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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/28/1997MINUTES ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28,1997- 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; Arnold Jonas, Community Development Director, Bill Statler, Finance Director, Jim Gardiner, Police Chief; Bob Neumann, Fire Chief; Mike McCluskey; Public Works Director; Neil Havlik, Natural Resources Manager, Keith Opalewski; Harry Watson, Transportation Manager; Terry Sanville, Transportation Planner; Al Cablay, Public Works Manager. Mayor Settle announced that Representative Walter Capps passed away today and he asked for a moment of silence. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD PC1. Torre Houlgate -West asked Council to read Lois Capps' address into the record: 1724 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara, Ca. 93101. She requested a postponement of tonight's meeting because of Walter Capps' death. After discussion, Council Members agreed that the meeting should be held as scheduled. CONSENT AGENDA Moved by Roalman/Smith to approve the Consent Agenda as recommended by the City Administrative Officer, motion carved (5-0). C1. MAIN STREET AWARD (File No. 474) Council considered supporting the Business Improvement Association's application for a National Main Street Award for the Downtown Centre. Moved by Roalman /Smith to adopt Resolution No. 8734 supporting application; motion carried (5- 0). COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS CLR7. Council Member Williams announced that the EVC will host an economic development workshop. ICOMMUNICATIONS Comm1. Mayor Settle noted that three of the eleven permits for creek repair are expected from the Army Corps of Engineers this week. City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 28,1997- 7:00 p.m. Page 2 BUSINESS ITEMS DRAFT PARKING AND DOWNTOWN ACCESS PLAN (File No. 554) 1 Council considered the initial Draft Parking and downtown Access Plan. Council Member Smith stated that as the co -owner of a downtown bed and breakfast she has and will continue to step down from consideration of the Marsh Street Garage expansion, but that the broader policy issues being addressed tonight in the Downtown Parking and Access Study will have no material effect on her interest in the Garden Street Inn. She noted that she has made a good faith effort to get a written opinion from the FPPC prior to tonight's meeting, but that the FPPC has not yet issued a response to her request. She said that based on a thorough review of the conflict of interest laws, she will participate in tonight's discussion. Council Members supported her decision to participate in tonight's important policy decisions and directed that letters received prior to tonight's meeting that relate exclusively to the Marsh Street Garage be re- issued to the Council for the November 18`" meeting. CAO Dunn introduced the item by giving a brief history of the Downtown Plan. Public Works Director McCluskev presented the staff report and noted two areas where staff believes additional flexibility over what is recommended by the consultant is needed: location of a future lot at the southerly end of town and that consideration should be given to purchasing properties when they become available, even before the need for expanded parking. Larry Patterson, Meyer, Mohaddess Associates, Inc., provided the Council with an update of the plan and the responses to concerns raised at the July 8'" meeting. He reviewed the relationship of the proposed plan to the existing Parking Management Plan. Vice Mayor Roalman reminded the audience that the Marsh Street Garage expansion will not be the subject of the testimony taken tonight, and asked that speakers comment only on the Downtown Access study. He then opened the floor to public testimony. Ron Yen, Cal Poly Student, stated that the vibrancy of the downtown depends on pedestrians and recommended that vehicle traffic be routed around the core of the downtown and create pedestrian corridors through the town. Mike Sallaberav, Civil Engineering Student at Cal Poly, supported Mr. Yen's plan and explained details. He said that he favors using more PDR measures rather that adding parking spaces. Peg Pinard, Old Town Neighborhood Association, stated that the effect on neighborhoods were not addressed in the proposed plan, and that it must be addressed in the study. Craig Anderson, 1052 Islay, stated that getting employees out of the downtown spaces will create additional parking for shoppers. He said raising parking fees will help accomplish that. He distributed a list of formal comments regarding the plan's components. Eugene Jud. 743 Pacific St., suggested that a process be used where more public participation be used to develop a plan. Ira Winn, SLO, stated that the plan is flawed because the Marsh Street Garage is already planned, and he noted that TDM measures cannot work as long as additional parking is built. Pat Veesart . 1446 Morro, said he is displeased that the Marsh Street Garage expansion is not being considered in conjunction with the plan. He said the increased traffic in SLO is destroying downtown neighborhoods, and asked Council to give TDM a chance to work before adding City Council Meeting Page 3 Tuesday, October 28,1997- 7:00 p.m. parking spaces. Larry Allen, APCD, supported the recommendation for an additional staff person to manage the TDM measures and adoption of policy option #4, which allows for using the parking fund for TDM measures. He asked for a more public process to develop the plan. Steven. Devencenzi, SLOCOG, noted that SLOCOG is addressing ways to use van pools and busses to bring people into the downtown without the use of vehicles. He encouraged that city busses be run at 15 minute intervals during peak commute hours. Mike Spangler, BIA Parking Committee Chair, stated that more capacity in parking structures takes cars out of the streets, and is absolutely essential to the viability of the downtown. He asked for a clarification of whether the document is a study or a plan. He asked Council not to use the Parking fund for TDM, but to create a separate enterprise fund for TDM. Deborah Holley. BIA Administrator, asked that Council make a decision regarding the study, and that the parking fund be protected. Dave Kastner, Cal Photo, stated that additional parking structures are necessary to keep the downtown viable. Laura Adams, 745 Buchon Street, stated that there is already too much traffic in her downtown neighborhood and asked Council not to increase traffic and parking. Robert Griffin, President of the Chamber of Commerce, stated that the issue is to keep the downtown compact and viable, and that parking structures will allow the elimination of surface parking lots and putting the land to better uses. Jim Burcheri, 977 Buchon Street, stated that he is concerned that an expansion of the Marsh Street Structure will increase traffic in his neighborhood. Richard Ferris, 365 Branch, stated that the report is unbalanced, and that the growth throughout the County affects the need for more parking. He said that it is necessary to build additional parking to keep the downtown viable. Dick Cleeves, SLO, stated that over 50% of the downtown property owners support the parking enterprise fund concept, but that if Council does not support this view, that no further in lieu fees should be collected. Mark Schaffer, Ride On Van Pools, stated that TDM measures can encourage employees to car pool to the downtown. Tom Fulks, SLO Regional Ride Share Program, stated that there was a problem with the process of developing the plan, but that there are a number of things within it that can be implemented. He recommended any PDR position be augmented with a budget to do the job. He supported a residential parking district for downtown neighborhoods. Sam Blakeslee, Treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce, stated that there are many areas of the plan that should be implemented. He said that the Chamber supports cost effective method of bringing employees into the downtown without using their cars, but does not support using the parking enterprise fund to pay for PDR measures. He said the surface lots should be migrated to structures and the Court Street site should be a focus. Debbie Nicklas, Chamber of Commerce, noted that a letter has been submitted asking for specific changes to the plan. She summarized the Chamber's position on the plan. Pierre Rademaker, SLO, stated that the Downtown Concept Plan is in fact in compliance with the City Council Meeting Page 4 Tuesday, October 28,1997- 7:00 p.m. General Plan. He said Council should consider the vitality of the downtown as well as the economic viability. , Marty Tangeman, Downtown Center, stated that the center only works because there is a parking structure nearby. He said a commitment has already been made to use parking in lieu fees solely for parking. Jim Saroen, SLO, asked, since government is the major employer in the City, if the City or County has done anything to set an example by sponsoring van or car pooling among their employees. Richard Kranzdorf, SLO, said that just because the city has been working on this study for a long time is not a good reason to move forward. John French, 3942 Hollyhock, stated that additional parking is necessary now, and that alternative plans should be considered as a business decision. Megan Fidell, Cal Poly Student, stated that the plan is a compromise and should be adopted. Brett Weaver, Kennedy Club Fitness, stated that more parking is needed downtown. Louis Verduao, SLO, stated that the City should encourage employees to leave their cars at home. Vice Mayor Roalman returned discussion to the Council. Staff clarified that the plan sets forth a process where residents can petition the Council for a residential parking district and that the in lieu fees are committed to parking garages, but are only a portion of the parking fund. After discussion, moved by Roalman/Smith to amend policy 5.1 as follows: "existing Parking Fund revenues will be used exclusively to maintain and expand parking operations and repay bonds that financed the construction of the parking structures. To the extent possible, the City will pursue grant funding to support the ongoing costs of PDR projects and activities. If grant funds are not sufficient to fully support the PDR program then to the extent additional revenues are generated through implementation of this Plan, the added revenues may be used to fund any component of this Plan including PDR; motion carries (3 -2, Romero, Williams voting no). There was unanimous Council consensus to change Parking Demand Monitoring locations (page 21) to near Santa Rosa on the NE and near Nipomo on the SW and to include City Hall and Creamery lots. Moved by RomeroWilliams to change "will' to "should" under Parking Structure Expansion Component Triggers (page A -2); motion carried (4 -1, Roalman opposed). There was unanimous concurrence among Council Members to add a new Policy 2.4 on Page 13, "To meet the need for future parking structures and to avoid the use of eminent domain, if at all possible, the City should consider the purchase of property for those structures when they become available," and amend Action 2.2 -2 to read, "The City will evaluate ... and a site in the southerly portion of the downtown (possibly the Wells Fargo, Palm- Nipomo sites unless a more desirable site can be identified)." There was consensus among Council Members to direct staff to draft language to be included in the plan to exempt structures built to consolidate existing surface parking lots from meeting the trigger mechanisms. There was unanimous Council consensus for amending language on page A-3 to change targets and add, 1110 hour on- street meters" City Council Meeting Page 5 Tuesday, October 28,1997- 7:00 p.m. There was unanimous Council agreement to clarify language in the third paragraph on page A-6 to 1 include "Employee" analysis, and on page A -7 to not specify which days to make the counts, but to leave the days used for counts to the discretion of staff, and to be consistent on the days used. Moved by Roalman/Wlliams to eliminate the dates and order of sites on page A-8 and A -9; motion carried (5-0). There was consensus among Council Members to clarify previous Council actions regarding bicycle paths and to change references on page B3 to "Bikeways." There was Council consensus to replace specific time frames (i.e., Winter 1997198) with specific time references (i.e.1"' quarter) on Appendix B. Moved by Romero /Smith to leave dates and sites as examples on page A-8 and A -9, but clarify language to indicate that there will be a review of changes in land uses and re -evaluate the quadrant in which the next structure will be built; motion carries (4-1, Roalman opposed). There was Council consensus to delete bulleted items four and five from existing Summer 1998 actions and move to become bulleted items four and five in existing Winter 1997198. There was unanimous Council consensus to amend Appendix A under "On Street Parking Utilization" to require actual utilization surveys of curb parking rather than using tracking meter revenues generated by zone. Moved by Williams /Smith to initiate the EIR process with the amended Draft Plan providing the requisite project description; motion carried (3 -2, Roalman, Romero opposed). Moved by RoalmanWilliams to direct staff to consider guidelines for implementation of the Council approved TRIP program at its January 6, 1998 meeting and to then initiate the City's Trip Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP) for an 18 month trial period, monitor its performance and amend the program as needed; and direct staff to provide a copy of the City's TRIP guidelines to the County and request that it consider similar programs for its downtown work force and enlist the help of Ride -On Transportation, as needed, to facilitate PDR activities with the County; motion carried (5 -0). There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Settle adjourned the meeting at 11:30 p.m. to Tuesday, November 4, 1997 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 1212197 BG:dr 1 nnie L. Gavv ity e c