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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/01/2003MINUTES REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2003 — 8:30 A.M. LIBRARY COMMUNITY ROOM, 995 PALM STREET SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA ROLL CALL: Council Members Present: Council Members John Ewan, Ken Schwartz, Allen K. Settle, Vice Mayor Christine Mulholland, and Mayor Dave Romero City Staff: Present: Ken Hampian, City Administrative Officer; Gil Trujillo, Acting City Attorney; Lee Price, City Clerk; Wendy George, Assistant City Administrative Officer; John Mandeville, Community Development Director; Bill Statler, Finance Director; Karen Jenny, Risk Manager; Deborah Linden, Police Chief; Wolfgang Knabe, Fire Chief; John Moss, Utilities Director; Mike McCluskey, Public Works Director; Paul LeSage, Parks and Recreation Director; Betsy Kiser, Principal Administrative Analyst; Linda Asprion, Revenue Manager; Carolyn Dominquez, Accounting Manager; Shelly Stanwyck, Economic Development Manager; Gary Henderson, Water Division Manager; Tim Bochum, Deputy Public Works Director; Bart Topham, Police Captain; Rob Bryn, Neighborhood Services Manager; Tom Baasch, Chief Building Official; and Neil Havlik, Natural Resources Manager Facilitator:. Don Maruska 2003 -05 FINANCIAL PLAN: COUNCIL GOAL SETTING WORKSHOP Mayor Romero welcomed all in attendance. A moment of silence was held in memorial to seven Nasa space shuttle astronauts lost in an early morning tragedy. CAO Hampian described the purpose of the goal- setting process and presented an overview of the City's fiscal outlook, budget actions to -date, and results from the community forum and next steps. He emphasized that today's goal is not to balance the budget but to identify the highest priorities and direction for the City for the next two years. Facilitator Maruska described the process and presented guidelines for the workshop. The Council formulated candidate major City goals by category (water supply, energy conservation, streets and sidewalks, pedestrian and bicycle paths, creek and flood protection, parking and transit, parks and recreation, cultural services, social services, planning, neighborhoods, housing, downtown improvements, revenue enhancements, and long tens fiscal health). Council Goal- Setting Workshop Tuesday, February 1, 2003 - 8:30 a.m. Page 2 Public Comments: Andrew Carter, 1283 Woodside Drive, urged the Council to separate from neighborhood "wellness" the issue of enforcement. He also encouraged the Council to send a strong message to Cal Poly that it must comply with its new master plan. Cvd Holcomb. RON, concurred with the previous speaker and asked for clarification of two of the candidate goals. Paul Reiss. 657 Evans Road, observed that City buses appear to have low rider -ship at night and asked if the City has done any transit passenger surveys. He proposed that a partnership with Ride -On might efficiently provide nighttime service. Reiss also speculated that there will be negative traffic impacts at the intersection of Vachell and S. Higuera as development on Los Osos Valley Road expands. He argued that the City and County should work cooperatively together to straighten out that intersection. Lastly, the speaker suggested that the City actively address the PERS crisis. —End of public comments— At 1:05 p.m., Mayor Romero called a recess. During this time, staff compiled candidate goals. At 1:45 p.m., the Council reconvened to clarify and weight the goals. Individual Council Members ranked a total of 19 candidate goals on a written ballot using a point system previously approved. Note: Council Member Ewan indicated that he would refrain from weighing in on the goal relating to Santa Barbara Street due to a potential conflict of interest (business ownership). Council Member Settle indicated that he would refrain from weighing in on goals relating to annexations of the Airport and the Dalidio property and a rental inspection ordinance (due to property interests). While staff tabulated the results, CAD Hamoian summarized community input on possible revenue and expenditure options. In addition, he presented the recommended budget balancing strategy which will reflect the Council goal- setting and priorities, and include an appropriate balance of five factors: 1) CIP red uctions/deferrals; 2) Strategic use of the fund balance (reserve); 3) Revenue enhancements allowed under Proposition 218; 4) Organi- zation -wide cost reduction strategies; and 5) Operating program reductions. Council discussion followed about potential revenue enhancements. Collectively the Council provided direction to staff to bring back for further review and consideration the following revenue enhancement concepts: 1) 100% cost recovery for development review; 2) a review of all fees, including recreational use; 3) instituting a fee for emergency response for first aid; and 4) voter approval measures, including those that would potentially increase real property transfer, transient occupancy and sales taxes; bond issues for capital improvements; city- wide assessment districts (i.e.: for flood protection) and/or downtown assessment districts (i.e.: for public safety). Council considered and discussed the list of suggested potential General Fund service reductions, by programs. A majority of the Council noted support for sustaining current programs for economic development and community promotion. Council Goal- Setting Workshop' Tuesday, February 1, 2003 - 8:30 a.m. Page 3 Council unanimously acknowledged that there is a need to scale back the level of new capital improvement projects. Council accepted the CAO's recommended budget balancing strategy. Council reviewed the results of the tabulation of the goal- setting priorities. Council amended the goal statement, "Annex the Dalidio and McBride properties" by taking out reference to the McBride property, and by creating a new goal to "Continue to explore the expansion of auto dealerships on the McBride and "Gap" properties ". 11 goals were identified as "Majority City Goals" and 9 goals were designated as "Other Important Objectives ". Confirmation of the goal statements was referred to the regular meeting of February 4, 2003. There being no further business to come before the City Council, it the meeting at 4:50 p.m. to Tuesday, February 4, 2003 at 7;90 p.m. in Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. / _ Lee P'rlde, City Clerk I APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 2/1812003 LP: jo 1 adjourned Chamber, 990