CC 2021-01-26_10a Project Status Update_Brisco Halcyon Road Interchange_Supplemental Information No 2
MEMORANDUM
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: WHITNEY MCDONALD, CITY MANAGER
SUBJECT: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
AGENDA ITEM 10.A. – JANUARY 26, 2021 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CONSIDERATION OF A PROJECT STATUS UPDATE, AND
ADOPTION OF THE INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION, AND AUTHORIZATION TO PREPARE AND ISSUE
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR DESIGN OF THE BRISCO-
HALCYON ROAD INTERCHANGE MODIFICATIONS PROJECT
DATE: JANUARY 26, 2021
Attached is correspondence received for the above referenced item.
cc: City Attorney
City Clerk
City Website (or public review binder)
January 26, 2021
Mayor Caren Ray Russom
Mayor Pro Tem Jimmy Paulding
Council Member Kristen Barneich
Council Member Keith Storton
Council Member Lan George
RE: Brisco/Halcyon Interchange Modifications Project
Dear Members of the Arroyo Grande City Council,
My husband and I are homeowners and residents of Arroyo Grande and for 34 years have lived
within a one-mile radius of the Brisco/Highway 101 interchange.
We are adamantly opposed to the installation of a roundabout at the intersection of West Branch
and Rodeo Drive and urge the Council to not approve this project at the January 26 council meeting.
A roundabout placed at this location will not maximize efficiency with traffic and will not serve the
needs of commuters or the adjacent neighborhoods. Additionally, installation of a roundabout next
to St. Patrick’s Catholic school, the Arroyo Grande Library and along a well-utilized pedestrian
walkway on West Branch will create extremely hazardous conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists
alike.
Moreover, given the current economic conditions, it is fiscally irresponsible for the City to spend
funds on a roundabout installation, the most expensive alternative for addressing traffic issues.
Alternative 1, which had resounding support from the community, would mean closure of the Brisco
Road on ramp and off ramp, and would route cars away from the Brisco underpass. When these
ramps were temporarily closed, this alternative plan proved incredibly successful in reducing traffic
congestion, while keeping pedestrians and bicyclists safe along that corridor.
We strongly urge Council to NOT approve the roundabout project at the Brisco/Halcyon interchange
and instead take action that is fiscally sound and safe for the community and consider Alternative 1.
Sincerely,
Theresa and Richard Schultz
Emerald Bay Drive
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
From:
To:public comment
Subject:Agenda item 10 a Jan. 26, 2021
Date:Tuesday, January 26, 2021 11:32:48 AM
Mayor Russom and City Council members,
I realize this item is to discuss the 25 percent cost increase to the Brisco Road interchange
project and options to recommend reductions to this increase. However, I thought this would
be a good opportunity to reconsider the project altogether.
I keep hearing the City must move forward or it will loss the $6.6 million in SLOCOG
funding. So, I ask this question, should the loss of $6.6 million justify placing the City and
residents in further financial peril?
Take a look at the sales tax fund balance set aside for the Brisco project. Given the increased
economic hardships of 2020, the reductions in sales tax revenue and TOT, wouldn’t these
“Brisco funds” be better utilized for other City priorities? As an example, used for sustainable
water resources like Central Coast Blue?
Isn’t a secure and sustainable water source more vital to a community then the inconvenience
of a traffic jam?
What about using these “Brisco funds” for other mandated City services like police, fire and
infrastructure maintenance? I recall that infrastructure maintenance was so dire a consideration
for a sales tax increase was discussed for the 2020 ballot.
There are no guarantees costs will not continue to increase. So, is it really prudent to spend
limited staff resources and time, more money on consultant fees, etc., to open new/continued
discussions with Caltrans, especially given the potential of rising costs in the future?
Given these considerations, does anyone have the courage to step up and pull the plug on this
project? Go back to Option 4 (take no action), based on the fact that the costs of this project
are now too prohibited to proceed.
Respectfully,
Barbara Harmon
Arroyo Grande
COMMENTS REGARDING THE JANUARY 26, 2021 CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM 10A - Consideration Of A Project Status Update, And
Adoption Of The Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration, And
Authorization To Prepare And Issue Request For Proposals For
Design Of The Brisco-Halcyon Road Interchange Modifications
Project
We have previously provided comments regarding the Brisco Interchange
Project. We are still strongly opposed to Alternative 4C and opposed to the
recommendation contained in the January 26,2021 agenda item to “Adopt
a Resolution adopting the MND and authorizing the issuance of a Request
for Proposals for the design of the Project” for many reasons.
FISCAL CONCERNS AND PUBLIC INPUT
Prior to the City’s 2019 decision to move forward with Alternative 4C, a poll
was conducted online (I don’t remember if it was the City or CalTrans
consultant or ?). I read 98 pages of comments that were made public on
the internet, and a significant majority of comments expressed
overwhelming opposition to Alternative 4C for several reasons. The
reasons included the significantly higher cost of Alternative 4C vs. other
alternatives (most notably Alternative 1). Alternative 1 would have been
much cheaper yet still meet the intended goal, been more fiscally prudent,
safer for students at St. Patricks school, and would have less impact on
residents in the area, particularly those on Grace Lane and Rodeo Drive.
The budgetary concerns the City had previously identified resulted in
positions being eliminated, and eliminating public access to the City Hall on
Fridays due to staffing issues (the Friday closures continue today. Other
fiscal concerns identified by the City included lack of funding to meet: its
policing needs, the CalPERS obligations, costs associated with the 5 Cities
Fire Authority/reinstituting the City Fire Department; and its obligation to
keep sidewalks in good repair (despite potential legal costs from even one
trip-and-fall lawsuit).
It is unclear how the City’s financial situation has improved to such a
degree that would allow the City to move forward with Alternative 4C,
especially in light of both the revenue and cost impacts of the COVID-19
crisis on City, County, State and Federal Governments over the past year.
Comments from:
Claudine & Dennis Lingo
Grace Lane Residents
If the Mayor and City Council decides to move ahead with the
recommended actions in item 10A (in spite of a majority of residents
supporting “no build” or Alternative 1, and the public’s strong concerns
regarding the fiscal irresponsibility of Alternative 4C), following are some
suggestions for changes that need to be included in the scope of
Alternative 4C:
Eliminate from the scope of work the realignment of the intersection
of Grace Lane and Rodeo. This would save a considerable amount
of money and also reduce the tendency of motorists on Grace Lane
to drive at speeds well in excess of the limit 35 MPH speed limit on
our residential street (something they’re already doing now, even with
a stop sign at that intersection).
Include installation of speed bumps on Grace Lane like those on
Rodeo and include the cost for those speed bumps in the project.
OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
A few years ago, we identified a concern about the traffic study on
which the options for the Brisco Project were based and brought it to
the City’s attention. That traffic study was conducted before Grace
Lane even existed. Thus, the study did not accurately reflect current
traffic patterns, volume of traffic or travel times on both Grace Lane
and Rodeo Drive. The traffic study could not have anticipated the
volume of cars and the speeds at which motorists now travel on
Grace Lane.
Our current circumstances (related to COVID) suggest the City
should review or postpone implementing past decisions about
proceeding with the Brisco Project. Traffic patterns currently are in
flux, with many people working from home instead of going into an
office or clinic. Would it not make more sense to hold off on the
Brisco Project until COVID is behind us, and there is a more up-to-
date indication of how many people will continue to work for home?
It seems there is now hope that a federal infrastructure bill will be
providing funding to states/counties/cities during this year or next. It
would be fiscally prudent to hold off on finalizing decisions or moving
forward with the Brisco Project until a decision on the federal
infrastructure bill is made, and the Federal Government provides
information on the distribution of that funding.
I know that many of you were not on the City Council and may not have
previous comments we have provided. Let me know if you would like us to
provide them to you.
From:Caren Ray Russom
To:public comment
Subject:Fw: question on 10a.
Date:Monday, January 25, 2021 4:59:08 PM
Yours in service,
Caren
Caren Ray Russom
Mayor, City of Arroyo Grande
crayrussom@arroyogrande.org
Tel: 805-473-5400 | www.arroyogrande.org
300 E. Branch St | Arroyo Grande | CA | 93420
From: James Guthrie
Sent: Monday, January 25, 2021 2:07 PM
To: Whitney McDonald
Cc: Caren Ray Russom; Kristen Barneich; Keith Storton; Jimmy Paulding; Lan George
Subject: question on 10a.
Mayor, Council Members and City Manager McDonald :
I have a couple of questions on 10a.
I am having some difficulty assessing the cost of the current plan vs the 2018 approval. For example,
the sound walls are identified on page 3 of the report as costing 1 million but are identified as 3
million in table 3 on page 9. This would be a 200% increase for this component while the entire
project cost only increased 30% . I also thought that both the Grande Ave align and the sound walls
were both deferred in the 2018 decision.
Could we get a table like table 3 on page 9 of the staff report that compares the component costs
of the project as approved in 2018 and the current proposal?
As a side comment the cost savings from the Rodeo/Grace lane at 2 million seems excessive
considering the Grande Ave ramps realign is 1. 6 million, one million for the park and ride seems high
as well.
While I doubt it is possible is there any chance that we could reverse the 2018 decision, and
proceed with Alt. 1A?
I plan to have some additional comments later but wanted to communicate these questions today.
Thanks
Jim Guthrie
Starlight Ln
From:Annamarie Porter
To:Kendra Reynolds
Subject:FW: Brisco on/off ramp
Date:Tuesday, January 26, 2021 1:57:33 PM
Attachments:emaillogo 190eb98f-3dbf-4ac8-a0d6-5f778ed0ba4d1111111111111111111111111111111111111.png
Annamarie Porter
Interim City Clerk
Legislative and Information Services, City of Arroyo Grande
Tel: 805-473-5418 | www.arroyogrande.org
300 E Branch Street | Arroyo Grande | CA | 93420
City Hall Business Hours: M-Th 8:00 am - 5:00 pm; Closed Fridays
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From: Jimmy Paulding
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2021 11:31 AM
To: Annamarie Porter
Subject: Fw: Brisco on/off ramp
FYI
Sincerely,
Jimmy Paulding
Mayor Pro Tem
City of Arroyo Grande
From: Sharlotte Wilson
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2021 7:55 AM
To: Jimmy Paulding
Subject: Brisco on/off ramp
Councilman Paulding
I’m asking for you to vote to permanently close Brisco on/off ramps.
Thank You
Sharlotte Wilson
Arroyo Grande
From:Caren Ray Russom
To:James Guthrie
Cc:public comment
Subject:Re: Comments on 10a
Date:Tuesday, January 26, 2021 12:15:13 PM
Hello Jim-
Thank you for this cogent and concise input. I hope you will participate tonight. I know you
know the history of this project so your opinion is important for others to hear who are not
reading your full letter. Here's the link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89129208197; Webinar ID: 891 2920 8197
Or Telephone Attendee: 1-669-900-6833; 1-346-248-7799; 1-253-215-8782; Press * 9 to “raise hand” for public comment
Yours in service,
Caren
Caren Ray Russom
Mayor, City of Arroyo Grande
crayrussom@arroyogrande.org
Tel: 805-473-5400 | www.arroyogrande.org
300 E. Branch St | Arroyo Grande | CA | 93420
From: James Guthrie
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2021 12:12 PM
To: Caren Ray Russom; Kristen Barneich; Jimmy Paulding; Keith Storton; Lan George
Cc: Whitney McDonald
Subject: Comments on 10a
Mayor, Council Members:
I know from personal experience how difficult it is to reverse a previous decision (Rooster Creek/
City Hall). I realize your decision is more complicated and on a larger scale but is fundamentally the
same “what is best for the city based on the current information”.
Since you made that decision the city's financial future is less certain. We will come through this
better than most cities but still weaker for the foreseeable future. We also have near term significant
and unavoidable liabilities, pensions and the Traffic Way Bridge replacement to name just a couple.
The ROI on this investment is weaker as well. Even before the pandemic we saw several big business
closures in this area (Pier 1 and Chili's ) and will almost certainly will see more in the future. If we are
lucky, we may get a couple of additional hotels, but they will not be dependent on the completion of
this project (the north bound OFF-RAMP yes but not the traffic circle).
The communities' perspective has changed as well. In the survey produced for the Sales Tax measure
last year 9.4% of the respondents identified street maintenance as their primary concern while only
4.1% identified the Brisco interchange, less than the 4.5% who identified increased fees and taxes.
Brisco was a high-profile issue in 2006 but today we are more concerned about maintaining the
infrastructure we have than adding more.
The decision is complicated by the 2 million in “sunk” costs and the 6.6 million in funding from SLO-
COG. If you are certain the 17 million is a good investment than move forward otherwise, we should
cut our loses (and SLO-COG's as well) and end this here. The SLO-COG funding is more complicated
the 6.6 million will be reallocated to other communities* and the perception of our ability to execute
a major project will be diminished. Since we financed this project on our own dime, our long-term
position for future funding will not be significantly affected. We will move back in the que but if we
have a regional project in the future with, we will get the same consideration as every other
community.
Whatever your decision thanks for your work and consideration.
Jim Guthrie
Starlight Ln
*Unfortunately, it will probably just get “parked” in some project that is currently under funded just
like ours, and if it is in the South County like the improvements on 227 might be just valuable to the
residents of AG who commute to SLO.