Minutes 1987-12-16 SP
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MINUTES
STUDY SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1987
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 215 E. BRANCH STREET
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA
The City Council met in a Study Session at 3:30 P.M. for a discussion
of Strawberry Festival plans. Mayor Howard Mankins presided and present
were Council Members Dorace Johnson, Mark M. Millis and Gene Moots. Council
Member D. G. Porter was absent.
Mayor Mankins said he would take part in the discussion, but disqualify
himself from votin9 on Strawberry Festival decisions because he has a conflict
of interest as a Village merchant.
Council Member Millis gave background on Council concerns about the
City's participation in the festival. He said the festival is not entirely a
merchant event for the Village, and that 23 service and charitable organiza-
tions used the festival to raise money. He said that Branch Street would be
closed to all but emergency vehicles, but that parking would be eliminated from
Mason and Nelson Stree6and those streets would constitute an alternate bypass.
JOHN CLARK, chairman of the festival, said the festival would pay for
extra police needed for festival cleanup. He said he believed all objections
had been overcome.
Police Chief Jim Clark said he had discussed with Caltrans closing Branch
Street eight hours per day Saturday and Sunday of the festival, and there
were no objections as long as traffic is controlled by the City Police and
freeway ramps are not blocked.
Fire Chief Doug Hamp said the elimination of parking on Nelson and
Mason Streets would be acceptable for emergency access. He asked that there
be emergancy access also down the center of Branch Street.
JOHN CLARK said the center of Branch would be used by the vendors but
that the sides of the street would be easily cleared for emergency access.
JERI PENCE of the Festival Committee listed areas where festival monies
90 to improve life in the City, including the hiring of a 3anta Claus at
Christmastime.
SANTA CLAUS spoke at the meeting, and gave candy canes to those present.
MRS. PENCE asked if City-owned property at Mason, Nelson, Short and
Arroyo Grande Creek could be used for vendor parking. She said there would
be parking and shuttle buses at the Regional Center and the High School. She
said this year there would be a First Aid booth, and the festival Command
Center would be at Burnardo'z.
JOHN CLARK said he would meet with the Police to work out traffic control
details.
There was Council discussion and consensus for approval of the festival
with the conditions that emergency access and crowd control be planned for;
parking on Nelson and Mason Streets be eliminated, extra police and
trash cleanup be paid for by the festival, and liability insurance be provided
for the event naming the City as added additional insured.
Mayor Mankins said the City Resolution on closing Branch Street would
be on the Council agenda December 22, 1987, and that Council Member Millis
would continue to be the Council liason with the Festival Committee.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:53 P.M.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK