HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/03/1979City Council Minutes
December 3, 1979 - 12:10 p.m.
Page 2
Administrative Assistant; Henry Engen, Community Development
Director; Terry Sanville, Senior Planner; D.F. Romero, Public
Services Director; Wayne Peterson, City Engineer; Tom Stewart,
Technical Services Coordinator.
1. Henry Engen, Community Development Director, presented for the City
Council's consideration the Advanced Planning Work Program for the fiscal
year 1979/1980. He stated that in August of 1979, the City Council received
his preliminary work program for the advanced planning project. The program
was referred to the Planning Commission for their comments which were
forwarded in time for the joint meeting on September 17, 1979. No final action
had been taken by the council; and the purpose of this request was to update
the work program and obtain council review and action thereon.
Henry Engen then reviewed the original project schedule as of August, 1979.
He stated that the following were on -going projects:
A. Open Space Element
B. Downtown Goals Statement
C. Circulation Element
D. Zoning Regulations
E. Edna -Islay Specific Plan
F. Mission Plaza Project
G. Historic Element
H. Zone 9 Drainage Master Plan
He stated that the following were new projects as of August, 1979:
A. Housing Programs
B. Parks Master Plan
C. Subdivision Regulations
The following were optional projects in August, 1979:
A. Growth - Management Ordinance
B. Scenic- Highways.Element
C. Energy Conservation Element
Henry Engen added that as of November, 1979, the following projects have
been added.which were not shown on the august priority list.
A. Downtown Housing Conservation
B. 1980 Census
C. Whalerock Fishing Program
D. Cultural Center Plan
E. Sewer Service Plan
F. Block Grant Applications
G. Energy Conservation Programs
H. Circulation Programs
He then concluded by giving the progress to date on.the various programs:
1. Open Space Element - sent to the Planning Commission in July
2. Downtown Goals Statement - adopted by the City Council in October
3. Circulation Element - draft report completed,.EIR to be completed
in January, 1980
4. Zoning Regulations - draft report completed, Planning Commission to
begin study and workshops on the draft ordinance
5. Edna.: -Islay Specific Plan - complete, EIR to be published in January,
1980
6. .Mission Plaza.Project - EIR has been completed, contract with consul-
tant has been signed for design
7. Historic Element - comments have been received from the Old Town
Neighborhood Association and no further work has been done on the
project
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December 3, 1979 - 12:10 p.m.
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8. Zone 9 Drainage Master.Plan - county has received.and certified the
EIR for this master plan and the council will be considering the
plan sometime in May or June of 1980
9. Housing.Programs - most of the programs have been completed
10. Parks Master Plan - staff interview committee will review consultant
proposals in December
11. Subdivision Regulations - city attorney has completed his review
of the draft regulations, staff to refine draft regulations and
send them on to the Planning Commission for scheduling or public
hearing
12. Growth Management Ordinance - in response to a request by the C.A.C.
earlier this year, a draft growth management ordinance was prepared,
the council has requested that this be brought back for review
13. Scenic Highways Element - no work has been done
14. Energy Conservarion Program - no work has been done to date
15. Downtown Housing Conservation Program - staff has prepared a block
grant application and the council has approved the preapplication
and sent it to HUD
16. Whalerock Fishing Program - draft fishing program has been prepared
by the consultant and hearings will be held sometime in January
17. Sewer Service Plan - has been completed for the city and surrounding
areas
18. Condominium Conversion Ordinance - council adopted ordinance on
November 20, 1979
On motion of Councilman Bond, seconded by Councilwoman Billig, the City
Council to accept and approve the work program as proposed and authorize
the staff to proceed.
Motion carried on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Bond, Billig; Dunin, and Mayor Cooper
INOES: None
ABSENT: Councilman Jorgensen
2. Lee Walton, City Administrative Officer, presented a report on
C.I.P. Preparation Policy and changes.for.the council's consideration.
One of the questions brought out by the City Council was, "What equipment
should be included in the C.I.P. ?"
Mr. Walton stated that past policy had been to include all equipment over
$5,000, which is not listed in the equipment fund. After reviewing what
has been happening the last several years,.the committee felt that $5,000
was not a high enough figure and would tend to clutter C.I.P. with miscell-
aneous equipment requests. Therefore, the committee recommeded that a
$10,000 figure be the minimum amount listed in the C.I.P. project for
both new and replacement equipment.
There were also questions about minor improvements wherein the committee
recommended that maintenance and improvement projects costing less then
$10,000 not be included as a separate C.I.P. item. Rather, several of
these projects, where appropriate, could be lumped togther as one C.I.P.
item. This is an adoption of the deficiency list concept to such things
as minor park improvements or landscaping projects. However, projects which
' cost $10,000 or more would continue to be included in the C.I.P. as separate
items.
Mr. Walton stated that the committee also discussed what projects are capitol
projects as contrasted to deficiency list projects. He continued that
current policy was to appropriate money for general correction of defici-
encies in flood control, street, water, and sewer systems. This money is
then allocated to specific projects on a deficiency list according to
priority and opportunity. Because of.council objection last Spring, the
committee had requested that all projects of deficiencies over $50,000 be
City Council Minutes
December 3, 1979 - 12:10 p.m.
Page 4
shown as an individual project in the C.I.P. proposal.. This would mean
that a $60,000 storm drain would appear in the C.I.P. as a separate project
and the general flood control deficiency correction would be reduced.
The rational.behind this procedure removes a - discretionary allocation of
funds for larger, more complicated projects. It also forces larger projects
to be considered on their own merits. The argument against this procedure
is that it reduced flexibility.needed to meet changing priority and
opportunities. This is especially important where an important, high
priority, project costs more.than was budgeted for; if it is part of a
deficiency list then additional money allocated to that list may be used.
The last question discussed was,... "What.changes should be made in last
year's C.I.P. format ?"
Lee Walton.then reviewed with the council various changes made or proposed
to be made in the new format for the C.I.P. He stated that by merging
various forms into one, with the sources of funding cited in a single column
for easier understanding and reading. Finally, he stated that he would
also propose to list all projects considered but not recommended in a
separate section which would be appended to the C.I.P. This would help
make the C.I.P.• document a more complete review of the capitol improvement
budget process. Any individual or group with questions or concerns about
this process would be able to determine just which projects had been con-
sidered. He concluded that the staff had attempted to remove small or minor
items, some of which are more properly considered operating expenses, from
the C.I.P. so as to.provide the council- with a document which more accurately
reflects the major capitol improvements for the comming years. Secondly,
he stated the staff had attempted to provide more accountability by remov-
ing large projects from the obscurity of deficiency lists. He hoped that
the City Council would decide these policy questions.before mid - December
which would help the staff to draw the C.I.P. together on schedule for
submission to the Planning Commission and Citizens' Advisory Committee for
their recommendation.
Councilman Dunin stated that he felt the deficiency list should be continued
for sewer, water, and drainage. He felt that since the inception of the
deficiency list, more and more has been done in the area of small projects
that seem to get lost in the.main C.I.P. when competing with large, major
construction.
Dave Romero, Public Services Director, spoke in-support of .continuing
the deficiency list for sewer, streets, water, drainage, and parks in order
to be able to prioritize small, independent projects.
On motion of Councilman Dunin, seconded by Councilman Bond, that the
recommendations of the administrative officer be accepted but that the
staff continue with deficiency listings for street, sewer, water, drainage,
etc.
Motion carried on the following roll.call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Dunin, Bond, Billig, and Mayor Cooper
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ABSENT: Councilman Jorgensen
3. Wayne Peterson, City Engineer, stated that the staff has been con-
sidering proposed alignments for the improvement of Los Osos Valley Road
as properties adjacent to it develop in the area east of Madonna Road.
The subdivisions built in the past installed a frontage road along Los
Osos Road separated from it by a line of old palm trees. He continued
that the engineering staff went to the Tree Committee requesting that
they be allowed to plant new trees in a different alignment so that in
the future when.Los Osos.Road is.improved, the palm trees can be removed
and-Los Osos.Road.located closer.to the_frontage.road than is possible
with the present palm trees. He stated that the Tree Committee denied the
request.
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City Council Minutes:
December-3, 1979 - 12:10 p.m.
Page 5
He continued-that he wanted to inform the council of that decision and also
let them know of the potential consequences:of that decision to the city.
He stated that in order to protect the palm trees they must locate Los
Osos Valley Road southerly-of its present alignment by- approximately nine
additional feet. This would result'in an.additional nine foot of right -of-
way required along the southerly side.of the road. The plan line, as proposed,
calls for a 25 -foot widening if the palm trees are to be removed and a
34 -foot widening if they are not to be removed. In either case, there is
a substantial amount of right -of -way necessary to allow for the completion
of this road. He asked that the City Council review this and if the city
needs an additional nine feet of right -of -way to save the palm trees seems
appropriate to the council, than the city should go ahead on that basis.
If not, than he, as City Engineer, would suggest that the City Council
reject the Tree Committee decision and authorize the staff to proceed with
the least expensive plan.
Lee Walton, City Administrative Officer, stated that he was inclined to
disagree with the Tree Committee's decision perhaps because he is not a
palm tree fan. He felt it would be better for the city to develop a new
alignment with a different type of tree, particularly since it would have
time to mature before removing the palm trees. He recommended that the
City Council approve the lesser width standard.
On motion.of Councilman Dunin, seconded by Councilwoman Billig, that the
City Council approve the staff's recommendation-and-ultimately remove the
palm trees when the street is widened.
Motion carried on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Dunin, Billig, Bond, and Mayor Cooper
NOES: None
' ABSENT: Councilman Jorgensen
4. Lee Walton, City Administrative Officer, brought to the council's
attention that the Employees' Association was having a Christmas Dinner
and he would like to recommend that the city contribute something to help
offset the cost to the Employees' Association. He recommended $400.
On motion of Mayor Cooper, seconded by Councilman Dunin, that the city
appropriate $400 to the Employees' Association for their Christmas party.
Motion carried on the following roll call vote: - -
AYES: Mayor Cooper, Councilmembers Dunin, Billig, and Bond
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilman Jorgensen
5. Councilmember Billig brought to the council's attention her
attempting to develop a Historical Preservation Conference in the City
of San Luis Obispo which would encourage the refurbishment of older
downtown areas. She stated that she has received much encouragement from
the B.I.A., and community members from all walks of life. She had asked
Cal Poly to provide the necessary space for a one -day seminar on January 26,
1980 if it was possible to co- sponsor. She continued that she had also made
tentative arrangements for four specialists to make presentations on that
date. She felt the total seminar cost, including speakers, would be
approximately $500. She stated that each person attending would have to
pay a registration fee to help defray some of the cost and including the
meal cost. She hoped the City Council would support any minor deficits
in the program.
On motion of Councilman Dunin, seconded by Councilman Bond, the City Council
stated they would underwrite the seminar and encourage Councilwoman Billig
to proceed as'they felt this was a good program for this community. Motion
carried, Councilman Jorgensen absent.