CC 2020-01-14_08f Approval of CC Minutes_12-10-19 and 12-17-19ACTION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 215 E. BRANCH STREET
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ray Russom called the City Council Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
City Council: Council Members Keith Storton, Jimmy Paulding, Lan George, Mayor Pro
Tem Kristen Barneich, and Mayor Caren Ray Russom were present.
Staff Present: City Manager Jim Bergman, City Attorney Tim Carmel, Deputy City Clerk
Jessica Matson, Director of Public Works Bill Robeson, and Accounting
Manager Nicole Valentine.
3. MOMENT OF REFLECTION
4. FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Ray Russom led the Flag Salute.
5. AGENDA REVIEW
Mayor Ray Russom referred to the supplemental memorandum regarding Item 10.a.
(Presentation and Discussion of Strategic Concepts) which recommended that the item be
continued to a date to be noticed in January 2020 and requested that the item be moved up on
the Agenda before Item 8 (Consent Agenda). The Council concurred.
5.a. Closed Session Announcements.
None.
5.b. Ordinances Read in Title Only.
Mayor Pro Tem Barneich moved, Council Member Storton seconded, and the motion passed
unanimously that all ordinances presented at the meeting shall be read by title only and all further
readings be waived.
6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
None.
7. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public were: Linda Osty, who
offered an invocation; Jamie Sanbonmatsu, spoke regarding the “We Are The Care” initiative of
San Luis Obispo County to address the need for local childcare providers, especially during non-
traditional work hours; Sharon Sindell, spoke in support of the “We Are The Care” initiative and
provided a brief background of her challenges in finding childcare in the County and urged the
Council to support the initiative; Julie Tacker, asked for an explanation for the change in legal
counsel and expressed concerns regarding the rising costs of the Central Coast Blue project;
Colleen Kubel, expressed concern with the rising costs of the Central Coast Blue project; Paul
Quinlan, distributed his comments to Council and staff, commented on a proposed water rate
increase, asked for information on the cause for the City’s consideration of a water rate increase,
and asked questions regarding water consumption statistics, the status of the water and sewer
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fund, and funding for maintenance; Cheryl Storton, who thanked Council for their work and
acknowledged her son, Keith Storton, for consideration as the next Mayor Pro Tem, and referred
to the intersection of Alpine and Grand Avenue and the unmarked crosswalk, expressed concern
for pedestrian safety, and requested that the City paint crosswalk stripes at this intersection.
No further public comments were received.
In response to Mr. Quinlan’s public comments regarding water and sewer rates, Mayor Ray
Russom asked Mr. Quinlan to provide his contact information to the City Manager for follow-up.
In response to Ms. Storton’s public comments regarding the intersection at Alpine and Grand
avenue, Public Works Director Robeson responded that uncontrolled intersections with marked
crosswalks can pose a dangerous condition for pedestrians and the City is trying to remove them
throughout the City. City Manager Bergman stated that a solution is being proposed in the
conceptual design of the Grand Avenue Master Plan.
In response to Ms. Tacker’s public comments, City Attorney Carmel explained that the City holds
a contract for legal services with the firm of Carmel and Naccasha and that there is a team of
attorneys that work on City issues; that the former City Attorney assigned to the City, Heather
Whitham, accepted a position as Assistant City Attorney with the City of Santa Maria, and that he
is the City Attorney currently providing City services. City Manager Bergman commented on the
process for the Central Coast Blue Project and stated that it will be discussed more at a future
Council meeting when they discuss water rates.
The next agenda item was heard out of order.
10. OLD BUSINESS
10.a. Presentation and Discussion of Strategic Concepts.
Staff recommended that this item be postponed to a meeting to be noticed in January 2020.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comments. No public comments were received.
Action: Mayor Ray Russom moved to postpone this item to a meeting to be noticed in January
2020. Council Member Paulding seconded, and the motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ray Russom, Paulding, George, Storton, Barneich
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
8. CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Ray Russom asked the Council if they had any questions or would like to pull any items
for further discussion.
City Attorney Carmel requested that Item 8.h. (Consideration of Grant of Access Easement Over
the City-Owned Parking Lot Located Behind the 100 Block of E. Branch Street) be pulled due to
some last minute changes to the proposed easement requested by the applicant.
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In response to a question by Mayor Pro Tem Barneich regarding Item 8.a. (Cash Disbursements)
as it relates to Five Cities Fire Authority (FCFA) overtime, Accounting Manager Valentine
explained that overtime is listed by department and that it is for the entire FCFA and not just
Arroyo Grande’s portion. Mayor Pro Tem Barneich requested including just Arroyo Grande’s
overtime on the document.
In response to a question by Council Member Storton, Accounting Manager Valentine stated that
the FCFA overtime is based on the negotiated 47% and not based on the station where overtime
was worked.
In response to a question by Council Member Paulding regarding Item 8.b. [Acceptance of the
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)], Accounting Manager Valentine stated that next
year’s CAFR should be ready by April 2020.
At the request of Mayor Ray Russom, Accounting Manager Valentine provided a brief report on
the results of the CAFR and reported that the City received a Clean Opinion.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comments on the Consent Agenda. No public comments were
received.
Action: Mayor Ray Russom moved, and Mayor Pro Tem Barneich seconded the motion to
approve Consent Agenda Items 8.a. through 8.i., with the exception of 8.h., with the
recommended courses of action. City Attorney Carmel read the full title of the Ordinance in Item
8.i. The motion passed on the following roll-call vote:
AYES: Ray Russom, Barneich, George, Paulding, Storton
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
8.a. Consideration of Cash Disbursement Ratification.
Action: Ratified the listing of cash disbursements for the period November 16, 2019
through November 30, 2019.
8.b. Consideration of Acceptance of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
Action: Received and filed the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 2018.
8.c. Consideration of Resolution Accepting the Status Report on Development Impact
Fees (AB-1600).
Action: Adopted a Resolution entitled: “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE ACCEPTING THE STATUS REPORT ON
DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES (AB-1600)”.
8.d. Consideration of Compensation Adjustments for Part-Time Employees and
Approval of the Updated Citywide Combined Salary Schedule.
Action: Adopted a Resolution entitled: “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE ADOPTING COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENTS FOR
PART-TIME EMPLOYEES AND APPROVAL OF THE UPDATED CITYWIDE
COMBINED SALARY SCHEDULE”.
8.e. Consideration of Approval of Minutes.
Action: Approved the minutes of the Special and Regular City Council Meetings of
November 26, 2019, as submitted.
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8.f Consideration of a Resolution Accepting Public Improvements and a Public
Pedestrian Access Easement Deed for The Agrarian Hotel Located at 325 East
Branch Street.
Action: Adopted a Resolution entitled: “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE ACCEPTING PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND A
PUBLIC PEDESTRIAN ACCESS EASEMENT DEED FOR THE AGRARIAN HOTEL
LOCATED AT 325 EAST BRANCH STREET”.
8.g. Consideration of Approval for a Two-Year Agreement and Two One-Year Extensions
with Venco Power Sweeping, Inc. to Provide Street Sweeping Services.
Action: Approved and authorized the Mayor to execute a two-year Agreement with the
option to extend the agreement for two one-year extensions with Venco Power Sweeping,
Inc. and appropriated $10,200 to provide street sweeping services for the remainder of FY
2019/20.
8.i. Consideration of Adoption of an Ordinance Modifying City Council Salary, Effective
December 2022.
Action: Adopted an Ordinance entitled: “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE AMENDING SECTION 2.04.040 OF CHAPTER 2.04
OF TITLE 2 OF THE ARROYO GRANDE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO CITY
COUNCIL COMPENSATION”.
ITEMS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA
8.h. Consideration of Grant of Access Easement Over the City-Owned Parking Lot
Located Behind the 100 Block of E. Branch Street on the North Side of the Street to
Verizon Wireless to Access a New Small Cell Telecommunication Facility on Private
Property.
Recommended Action: Grant Verizon Wireless an access easement over the City-
owned parking lot located behind the 100 block of E. Branch Street on the north side of
the street to access a new small cell telecommunication facility being constructed on
private property.
Action: Mayor Ray Russom moved to continue this item to a date uncertain. Council Member
Storton seconded, and the motion passed on following roll call vote:
AYES: Ray Russom, Storton, George, Paulding, Barneich
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
9.a. Consideration of Preliminary Approval of Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) Projects for Year 2020.
Public Works Director Robeson presented the staff report and recommended the City Council
provide preliminary approval of proposed projects to be funded with the City’s allocation of
Community Development Block Grant funds for the Year 2020. Additionally, it was recommended
that $61,717 from 2019 CDBG funds be reallocated for use with the proposed 2020 CDBG funding
allocation for Public Facilities.
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Mayor Ray Russom opened the public hearing. Speaking from the public were: Janna Nichols,
5Cities Homeless Coalition, asked the Council what the City anticipates in terms of future needs
for ADA funding, if there is a chance to look at other uses if projects are not going to be viable for
the near future, and asked the Council to consider how much is being allocated to the Jim Guthrie
Community Service Grant program given the variety of needs and processes, and stated that
21% of the clients they have served are from Arroyo Grande; John Keen, stated that small
organizations are not able to apply due to the complexity and difficulty of the Jim Guthrie
Community Service Grant program application; and Jason Flanagan, representing Peoples’ Self
Help Housing, noted that they bring in resources to seniors and veterans and the funds help to
make opportunities for these individuals to feel valued in the community.
Hearing no further comments, Mayor Ray Russom closed the public hearing.
Council comments ensued regarding the CDBG program and the Jim Guthrie Community Service
Grant program. Council Member George suggested the City add its application to future staff
reports and for staff to look at making the Jim Guthrie Community Service Grant application easier
to complete.
Action: Council Member Storton moved to provide preliminary approval of proposed projects to
be funded with the City’s allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds for the Year
2020, and further, that $61,717 from 2019 CDBG funds be reallocated for use with the proposed
2020 CDBG funding allocation for Public Facilities. Council Member Paulding seconded, and the
motion passed on following roll call vote:
AYES: Storton, Paulding, George, Barneich, Ray Russom
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
9.b. Consideration of Introduction of an Ordinance Relating to Delinquent Water Bills
and Adoption of a Resolution Establishing a Policy on the Discontinuation of
Residential Water Service for Nonpayment in Compliance with the Water Shutoff
Protection Act (SB 998).
Accounting Manager Valentine presented the staff report and recommended the Council: 1)
Introduce an Ordinance amending Section 13.04.070 of Chapter 13.04 of Title 13 of the Arroyo
Grande Municipal Code related to delinquent water bills; and 2) Adopt a Resolution establishing
a policy on the discontinuation of residential water service for nonpayment in compliance with the
Water Shutoff Protection Act (California Health and Safety Code Sections 116900 et seq.)
Mayor Ray Russom opened the public hearing, and upon hearing no comments, she closed the
public hearing.
Action: Council Member Paulding moved to introduce the Ordinance as proposed. Council
Member Storton seconded the motion. City Attorney Carmel read the full title of the Ordinance,
as follows: “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE
AMENDING SECTION 13.04.070 OF CHAPTER 13.04 OF TITLE 13 OF THE ARROYO
GRANDE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO DELINQUENT WATER BILLS”. The motion
passed on following roll call vote:
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Tuesday, December 10, 2019
AYES: Paulding, Storton, George, Barneich, Ray Russom
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Action: Council Member Paulding moved to adopt a Resolution entitled: “A RESOLUTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE ESTABLISHING A POLICY ON
THE DISCONTINUATION OF RESIDENTIAL WATER SERVICE FOR NONPAYMENT IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE WATER SHUTOFF ACT (CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY
CODE SECTIONS 116900 ET. SEQ.). Council Member Storton seconded, and the motion passed
on following roll call vote:
AYES: Paulding, Storton, George, Barneich, Ray Russom
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
11. NEW BUSINESS
11.a. Consideration of Selection of Council Member Storton as Mayor Pro Tem.
City Manager Bergman presented the staff report and recommended the Council appoint Council
Member Storton as the Mayor Pro Tem for the next one-year period, pursuant to Council policy.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comments. No public comments were received.
Action: Mayor Pro Tem Barneich moved to appoint Council Member Storton as the Mayor Pro
Tem for the next one-year period. Council Member Paulding seconded, and the motion passed
unanimously by voice vote.
12. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Pro Tem Barneich received information that the Kompogas Digester Plant has shut down
and that there is concern if Arroyo Grande residents are paying into it and requested staff to look
into the matter; announced that she participated in a ride-along with the FCFA and thanked the
firefighters for their service; announced the upcoming Breakfast with Santa on December 14th
and the Holiday Cookie Decorating class on December 22nd.
Council Member George announced that on December 14th Wreaths Across America will be held
at the Arroyo Grande Cemetery, and the Santa Cop Breakfast will also be held that morning. She
stated that she attended the Elegant Christmas in the Village event and urged everyone to shop
local.
Council Member Storton commented on his participation in shopping for the Santa Cop program
and stated that it was very rewarding.
Mayor Ray Russom stated that childcare is a huge problem in the community and that help is
available by dialing 211 for all non-emergency needs and is a resource for a variety of needs;
announced that tonight there is an exhibition of art by Arroyo Grande High School students at the
Arroyo Grande Clark Center, and thanked the Council for their service.
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Tuesday, December 10, 2019
13. CLOSED SESSION
None.
14. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Ray Russom adjourned
the meeting at 7:50 p.m.
_______________________________
Caren Ray Russom, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Jessica Matson, Deputy City Clerk
(Approved at CC Mtg ___________)
Item 8.f. - Page 7
ACTION MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2019
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 215 E. BRANCH STREET
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ray Russom called the Special City Council Meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Council Members Lan George, Jimmy Paulding, Kristen Barneich, Mayor Pro Tem Keith Storton,
and Mayor Ray Russom were present.
Staff members present were City Manager Jim Bergman, City Attorney Timothy Carmel, and City
Clerk Kelly Wetmore.
3. FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Ray Russom led the flag salute.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
5. CITY COUNCIL CLOSED SESSION
a) Public Employee Performance Evaluation pursuant to Government Code Section
54957(b)(1):
Title: City Manager
Adjourned to closed session.
6. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION:
The Council reconvened to open session at 9:28 p.m. City Attorney Carmel announced that the
Council discussed the City Manager’s performance and performance expectations. No reportable
action was taken.
7. ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 9:29 p.m.
_____________________________________
Caren Ray Russom, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
Kelly Wetmore, City Clerk
(Approved at CC Mtg _________)
Item 8.f. - Page 8