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
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