HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/15/2022 Item 6a, DalPorto
Delgado, Adriana
From:Shannon DalPorto <shannon@downtownslo.com>
Sent:Tuesday, February 15,
To:E-mail Council Website
Cc:Hermann, Greg; Johnson, Lee
Subject:February 15 Council Meeting- Mid-year Budget Review
This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond.
Dear Mayor Stewart and Honorable Council Members Christianson, Marx, Pease, and Shoresman:
It has been an honor to serve as Downtown SLO’s Operations & Public Space Manager for the past eight months.
Downtown SLO is the nonprofit organization that partners with the City to administer programs and services in the
Downtown Business Improvement District. I oversee Downtown SLO’s Clean & Safe Program, which aims to create a
positive visitor experience by offering directional assistance, business recommendations, and, importantly, removing
litter and graffiti throughout downtown. On behalf of all the downtown businesses, we thank you for the City of SLO’s
additional investments in the mid-year budget, including dedicated funds for Downtown Safety Enhancement, Mission
Plaza Landscape and Lighting Improvement, and increased funding for Homelessness Support Services.
Downtown SLO is lucky to be home to Mission Plaza, the crown jewel of downtown. Thanks to the City of SLO’s
considerable dedication to maintaining this public space, Mission Plaza has transformed into an active community
gathering location. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the public has enjoyed Plaza Pop-Ups, returning events large
and small, and something as simple as tables and chairs, provided under the Dine Out Downtown program, has activated
Mission Plaza in ways we couldn’t have anticipated. The investments in Mission Plaza created space for visitors and
residents to support surrounding businesses. None of this would have been possible without the support from City
leadership.
Mission Plaza is often used as a pedestrian thoroughfare. Increased lighting makes a significant difference for employees
working later shifts and late-night diners looking to cross the Plaza to their next destination. Both the City of SLO and
Downtown share the belief that a well-lit space is not only more inviting to visitors but safer. It is also known that well-lit
spaces discourage vandalism and crime. Mission Plaza has become more welcoming with the addition of bistro lights
and other lighting. Additional landscaping will encourage community members to visit Mission Plaza and, in turn,
support Downtown businesses.
At Downtown SLO, we frequent Mission Plaza not only for our events such as Concerts in the Plaza and the Holidays but
to assist in maintenance. Our Clean & Safe program supplements City services by focusing on litter removal, graffiti, and
more. We appreciate the continued investment in the Clean & Safe program and are committed to working with City
staff to make Downtown exceptional for our entire community. On behalf of all the businesses downtown, we thank you
for your investment and continued care for our public space.
Maintaining a high level of cleanliness and natural beauty remain a top priority for both the City of SLO and Downtown
SLO, and we are grateful for your investment in our downtown. Downtown SLO has seen considerable improvements in
cleanliness due to the Downtown Cleaning and Maintenance Program. We thank you for your support in prioritizing
clean sidewalks, streets, and gutters. The customer experience for visitors and residents alike becomes infinitely more
enjoyable when entering a clean and well-cared-for space. Importantly, downtown business owners can dedicate more
time to their business when the City provides sidewalk cleaning and pressure washing services. Through our Clean &
Safe Program, our Downtown Ambassadors frequently connect with business owners that express gratitude for clean
sidewalks. Additionally, our Downtown Ambassadors spot clean these surfaces in between scheduled cleanings.
1
Providing a clean, safe, and enjoyable place for community members is essential to a vibrant downtown. Not only do
these improvements benefit community members, but it adds vitality that benefits business owners, downtown
employees, and visitors.
Downtown SLO is extremely supportive of the additional funding allocated to homelessness services. Caring for our
unhoused neighbors requires a multi-faceted approach. Downtown SLO partners with CAPSLO’s Outreach Case
Manager, who spends 10-20 hours per week providing outreach to the unhoused community downtown, educating
them about and connecting them to services. Additionally, our Clean & Safe program reaches out to the Community
Action Team (CAT) for their support. The investment from the City of SLO has allowed our team to assist the unhoused
community in a variety of ways, which is crucial as each individual requires something different. During my time with the
organization, we have seen several individuals receive housing assistance. The collaboration between organizations is
critical to this success. The City of SLO has strongly committed to supporting homelessness services, and we are grateful
for your efforts.
Thank you for your continued investment in Mission Plaza, Downtown cleaning and maintenance, and homelessness
services. These are all items that cities across the nation must consider (public space, cleaning and maintenance, and
homelessness), and we are grateful for City leadership’s support.
Thank you,
Shannon DalPorto
Operations & Public Space Manager, Downtown SLO
Shannon DalPorto (She/Her)
To help protect your
privacy, Microsoft Office
Operations & Public Space Manager, Downtown SLO
prevented automatic
download of this picture
from the Internet.
805-234-9674 |DowntownSLO.com |shannon@downtownslo.com
1135 Chorro St, San Luis Obispo CA 93401
2