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Home My WebLink About04/30/2002MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2002 - 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER, 990 PALM STREET SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA ROLL CALL: Council Members Present: Council Members Jan Howell Marx, Christine Mulholland, Ken Schwartz, Vice Mayor John Ewan, and Mayor Allen K. Settle Planning Commission Members Planning Commission Members Jim Aiken, Michael Boswell, James Caruso, Allan Cooper, Alice Loh, Orval Osborne, and Stephen Peterson City Staff: Present: Ken Hampian, City Administrative Officer; Jeff Jorgensen, City Attorney; Lee Price, City Clerk; Wendy George, Assistant City Administrative Officer; John Mandeville, Community Development ' Director; Bill Statler, Finance Director; John Moss, Utilities Director; Mike McCluskey, Public Works Director; Peggy Mandeville, Transportation Planner PRESENTATION STUDENT- DESIGNED HOUSING PROPOSALS PRESENTED BY CAL POLY. Jonathan Reich, Cal Poly Professor of Architecture, and students from the "Implementing Sustainable Principles of Planning" course presented an overview of student projects demonstrating possible housing solutions. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Andrew Carter, 1283 Woodside Drive, urged the Planning Commission to review the issue of affordable housing. He also supported building more on- campus student housing. Phil Ashley 1586 La Cita Court, voiced concerns regarding the adoption of Ordinance 1412 (City's Property Maintenance Regulations). Pamela Heatherinciton, ECOSLO, expressed concerns regarding dog excrement in the creek and urged Council to consider installing plastic "doggie bags" dispensers in strategic locations along the creek. Staff noted that the Council will consider the new Creek and Flood 1 Protection program on May 21, 2002 Situ Kelvin B. Harrison reiterated claims of discrimination and harassment. City Council Meeting Page 2 Tuesday, April 30,2002-7:00 p.m. Mary Beth Schroeder. 2085 Wilding Lane, voiced support for increasing on- campus student housing to eliminate traffic and parking congestion in surrounding neighborhoods. She reiterated support for a senior center and expressed opposition regarding rezoning and marketing in the downtown. Mike Spangler, 664 Marsh Street, urged Council to reexamine its position regarding zoning for wireless communication facilities and complained about a specific parking issue in the downtown. STUDY SESSION 1. PLANNING COMMISSION ROLE RELATIVE TO PARKING AND ACCESS ISSUES AND PLANNING COMMISSION INPUT ON POTENTIAL FORMATION OF A NEW ADVISORY Purpose of the Study Session: To receive and discuss the possible addition of an advisory body to review parking, transportation and access issues, and at the conclusion of the discussion, provide direction to staff as appropriate. Transportation Planner Mandeville presented the staff report. Individual questions and comments from members of the Planning Commission followed: Commissioner Cooper indicated that he would like more information about the potential composition of the committee. Commissioner Aiken, in response to a communication received from mark Shaffer of Ride - On (on file in the Office of the City Clerk), asked if the City currently has a parking and access committee. It was clarified that the Downtown Association has a parking committee that receives staff support from the Parking Manager. Commissioner Peterson voiced support for forming a new commission and suggested that it be created to advise the Planning Commission on matters relating to parking, transportation and pedestrian access. He spoke in favor of a name that would suggest that the committee's focus was not just on parking, but that alternative modes of transportation would also be considered. Commissioner Peterson also expressed an interest in seeing the role of the Planning Commission enhanced to include the review of Important planning documents, like the Pedestrian and Bicycle Plans. Commissioner Boswell agreed with many of Commission Peterson's comments. He added that a new advisory body might provide advice to the Planning Commission or the City Council, depending on the circumstances. Operational Issues, he explained, are not the primary responsibility of the Planning Commission and advice to the Council on those matters might best be received from user groups and/or other advisory bodies. Commission Chairperson Loh argued that the Planning Commission has had the time to deal with long range planning issues. She proposed that the Commission meeting agendas be re- arranged to provide them with more opportunities to do long range planning. suggested that those evenings when meetings are canceled would be good opportunities for the Commission to be more proactive. She favored reclaiming the Planning Commission's role, not enhancing it, and further stated that there Is a need for an additional advisory body or ad hoc committee to deal with operational issues relating to parking, transportation and access. City Council Meeting Page 3 Tuesday, April 30,2002-7:00 p.m. Planning Commissioner Osborne expressed apprehension about taking on added responsibilities given the already heavy workload of the Planning Commission. He commented that the Commission's focus should be on housing, rather than transportation, and suggested that the Council seek Input from the Mass Transportation Committee and the Bicycle Committee on issues relating to transportation. Commissioner Cooper pointed out that the Planning Commission is often required to make legal findings and noted that other advisory bodies, like the one proposed, are not. Commissioner Caruso questioned whether the Planning Commission is the right advisory body to provide input to the Council on parking, transportation and access. Council Comments followed. Vice Mayor Marx read her memo (on file in the Office of the City Clerk) outlining several recommendations, including: Enhance Planning Commission role in planning aspect of transportation; rename and revive the special technical advisory body disbanded in 1992 and designate the citywide technical advisory body to be a "think tank ". Additionally she read a draft resolution establishing such an advisory body (Attachment #4 of her memo). Council Member Schwartz read his memo of November 23, 2001 (on file in the Office of the City Clerk) reiterating his view that no new advisory body is necessary and proposing that the Planning Commission's duty includes providing input on parking, transportation and access issues. He suggested that staff consider bringing back a report outlining what a Planning Commission should do. Council Member Mulholland concurred with Council Member Schwartz. She added that the Council should continue to review and consider neighborhood parking districts, fees, rates and fines. She endorsed recommendations for increased synergy as outline by staff outlined in the agenda report Council Member Ewan also voiced support for staff recommendations to increase synergy. In addition, he argued in support of creating a new technical advisory body to provide input on operational issues, including parking differentials, rates, the Parking Management Plan, parking reduction and parking districts. He also expressed agreement with the concepts outlined by Vice Mayor Marx in her memo. Mayor Settle remarked that the Planning Commission is the logical advisory body to deal with the issues of parking and access. He supported maintaining the Mass Transportation Committee and the Bicycle Advisory Committee. He suggested that the Planning Commission be given the opportunity to review Vice Mayor Marx's memo and develop a recommendation to the Council about the type of committee that would be best able to address the issues. Mayor Settle called a break called at 9.17 p.m. The meeting resumed at 9.57 p.m. Public Comments: Dave Romero, 2057 Skylark Lane, argued against forming a new committee and shared some history about the former parking committee. J City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 30,2002-7:00 p.m. Page 4 Andrew Carter. 1283 Woodside Drive, spoke In support of forming a separate parking committee to make sure that parking and access issues get the attention they deserve. He suggested that if the responsibility is placed on the Planning Commission, It may overburden the Commission. In addition, he expressed a concern that housing issues would not be adequately addressed. Mike Spangler. 664 Marsh Street, and Deborah Holley. Downtown Association Administrator, urged Council not to create a separate parking committee - Mary Beth Schroeder, 2085 Wilding Lane, urged Council not to construct more parking garages. —end of public comments — Final Council and Commission discussion ensued. DECISIONS: 1) Planning Commission role to be enhanced to include review of City plans and projects including: Bicycle Plan, Pedestrian Transportation Plan, North Area Regional Facility Transit and Parking Projects, and the Short Range Transit Plan. 2) Issues relating to neighborhood parking districts, parking rates, fees and fines will remain the sole responsibility of the Council. 3) The Planning Commission will review, when deemed appropriate by staff and/or the Commission, other City projects that include parking, transportation and access issues. 4) Council approved Staff Recommendations #1, 2, and 3 for increasing synergy. 5) Planning Commission will consider whether or not the Commission has the capacity to take on the additional responsibility of reviewing certain and outstanding components of the PDAP and the Parking Management Plan, or if that role would be more appropriate for a new standing or ad hoc advisory body. 6) Marx and Schwartz memos to be forwarded on to the Planning Commission for reference during their discussion. There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Settle adjourned the meeting at 11:02 p.m. to Tuesday, May 7, 2002 at 4:30 p.m. in ounc' amber, 990 Palm t Street, San Luis Obispo. n � % Lee Price, City Clerk APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 5/21/2002 LP:mk U J i