Minutes 2015-12-17 SP ,
ACTION MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2015
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 215 EAST BRANCH STREET
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hill called the Special City Council Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Council Members Jim Guthrie, Tim Brown, Kristen Barneich, Mayor Pro Tern Barbara Harmon,
and Mayor Jim Hill were present.
City Manager Dianne Thompson, City Attorney Heather Whitham, Director of Legislative and
Information Services/City Clerk Kelly Wetmore, City Engineer Matt Horn, and Chief of Police
Steven Annibali were also present.
3. FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Hill led the flag salute.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Hill stated that public comment would be invited following presentation of the staff report.
5. BUSINESS ITEM
5.a. Consideration of Modification of the Test Closure Termination Date for the Brisco
Road at US 101 Northbound On and Off-Ramps and Update on the Brisco
Interchange Project.
City Manager Thompson introduced the item and provided an update on the San Luis Obispo
Council of Governments (SLOCOG) meeting held on December 16, 2015. City Engineer Horn
presented the staff report and recommended that the Council: 1) Provide direction to staff on
whether or not to request an extension from Caltrans of temporary closure duration until July 11,
2016; and; 2) Direct staff to return to City Council on February 23, 2016, with Test Closure data
analysis.
Staff responded to questions from Council regarding discussions from Police and Fire regarding
the closure; how the six month closure was determined; noticing for the special meeting;
estimated costs for continued closure of the ramps; SLOCOG funding; clarification regarding the
No Build alternative; clarification that National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation
has not yet been prepared; and that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document
would have to be revised if an alternative is removed.
Council Member Guthrie reported on the SLOCOG meeting and that there was unanimous
approval to retain funding for the Brisco Interchange project.
Mayor Hill invited public comment. Speaking from the public were Alicia Lara, representing the
Royal Oaks Stakeholders group, suggested a notification link for those interested in updates to
the Brisco Interchange project, expressed appreciation for the added information on the project
-Minutes of City Council Special Meeting
December 17, 2015
Page 2
regarding the cost of eliminating an alternative, and requested extension of the ramp closure;
Mike Furman, Arroyo Grande, favored keeping the ramps closed; Tyler Brown, Arroyo Grande,
favored keeping the ramps closed; Yves Blais, Baja Fresh Owner, supported temporary closure
of the ramps for the study but expressed concern with an extended closure due to negative
impacts to his business; Nathaly Blais, Baja Fresh Owner, expressed concern about losing
_ business due to the closure of the ramps and the cost of continued study of the closure; Speaker
(declined to state name) expressed appreciation for the special meeting and supported the ramp
closure; Rudy Xavier, Arroyo Grande, stated the City has received a lot of information but it does
not represent a unanimous view and that there could be other reasons to re-open the ramps,
such as public safety response time; and expressed concerns regarding negative impacts to
businesses; Terry Berkley, Arroyo Grande, supported the ramp closure; Wendell Schultz, Arroyo
Grande, expressed concerns about the Oak Park intersection at Branch and Grand Avenue,
supported Alternative 1 and reopening the ramps; Pat Dempsey, Arroyo Grande, supported the
ramp closure and stated that he distributed a neighborhood flyer; Chuck Kass, Royal Oaks,
questioned the priorities and benefits and what the City can afford, opposed the $14 million
project and supported extending the-ramp closure and finishing the study. Hearing no further
comments, Mayor Hill closed the public comment period. -
Council comments ensued regarding the temporary ramp closure and moving forward with the
request to Caltrans to extend the closure for six months including acknowledgement of the
volume of public comments received in favor of keeping the ramps closed; providing instant -
notification regarding project updates; concern about full project funding sources; that
businesses need to be notified more robustly; acknowledgement that Brisco Road appears to be
functioning better with the ramps closed; acknowledgement that there are other considerations
such as public safety response times; and a suggestion to include notice of the February 23`d
meeting on the project sign located at the Brisco intersection.
Action: Council Member Guthrie moved to send the rider through to Caltrans requesting a six
month extension of the closure of Brisco and to direct staff to return to the City Council on
February 23, 2016, with Test Closure data analysis. Council Member Brown seconded, and the
motion passed on the following roll-call vote:
AYES: Guthrie, Brown, Barneich, Harmon, Hill
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
6. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hill adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
•
Ji Hill, Mayor
TTEST:
Wattett
Kelly etm re, City Clerk
(Approved at CC Mfg 01112/7-01C9 )