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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/03/1982City Council Minutes Thursday, June 3, 1982 - 4:00 p.m. Page 2 supporting this approach to the bed tax. First and foremost, it would strengthen the General Fund and Capital Improvement Program by funding those projects out of a new source of revenue and releasing the City's General Fund and,Capital Improvement Fund for other, ongoing programs. Secondly, it did not tax the.residents but rather taxed the tourists who should rightfully assist in paying for the amenities they come to use and enjoy in San Luis Obispo. Thirdly, people come to this City for the amenities it offers and this tax would go towards increasing those amenities and also ensuring a significant economic resource of the City, the tourists. She felt the economic spin -off to all businesses and professional people, from the realization of those projects, would be an asset by strengthening the economic base of the community. She was also asking Council's support to review and analyze the feasibility of including new retail centers located in the city as part of the Business Improvement Area, or a special zone and to require that such businesses help support the costs of parking and other cultural and tourist related amenities in the downtown which attract both regional shoppers and tourists to the city. Further, she would recommend staff be directed to work with her to draft the necessary documents to place the bed tax increase on the November ballot. Councilman Settle stated he could.support the proposal as long as it was understood that the additional 3% bed tax monies would be earmarked for cultural facilities, and he would also ask the staff for additional review and analysis. Councilmembers Dovey and Dunin also agreed. After brief-discussion it was moved by Councilman-Settle; seconded by- Councilman Dunin, to support the proposal that the bed tax be increased from 6-to 9% with staff directed to work with the-Mayor to prepare necessary documents placing the bed tax increase on the November ballot. Motion carried on the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Settle, Dunin, Dovey, Griffin and Mayor Billig NOES: None ABSENT: None On motion of Councilman Griffin, seconded by Councilwoman Dovey, to direct staff to review and analyze the feasibility of including new retail centers located anywhere in the city as part of the BIA or a special assessment zone or area and to require that such new businesses help support the cost of parking and other cultural and tourist related amenities in the downtown. Motion carried on the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Griffin, Dovey, Dunin, Settle and Mayor Billig NOES: None ABSENT: None 1: 1982 -1983 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS Rudy Muravez, Finance Director, reviewed for the Council the budget revenue update and an overview of how the capital improvement projects were put together. He then diagramed for the Council percentages and amounts of monies from the various funds that went towards the CIP projects listed as follows: General Fund 55.5% $880;785.00 Library 2.5% 39,675.00 Parks 16.8% 266,616.00 Capital Outlay 25.2% 399,924.00 TOTAL 100.0% City Council Minutes Thursday, June 3, 1982 - 4:00 p.m. Page 3 He explained that the only new thing that had transpired since the budget had been submitted to the Council was that he had received revised 1982 -1983 estimates for the SB325 Transportation Development Act Funds which would increase the City's share by $53,830.00 for the Street Fund. 2. STREETS & SIDEWALKS Dave Romero, Public Services Director, then reviewed the management and budget policy (see pages B1O & B11 of the budget). This included the sidewalk installation and maintenance, 1) Reimbursable Sidewalk Construc- tion (new sidewalks); 2) Reimbursable Sidewalk Repairs (existing side- walks); 3) Nonreimbursable Sidewalk Reconstruction (property owner initiated); 4) Nonreimbursable Sidewalk Reconstruction (city- initiated projects); 5) Handicap Ramps; and 6) Streets and Sidewalks /Materials and Supplies /Concrete Mix. He also reviewed the policy statement for each and the action recommended for implementation of the policies requiring a capital improvement program expense of $120,000.00 ($50,000 being reimbursable) and an Operations and Maintenance expense of approximately $68,000 in 1982 -83 ($10,000 reimbursable). He also reviewed his memor- andum of May 3, 1982, regarding the Sidewalk Construction Program. He recommended general and specific priorities and a list of Construction Priorities. Councilwoman Dovey stated that she could support the priorities as listed. She felt the criteria was good as well as the general priori- ties. Councilman Griffin stated he did not have sufficient time to review the material and would request the Administrative Officer formally review and recommend a policy to the Council before the Council took formal action. Councilman Settle felt the criteria and general priorities were excel -. lent and would support them. Councilman Dunin stated that the document was good and could also support it. Paul Lanspery, Administrative Officer, felt the City had had an excel- lent program and that there were really very few deficiencies with the Sidewalk Installation and Maintenance Program. Mayor Billig felt the program had accomplished a lot but that a great deal of money was being spent on the sidewalk program and although these are reimbursable funds she did not-feel the 6% interest rate over a three year period was sufficient and would suggest raising it to be more realistic in this day of inflation. She also didn't feel that the same standards should apply in all areas. For instance, residential vs. hillside. She felt the criteria was excellent but would amend Sidewalk Program General Priorities number 8 to read ...all circulatory streets as "needed and appropriate ". And number 9 ...all other local streets as "needed and appropriate ". Councilman Dunin agreed with the Mayor, felt that the policies were too rigid and would like to see more emphasis for pavements instead of sidewalks. He would favor staff coming back with an amended policy and possible revision to the budgeted $50,000.00 for that program. Councilman Settle agreed that the interest rate should be adjusted and a different outline between hillside and residential but he would hold with the $50,000.00 for the sidewalk program. Councilwoman Dovey stated she would be willing to stay with the $50,000.00 proposed but would be favorable to discuss raising the interest rates. Councilman Dunin suggested a safety factor level be added to the prior- ity list to help prioritize. City Council Minutes Thursday, June 3, 1982 - 4:00 p.m. Page 4 Upon general consensus, Paul Lanspery, Administrative Officer, was directed to come back with an amended sidewalk priority list as dis- cussed today (5 -0). Mayor Billig suggested a demonstration project under the Beautification Program be made near the Mission Plaza from Monterey to Osos Streets. She stated a construction firm was available that could do the Mission style sidewalks for one -third of the cost and felt this would be a worthwhile project. Dave Romero, Public Services Director, explained that the engineering previously had been done and plans and specs drafted for a sidewalk improvement of Chorro Street from Higuera to Monterey during the Schwartz Council, and he felt that they could easily be modified. Upon general consensus Council agreed to consider putting the SB325 Fund ($53,830.00) into the Sidewalk Repair and Matching Fund Account for a total of $103,830.00 to be used toward either the Chorro Street Project from Monterey to Higuera Streets or Monterey, Osos to Mission and directing staff to come back with cost estimates and preliminary figures for both projects on Monterey from Chorro to Osos. (5 -0) Upon general consensus to leave street trees and landscaping sales tax funds budgeted for $20,000.00 but deleted the narrative following it. These funds not to be used until the demonstration program plans come back to the Council. (5 -0) City Council then discussed the priority list for traffic signals and after brief.discussion agreed with the first priority for the Tank.Farm Road installation with Patricia Drive at Foothill Blvd. as a possible second, and they would attempt to find an additional $70,000.00 in this year's budget for the installation of that signal. (5 -0) Upon general consensus Street and Sidewalk appropriations were concep- tually approved of $288,000.00 for gas tax funds and $348,830.00 under sales tax funds or federal revenue sharing funds. Paul Lanspery, Administrative Officer, then reviewed Management and Budget Policies (page B11 & page E -5). Upon general consensus Council agreed on the following: Under Mission Plaza (Nipomo phase) the $100,000.00 appropriation would be allocated elsewhere, with $75,000.00 to go toward flood control deficiency correc- tions and $25,000.00 to project contingencies providing the ballot measure to increase the bed tax from 6 to 9% is approved by the voters in November. Also, decided $25,000 would-be used for signal priorities. (4 -1). Total revenue sharing fund appropriations remained conceptually approved at $834,000.00. 5. CAPITAL OUTLAY FUND After brief discussion, and upon general consensus, the staff recommenda- tion be approved, appropriating $730,666.00 for Capital Outlay Fund. (5 -0) 6. UTILITIES Rudy Muravez, Finance Director, then reviewed the Management and Budget Reserve Policies (page B13). Councilman Griffin suggested an optimum amount as opposed to a minimum amount be used to work towards in the policy statement as he feels the 3% minimum has instead become the 3% standard. Upon general consensus Council agreed that next year's budget reflect and reaffirm the 3% used, but 1% to be revised with more accurate_ figures, establishing an optimum amount for next.year. (4 -1) City Council Minutes Thursday, June 3, 1982 - 4:00 p.m. Page 5 Councilman Dunin stated that as long as the utility tax was included he could not support the motion. Project Categories Rudy Muravez, Finance Director, then reviewed the overview of project categories. Public Utilities Water System Projects Dave Romero, Public Services Director, reviewed the Public Utilities Water System Projects (pages E7 & E8 of the budget). After brief discussion, Council conceptually approved the Municipal Water System proposed appropriations with the following changes: Item 2, Salinas Reservoir Dam Gates, $15,000.00, narrative to be deleted; Item 3, Hydroelectric Generator No. 2 for $10,000.00 was deleted entir- ely for a sub -total of project planning and feasibility and conceptual design of $55,000.00 and a total Water Fund appropriation in the amount of $545,000.00. Dave Romero then reviewed Public Utilities, the Municipal Water System. After brief discussion, and upon general consensus, Council agreed to total Sewer Fund appropriations in the amount of $1,266,500.00 with the following changes: Item 2 under Capital Repair and Replacement, Sewer Plant Maintenance and Improvements be increased by $50,000.00 for a total of $100,000.00 and Item 4, the Sewer Flusher Truck Replacement in the amount of $76,500.00 be deleted with $50,000.00 of it going to the Sewer Plant Maintenance and $26,500.00 be left for contingency reserve. (5 -0) Upon general consensus the Traffic Fund appropriation retained at $60,000.00. (5 -0) There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Billig adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m. to Monday, June 7, 1982, 12:10 p.m. Pamela Voges, Uy Clerk APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 7/6/82 ( v 1