HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/29/20001
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ROLL CALL:
Council Members
Present:
City Staff
MINUTES ...
STUDY SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
AND
SAN LUIS OBISPO DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION
TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2000 - 7:00 P.M.
LIBRARY COMMUNITY ROOM, 995 PALM STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
Council Members John Ewan, Jan Howell Marx, Dave Romero, Vice
Mayor Ken Schwartz, and Mayor Allen K. Settle
Present: John Dunn, City Administrative Officer; Jeff Jorgensen, City
Attorney; Mary Kopecky, Assistant 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; Paul LeSage, Parks and Recreation Director; Shelly
Stanwyck, Economic Development Manager
Downtown Association
Present: Board Members Vince Burke, Landy Fike, Dave Kastner, Doug Shaw,
Tom Swem, Bob Schinkel, Bill Walter, Jerry Whitaker, and President
Brett Weaver; Downtown Association Administrator Deborah Holley;
TNA Coordinator Christine Bragg; Downtown Association Office
Manager Melissa Martin
Absent: Lynn James and Correne Weaver
PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments on items not on the agenda.
STUDY SESSION
1. SAN LUIS OBISPO DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION OVERVIEW.
A. Formation
B. Mission Statement, Major Goals
C. Budget
Downtown Association President Weaver presented a brief overview of the Downtown
Association. He reviewed their mission statement and major goals. Former Downtown
Association President Pierre Rademaker provided an overview of the history of the Downtown
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Tuesday, August 29, 2000 - 7:00 p.m.
Association. Downtown Administrator Holley reported that the Downtown Association annual
budget is $275,000.
D. Board, Committee and Staff Duties
The following individual Board Members summarized the major functions of the Downtown
Association:
Board Member Schinkel - The Promotions Committee sponsors activities like concerts
in the plaza, holiday events, the Festival of Trees, Santa's House, the holiday parade,
free movies for children, downtown car show, Casino Night, and quarterly sidewalk
and president's sales.
Board Member Fike - The Design Committee supports the Banner Program, the Bench
Program, tree lighting on Higuera Street, and the Facade Improvement Program.
Board Member Kaster - The Economic Activity Committee was formed in response to
"Main Street" criteria and fosters a certain look for downtowns. The committee
examines sensitive areas, tracks businesses, records downtown vacancies, and is
currently monitoring the Higuera Bridge issue.
Thursday Night Activity Coordinator Bragg - The Thursday Night Activity Committee
reviews applications for Downtown Association Memberships, plans activities for the
"off" season, arranges special events such as the "Rib Cook Off" and "Law
Enforcement Night." They also focus on safety features, promoting positive activities
on Garden Street, and creative ways to accommodate the Farmers' Market during the
Higuera Street Bridge project.
Board Member Swem - The Parking and Access Committee considers parking and
access in the downtown area. They aggressively work to obtain more parking and
new pedestrian spaces in the downtown. They also make recommendations
regarding Parking Fund money allocations, private downtown parking lots, and
alternative transportation plans for the downtown.
E. Community Partnerships
Downtown Association Administrator Holley reported that the membership participates in a
variety of fund - raising efforts for worthy causes such as the Prado Day Center the Public Art
Program, the Sweep and Greet Program, the Criterion, Mardi Gras, and the Cal Poly Intern
Program.
President Weaver noted that the Downtown Association has several other community
partnerships such as the Santa's House, the Chamber of Commerce, Equal Opportunity
Commission, the Childcare Resource Connection, the Mozart Festival, the Film Festival, the
Arts Council, the Art Center, the Food Bank, Ride On and Ride Share, the Cal Poly, and the
SLO County Visitors and Conference Bureau.
2. MAIN STREET PROGRAM.- NEW AND IMPROVED INITIATIVES.
A. Overview
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Tuesday, August 29, 2000 - 7:00 p.m.
Doug Loesher, National Trust Main Street Center, praised San Luis Obispo for being a great
' model for downtown revitalization. He outlined the seven principles for revitalization:
1. Resource Efficiency (land use and infrastructure).
2. Compact Development (new development standards and higher density areas).
3. Center Focus (downtown revitalization and new "town center" development).
4. Mixed Use (traditional combinations and creative combinations).
5. Transportation Options (public transit and bicycle access).
6. Pedestrian Orientation (taming the automobile and human - scaled design).
7. Community Character (`local focus" and design standards).
Mr. Loesher emphasized the importance of supporting small businesses and balancing
national business with local independent businesses. He also recommended that the City's
Downtown Strategic Plan should consider the physical elements, as well as economic
development.
Keith Kielstrom, Director of the California Main Street Program in Sacramento, reported that
The State Department of Commerce has used the City of San Luis Obispo as a "how to"
model for revitalization. He gave an overview of the California Main Street Program and
summarized the benefits of becoming a certified California Main Street Community.
3. CITY COUNCIL - DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION DISCUSSION/PUBLIC INPUT.
A. Feedback on Presentation
Public Comments:
Situ Kevin Harrison asserted that local law enforcement officers continue to conduct
racially motivated harassment against him and to physically abuse him.
Richard Lee offered the use of Cal Poly and City Regional Planning Student Services as
assistance for the Downtown Association.
Lee Ferraro, David Jeffrey. and Dale Sutliff provided supportive comments.
Eugene Judd, urged the involvement of citizens in planning for the downtown.
Jean Shay requested that the time and date of the Downtown Association meetings be
advertised in the newspaper.
Chris Ivey stated that he does not want big box stores in San Luis Obispo.
—end public comments —
Individual Council and Board Member comments followed.
Although no formal action was taken, the Council agreed to consider at the next Council
goal - setting workshop (September 5, 2000) a recommendation by Council Member Marx to
appoint a task force that would include collaborative planning for the "Greater Downtown"
(the blocks surrounding the Downtown Association District).
COMMUNICATIONS
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Tuesday, August 29, 2000 - 7:00 p.m.
Council Member Romero proposed placing a discussion of the Higuera Street Bridge on the
agenda for the next regular Council meeting. Council concurred and directed staff to place
this item on the September 5, 2000 agenda.
Mayor Settle proposed that Council place an item on the September 19, 2000 agenda
pertaining to non - taxable sales in "big box" stores, Council Members Mark and Romero
concurred. City Administrative Officer Dunn advised that the next several upcoming
Council agendas are heavy and pointed out that there are no imminent developments that
would be subject to this condition. Council agreed to defer this request to a later date.
Council Member Marx spoke regarding Cal Poly's recent action to end participation in the
Free Fare Buses Program and urged Council to direct staff to investigate a proposal
received from Cal Poly Professor Richard W. Lee. Public Works Director McCluskey
informed Council that meetings are already scheduled between City and Cal Poly staff to
work on alternatives. Council directed staff to continue pursuing alternative solutions and
report back to Council.
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Settle adjourned the
meeting at 10:20 p.m. to Wednesday, August 30, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Hearing
Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
Mary K pecky%
Assistant City Clerk
APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 10117/00
MK:dr
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