HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/11/1997MINUTES
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1997 - 7:00 P.M.
LIBRARY COMMUNITY ROOM, 995 PALM STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
ROLL CALL:
Council Members
Present: Council Members Kathy Smith, Dave Romero, Dodie Williams, Vice Mayor
Bill Roalman, and Mayor Allen Settle
City Staff
Present: John Dunn, City Administrative Officer, Jeff Jorgensen, City Attorney;
Bonnie Gawf, City Clerk; Ken Hampian, Assistant City Administrative
Officer; Arnold Jonas, Community Development Director; Bill Statler,
Finance Director; John Moss, Utilities Director; Mike McCluskey; Public
Works Director; Ron Neumann, Fire Chief; Jim Gardiner, Police Chief; Paul
LeSage, Parks and Recreation Director; Gary Henderson, Water Division
Manager, Dave Hix, Wastewater Division Manager; Jane McVey, Economic
Development Manager Ron Whisenand, Development Review Manager;
Neil Havlik, Natural Resources Manager.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
PC1. There were no public comments.
COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
CLR1. Council Member Williams said she had attend the last BIA board meeting, and she briefly
outlined the items discussed.
CLR2. Mayor Settle reported that he and Arnold Jonas had attended a meeting of the Pilot's
Association, and had assured them that the City has no intention of taking over airport
operations.
CLR3. Council Member Williams said she had attended the grand opening of the new facility for
the People's Self Help Housing Corporation.
CLR4. Council Member Smith reported that she attended the opening of the new gift shop at the
Historical Museum.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. AIRPORT AREA ANNEXATION (File No. 441)
Council considered the Airport Area Specific Plan and Annexation.
CAO Dunn presented the staff report, explaining that tonight's action will be a follow up to the
adoption of the General Plan Land Use Element, which states that annexation by the City of the
Airport Area should occur before urban development occurs within the area. He explained that if
Council authorizes the study for the Specific Plan, it will be two to three years before City is in a
position to actually annex the property. He outlined the reasons that staff recommends
proceeding with the study.
Assistant CAO Hampian clarified where the boundaries are for the Margarita and Airport Areas
and that the proposed Specific Plan is for the airport Area only, while the EIR encompasses both
areas. He stated that the County will continue to manage airport operations, as the City has no
interest in operating or managing the airport itself. He outlined the costs and funding for the
proposed Specific Plan, and stated that the intent is to fully recover costs as development
occurs. He also detailed the recommended interim annexation program.
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City Council Meeting Page 2
Tuesday, March 11, 1997 - 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Settle asked for public comment:
Jack Penrod, Avila Beach resident and representative of Airport Area landowners, spoke in favor
of annexation and in support of staffs proposal, stating that it will stimulate the economy.
Carl Dudley. SLO business owner and resident, spoke in favor of the annexation, stating that his
business needs room to grow.
Donald Smith. 1111 Vista Lago, spoke in opposition to the proceeding with the study stating that
adequate water supplies would not be available.
At the request of Council, City Attorney Jorgensen explained that the Nacimiento water project
will most likely be funded through revenue bonds paid for by the purchase of water, with no legal
requirement for an election.
Bill Thoma, SLID resident & business owner, spoke in favor of proceeding with the Specific Plan
for annexation stating that the long range impact will be a benefit to the City.
Virginia Kennedy, SLO resident, spoke in favor of the annexation, stating that it is important to
plan for the development.
Pat Veesart . SLO resident, stated that tonight's action will commit the Council to annex the
Airport Area without knowing the costs of annexation and without securing additional water
supplies. He said it will lead to run away growth.
Douglas Pierce. 219 Albert Drive, spoke in support of proceeding expeditiously with the
annexation of the Airport Area, stating that it will benefit existing residents as well as the
property owners.
' Christine Mulholland. SLO resident, spoke in opposition to moving forward on the Specific Plan
or the annexation because the City cannot provide services to the area, and the Unocal property
is contaminated.
Jerry Dagna. 1845 Vicente, spoke in favor of proceeding with the Specific Plan and annexation,
but asked the Council to wart until after the May 21, 1997 joint City-County meeting before voting
on the issue.
Dennis Schmidt, Central Coast Engineering, asked for clarification regarding policies for
development of the Airport Area.
Diane Hull. SLO resident, spoke in favor of the annexation, but noted concerns regarding the
boundaries, and the proposed open space fee.
Assistant CAO Hampian clarified that boundaries of the proposed annexation area have not
changed and are based on existing General Plan policies.
Robert Griffin, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, SLO resident, spoke in favor of the
annexation and asked Council to proceed with the Specific Plan and the interim annexation
strategy.
Charley Senn, 2840 El Cerrito, asked Council to exercise leadership by taking the risk and vision
to annex the Airport Area, but stated that they should either move forward on the issue or put it
aside. He encouraged Council to adopt a workable interim annexation plan and not become
involved in airport operations.
Community Development Director Jonas clarified that City could not, nor would not take over
' operation of the airport, but need to annex the airport as a land bridge to area businesses and
properties.
Paul Rys, Airport Area resident at 657 Evans Road, spoke in favor of annexation as an issue of
control, not growth.
Penny Rappa, 3993 Hollyhock Way, spoke in favor of proceeding with the Specific Plan and the
annexation so the City can realize the benefits.
City Council Meeting Page 3
Tuesday, March 11, 1997 - 7:00 p.m.
Maggie Cox, SLO Association of Manufacturers and Distributors, spoke in favor of proceeding
with the Specific Plan and the annexation. She urged Council to approve the staff
recommendation.
David Garth. President & CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the risk of doing
nothing, stating that even if the City does not move forward on the annexation, the Unocal
property contamination will not go away, and the area will develop without the proper planning
and infrastructure.
David Watson, Planning Consultant, spoke in favor of the proceeding with the Specific Plan and
EIR, stating that it would be best to have the EIR for the Airport and Margarita Areas coincide,
and asked Council to proceed and include a copy of the draft specific plan for Margarita with the
Airport Area RFP.
Ken Schwartz, 201 Buena Vista, spoke in favor of the staff recommendation, even though there
are risks involved. He gave a history of the plan to annex the area and outlined reasons the
annexation has not happened in the past.
Craig Anderson, spoke in favor expansion of boundaries, but stated that citizens should not
subsidize the costs, and that transportation impacts have not been fully addressed. He said the
owners should pay the full cost of the preparation of the Specific Plan.
Andrew Merriam, 4334 Wavertree, representative of Ernie Ball and Spicehunter, spoke in favor of
the Specific plan and of the interim annexation plan.
Mayor Settle closed the floor to public comment.
Mayor Settle called a recess at 9:50 p.m., and reconvened the meeting at 10:05 p.m.
Council agreed to amend the RFP to clarify that the alternative to evaluate the expansion of the
City's urban reserve line into the areas recently designated by the County for commercial or
industrial use outside the current urban reserve line should only analyze the area to better
implement City policies regarding the Airport Area.
After discussion, moved by Romero/Williams to 1) approve and issue a request for proposals
(RFP) for the Airport Area Specific Plan and EIR, and other related infrastructure planning; 2)
approve a specific plan funding program, including the proposed conditions for participants and
consisting of an initial $330,000 contribution by the City and an initial $155,000 contribution by
property owners, with all City costs to be recovered in the future as development takes place in
the airport area; and, 3) direct staff to implement the proposed Interim Airport Annexation
Strategy until the specific plan is adopted; motion carried (5 -0).
Moved by Roalman to direct staff to implement the interim annexation plan, charging at the mid-
range of $22,000 per acre for improvements, and adding refund capabilities if actual costs were
less. The motion died for lack of a second.
Council Member Roalman asked that the original motion be amended to separate the interim plan
from the other issues, as he disagrees with charging the low range for interim annexation fees.
Moved by Romero/Williams to approve and issue a request for proposal (RFP) for the Airport
Area Specific Plan and EIR, and other related infrastructure planning; 2) approve a specific plan
funding program, including the proposed conditions for participants and consisting of an initial
$330,000 contribution by the City and an initial $155,000 contribution by property owners, with all
City costs to be recovered in the future as development takes place in the airport area; motion
carried (5 -0).
Moved by Romero/Williams to direct staff to implement the proposed Interim Airport Annexation
Strategy until the specific plan is adopted; motion carried (4-1, Roalman opposed).
City Council Meeting Page 4
Tuesday, March 11, 1997 - 7:00 p.m.
There being no further business to come before the., City - Council, Mayor Settle adjourned the
' meeting at 11:05 p.m. to Tuesday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m. in, the Planning Conference Room, 990
Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. ` I
APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 4/8/97
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CLOSED SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1997 - 6:30 P.M.
PLANNING CONFERENCE ROOM, 990 PALM STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
ROLL CALL:
Council Members
Present: Council Members Kathy Smith, Dave Romero, Dodie Williams, Vice Mayor
Bill Roalman, and Mayor Allen Settle
City Staff
Present: Jeff Jorgensen, City Attorney; John Dunn, City Administrative Officer;
Mike McCluskey, Public Works Director
Mayor Settle opened the floor to public comment.
Mike Spangler, representing the BIA and SLO Property Owners Association, spoke in support of
the enterprise fund concept. He gave a brief history of the formation of the enterprise fund and
' stated that the funds are meant to be used exclusively for the construction of parking structures.
He stated that his organizations are opposed to using the funds for alternative transportation,
and presented a petition signed by downtown property owners requesting that the Council use
the funds for additional parking or discontinue the in4ieu fees.
City Council held a closed session to discuss the following issue:
CONFERENCE WITH PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR
Pursuant to Government Code sec. 54956.8
Property: Wells Fargo Property
1246 Nipomo, San Luis Obispo
Negotiating Parties: City of San Luis Obispo; Mike McCluskey
Property Owner Rep: Debra Borido
Negotiation: Whether to proceed with negotiations
Council authorized continuing negotiations.
At 7:00 P.M. Mayor Settle declared a recess to convene in open session in the Library
Community Room, where a public report of the action taken in closed session was to be given.
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APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 4/1/97
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