HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2026-04-28 1
ACTION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
April 28, 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: 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, Human
Resources Officer Ashley Garcia, City
Engineer Shannon Sweeney
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
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) LABOR NEGOTIATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6:
Meet with City-designated negotiators described below. Negotiation will include salary, compensation
and benefits:
1. Employee Organization: Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 620
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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 (POA)
City-designated negotiators: Che Johnson, Special Labor Counsel; Ashley Garcia, Human Resources Officer;
Nicole Valentine, Director of Administrative Services
3. Employee Organization: Unrepresented Management Employees
City-designated negotiators: Che Johnson, Special Labor Counsel
City Council adjourned to Closed Session.
6. ADJOURNMENT
City Council adjourned Closed Session.
REGULAR MEETING 6:00 P.M.
_____________________________________________________________________
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ray Russom called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
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 there was no reportable action from the following meeting:
April 28, 2026
LABOR NEGOTIATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6:
Meet with City-designated negotiators described below. Negotiation will include salary,
compensation and benefits:
1. Employee Organization: Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 620
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
APRIL 28, 2026
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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 (POA)
City-designated negotiators: Che Johnson, Special Labor Counsel; Ashley Garcia, Human
Resources Officer; Nicole Valentine, Director of Administrative Services
3. Employee Organization: Unrepresented Management Employees
City-designated negotiators: Che Johnson, Special Labor Counsel
5.b Ordinances read in title only
None.
6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
6.a Honorary Proclamation Declaring The Month of May 2026 As "National Bike Month"
Mayor Ray Russom read the Honorary Proclamation declaring the Month of May 2026 as
"National Bike Month." Meghan Fields, SLO Air Pollution Control District Public Information
Officer accepted the proclamation.
No action was taken on this item.
6.b Honorary Proclamation Declaring May 3-9, 2026 As "Public Service Recognition Week"
Mayor Ray Russom read the Honorary Proclamation declaring May 3-9, 2026 as "Public Service
Recognition Week." Police Chief Culver accepted the proclamation.
No action was taken on this item.
6.c City Manager Communications
City Manager Downing provided updates regarding the recent CSTOC meeting, upcoming
virtual community meetings on a possible cannabis measure, and the Mother's Day Tea event.
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
2. California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA)
3. Five Cities Fire Authority JPA Board
4. San Luis Obispo County Mayor's Meeting
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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. Other
8. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Patty Welsh. No further
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. Council Member Guthrie requested to pull Item 9.e. for separate
consideration.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
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Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia
Seconded by Council Member Guthrie
Approve Consent Agenda Items 9.a. through 9.d., excluding Item 9.e., with the recommended courses
of action and the modification to the Item 9.a.
AYES (5): Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia, Council Member Guthrie, 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 April 14, 2026, as amended.
9.b Cash Disbursement Ratification
Reviewed and ratified the listing of cash disbursements for the period of March 16 through
March 31, 2026.
9.c Monthly Water Supply and Demand Update
Received and filed the Monthly Water Supply and Demand Update.
9.d General Plan Update Progress Report – April 2026
Received and filed a progress report on the Comprehensive General Plan Update.
9.e Adoption of a Resolution Approving Architectural Review 25-005
Council Member Guthrie commented on his previous vote on the Item.
Moved by Council Member Loe
Seconded by Council Member Secrest
1) Adopted a Resolution entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ARROYO GRANDE APPROVING ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW 25-005 FOR A PROPOSED
MURAL AT 201 EAST BRANCH STREET"; and
2) Found that the project is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 for minor alterations to existing structures.
AYES (4): Council Member Loe, Council Member Secrest, Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia, and
Mayor Ray Russom
NOES (1): Council Member Guthrie
Passed (4 to 1)
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10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
10.a Public Hearing to Consider the AGTBID Annual Assessment and FY 2026-27 Budget
Mayor Ray Russom declared a conflict of interest due to ownership of a short-term rental and
left the meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia presided.
Director of Recreation Services Bohlken presented the report and responded to questions from
Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia opened the public hearing. Upon hearing no public comments, Mayor
Pro Tem Maraviglia closed the public hearing.
Council Member Guthrie commented on the TBID and TOT.
Deputy City Clerk Hawkins reported that no protests were received.
Moved by Council Member Loe
Seconded by Council Member Secrest
1) Conduct a Public Hearing to receive public comment and protests regarding the continuation
of the Arroyo Grande Tourism Business Improvement District (AGTBID), confirm the Annual
Assessment Report (the ‘Annual Report’), and levy an annual assessment for FY 2026-27;
2) Determine if a majority protest has been received; if no majority protest has been received,
adopt a Resolution entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ARROYO GRANDE CONFIRMING THE ANNUAL REPORT AND ASSESSMENT TO BE
LEVIED WITHIN THE ARROYO GRANDE TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-27"; and
3) 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).
AYES (4): Council Member Loe, Council Member Secrest, Council Member Guthrie, and Mayor
Pro Tem Maraviglia
ABSENT (1): Mayor Ray Russom
Passed (4 to 0)
11. BUSINESS ITEMS
11.a City Workforce Vacancies, Recruitment, and Retention Trends Presentation (Assembly
Bill 2561)
Mayor Ray Russom returned to the meeting.
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Human Resources Officer Ashley Garcia presented the Item.
Senior Police Officer Enriqueda Peinado provided a report for the Arroyo Grande Police Officer's
Association.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Anthony. No further
public comments were received.
No action was taken on this item. The report was received and filed.
11.b Traffic Way Bridge Replacement Project Detour Elements Discussion
City Engineer Sweeney presented the report and responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public were Cheryl Storton,
Alexandria Davis, and Judy Cecchetti. No further public comments were received.
Council discussion ensued. Council directed staff to make no changes to Bridge/Branch Street;
make no changes to Fair Oaks Avenue/Highway 101/Orchard Street; leave the temporary traffic
circle in place at this time, add speed feedback signs, increase education and enforcement,
remove two trees, and work towards installing a larger, more permanent roundabout as space is
obtained or becomes available; and bringing back a more detailed staff report for formal action
to include discussion of signage, potential for curb removal and tree removal, and directing staff
to reach out to the agriculture community regarding potential concerns, as well as the school
district.
11.c Halcyon Complete Streets Project Pre-Bid
City Engineer Sweeney presented the staff report and responded to questions from Council.
City Manager Downing responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public were Cheryl Storton,
Laura Mullen, and Judy Cecchetti. No further public comments were received. Staff responded
to questions from the public including the amount of outreach conducted for this project.
Council discussion ensued.
Moved by Mayor Ray Russom
Seconded by Council Member Secrest
Direct staff to advertise the Halcyon Complete Streets Project for construction as designed and
to include a monument sign at entrance to the City at The Pike.
AYES (5): Mayor Ray Russom, Council Member Secrest, Council Member Guthrie, Council
Member Loe, and Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia
Passed (5 to 0)
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11.d Proposed Second Amendment to City Manager Employment Agreement
City Attorney Rosen presented the staff report.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
Moved by Mayor Ray Russom
Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia
Approve the Second Amendment to the Employment Agreement Between the City of Arroyo
Grande and Matthew Downing (“Second Amendment”) following an oral report by the City
Attorney summarizing any changes in the salaries, salary schedules or compensation paid in the
form of fringe benefits consistent with the Brown Act.
AYES (5): Mayor Ray Russom, Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia, Council Member Guthrie, Council
Member Secrest, and Council Member Loe
Passed (5 to 0)
12. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Council Member Secrest noted the beautiful flowers in Arroyo Grande and nice weather.
Council Member Loe commented on her attendance of a workshop by SLOCOG to discuss
transportation and housing; expressed appreciation for the service of 5 Cities Homeless Coalition
Executive Director, Janna Nichols, upon her retirement; and toured the MERF Recycling facility with
Staff.
Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia commented on her attendance of at the affordable housing summit.
13. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Ray Russom adjourned the
meeting at 8:33 p.m.
_________________________
Caren Ray Russom, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________
Jessica Matson, City Clerk