HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2025-02-25
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ACTION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
February 25, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
Hybrid City Council Chamber/Virtual Zoom Meeting
215 East Branch Street, Arroyo Grande
Council Members Present: Mayor Caren Ray Russom, Mayor Pro Tem
Kate Secrest, Council Member Jim Guthrie,
Council Member Jamie Maraviglia, Council
Member Aileen Loe
Staff Present: City Clerk Jessica Matson, City Attorney Isaac
Rosen, City Manager Matthew Downing,
Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director
Bill Robeson, Administrative Services Director
Nicole Valentine, Community Development
Director Brian Pedrotti, City Engineer
Shannon Sweeney
This meeting was conducted in a hybrid in-person/virtual format.
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1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ray Russom called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
City Clerk Matson took roll call.
3. MOMENT OF REFLECTION
4. FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Ray Russom led the flag salute.
5. AGENDA REVIEW
5.a Closed Session Announcements
None.
5.b Ordinances read in title only
None.
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6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
6.a Honorary Proclamation Declaring March as Women's History Month
Mayor Ray Russom read the Honorary Proclamation declaring March as Women's History
Month. Nan Fowler, South County Historical Society, accepted the Proclamation.
No action was taken on this item.
6.b Introduction of New Employee Megan Schotborgh, Accounting Manager
Administrative Services Director Valentine introduced the City's new Accounting Manager,
Megan Schotborgh, and highlighted her educational and professional background.
6.c City Manager Communications
City Manager Downing provided information regarding the Police Department attending the
Transitions Mental Health Association lunch and learn meeting regarding the unhoused
population; Wildfire Preparedness Community Meeting on March 1st; and Traffic Way Bridge
Replacement Project communications efforts and project updates.
No action was taken on this item.
7. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
The City Council provided brief reports from the following committee, commission, board, or other
subcommittee meetings that they attended as the City’s appointed representative.
7.a MAYOR RAY RUSSOM:
1. Audit Committee
2. California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA)
3. Five Cities Fire Authority JPA Board
4. San Luis Obispo County Mayor's Meeting
5. South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District (SSLOCSD)
6. Other
7.b MAYOR PRO TEM SECREST:
1. Air Pollution Control District (APCD)
2. Homeless Services Oversight Council (HSOC)
3. South County Chambers of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee
4. General Plan Citizen's Oversight Committee
7.c COUNCIL MEMBER GUTHRIE:
1. Central Coast Community Energy (CCCE) Policy Board
2. Integrated Waste Management Authority Board (IWMA)
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3. REACH Economic Development Roundtable
4. Other
7.d COUNCIL MEMBER MARAVIGLIA:
1. Five Cities Fire Authority JPA Board
2. Visit SLO CAL Advisory Board
3. Other
7.e COUNCIL MEMBER LOE:
1. Council of Governments/Regional Transit Authority (SLOCOG/SLORTA)
2. County Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC)
3. Zone 3 Water Advisory Board
4. Other
8. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public were Jennifer Silva, and Garry
Schmidt. No further public comments were received.
9. CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Ray Russom asked the Council if there were any questions or any items to be pulled from the
consent agenda for further discussion.
Council Member Loe and Mayor Ray Russom commented on Item 9.e., including the General Plan
Update effort, project website, PlanArroyoGrande.com, and the need for public participation in the
process. Community Development Director Pedrotti responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom commented on Item 9.d and current litigation regarding water availability.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
Moved by Council Member Maraviglia
Seconded by Council Member Guthrie
Approve Consent Agenda Items 9.a. through 9.e., with the recommended courses of action.
AYES (5): Council Member Maraviglia, Council Member Guthrie, Council Member Loe, Mayor Pro Tem
Secrest, and Mayor Ray Russom
Passed (5 to 0)
9.a Cash Disbursement Ratification
Reviewed and ratified the listing of cash disbursements for the period of January 16 through
January 31, 2025.
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9.b Resolution to Update Accounting Manager Name for Authorized Personnel for Financial
Institutions
1) Adopted a Resolution entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ARROYO GRANDE AUTHORIZING THE DEPOSIT OF CITY FUNDS IN VARIOUS
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND UPDATING THE NAMES OF DESIGNATED EMPLOYEES
IN CERTAIN POSITIONS WHO ARE AUTHORIZED TO MAKE DEPOSITS OF CITY FUNDS
AND ENTER INTO BANKING OR INVESTMENT ARRANGEMENTS"; and 2) Determined that
adopting a resolution authorizing the deposit of City funds in various financial institutions and
updating the names of designated employees in certain positions who are authorized to make
deposits of City funds and enter into banking or investment arrangements is not subject to the
California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because it has no potential to result in either a
direct, or reasonably foreseeable indirect, physical change in the environment. (State CEQA
Guidelines, Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, §§ 15060, subd. (c)(2)-(3), 15378.)
9.c Approval of Minutes
Approved the minutes of the Special City Council Meeting of February 10, 2025 and Regular
City Council Meeting of February 11, 2025, as submitted.
9.d Monthly Water Supply and Demand Update
Received and filed the Monthly Water Supply and Demand Update.
9.e General Plan Update Progress Report – February 2025
Received and filed a progress report on the Comprehensive General Plan Update.
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
11. BUSINESS ITEMS
11.a Halcyon Complete Streets Design Discussion
City Engineer Shannon Sweeney presented the Item and responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public were No Name Provided,
Alexandria Davis, and Jim Dececco. No further public comments were received. City Engineer
Sweeney and City Manager Downing responded to questions from the public and Council.
Council discussion ensued regarding the history of the project, narrowed lanes, slowing down
traffic, a residential tree plan; and overall support of staff's recommendations.
City Engineer Sweeney responded to additional questions from Council.
City Council expressed support for a Class II Bike Lane with Buffer; adding more trees as part of
a residential tree plan; and researching if there are alternatives to the use of green paint for bike
lanes.
No action was taken on this item.
11.b Direction on the Establishment of a Measure E-24 Citizen Sales Tax Oversight Committee
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City Manager Downing presented the Item. City Manager Downing and Administrative Services
Director Valentine responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Melissa Watkins. No
further public comments were received.
Council discussion ensued regarding the formation of a Citizens' Sales tax Oversight Committee
for Measure E-24 funds.
Mayor Ray Russom requested that recruitment materials not include the statement "Preference
would be given to applicants who reflect the diversity of the City and have relevant experience
or knowledge in the application process."
Moved by Council Member Loe
Seconded by Council Member Guthrie
Approve the creation of an E-24 Citizen Sales Tax Oversight Committee consistent with staff's
recommendation and amend the Recruitment and Appointment Process as stated in the staff
report to remove the word "preference" and clarify that the City will seek applicants who reflect
the diversity of the community and have relevant experience or knowledge.
AYES (5): Council Member Loe, Council Member Guthrie, Council Member Maraviglia, Mayor
Pro Tem Secrest, and Mayor Ray Russom
Passed (5 to 0)
12. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Council Member Maraviglia commented on meeting with 5Cities Homeless Coalition; and the success
of Meet the Machines event.
Council Member Loe also commented on a meeting with 5Cities Homeless Coalition regarding their
services.
Mayor Pro Tem Secrest commented on the Meet the Machines event; meeting with Bob Lund and
Arroyo Grande In Bloom members regarding a proposed project at Oak Park Blvd and E Branch Street.
Mayor Ray Russom commented on the Supervisorial District 4 Town Hall meeting with Supervisor
Paulding and herself on February 27th.
13. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Ray Russom adjourned the
meeting at 7:51 p.m.
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Caren Ray Russom, Mayor
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Jessica Matson, City Clerk