CC 2021-04-27_08c Approval of Minutes_04-13-21ACTION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 215 E. BRANCH STREET
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA
In compliance with the State Shelter at Home Order due to the coronavirus pandemic, and as
allowed by the Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20, which allows for a deviation of
teleconference rules required by the Ralph M. Brown Act, this meeting was held by
teleconference.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ray Russom called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
City Council: Council Members Lan George, Keith Storton, Kristen Barneich, Mayor
Pro Tem Jimmy Paulding, and Mayor Caren Ray Russom were all
present via teleconference.
Staff Present: City Manager Whitney McDonald, Assistant City Manager/Public Works
Director Bill Robeson, City Attorney Tim Carmel, City Clerk Jessica
Matson, Community Development Director Rob Fitzroy, Accounting
Manager Nicole Valentine.
3. MOMENT OF REFLECTION
4. FLAG SALUTE
Council Member Storton led the flag salute.
5. AGENDA REVIEW
Assistant City Manager Robeson recommended that Item 8.e be postponed to a date certain of
April 27, 2021.
Action: Mayor Ray Russom moved to postpone Item 8.e. Consideration of Streets Selection for
the 2021 Street Repairs Project, PW 2021-01 to a date certain of April 27, 2021. Council Member
George seconded, and the motion passed on the following roll-call vote:
AYES: Ray Russom, George, Storton, Barneich, Paulding
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Regular Meeting of March 23, 2021
5.a. Closed Session Announcements.
a)CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR pursuant to Government Code Section
54957.6:
Agency Negotiator: Whitney McDonald, City Manager
Represented Employees: Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 620
Item 8.c. - Page 1
Minutes: City Council Page 2
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
b) CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR pursuant to Government Code Section
54957.6:
Agency Designated Representative: Whitney McDonald, City Manager
Employee Organization: Arroyo Grande Police Officers’ Association (AGPOA)
City Attorney Carmel announced that there was no reportable action.
5.b. Ordinances Read in Title Only.
None.
6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
6.a. Update Regarding Countywide COVID-19 Efforts.
Recommended Action: Receive update, accept public comments, discuss, and provide
direction, as necessary.
City Manager McDonald provided a brief update on COVID-19 efforts and responded to questions
from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
No action was taken on this item.
6.b. City Manager Communications.
Recommended Action: Receive correspondence/comments as presented by the City
Manager and provide direction, as necessary.
City Manager McDonald highlighted that the Police Department has a new social media channel
and can now be found on Instagram; and commented that the South San Luis Obispo County
Sanitation District has sent notices regarding future collection of fees on the tax roll.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Linda Drummy. No
further public comments were received.
No action was taken on this item.
6.c. Honorary Proclamation Posthumously Honoring Arroyo Grande Native Elsie M.
Cecchetti.
Mayor Ray Russom read an Honorary Proclamation Posthumously Honoring Arroyo Grande
Native Elsie M. Cecchetti.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Alisa Cecchetti. No
further public comments were received.
No action was taken on this item.
Item 8.c. - Page 2
Minutes: City Council Page 3
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
6.d. Honorary Proclamation Declaring the Month of April 2021 as “Sexual Assault
Awareness Month”.
Mayor Ray Russom read an Honorary Proclamation declaring the month of April 2021 as "Sexual
Assault Awareness Month". Jennifer Baltes, representing RISE, accepted the Proclamation.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
No action was taken on this item.
6.e. Introduction of New Employee – Tashina Ureño, Human Resources Manager.
City Manager McDonald introduced Tashina Ureño as the City’s new Human Resources Manager
and highlighted her educational and professional background.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
No action was taken on this item.
6.f. Presentation by Central Coast Community Energy - Annual Member Agency Update.
Lina Williams, representing Central Coast Community Energy, presented the 3CE Annual
Member Agency Update and responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
No action was taken on this item.
7. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Janna Nichols. No
further public comments were received.
8. 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.
Staff responded to questions from Council on item 8.f. Council approved continuing Item 8.e. to
a date certain of April 27, 2021 earlier in the meeting.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment on the consent agenda items. No public comments
were received.
Action: Council Member Storton moved to approve Consent Agenda Items 8.a. through 8.d., and
8.f. with the recommended courses of action. Council Member Barneich seconded, and the
motion passed on the following roll-call vote:
AYES: Storton, Barneich, George, Paulding, Ray Russom
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Item 8.c. - Page 3
Minutes: City Council Page 4
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
8.a. Consideration of Cash Disbursement Ratification.
Action: Ratified the listing of cash disbursements for the period March 16, 2021 through
March 31, 2021.
8.b. Consideration of Acceptance of the Single Audit and Audit Report for the
Transportation Development Act Transportation Fund Reports.
Action: Received and filed the Single Audit and Audit Report for the Transportation
Development Act Transportation Fund Reports for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.
8.c. Consideration of Approval of Minutes.
Action: Approved the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of March 23, 2021, as
submitted.
8.d. Adoption of Resolution Declaring a Continued Local Emergency Related to the
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.
Action: Adopted a Resolution entitled: “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE DECLARING A CONTINUED LOCAL EMERGENCY
RELATED TO THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC”.
8.f. Consideration to Approve Two Agreements with the California Conservation Corp
for Vegetation Management Services.
Action: Approved and authorized the Mayor to execute two (2), three year agreements
with the California Conservation Corps for annual vegetation management services.
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
10. OLD BUSINESS:
10.a. Continued Consideration of Fiscal Year 2020-21 Mid-Year Financial Status Report,
Approval of Mid-Year Budget Adjustment Requests, and Adoption of a Resolution
Establishing a Salary Range for a Part-Time Executive Secretary and Approving the
Updated Citywide Combined Salary Schedule.
Accounting Manager Valentine presented the staff report and recommended that the Council: 1)
Consider, receive, and file the Mid-Year Financial Status Report; 2) Approve Mid-Year Budget
Adjustment Requests; and 3) Adopt a Resolution Establishing a Salary Range for Part-Time
Executive Secretary and approve the Updated Citywide Combined Salary Schedule and responded
to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
Action: Mayor Pro Tem Paulding moved to consider, receive, and file the Mid-Year Financial Status
Report; Approve Mid-Year Budget Adjustment Requests; and adopt a Resolution entitled: “A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE ESTABLISHING
A SALARY RANGE FOR A PART-TIME EXECUTIVE SECRETARY AND APPROVING THE
UPDATED CITYWIDE COMBINED SALARY SCHEDULE”. Council Member Storton seconded,
and the motion passed on following roll call vote:
AYES: Paulding, Storton, Barneich, George, Ray Russom
NOES: None
Item 8.c. - Page 4
Minutes: City Council Page 5
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
ABSENT: None
Mayor Ray Russom called for a recess at 7:20 p.m. The Council reconvened at 7:25 p.m.
10.b. Continued Consideration of Approval of the Central Coast Blue Operating
Agreement and Consideration of Approval of Letter of Support to Bureau of
Reclamation for Project Grant.
City Manager McDonald presented the staff report and recommended that the Council receive an
update regarding the outcome of discussions with the cities of Grover Beach and Pismo Beach
following Council’s conditional approval of the Operating Agreement that occurred at the March 23,
2021 City Council meeting, continue considering approval of the proposed agreement, and consider
approval of the letter of support to the Bureau of Reclamation for the WaterSMART Title XVI Water
Reclamation and Reuse Grant Endorsement for Central Coast Blue. Mayor Ray Russom outlined
communications between the Cities of Pismo Beach and Grover Beach since the March 23, 2021
City Council meeting. Staff responded to questions.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public were Jeff Edwards, Ben
Fine, Joshua Medrano, Julie Tacker, David Baldwin, Jim Guthrie, and Jocelyn Brennan. No
further public comments were received.
Extensive comments were made by Council in support of staff’s alternative option 4 to: “Rescind the
City’s conditional approval of the Operating Agreement and direct staff to prepare a letter
identifying specific changes to the agreement that the City requires in order to approve it. Under
this alternative, Council may wish to approve the Operating Agreement subject to the cities of
Grover Beach and Pismo Beach agreeing to the proposed amendment or addendum and include
a deadline for the other parties’ approval. The action may be stated so that, if the deadline passes
and the other parties do not approve the proposed amendment or addendum, the City’s
conditional approval would become void.”
Action: Mayor Ray Russom moved to rescind the City’s conditional approval of the Central Coast
Blue operating agreement and to direct the City Manager to draft a letter to the Pismo Beach City
Council and Grover Beach City Council stating: “In order to continue Arroyo Grande’s participation
in the CCB project the following issues shall be addressed in the operating agreement: 1)
Provisions for robust public participation via a management or oversight committee subject to the
Brown Act throughout the life of the project; and 2) A governance structure that includes equal
decision making by all member agencies in order to preserve their fiduciary oversight
responsibilities to their respective ratepayers. We request notification in writing by May 31, 2021
as to whether these issues will be negotiated into the operating agreement at a future date to be
determined by the City Managers. Should the responses from either or both cities be in the
negative, or in the absence of an official response by the stated deadline, Arroyo Grande
regretfully withdraws from the Central Coast Blue project, effective 12:00 a.m. on June 1, 2021”.
Mayor Pro Tem Paulding seconded, and the motion passed on following roll call vote:
AYES: Ray Russom, Paulding, Barneich, Storton, George
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Action: Mayor Ray Russom moved to approve of the letter of support to the Bureau of
Item 8.c. - Page 5
Minutes: City Council Page 6
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Reclamation for the WaterSMART Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Grant Endorsement for
Central Coast Blue as amended to remove the last paragraph. Council Member Barneich
seconded, and the motion passed on following roll call vote:
AYES: Ray Russom, Barneich, Storton, George, Paulding
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
11. NEW BUSINESS
None.
12. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Ray Russom commented on the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District as it
relates to the placement of sewer rates on the tax roll and commented that the public hearing will
be held June 2, 2021.
Council Member George also made comments related to the South San Luis Obispo County
Sanitation District and transparency.
Council Member Barneich commented that she would like to discuss homeless issues as part of
the Council Priorities staff report and confirmed that the report will be on the next City Council
meeting agenda.
Council Member Storton commented that AGIB added flower baskets to the newly re-opened
Bridge Street Bridge and encouraged all to drive across it.
Mayor Pro Tem Paulding commented that he has been working with other elected officials in other
jurisdictions on a local initiative related to economic recovery, focused on housing, infrastructure,
and clean energy.
13. CLOSED SESSION
None.
14. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Ray Russom adjourned
the meeting at 10:46 p.m.
____________________________
Caren Ray Russom, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Jessica Matson, City Clerk
(Approved at CC Mtg ____________)
Item 8.c. - Page 6