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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/23/1984City Council Minutes Monday, April 23, 1984 — 12:10 p.m. Page 2 Absent: None City Staff Present: Paul Lanspery, Administrative Officer; Roger Picquet, City Attorney;'Pamela Voges, City Clerk; Toby Ross, Community Development Director; Wayne Peterson, City Engineer; Mike Doldet, Fire Chief.;-Ann Crossey, Personnel Director; Roger Neuman; Police Chief; Dave Romero; Public Works Director; Terry Sanville, Principal Planner; John Dryden and Pete Hom from Cal Trans 1. LOS OSOS VALLEY ROAD EXTENSION (539) Council reviewed a report for the extension of the Los Osos Valley Road Project," which would connect South Higuera with Highway 101, and considered a request by staff to continue with the planning, design and development of the project. ' Paul Lanspery, Administrative Officer, gave a brief .overview of the project. Dave Romero, Public Works Director, presented a lengthy report on the history of the proposed overcrossing and suggestions for the various designs since its inception in 1962. Wayne Peterson, City Engineer, reviewed the engineering aspects, design and funding, as well as a review of the actual bridge configuration. John Dryden, from Cal Trans, reported on the State's involvement and the cooperation of all agencies in bringing the project along. ' Mike Dolder, Fire Chief, reviewed the public safety factors and the importance of the time response which would be considerably less if this extension were approved. This would obviously be beneficial for both-police and fire personnel in getting to this section of town, primarily for Fire Stations 1 & 4. The freeway access would be providing an additional offramp, rather than only the current Madonna Road offramp that is used now. Toby Ross; Community Development Director, reviewed the environmental process, and the concerns that were raised during the public testimony portion, those being primarily noise and trucks. He stated that the Los Verdes residents who would be affected by this area would become.involved throughout the design phase of the roadway. Each of the concerns presented by those residents had been reviewed and alternatives suggested- For noise, it would be primarily addressing the individual houses rather than a large buffer. 'With regard to the large trucks, signing would be used to route them in another direction. Dave Romero then gave a lengthy review of the 3 alternatives, including the alternative of'no alternative and the positive -and negative impact of each. The unanimous recommendation by staff was Council's support of the project to proceed with final design and construction as it would then-meet the project objectives which would be the 4— minutes fire response available to the city residential and commercial areas south of Prado Road, police response improved to the southern sector as Highway 101 could be used from ' the north and Los Osos Valley Road used from the west. Residents from the South Higuera Street area could access Madonna Road-Plaza using Los Osos Valley Road and Madonna Road and access points north via Highway.-101. It could incrementally reduce traffic on the Madonna Road freeway interchange and the northern end of Madonna Road. Bicyclists could use Los Osos Valley Road to reach Higuera Street. Pedestrians could cross the freeway, children could more easily reach schools west of the freeway using various forms of transportation and the city could integrate 3 bus-routes for improved service to the area. The feasibility of its implementation was high. No additional light— of— way,wbuld be required to-extend Los Osos-Valley Road City Council Minutes Monday, April 23, 1984 - 12:10 p.m. Page 3 west of Higuera Street as it was already constructed to its ultimate width. The project is included in the State Transportation Improvement Plan and part of the San Luis Obispo County Regional Transportation Plan. Federal funding is available through 1986 to pay for the City's portion. Environmental review by affected State.and Federal agencies is nearing completion and the design of the modified interchange, bridge crossing the creek and road extension was proceeding. Staff was requesting that Council support authorization for the continuation of the planning, design and development of the road extension and bridge project with direction to staff to bring back plans and specifications for the project. Councilman Griffin stated he was not prepared to support the recommended action at today's meeting. Primarily, he was concerned with the timing of the project and would like to see staff review the impact of delaying the project, researching the question of rescheduling the timing of this particular project, not only in terms of cost but also the participation of other agencies. He had been supportive of the project at a conceptual ;, level for the past 2� years, however, he had grave misgivings about the: project to go ahead at this time.. He would.like to again review the , - priorities that might be available to the city for other projects; including looking at the Emergency Response Plan. Any other funding alternatives would also be helpful. He was concerned that the flooding issue of this area also be reviewed by staff. Councilwoman Dovey suggested that other alternatives for a, crossing be given review. In particular she would like to see an alternative that., would not include the freeway being a part of the crossing, but rather just a connection from Los Osos Valley Road to the South Higuera area, for purposes of emergency vehicles and possibly bus use only. She still felt that there were several questions with regard to the interchange having negative impacts that had not yet been addressed. It was too.much•of a. band -aid approach, she would like to take:a look at the way this would affect the entire city, and would therefore not be able to support it at this time. ' Mayor Billig also would like to see the other priorities that might be. available for FAU funding.. Councilman Settle felt that the project was good, that it had been in the works for 20 years, that the biggest concern that the city had was for the public safety, emergency response and traffic circulation. He felt this would help relieve the Madonna Road traffic problems, and also be an opportunity�to use State money, which we would not be able to do with the other alternatives.. He was afraid that this.was being looked at as a growth inducement issue which it should not be. He was strongly in support of the project and would urge Council.'s.support as well. Councilman Dunin felt.that this had been in front of various_ Councils for 20 years, and has always been a high safety and traffic circulation priority. He felt it would be a grave mistake to abandon the project at this time. He felt that this was a hidden way to preclude development, if the Council did not support it. He would hope that the rest of the councilmembers would give staff clear direction as to what exactly they were opposed to with the'project in order that this project could be gone ahead.with.at the earliest stage. Councilman Griffin moved to refer the proposed project to staff to: 1) develop and analyze FAU priorities;,2) analyze feasibility implications of postponing the project; 3) develop alternatives for reducing emergency response time to the South Higuera area and 4) proceed with plans and. specifications but without any obligation on behalf of the Council.. Motion died for lack of a second. After discussion it was moved by Councilman Settle, seconded by Councilman Dunin to: 1) develop and analyze FAU priorities; 2) analyze the feasibility of the implications of postponing the project; 3)'develop alternatives for reducing emergency response time to the South Higuera area; 4) authorize staff to prepare plans and specifications on the basis that the difference fl 1 1 City Council Minutes Monday, April 23, 1984 - 12:10 p.m. Page 4 in time and cost was,not significant and without:Council obligation and 5) staff to prepare projections of growth impact implications. Motion failed on the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Settle and Dunin NOES: Councilmembers Dovey, Griffin and Mayor Billig . ABSENT: None After discussion, the City Attorney was directed to report back on the financial implications of postponing the project (5 -0). 2:00 p.m. Councilman Dunin left the meeting... On motion of Councilman Griffin, seconded by Councilwoman Dovey, that the project be deferred until Council could review the city's Five -Year Capital Facilities Plan. Motion passed on the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Griffin, Dovey and Mayor Billig NOES: Councilman Settle ABSENT: Councilman Dunin 2:20 p.m. City Council reconvened'in closed session to discuss litigation and personnel matters. 2:45 p.m. reconvened in open session, all councilmembers present. There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor . Billig adjourned at 2:47 p,.m. to Tuesday., May 1984.at 7:00 p.m. P mela Voges, C ty Clerk APPROVED BY.COUNCIL: 6/19/84 M I N U T E S .REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TUESDAY, MAY 1; 1984 - 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 990 PALM STREET SAN LUIS OBISPO; CALIFORNIA PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Councilmembers Present: Absent: City Staff F GlennaDeane Dovey, Robert Griffin and Mayor Pro -Tem Allen K. iSettle Ron Dunin and Mayor Melanie C. Billig Present: Paul Lanspery, Administrative Officer; Geoff Grote, Assistant Administrative Officer; Roger Picquet, City Attorney; Pamela Voges, City Clerk; Toby Ross, Community Development Director; Wayne Peterson, City Engineer; Roger