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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/22/1981FA M I N U T E S ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1981 - 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 990 PALM STREET SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA STUDY SESSION ROLL.CALL Councilmembers Present: GlennaDeane Dovey, Ron Dunin, Robert Griffin, Allen Settle and Mayor Melanie C. Billig Absent: None City Staff Present: Bill Hanley, Interim Administrative Officer; Pamela Voges City Clerk; Henry Engen, Community Development Director; Terry Sanville, Senior Planner; Wayne Peterson, City Engineer; Dave Romero, Public Services Director; Geoff Grote, Legal Assistant E -1. PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTMENT (DUNIN /BILLIG) After brief discussion it was moved by Councilman Dunin, seconded by Councilman Settle, to appoint Patrick Gerety to the City Planning Com- mission to fill recent unexpired term of Sid Findley, term to expire 6/30/83. Motion carried, all ayes. 1. DENIAL OF EIR APPEAL - WARNER Council considered a resolution denying an appeal of the Community Dev- elopment Director's determination that a General Plan Amendment (GP 0951) establishing a precise boundary between housing and office areas on a portion of Santa Rosa Street would not have a significant effect on the environment. After brief discussion it was moved by Councilwoman Dovey, seconded by Councilman Settle, that the following resolution be introduced: Reso- lution No. 4622 (1981 Series), a resolution of the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo denying an appeal by Richard Warner of the Community Development Director's determination that the General Plan Amendment establishing a precise boundary between housing and office areas would not have a significant affect on the environment. Passed and adopted on the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Dovey, Settle, Dunin, Griffin and Mayor Billig NOES: None ABSENT: None 2. CIRCULATION ELEMENT Council considered the Draft Circulation Element of the General Plan (continued from 7/14/81). Terry Sanville, Senior Planner; stated that on August 10 the City Council talked about the Draft Circulation Element. The Council focused on the questions listed in the discussion guide provided on pages 31 through 34 of the Council Report. The Council completed their action City Council Minutes September 22, 1981 - 7:00 p.m. Page 2 on the first five sections of the discussion guide, and the meeting was continued. He recommended that the Council resume their action on the issues listed in the discussion guide beginning with section #6 -- The Master Plan of Streets and Highways., He stated that if the Council completed their review of section #6, other issues raised in the Plan- ning staff report should be addressed also. Mayor Billig asked the Council for their general overall philosophical comments about what the City should be like in 20 years and what are the individual Councilmembers' goals for the City before getting into the actual discussion guide. Councilman Dunin stated that he would like to see the following: 1) would like traffic to go around the downtown to as great a degree as possible. The people are trying to get to Cal Poly; they should be directed to bypass the downtown and to traverse surrounding streets, 3) widening of certain streets. He was not sure to what degree he would like to see future streets widened, although, he felt that cars would continue to be a major mode of transportation. They may be slowed down a bit because of gas expense but they would still remain. He would like to see people discouraged from traveling the downtown streets, slowing traffic on Higuera Street; maybe having a shuttle, like a little electric car running 4 -6 mph. available in the downtown area, 4) he would like to see the Orcutt overpass addressed by the City as soon as possible. He felt that this was extremely dangerous and that we have been lucky thus far, 5) he felt that the Laguna Lake area had been created "via satelite" and as it is only connected by Madonna Road to the rest of the City, he .would like to see in the future that land use considered in that area be extended to neighbor- hood shopping center and other extended uses. Ideally., he would like to see people who traveled to the City from the outlying areas be able to park their car downtown and then do most of their traveling by foot the rest of the day. Councilwoman Dovey stated that she would first like to see goals set that the City wished to achieve and then decide how to do them. Her priorities would be: 1) to reduce the use of the automobile as a mode of transportation, 2) eliminate arterial streets through neighborhoods, 3) accommodate the bicycle users by suppling them with safe paths, 4) have convenient circulation of traffic, 5) encourage public transit and car pools, and 6) provide convenient and safe pedestrian routes throughout the City. She would like to deliniate or redefine arterial streets as those which move people from one area of City to another as opposed to local streets which are for people who live in the neigh- borhoods. Councilman Settle stated that he felt the Circulation Element was fairly well detailed. He did add that he felt that the automobile was here to stay, and the City should find ways to accommodate it but not to exclude transit in other forms, such as bikes, etc. He would like to see added protection to the neighborhoods by moving the arterial streets away from them; Orcutt and Broad; Santa Barbara /South /into Osos; deemphasize any widening of Broad fron South into the downtown. He would support turning Buchon Street into a two -way street and would like to relink Pacific Street; possibly connect Johnson Avenue with South Street; Madonna Road as it relates to Calle Joaquin and maybe use Calle Joaquin as a frontage road linking to Highway 101. He felt staff was particularily on target with their signalization efforts. Councilman Griffin stated he: 1) Felt there was a very close and direct connection between land -use policies and circulation and would like to see this strongly carried through the Circulation Element, 2) would like to see more connections on-.the detailed narrative and goal statement for the goal statement list, 3) was interested in slow- ing down the traffic, particularily in the neighborhoods; felt it should be diverted from the downtown, and 4) felt the City was-locking itself into past decisions. He did not wish to perpetuate it by using street improvements to create needs. City Council. Minutes September 22, 1981 - 7:00..p.m... Page 3 Councilman Dunin agreed with Mr. Griffin stating that .we should get away from the past and get with the future. He suggested bringing back the possibility of bypassing the downtown area by rerouting Highway 1. Better signing was also suggested. Councilman Settle cautioned rerouting Highway l as it could have a ser- ious effect on the business community downtown and concentrate efforts on the Laguna Lake.and Edna area as the growth inducing areas. ' Mayor Billig stated she would hope that in 20 years the City of San Luis Obispo would still be the same small town with the same slow pace relative to other cities. She would like to see continued the quiet family- orientated neighborhoods with an intimate downtwon. As part of making the downtown intimate, she suggested slowing up the traffic in the downtown area with the addition of more benches and trees, giving ,a welcoming effect to people coming to the downtown area. She would take a multi -mode approach with more emphasis on pedestrians, . bikes, van pooling and car pooling. One goal should be the reduction of the automobile wherever possible with a strong commitment to con- tinue with the promotion of the bus system, not to exclude mopeds, etc. Safety should be an extremely important goal with the downtown and the neighborhoods. We should be slowing down the traffic in the commun- ity. To maintain an intimate downtown, we must bypass the downtown area but must be very careful as many of the older neighborhoods are on the periphery. She supported the Santa Barbara /Osos approach. She felt staff had been.very sensitive to this and appreciated it. Her primary concern is "about people" where they work, where they live, and where their businesses are. She wants the city to continue to be open- minded, innovative and creative. 6. Master Plan of Streets a. Should the City widen any major streets in the future to improve traffic flow? There was much discussion on this issue. Councilwoman Dovey stated if any streets were to be widened at all, they should only be the major arterial streets. Councilman Settle said yes, referring to his earlier comments where he mentioned Los Osos Valley Road connection, etc. Councilman Griffin agreed with Councilwoman Dovey maybe for only des- ignated thorough fares. Councilman Dunin stated that he would have to answer no, because if you were going to slow traffic in the neighborhoods and the downtown, you have no choice but to widen some other streets. Mayor Billig: "Widen only as needed as last resort and then only arterial or major streets." Councilwoman Dovey stated she would like to take the approach of vis- ualizing the best and working towards it as a goal. She would have to answer no to question (a), and, therefore, she would also say no to (b), should the Circulation Element identify future street widening projects. She did not feel that they should by name as it would hamstring staff and future councils. Dave Romero, Public Services Director, recommended that the Council adopt a plan that does specify streets as it helps city staff deal with devel- opments on these major streets. Councilman Settle agreed with Mr. Romero's comments to identify the major arterial streets. He felt this was a good planning tool. There was general discussion on the definition of arterial and collector streets. City Council Minutes September 22, 1981 - 7:00 p.m. Page 4 Terry Sanville, Senior - Planner, suggested that maybe they reword item (a) reflecting that the widening of thorough fares and major arterial streets be done only after the demand and criteria sufficiently show it to be necessary. The Circulation Element does designate which streets are major now and which ones will be in the future. Wayne Peterson, City Engineer, stated that he supported a 20 -year plan. He felt it was necessary in order to set up priorities through the CIP rather than try to foresee it at a later date. He felt that it was poor planning to wait until the streets were already overloaded before trying to determine mitigating measure. Upon general consensus the answer to question (a) Should the City widen any major streets in the future to improve traffic flow? Yes (4 -1) b. Should the Circulation Element identify future street widening pro- jects? If yes, should these projects be prioritized? No (5 -0) C. Should the Circulation Element establish criteria for determining the need for street widening projects? Yes (5 -0) d. Should the Circulation Element include a map which shows the func- tional classification of city streets (e.g. local, collector, art- erial, etc.)? Yes (5 -0) Councilwoman Dovey suggested using colors to delineate the major from the minor arterial streets. e. Should the Circulation Element contain design standards for all types of city streets? Yes (5 -0) At 8:30 p.m. Mayor Billig declared a recess. At 8:45 p.m. City Council reconvened, all Councilmembers present. f. Should the city work with the county to develop and mutually adopt street standards to apply within the city's urban reserve? Yes (5 -0) g. Should the city adopt official plan lines for all streets shown on the Circulation Element map ?. Yes (5 -0) There was considerable discussion regarding criteria. Wayne Peterson, City Engineer, explained that criteria (e) was an over- kill as it did not allow flexibility for the Council or the staff.to widen streets in the future as the overload on any street would have to be so extreme before widening would be allowed that the chances were slim to none that this would ever occur. Councilman Griffin suggested that staff develop a two -stage criteria that would enable Council to be made aware as the problem develops. h. Should the Circulation Element contain a map which shows emergency evacuation routes? Yes (5 -0) Council asked that.it be cross reference with some of the other: elements. i. Should the city.- require - that:;special public hearings be held and- --- - public notice be..given, before the.. decision -to initiate a- street widening projecv"is made? Yes (5 -0) j. Should stop signs and traffic signals be used to disperse traffic through existing neighborhoods rather than concentrate it on art- erial streets? No (5 -0) k. Should the Santa Rosa -Santa Barbara project be completely dropped and be replaced with improvements to the Osos -Santa Barbara Street intersection? Yes (5 -0) City Council Minutes September 22, 1981 - 7:00 p.m. Page 5 1. Should the Circulation Element map include Prado Road as an arterial street between Higuera Street and Edna Road? After brief discussion it was decided to.amend the question to read "Should the Circulation Element map include Prado Road as a itf¢itil collector . street between Higuera Street and Edna Road ?" Yes (5 -0) M. Should the Circulation Element include the Highway 1 bypass project ' as a low- priority alternate? After brief discussion that question was amended to read "Should the .Circulation Element exclude the Highway 1 bypass project as a prior- ity." No DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR STREET PROJECTS A. PRIORITY GROUP 1 1. Chorro Street Operational Improvements a. Problem Statement: The traffic capacity of Chorro Street in the downtown is being reduced. Lanes are being blocked by cars making turns or pulling into or out of curbside parking spaces. As a result, traffic congestion has increased. b. Recommended Solution: Chorro Street would remain as a main access route to the downtown from the northwest. Curbside parking should be removed on both sides of Chorro Street from the freeway to Marsh Street. Left -hand turn pockets should be created at Monterey, Marsh, Higuera, Pacific and Pismo Streets. After brief discussion and upon general consensus, Council concurred with staff recommendation with the amendment that the curbside parking be removed on both sides of Chorro from Lincoln to Marsh Street. 2. Higuera Street Widening a. Problem Statement: Higuera Street is too narrow to handle the number of cars that currently want to use it. Traffic congestion will increase if the city continues to grow. The lanes are too narrow to provide for safe driving. b. Recommended Solution: Higuera Street should be widened between Marsh Street and Madonna Road. The overall right - of -way should be 80 feet although further design studies may recommend alternative street widths. After brief discussion Council concurred with the recommended solution (5 -0). 3. Higuera- Pismo -High Street Intersection a. Problem Statement: This intersection is poorly designed. There are too many streets coming together at one location. The intersection is confusing to use. Fixing it will im- prove traffic flow on Higuera Street. b. Recommended Design Solution: Redesign the intersection so that two lanes of traffic can enter Higuera Street going south. Between Higuera and Beebee Streets, High Street should become a one -way street heading east. Westbound traffic on High would be rerouted down Beebee Street. After brief discussion Council directed that if Buchon was changed to a two -way street, staff to report back on various alternatives for Higuera and High Streets. City Council Minutes September 22, 1981 - 7:00 p.m. Page 6 C. PRIORITY GROUP 3 14. Downtown Bypass Routes a'. Problem Statement: A lot of through traffic between the northeast and southwest parts of the city goes through the downtown. For the foreseeable future, Pismo and Buchon Streets can handle this traffic and will remain one -way two -lane streets. But, as the city and region grow, the downtown could become clogged by this traffic. To avoid overloading downtown streets and keep northeast- south- west.traffic flowing smoothly, the city might need to add travel lanes or develop new routes bypassing the down- town. After brief disucssion it was determined to leave Pismo as a one -way street as it is presently and turning Buchon Street into a two -way local residential street (5 -0) for a six -month period to test this approach and resolve this issue for city and neighborhood. There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor_ Billig adjourned the meeting at 10:05 p.m. to Tuesday, September 29, 1981, 7:00 p.m., to discuss continuation of the Edna -Islay project. - r 1,2. a " amela Voges, C' Clerk APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 10/27/81 D M I N U T E S ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1981 - 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 990 PALM STREET SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA STUDY SESSION PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Councilmembers Present: GlennaDeane Dovey, Ron Dunin, Robert Griffin, Allen Settle and Melanie C. Billig Absent: None City Staff Present: Bill Hanley, Interim Administrative Officer; Pam Voges, City Clerk; Henry Engen, Community Development Director; Wayne Peterson, City Engineer; Richard Minor, Fire Chief; Geoff Grote, Legal Assistant; Terry Sanville, Senior Planner 1. EDNA -ISLAY SPECIFIC PLAN Council continued its review of the Edna -Islay Specific Plan (continued from 8/11 and 8/31).