HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2026-03-24_09a Approval of Minutes1 Item 9.a.
ACTION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
March 10, 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, Utilities Manager Shane
Taylor, Human Resources Officer Ashley
Garcia
This meeting was conducted in a hybrid in-person/virtual format.
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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 opened public comment. No comments were received.
5. CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Rosen announced 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) PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION:
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957 (b)(1)
Title: City Manager
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b) CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS:
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Negotiator: City Attorney Isaac Rosen
Title: City Manager
6. ADJOURNMENT
City Council adjourned to Closed Session at 5:02 p.m.
City Council adjourned Closed Session at 5:56 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 6:00 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
City Attorney Rosen announced that Council readjourned to open session and will continue
discussion after the open agenda has concluded.
March 10, 2026
a) PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION:
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957 (b)(1)
Title: City Manager
b) CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS:
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Negotiator: City Attorney Isaac Rosen
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3 Item 9.a.
Title: City Manager
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, Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia, Council Member Guthrie, Council
Member Secrest, and Council Member Loe
Passed (5 to 0)
6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
6.a Honorary Proclamation Recognizing March 23-27, 2026 as "Government Finance
Professionals Week"
Mayor Ray Russom presented the Proclamation recognizing March 23-27, 2026 as
"Government Finance Professionals Week." Administrative Services Director Valentine,
accepted the Proclamation.
Mayor Ray Russom presented a Mayor's Commendation to the City's Administrative Services
Department and Director Valentine for receiving the 2025 Operating Budget Excellence Award.
No action was taken on this Item.
6.b City Manager Communications
City Manager Downing provided updates on the City’s Recreation Services awards for Best
Summer Camp and Best Place to Work in The Tribune’s Best of the Central Coast Contest; the
Police Department’s completion of the annual P.O.S.T. training audit with no discrepancies;
FCFA finalizing the specifications for a new tiller truck and application for funding; and
announced that the Arroyo Grande Winter Edition is now available.
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 was Cesar Lomeli, Scott Miller,
Sean McDonald, Lisa McDonald, Marcy Betita, Rick Betita, Brian Goodell. No further public comments
were received.
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4 Item 9.a.
Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Robeson and City Manager Downing responded to
questions from the public. City Attorney Rosen responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom addressed 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.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
Moved by Council Member Secrest
Seconded by Council Member Loe
Approve Consent Agenda Items 9.a. through 9.d., with the recommended courses of action.
AYES (5): Council Member Secrest, Council Member Loe, Council Member Guthrie, 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 24, 2026, as submitted.
9.b Cash Disbursement Ratification
Reviewed and ratified the listing of cash disbursements for the period of February 1 through
February 15, 2026.
9.c Statement of Investment Deposits for January 2026
Received and filed the report listing investment deposits of the City of Arroyo Grande as of
January 31, 2026, as required by Government Code Section 53646(b).
9.d Northern Cities Management Agency (NCMA) Technical Group Strategic Plan
Received and filed the 2025 NCMA Technical Group Strategic Plan (Plan).
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
11. BUSINESS ITEMS
11.a Discussion of the Purchase of State Water
Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Robeson presented the Item and responded to
questions from Council. City Attorney Rosen, City Manager Downing, and Utilities Manager
Taylor responded to questions from Council.
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5 Item 9.a.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
Moved by Mayor Ray Russom
Seconded by Council Member Guthrie
1) Direct staff to proceed with the preparation of a ballot measure (and draft language) to repeal
Measure A, as approved in the November 6, 1990 General Municipal Election, and authorize the
City of Arroyo Grande to participate in the California State Water Project, to be placed on a
future municipal ballot, for consideration at a future City Council meeting; and
2) Find that providing direction to staff to proceed with preparing a ballot measure for the
purchase of State Water 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).
AYES (5): Mayor Ray Russom, Council Member Guthrie, Council Member Secrest, Council
Member Loe, and Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia
Passed (5 to 0)
11.b Risk Management Annual Report
Human Resources Officer Garcia introduced the Item and California Joint Powers Insurance
Authority (CJPIA) Risk Manager Tim Karcz. Human Resources Officer Garcia and Mr. Karcz
presented the Annual Report. Mr. Karcz responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
No action was taken. The report was received and filed.
Receive and file the Risk Management Annual Report.
11.c 2026 Omnibus Municipal Code Cleanup Ordinance
City Clerk Matson presented the Item.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia
Seconded by Council Member Loe
1) Introduce an Ordinance entitled: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ARROYO GRANDE AMENDING SECTION 1.01.010 OF TITLE 1 (GENERAL
PROVISIONS), AND VARIOUS SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 13.26 OF TITLE 13
(ENCROACHMENT PERMITS) OF THE ARROYO GRANDE MUNICIPAL CODE"; 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
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indirect, physical change in the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060 (c)(2) and (3),
15378).). Alternatively, the organizational changes made by the amendments to Title 1, and Title
13 of the AGMC by this Ordinance are not a project under CEQA because such changes
constitute organizational or administrative activities of a government that will not result in direct
or indirect physical changes in the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines § 15378(b)(5).)
AYES (5): Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia, Council Member Loe, Council Member Guthrie, Council
Member Secrest, and Mayor Ray Russom
Passed (5 to 0)
12. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia commented that she attended the Celebration of Life for Clifford Clark at the
Clark Center and expressed gratitude for their contribution to the community.
Mayor Ray Russom commented that she threw the first pitch at Arroyo Grande Little League Opening
Day.
Council Member Secrest commented that she hosted the UCLA Triathlon Team competing at Lopez
Lake.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ray Russom adjourned the Regular meeting to the continued Closed Session at 7:29 pm. Any
reportable action will be reported at the next regular City Council meeting.
Closed Session adjourned at 8:35 pm.
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Ray Russom adjourned the
meeting at 8:36 pm.
_________________________
Caren Ray Russom, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________
Jessica Matson, City Clerk
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