HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2026-02-241
ACTION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
February 24, 2026, 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
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, Community Development
Director Brian Pedrotti, Planning Manager
Andrew Perez, City Engineer Shannon
Sweeney, Chief of Police Dave Culver,
Human Resources Officer Ashley Garcia,
Public Works Manager Mike Robles,
Executive Assistant Elizabeth Vega, FCFA
Battalion Chief Ryan Bird, Deputy City
Clerk/Communications Coordinator Julie
Hawkins
This meeting was conducted in a hybrid in-person/virtual format.
_____________________________________________________________________
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.
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5.b Ordinances read in title only
None.
6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
6.a Honorary Proclamation Recognizing March 2026 as "Women's History Month"
Mayor Ray Russom presented the Proclamation recognizing March 2026 as "Women's History
Month." Anita Shower, San Luis Obispo County Commission on Status of Women and Girls,
accepted the Proclamation.
No action was taken on this Item.
6.b Introduction of Public Works Manager Mike Robles
Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Robeson introduced Public Works Manager Mike
Robles and highlighted his educational background and professional skills. Public Works
Manager Robles addressed the Council.
No action was taken on this item.
6.c Recognition of Annual Employee Award Recipients
City Manager Downing introduced the City’s annual employee awards recipients: Senior
Accounting Clerk Susie Velasquez, Five Cities Fire Authority Administrative Operations Manager
Tricia Meyers, Executive Assistant Elizabeth Vega, Battalion Chief Ryan Bird, City Engineer
Shannon Sweeney, Deputy City Clerk/Communications Coordinator Julie Hawkins, and Senior
Engineer John Benedetti.
No action was taken on this item.
6.d City Manager Communications
City Manager Downing provided updates regarding the recruitment for Utilities Manager
following the upcoming retirement of Shane Taylor following a 38-year career with the City;
recruitments for Police Officer and Police Trainees; FCFA Strategic Plan effort and current
survey; Fact Check Central webpage on the City's website; and the current vacancy on
SLOCOG’s Citizen Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC).
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
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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 MARAVIGLIA:
1. Five Cities Fire Authority JPA Board
2. Visit SLO CAL Advisory Board
3. 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 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.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. Mayor's Meeting
8. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Alexandria Davis, Lauren
Sligh, Lincoln Sligh, Marcy Betita. No further public comments were received.
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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.
Council Member Loe commented on the completion of the Traffic Way Bridge Replacement Project and
success of the Buy Local Program.
Moved by Council Member Guthrie
Seconded by Council Member Secrest
Approve Consent Agenda Items 9.a. through 9.e., with the recommended courses of action.
AYES (5): Council Member Guthrie, Council Member Secrest, Council Member Loe, Mayor Pro Tem
Maraviglia, and Mayor Ray Russom
Passed (5 to 0)
9.a Approval of Minutes
Approved the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of February 10, 2026, as submitted.
9.b Cash Disbursement Ratification
Reviewed and ratified the attached listing of cash disbursements for the period of January 16
through January 31, 2026.
9.c Accept Traffic Way Bridge Replacement Project, PW 2023-02
1) Adopted a Resolution accepting the project improvements as constructed by Granite
Construction Company in accordance with the plans and specifications for the Traffic Way
Bridge Replacement Project, PW 2023-02; and
2) Directed staff to file a Notice of Completion.
9.d James Way Sewer Easement Vacation
1) Adopted a Resolution ordering the vacation of a Sewer Easement at James Way; and
2) Found that Adopting a Resolution Vacating the Sewer Easement at 1281 James Way 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.);
9.e Monthly Water Supply & Demand Update
Received and filed the Monthly Water Supply and Demand Update.
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10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
11. BUSINESS ITEMS
11.a San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) Transportation Expenditure Plan
Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Robeson introduced the Item and representatives
from San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG). Kendall Flint, SLOCOG consultant,
presented and responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Eric Justeson. No
further public comments were received.
Council discussion ensued regarding the potential to become a self-help county. Mayor Ray
Russom expressed concerns with the lack of protections for south county funds.
Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia
Seconded by Council Member Secrest
Adopted a Resolution approving the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) Final
Draft Transportation Expenditure Plan (Plan) and authorized SLOCOG to use the City’s logo on
website and informational materials.
AYES (4): Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia, Council Member Secrest, Council Member Guthrie, and
Council Member Loe
NOES (1): Mayor Ray Russom
Passed (4 to 1)
11.b Study Session to Consider the Preliminary Public Review Draft General Plan
Community Development Director Pedrotti introduced the Item and consultant. Michael
Gibbons, Mintier Harnish consultant, presented the Public Review Draft. Director Pedrotti
commented on the project schedule and next steps.
Director Pedrotti summarized the comments received from the public following the publishing of
the Agenda and responded to questions from Council.
City Manager Downing responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Joel Fishbein, Eric
Justeson, Trish Wilson, Peter Williamson. No further public comments were received. Director
Pedrotti, City Engineer Sweeney, and City Manager Downing responded to questions from the
public. Mayor Ray Russom addressed public questions.
City Manager Downing addressed public interest in tennis and pickleball courts and the current
Soto Sports Complex Strategic Plan effort.
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Council discussion ensued regarding comments received during the review process. Director
Pedrotti, Planning Manager Perez, and City Manager Downing responded to questions from
Council.
City Council took a brief break from 8:16 pm - 8:23 pm.
Council discussion continued.
City Council took a brief break due to technical difficulties from 8:51 pm - 9:05 pm.
Council discussion continued including programming that encourages intergenerational care;
creating a goal to have non-toxic environments; encouraging childcare and daycare facilities;
enhancing programming for youth and younger families; more policy implementation specific to
youth and younger families; and evaluating recreation programs to include seniors and families.
Council directed staff to review the plan for statements reflecting services for seniors and look
for opportunities to include other populations.
Council also discussed the potential population growth and having the right infrastructure and
funding to support the growth; opportunities for community gardens expanding; a proximity
policy for parks; having a transportation strategy to accommodate any population increase;
developing agriculture mitigation; residential building improvements; increasing opportunities for
affordable-middle housing like incentives or expedited processes, pre-approved plans, or super
bonuses for density; surveillance technology oversight; reassessing agriculture as an economic
driver; creation of a policy disallowing data centers; de-incentivizing stagnancy for land or areas
sitting and not being used.
Mayor Ray Russom made a motion to continue the meeting to 11:15 pm and continue Item 11c
to a date uncertain. Council Member Guthrie seconded the motion. The motion passed by
unanimous voice vote.
Council directed staff as follows:
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Topic Council Decision
Focus Area Boundary should include all property area Yes
Characterize property as open space/undeveloped
instead of agriculture
Yes
Density modified to eliminate Low Density and include
mix use (Policy LU-10.2)
Yes
Sport Field moved from Frederick property to other
location (PRCS-A)
Yes
Reduce 20% open space requirement for N. Fair Oaks
Focus Area (LU-20)
Flexibility on total open space
%
Creek Trail Count towards Open Space /Parks and not
be developed while active agriculture use
Yes
Add connector road from Valley Road to Grand Ave
(Table 7-5) if properties developed
Yes-not while active
agriculture is ongoing
Specify Class I Multi-Use Path along Creek S of Fair
Oaks Ave (LU-20) and not build while active agriculture
in use
Yes
Revise to not create unnecessary burdens for property
owners interested in converting from agricultural to
urban uses on parcels with an agriculture land use
designation (LU-8.3 and LU 8.4)
Keep 8.3 and 8.4
Emphasize Camp AG and Tabernacle in Natural and
Cultural Resources Element (Policy NCR-4.9)
Yes
High-Speed Broadband Internet (SAF-1.6 and SAF-X)
(Describe as a community service in PRCS)
Yes
Address noise generated at neighborhood level as part
of NOI-D
Yes
High-Speed Internet (PRCS) Yes
New Sports Complex (PRCS-1) Support-remove specifics (i.e.
pickleball) from PRCS-1.2
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Childcare Facilities (PRCS-5) Yes
Abandon level of service metric Maintain level of service
Include Arroyo Grande High School in Policy C-5.9 as a
traffic generator
Yes
Economic Development Element more permissive of
expanding commercial and light industrials
opportunities (ED-1.6)
Yes
Identify opportunities for City to generate revenue
beyond grants/loans (policy ED-3)
Yes
Concern that Policy ED-2.6 could deter commercial
development; incorporate metrics to indicate balanced
growth
No-support staff's position
Tennis Courts (PRCS) Soto Strategic Plan
Pickleball Courts (PRCS) Soto Strategic Plan
More robust policy on urban forestry (PRCS) No-support staff's position
Traffic inducing growth and encouraging policies to
allocate right-of-way to multimodal transportation types
No-support staff's position
New Organic Land Management Policy Yes
Open Space and Recreation % - "Double Dipping" No-does not belong in
General Plan
Dedicated transportation funding No
Commit to fixing pedestrian connections No
Intergenerational Programs No
Agriculture conversion in-lieu fee Yes
Maintain adequate road conditions in state of good
repair
Yes
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Support youth and family similar to the document's
support of seniors
Yes
Community gardens - do not limit to public spaces No-already addressed
Proximity policy for parks - 10-minute walk No
Add City administrative support in PRCS No
Strong transportation strategy to accommodate growth No
Stronger language on regional partnerships for
transportation improvements
No-existing
LU-3.11 - Eliminate Modify to read “support high
quality residential design and
contribute to neighborhood
character”
LU-4.4 - remove residential No
LU-6.2 - soften/potentially eliminate to not overburden
new mixed-use projects
Yes-eliminate
Consider new residential development types as
implementation strategy
Yes
Increasing opportunity for missing middle housing Review with Housing Element
Minimum density requirements Review with Housing Element
“Super-bonuses” for additional density Review with Housing Element
Public disclosure and council approval of new
surveillance technology
No-consider administrative
policy
Economic Development Element to not be so heavy
agriculture/incorporate other major employers and
sectors
Yes-call out working regionally
on economic development
Do not support data centers No
ED-1.12 – de-incentivizing property stagnancy No
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11.c Study Session on Efforts to Redevelop East Grand Avenue
This Item was continued to a date uncertain.
12. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Council Member Loe provided information on SLOCOG's Project in Shell Beach/Avila Beach.
13. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Ray Russom adjourned the
meeting at 11:02 pm.
_________________________
Caren Ray Russom, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________
Jessica Matson, City Clerk