PC Minutes 1997-10-01MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ARROYO GRANDE
CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1997
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
215 EAST BRANCH STREET
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA
1. CALL TO ORDER
The City Council and Planning Commission of the City of Arroyo Grande met in regular
session at 6:30 p.m.
2. FLAG SALUTE
Mayor A. K. "Pete" Dougall led the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag.
3. ROLL CALL
Present with Mayor Dougall were Mayor Pro Tem Michael Lady; Council Members
Michael Fuller, Thomas A. Runels, and Steve Tolley, and Planning Commissioners
Sandy Lubin, Chair; Laurence Greene, James P. "Dan" O'Donnell, Jr., and Francis
Rondeau. Planning Commission Vice Chair Del Haney was absent. Staff members
present were City Manager Robert L. Hunt, City Clerk Nancy Davis, Community
Development Director Doreen Liberto- Blanck and Associate Planners Helen Elder and
Bruce Buckingham.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Fred Bower, 3000 Jatta Road, Huasna Valley, said he would like zoning in the Arroyo
Grande Village to allow multi - family rental units.
Perry Judd, Director of Facilities for Lucia Mar Unified School District, said he had been
working with the Community Development Department on issues concerning growth. He
requested there be language in the General Plan to mitigate the impacts of growth on the
School District.
5. PROPOSED SUBCOMMITTEE TO ESTABLISH CRITERIA FOR FISCAL
IMPACT ANALYSIS REPORTS
Community Development Director Liberto - Blanck said staff recommended the City
Council and Planning Commission discuss the merits of appointing a Subcommittee to
establish criteria for fiscal impact analysis reports, and, if agreement is reached to
proceed, make appointments to the Subcommittee. She said fiscal impact analysis has
been required on certain projects to determine the economic benefits to the City. She
said there is public interest to establish standard criteria for all fiscal impact analysis
reports. She said the Subcommittee could consist of a Council Member, a Planning
Commissioner, and a member of the City's financial community. She said the
1
1
1
1
1
1
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 1, 1997
Subcommittee recommendations would be submitted to the City Council for approval
before starting fiscal impact analysis reports on new projects.
Council and Commission Members approved of the proposal. Planning Commissioner
O'Donnell requested the Planning Commission appointment be made at the next
Planning Commission meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Lady suggested a citizen -at -large be
appointed to the Subcommittee. Mayor Dougall said he would be interested in how the
criteria developed would apply to projects and which projects they would apply to.
It was moved by O'Donnell /Lady and the motion passed unanimously to create a four -
member Subcommittee, which would establish criteria for fiscal impact analysis reports,
consisting of a City Council appointee, a Planning Commission appointee (to be made at
the next Commission meeting), and two citizen -at -large appointees, preferably with
financial backgrounds.
It was moved by Tolley /Lady and the motion passed unanimously to appoint Council
Member Fuller as the City Council representative to the Subcommittee.
6. GENERAL PLAN UPDATE DISCUSSION
Associate Planner Elder said staff recommended the City Council /Planning Commission
consider comments received at the September 17 public meetings, as presented at this
meeting by Woodie Tescher of the ENVICOM Corporation, and give direction regarding
refinements to the scope of the work. She said 30 citizens attended the scoping
meetings, with Consultants Tescher, project manager; Gary Hamrick (Meyer, Mohaddes
Associates, Inc.) Traffic Engineer, and Alan Kotin, Economist, present. She said based
on comments received at these scoping sessions, together with additional comments
from this evening, the consultant will amend the scope of work. She said the amended
scope of work, revised budget, and the consultant's contract are tentatively scheduled for
City Council approval at the October 14 meeting.
Consultant Tescher, after distributing copies of notes taken at the public workshops to
the Council /Commission and those in the audience, discussed input concerning Land
Use, General— "Big Issues" and "Specific Uses /Issues." He listed points made at the
afternoon and evening workshops on Traffic. He said there was consensus that there is
a need to step back and look at a comprehensive traffic plan for the City. He said
modifications to the scope of work for the General Plan Update could include:
1. A comprehensive analysis of traffic circulation
2. Four minor changes
a. Tie land use strategies to economic development strategies
b. Study what Arroyo Grande's three areas (the Village, West of Highway 101, and
the hillsides) mean to the City economically and the kinds of uses needed.
c. Study how to preserve the existing businesses
d. Study how the City is impacted by its regional role
Mayor Dougall opened the discussion to the public.
2
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 1, 1997
Speaking to the Council and Commission were:
Royce Parker, 129 E. Cherry, who said it will be necessary to study what mix of
employment, business, and residential uses there should be to make the City fiscally
viable;
Otis Page, 606 Myrtle Street, who said the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments
Major Investment Study states Highway 101 will not be expanded from four to six lanes
and all growth in traffic will be channeled through Price Canyon Road in Pismo Beach;
Don Carrick, who moved here from Santa Barbara and stressed the importance of open
space, said the City should be careful not to give away precious land for dollars and a
golf driving range is needed in this area, and
Herman Olave, 222 West Cherry Avenue, who said a senior center at Elm Street Park is
needed.
Consultant Tescher summed up what the members of the public had said.
Council and Commission Members then gave their input, as follows:
Commissioner Greene — The General Plan Update should address the matter of
protecting the City from the negative impacts of urban sprawl by preserving open space
on its borders.
Council Member Runels — A lot of the agriculture land cannot generate enough revenue
to pay the taxes on the land. The effects of pesticides, dust, and noise from agriculture
uses should be taken into consideration.
Commission Chair Lubins — The Update should include the three issues of improving
traffic circulation, increasing economic development, and pulling the three distinct areas
together. There is a need for a golf course in the City. The City should come to terms
with SLOCOG and its position on Highway 101. Senior housing, including long -term
care, and a senior citizens center are needed.
Mayor Pro Tem Lady — There is a need to find what the character and size of the City
should be. The issue of quality of life is important. The City has yet to see the impacts
of a "big box" store. The City should capitalize on tourism.
Council Member Tolley — A study should be made of the City's park land, including
selling of park land. Is there too much park land or not enough? There is a need for
senior housing to be addressed.
Commissioner O'Donnell — The Update should focus on how to mitigate traffic problems
in the Tong- range.
3
1
1
1
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 1, 1997
Council Member Fuller — Zoning is critical as it relates to the agriculture land within the
City. A study should be made of the internal traffic problems in the City. There is a need
to offer more activities for tourists. It is critical to decide what the citizens want in the City
so a direction can be set. The senior citizen element is important.
Commissioner Rondeau — There is a need to make traffic plans in conjunction with the
State. Clean industry creates more money for the City than "big boxes." The City should
give special consideration to tourists. More motel rooms are needed here. A Tong -range
plan for more residential areas in the Village is needed.
Mayor Dougall — Parks and Recreation should be part of the discussion for the Update.
There are traffic circulation problems in the City and solving them should be the number
one goal of the Update. Economics and land use are tied together. There is a need to
knit the three cities together. Existing businesses need to be preserved. The City
should work with the local schools, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Hancock College, and
Cuesta College.
Community Development Director Liberto - Blanck invited citizens to place their names on
the General Plan Update Mailing List.
City Manager Hunt said staff will work with the consultants in revising the Update's scope
of work.
Consultant Tescher said there will be more public workshops and the first would be on
the major visions of the City. He challenged the citizens at the meeting to bring others to
the meetings. He said the Update would take a little over a year to complete. He said
the major visions workshop would establish what the citizens think is most important for
the Update.
7. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
8. CITY COUNCIL /PLANNING COMMISSION /COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR/CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Council Member Fuller said Arroyo Grande is not prepared for what is happening to it
economically. He said there is a chance that the United States Geologic Survey will
locate here with 400 plus high paying jobs and Arroyo Grande is not prepared.
9. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Lady /Runels and the motion passed unanimously to adjourn the
meeting at 8:31 p.m.
4
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 1, 1997
A. K. "PETE" DOUGALL, M • YOR
AND ' LU
G C 0 MMISSION CHAIR
AVIS, CITY CLERK
5