HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/31/2009MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2009 — 9:00 A.M.
LIBRARY COMMUNITY ROOM — 995 PALM STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
ROLL CALL:
Council Members
Present: Council Members John Ashbaugh, Andrew Carter, Jan Howell Marx, Vice
Mayor Allen K. Settle and Mayor Dave Romero
City Staff
Present: Ken Hampian, City Manager, Bill Statler, Finance Director, and Audrey
Hooper, City Clerk. (Department Heads and support staff were also
present to respond to questions.)
Mayor Romero discussed the format for public comment and introduced facilitator Don
Maruska.
City Manager Hampian acknowledged Supervisor Adam Hill and made some
introductory remarks.
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2009-11 FINANCIAL PLAN: COUNCIL GOAL SETTING WORKSHOP
Facilitator Maruska reviewed the agenda and described the process and guidelines for
the workshop.
Discussion ensued during which staff responded to questions and the Council
formulated candidate City goals by category and discussed the relationship of goals to
current activities. .
PUBLIC COMMENT
Tim Williams, San Luis Obispo resident and business owner, recommended that the
City commission a study on the issue of binding arbitration and assess options to
change it.
Michael Sullivan, San Luis Obispo, suggested that an ordinance should be developed
addressing neighborhood wellness and that projects that have already been approved,
such as the Mitchell Park parking lot, should be given a different funding priority.
Brett Cross, representing Residents for Quality Neighborhoods, suggested that any public
messaging should include reference to neighborhood wellness and pointed out efforts on
this behalf spans many departments and is ongoing.
City Council Meeting
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Page 2
Following a lunch break, Council discussed and weighted the goals, and prepared a
written ballot ranking the goals.
Staff returned after a recess with the following tabulation of the ranking.
1. Maior City Goals
These represent the most important, highest priority goals for the City to accomplish
over the next two years, and as such, resources to accomplish them should be included
in the 2009 -11 Financial Plan.
Infrastructure Maintenance
Infrastructure Maintenance. Sustain an effective level of existing core infrastructure
maintenance such as streets, sidewalks, creek & flood protection, parks and protection
of other physical assets.
Transportation
Traffic Congestion Relief. Continue efforts on projects which relieve traffic
congestion, such as street modifications, intersection improvements, pedestrian
improvements, bicycle facilities, traffic signal operations and public transit.
Community Development
Economic Development. In collaboration with Cal Poly, Cuesta College, and the
business community, develop strategies to increase economic development including
emphasis on head -of- household jobs and environmentally sustainable businesses.
General Government
Preservation of Critical Services and Fiscal Health. Adopt a balanced budget that
retains the City's fiscal health, preserves critical services and implements long term
productivity improvements and cost reduction strategies.
2. Other Important Objectives
Goals in this category are important for the City to accomplish, and resources should be
made available in the 2009 -11 Financial Plan if at all possible.
Community Development
Land Use and Circulation Revisions. Initiate a focused revision of the Land Use and
Circulation Elements. 1
City Council Meeting Page 3
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Open Space Preservation. Continue efforts to acquire, preserve and protect open
space and develop a master plan for City -owned agricultural land.
Green House Gas Reduction and Energy Conservation. Adopt and begin
implementing a plan to reduce greenhouse gases and conserve energy for municipal
operations and the community.
Downtown. Expand Downtown beautification efforts, including enhanced maintenance
and cleanliness; review and upgrade of standards; and making phased physical
improvements.
Leisure, Cultural & Social Services
Historic Preservation. Complete a draft Historic Preservation Ordinance and update
the inventory of historic and cultural resources within the City.
3. Address As Resources Permit
While it is desirable to achieve these goals over the next two years, doing so is subject
to current resource availability.
Transportation
' Creek and Flood Protection. Advance Mid - Higuera flood protection improvements by
seeking Zone 9 funding to complete design, obtain approvals and make progress
toward construction as resources will allow.
Leisure, Cultural & Social Services Skate Park. Develop plans and specifications
and seek funding to construct a skate park.
Urban Forest. Update master tree plan and develop recommendations to renew the
urban forest and plant more trees.
Homeless Services. Identify and pursue opportunities to implement the "Ten -Year
Plan to End Chronic Homelessness."
A brief discussion ensued regarding the next steps In the 2009 -11 Financial Plan
process.
Following a brief discussion regarding Mr. Williams' suggestion related to binding
arbitration during Public Comments, a Council majority directed staff to place the matter
on a future agenda with options that could include initiation of a public opinion survey to
determine community interest in removing from the City Charter the current provisions
regarding binding arbitration and options for placing a measure on the ballot. Council
Members Marx and Ashbaugh did not concur with this direction_M--- _�' ^- -_�_�_
City Council Meeting
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Page 4
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Romero
adjourned the meeting at 3:20 p.m.
Audrey Ho er
City Clerk
APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 02/17/09
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