Minutes 2020-09-08 ACTION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020
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. via
teleconference.
2. ROLL CALL
City Council: Council Members Lan George, Jimmy Paulding, Kristen Barneich, Mayor
Pro Tern Keith Storton, and Mayor Caren Ray Russom were all present
via teleconference.
Staff Present: Acting City Manager Bill Robeson, Acting Deputy City Manager Whitney
McDonald, Director of Legislative and Information Services/City Clerk
Kelly Wetmore, and Information Technology Manager Walt Cuzick were
present in the Council Chambers. City Attorney Timothy Carmel, Police
Chief Mike Martinez, Administrative Services Director Mike Stevens, and
Sergeant Jeremy Burns were present via teleconference.
3. MOMENT OF REFLECTION
4. FLAG SALUTE
Council Member Paulding led the flag salute.
5. AGENDA REVIEW
5.a. Closed Session Announcements.
None.
5.b. Ordinances Read in Title Only.
Mayor Ray Russom moved, Council Member Paulding seconded, and the motion passed
unanimously by roll-call vote that all ordinances presented at the meeting shall be read by title
only and all further readings be waived.
6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
6.a. Update Regarding Countywide COVID-19 Efforts.
Recommended Action: Receive update, accept public comments, discuss, and provide
direction, as necessary.
Acting Deputy City Manager McDonald provided an update on the County's current COVID-19
efforts. She stated that the County has opened a new testing site in Arroyo Grande at the South
County Regional Center and more information can be found on the ReadySLO.org website;
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Tuesday, September 8, 2020
explained that the State has a new color coded regimen for tracking the number of positive cases,
that the current level in the County is in the color purple tier, meaning that the virus is at the
widespread risk level because there are more than 7 new cases per day per 100,000 residents.
She stated that the County is currently averaging about 9.6 positive cases per day per 100,000
residents. Acting Deputy City Manager McDonald responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom stated she received the same information from the recent County Mayors
meeting and did not have any new information to report.
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. No public comments were received.
8. CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment on the Consent Agenda. No public comments were
received.
Action: Council Member Paulding moved to approve Consent Agenda Items 8.a. through 8.f.,
with the recommended courses of action. Mayor Pro Tem Storton seconded, and the motion
passed on the following roll-call vote:
AYES: Paulding, Storton, Barneich, George, Ray Russom
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
8.a. Consideration of Cash Disbursement Ratification.
Action: Ratified the listing of cash disbursements for the period August 16, 2020 through
August 31, 2020.
8.b. Consideration of Approval of Minutes.
Action: Approved the minutes of the Special City Council Meeting of August 18, 2020 and
the Regular City Council Meeting of August 25, 2020, as submitted.
8.c. Adoption of a 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.d. Consideration of Grant Acceptance from the Office of Traffic Safety for Traffic/DUI
Enforcement and Approval of a Budget Amendment Request for FY 2020-21 in the
Amount of$42,000 to Department 4209-OTS Special Grant Program.
Action: 1) Adopted a Resolution entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE AUTHORIZING THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO
EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY
TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDING FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY PROGRAMS AND TO
APPROPRIATE THE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES"; and 2) Approved
a Budget Amendment Request for FY 2020-21 in the amount of $42,000 to Department
4209-OTS Special Grant Program.
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Tuesday, September 8, 2020
8.e. Consideration of Approval of Agreement for Contractor Services with Quincon, Inc.,
Environmental Exemption, and an Amendment to the Fiscal Year 2020-21 Capital
Improvement Budget for the Police Station Evidence Room Secondary Access
Project, PW 2020-10.
Action: 1) Approved and authorized the Acting City Manager to execute an Agreement
for Contractor Services with Quincon, Inc. in the amount of$16,890 for the Police Station
Evidence Room Secondary Access Project, PW 2020-10; 2) Authorized the Acting City
Manager to approve change orders for 10% of the contract amount, $18,579, for
unanticipated costs during the construction phase of the project; 3) Found that the project
is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to
CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 and direct the City Clerk to file a Notice of Exemption;
and 4)Approved an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2020-21 Capital Improvement Program
budget to add $8,579 of Police Impact Fees for the subject project.
8.f. Consideration of Letter to the Governor Regarding COVID-19 Restrictions on
Personal Care Services.
Action: Approved and authorized the Mayor to send a letter to the Governor regarding
the reopening plan for personal care services such as nail salons as a result of the COVID-
19 pandemic.
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
10. OLD BUSINESS:
None.
11. NEW BUSINESS
11.a. Discussion and Consideration of Policy Establishing Thresholds of Significance for
Evaluating Transportation Impacts Under the California Environmental Quality Act
Pursuant to SB 743.
Acting Deputy City Manager McDonald presented the staff report and recommended that the
Council adopt a Resolution adopting the policy establishing thresholds of significance for
evaluating transportation impacts under CEQA in compliance with SB 743. Acting Deputy City
Manager McDonald and traffic consultants Jake Hudson and Todd Tregenza from GHD, Inc.
responded to extensive questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No comments were received.
Action: Mayor Ray Russom moved to adopt a Resolution entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE ADOPTING A POLICY ESTABLISHING
THRESHOLDS OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR EVALUATING TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS
UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO SB 743".
Council Member Paulding seconded, and the motion passed on following roll call vote:
AYES: Ray Russom, Paulding, George, Barneich, Storton
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
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Tuesday, September 8, 2020
11.b. Consideration of Appointment of Voting Delegates for the Virtual League of
California Cities Annual Conference and Direction Regarding the Annual
Conference Resolution.
Acting Deputy City Manager McDonald presented the staff report and recommended that the
Council: 1) Appoint one Council Member as the voting delegate and one Council Member as the
alternate voting delegate for the virtual League of California Cities Annual Conference; and 2)
Provide direction to the voting delegates regarding a City position on the League of California
Cities Resolution concerning an amendment to the Communications Decency Act of 1996
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No comments were received.
Action: Council Member Paulding moved to appoint Mayor Pro Tem Storton as the Voting
Delegate and himself as the Alternate, and to provide direction to the Voting Delegate to vote in
support of the League Resolution. Council Member Barneich seconded, and the motion passed
on following roll call vote:
AYES: Paulding, Barneich, George, Storton, Ray Russom
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
11.c. Consideration of: (1) Resolution Appointing Whitney McDonald as City Manager and
Approving Related Employment Agreement; (2)Adoption of Resolution Establishing
the Position of Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director, and Establishing a
Salary Range for the Position and Amending the Citywide Combined Salary
Schedule; and (3) Approving Amendment of Employment Agreement with Bill
Robeson for Position of Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director.
City Attorney Carmel presented the staff report and recommended that the Council: 1) Adopt the
Resolution appointing Whitney McDonald as City Manager and approving the Employment
Agreement; 2) Adopt the Resolution establishing the position of Assistant City Manager/Public
Works Director and a Salary Range for the position, and amending the Citywide combined salary
schedule; and 3) Approve the Amendment to Employment Agreement with Bill Robeson for the
position of Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director. City Attorney Carmel responded to
questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No comments were received.
Action: Mayor Pro Tem Storton moved to adopt a Resolution entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE APPOINTING WHITNEY MCDONALD
AS CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE AND AUTHORIZING THE
MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT." Council Member George
seconded, and the motion passed on following roll call vote:
AYES: Storton, George, Barneich, Paulding, Ray Russom
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
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Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Action: Council Member George moved to adopt a Resolution entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE ESTABLISHING THE POSITION
OF ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER/PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND A SALARY RANGE FOR
THE POSITION, AND AMENDING THE CITYWIDE COMBINED SALARY SCHEDULE TO
INCLUDE THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER/PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR."
Council Member Paulding seconded, and the motion passed on following roll call vote:
AYES: George, Paulding, Barneich, Storton, Ray Russom
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Action: Mayor Ray Russom moved to approve the Amendment to Employment Agreement with
Bill Robeson for the position of Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director. Council Member
George seconded, and the motion passed on following roll call vote:
AYES: Ray Russom, George, Barneich, Paulding, Storton
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
12. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Ray Russom announced the upcoming Empty Bowls fundraiser event benefitting the
5Cities Homeless Coalition, explained how the event would be held a little differently this year,
and stated that tickets are available and can be purchased online.
Mayor Pro Tem Storton referred to the South County Chambers of Commerce's Local Business
Meeting for Arroyo Grande businesses and suggested the Council consider assigning Council
Members on a rotational basis to attend the meetings. Council Member George concurred.
Following brief comments from Council in support of the idea, staff was directed to place the
matter on a future agenda.
13. CLOSED SESSION
None.
14. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Ray Russom adjourned
the meeting at 8:10 p.m.
ItAp
Caren R ssom, Mayor
ATTEST:
adij ato e.._
Kelly W tm,td e, City Clerk
(Approved at CC Mtg 9-;1'ZaZo