HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2025-10-14
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ACTION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
October 14, 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, Council
Member Aileen Loe
Staff Present: City Clerk Jessica Matson, City Attorney Isaac
Rosen, City Manager Matthew Downing,
Administrative Services Director Nicole
Valentine, Community Development Director
Brian Pedrotti, Human Resources Officer
Ashley Garcia, Recreation Services Director
Sheridan Bohlken, Police Chief David Culver,
Fire Chief Scott Hallett, City Engineer
Shannon Sweeney, Deputy City Clerk Julie
Hawkins, Commander Greg Pierce, Sergeant
Jeremy Burns, Senior Officer Anthony Estrada
This meeting was conducted in a hybrid in-person/virtual format.
CLOSED SESSION 5:00 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ray Russom called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
City Clerk Matson 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.:
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a) THREAT TO PUBLIC SERVICES OR FACILITIES pursuant to Government Code 54957(a):
Consultation with Agency Counsel and Law Enforcement.
City Council adjourned to Closed Session at 5:01 p.m.
6. ADJOURNMENT
City Council adjourned Closed Session at 5:51 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING 6:00 P.M.
_____________________________________________________________________
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ray Russom called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
City Clerk Matson took roll call.
3. MOMENT OF REFLECTION
4. FLAG SALUTE
Sean Shure, 5 Cities Men's Club, led the flag salute.
5. AGENDA REVIEW
5.a Closed Session Announcements
City Attorney Rosen announced that there was no reportable action from the meetings of:
September 23, 2025
a) CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR pursuant to Government Code
Section 54956.8:
Property: 214 E. Branch Street, Arroyo Grande
Agency Negotiators: Matthew Downing, City Manager; Bill Robeson, Assistant City
Manager/Public Works Director
Negotiating Parties: Ed Evans, Broker/Owner Remax; Elissa Williams, Broker/Owner Remax
Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment
October 14, 2025
a) THREAT TO PUBLIC SERVICES OR FACILITIES pursuant to Government Code 54957(a):
Consultation with Agency Counsel and Law Enforcement.
5.b Ordinances read in title only
Moved by Mayor Ray Russom
Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Secrest
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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 Honorary Proclamation Declaring October 2025 as "Domestic Violence Awareness
Month"
Council Member Loe read and presented the Proclamation Declaring October 2025 as
"Domestic Violence Awareness Month". Jill LeMieux, Lumina Alliance Board Chair, accepted the
Proclamation.
No action was taken on this item.
6.b Honorary Proclamation Recognizing October 13-19, 2025 as "Apprenticeship Week" in
Arroyo Grande
Mayor Pro Tem Secrest read and presented a Proclamation Recognizing October 13-19, 2025
as "Apprenticeship Week" in Arroyo Grande. David Baldwin and Cody Hunstad, Local IBEW,
accepted the Proclamation.
No action was taken on this item.
6.c Honorary Proclamation Recognizing Arroyo Grande In Bloom for Its Work in Earning
Arroyo Grande the Title of a "Clean California City"
Mayor Ray Russom read and presented a Proclamation Recognizing Arroyo Grande In Bloom
for Its Work in Earning Arroyo Grande the Title of a "Clean California City." Arroyo Grande In
Bloom Board Members Bob Lund, Kendra Paulding, and Tina Storton, accepted the
Proclamation.
No action was taken on this item.
6.d City Manager Communications
City Manager Downing thanked all of those attending the meeting to accept the proclamations;
provided updates on the Traffic Way Bridge Project; Cops N Kids event on November 2nd at
Soto Sports Complex; Law Enforcement Drone Training on November 3rd-5th; Hazardous Fuel
Reduction Project at James Way Open Space and other sites; Halloween Carnival Chaos event
October 25th-26th; Parkside Park play structure project completion; new Transient Occupancy
Tax (TOT) payment portal; and announced the South County Sanitary Clean-up Week beginning
October 20th.
No action was taken on this item.
7. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
None. This item is heard at the second meeting of the month.
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8. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public were Garry Schmidt, and Carol
Cranfeld. No further public comments were received. City Attorney Rosen and City Manager Downing
responded to questions from the public. Community Development Director Pedrotti responded to
questions from the public.
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. There were none.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
Moved by Council Member Guthrie
Seconded by Council Member Maraviglia
Approve Consent Agenda Items 9.a. through 9.j., 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 September 23, 2025, as
submitted.
9.b Cash Disbursement Ratification
Reviewed and ratified the attached listing of cash disbursements for the period of September 1
through September 15, 2025.
9.c Statement of Investment Deposits for August 2025
Received and filed the attached report listing investment deposits of the City of Arroyo Grande
as of August 31, 2025, as required by Government Code Section 53646(b).
9.d Updates to the City Council Handbook
1) Adopted a Resolution approving an update to the City Council Handbook; and
2)Found that adopting the Resolution is not a project 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, §§ 15060,
subd. (c)(2)-(3), 15378.).
9.e Offer of Dedication, Frontage at 151 South ElmStreet
1) Adopted a Resolution accepting the Offer of Dedication for an easement for public right-of-
way along the frontage of 151 South Elm Street for public purposes to fill in a sidewalk gap on
the east side of South Elm Street between Sunset Drive and Poplar Street; and
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2) Found that the action is not a project 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, §§ 15060, subd.(c)(2)-
(3), 15378.) or alternatively, that it is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section
15061(b)(3) (the “common sense exception”).
9.f Easement Acceptance on Behalf of City Council
1) Adopted a Resolution delegating authority to accept grants of easements to the City Manager
or authorized designee, for easements that cost up to the City Manager’s purchasing authority
for public projects; and
2) Found that this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”)
because it is not a project pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) as an
organizational and administrative activity of government and pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines
sections 15060(c)(2) and 15061(b)(3) because it will not result in a direct or reasonably
foreseeable physical change in the environment.
9.g Reject Bids for Roof Repairs on City Structures, PW 2025-08
1) Adopted a Resolution rejecting all bids received for the Roof Repairs on City Structures (PW
2025-08), directing staff to pursue urgent repairs through informal solicitation, and re-bidding
reroofing in Spring 2026; and
2) Found that the proposed action is categorically exempt from CEQA review under State CEQA
Guidelines section 15301 (Class 1 – Existing Facilities), and alternatively, State CEQA
Guidelines section 15(c)(2) and 15061(b)(3), as having no potential to cause a significant effect
on the environment.
9.h 2025 ADA Transition Plan
1) Adopted a Resolution adopting the 2025 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition
Plan; and
2) Found that this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”)
pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines sections 15060(c)(2) and 15061(b)(3) because it will not
result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable physical change in the environment.
9.i Acceptance of an Easement and License Agreement
1) Adopted a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an easement deed for PG&E
on City-owned parcel 007-462-001 and a license agreement for the establishment of the
easement; and
2) Found that the action is not a project 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, §§ 15060, subd.(c)(2)-
(3), 15378.) or, alternatively, that it is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section
15061(b)(3) (the “common sense exemption”).
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9.j Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Title 16 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code
Regarding Supportive Housing, Transitional Housing, and Low Barrier Navigation
Centers
1) Adopted the Ordinance adding Section 16.52.280 to Title 16 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal
Code relating to supportive housing, transitional housing, and low barrier navigation centers;
and
2) Found that the Ordinance is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) because it will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical
change to the environment (State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(2) and 15061(b)(3)).
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
10.a Amendments to Title 16 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code Regarding Urban Lot Splits
and Two-Unit Developments
City Attorney Rosen provided information regarding recent signed legislation related to Housing
Bills and the Item's revised recommendation. Community Development Director Pedrotti
presented the Item. Director Pedrotti and City Manager Downing responded to questions from
Council. City Attorney Rosen responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom opened the public hearing. Upon hearing no public comments, Mayor Ray
Russom closed the public hearing.
Council requested staff provide visuals to help tell the story when the Item comes back to
Council.
No action was taken on this item.
11. BUSINESS ITEMS
11.a Tourism Marketing Report FY 2024-25
Mayor Ray Russom announced she would abstain from participating in the Item and left the
meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Secrest presided.
Recreation Services Director Bohlken presented the Item. Richard Reigart, Commune
Communications, presented the Tourism Marketing Report. Mr. Reigart responded to questions
from Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Secrest invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Judy Ceccheti.
No further public comments were received. Director Bohlken responded to questions from the
public.
Council comments ensued regarding visitorship to the Village and tracking mechanisms,
conversion rate for hotel stays, the new tourism website, and messaging strategy.
No action was taken on this item. The item was received and filed.
1) Receive and file the Tourism Marketing Report FY 2024-25 forwarded by the Arroyo Grande
Tourism Business Improvement District (AGTBID) Advisory Board for FY 2024-25; and
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2) Find that the recommended actions 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).
12. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Council Member Loe commented on the IBEW Climate and Energy Event and the October 8-10 LOCC
Annual Conference.
Council Members Guthrie and Maraviglia commented that they also attended the LOCC Annual
Conference.
Mayor Pro Tem Secrest commented on the Hazardous Fuel Reduction project; the Parkside Park
Project Event; and Harvest Festival activities.
13. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Pro Tem Secrest adjourned the
meeting at 7:36 p.m.
_________________________
Caren Ray Russom, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Jessica Matson, City Clerk