HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2025-08-12
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ACTION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
August 12, 2025, 5:00 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
Staff Present: Deputy City Clerk Julie Hawkins, City Attorney
Isaac Rosen, City Manager Matthew
Downing, Assistant City Manager/Public
Works Director Bill Robeson, Recreation
Services Director Sheridan Bohlken, Police
Chief David Culver, Fire Chief Scott Hallett,
Utilities Manager Shane Taylor, City Engineer
Shannon Sweeney
This meeting was conducted in a hybrid format.
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5:00 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ray Russom called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Deputy City Clerk Hawkins took roll call.
3. FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Ray Russom led the flag salute.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No comments were received.
5. CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Rosen announced that the City Council will recess to a closed session for the following and will
report any reportable action at the City Council Regular meeting at 6:00 p.m.:
a) CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION:
(Paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Government Code § 54956.9)
Name of Case: San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper, et. al v. County of San Luis Obispo, U.S. District Court
Central District of California (Western Division – Los Angeles), Case No. 2:24-cv-06854-SPG-AS
City Council adjourned to Closed Session at 5:02 p.m.
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6. ADJOURNMENT
City Council adjourned Closed Session at 6:00 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING 6:00 P.M.
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1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ray Russom called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:02.
2. ROLL CALL
Deputy City Clerk Hawkins 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
City Attorney Rosen announced that the City Coucil met in Closed Session for the following
items and there was no reportable action:
August 12, 2025
a) CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION:
(Paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Government Code § 54956.9)
Name of Case: San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper, et. al v. County of San Luis Obispo, U.S. District
Court Central District of California (Western Division – Los Angeles), Case No. 2:24-cv-06854-
SPG-AS
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 (4): Mayor Ray Russom, Mayor Pro Tem Secrest, Council Member Guthrie, and Council
Member Maraviglia
ABSENT (1): Council Member Loe
Passed (4 to 0)
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6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
6.a City Manager Communications
City Manager Downing invited FCFA Chief Hallett to provide an update on the current status of
the Gifford Fire. City Manager Downing provided an update on the Traffic Way Bridge
Replacement Project, reminding the community that school returns to session this week and to
plan for delays from the Project; AGPD's participation in a joint training exercise with the Cities
of Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, FCFA and State Parks preparing officers for critical incidents;
AGPD and Recreation Services hosting an after school event at Heritage Square Park on
Thursday; provided an update on the Summer Concert Series; Fall Activity Guide now available;
and provided an update on Summer Camp attendance.
7. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
None.
Reports are made during the Second Council Meeting each month.
8. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No 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 invited public comment. No public comments were received.
Council Member Guthrie requested Item 9.i. be considered separately due to a conflict of interest from
him serving on the Harvest Festival Committee.
Chief Culver responded questions from Council regarding Item 9.h.
City Manager Downing provided comments on Item 9.f.
Moved by Council Member Guthrie
Seconded by Council Member Maraviglia
Approve Consent Agenda Items 9.a. through 9.h., with the exception of Item 9.i., with the
recommended courses of action.
AYES (4): Council Member Guthrie, Council Member Maraviglia, Mayor Pro Tem Secrest, and
Mayor Ray Russom
ABSENT (1): Council Member Loe
Passed (4 to 0)
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9.a Cash Disbursement Ratification
Reviewed and ratified the attached listing of cash disbursements for the period of July 1 through
July 15, 2025.
9.b Statement of Investment Deposits for June 2025
Received and filed the attached report listing investment deposits of the City of Arroyo Grande
as of June 30, 2025, as required by Government Code Section 53646(b).
9.c Receive and File the Biennial Budget Book for Fiscal Years (FY) 2025-27
Received and filed the City of Arroyo Grande Biennial Budget Book for Fiscal Years (FY) 2025-
27.
9.d Approval of Minutes
Approved the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of July 22, 2025, as submitted.
9.e Appointment of a Voting Delegate and Alternate for the League of California Cities Annual
Conference
Appointed Mayor Ray Russom as the voting delegate and Council Member Guthrie as the
alternate for the League of California Cities Annual Conference; and authorized submittal by the
City of the League of California Cities’ Voting Delegate/Alternate Form.
9.f Confirmation of Appointment of David Culver as Chief of Police
Confirmed the appointment of David Culver as the Chief of Police, effective August 15, 2025.
9.g Subscription Agreement with Safe Fleet’s COBAN NEXUS Cloud Platform Data Storage
System
1) Adopted a Resolution approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute the five-year
Safe Fleet Nexus Customer Subscription Agreement in an amount not-to-exceed $178,502,
subject to any minor, technical, or non-substantive changes as approved by the City Manager in
consultation with the City Attorney; and
2) Found that adopting the Resolution is not a project subject to the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”) because approval of a software subscription agreement does not in itself
have potential to result in either a direct, or reasonably foreseeable indirect, physical change to
the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060, subd. (c)(2)-(3), 15378.)
9.h Agreement with the California Office of Traffic Safety
1) Adopted a Resolution authorizing the Chief of Police to execute a grant agreement with the
California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to accept grant funding for traffic safety programs;
2) Approved a Budget Amendment Request for FY 2025-26 in the amount of $80,000 to account
for the additional revenue and expenditures related to the grant; and
3) Found that adopting the Resolution is not a project subject to the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”) because adopting the Resolution does not in itself have potential to result
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in either a direct, or reasonably foreseeable indirect, physical change to the environment. (State
CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060, subd. (c)(2)-(3), 15378.)
9.i Temporary Use Permit 25-005; Authorization for the 86th Annual Arroyo Grande Valley
Harvest Festival, Friday and Saturday September 26-27, 2025; Location – Heritage Square
Park and Olohan Alley
Moved by Mayor Ray Russom
Seconded by Council Member Maraviglia
1) Adopted a Resolution approving Temporary Use Permit 25-005, authorizing closure of City
streets, sale of alcohol, waiver of fees, and use of City property for the 86th Annual Arroyo
Grande Valley Harvest Festival, Friday and Saturday, September 26-27, 2025; and
2) Found the action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to
Section 15304 of the CEQA Guidelines.
AYES (3): Mayor Ray Russom, Council Member Maraviglia, and Mayor Pro Tem Secrest
ABSENT (2): Council Member Guthrie, and Council Member Loe
Passed (3 to 0)
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
10.a Public Hearing to Consider Amending the Authorized Uses of the Arroyo Grande Tourism
Business Improvement District (AGTBID) Funds and Amending the Arroyo Grande
Municipal Code
Mayor Ray Russom declared a conflict of interest due to ownership of an ADU and left the
meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Secrest presided.
Recreation Services Director Bohlken presented the staff report and responded to questions
from Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Secrest opened the public hearing. Upon hearing no public comments, Mayor
Pro Tem Secrest closed the public hearing.
Deputy City Clerk Hawkins reported that, as of the close of the public hearing, no protests were
received.
Moved by Council Member Guthrie
Seconded by Council Member Maraviglia
1) Adopt a Resolution to make modifications to the authorized uses funded by assessments
imposed through the AGTBID, and directing the introduction of an ordinance amending Chapter
3.46 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code,
2) Introduce an Ordinance for first reading to amend Chapter 3.46 of the Municipal Code
authorizing amendments to authorized uses of AGTBID funds; and
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3) Find 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
indirect, physical change in the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060 (c)(2) and (3),
15378).
AYES (3): Council Member Guthrie, Council Member Maraviglia, and Mayor Pro Tem Secrest
ABSENT (2): Mayor Ray Russom, and Council Member Loe
Passed (3 to 0)
11. BUSINESS ITEMS
11.a 2024 Annual Report for the Northern Cities Management Area and City Water Supply and
Future Resources Evaluation Update
Mayor Ray Russom returned to the meeting.
Public Works Director/Assistant City Manager Robeson, and Utilities Manager Taylor presented
the NCMA annual report and responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
The 2024 Northern Cities Management Area (NCMA) Annual Report was received and filed.
12. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Council Member Guthrie requested that the Council consider directing staff to agendize a discussion of
a request for restriping the Pickleball Courts. Council concurred.
Mayor Pro Tem Secrest commented that she attended the Balayco on Barca Transitional Housing
Anniversary Event; and participated on the panel for the Leadership Academy.
13. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Ray Russom adjourned the
meeting at 6:43 PM.
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Caren Ray Russom, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Julie Hawkins, Deputy City Clerk