Minutes 1986-02-26 SP
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CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 26, 1986
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA 1 : 00 P. M.
The City Council met in a Study Session on Goal Planning with Mayor
Pro Tem Matt Gallagher presiding. Mayor Smith and Council Members Dorace
Johnson, Gene Moots and D.G. Porter were present. Also present were City
Department heads and staff members, members of the Press and the Public.
Before the discussion of goal planning began, City Manager Bob Mack
referred to a problem of turbidity in the City water system. He said there
was no health hazard, and he expected the problem to be worked out in a
few days.
Council Member Gallagher opened the study session by saying that
he had called for the special meeting because he felt the City needs a
plan. He said that in dealing with City issues he feels that he is buffeted
by the wind, like a boat with no sailor rudder. He asked for a response
from those in attendance, and Parks and Recreation Director John Keisler
said he knows where his department is going, but gets sidetracked.
Mayor Smith said she feels that each department knows where it is
going, as does the Council. She said that the Council reacting to problems
currently is minimal compared to in the past.
Council Member Moots said he is bothered by the fact that on development
issues the Council. is always playing "catch up." He mentioned some areas
where the City is working to be ahead of development such as multiple dwelling
density, traffic signalization and residential fire sprinklers.
Council Member Johnson said that Council members should be assigned
to the various City commissions, to be a liason between the commission
and the Council. She said she would rather be "acting" than "reacting."
Council Member Porter said we need more long-range planning.
Mr. Mack said the City Council has a number of roles, and will never
see the time when it will not have to solve difficult problems. He said
the easier problems are solved at a level the Council does not see. He
said the Council may sometimes get diverted from long-term planning, but
it is elected to look to the future, and position the City in a way that
it will not suffer. He said the Council is constantly asked to change
roles.
Council Member Gallagher opened the subject of "mitigating measures,"
and Associate Planners Nancy Iversen and Peter Rosen said many of the problems
could be addressed first before "mitigating measures" are considered.
Fire Chief Doug Hamp said the Council has to find out how much the public
is willing to pay for.
Police Chief Jim Clark said that the Municipal Code needs changes,
for example, what should be done about Adult Book Stores, and could they
be controlled through zoning? Council Member Porter said maybe each department
could go through the Code and make recommendations for changes. Mr. Mack
said that there always will be unexpected problems to deal with.
Council Member Gallagher asked if the City has a forward looking
staff that has plans to solve problems. He asked if the City has a plan
for the South County Regional Center, and are there needs there that should
be addressed. He said that possibly the City should send its concerns to
the other cities and join with them in a plan.
Chief Hamp said he would support all pre-active thinking. He said
the growth here has been amazing, and his philosophy is that his department
has to improve its skills somewhat to deal with what happens in the future.
He said the City should be "futuring" to the year 2000.
CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 26, 1986
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA PAGE TWO
Mr. Mack showed by chart where the City's money comes from. He said
the City by law is required to maintain certain funds for certain purposes.
He explained that for purposes of this meeting he had consolidated all
funds into one except the water and sewer systems and downtown parking
district. He listed the various sources of funds, sales taxes being the
highest at 30.1 percent. He said that under expenditures the New Civic
Center fund was the highest at 21.3 percent. He said the ratio of Operations,
Maintenance and Equipment to Capital Outlay is a 60/40 percent ratio and
represents a healthy picture for the City.
Council Member Gallagher said most of the City monies come from sales
taxes but that is losing ground. He said the City should do something
to enhance the business district. He said there are a lot of properties
where the potential has not been scratched. He said an Arroyo Grande business
district could draw people from Nipomo to Avila Beach.
Mayor Smith said one of the items that concern her is the allocation
of funds and the phasing program for the new Civic Center. She said the
Chamber of Commerce should playa role in the development of a commercial
business district. Mr. Mack said the City is exporting 50 percent of its
sales taxes, that is, what is being collected in sales taxes in the South
County vicinity is 50 percent of what is being sold in San Luis Obispo
and Santa Maria.
Ella Honeycutt of 560 Oak Hill Road pointed to the need for diverse
planning in the business district giving as an example the City of Lompoc,
which relys so heavily on the National space and defense program and may
be trouble now that the Space Shuttle may be sidetracked for a year or
two.
Planning Director Stan Eisner said this the staff takes the goals
and objectives and prepares for the Council a series of alternatives.
He said the Council discusses the alternatives and focuses them into directives.
He said we have to have organizational mobility to deal with all kinds
of changes as they come along.
Council Member Gallagher summarized by saying that there should be
further planning in the areas of the Civic Center, South County Regional
Center, enhancing the Business District, protecting the Farm Land, and
in updating the Municipal Code. Mayor Smith said Council Members should
write down their concerns and share them. Council Member Porter said his
concerns are in the area of Capital Outlay, Agriculture Zoning and Ordinance
changing.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 P.M.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK