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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/06/1978City Council Minutes November 6, 1978 Page 2 After some discussion,.the following policy was adopted: "The newsletter shouldn't be used for council.members to "make news"- - that it shouldn't include original statements.by council members. Where council members' positions are necessary for a story, they should be summarized from the public record and may include council vote on issues." 2. Councilman Allen Settle, presented for the council's consideration, the appointment of a group of citizens to a Laguna Lake Project proposal which would broaden the scope of the project to include the drainage basin with primary emphasis on Laguna Lake to make it more appealing to agencies that grant funds to the City Council. He requested that the City Council author- ize 1) formation of an interagency task force 2) assign appropriate city staff to participate and direct the project. He,suggested that the task force consist of federal agencies such as the Corps of Engineers, Department of Agricultrue, the Soil Conservation Service, and the Resource Conservation & Development Service. State agencies to include the Department of Fish and Game, Water Quality Control Board, the Office of Planning & Research, and Cal Trans. Local agencies to be represented by the City of San Luis Obispo, the County of San Luis Obispo, and the newly formed Coastal.San Luis Resource Conservation District. He felt that the City Council should direct the task force to inventory problems, define the various laws, code standards and agency roles related to the use and /or development of land and water resources in the Laguna Lake area, and to determine which agencies have control or management responsibilities and which agencies have data, planning, or development programs and funding programs for such a project. He felt.the City Council should determine the extent of the city's commitment to the project and that a management program scope of work from Laguna Lake ' Ad -Hoc Committee should be included and the objective of the project would be long range management of Laguna Lake as a resource and to seek grant funds for planned development and implementation. Foster•Gruber; representing the Ad -Hoc Citizens' Committee, stated that the report submitted by his group recommending improvements at-taguna Lake which he felt was still a viable report and he objected to another study by a consul- tant to do the same work over again. Councilman Dunin suggested that the City Council reactivate the Ad -Hoc Citizens' Committee for Laguna Lake, continue with research grants, etc. before appoint- ing a new committee. He felt they should make use of the list of agencies submitted by Councilman Settle and his task force in order to make available expertise. Councilman Petterson stated that as far as he.was concerned, that until the council decided to put some public funds into development of the lake, nothing should be done; and at that time the council could proceed with grant applica- tions. Councilman Jorgensen agreed.with Councilman Petterson's statement that no additional committees should be appointed until the City Council themselves decide to proceed with public funds to begin.development. ' Mayor Schwartz stated that he could not see appointing a new committee until the council was ready to begin development. At that time the City Council should proceed with the master plan and E.I.R. and look into grants for aid from federal, state, or other local agencies. Mayor Schwartz suggested that Councilman Settle's proposal be tabled at this time and request the staff to review the Merriam report on the scope of the survey for Laguna Lake and see about updating the scope and establishing priorities for development. The City Council accepted, by consensus, the Mayor's suggestion; and that the staff consider Councilman Settle's proposal for an Ad -Hoc Committee at the time Laguna Lake approaches the financial stage. City Council Minutes November 6, 1978 Page 3 3. D.F. Romero, Director of Public--Services, presented a report to the City Council regarding a possible change to the street widening policy to require a property owner to dedicate only half of.the total widening at any particular location. He stated that he and Wayne Peterson were directed to report back on the financial implications of this policy. D.F. Romero continued that Wayne Peterson's report shows that the change in policy would cost over $600,000 for already adopted setback line streets, considering today's land values. In addition, he stated that there a number of other streets (Madonna Road, Los Osos Valley Road, Tank Farm Road, Prado Road, Monterey Street, etc.) which might well be included in a future street widening program. Considering these streets, the policy change might well cost the city well in excess of a million dollars. With greater and greater expenditure for transit, bicycle lanes, free parking, landscaping, and special sidewalks, there is less and less money available for street widening. Therefore, the city must stretch their funds to the greatest extent possible if they ever hope to achieve progress toward meeting street widening needs. It was D.F. Romero and Wayne Peterson's recommendation that the city not change the street widening policy where widening is not required equally on.both sides of the street. The City Council discussed with -both D.E. Romero and Wayne Peterson the effect of the council's proposal on street widening changes. On motion of Councilman Petterson, seconded by Councilman Jorgensen, that the City Council accept the staff recommendation and not change the street widening policy at this.time.. Motion carried on the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmen Petterson, Jorgensen, and Settle NOES: Councilman Dunin and Mayor Schwartz ABSENT:- • .,Noneb:k.- The City Council referred the existing street widening policy and ordinances to the City Attorney, George Thacher, for his review. 4. At this time the City Council considered alternatives for channel improvements on the Dr. Baring Farmer property, between Chorro Street, Broad Street, 101 Highway and San Luis Creek. Wayne Peterson stated that Dr. Farmer had .offered the city to set back his building and dedicate a right -of -way along the creek to provide for future creek widening. The council had requested the staff to analyze the offer. Mr. Peterson stated that the staff recommends the council accept the applicants offer of dedication of creek right -of =way to provide for a walled solution in the future and the voluntary setback from that wall of ten feet, to allow for its construction at some future date. He then submitted for the council's information, a report summarizing the estimated values of the various portions of the property and the costs of construction of improvements to channelize the .creek on Dr. Farmer's side of the creek. Wayne Peterson stated that Alternate A - Natural (sloped) Channel, with the city.purchasing_the.title property, would be in the magnitude of $108;400. The total cost of widening to sloped channel would be $69,700. Alternate B - Concrete Block Retaining Wall, 14 feet high with right -of -way dedicated by the applicant, the cost would be approximately $71,500. Alternate C - Rubble Wall, with right -of -way dedicated by the applicant, and an approximate cost of $109,000. After review of a rather complicated report, the City Council held a long dis- cussion with staff and the developer's representatives on the implication of the proposal on the city if they were to accept this project, particularly if the city would be expected to construct the verticle wall at some future time; and what the value and trade -off would be for the city: Also, the key would ha the timin f th g o e need to install the wall and the cost.