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Planning
Commission Meeting Update
October 8, 2008
Wednesday
7:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL:
Commissioners Amanda Brodie, Dan Carpenter, Carlyn Christianson,
Diana Gould, Michael Multari, Vice-Chairperson John Ashbaugh and
Chairperson Charles Stevenson
All Commissioners were present.
ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:
The Presentation item was taken in advance of the Public Hearing.
MINUTES:
Minutes of September 10, 2008.
The minutes were accepted as amended.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
There were no public comments.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. City-wide.
GPA 120-08: Housing Element Update Work Program; City of San Luis
Obispo – Community Development Department, applicant.
(Kim Murry)
Deputy Director Murry provided the staff report outlining the work
program for the update of the Housing Element. The Commission
clarified aspects of the update process and opened the hearing for
input.
Jerry Rioux, Executive Director of the Housing Trust Fund, provided
both written and oral testimony regarding desired Housing Element
policies and program changes.
The Planning Commission provided direction to staff and, on a motion
by Commissioner Ashbaugh, seconded by Commissioner Gould, the
Commission voted 7:0 to approve the work program presented in the
staff report to update the Housing Element.
PRESENTATION:
2. San
Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce presentation regarding appearance of
Downtown.
(Dave Garth)
Dave Garth, President of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce,
provided a presentation of pictures and observations of various
downtowns in the County and in other states. The presentation
highlighted concerns about the San Luis Obispo downtown area and
focused on the following needs: on-going maintenance of the mission
sidewalks; installation and maintenance of the trees and tree wells;
a coordinated signage program; installation of way-finding signs;
replacement of the large Ficus trees with trees that have a more
appropriate scale; coordinated/more attractive news racks; better
functioning trash containers; pedestrian lights; sign pole
maintenance; overall cleanliness of the downtown; and appearance
enhancements such as flower boxes, banners, and interpretive signs
for historic buildings.
The Commission
asked questions about financing mechanisms and expressed
appreciation for Mr. Garth’s presentation.
COMMENT AND DISCUSSION:
3. Staff
a. Budget
Goals – Planning Commission Discussion of Goals for 2009-2011
Financial Plan
Deputy Director Murry provided a staff presentation
and report of the upcoming financial planning effort for the
2009-2011 budget. Staff provided the Commission with a status
update of their recommended goals from the last budget with several
options to consider in their deliberations related to the goal of
updating the Land Use and Circulation Elements. Deputy Director
Murry and Public Works Deputy Director Bochum responded to questions
from the Commission.
The Commission had a lengthy discussion of what goals
would be most appropriate in light of this time of financial
crisis.
By unanimous vote, the Commission adopted goals 1-3
below:
1. Complete a public improvement design strategy
and public improvement program with an emphasis and priority on the
Downtown area.
2. Implement existing and proposed Housing Element
programs with an emphasis on those related to homeless services and
production of affordable housing.
3. Recommend a limited update of the Land Use and
Circulation Elements with a focus on public input regarding the
sphere of influence areas and other topical areas. Use in-house
staff to the greatest degree possible and look for other methods to
minimize the costs of the update.
By a 4:3 vote (Commissioners Multari, Brodie, and
Carpenter dissenting), the Commission adopted a fourth goal:
4. Update the Circulation/Traffic model currently
under development to be a forecast model.
b. Appoint
Planning Commissioner to Serve on Parking Committee
Commissioner Multari volunteered to serve on the Parking
Committee.
c. Agenda
Forecast
Deputy Director Davidson provided the agenda forecast
for the October 22nd Planning Commission meeting.
4.
Commission
Commissioner Christianson indicated that although her
term expires in March, 2009, she will most likely be leaving the
Commission in January 2009 and expressed appreciation for completion
of the Commission’s goal to conduct a photographic baseline survey
of the hillsides.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10:25 p.m.
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