🏛️ Closed Session Summary
Council entered closed session to discuss:
- City Manager Appointment
- Labor Negotiations (City Manager position)
- Ongoing Litigation: Tribune v. City of Paso Robles and Councilmember Bausch
- Anticipated Litigation: One potential case
No reportable actions were announced.
👏 Presentations
📚 Paso Robles Library Board Update – Suzanne Robitaille
- Theme for 2024: “Open Book, Open Mind”
- 83,000+ in-person visits and 28,000+ digital downloads
- Programming included:
- Art, gardening, and STEAM for kids
- Workforce development and literacy services
- Library Park highlighted as the city’s favorite free gathering space
- Council praised staff, volunteers, and cultural contributions
🔥 Fire & Emergency Services Update – Chief Jonathan Stornetta
- 2023 stats:
- 4,354 incidents (+1.8% from previous year)
- 3,551 EMS calls
- 57 confirmed fires (mostly vegetation)
- Improvements:
- Transition to 4-person engine crews
- Emphasis on community risk reduction
- Challenges:
- Staffing gaps
- Equipment delivery delays
- Increasing call volume due to growth
- Council praised the department for operational excellence under constraints
✅ Consent Calendar – Approved Unanimously
Key actions:
- Approval of minutes
- $1.2M in expenditures
- Lease amendment for Fire Station No. 2
- Letter of support for an EDA grant (broadband project)
- Engineering contract amendment for the 12th & Riverside storm drain
🗣️ Public Comments
🌆 Community Concerns
- Linda George called for:
- Better regulation of ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units)
- Stronger enforcement of short-term rentals
- Improved street lighting and affordable housing access
- Dale Gustin encouraged more street repair investment and promotion of local events
- Nora Fischer proposed forming a public arts commission and creating a citywide cultural arts plan
🚗 Traffic & Safety
- Multiple residents cited Airport Road as dangerously fast, particularly near industrial zones. Requests for more enforcement were made.
💧 Water Equity
- Concerns raised about:
- Disproportionate allocation of state water to large agricultural interests
- Impacts of proposed water taxation
- Threats to water access for cities and private well owners
☎️ Caller – Sharon Rheinhardt
- Requested transparency on public records requests involving Councilmember Bausch
- Asked how many requests were filed since October 2023
- Requested explanation of what records were requested and how they’re tracked
🗨️ Councilmember Reports
Councilmember Strong
- Emphasized local control on water issues
- Warned of state-level legislative overreach on resource governance
Councilmember Gregory
- Voiced concern about unfunded mandates for housing and water from Sacramento
- Praised the Paso Robles Housing Authority’s proactive planning
Councilmember Beal
- Requested additional clarity on ADU and emergency vehicle access policies
- Stressed maintaining Paso’s rural charm while planning for growth
Councilmember Bausch
- Acknowledged public records requests
- Encouraged transparency but called for civility in public comments
Mayor Hamon
- Reaffirmed the city’s commitment to balancing growth, infrastructure needs, and community values
🧾 Final Summary
- ✅ All consent items passed unanimously
- 📚 Library and 🔥 Fire updates showcased strong public services
- 🛠️ Residents raised ongoing concerns about safety, water access, and accountability
- 🏛️ Council remained engaged with public input and committed to proactive leadership