HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC_2015-03-03_Special Meeting MinutesMINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING – MARCH 3, 2015
MORRO BAY VETERAN’S HALL
209 SURF STREET – 4:00 P.M.
PRESENT: Jamie Irons Mayor
Christine Johnson Councilmember
John Headding Councilmember
Matt Makowetski Councilmember
Noah Smukler Councilmember
STAFF: David Buckingham City Manager
Dana Swanson City Clerk
Rob Livick Public Works Director
Joe Woods Recreation Director
Amy Christey Police Chief
Susan Slayton Administrative Services Director
Scot Graham Community Services Manager
Todd Gailey Fire Captain
ESTABLISH QUORUM AND CALL TO ORDER
PUBLIC COMMENT RE: ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
The public comment period for Item I was opened.
Robert Davis, Morro Bay, shared his recommendations for budget priorities. 1) bicycling
projects, including the following: Preserve Class 1 multi-use trail from Main Street to Cloisters,
provide City-wide parking at popular destinations and public buildings, and look at intersection
of Main Street and Quintana to help northbound bicyclists get from Main Street onto the bike
trail; 2) vehicle parking – he asks the City move slowly with changes to parking management as
the update to the General Plan Land Use and Circulation Elements will address future business
district designs; 3) support coordinated event management at the City level; 4) link the
Embarcadero with downtown; 5) broadband is important to the telecommuting workforce; and 6)
economic development strategic plan.
Keith Taylor, Morro Bay, spoke on behalf of Friends of Morro Bay Fire Department, asking the
City to 1) maintain and strive to continue to improve paramedic service, an extension of local
emergency rooms, 2) ensure sufficient staffing for simultaneous emergency incidents in our
community, 3) ensure firefighters have proper equipment to perform their jobs through true
equipment depreciation accounts, and 4) improve response times to North Morro Bay.
Lisa Ludovici, Government Affairs Senior Manager of Charter Communications and Morro Bay
resident, provided information on high speed fiber network currently running through Morro Bay
and available services and programs, including last mile production grants available for
AGENDA NO: A-1 MEETING DATE: March 24, 2015
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businesses. She and other Charter representatives recently met with City staff regarding
available programs and would be happy to return with more information.
Brent Haugen, Morro Bay Tourism Bureau, encouraged the City to continue funding the Morro
Bay Visitor Center which plays a vital role for visitors and the business community and also
shows our great hospitality.
Linda Fidell, Morro Bay, along with Nancy Castle co-coordinates community dinners each
Monday night at the Vet’s Hall, asks the City to continue to waive facility rental fees. Since
January 6th, they have served meals to 2,540 people. Their use of the Vet’s Hall is relatively
light; meals are cooked off site, and there is minimal use of electricity and water. More
information will be provided at the March 10 City Council Meeting.
The public comment period was closed.
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA ITEM:
I. 2015/16 BUDGET PRIORITIES STUDY SESSION
https://youtu.be/EJ52kBgjW5g
City Manager Buckingham presented the staff report, asking the Council to provide initial
guidance to assist staff in preparing the 2015/16 budget.
Mayor Irons suggested that Goals 3 thru 9 be priorities for discussion, as funding for others are
already decided.
Councilmember Johnson noted the Council has received support request letters from SCORE,
NOOR Clinic, and Monday Night Community Dinners. She expects more requests are
forthcoming, including EVC membership dues, SLO Housing Trust Fund and others, and
suggests staff keep a running list and compare to last year’s donations. City Manager
Buckingham will reach out to those agencies to ensure requests are received in a timely manner
for Council review.
Staff noted some one-time Dynegy funds are available that can be allocated to specific projects
or one-time events. Councilmember Smukler suggested these funds be considered for the
GP/LCP update; Councilmember Johnson agrees.
Councilmember Smukler recommended that with regard to traffic safety/calming measures, the
following locations be top priorities: Main Street & Hwy. 41, San Jacinto & Main Street and Del
Mar School area. Other requests include Radcliffe & Main, Pacific & Main and Easter Street as
you enter or exit Hwy. 1. Councilmember Johnson notes citizen input and efforts will help in the
Del Mar area, and likely will not require funding.
Councilmember Makowetski asked staff if the pavement management index and pavement
management plan priorities can be manipulated and updated based on new projects, such as the
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MINUTES - MORRO BAY SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING – MARCH 3, 2015
bike park. Director Livick responded noting there are both street repair and traffic issues in that
location. City Manager Buckingham affirmed this is the type of discussion that’s helpful to staff;
a location may not be high on the pavement management index, but may be a community
priority for other reasons.
Mayor Irons asked staff to discuss pavement management efforts. Director Livick noted that due
to limited funding, staff is able to negotiate better pricing on a 2-year pavement contract rather
than an annual contract. Funds from FY 2015/16 will be combined with FY 2016/17 for a larger
project.
Mayor Irons asked Brent Haugen to comment regarding the Visitor’s Center and last year’s plan
for self-funding. Brent shared the Tourism Bureau Board is looking at various structures and
getting ideas from other cities, including a funding mechanism through ticket sales. He will be
working with new board members and hopes to have more information by end of calendar year.
He asks the City continue funding the Visitor’s Center this fiscal year while they continue
working on plans to become more self-sufficient.
Bob Keller, Morro Bay resident, shared his priority on traffic control is Main/Radcliffe,
particularly with new Bike Park. This intersection is very congested at tourist and holiday time
and he asks this to be priority #1.
Councilmember Smukler noted traffic calming that will be implemented on Main will help with
the Radcliffe area.
Mayor Irons initiated discussion of Code Enforcement. Councilmember Makowetski prefers a
proactive vs. reactive approach. He understands budget and staffing is a challenge, but wants to
see Code Enforcement brought forward in the budget process. Councilmember Johnson noted a
Code Enforcement position was almost budgeted last year. She feels parking and other public
works and community development issues would be resolved with proactive code enforcement.
There was Council consensus for code enforcement, noting there is an intangible return on
investment. They recommend a strong community outreach and public education to allow
citizens some time to clean up their properties.
Councilmember Johnson asked if body worn cameras are eligible for Measure Q funding. Chief
Christey noted some funding has been allocated and more will likely become available in the
next few months. She agrees there’s a need and will be working on policies and a presentation to
the Council. Measure Q funds would be appreciated, but she believes other funding sources are
available.
Councilmember Headding provided thoughts regarding the budget process: 1) enterprise funds
should be self-funding, 2) watch interdepartmental transfers, 3) identify any previously taboo or
unidentified funding sources and areas where there was low hanging fruit, such as the MAS
audit, 4) policy review in areas related to improving financial sustainability of City, such as
review of the risk management accumulation fund policy, and, 5) with regard to Management
Partners report, it will be important to prioritize as there are limited resources, so items that are
most manageable with the highest potential for return should be top priority.
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MINUTES - MORRO BAY SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING – MARCH 3, 2015
City Manager Buckingham advised the Council that in order to comply with City ordinance, on
April 28 staff will present a full fee recovery master fee schedule and ask Council to discuss the
level of subsidy for various items. The 2015/16 budget will be based on recovering close to the
appropriate level of fees. Mayor Irons noted any significant changes in fees must be advertised.
Mayor Irons asked staff to review and bring back for discussion policies related to the Risk
Management Accumulation Fund and General Fund Reserve, which is currently 27.5% of
budget, including whether that should be a flat number or percentage of the budget.
Councilmember Headding noted economic development seems to happen in a disparate manner
and he wants staff to look at bringing that closer to home. Although it may require a resource,
the return on investment could be great. He notes the development of an economic vision may
lend itself to a longer range strategic economic development plan, but things change so rapidly in
economic development five years without that vision may be difficult. He would however
support a longer term strategic plan.
Councilmember Smukler noted that he would prefer to use the limited funds available for the
GP/LCP update, as that document will support economic development in so many ways.
Councilmember Makowetski agrees the LEAP Process is instrumental in driving the 5-year
process and suggests that under Goal #6 we need some sort of coordinator or consultant to
continue progress with stakeholders 5-10 years down the road. He supports priorities listed
under Goal #6, with the exception of Tri-W Property which is further down the road.
Councilmember Johnson noted the City is currently spending $152,000 on activities that fall
under economic development (Visitor’s Center, events and Chamber business support program)
and this year allocated $49,000 for LEAP. She suggests preparing an RFP for a strategic plan to
and is willing to spend some money in that area because it’s bringing revenue to the City in the
future.
Mayor Irons is glad to hear correlation between GP/LCP update and economic development and
notes updated planning software could be an economic driver also. City Manager Buckingham
agrees, noting the Information Technology (IT) shortfalls citywide are significant. An IT
strategic plan would help determine the priorities and timing of all improvements that need to be
made. There is significant cost, but current systems are woefully inadequate.
Councilmember Headding suggested some of the one-time Dynegy funds be allocated to efforts
related to reuse of that property. Council concurred.
Staff asked for Council input on the following remaining issues:
1. Information Technology – Council supports this item.
2. Embarcadero/Downtown link – Staff asked for Council support to fund visioning for this
area. Mayor Irons commented regarding need to determine available funding from
property owner and perhaps there may be some SLOCOG funds available.
Councilmember Makowetski suggests this area be tied strategically to the bike path as
this small section touches several other goals.
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3. Parking Management Study – Is the current Parking Management Study adequate, or do
we need a new one? Councilmember Johnson suggests the document be refreshed in-
house. Council concurred.
4. ADA Compliance Assessment – Staff notes a new assessment is recommended to
determine the items required to comply with the law. Council concurs.
Mayor Irons asked that staff bring back the financial obligations related to improved water
supply diversification.
No further Council action was taken
The Council recessed at 6:01 to Closed Session at City Hall Conference Room, located at 595
Harbor Street.
II. CS-1 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Title: City Manager
The City Council was reconvened to Open Session.
The Mayor reported that with regards to the Closed Session Item, the Council did not take any
reportable action pursuant to the Brown Act.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:10p.m.
Recorded by:
Dana Swanson
City Clerk