1976 Tree Committee meeting at which the Committee met and discussed the proposed changes to the Tree Ordinance as represented by both the Romero and Strong version. The Tree Committee's main concern was the proposal to dissolve the Tree Committee. The concensus of the three members present was that this Committee plays an important part as mediator to preserve, protect and maintain the quality of life and aesthetics of San Luis Obispo. The Tree Committee felt that citizen input, expertise and involvement were important factors-that helped to alleviate many of the problems that came up in this very sensitive area of tree regulation. The Committee felt there would be a general outcry from the many clubs and organizations that helped to instigate the Tree Committee and they strongly recommended to the City Council that the Tree Committee be maintained and remain as part of the City organization. Communication from Obispo Beautiful Association urging that the City Council retain the Citizens Tree Committee as they felt it was an important committee to enhance the quality of life of San Luis Obispo. Also a communication from the Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo urging the City Council.to keep the City Tree Committee intact as they felt it served a valuable function to allow citizens to take part in decisions that affected the beautification of the City. They felt that the City had many old, beautiful and historic trees that so easily could be eliminated if it weren't for a citizens watchdog committee.. Helen Drumm spoke in favor of the Council continuing the Tree Committee in order to protect the City'.s trees. "She felt.the.citizens committee was worth any delay in the development in the community in order to protect the quality of life of San Luis Obispo. Rose McKeen, a member of-the Tree Committee, spoke in support of continuing ' with the Tree Committee as a viable public representative of City Hall to present public input to the paid staff of the City, who were not too sensitive to the City's.quality of life. Dr. Howard Brown spoke in.support.of continuing the work'and responsibilities of the Tree Committee for improving and carrying the quality of life in San Luis Obispo. Wes Conner spoke in favor of continuing the activities of the Tree Committee as he felt this Committee served the people better than so- called paid professionals on the City staff. Councilman Petterson stated he would support an amendment of the Tree Ordinance as recommended by the Community Development Department and he felt the Tree Committee should continue but only act in.advisory matters and should establish criteria for guidance of the City staff and present more initiative on develop- ment. Councilman Graham felt the Tree Committee.should' meet with the City Staff and redefine ordinance amendments for Council.consideration, particularly the relationship between the City Staff and the Tree Committee. Councilman Gurnee would support amendments to the Tree Ordinance but he also felt that some public input should be allowed by having a strong Tree Committee overseeing the activities of the staff. ' Councilman Norris stated he too was in support of a strong Tree Committee to establish criteria, handle appeals, etc., but that the staff should be held responsible for the daily`dperation and enforcement of the City's Tree Ordinance in order to pinpoint responsibility. Mayor Schwartz would support the Public Services Proposal for amendment to the Tree Ordinance. He would support the Community Development Department as the department for enforcing of tree permits, etc. He also felt that the staff should be responsible for enforcement of the City's rules and regulations but that the citizens committee could serve the people of San Luis Obispo in an advisory role and interpret the wishes and desires of the citizen better than it could be handled by the staff. City Council Minutes May 10, 1976 Page 4 The two ordinance proposals for amendment to the Tree Regulations were referred to the Community Development and Public Services Departments to come up with one proposal after consultation with the Tree Committee. 9:30 p.m. Mayor Schwartz declared a recess. 9:45 p.m. The meeting reconvened with all Councilmen present. 4. J.H. Fitzpatrick, City Administrative Officer, presented for the Council's consideration Travel Guidelines for the City of San Luis Obispo which would establish policy in regard to out -of -town trips on City business, meetings and conferences of City personnel. There was a lack of current City travel policy which had allowed personnel to take _ trips at City expense without any guidelines for reimbursement and to what extent. Therefore, he asked the City Council to adopt the Travel Guidelines as part of the Personnel Manual now being prepared by the Administrative Office and was asking that this item be adopted ahead of the Personnel Manual so that there could be some guidelines for guidance of Personnel going on trips, etc. On motion of Councilman Gurnee,.seconded by Councilman Petterson, the City Council adopt the Guidelines as presented by the Acting Administrative Officer. Motion carried,'Councilman Norris voting no. 5. The City Council considered the Legislative Bulletin from the League of_California Cities dated May 7, 1976. By common consent, the City Council supported Senate Bill 2000, Property Tax Relief Proposals which would principally benefit the low and moderate income homeowners and renters and oppose Senate Bill 1674 which would reduce local government revenues by $114 million. 6. The City Council considered the appointment of an interim City Attorney and requested that the City Administrative Officer contact local legal firms who have shown an interest with the following limitations: A. Attendance at Council meetings would be required; B. Attendance at Planning Commission meetings would not be required on a regular basis but would only be required on call or for some emergency; C. The Attorney would be on hand 3 or 4 hours per week for consultation; D. The contract Attorney would be expected to handle all legal matters except water, bonding, condemnation, and personal injury defense work; and E. The contract would be on a six months basis with office, library, and secretarial services available at City Hall. On motion of Councilman Gurnee, seconded by Councilman Graham, the meeting adjourned. Motion carried. _ Approved: NOVEMBER 16, 1976 H. Fitzpatrick, City Clerk 1 1 L