Paso Robles Politics

Council Meeting

Written by

Public Paso

in

Paso Robles City Council Meeting Summary
May 6, 2025

Closed Session Highlights

  • Real Property Negotiation: Involved a portion of Pioneer Park with the Pioneer Museum Foundation.
  • Litigation Update: Tribune v. City of Paso Robles and Councilmember Bausch discussed.
  • No reportable action taken in either case.

🏅 Community Recognitions & Proclamations

1. Older Americans Month

  • Recognized the contributions of seniors in Paso Robles.
  • Senior Center history recounted by Dale Gustin, celebrating its impact and offerings on Scott Road.

2. Bike Month

  • Proclaimed May 2025 as Bike Month.
  • City hosted a Bike to Farmers Market Day on May 13 with giveaways and staff engagement.
  • 50+ bike-related events planned countywide.

3. National Foster Care Month

  • 200+ youth in foster care in SLO County.
  • County goal: 75 new resource homes by end of 2025.
  • Community support requested through info sessions and sharing awareness via slowfostercare.com.

4. Travel & Tourism Week

  • Tourism generates:
    • $450M in direct local spending
    • $20.9M in tax revenue
    • 37% of the general fund
  • 1 in 5 local jobs is tourism-based.
  • Travel Paso honored four leaders at the May 8 awards.

🛠️ Capital Projects Report

Presented by Capital Projects Engineer Ditas Esperanza:

  • Creston Road Project: Curb and gutter upgrades near Wayside Liquor complete. Paving and striping scheduled for after school year.
  • Sherwood Park Improvements: New pickleball courts, BBQs, benches, and parking under construction.
  • 24th Street Pedestrian Enhancements: Completed curb ramps and sidewalk near Mid-State Fairgrounds.
  • Upcoming Projects:
    • Roundabout at Rolling Hills (Creston Phase 2)
    • Flamson pedestrian safety upgrades
    • Downtown parking lot refurbishments (Marv’s Pit Pizza & 12th/Railroad)
    • Union Road Fire Station concrete and training structure
    • Airport ramp paving
    • Slurry seal in Sierra Bonita neighborhood

🔥 Fire & Emergency Services Annual Report

Presented by Fire Chief Jonathan Stornetta:

Key Stats & Challenges

  • 4% increase in emergency calls in 2024.
  • 70% of calls are EMS-related, largely due to:
    • Countywide shortage of primary care doctors.
    • Repeated calls to assisted living and behavioral health cases.
    • 305 calls made to assist unhoused individuals.

Departmental Strategy

  • New Paramedic Squad launching fall 2025.
  • Fire Station 3 helped, but downtown remains overburdened—response zones were adjusted.
  • 225+ mutual aid calls occurred when all stations were already responding.

Wildfire Preparedness

  • 12,000+ property inspections completed in 2 days.
  • Riverbed goats deployed for defensible space.
  • Paso avoided a “very high fire risk” designation due to community engagement.

Innovations

  • Regional training facility under development.
  • Countywide ambulance strategy and collaboration in progress.
  • Local hiring and education partnerships launched.

“We’ve become the primary care provider in many cases… we’re adjusting with smarter staffing and regional thinking.” — Chief Stornetta

🎖️ Veterans Memorial Bridge Naming

  • Niblick Bridge will officially be labeled “Veterans Memorial Bridge.”
  • Bronze lettering and city seal approved for installation on both ends.
  • Council reached consensus without formal vote.
  • Lighting and masonry attachment logistics are being finalized.

🧾 Consent Calendar (Items 1–8)

✅ Approved unanimously:

  • Warrant register covering $4.6M in expenses (meters, legal fees, infrastructure, etc.).
  • Housing committee formalization.
  • Arborist list update.
  • Landscape and lighting district levy.
  • Change order for Corporation Yard design.

🏘️ Housing Constraints & Opportunities Committee Formalized

  • Now an official advisory body with bylaws and staggered terms.
  • Role: Review local, regional, and state housing constraints and recommend actionable policy.
  • Topics: Fees, multifamily incentives, worker housing needs, and legislative trends.

Council Discussion Highlights:

  • Councilmember Bausch and others encouraged more frequent meetings beyond the “no less than one annually” rule.
  • Acknowledged as a critical channel to address workforce housing gaps and overreach from state mandates.
  • Councilmember Strong raised concerns about loss of single-family zoning under state law.

🐾 Ordinance 1158: Animal Control Update

  • Council adopted countywide animal services regulations for enforcement consistency.
  • Local nuances (e.g., no roosters, pigs) remain protected.

🏗️ Chandler Ranch Community Facilities District Update

  • Council approved changes to:
    • Bond indebtedness
    • Tax rate apportionment
  • Affects Improvement Areas 1, 3, and 5 in the Olsson South Chandler Ranch development.
  • No public protest; unanimous council support.

🗣️ Public Comments

  • Appreciation expressed for city progress on pedestrian infrastructure and fire department leadership.
  • Bridge expansion concerns addressed—design and funding are underway.

✅ Unanimous Approvals

Every item presented, including legislative changes, funding actions, and proclamations, passed with unanimous support from the full council.

More posts