HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2026-01-27_09a Approval of Minutes
1 Item 9.a.
ACTION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
January 13, 2026, 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
Jamie Maraviglia, Council Member Jim
Guthrie, Council Member Kate Secrest,
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, Police Chief David
Culver, City Engineer Shannon Sweeney
This meeting was conducted in a hybrid in-person/virtual format.
CLOSED SESSION: 5:00 PM
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.:
a) LABOR NEGOTIATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6:
1. Employee Organization: Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 620
City-designated negotiators: Che Johnson, Special Labor Counsel; Ashley Garcia, Human Resources
Officer; Nicole Valentine, Director of Administrative Services
2. Employee Organization: Arroyo Grande Police Officers' Association
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City-designated negotiators: Che Johnson, Special Labor Counsel; Ashley Garcia, Human Resources
Officer; Nicole Valentine, Director of Administrative Services
3. Unrepresented Management Employees
City-designated negotiators: Che Johnson, Special Labor Counsel
City Council adjourned to Closed Session at 5:01 p.m.
6. ADJOURNMENT
City Council adjourned Closed Session at 5:59 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING 6:00 P.M.
_____________________________________________________________________
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ray Russom called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:03 pm.
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
Mayor Ray Russom requested Item 13 to be moved before Item 10.a.
5.a Closed Session Announcements
City Attorney Rosen announced that there was no reportable action from the following meeting:
January 13, 2026
a) LABOR NEGOTIATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6:
1. Employee Organization: Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 620
City-designated negotiators: Che Johnson, Special Labor Counsel; Ashley Garcia,
Human Resources Officer; Nicole Valentine, Director of Administrative Services
2. Employee Organization: Arroyo Grande Police Officers' Association
City-designated negotiators: Che Johnson, Special Labor Counsel; Ashley Garcia,
Human Resources Officer; Nicole Valentine, Director of Administrative Services
3. Unrepresented Management Employees
City-designated negotiators: Che Johnson, Special Labor Counsel
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5.b Ordinances read in title only
Moved by Mayor Ray Russom
Seconded by Council Member Guthrie
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, Council Member Secrest, Council Member Guthrie, Mayor Pro
Tem Maraviglia, and Council Member Loe
Passed (5 to 0)
6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
6.a City Manager Communications
City Manager Downing provided updates on the Lopez Lake Litigation following the Ninth Circuit
Court’s decision in December and though the County won the appeal, the litigation continues
and litigation costs continue to be incurred; Traffic Way Bridge Replacement Project was
substantially completed on time and on budget and reopened on December 17th; Ribbon
Cutting event on February 4th at 5 pm; Commander Greg Pierce graduated from the Sherman
Block Supervisory Leadership Institute; Caltrans Project on Hwy 101 and associated ramp
closures; and the closure of the 1500 block of Hillcrest Drive on January 14th for water valve
replacement.
No action was taken on this item.
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. Speaking from the public were No Name Provided, and
Luisa Cortinez. No further public comments were received. Mayor Ray Russom requested staff connect
with the public commenter.
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.
City Manager Downing, Kate Ballantyne, SLO County Assistant Chief Executive Officer, and Eric
Daniels, PG&E, responded to questions from Council regarding Item 9.f.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Jimmy Paulding. No further
public comments were received.
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4 Item 9.a.
Moved by Council Member Guthrie
Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia
Approve Consent Agenda Items 9.a. through 9.h., with the recommended courses of action.
AYES (5): Council Member Guthrie, Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia, Council Member Secrest, Council
Member Loe, and Mayor Ray Russom
Passed (5 to 0)
9.a Approval of Minutes
Approved the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of December 9, 2025, as submitted.
9.b Cash Disbursement Ratification
Reviewed and ratified the listing of cash disbursements for the period of November 16 through
November 30, 2025.
9.c Statement of Investment Deposits for November 2025
Received and filed the report listing investment deposits of the City of Arroyo Grande as of
November 30, 2025, as required by Government Code Section 53646(b).
9.d Fiscal Year 2025-26 First Quarter Financial Status Report
Received and filed the Fiscal Year 2025-26 First Quarter Financial Status Report.
9.e Accept the Annual Development Impact Fee Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 (AB 1600
Report); Including the Water and Sewer Capacity Fee Annual Reporting for FY 2024-25
1) Accepted the Annual Development Impact Fee Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 (AB1600
Report) and Water and Sewer Capacity Fee Annual Report for FY 2024-25; and
2) Determined that accepting the Annual Development Impact Fee Report and Water and Sewer
Capacity Fee Report for FY 2024-25 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, Cal. Code
Regs., tit. 14, §§ 15060, subd. (c)(2)-(3), 15378.)
9.f Support for Legislation Supporting Extended Operations of Diablo Canyon Power Plant
and Restoration of Unitary Tax Treatment
1) Authorized the County of San Luis Obispo to include the City as a supporter of the County’s
request for legislation to authorize operations of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant
(DCPP) for an additional 20 years, restore pre-decommissioning unitary tax treatment for DCPP,
and support the California Coastal Commission’s land conservation and public access plan for
lands surrounding the DCPP; and
2) Found that this action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant
to State Guidelines Section 15060, subd. (c)(2)-(3), 15378.
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9.g Water Wheeling Agreement Between the City of Arroyo Grande and the Oceano
Community Services District
Adopted a Resolution entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ARROYO GRANDE GRANTING A WATER WHEELING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY
OF ARROYO GRANDE AND THE OCEANO COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT".
9.h Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Right of Way Acquisition and Reimbursement
Agreement
1) Adopted a Resolution entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ARROYO GRANDE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A RIGHT OF WAY
ACQUISITION AND REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT WITH ARROYO GRANDE
COMMUNITY HOSPITAL IN ITS EXISTING FORM SUBJECT TO FINAL NEGOTIATIONS";
2) Approved a Budget Amendment Request for FY 2026-27 in the amount of $100,000 to
account for the additional revenue and expenditures related to the reimbursement agreement
with AGCH; and
3) Found that adopting a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the ROW
acquisition and reimbursement agreement with AGCH in its existing form subject to final
negotiations, as approved by the City Manager in consultation with the City Attorney 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.)
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
10.a Introduction of Radar Speed Survey Extension Ordinance
City Engineer Sweeney presented the staff report.
Mayor Ray Russom opened the public hearing. Upon hearing no public comments, Mayor Ray
Russom closed the public hearing.
Moved by Council Member Loe
Seconded by Council Member Guthrie
1) Introduce an Ordinance entitled: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ARROYO GRANDE EXTENDING THE CERTIFICATION OF THE 2018 FIVE-YEAR
RADAR SPEED SURVEY"; and
2) Make findings that this extension 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. (b)(2)-(3), 15378.).
AYES (5): Council Member Loe, Council Member Guthrie, Council Member Secrest, Mayor Pro
Tem Maraviglia, and Mayor Ray Russom
Passed (5 to 0)
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11. BUSINESS ITEMS
11.a San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) Draft Transportation Expenditure
Plan
Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Robeson introduced the Item. Kendall Flint,
SLOCOG Consultant, presented the Item and responded to questions from Council.
Council Member Loe provided comments as the City Council's representative on the SLOCOG
Board.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
Council discussion ensued regarding the draft Plan and input given regarding the incorporation
of language that requires consensus among the south county region representatives before
south county region funds are allocated elsewhere within the county.
No action was taken on this item.
11.b Evaluate Tourism Occupancy Tax (TOT) Measure Policy Direction and Potential
Opportunities Related to Arroyo Grande Tourism Business Improvement District
(AGTBID)
Mayor Ray Russom declared a conflict of interest due to owning a short-term rental.
Mayor Ray Russom called for a brief break at 7:17 p.m. and left the meeting. The Council
reconvened at 7:22 p.m.
Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia presided.
Recreation Services Director Bohlken presented the Item.
Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia invited public comment. No public comments were received.
Council discussion ensued regarding the potential measure and timing. City Manager Downing
responded to questions from Council.
Council directed staff to not move forward with the preparation of options for a potential
Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) increase at this time; not increase the AGTBID assessment at
this time; and not pursue activities related to Senate Bill 346 at this time.
12. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
This Item was heard out of order.
Council Member Secrest commented that the Homeless Services Oversight Council annual point-in-
time count will take place on January 27th and volunteers are needed.
13. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Ray Russom adjourned the
meeting at 7:34 pm.
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_________________________
Caren Ray Russom, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________
Jessica Matson, City Clerk
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