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Home My WebLink About06/04/2009MINUTES ' SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2009 - 4:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER, 990 PALM STREET SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA ROLL CALL: Council Members Present: Council Members John Ashbaugh, Andrew Carter, Jan Howell Manx, Vice Mayor Allen K. Settle and Mayor Dave Romero City Staff Present: Ken Hampian, City Manager, Jonathan Lowell, City Attorney, Shelly Stanwyck, Assistant City Manager, and Audrey Hooper, City Clerk, were present at Roll Call. Other staff members presented reports or responded to questions as indicated in the minutes. WORKSHOP PRELIMINARY 2009 -11 FINANCIAL PLAN. ' Overview of Key Budget Issues, Strategies and Fiscal Outlook City Manager Hampian provided an overview of the general issues and themes that would be discussed during the meeting. Financial Plan Overview. includina Fiscal Policies and Council Goals and Key Assumptions regardina. General Fund Revenues Finance and Information Technology Director Statler provided an overview of the Preliminary Financial Plan. Public comments were received following the presentations by the City Manager and Finance and Information Technology Director, as well as following department presentations. Mike Multari, San Luis Obispo, cautioned Council to continue to be conservative when approving the Financial Plan as there may be other outside impacts on the budget beyond what the State may take away from cities. Sandra Rowley, Residents of Quality Neighborhoods (RQN), San Luis Obispo, concurred with Mr. Multari. She expressed RQN's hope that neighborhood patrols ' could be implemented and that ways to deal with noise problems in the City could be addressed. City Council Meeting Thursday, June 4, 2009 Page 2 General Fund Operating Programs Finance & IT Director Statler made some introductory comments on the operating programs and how they are organized. Staff then provided highlights of their respective operating programs, including significant operating program changes being requested, and responded to Council's questions. If Council consensus related to an operating program was unanimous, discussion has not been included in the minutes. If it was not or Council provided direction that differs from staffs recommendation, the minutes so note. General Government (Report presented by Assistant City Manager Stanwyck.) Vice Mayor Allen and Council Member Manx spoke in opposition to the pilot restructuring program that would eliminate the City Clerk Department Head position for the next two years. Their concerns related, in part, to the level of expertise and technical knowledge the City Clerk's position requires, the need for the Clerk's office to operate independently within the organization, and potential recruitment issues in the future. Mayor Romero concurred with the concerns expressed, but stated that because the proposed restructuring is for a two -year pilot program and not a permanent elimination of the Department Head position at this time, he would support the staff recommendation. 1 Council Member Ashbaugh shared the concerns expressed, but in light of the current budget situation, supported the staff recommendation. Council Member Carter stated that he would support the recommendation. The restructuring pilot program was conceptually approved by a majority of the Council. City Attorney (Report presented by City Attorney Lowell.) Mayor Romero called for public comments on the City Attorney's operating program. No public comments were forthcoming. Human Resources (Report presented by Human Resources Director Irons.) Mayor Romero called for public comments on the Human Resources operating programs. No public comments were forthcoming. Finance and Information Technology (Report presented by Finance and Information Technology Director Statler) Mayor Romero called for public comments on the Finance and Information Technology 1 City operating programs. No public comments were forthcoming. City Council Meeting' Page 3 Thursday, June 4, 2009 IPublic Works (Report presented by Public Works Director Walter.) In response to questions regarding the City's Geographic Information System (GIS), Council concurred that staff should hold a study session in the fall to see a demonstration of how this system works. Mayor Romero called for public comments on the Public Works operating programs. No public comments were forthcoming. Council recessed from 6:15 to 7:00 p.m. and the meeting reconvened with all members present. Police Protection (Report presented by Police Chief Linden) Mayor Romero called for public comments on the Police Safety operating programs. 0 Sandra Rowley, San Luis Obispo, discussed her concerns regarding noise issues and expressed her hope that a greater number of those people responsible for disturbances are cited in the future. Council discussion followed, during which a majority of the Council concurred with the ' following direction: Neighborhood Police Patrols. A study session will be scheduled in September with the Police Department. At that time Council will preview and provide direction on a comprehensive program identifying strategies for addressing noise violations and proposed new efforts for enforcement. Following that study session, Police staff will consult with stakeholders and return to Council with a formal recommendation in November 2009. Staff was directed to add this to the budget as a program objective. Police Staffing Reductions. Rather than eliminate four police officer positions from the Patrol division, three officers from Patrol and one officer from the Traffic division will be eliminated. Impact of State Budget on Early Prisoner Release. Because Council was concerned about the impact of the State budget and a possible early release of prisoners, a program objective will be added to the budget for a report back to Council on the impact this would have on the policing needs of the community. Council Member Ashbaugh objected to delaying implementing the neighborhood services program. 1 Fire Safety (Report presented by Battalion Chief Dave Podhorsky) City Council Meeting Page 4 Thursday, June 4, 2009 Mayor Romero called for public comments on the Fire Safety operating programs. No public comments were forthcoming. 1 Transportation (Report presented by Public Works Director Walter) Mayor Romero called for public comments on the Transportation operating programs. Adam Fukushima, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition, spoke in support of the Bicycle Transportation Programs Assistant position. Recreation Programs (excluding Golf) (Report presented by Parks and Recreation Director Kiser) Mayor Romero called for public comments on the Recreation operating programs. No public comments were forthcoming. Council recessed from 9:00 to 9:10 p.m. and the meeting reconvened with all members present. Park Maintenance Programs (Report presented by Public Works Director Walter) Mayor Romero called for public comments on the Park Maintenance operating programs. No public comments were forthcoming. Cultural Activities (Report presented by Assistant City Manager Stanwvck) Mayor Romero called for public comments on the Cultural Activities operating program. Alissa Maddren, Program Director for Arts Obispo, thanked Council for funding and advocated for retaining the Promotional Coordinating Committee grants for public art. Human Relations (Report presented by Human Resources Director Irons) Mayor Romero called for public comments on the Human Relations Maintenance operating programs. No public comments were forthcoming. Community Development (Report presented by Community Development Director Mandeville) Mayor Romero called for public comments on the Community Development operating programs. No public comments were forthcoming. Engineering (Development Review /CIP Project Engineering) (Report presented by Public Works Director Walter) City Council Meeting Page 5 Thursday, June 4, 2009 Mayor Romero called for public comments on the Engineering operating programs. No public comments were forthcoming. Natural Resources Protection and Economic Health (Reports presented by Assistant City Manager Stanwyck) Mayor Romero called for public comments on the Natural Resources Protection and Economic Health operating programs. No public comments were forthcoming. ACTION: Council provided specific direction as indicated previously. Where no direction was given, Council concurred with staffs recommendations. There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Romero adjourned the meeting at 10:00 p.m. Elaina Cano Interim City Clerk APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 07/07/09 1 1