ACTION MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 6:00 P.m. - 10:00 P.m.

Hybrid City Council Chamber/Virtual Zoom Meeting

215 East Branch Street, Arroyo Grande

Council Members Present:

• Mayor Ray Russom, 
• Mayor Pro Tem Barneich, 
• Council Member George, 
• Council Member Guthrie, 
• and Council Member Secrest 

Staff Present:

• City Manager Whitney McDonald, 
• Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Bill Robeson, 
• Administrative Services Director Nicole Valentine, 
• and City Clerk Jessica Matson 

This meeting was conducted in a hybrid in-person/virtual format. 

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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

Mayor Ray Russom noted Supplemental Information No. 2 for Item 10.a. and announced that staff has recommended Council open and continue the noticed public hearing to a date certain of November 28, 2023.

• Moved by Mayor Ray Russom
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Barneich

  Open and continue the noticed public hearing for Item 10.a. to a date certain of November 28, 2023.

  AYES (5)

  Mayor Ray Russom, Mayor Pro Tem Barneich, Council Member George, Council Member Secrest, and Council Member Guthrie

  Passed (5 to 0)

5.a

Closed Session Announcements

None.

5.b

Ordinances read in title only

• Moved by Mayor Ray Russom
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Barneich

  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 Barneich, Council Member George, Council Member Secrest, and Council Member Guthrie

  Passed (5 to 0)

6.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

6.a

Honorary Proclamation Recognizing November 2023 As National Native American & Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month

Mayor Ray Russom read the Honorary Proclamation Recognizing November 2023 As National Native American & Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month. Violet Walker, and Elder Slo, Northern Chumash Tribe, accepted the proclamation.

Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.

No action was taken on this item.

6.b

Honorary Proclamation Declaring November 2023 As National Hospice And Palliative Care Month

Mayor Ray Russom read the Honorary Proclamation Declaring November 2023 as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Len Jarret, accepted the proclamation.

Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.

No action was taken on this item.

6.c

Interim City Manager Communications

Interim City Manager Robeson provided information regarding upcoming events including Marathon Monster Mash, Halloween in the Village, and the Holiday Parade.  Interim City Manager Robeson also provided an update on the construction work being performed in the Village including installation of permanent parklets; and the postponement of the Slurry Seal Project.

Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.

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. California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA)
2. Central Coast Blue Regional Recycled Water Authority Board
3. Five Cities Fire Authority
4. San Luis Obispo County Mayor's Meeting
5. South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District (SSLOCSD)
6. Other

7.b

MAYOR PRO TEM BARNEICH:

1. Audit Committee
2. Homeless Services Oversight Council (HSOC)
3. Zone 3 Water Advisory Board
4. Other

7.c

COUNCIL MEMBER GEORGE:

1. Five Cities Fire Authority
2. Tourism Business Improvement District Advisory Board
3. Visit SLO CAL Advisory Board
4. Other

7.d

COUNCIL MEMBER GUTHRIE:

1. County Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC)
2. Council of Governments/Regional Transit Authority/ South County Transit (SLOCOG/SLORTA/SCT)
3. Integrated Waste Management Authority Board (IWMA)
4. REACH Economic Development Roundtable
5. Other

7.e

COUNCIL MEMBER SECREST:

1. Air Pollution Control District (APCD)
2. South County Chambers of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee
3. Other

8.

COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS

Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment.  Speaking from the public were No Name Provided, Mike Harris, Richard Burde.  No further public comments were received. 

Interim City Manager Robeson and City Attorney responded to questions from the 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 Mayor Pro Tem Barneich
  Seconded by Council Member George

  Approve Consent Agenda Items 9.a. through 9.c., with the recommended courses of action.

  AYES (5)

  Mayor Ray Russom, Mayor Pro Tem Barneich, Council Member George, Council Member Secrest, and Council Member Guthrie

  Passed (5 to 0)

9.a

Consideration of Cash Disbursement Ratification

• 1) Ratified the listing of cash disbursements for the period of September 16 through September 30, 2023; 2) Determined that ratifying the cash disbursements 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. (b)(2)-(3), 15378.)

9.b

Approval of Minutes

Approved the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of October 10, 2023, as submitted.

9.c

Monthly Water Supply and Demand Update

• Received and filed the Monthly Water Supply and Demand Update.

10.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

10.a

Consider a Resolution Denying the Installation of One (1) Domestic Well on Property Zoned Planned Development (PD); Applicant – Michael Harris; Representative – Richard Burde, SLO Civil Design

This item was continued to a date certain of November 28, 2023.

10.b

Consider a Resolution Accepting a Donation of Time and Materials for the Second Phase of Painting of Utility Boxes Citywide and Waiving Encroachment Permit Fees; Staff Project 23-007; Applicant – Shirley Horacek, Arroyo Grande Public Art

Community Development Director Pedrotti introduced the item and Associate Planner Gropen provided a presentation and recommended that the Council adopt a Resolution accepting the donation of time and materials and waiving encroachment permit fees in the amount of $720; and Determine that this project is categorically exempt based upon section 15301(e) of the CEQA Guidelines regarding existing facilities. 

Mayor Ray Russom opened the public hearing.  Speaking from the public was Shirley Horacek.  Upon hearing no further public comments, Mayor Ray Russom closed the public hearing. 

Associate Planner Gropen and Director Pedrotti responded to questions from the public.

• Moved by Council Member George
  Seconded by Council Member Secrest

  Adopt a Resolution entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE ACCEPTING A DONATION OF TIME AND MATERIALS FOR THE PAINTING OF UTILITY BOXES CITYWIDE AND WAIVING OF ENCROACHMENT PERMIT FEES AND FINDING THE ACTION EXEMPT FROM CEQA; STAFF PROJECT 23-007; LOCATION – CITYWIDE; APPLICANT – SHIRLEY HORACEK, ARROYO GRANDE PUBLIC ART"; and Determined that this project is categorically exempt based upon section 15301(e) of the CEQA Guidelines regarding existing facilities. This exemption is applied to additions to existing structures provided that the addition will not result in an increase of square footage. The proposed project is for painting an existing structure and will not result in an increase in square footage.

  AYES (5)

  Mayor Ray Russom, Mayor Pro Tem Barneich, Council Member George, Council Member Secrest, and Council Member Guthrie

  Passed (5 to 0)

11.

OLD BUSINESS

None.

12.

NEW BUSINESS

12.a

Consideration of Pre-Application 23-003: Development Code Amendment to Make Educational Facilities a Conditionally Allowed Use in the Regional Commercial Zoning District; Applicant – Cuesta College

Planning Manager Perez presented the item and responded to questions from Council. 

Dr. Jill Stearns, Cuesta College, responded to questions from Council.

Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public was No Name Provided, No Name Provided, Alexandria.  No further public comments were received.

Council discussion ensued regarding parking concerns. Mayor Ray Russom, Mayor Pro Tem Barneich and Council Members George and Secrest commented in favor of the project. Council Member Guthrie provided comments regarding including this project as part of the City's General Plan Update and expressed he was not in favor of the project at this time.

No action was taken on this item.  The item was received and filed.

13.

COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS

Council Member Secrest thanked Council Member Guthrie for his work on the Harvest Festival

Mayor Ray Russom commented on future community events.

14.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Ray Russom adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m.