HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2025-08-26
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ACTION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
August 26, 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, Recreation Services
Director Sheridan Bohlken, Chief of Police
David Culver, Fire Chief Scott Hallett, Human
Resources Officer Ashley Garcia, City
Engineer Shannon Sweeney, IT Manager
Kevin Waddy
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
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None.
5.b Ordinances read in title only
Moved by Mayor Ray Russom
Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Secrest
Move that all ordinances presented at the meeting shall be read by title only and all further
readings be waived.
AYES (5): Mayor Ray Russom, Mayor Pro Tem Secrest, Council Member Guthrie, Council
Member Maraviglia, and Council Member Loe
Passed (5 to 0)
6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
6.a Introduction and Oath of Office - Chief of Police David Culver
City Manager Downing introduced Chief of Police David Culver. City Clerk Matson administered
the Oath of Office and badge pinning. The Council and Chief Culver gave comments.
The Council recessed from 6:10 pm - 6:22 pm.
6.b City Manager Communications
City Manager Downing provided updates on the Gifford Fire response; Fire Captain Quinlan's
retirement and the recruitment for Firefighter; recruitment for Lateral Police Officer and Police
Trainee; Day in the Park event for Paulding students that took place after the first day of school;
Summer Concert Series; and FlashVote opportunity.
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
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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. Other
7.c COUNCIL MEMBER GUTHRIE:
1. Central Coast Community Energy (CCCE) Policy Board
2. Integrated Waste Management Authority Board (IWMA)
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 was Gaea Powell. 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. Mayor Ray Russom declared a conflict on item 9.d. and
requested the item be pulled for separate consideration.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
Mayor Ray Russom requested more information regarding Item 9.f. Community Development Director
Pedrotti responded.
Moved by Council Member Guthrie
Seconded by Council Member Maraviglia
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Approve Consent Agenda Items 9.a. through 9.f., with the exception of item 9.d., with the
recommended courses of action.
AYES (5): Council Member Guthrie, Council Member Maraviglia, Council Member Loe, Mayor Pro Tem
Secrest, and Mayor Ray Russom
Passed (5 to 0)
9.a Approval of Minutes
Approved the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of August 12, 2025, as submitted.
9.b Cash Disbursement Ratification
Reviewed and ratified the listing of cash disbursements for the period of July 16 through July 31,
2025.
9.c Opting into Settlement Agreements with Distributors of Opioids; Purdue Pharma, L.P.
National Opioid Settlement
1) Adopted a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into the National Opioid
Settlement Agreement with Opioid Distributers, Purdue Pharma, L.P., and the Sackler Family;
and
2) Found that adopting the Resolution opting-into the settlement agreements is not a project
subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because the adoption in itself has
no potential to result in either a direct, or reasonably foreseeable indirect, physical change in the
environment. (State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060, subd. (b)(2)-(3), 15378.)
9.e Monthly Water Supply and Demand Update
Received and filed the Monthly Water Supply and Demand Update.
9.f General Plan Update Progress Report – August 2025
Received and filed a progress report on the Comprehensive General Plan Update.
9.d Adopt Ordinance to Expand Uses of Arroyo Grande Tourism Business Improvement
District
Moved by Council Member Maraviglia
Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Secrest
1) Adopted an Ordinance to amend the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code Chapter 3.46 amending
the authorized improvements and activities to be funded by assessments imposed through the
Arroyo Grande Tourism Business Improvement District; and
2) Found that the recommended actions to support the Arroyo Grande Tourism Business
Improvement District are not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”)
because these efforts have no potential to result in either a direct, or reasonably foreseeable
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indirect, physical change in the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060 (c)(2) and (3),
15378).
AYES (4): Council Member Maraviglia, Mayor Pro Tem Secrest, Council Member Guthrie, and
Council Member Loe
ABSENT (1): Mayor Ray Russom
Passed (4 to 0)
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
11. BUSINESS ITEMS
11.a Introduction of an Ordinance Amending Various Sections of Title 2 (Administration and
Personnel) of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code
City Clerk Matson presented the report.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
Moved by Council Member Loe
Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Secrest
1) Introduce an Ordinance amending Section 2.08.030, 2.16.020, 2.17.040, 2.30.020, 2.30.030,
and 2.34.010 of Title 2 (Administration and Personnel) of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code
(AGMC); and
2) Find that the Ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”)
because these efforts have no potential to result in either a direct, or reasonably foreseeable
indirect, physical change in the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060 (c)(2) and (3),
15378).
AYES (5): Council Member Loe, Mayor Pro Tem Secrest, Council Member Maraviglia, Council
Member Guthrie, and Mayor Ray Russom
Passed (5 to 0)
11.b Sidewalk Management Program
Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Robeson introduced the Item. City Engineer
Sweeney presented the report and responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom requested the updated recommended tree list be placed on the City's
website now and then later incorporated into an Engineering Standards update. The Council
concurred.
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Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Alexandria Davis. No
further public comments were received. City Engineer Sweeney and Assistant City
Manager/Public Works Director Robeson responded to questions from the public.
Council discussion ensued regarding tree replacements and potential cost considerations for
residents. Director Robeson commented on the current Municipal Code requirement regarding
tree replacements.
No action was taken on this item.
12. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Pro Tem Secrest commented on the Day of Hope car show at Heritage Square Park last
weekend.
Council Member Loe commented on her attendance at a ceremony for Congressional Woman of the
Year honoree Lisa Kawamura and requested the City consider recognizing Ms. Kawamura; City
Manager Downing commented on the option of providing a Mayor's Commendation.
13. CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Rosen announced that the City Council will recess to a closed session for the following:
a) Public Employee Performance Evaluation pursuant to Government Code Section 54957:
Title: City Attorney
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
City Council adjourned to Closed Session at 7:10 p.m.
14. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
City Council returned to open session at 8:01 p.m. City Attorney Rosen announced there was no
reportable action.
The announcement will be repeated at the beginning of the next Regular City Council meeting as this
portion of the meeting was not recorded.
15. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Ray Russom adjourned the
meeting at 8:02 p.m.
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Caren Ray Russom, Mayor
ATTEST
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Jessica Matson, City Clerk