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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/19/1994MINUTES CLOSED SESSION MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1994 - 11:00 AM CITY HALL - COUNCIL HEARING ROOM - 990 PALM STREET SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA ROLL CALL: Council Members Present: Council Member Penny Rappa, Dave Romero, Bill Roalman, and Vice -Mayor Allen K. Settle Absent: Mayor Peg Pinard City Staff Present: John Dunn, City Administrative Officer; Jeff Jorgensen, City Attorney; Ken Hampian, Assistant City Administrative Officer, Council held a closed session to confer with labor negotiators from the following employee organizations: San Luis Obispo City Employees Association San Luis Obispo Police Officers Association San Luis Obispo Police Staff Officers Association San Luis Obispo Firefighters Association San Luis Obispo Battalion Chiefs Association Unrepresented Management Employees and Appointed Officials Council gave direction to staff for negotiation parameters, to return to Council for final action. 1:20 PM there being no further business to come before the City Council, Vice Mayor Settle adjourned the meeting to Thursday, May 19, 1994 at 7:00 PM at the Church of the Nazarene, 3396 Johnson Avenue, in the Old Fellowship Hall. APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 7/12/94 a ne R. Gla well, g�* Clerk DRG:cm r � I MINUTES ' SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1994 - 7:00 PM CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE - 3396 JOHNSON AVENUE SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA This meeting was called solely to comply with the Brown Act: attendance by Council Members was oplional. ROLL CALL: Council Members Present: Council Member Penny Rappa, Dave Romero, Bill Roalman, and Vice -Mayor Allen K. Settle Absent: Mayor Peg Pinard City Staff Present: John Dunn, City Administrative Officer, Jim Gardiner, Police Chief; Mike McCluskey, Public Works Director, Wayne Peterson, City Engineer, Terry Sanville, Principal Transportation Planner, Carolyn Munshaur, Recording Secretary Council attended a Neighborhood Workshop sponsored by the Public Works Department to receive public testimony on the proposed installation of bicycle lanes on Johnson Avenue between Monterey Street and Orcutt Road. INTRODUCTION Mike McCluskey, Public Works Director, gave a brief review of the history and adoption of the Bike Plan and related documents: 1982- Circulation Element was developed naming Johnson Avenue as a bike route. 1985- Bicycle Facilities Plan was developed naming Johnson Avenue as a bike route. 1990- A traffic study indicated that 73% of SLO transportation was done by car and 17% was alternative transportation (i.e., walking, biking, and riding the bus). 1993- Draft Circulation Element was presented to Council for consideration including an option to change the ratio of 73/27% to 59/41 %; currently awaiting Council adoption. 1993 - Bicycle Transportation Plan was adopted encompassing a network of bicycle paths, including Class II Bike Lanes on Johnson Avenue. He further explained the process of hiring Boyle Engineering to prepare construction plans that Implement the Bike Plan. These plans were presented to Council and approved to send out for bids with the exclusion of Johnson Avenue, which was pulled for further consideration. He reviewed various projects currently in progress as part of implementing the Bike Plan, including the Jennifer Street bridge, Madonna Road bike lanes and upcoming projects in the downtown. Mike discussed °traffic calming" and the Neighborhood Management Plan (consisting of five neighborhoods identified in the Draft Circulation Element in which °Traffic calming" would be implemented). City Council Meeting Thursday, May 19, 1994 - 7:00 pm Page 2 In preparing for tonight's meeting, the Public Works Department surveyed those neighborhoods most affected by the proposed bike lanes and loss of parking. Of the 2,496 surveys mailed out, approximately 14% were completed and returned to the City. The results were as follows: Option #1 - remove parking Option #1A- (proposed by neighbors) remove parking on one side Option #2 - eliminate two traffic lanes, install center turning lane Option #3 - narrow all lanes Option #4 - leave as is Option #5 - other suggestions Questionnaire Live on Johnson Off Johnson Totals Option #1 10% 14% 14% Option #2 21% 16% 16% Option #3 24% 16% 18% Option #4 38% 51% 49% Option #5 7% 3% 3% TOTAL (100% 61 292 353 Upon questioning, Mike McCluskey discussed options used on other projects to reduce traffic speed while installing bike lanes (i.e., Orcutt Road widening scheduled for Council consideration in June; Broad /Orcutt, Bishop Street overpass to be included within the Circulation Element). ORCUTT ROAD TO L ®E Public comments and recommendations were discussed including: - appreciation of the proposals - support of the bike lanes - support of bike lanes (Option 2) - air degradation vs. number of bikes used as transportation - Option 2 for Laurel lane - concern for Churches and parking for members - bike licensing, current law and recommendations - safety issues, benefits of Option 2 - traffic speed on Johnson Avenue - supporting date indicating reduced traffic speed - rejection of lanes, eliminating parking, making a gentle °S° accommodating access for emergency vehicles - traffic calming - cost of painting streets ($150,000) - left turn into driveways - recreational driving - reduce speed shape curve in the road, - °Bicycle friendly City', potential accidents, uniqueness of Johnson Avenue underpass, European routes, traffic count - Laurel /Southwood, no parking removal - student accessing lanes, restrictions - ambulance route, right turns, Scolari Center 1 1 1 1 1 City Council Meeting Thursday, May 19, 1994 - 7:00 pm - community benefit - opposition to bike lanes, issuing tickets - Railroad right -of -way, emphasis form Tank Farm Road to Cal Poly - difficulty with railroad, expenses, long range Master Plan - safety at lights, pedestrian crossing, signal at Sydney - affects on six churches located on Johnson Avenue - previous contributions towards bikers, access to medical services - opposition to constricting traffic - Improvement to the environment - no bike lanes in China which has many bikers - support of Class ill - problems near SLO High School - support of City accommodating bikers The following ideas were proposed as alternatives: 1. Bike lanes on sidewalks 2. Narrow all lanes (Option 3) 3. Improve signals 4. Lime St. signal timing improved 5. Connect paths through the downtown area 6. No parking removal 7. Option 2 8. Option 4 9. Partial elimination of parking & weave traffic 10. Option 1A 11. Reduce traffic speed 12. Option 4 13. Connect lanes to railroad 14. Option 5 15. Right turn lanes 16. More bike ticketing 17. Prioritize railroad bike path construction 18. Pedestrian crossing and signals installed 19. Use of Flora St. as Class III Page 3 A vote was taken to reach consensus on the favored Option. The vote was as follows: Option #1 - 0 Option #1A - 0 Option #2 - 26 Option #3 - 32 Option #4 - 97 Option #5 - 13 Option #6 - 2 Option #7 - 4 9:15 pm Mike McCluskey declared a recess. 9:25 pm meeting reconvened. City Council Meeting Thursday, May 19, 1994 - 7:00 pm LSE TO BUCHON Option #1 - narrow travel lanes /maintain existing bike lane Option #2 - prohibit pedestrian use and allow bikes Option #3 - eliminate one southbound lane /install wide bike lanes Option #4 - eliminate one northbound lane/install wide bike lanes Option #5 - narrow sidewalk east side/install 4-ft. bike lanes Option #6 - narrow both sidewalk /install two 6-ft. bike lanes Page 4 Discussion was held to consider concerns and recommendations toward these Options including: - student diners, safety for bikers studies indicating 1000 cars /10 bikers - accommodating emergency vehicles, installing advisory signs - motivation for creating Bike Plan to implement land and encourage bikers - safety issues, young riders - presence of bikers on Johnson (or lack of) - alternative transportation routes - opposition to the "LA. look° - various studies at affected intersections - support of Option #4 - opposition to reducing lanes, access for bikes over the railroad - bike lanes for underpass - center turn lanes - enforcement of helmet requirements - false sense of security, sharing & responsibility - bikers use of sidewalks - bike plan booklet - sidewalks used by high school, recent accident - support of Option 3 - support changing the existing situation - safety for vehicles and bikes - consideration of a "tube" for bikers only - develop lanes from Johnson to San Luis, under the railroad, through the creek, to Pacific (involvement of Fish & Game, biologists, Railroad Right -of -way, etc.) - sign sharing for roads and bikes - visual questionnaires, bike awareness - Cal trans requirements - bikes /cars sharing lanes during peak hours (recommended by world traffic calming expert David Engwich of Australia) - opposition to cars sharing lanes with bikes - safety issues - merging - access for emergency vehicles, access into driveways - left turn lanes and right turn lanes - alternative routes other than using underpass From the discussion, the following alternatives were proposed: 1. Stripe right lane as "shared" bike lane /vehicle lane 2. Bike signals n n City Council Meeting Page 5 Thursday, May 19, 1994 - 7:00 pm 3. Advisory signs for San Luis Drive use 4. 'Warning IighY activated by cyclists to point out bikes to motorists A vote was taken to reach consensus of the favored Option. The results were as follows: Option #1 (4 lanes, 1 bike lane) - 22 Option #2 (3 lanes, 2 bike lanes)- 15 Due to the lateness of the hour, Mike McCluskey requested further discussion of Johnson Avenue (including bulbouts, speedbumps, and lanes between Buchon /Monterey to the June 7, 1994 City Council Meeting at 7:00 pm. 10:35 PM the meeting was adjourned. APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 7/12/94 U/Gt� Diane R. Glades I, City Clerk DRG /cm MINUTES ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1994 - 7:00 PM 1 CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS - 990 PALM STREET SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA ROLL CALL' Council Members Present: Council Member Penny Rappa, Dave Romero, Bill Roalman, Vice -Mayor Allen K. Settle and Mayor Peg Pinard Absent: None City Staff Present: John Dunn, City Administrative Officer; Kim Condon, Assistant City Clerk; Jeff Jorgensen, City Attorney; Ken Hampian, Assistant City Administrative Officer, Arnold Jonas, Community Development Director; Glen Matteson, Associate Planner, Mike McCluskey, Public Works Director, Wayne Peterson, City Engineer, Bill Statler, Finance Director, Bob Neumann, Fire Chief PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD P.C.1. Mayor Pinard congratulated the Gold Coast Chorus for winning the Southern California Western Division Barbershop Quartet competition and the group sang a medley for the Council. P.C.2. Per C. Mathiesen invited the Council to the dedication of the Rotary Pavilion at Laguna Lake Park to be held on Monday, June 27, 1994 at 12:00 Noon.