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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 092090 - Special MtngMEETING AoODA DATE,..JW_a Z ITEM N A_.- ATASCADERO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES STUDY SESSION: ROAD STANDARDS & POLICIES September 20, 1990 The Special Meeting was called to order by Mayor Lilley at 4 :38 p.m. Roll Call: Present: Councilmembers Borgeson, Dexter, Nimmo, Shiers and Mayor Lilley Staff: - Henry Engen, Community Development Director; Greg Luke, Public Works Director; Art Montandon, City Attorney; Gary Sims, Sr. Civil Engineer; Muriel Korba, City Treasurer; Cindy Wilkins, Admin. Secy./ Dep. City Clerk. (* It was noted that City Manager, Ray Windsor, was absent due to illness . ) Council Comments : Mayor Lilley noted that this is a continuation of a previously adjourned meeting [7/11/90] . Mr. Engen added that today's dis- cussion is for continued consideration by Council of a draft policy resolution to set road standards and to establish (7 ) different classes of roads in the City. Mr. Luke announced that there has been, what staff believes to be, a fairly substantial violation of the conditions on the extension of Garcia Road, and a stop work order has been placed on the proj- ect. Mayor Lilley requested that this item be placed on the Council' s 9/25 agenda for a staff report. 1 . Study Session for the Purpose of Discussion Road Standards and Policies Mr. Luke made opening comments underscoring the importance and ben- efits of establishing a roads policy which could enable property owners to be aware of the classes of roads and any conditions for improvement which may be imposed on developments, as well as to enable staff to achieve some long-range planning for future road improvements . He showed a video he prepared which reviewed present examples of the road classifications (I-VII) as they've been pre- sented in staff' s report. He then responded to various questions from Councilmembers The concept of assessment districts was discussed, with Mr.. Luke noting the advantage of the City' s ability to obtain low-interest loans which property owners pay off over long periods of time e.g. , 15-20 years) . Mayor Lilley added that an additional bene 1 fit, hopefully, of future assessment districts will be ultimate public maintenance as well as public ownership of the roads, with the latter not always having been the case with assessment dis- tricts . Mr. Luke was asked how many miles of road he would recommend against acceptance into the City-maintained system; he responded this would pertain to Class III & Class V roads and that there are approx. 3-4 miles of roads in that category. Mayor Lilley expressed that a fundamental area of the proposed policy should be the Council ' s stated commitment to study roads, using a traffic engineer, and attempt to adequately warn and alert the public to hazardous road conditions by appropriate signage and other devices . Related discussion ensued, which included the mention of speed control . Mr. Luke responded that he and Mr. Montandon have discussed the retention of a traffic engineer, sub- sequent to input from the Council at the July 11th study session. The subject of liability was discussed. Mr. Montandon concurred with Mayor Lilley' s suggested policy statement, responding to Council' s expressed liability concerns that it is the drivers' res- ponsibility to exercise due care, which they can only do if they know there is a danger, and the presence appropriate warning signs devices provides for a better defense in liability, cases . it was the Council ' s consensus to have Mr. Montandon work with Mr. Luke to amend the proposed policy as discussed above. Councilman Shiers asked if the City is legally bound to accept a road into its maintained system because it has been City-main- tained. Mr. Montandon responded that it' s his understanding that the road classifications are based on a road' s existing physical conditions, adding that if the City has maintained a road for a period of five years at reasonable intervals, the court can deem that the City does, in fact, own the road and has assumed liabi- lity. Councilman Nimmo expressed the opinion that, before adopting the proposed resolution and policy ( including the map) , they should be put into a form which can be reviewed by the public, so that all will be made aware of the types of streets that exist and what it takes to get them into the City-maintained system. He would like to see the goals clarified, feeling that the draft goals appear more like methods He feels the principle policy goal should be that all Colony roads, other than those abandoned by Council ac- tion, eventually be accepted into the City system. He expressed disagreement with some of the road classifications feeling they, as well as the map, need refinement, and that Atascadero' s rural atmosphere should be retained in the policy' s goals . He personally feels that we should not impose CEQA on the Lewis 'Flan of 1914 and encouraged the Council to ask for a formal legal opinion as to whether or not CEQA in fact 'applies to the Colony roads . Mayor Lilley noted that there will undoubtedly be situations where, because of the nature of certain roads or the development history around them, the City will be in a position to "bite the bullet" and, at its own expense, improve the road as a condition of accep- tance. There is a need for a platform to stand on when citizens ask why one road was City-improved and not another. 2 Public Works and Engineering Division staff were commended by Coun- cil for the work which went into the proposed draft documents . It was noted that this subject is a monumental task and will require a lot of additional work before everyone feels clear and comfor- table with the policy. Mayor Lilley asked the members of Council to draft their individual thoughts about what goal statements should be included in the pol- icy in order to assist Mr. Luke with refinement of the document. Related discussion ensued, and it was noted that consideration should be given to providing for safe pedestrian and bicycle cir- culation in addition to vehicular traffic concerns . The repeated mention of CEQA in the policy statement was noted, and Council consensus was to seek a formal legal opinion from Burke, Williams & Sorensen as to whether the original roads in the Atasca dero Colony are subject to or exempt from CEQA. Councilwoman Borgeson asked if the roads policy could be designated for local rural roads . Mr-. Luke responded that it could be titled Local Rural Road Policy" , noting that the Circulation Element Up- date will also address many of the road concerns . Councilman Shiers would like to see the policies specific enough to outline strong grounds for not granting waivers from the adopted standards . Mr. Luke indicated he would like further Council input on that topic. Public Comment Gary Sims, Sr. Civil Engineer, commented that there is no ordinance to address the administrative process involved in issuing encroach- ment permits, and he asked if staff could initiate the process of drafting such an ordinance; Council agreed to give staff the go- ahead. Mr. Luke noted that such an ordinance cannot be imposed where the City does not hold title. Andy Takata indicated that the Parks & Recreation Commission cur- rently has a committee working on the subject of bike path and pedestrian circulationrecommendationsfor the Circulation Element Mr. Luke indicated that he will prepare a staff report which will summarize the concerns and desired goals expressed tonight. Motion: By Councilman Nimmo to adjourn to the Council meeting of Sept. 25th, seconded by Councilman Dexter; passed unani- mously. Minutes Prepared by: CINDY WILKINS Admin. Secy./Dep. City Clerk 3