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Home My WebLink About07/08/1997r 1 CLOSED SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TUESDAY, JULY,8, 1997- 6:30 P.M. COUNCIL HEARING 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, Ken Hampian, Assistant City Administrative Officer; Neil Havlik, Natural Resources Manager City Council held a closed session to discuss the following issues: CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - Existing Litigation - pursuant to Government Code $ 54956.9: Feierabend v. City of San Luis Obispo Negotiations are ongoing CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - Existing Litigation - pursuant to Government Code $ 54956.9: Korns v. City of San Luis Obispo Negotiations are ongoing CONFERENCE REGARDING PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS - Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.8: Foundation for the Performing Arts' property adjacent to the railroad tracks between Lawrence Dr. and Francis Ave. Council authorized negotiation for acquisition of property. At 7:00 P.M. Mayor Settle declared a recess to convene in open session in the Council Chamber, where a public report of the action taken in closed session was to be given. APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 8119197 BLG:dr f._. MINUTES ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TUESDAY, JULY 8,1997- 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER, 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: John Dunn, City Administrative Officer, Jeff Jorgensen, City Attorney; Bonnie Gawf, City Clerk; Ken Hampian, Assistant City Administrative Officer; Mike McCluskey; Public Works Director; Arnold Jonas, Community Development Director, Bill Statler, Finance Director, Al Cablay, Public Works Manager; Al Cablay, Public Works Manager, Terry Sanville, Transportation Planner; Keith Opalewski, Parking Manager; Neil Havlik, Natural Resources Manager CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT City Attorney Jorgensen announced that the Council held three closed sessions, beginning at 6:30 p.m. this evening, as follows: CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - Existing Litigation - pursuant to Government Code ¢ 54956.9: Feierabend v. City of San Luis Obispo Negotiations are ongoing CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - Existing Litigation - pursuant to Government Code ¢ 54956.9: Korns v. City of San Luis Obispo Negotiations are ongoing CONFERENCE REGARDING PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS - Pursuant to Government Code $ 54956.8: Foundation for the Performing Arts' property adjacent to the railroad tracks between Lawrence Dr. and Francis Ave. Council authorized negotiation for acquisition of property. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD PC1. There were no public comments. STUDY SESSION Council Member Smith stated that she will be stepping down during the discussion, as recommended by the FPPC, because of a potential conflict of interest due to the mention and prominence in the report of the expansion of the Marsh Street Parking structure. 1. DOWNTOWN ACCESS AND PARKING STUDY .(File No. 554) Council considered the Downtown Access and Parking Study Progress Report No. 2. Mayor Settle outlined the format for tonight's discussion, noting that formal presentations would be made by representatives from both sides of the issue. Public Works Director McCluskey introduced the item, giving a history of the expansion of the 1 City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 8,1997- 7:00 p.m. Page 2 parking structure and the study of alternative forms of downtown access. Larry Patterson. Meyer Mohaddes Associates, outlined the process used to develop the progress report and the steps needed to draft a final plan. He outlined the three major areas included in the plan: TDM to make existing spaces available for short term parking demand; Parking Management to make better use of existing spaces; and Parking expansion to increase the number of spaces downtown. He listed six parking management strategies: 1. Reduce free parking from 90 minutes to 60 minutes 2. Eliminate maximum daily charge 3. Increase number of ten hour meters in the Study Area periphery 4. Reduce number of free parking passes issued 5. Consider a residential parking management plan in impacted neighborhoods 6. Provide preferential parking location and pricing for carpools and vanpools Mr. Patterson gave specific recommendations for parking expansion: 1. Construct Marsh Street expansion 2. Construction a new parking structure that will serve the northeast quadrant of the study area 3. Construct "Palm II" structure 4. Construct a new structure in the western portion of the study area S. Identify other sites Council Members discussed the growth assumptions which were used to project the number of parking spaces which will be needed in the future. Council concurred that the final report should include clarification of these numbers. ' Peter Valk, Transportation Demand Management Services, presented aspects of the transportation demand management portion of the recommendation. He outlined seventeen measures which were identified and prioritized, with the six high and five medium scoring measures — designated in the report as the "maximum TDM program " —as follows: 1. Designate passenger pick up /discharge zones throughout downtown 2. Expand bike lanes 3. Enhance local codes to permit working at home 4. Adopt compressed work weeks for City and County employees S. Lower parking rates in underutilized parking by time of day 6. Adopt TDM facilities requirement for new development 7. Lower vanpool fares 8. Adopt telecommuting among City and County employees 9. Preferential parking for car/vanpools in public parking 10. Increase parking rates for long tern parkers 11. Reduce parking charges based on vehicle occupancy Mr. Patterson clarified that the recommendations will most likely provide for the middle range of projected growth.. He outlined estimated costs of the alternatives and presented the following funding recommendations: 1. Reserve existing parking revenues exclusively for parking expansion 2. Increase parking revenues through reduced free parking, higher in lieu fees, periodic adjustment of parking rates and fines 3. Apply a portion of new revenues toward TDM programs ' 4. Seek other funding sources: public/private partnerships, assessment district, TDM Grant funding 5. Use General Fund revenues (if necessary) to initiate and maintain TDM programs Mayor Settle opened the floor for public comment. City Council Meeting Page 3 Tuesday, July 8,1997- 7:00 p.m. Eugene Jud, Transportation Planner, 743 Pacific Street, stated that, as a business owner, he is in favor of downtown business, but that he is opposed to additional parking, because he believes 1 there is no downtown parking crisis. He stated that traffic should not grow at a rate of more than 1% per year, and that his group does not agree with anything contained in the report. He said that the shop owners and employees take up many prime spaces downtown. Craig Anderson, Sierra Club, said that the two factions never reached consensus on the Marsh Street Garage expansion and the use of the parking fund for TDM programs. He stated that additional parking structures cost too much, and noted that many spaces are taken up by employees. He detailed costs per space for construction of downtown garages and outlined the TDM measures he prefers: a parking management district, parking shuttle, leasing lots for long term parkers in the periphery and providing shuttle service via an electric transit system. He stated that he does not favor expansion of the bike lanes, as it is not highly cost effective. Tom Fulks, SLO Regional Rideshare Program, stated that the report contains many solutions to questions that have been raised, and Council should carefully read the study document rather than relying on the staff report He favors Alternative Number 4 from the study, stating that it is affordable and realistic. Mark Shaffer, Ride -on Transportation Services, stated that he favors a combination of TDM and additional parking spaces to solve the parking problem downtown. He stated that employers have become more involved in ride share programs. He asked the Council to find a way to fund the TDM measures, and budget additional funds in the future. Mike Spangler, BIA Parking Committee, stated that the basic understanding behind the parking enterprise fund is that it should only be used for the construction and acquisition of parking sites. He said that the merchants are not opposed to TDM, but that the funding should not come from the parking fund. He said well designed parking structures are the best solution to the problem, and noted that the parking study does not address the retail and office value of the Marsh Street parking structure. He said that the report should address the full potential of the value. He suggested other funds be raised for TDM. Deborah Holley, BIA Administrator, addressed areas of concern to the BIA in the progress report: the importance of tourism was not adequately addressed; opinions were included in the survey that were not those of individuals in the downtown; report does not note that the automobile is becoming more environmentally friendly; and the reason the BIA declined to participate in parking study is not included. She reviewed the parking requirements for development in the City. Ken Schwartz, SLO, stated that the task should be how to keep the downtown viable and prosperous. He said there needs to be a way to provide more retail space, and that is to make efficient parking structures which include retail space. He reviewed the history of the development of the current parking structures. Pierre Rademaker, BIA, reviewed the Downtown Master Plan and the reasons behind the design of the plan. He gave specific examples of under utilized spaces in the downtown area. Tunny Ortali, SLO, said the Marsh Street expansion and Palm II structure are needed as soon as possible. He said the funds are available. Richard Ferris. SLO, spoke in favor of using the enterprise fund only for additional parking. He asked Council to start using one -third of the parking resources to enforce parking times and encourage neighborhood parking. Jim Sargen, 570 Marsh, spoke in favor of additional parking, which would include additional retail spaces. ....• .lid' • ..: 5.. City Council Meeting Page 4 Tuesday, July 8,1997- 7:00 p.m. Joseph DeLucia, 1042 Palm, #202, said that national retailers are currently unable to locate in downtown SLO because of the parking situation. He spoke in favor of using the parking enterprise fund only for additional parking, and finding an alternative funding source for TDM. Dave Kastner, 958 Higuera, said as a downtown business owner he is already losing customers because of the lack of parking. Marty Tangeman, SLO, stated that the report invites divisiveness. He said that alternative transportation deserves separate treatment and separate funding and asked that Council direct the consultant to separate TDM funding from parking. He noted that the parking in lieu fee should be used solely for parking and parking operations, based on past actions of the council. He said that fee increases will have negative impacts. Mark Saraen, 751 Marsh Street, stated that the parking fund should only be used to produce additional parking spaces. He noted that there is currently a shortage of parking for his customers at the Forum. Dale Anderson, SLO, Property Manager, spoke as a representative of three downtown property owners. He stated that their concems are to maintain the viability of the downtown, and that the use of the downtown parking fee should only be used to provide additional parking spaces. Shelly Stanwvck, Director of Governmental Affairs of the SLO Chamber of Commerce, stated that the Chamber advocates maximizing the downtown parking situation by adding more spaces as soon as possible. She noted that the Chamber supports the use of TDM measures, but asked Council to further explore the details presented in the study. Dick Cleeves, presented a petition from downtown property owners requesting that Council continue to support the downtown parking in lieu fee concept. Sam Blakeslee, stated that additional parking structures are needed downtown. He identified statistics and assumptions included. in the study, which he believes are in error. Allan Cantrell, Atascadero, Regional Transit Authority, stated that his agency would like to work with the City to establish TDM programs. Dennis Johansen, 766 Higuera, encouraged the Council to move ahead with the Wells Fargo lot purchase. He spoke in favor of providing additional downtown parking. Pat Veesart , Sierra Club, spoke in support of providing TDM measures and said that it is appropriate to pay for those measures from the downtown parking fund. He asked Council to implement additional TDM measures before building additional structures. Larry Allen, Air Pollution Control District, encouraged Council to study the report. He said people come downtown because they enjoy the environment, and the report addresses different ways to get people to the downtown. He asked council to implement TDM first. He supported Alternative 4 in the study. Keith Wimer, Los Osos, stated that the downtown is a unique environment, and asked Council to consider alternative forms of getting people to town to preserve the atmosphere. Ira Winn spoke in favor of the increased emphasis on TDM addressed in the report. He spoke in ' opposition to additional parking. I.. Richard Kranzdorf, SLO, stated that there is a need for TDM measures, not more parking. City Council Meeting Page 5 Tuesday, July 8,1997- 7:00 p.m. Tom Swenn, SLO, Real Estate Broker, stated that there is an opportunity for development of offices and retail in the downtown. He spoke in favor of moving forward with the expansion of the garages and utilizing existing surface lots for development. Dick Kreisa, SLO, stated that the parking fund should be used for whatever makes the downtown more comfortable, and that may include TDM measures. Pete Eberle, SLO, Coordinator for the Thursday Night Farmers Market, stated that SLO does not have the consumer base to support elaborate TDM measures. He supported additional parking for the downtown area. Mayor Settle returned discussion to the Council. After discussion, moved by Romero /Roalman to direct consultant to review, amend and refine report based on comments received from the Council and the public, and prepare a recommendation utilizing a phased format to prepare a plan, specifically with the phasing based upon a review of the underlying growth assumptions; to direct staff to continue the process toward construction of the Marsh Street structure expansion; and to direct the consultant to bring back options on funding mechanisms; motion carried (4 -0 -1, Smith not participating due to a conflict of interest). ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Settle adjourned the meeting at 11:45 p.m. to Tuesday, July 15, 1997 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 8119197 BG:dr Bgrinie L. Ga ity C,1 rk