HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4a. Goal-Setting Workshop for the 2025-27 Financial Plan Item 4a
Department: Administration
Cost Center: 1001
For Agenda of: 2/8/2025
Placement: Business
Estimated Time: 5.5 Hours
FROM: Whitney McDonald, City Manager
Prepared By: Natalie Harnett, Policy and Project Manager
SUBJECT: 2025-27 FINANCIAL PLAN PROCESS: COUNCIL GOAL SETTING
WORKSHOP
RECOMMENDATION
1. Consider information and community feedback (to-date) for deliberation during the
goal-setting process in order to develop Major City Goals and define associated
desired outcomes for the 2025-27 Financial Plan; and
2. Direct Staff to return to the City Council with recommended preliminary work
programs, a draft Capital Improvement Plan, and proposed budget appropriations in
April 2025 to support core departmental services and advance Major City Goals.
POLICY CONTEXT
The City of San Luis Obispo utilizes a two-year financial planning process to create its
budget. The fundamental purpose of the City’s budget process is to link, through public
engagement and strategic deliberation, the interests of the community to the ava ilable
financial resources to achieve the desired outcomes. The process allows the City Council
to engage the community in identifying Major City Goals for the City while also providing
information and education regarding the City’s core services and programs, including the
day-to-day work and responsibilities carried out by City employees to support residents’
quality of life. The Goal-Setting Workshop is the opportunity for Council Members to take
the feedback from the Community Forum and previous community input and develop the
Major City Goals for the 2025-27 Financial Plan.
DISCUSSION
The Council Goal-Setting meeting is one of the most important steps of the financial
planning process where Council Members will collaboratively develop the City’s priorities
for the 2025-27 Financial Plan. All prior staff reports related to the 2025-27 Financial
Planning process and community feedback on priorities are linked under the “Previous
Council Action” section of this report for reference. Th is information will help develop
goals for the next two years. These goals will guide staff in the preparation of the budget
and recommended Major City Goal work program allocations for the 202 5-27 Financial
Plan.
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Item 4a
Background
Since November 2024, there have been a variety of opportunities for community
members to provide input to the City Council to enable them to establish the Major City
Goals. These opportunities include input from City Advisory Bodies, a Community
Priorities Survey, a notice to over 100 community groups and individuals, and a
Community Forum (Forum) on January 23, 2025.
The Forum included a presentation by staff and leadership, followed by an interactive
breakout session and an opportunity for public comment at the end. It was publicly noticed
as a Joint Session of the City Council and the Revenue Enhancement Overs ight
Commission. More than 200 community members attended the event.
During the breakout session, staff facilitated nine input stations, determined based on
Community Survey results, to answer questions and gather feedback. Each topic area
featured a list of planned or proposed projects or work program efforts aligned with
identified priorities. Community members ranked these items digitally via their phones or
tablets available at the stations, viewing real-time results, and could also propose
additional ideas using a free-response polling option.
A livestream recording of the Forum is available on the City’s YouTube channel.
Attachment A provides a summarized report of the feedback from the Forum and
Attachment B includes all free responses collected at the Forum, organized by priority.
Format
Before the Goal-Setting Workshop, Council Members will each submit a completed
Council Worksheet (Attachment C) by February 4th at 5 PM, addressing the following
questions:
1. What edits to the existing Major City Goals would you make to focus on the most
important items in these goal areas?
2. Are there any Major City Goals that need to be added?
3. Are there any work efforts that need to be added?
4. Within the current goals or high-level, high-importance tasks, what do you think
could be stopped or deferred, if needed?
5. Would you be interested in changing the label of Major City Goals? The intention
behind relabeling the Major City Goals would be to create overarching bodies o f
work, rather than value statements, with specific work items, measurable goals,
and timelines.
Based on the Council Members' responses, the facilitator will lead a discussion on goals
by category and their connection to current activities and services. This discussion aims
to define the desired long-term outcomes and identify actionable steps the City can take
over the next two years to move toward those outcomes. The Council may choose to
align on goals for the next two years or, if necessary, use a prioritization exercise to
determine key focus areas for the 2025-27 Financial Plan.
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Item 4a
Materials for Goal-Setting
In addition to the Forum results included in this agenda packet, staff will provide two
follow-up documents via Staff Agenda Correspondence ahead of the goal-setting
workshop. These documents will support the Council's discussions during the workshop:
1. Major City Goal Update – A comprehensive update on the status of current Major
City Goal efforts, including a list of completed items.
2. Combined Council Pre-Work Submittals – A summary compiled by the third-party
facilitator, synthesizing Councilmembers' pre-work submissions into an
overarching report. Individual Councilmember names will not be included.
Goal-Setting Workshop Agenda
Location: 990 Palm Street – Council Chambers
(Times are estimates)
9:00 AM Welcome - Mayor Erica A. Stewart
9:05 AM Introduction and Budget Context - Whitney McDonald, City Manager
9:20 AM Process and Guidelines - Sommer Kehrli, Facilitator
9:30 AM Discuss Goals for 2025-27 and Review Prioritization from the
Survey, Forum, and other public input - Council
12:00 PM Break
12:30 PM Continued Discussion of Goals - Council
2:00 PM Public Comment - Teresa Purrington, City Clerk
2:30 PM Discuss Next Steps - Council/Staff
Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
December 10, 2024 - City Council Meeting: Setting the Stage/Strategic Scan
January 14, 2025 - City Council Meeting: 2025-27 Financial Plan Process,
Economic Outlook, Fiscal Policies, and Capital Improvement Plan Review
January 23, 2025 - Community Forum - Joint Special Meeting of the City Council
and Citizen’s Revenue Enhancement Oversight Commission
Future Council Actions
April 15, 2025- Major City Goal Work Program and Strategic Budget Direction
June 2025- Budget Adoption Hearing
Public Engagement
Public comment on this item can be provided to the City Council through written
correspondence before the workshop and through public testimony at the workshop.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply to the recommended
action in this report, because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA
Guidelines Sec. 15378.
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Item 4a
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: 2024-25
Funding Identified: Yes
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing
Cost
General Fund $12,925 $12,925 $ $
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total $12,925 $12,925 $ $
The Finance Department budgeted funds for the third -party facilitator, aligning with past
facilitated Forums. Beyond designing and leading the Goal -Setting Workshop, the
facilitator offers consultation and strategic support for the City's goal-setting process. This
includes intake and planning meetings with the City Manager and leadership, ongoing
advising for the Community Forum and Survey, and virtual one -on-one interviews with
each Council Member.
ATTACHMENTS
A – 2025 Community Forum Results Summary
B – 2025 Community Forum Open-Ended Responses – Compiled list
C – Council Worksheet (to be added after February 4, 2025)
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 1
Forum Results Summary
What is your favorite thing about San Luis Obispo?................................................................ 1
Housing Safety, Affordability, and Neighborhood Livability ...................................................... 2
Climate Action and Open Space ............................................................................................. 4
Homelessness Response ....................................................................................................... 6
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ............................................................................................... 8
Downtown Vitality and Economic Development .....................................................................10
Fiscal Sustainability ............................................................................................................... 11
Local Revenue Measure ........................................................................................................13
Infrastructure and Sustainable/Multimodal Transportation .....................................................14
Public Safety .........................................................................................................................16
Other/New Ideas ...................................................................................................................17
E-Mails ..................................................................................................................................17
Community Priorities Survey Results .....................................................................................19
What is your favorite thing about San Luis Obispo?
124 Votes
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 2
Housing Safety, Affordability, and Neighborhood Livability
234 Total responses to the poll:
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 3
Housing Safety, Affordability, and Neighborhood Vitality Other Ideas (60 total responses). The
top themes included:
14 Respondents indicated they wanted better tenant protections including eviction protection,
incentives for lower rent, and regulations for safer housing units. Four (4) of those respondents
specifically mentioned the creation of a Rental Registry.
9 Respondents indicated they wanted zoning changes that would support more housing
production, specifically, respondents called for zoning updates to allow for higher density
development.
6 Respondents indicated they wanted more code enforcement resources for neighborhoods,
with several specifically mentioning that the City should do more to control illegal greek life.
5 Respondents indicated they wanted an acceleration of the City’s Land Use and Circulation
Element (LUCE) update.
4 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to support Smart Share Housing Solutions and
specifically mentioned support of the “Waterman Village Project”.
3 Respondents indicated they wanted clean air to be a top priority and that the City should update
its smoking ordinance to include multiunit housing.
There were many responses that generally urged the City to do more to make neighborhoods
more livable, safe, and affordable. Several respondents said they wanted more parking minimums
and parking districts and several indicated that an expedited permitting process could help
incentivize housing production.
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 4
Climate Action and Open Space
266 Total responses to the poll:
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 5
Climate Action and Open Space Other Ideas (81 total responses). The top themes included:
18 Respondents indicated they wanted the dredging of Laguna Lake to be prioritized.
11 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to build more bike trails and infrastructure,
including more beginner-friendly mountain bike trails and a Mountain Bike Park in the Laguna
Lake area.
8 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to prioritize the maintenance of its open space
and several specifically called for fire fuel reduction measures and the expansion of cultural or
prescribed burns.
6 Respondents indicated they wanted the connection of more trails and open spaces throughout
the City and County.
5 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to prioritize disaster preparedness and include
disaster preparedness as a work program for climate resilience.
5 Respondents indicated they wanted incentives for building green infrastructure and electric
vehicles.
5 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to prioritize improving its public transit options to
incentivize alternative modes of transportation.
Many responses were supportive of the City’s climate goals and recommended a variety of
different ways to advance our goals such as planting more trees, increasing educational work,
and using community partnerships to help achieve climate goals.
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 6
Homelessness Response
133 Total responses to the poll:
Homelessness Response Other Ideas (37 total responses). The top themes include:
9 Respondents indicated they wanted rent control and tenant protection measures that would
help make housing more affordable and keep people from becoming homeless.
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 7
4 Respondents indicated they wanted improved mental health and drug rehabilitation programs
and a shift away from a “housing first” model.
3 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to develop a multi-use homeless site within the
City or in an open space area.
3 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to prioritize stronger policing, especially for
illegal drug use.
Other responses varied. Some responses included allowing tents in safe parking programs,
focusing on relocation, and exploring programs that provide the homeless with an opportunity to
garden and grow crops.
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 8
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
161 total responses to the poll:
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 9
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Other Ideas (44 responses). The top themes included:
11 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to prioritize tenant protections and other
housing solutions (increased options, low-cost units) to achieve the goal of DEI.
8 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to eliminate DEI as a major City goal, but many
of them recommended operationalizing the initiatives.
6 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to continue its DEI Major City Goal and expand
funding for DEI programs.
6 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to support public art and shared the sentiment
that providing access to cultural arts encourages DEI.
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 10
Downtown Vitality and Economic Development
175 total responses to the poll:
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 11
Downtown Vitality and Economic Development Other Ideas (244 Responses). The top themes
included:
210 Respondents indicated they wanted the continuation of “Cultural Vitality” within a Major
City Goal and specifically supported the Cultural Arts District and the expansion of arts and
culture opportunities within the City.
11 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to lower its Parking rates or bring back free
parking.
7 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to take action to address downtown vacancies.
Most of these responses specifically mentioned the establishment of a “vacancy tax” to
disincentivize vacancies.
3 Respondents indicated they wanted increased resources to make downtown cleaner and
safer, such as increased power washing.
Fiscal Sustainability
104 total responses to the poll:
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 12
Fiscal Sustainability Other Ideas (22 Responses):
Due to the limited number of responses regarding Fiscal Sustainability Other Ideas, no
significant themes emerged. However, the ideas shared generally included:
Re-prioritizing infrastructure projects and expediting their completion to mitigate
inflationary costs.
Reducing departmental budgets and headcount.
Expanding the business license program to include a rental registry and implementing a
per-property fee for landlords.
Suggestions for investment strategies.
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 13
Local Revenue Measure
The City's Local Revenue Measure (G-20) requires funds raised through the measure to be
used in the following areas. This poll allowed participants to rank which they thought were most
important. There were 128 responses to this poll:
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 14
Infrastructure and Sustainable/Multimodal Transportation
325 total responses to the poll:
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 15
Infrastructure and Sustainable/Mult-modal Transportation Other Ideas (101 responses). The top
themes included:
49 Respondents indicated they wanted the Righetti Ranch Park system to be prioritized as a
CIP.
19 Respondents had feedback on the expansion of bike paths throughout the City, about half
were supportive and urged for more while half recommended prioritizing other types of
infrastructure.
7 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to build more pickleball courts.
5 Respondents indicated they wanted the prioritization of the South Broad Street Corridor
project in order to make it safer.
4 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to make improvements and enhancements at
the Laguna Lake Golf Course.
Other responses indicated they wanted bike and pedestrian improvements on Tank Farm Road
and several encouraged the expansion of mountain bike trails and other Parks and Recreation
facilities.
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 16
Public Safety
137 total responses to the poll:
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 17
Public Safety Other Ideas (24 responses). The top themes included:
7 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to prioritize street safety improvements including
better lighting, more crosswalks, and implementing elements of the Vision Zero Plan.
6 Respondents indicated they wanted increased tenant protection measures and to ensure the
safety of rental units.
4 Respondents indicated they wanted more to enforcement of traffic laws and speeding.
4 Respondents indicated they wanted a prioritization of emergency preparedness.
The remainder of the responses were mixed, with some suggesting reducing policing efforts and
some suggesting additional services, especially related to homelessness response.
Other/New Ideas
74 Respondents to the new ideas section. Many of the ideas in this section reiterated ideas in
the specific topic areas but the top themes included:
14 Respondents indicated they wanted the preservation of arts and culture in San Luis Obispo.
9 Respondents indicated they wanted new Parks and Recreation facilities such as pickleball or
bike parks and some wanted additional swim services.
4 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to prioritize the construction of the Righetti
Ranch Park System.
3 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to prioritize childcare opportunities and/or
expand youth services and programs.
3 Respondents indicated they wanted more opportunities for healthcare professionals in the
area and supported actions to attract healthcare providers.
3 Respondents indicated that they wanted the City to make improvements to the La Loma
Adobe and prioritize the preservation of historical buildings.
E-Mails
Individuals who were not able to attend the forum were able to submit their ideas and thoughts
via email. The CommunityForum@SLOCity.org email received 73 emails as of January 28,
2025. Staff has reviewed all of the emails received and found the following key themes:
14 Respondents indicated they wanted the continuation of “Cultural Vitality” within a Major City
Goal and specifically supported the Cultural Arts District and the expansion of arts and culture
opportunities within the City.
5 Respondents indicated that they wanted the City to make improvements to the La Loma
Adobe and prioritize the preservation of historical buildings.
7 Respondents praised the City’s work on open space and the creation of trails and indicated
that they would like to see more trail systems and specifically connecting trails between open
spaces.
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 18
5 Respondents indicated they wanted increased tenant protection measures and to ensure the
safety of rental units.
5 Respondents indicated they wanted the prioritization of the South Broad Street Corridor
project and implementation of the “Vision Zero” Action Plan.
5 Respondents indicated they wanted clean air to be a top priority and that the City should update
its smoking ordinance to include multiunit housing.
5 Respondents indicated they wanted the City to build more bike trails and infrastructure,
including more beginner-friendly mountain bike trails and a Mountain Bike Park in the Laguna
Lake area.
All of the emails received have been archived to the City’s website here:
https://opengov.slocity.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=202624&cr=1
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Attachment A – Forum Results Summary
Attachment A Page# 19
Community Priorities Survey Results
A total of 1,629 individual survey responses were received by December 13, 2024, representing
81 hours of public comment. A chart identifying the top priorities from the survey is included below.
All of the survey responses have been published as a reading file here.
7
7
8
9
9
10
16
19
22
26
38
47
264
272
295
311
382
415
524
543
672
740
743
812
1008
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Additonal Bikelanes
Permitting Process Improvements
Laguna Lake Dredging
Services/Accessibility for Seniors…
Righetti Park
Second Hand Smoke
Broad Street Corridor
Adobes/Historic Preservation
Reduced bikelanes
Healthcare Access and Medical…
Parking Rates and Policies
More Parks & Rec Facilities
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Cultural Vitality
Childcare
Safe Housing and Neighborhood…
Public Safety
Sustainable and Multi-Modal…
Climate Action Plan
Fiscal Sustainability and…
Open Space
Downtown Vitality
Housing Supply and Affordability
Infrastructure Maintenance
Homelessness Response
# of votes (each respondent could choose up to five
priorities)
Community Priorities Survey: Top 25 Themes
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Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
Attachment B Page# 1
Contents
Housing Safety, Affordability, and Neighborhood Livability ................................................. 1
Climate Action and Open Space ............................................................................................. 7
Homelessness Response .......................................................................................................13
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ..............................................................................................16
Downtown Vitality and Economic Development ...................................................................19
Fiscal Sustainability ................................................................................................................42
Infrastructure and Sustainable/Multi-Modal Transportation ................................................44
Public Safety ...........................................................................................................................50
Other/New Ideas ......................................................................................................................52
Housing Safety, Affordability, and Neighborhood Livability
I am including my concern in this topic as it relates to safety and is highly impacted by all the
new housing developments.
I live off of Broad St between South and Orcutt. I have lived there for 10 years and during
that time there have been many homes built in my neighborhood and along the railroad area.
This all creates additional traffic coming onto Broad st which requires cars to feed through the
center median.
In addition, the new home developments south of Orcutt/Rigetti etc mean there are many
more people using Broad st to get downtown.
We need improvements for routing traffic and people across Broad St - center dividers, traffic
lights etc. It should be a requirement for these new housing projects to fund safety
improvements to the main feeder roads that link the neighborhoods to downtown.
I support plans to improve the Broad St. corridor. As a resident of that area and as a frequent
pedestrian I feel there is much need to improve this corridor.
1. Fund 3 additional code enforcement officials to enhance neighborhood code compliance.
2. Add 2 CSO’s to enforce party noise in neighborhoods from Thursday through Sunday and
other holiday events.
3. Fund additional public safety personnel to assist in eliminating St. Frattys Day event.
1. Quality of life: 3 additional code enforcement officers, 2 for code violations and 1
specifically for illegal fraternities.
2. Safety: require exterior door deadbolts and window locks for rental properties; vote to
agendize an ordinance to prohibit gatherings on the roof - or at least a study session.
3. Subpoena Cal Poly's records of the addresses of all Fraternity / Sorority Houses and
satellite houses including the event registrations.
As “studentication” (I used to call it gentrification) marches into the neighborhoods it would be
nice to have rules in place to limit number of occupants. That was a rule at one point, as was
number of parking places required per occupant. Did that all get dismissed?
Get illegal fraternity operations out of the residential neighborhoods.
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Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
Attachment B Page# 2
Housing Safety, Affordability, and Neighborhood Livability
Review current CUPs for fraternities to ensure compliance and require re-review if there are
violations (e.g. recent noise violations)
I am very concerned about the number of illegal fraternities operating in R-1 and R-2
neighborhoods. They are causing a severe deterioration in neighborhoods who are suffering
from ongoing non-regulated parties,
Move fraternities and sororities to CP campus.
Expedite permitting process for multi-family housing, even if at market rate
The permits and regulations are a bit much. Way too pricey and take incredibly long. This is
driving up cost of homes period. It’s impossible to build affordable housing because of the
lengths and the hoops these developers have to go through and pay for. Some of these
developments we’re seeing come to life today have been in motion since THE 90s. While I
appreciate the quaint well planned city, how are we supposed to build adu’s, afford to restore
our homes, create more space for ourselves and neighbors?! Grants for ADUs. Faster
approval processes.
1. Neighborhood livability/impact in implementing long standing initiatives checklist.
Neighborhood livability has fallen victim to more general issues (housing stock, climate
change, etc) and the impact on neighborhood livability is often disregarded as part of the
greater good. A formal step which encourages looking through the lens of community
livability would perhaps inform implementers as to issues to resolve before implementation.
2. Healthcare as a factor to consider when attempting to meet housing growth goals. The
more we build, the greater the population in an area which is increasingly challenged by lack
of healthcare providers. Identifying the scope of the problem and what the city can do to help
attract/keep healthcare providers might be helpful or give pause to aggressive development
programs until an interim solution is developed.
Establish a neighborhood ombudsman that works with neighborhoods to solve livability
problems.
I’d like to see more emphasis on livable neighborhoods, more consideration for incompatibility
of conflicting land uses
Improve neighborhood safety, particularly near Cal Poly and near Madonna Rd. Reduce the
number of homeless people in the neighborhoods. Reduce speed bumps and unnecessary
roundabouts, as well as inefficient and unsafe bike lanes and paths.
Continue to support historic structures in the downtown and the rest of the city for the livability
of the neighborhood. Specifically the La Loma Adobe and surrounding area because it is the
the starting point of the Bowden Ranch open space.
Historic & Cultural resources support healthy communities. Please support the restoration of
historic buildings in San Luis particularly City-owned buildings
Accelerate LUCE update
In order to facilitate more housing and a stronger plan for the future of our community, the
council should move the timeline up to begin the process of funding and supporting a General
Plan Update, specifically the Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE).
Move the LUCE part of the general plan to sooner rather than later. We can facilitate more
housing that way.
The times they are a changing. It’s time to update General Plan and LUCE.
Updating the Land Use and Circulation Element.
Completion of Orcutt Area Specific Plan commitments, specifically the park
Finish the park in Righetti Ranch so our children can walk to the park and don't have to drive
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Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
Attachment B Page# 3
Housing Safety, Affordability, and Neighborhood Livability
Parks! Follow through with the construction and completion of Righetti Park so that entire
neighborhood doesn’t have to get in their car and drive to a park!
Please make the darn parks in righetti ranch! It’s full of young families that need a park!
We’ve been waiting for years and our kids are getting older. Please make this a top priority!
I need to emphasize that the goal is not to over regulate; in an attempt to get everything
(affordable below market rate units, sustainability and DEI, new parks, union/local workers,
new infrastructure - all good things) you're going to suppress the actual goal of more
development. Less strings attached. An abundance of market rate units will help citizens
more than a hand full of deed restricted affordable units. Don't include poison pills, just let
people build!
Improve lighting and sidewalks in the transition area from downtown to upper Monterey along
Monterey st. Make the underpass feel like a gateway to the area rather than an obstacle to be
avoided
As a long-time resident of San Luis Obispo, I’m grateful for the City’s ongoing efforts to
address housing challenges and support the diverse needs of our community. I’m writing to
share some thoughts on how we can build on the good work already underway, especially as
the City moves forward with the 2025-27 Financial Planning process.
While I fully support the City’s current housing policies, such as the Affordable Housing Fund
and the ongoing Housing Element Update, I believe there are additional adjustments we can
make to better address the evolving economic realities that many residents face. In particular,
I’d like to highlight the gap that exists for families who earn just above the workforce housing
thresholds but still find themselves struggling with housing costs.
The economic pressures on families in San Luis Obispo are significant. As of December
2024, the median home price in the city of SLO was around $1.1 million, well above what
most middle-income families can afford. Even households earning above the workforce
housing thresholds often find homeownership unattainable under current market conditions.
On top of that, many residents are burdened by student loan payments, childcare costs and
the cost of basic food items (the price of a carton of eggs is currently above $6 dollars) which
further limit their disposable income.
For those of us already living in the city, high rents place additional financial strain, making it
difficult to save for a down payment or transition to homeownership. These combined
pressures are leaving many families in a tough spot...unable to qualify for affordable housing
programs but also priced out of the private housing market.
I believe there are several key steps we can take to address these challenges and make
housing more accessible to a wider range of residents:
1. Use a City-Specific AMI: Currently, the City uses a regional Area Median Income (AMI) to
determine workforce housing eligibility, which supports important demographics, such as
commuters who work in SLO. However, the cost of living in the city is significantly higher than
in surrounding areas. By adopting a City-specific AMI alongside the regional standard, we can
better align workforce housing policies with the economic realities that current residents face,
while also ensuring housing remains available for people who work here and wish to move to
the city.
2. Adjust Workforce Housing Eligibility: I recommend expanding eligibility for workforce
housing by considering critical household expenses like childcare, student loan debt, and high
rent burdens when determining eligibility. This could open the door for more families who earn
just above the current thresholds but still struggle with affordability.
3. Middle-Income Housing Set-Asides: New housing developments could reserve a
percentage of units for families earning between 160% and 200% of the AMI. These families
are often overlooked by current policies, yet they face significant barriers to homeownership
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Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
Attachment B Page# 4
Housing Safety, Affordability, and Neighborhood Livability
due to high housing costs.
4. Shared-Equity Homeownership Programs: Partnering with developers to create shared-
equity programs could also help. These programs would allow families to purchase homes
with a lower upfront cost and share any future appreciation with the City when the home is
resold. This model could make homeownership more attainable for families who are
otherwise priced out.
I would also encourage the City to conduct regular evaluations of its housing policies.
Tracking metrics such as the percentage of cost-burdened households (those spending more
than 30% of their income on housing) will help ensure that policies remain responsive to the
actual needs of the community. I’m hopeful that these proposed adjustments can further
strengthen the City’s efforts to make housing more accessible. San Luis Obispo is a unique
and vibrant community, and we need bold, innovative policies to match. Thank you for
considering these recommendations.
Implement barriers to foreign corporations to prevent them from buying property and homes
to stabilize housing costs and allow for local families to own homes.
Invest in the Housing Team so that the City’s Affordable Housing program can be run by the
City itself with dedicated staff running it so that it does not have to be outsourced outside of
our community.
Knowing that 100+ units are slated to come to the Monterey St/California St intersection is
petrifying. We already have horrendous traffic in this area with SLO High, accidents on the
grade, overflow from downtown. Adding this new community/facility is going to overload our
town and overflow our streets. SLO City Council Members and officials should get in their
cars and drive around town during these busy times to get an idea of what the residents are
dealing with. Move housing to the areas that can support it, don't suffocate the already
impacted areas. Having a 5 story tall building is also going to change the skyline significantly
and give a whole new feel to the area.
LITCH programs! Renewable energy assists on-site via HASLO & other partners (electric
vehicle charging, solar panels, etc.)
More apartments with bicycle use and storage as a theme. A car-free affordable apartment
building!
Offering more low income housing options to maintain equity and productivity within the
community.
Please reinstate the process for formation of a parking district. Thank you!
Prohibit REITs and LLCs from purchasing additional residential properties. Make them divest
of existing properties over a ten year period.
Re-designate SLO from rural to urban so the Medicare pay rate to doctors increases and the
area becomes more attractive to retaining long-term health care professionals. We need to
keep doctors in SLO and make more availability to the populace on a timely basis. The docs
that are here have incredible wait lists.
Reduce building fees and red tape. Stop forcing low income housing on everyone. The hard
working people are tired of paying/subsidizing for other people’s housing.
Resume the program for residents to establish a parking district within a neighborhood. The
repeal of residential occupancy standards has led to rampant abuse of single family R-1
zoned dwellings being converted into rental units housing more people than what the home
was originally intended to (single family units). This has created parking congestion filling
driveways, streets, and cul de sacs with vehicles creating at worst a lack of access for
emergency vehicles.
SLO need more affordable housing. I see many empty lots around town and would
Like to see more homes built on those infill lots.
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Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
Attachment B Page# 5
Housing Safety, Affordability, and Neighborhood Livability
Street trees! Inexpensive way to enhance livability, lower temperatures and pump oxygen
into the atmosphere.
What you guys did to the Angola neighborhood with its protected by lanes has made that area
unlivable. Please stop ruining San Luis Obispo with such infrastructure ideas.
While I do not know how much communication is possible between the city and state
governments, if the state government could reduce or eliminate the requirement for the CSU
system to continue increasing enrollment each year, it would reduce the burden on Cal Poly
to continue increasing enrollment and reduce the number of new students each year, lowering
the future demand for housing in the SLO area.
If a developer chooses to make a 2 bedroom home and add a 3 bedroom ADU on a corner
with no parking and then decides to do it again with an adjoining house shouldn’t there be
some kind of parking requirement?
For livability please do not build anymore. Instead can we work on restoring the building we
already have? Making the most out of each lot. Traffic has doubled since all of the new
housing has been put in. Please keep SLO, SLO. Thank you
Create a revolving fund for low-income through moderate-income housing
Create a rental registry
Enact an ordinance to require all residential rentals to register with the city. This registry will
help to provide a database to educate renters and landlords.
Rental housing registry
Educate homeowners about ADU options, regulations and costs to facilitate building of more
housing. Partner with Smartshare for community outreach.
Love the Waterman project on Dana St. Small units for singles is very important
Please support Smart Share Housing Solutions “Waterman Village Project”. Thank you
Please support Smart Share Housing Solutions “Waterman Village Project”. Thank you.
clean air including smoke free multi unit housing
No smoking in multi unit homes
Update smokefree ordinance to include within the units of multiunit housing
Better tenant protections
Close the many gaps and loopholes in state law that allow bad faith actors to perpetuate
unsafe and unhealthy living conditions and to harass tenants, evict them without cause, and
intimidate or push out tenants who ask for repairs or improvements.
Comprehensive housing support plan including tenant protections (with health protections:
smoke free MUH and mold abatement), preserving existing housing stock, and promoting
housing supply
Improve tenants protections and add rent registry
Increase Tenant and Eviction Protections to protect our employees, students and neighbors.
Prioritize rental protections, please!
Tenant protections rental registry better code enforcement and a protection from reprisals
from landlords who get reported to code enforcement
Tenant protections and incentives for lower rent
Tenant protections to make housing safer, more affordable, & livable
Tenant Protections, deadbolt, Black mold ordinances and Rent Registry along with Rent cap
keeps our neighborhoods safe and affordable.
The City should modernize and upgrade Health and Safety requirements for rental housing,
and then enforce them.
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Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
Attachment B Page# 6
Housing Safety, Affordability, and Neighborhood Livability
o Require deadbolts on all exterior entries and locks or security devices on all windows
designed to be opened
o Require motion-sensing lighting on exterior facades of rental properties to ensure safety
and protection.
o Enact stricter smoke, CO2, and fire detector requirements.
o Enact a mold ordinance.
Address zoning across the entire city to allow for high or medium density housing.
Build 10x as many homes as we've been building. Build them in places that people want to
live, i.e., not out in the boonies, under the airport flight path. Downtown needs to become
more dense.
I would like to see the construction of denser housing and redevelopment in and near our city
core
I’d like the city to continue its policy of supporting a downtown with mixed housings. We need
more small affordable units.
Prioritize the change in zoning to allow for more medium density and high density
development throughout the city.
Prioritize the construction of medium-to-high density housing such as apartment complexes
and mixed-use developments with an emphasis on below-market-rate developments and
walkability to ease costs of living.
Review & update uniform design guidelines to allow for more housing production to occur
Simplify zoning to allow more homes and a greater variety of homes that meet our community
need
Upzoning initiatives
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Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
Attachment B Page# 7
Climate Action and Open Space
Continue investment in bike only rite of ways.
Install and finish bike path along Bullock Ln & Righetti Ranch Rd.
Adding more bike specific trails and more shared trails. Quercus trail is a perfect example of
what the City Ranger can make, more trail like this one would be great.
Continue to develop Mountain Bike Park in the Laguna Lake area.
Continue to increase the diversity and breadth of our current trail system to provide
opportunities for all user groups to enjoy our beautiful open spaces. Including continuing the
development of Laguna Lake bike park!
Create and maintain more beginner-friendly, purpose-built mountain bike trails, and improving
diversity in difficulty of trails in SLO (development of expert trails and beginner trails).
Develop a bike trail along Hwy 101 connecting the City through Cuesta Park with the trail
head of Miossi Open Space and Stage Coach Rd, eliminating biking on Hwy 101 and
eliminating the need of cars.
Mountain biking and spending time outside are very important to me. I would love to see new
trails and more trail maintenance in the area.
To help San Luis Obispo achieve its priorities of Climate Action and Open Space, I propose
advocating for the development of more beginner-friendly mountain bike trails. These trails
would not only make outdoor recreation more inclusive, but foster more growth in the sport for
youth riders.
Truly protected bike paths. Most are too scared to ride bikes in SLO. + A protected
walking/bike path along Tank Farm connecting the two parts of the city in a safer way.
We need more bike trails and increased maintenance of bike trails in our open space! This
area is growing in mountain biking and the trails could be better maintained and there’s room
for even more to help keep biker/hiker conflicts down.
Continue to support cultural burns with yak tityu tityu yak tilhini
Expanding capacity for prescribed burns, using native plants in landscaping for pollinator
habitat away from roads (the new planter boxes on chorro are attracting pollinators into
streets and getting hit. Maybe relocate those plants and replant with non-blooming species on
roads—it’s a great start though!). Creating a central meeting space in disaster situations with
extra supplies would be great. Also being vocal in support of the agricultural community while
they are at risk of deportation. Supporting carbon sequestration projects at parts, open
spaces, and encouraging drought tolerant pollinator habitat residential landscaping. Thank
you!
Disaster preparedness should be a work program for Climate resilience
Make sure our residences and our open spaces are resistant to wildfires, since wildfires
release large amounts of carbon dioxide. Give financial incentives to help people retrofit their
homes to make them more fire-resistant.
Natural Disaster preparedness
Planning and proper funding to prevent and handle future wildfires.
The Climate has changed. It will continue to change. We should be prepared for the changes.
The city should be prepared for natural disasters to the best of its ability and within its budget.
We as a city cannot make changes that will impact the climate in any significant way when
considering the global forces and foreign countries actions involved. If any money is spent to
effect a positive change in the climate, it should be voluntary contributions to effective non
profits that are making more significant changes. Such as Carbon Credit. Please see this link
from the former transportation manager of the city of Santa Barbara
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Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
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Climate Action and Open Space
https://vimeo.com/911638304
Way more effective use of funds.
Engage the business community in a campaign to install EV chargers at workplaces, retail
shopping centers, and other places where people spend a few hours during the day. Offer
expedited permitting services for the installations and information on incentives and other
resources.
Balance conservation with access! Expanding our open spaces without providing expanded
trails (ideally user specific) does little to improve overall enjoyment of our open spaces.
Historic & Cultural resources support energy conservation & outdoor activities. Please
support the restoration of historic buildings in San Luis particularly City-owned buildings
The City should continue to prioritize historical structures, including the La Loma Adobe and
surrounding open space. This structure was recently dated to the Mission Period and the
surrounding area leads to the Bowden Ranch Open Space. It is an important landmark in our
community plus there is a city bus stop three blocks away.
BETTER PUBLIC TRANSIT!!!!!!!
I would take the bus if it were free. I am low-income and that would be an incentive to give my
car and all the costs and pollution associated with it. Also, the ebike incentive promoted by CA
for low income residents was a disaster: logged on precisely at the opening online with all
qualifying paperwork, digitally put on hold and told to wait, waited online for an hour, then told
that the process was closed. PRE-QUALIFY APPLICANTS AHEAD OF TIME, then hold a
lottery.
Improve mass transit with more routes and electric busses
Increase SLO Transit frequency to and from Cal Poly, especially on nights and weekends to
deter drunk driving and promote sustainability and reduce traffic.
We desperately need more and better mass transportation for the areas outside of downtown
to make it a viable alternative for working families who don’t have access or means to bike.
Incentives as strongly as possible apartment landlords to add solar, replace gas appliances
with electric, and provide on site charging options.
Provide assistance/advice/incentives for renting residents who would like to upgrade the
sustainability of their rented homes. (It doesn't make sense for me to add solar to my
apartment or improve its insulation.)
Replacing the gas guzzling furnace at the Sinsheimer pool should be done as soon as
possible!!
Work to develop and promote residential green infrastructure projects (curb cuts, etc.) to help
manage stormwater runoff and collect rainwater. Retrofit old neighborhoods and integrate into
new developments.
A few years ago you received some grants and put in the budget to dredge Laguna Lake
once a year. You did it once for a few hours and never again. The city must realize that the
lake and the park are its largest asset and you are letting it go to waste. Before you spend
money on trees etc. fix the problem that has been building for many years.
Continue dredging and maintenance of Laguna Lake
Continue with periodic sediment removal from laguna lake. Improve this important city
asset.
Set up a carbon sequestration project by removing tuliees and taking them to the biodigestor.
Allow 70 + year old e bikers to use trails
Dredge Laguna Lake and eliminate many of the east side reeds giving more access and
usage possibilities
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Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
Attachment B Page# 9
Climate Action and Open Space
Dredge Laguna Lake! This will reduce flooding and provide for a healthier eco system for his
much loved park.
Dredge Laguna Lake, you are 40 years overdue. That whole area could be a wonderland but
it hardly used. Improve the lousy launch ramp. And when you dredge make a bunch of
islands. Pretty to look at, sail to and a refuge for various birds and habitat. What is the
holdup? Quit wasting money on idiotic and hardly used concrete bicycle thingies and spend
our money on us.
Dredge Lagunas Lake and make it more accessible
Go back to the commitments to the residents to keep funding the lake dredging.The city
needs to stop spending money to acquire more assets and start maintaining the ones you
have. I live on the lake for 25 years and you keep making my area more over grown every
year. The city made a commitment to use to perform a yearly dredging plan with dedicated
funds and now your reneging on that commitment. Take care of what you have K Kidwell
Increase the priority of the Laguna Lake Dredging Program
Keeping Laguna Lake a healthy environment for fish, birds etc. and a place for people to
enjoy by continuing the dredging program.
Laguna Lake and the surrounding area are valuable resources for citizens of the City and
County. Dredging the lake should be a top priority. Not maintaining the lake would be
negligent.
Laguna Lake Deredging
Maintain valuable city recreation resources. Make dredging Lagua lake a priority
Please continue to push forward on dredging Laguna Lake. I have lived on the lake my entire
life, 1216 Mariners Cove, and I've see the slow migration to mud and stagnant water, and we
need the lake to maintain healthy oxygen levels. Dredging is a great option of creating a
robust future for the lake and all its inhabitants.
Please dredge Laguna Lake before it becomes a sea of tules. The lake used to be a
wonderful recreational lake for fishing, boating, windsurfing and sailing. The lake provides a
wonderful wild life habitat for animals and birds. It is also a beautiful lake for SLO. Now it is
shallow and the tules are taking over. Please take care of our cities beautiful lake.
Please prioritize the Laguna Lake Dredging Program!
Thank you.
Take care of Laguna Lake. It is a jewel in our town and should be maintained for future
generations.
Why was not preserving laguna lake a option. It had funds allocated in the previous budgeting
process.
Clear out dead brush.
Fuels management plan
Maintain open spaces
Please make open space more accessible. Make trails less steep so they are easier for older
people/ people with bad knees and other disabilities. Also make sure all trail gates and
bollards are wide enough for obese/pregnant people to fit through. Add more parking at
trailheads.
Prioritize the maintenance and development of hiking/biking trails in city open spaces
Prioritizing grazing programs where appropriate as part of the fuels management plan
Love 10 tall! Also need more street trees in residential areas (eg and esp 600 block of
Buchon!)
Please consider planting some of the 10000 trees on or around Righetti Hill.
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Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
Attachment B Page# 10
Climate Action and Open Space
Adopt a carbon budget rather than a percent reduction goal to stay on top of current science
and avoid pushing out goals infinitely
Allow for and incentivize more housing and a variety of home types near jobs, local
businesses, transit, schools, and tucked into existing neighborhoods to protect open space,
allow for convenient low-carbon transportation, and reduce wasted resources
Check on the wildlife corridors. Make sure they are still truly open and that they have not
been blocked by fencing. Bressi Ranch corridor from Broad Street looks blocked. Please
check!
City of Davis early on became known as a bike friendly city. It made the city a desirable place
to live. I would love to see SLO become the climate forward city and have that make
SLO tops as a desirable place to live and visit
Climate Action must remain a major city goal. Even if it has become a core service, the
threats are growing every day! We just passed the 1.5 degree temp rise threshold, Los
Angeles is burning, and here we have 2023 storm response funding to recoup. Status quo
isn’t enough for our community’s protection from the disastrous effects of climate change.
With the national stage reversing any gains in climate resiliency, it is more important than ever
for climate action to head the city’s major city goals.
Concerned that the Plastic Straw Ordinance that the City passed in 2018 has not been
enforced. Businesses don't know about it, or ignore it. Business buyb oxes of them, they are
used, discarded, end up as trash and litter; can't be recycled, become trash. For pennies
more, compostable plant-based straws are readily available through many sources.
Second, concerned that the State passed AB 1276 - Single Use Plastic Utensils &
Condiments; became enforceable Jan 1, 2020. The City ignores this Bill and I want to know
why? Every fastfood restaurant uses plastic cutlery, they are littered or trash disposed,
especially at Farmers Market.
City needs to amend the Polystyrene Ordinance to eliminate EPS meat trays. Most of the
grocery stores continue to use Foam meat trays, with exception to a few like Trader Joe's.
Frustrated that the City passes the enforcement on to IWMA, but IWMA has NO teeth and
can't do anything, with the excuse that the IWMA Board says they don't have an enforcement
person or ability to hand out warning or even education. It is very frustrating, that 8 years
later I'm told, we can only do something on a complaint basis. If I address one restaurant in
the Public Market, every restaurant should be approached. It is not the citizens' position to do
this. Businesses are on the defense, and ask "who do I work for."? Well the story and
solutions are not over...
Janine Rands
8057040148, j9rands@gmail.com
Convene a biweekly clean energy forum for one year to discuss how SLO city might be able
to be a leader in central California’s for generating clean energy and create strategies for
action on the recommendations. Continue to enhance bike paths that have some division
from the roadway. Perhaps investigate whether it would be possible to allow local only/ bike
traffic (including e-bikes) on certain roads during commute times to enhance the biking
experience and enforce the rules. Close off streets downtown during shopping times to
pedestrians and bikes (work with the shops for delivery). Work more closely with cal poly to
get more housing quickly for students on campus to reduce student trips on and off campus
and to encourage more telecommuting from employees who are not required to be on
campus— cal poly can generate up to 8000 car trips per day! . Work harder to get big
employers to use e-bikes. Replace parking spaces with free bike boxes.
Everything and anything the city can do to reduce CO2 release and burning of fossil fuels is a
priority.
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Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
Attachment B Page# 11
Climate Action and Open Space
Eviction is not carbon-neutral, especially when folks are forced to live in their cars (or worse).
And especially when the smaller, older, more affordable housing stock is then demolished to
make way for market rate condos.
Get back to basic needs. Reduce crime. Fix infrastructure. Stay in you lane
Give priority to bike crossings, such at intersection of Orcutt Rd & Bullock Ln
I think it is important to remember that while an admirable goal, the city is less than a drop in
the ocean when it comes to addressing climate change. The city as an institution is
comparatively powerless in that sphere, but is overwhelmingfully powerful in spheres of local
policy such as housing, infrastructure, utilities, transportation, etc. I think the city should focus
on climate action less as a discrete goal, but rather as positive externality from achieving
other major city goals. For example the city shouldn't focus on a goal of CO2 reduction, it
should instead focus on building more housing and encouraging active transit - policies within
the cities domain, that if successfully accomplished will just so happen too be better for the
environment.
I would like to see the city Set up a program asking citizens to not drive on certain days of the
week
to help mitigate Greenhouse gas emissions. We really want to be serious about mitigating
greenhouse gas emissions.Then we need to come up with tougher plans.
I would also like to see more education on the realities of the climate crises to increase
collaboration with organizations in the forefront
Incentivize biking and walking
Invest in indigenous and YTT-led efforts to steward public lands. Prioritize sustainable
building improvements for low income housing. Foster school-based climate initiatives to
engage families through public education.
Keeping people housed with increased Tenant Protections avoids the climatic impact of
homelessness.
Make driving less convenient (and figure out how to sell that), active transportation more so
and super attractive. Have courage. I support you.
Maybe research some way to rehabilitate the Tank Farm area? It seems like a huge dead
zone that could be used for animals/open space if it were restored
Officially support Class 1 pedal assist e-bikes on all public paths, Open Space, including
Pismo Preserve!!
Prefumo creek restoration trail off of Calle Joaquin would be great to see some funds invested
for education and maintenance . I have an acre at slo city farm and the current improvements
are just amazing.
Prioritize & center Indigenous partnerships, leadership, and stewardship in climate action
Provide grant to city residents for water conservation measures such as rain water collection
systems
Provide substantial and continual support to city far slow to increase and enhance it,
educational, agricultural, and agricultural and regenerative and recreational programs
SLO’s climate action has always made me proud to call SLO home. Keep up our work to be a
leader in this existential crisis.
Stop building housing and taking no growth stance. That will eliminate a lot of greenhouse
gases that are produced in this area.
stop cutting down the trees that are here now. stop promoting tourism. stop building parking
garages.
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Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
Attachment B Page# 12
Climate Action and Open Space
Tenant protections and more environmental friendly affordable housing intersect with the
climate action
Use tools such as CLIMATETRACE.ORG which will help the city find buildings, ag, oil wells
leaking methane others GHG that can then be dealt with
Wildlife connectivity projects I. Coordination with other agencies e.g. Caltrans
Yes to other voices about species protections re: corridor crossings and habitat protection.
Acknowledge and support the Perfumo Creek restoration and enhancement program as a
pilot and prototype for the development of other Creekside open space recreational
educational opportunities. Work in collaboration with creeklands.org and city farm slow and
the manager of the Profumo Creek program to continue to develop and improve those
activities And tie them in with employment and training opportunities working in the landscape
and in agriculture for homeless and other residents in need of such opportunities.
Address tobacco waste by banning single use disposable vapes and cigarette filters. These
are the most commonly found liter in beaches, parks, and contain hazardous chemicals.
Force tobacco retailers to pay for the proper disposal of confiscated vapes and drug
accessories which cost the schools and counties lots of money to properly dispose of.
Connect open spaces with bike paths and keep adding more trails. Improve the parking at
CalPoly
Connecting more bike paths off the roadway, safe from car traffic
Continue to build more advanced and feature rich trails for progressive mountain biking.
Expand access for pedal assist e-mountain bikes.
Develop and improve existing Red Dog trail connecting Eucs / Shooters with Panorama Trail
and the phenomenal new Quercus Trail (Thank you SLO City Rangers!) without the need to
get in the RR tracks trail.
We need to increase the open space with sanctioned trails. SRAM, Lightning, ETC. A campus
full of bright designers with the space agcent to the best trails in SLO county. Open up the trail
between El chorro and West Cuesta grade. Host a Sea Otter type event. Make it a mecca for
trail users. Keep us outside and stoked.
Provide incentives for climate resilient rental properties that do not displace tenants
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Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
Attachment B Page# 13
Homelessness Response
Work with the county to develop homeless housing behind Cuesta College near the California
conservation core area. There is bus service that goes out there so that people can use
transportation to and from that location to other services, either Morro Bay or San Luis
Obispo. That area has all the infrastructure needed for revamping the buildings out there for
housing needs. They have water, electricity and perhaps natural gas as well. They have lots
of open space for farming and growing vegetables and having a really grass roots, healthy
living option. It would sort of be a cooperative where everyone participated..
Develop the adjacent parcel next to 40 Prado rd as a multi use homeless site
You can buy the drive in movie area and a lot of homeless can stay there, bathrooms portable
showers it is gated, and vehicles can stay there also, have guards for safety. Don’t put
homeless apartments in neighborhoods put them in the country.
Stop incentivizing people to be homeless. Improve our mental health programs where
transients can get the mental help and drug addiction treatments that they need. Remove
mentally ill and drug users from the street and hospitalize or arrest those violating drug use
laws.
Create a program/funds to relocate homeless individuals back with their own
family/community. Research shows homeless and drug addicted individuals do better with
family support structure. Spend funds to help reconnect and send individuals back to their
own communities. Ventura started a program where any contact with police or fire the
individual is asked if they live in the area and would like assistance getting home. If they say
yes a trained team works to relocate the individual.
Housing first model is expensive and commits the City to funding housing in perpetuity when
it is already struggling to remain fiscally viable.
Pls take measures to reduce homelessness by providing drug rehab programs and move
away from housing first model
Remove dei manager and pay additional street crew to cleanup future safe parking areas and
other streets where homeless people camp and trash
More communication w/community to provide updates on status of programs - seems like
there has been very little change in spite of the time & efforts that have been invested -
Universal Basic Income with mandatory mental health and substance abuse
counseling/treatment.
There are three components to reducing. homelessness: housing, behavioral health
services, and law enforcement. Housing needs to be more affordable, and the only proven
method is through private development, lots of it. There is space for affordable housing units,
vouchers, temporary units and shelters, but long term the solution is scale. Build more
housing, ideally dense mixed use, but even expensive housing has the effect of lowering
regional housing prices which will help homelessness. Mental health services and Drug and
Alcohol services are County and State prerogatives, there is little the city can do other than
provide as much assistance as possible to regional partners. Law enforcement is something
that is necessary to deal with antisocial behavior, it is also something within the city's
jurisdiction. Disorder can be reduced by active police engagement, ideally with CATs and
other services being made available first, but for those who refuse all services while
intefracting on the law should be cited and arrested.
Any unhoused person who receives shelter, showers, food, etc. should be required to be drug
tested and be in counseling. I do not have a solution, but the amount of drugged out
homeless people outside of stores and on sidewalks and streets around the city and near my
neighborhood is ridiculous. My kids are used to seeing it at this point. It’s insane to get a ticket
for not fully stopping at a stop sign, but it’s ok to do meth in front of CVS on Madonna.
Let homeless people sleep in their cars and in city parks.
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Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
Attachment B Page# 14
Homelessness Response
1. Publicly admit that homelessness is an inevitable result of a society built upon greed, war,
and the insane belief in private property, (not personal property, for those of you who don't
know the difference and are gonna have a fit). Or do we just continue to ignore that some
dead King claimed all the land and started gifting it to the rapacious maniacs who murdered
off the locals and also thought slavery was good business?
2. Provide ongoing trash service instead of waiting for things to get out of hand and then
doing sweeps and such. The city of Atlanta recently crushed a sleeping man to death with a
tractor. Sort of thing the ALL LIVES MATTER crowd should be upset about, but we all know
aren't.
We need more public restrooms at every park, including Emerson on Nipomo Street. They will
last longer if they have sturdy steel commodes and steel sinks. Public restrooms require extra
maintenance and cleaning. Could we have people who have community service hours
maintain them?
Safe parking with tents allowed, not just cars.
Quit enabling criminals and drug addiction
Stop doing ineffective nonsense like adding boulders and fences next to the Bob Jones Trail
near Prado Road, forcing the houseless population to hang out on the bike path itself. This
"mitigation" was ill-conceived and ultimately detrimental. They need homes, not hostility.
Focus on relocation solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness in densely populated
areas, such as downtown SLO.
Adjust policy to allow for more home choices near jobs, transit, schools, and local businesses.
Make sure we have enough homes for people.
Eliminate anti-homeless infrastructure
SLO is expensive. Spend homeless money in other cities or in the county to make the dollar
go further.
Provide opportunity for gardening and growing crops to residence at the new center on Kia
Joaquin using land that can be made available at city Farm Slow two support Perfumo Creek
restoration and enhancement project continuation to provide connectivity between city farm
Slow and the Cuquin apartments and provide programs of training and employment for
residence to develop and maintain that trail
Learn from the Safe Parking lot and reimplement it at the railroad station, do not rotate it near
our schools and neighborhoods. Keep it consistent and at the railroad station with new rules
and regulations based on what happened in the past when it was there.
The best way to prevent homelessness is to keep people who are already housed in their
homes. But skyrocketing rents and corporate exploitation are forcing people out of their
homes. We need to lower the current cap in AB 1482 on annual rent increases to 5% or less
and incorporate the AB 1482 “just cause” provisions for eviction into the SLO Municipal Code;
remove the 2030 sunset date contained in state law; require 90 days’ notice to terminate a
lease; make protections effective upon occupancy, not after 12 months; and extend coverage
to all single family homes.
Tenant protections that help people stay in safe and affordable homes
Improving tenant protections will prevent people becoming homeless and improve people’s
likelihood of getting housing
Prevent evictions with tenant protections
Increase Tenant and Eviction Protections.
Prevent loss of housing by implementing tenant protections such as ending no fault eviction
and lowering the rent ceiling
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Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
Attachment B Page# 15
Homelessness Response
Preventing evictions is one of the surest ways to keep people in their homes and off the
streets. Closing loopholes in the Tenant Protection Act and prohibiting no-fault evictions
should be a high priority. Makerenter protection a Major City Goal.
develop better tenant protections such as program staff time to create a rental registry, update
city health and safety requirements, strengthen the existing Tenant Protectoon Act, prohibit no
fault evictions, and lower the current ceiling on skyrocketing rents.
Increase Tenant Protections and Eviction Protections to keep people housed.
Can we more rigorously enforce the laws on the homeless population. It has become such a
blight on our beautiful community. I am tired of seeing the loitering, defecating, littering and
overall lack of respect to our public places. I feel a zero tolerance policing policy makes the
most common sense to limit the growth of what seems to be a growing homeless population.
It’s become a major public safety concern.
Homeless populations need to be given ultimatums to either follow rules in a shelter and
make moves towards getting employment or to leave town or to be arrested for loitering.
Police need more liberties to remove these people from public areas. Police force needs to be
used when they are being belligerent and rude to passersby.
Crack down on the homeless.
I see affordable, safe, healthy senior housing in a shortage. we must support seniors or they
will be on the streets, as many are.
Homeless prevention by constructing more affordable housing, particularly for on the edge
seniors
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
DEI is only as successful as the community it serves. Having translators means nothing if
non-English speaking individuals arent in attendance. City forums and outreach continues to
be for the same people time and time again. Its time we look through a new lens at how to
engage. There needs to be true focus on engaging our non-English speaking, low-income,
families. Specifically low income housing areas. Staff need to show up and connect to
educate to opportunities.
Improving resources for marginalized and underserved communities to participate in priority
setting/council meetings by providing child care, stipends, food, etc.
More education, training, “buy-in” from city employees. More outreach to community.
A plan for sustainable City support is essential. Please plan for continued funding.
DEI efforts have been shown to increase creativity, productivity, and innovation. Please fund
these efforts for the benefit of all
In the immediate national reality, it is crucial that the city retain DEI as a major city goal.
Increase the dedicated resources and attention to DEI initiatives, ensuring they are prioritized
and not overshadowed by other administrative functions. There is a lot of talk about the
commitment to DEI, but implementation has been slow.
It will be very important during these next 4 years to support and continue our DEI program.
Please continue the work.
We need DEI in SLO now more than ever!
Arts and culture encourages diversity and inclusion. Culture and art welcome all. Continue to
support the Cultural Arts District and all of our cultural institutions. Thank you!!
please include cultural arts district in the city goals. Supporting the arts makes for a vibrant
downtown. Thank you
Prioritize funding for sloma
Support public art by diverse populations
Create initiatives that provide access to cultural arts by under represented residents
Invest in public art by diverse populations.
Get rid of DEI. Equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome. Merit wins all
Pls dissolve DEI measures
Reduce diversity, equity, and inclusion training and policies. Reduce funding for DEI trainings
and programs. Cut DEI hires who are not meriting their position. Cut all DEI enforcement
positions.
Stop all DEI programs. Why would we want to only focus on attracting minority owned
businesses?
For example, if I only wanted Latino own businesses, I would just move to Santa Maria. I
don’t think anybody wants San Luis Obispo to become Santa Maria. As I grew up there and
went to Miller Street school and Santa Maria high school.
Would urge you to drop DEI as a major city goal. In the most recent city survey, DEI only
ranked as tenth most important. DEI has been found to be less than helpful in getting the best
person into important roles as evidenced in the Los Angeles fire response. The Federal
government and many large corporations are abandoning their DEI initiatives. SLO does not
have to be “cutting edge” on issues like this and climate change. The survey indicates that tho
populace has other items that they find to be more important to have their money spent on.
Restore the La Loma Adobe on Lizzie Street
San Luis Obispo has a long and diverse history. As citizens, we want to make sure our
historic structures are preserved for future generations. The La Loma Adobe and surrounding
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
are is one of those important resources. This adobe has recently been dated to the mission
era. It s one piece of the puzzle of our diverse and inclusive history.
Encourage low cost housing projects to support historically marginalized and economically
disadvantaged populations
Healthier multi unit housing
Increase options for a variety of quality, affordable homes near jobs, school, businesses, etc.
DEI should be a cultural paradigm in our city as opposed to a program which costs hundred
of thousands of city budget dollars. If we need to - consider trade offs against critical needs
like safety or emergency response - this should be an area that can be traded out.
I am happy with the city's current DEI initiatives, but frankly I worry that "DEI" has been
somewhat poisoned in national discourse. I believe the city could save itself headache and
wildly unproductive public comment by reframing DEI less as a major goal, but rather as an
internal culture and way of doing business. Talk less, do more.
It has been absorbed as a core service and does not needyo be a major city goal
Conduct know your rights trainings. Encourage action to support SLO being a sanctuary city.
Change policies through consultants to remove implicit bias. Support the initiatives of staff of
color. Create targeted universal retention practices and provide employees mental health
supports to cope with the stresses of being in predominantly white spaces.
Confirm and affirm City of SLO land acknowledgement recognizing yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini as
the homeland Tribe
DEI is dead
Explore the feasibility of a vacancy tax to address all the empty space in downtown; this ties
to many other goals of the city, such as DEI business opportunities, creative, collaborations
between nonprofits, and the public/private sector, arts and culture in our downtown.
Give resources to Pacific Beach High School for student transportation
Improve city understanding and competency of DE&I so DEI staff doesn’t have to spent their
time working internally and can spend more time and energy in prioritizing needs of
underserved & marginalized communities
Launch a Public Campaign to Show FACES of SLO: banners on downtown poles, flyers, etc.
with BIPOC and culturally inclusive faces that are white, brown, black, asian, etc. "WE are
SLO" campaign like the "Black is Beautiful" campaign of the 70s. The campaign would rectify
the problem of easy invisibility and disenfranchisement: i.e., "If we don't see it, we don't
acknowledge. If we don't acknowledge it, we don't believe it. If we don't believe it, we
disregard it. If we disregard, we may denigrate. Denigration leads to dehumanization."
Resist book banning in our schools and libraries
Support for agricultural workers in extreme weather events —when they are out of work,
exhausted, and at risk from ICE detention.
To help the City prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, I would suggest providing more
Halal food and shopping options for the Muslim community in San Luis Obispo. Additionally,
it’s important to educate the broader community about the diverse identities that make up
America. People who wear the hijab are Americans, and they come from various
backgrounds, whether Middle Eastern or otherwise. Wearing a hijab doesn’t make them any
less American, nor does it make them “illegal” or somehow less professional. We need to
move past stereotypes and ensure that everyone feels welcome and respected in our
community, regardless of appearance or background.
To the person suggesting merit only programs. Merit is often a function of inequal access (to
programs, education, you name it), which is why DEI measures are important: they allow
merit to be developed!
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
We don’t and should not discriminate based on anything but merit. If we have a surplus in the
budget after funding essential services, water, sewer, police, fire, parks, retirement liabilities,
roads, infrastructure, the arts, capital improvements without supplemental, or other taxes,
then maybe we should spend money on DEI.
More effectively integrate equitable practices into all city policies, ensuring that diversity and
inclusion are considered in every decision-making process.
Becoming a sanctuary city so immigrants and refugees feel safe and welcome here
Better tenant protections so that our city continues to grow in diversity vs. who can afford to
live / work here (majority white, middle to upper class folx)
Protecting our Immigrant, LGBTQ+ communities with increased Tenant and Eviction
Protections means our most vulnerable have access to basic needs of housing with safe,
affordable and secure housing. This level of protection is needed when we know HUD will be
engaging in discriminatory and hateful practices.
Renter inequities disproportionately affect women, minorities, migrants, and other undeserved
communities. Controlling skyrocketing rents, preventing no-fault evictions, and modernizing
health and safety requirements is a major DEI issue. Make renter protections a Major City
Goal.
Support tenants rights and affordable housing initiatives
Tenant protections often the bipoc community and undocumented residents don't know the
rights and get taken advantage.Making sure the city has a policy for tenant protections and
enforcement will help retain diversity of housing
Tenant protections will protect marginalized communities and keep predatory landlords from
taking advantage of our community members. (Also make an ordinance that business entities
can not own single family homes)
Tenant protections!
Tenant protections!!!
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Downtown Vitality and Economic Development
A vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy community. Support the SLO Art museum to
continue doing all the great work they do making this a great place to live and visit.
Let’s pass some ordinances for how long a building may remain empty downtown.
Our small, local entrepreneurs are being driven away by skyrocketing commercial rents, while
many thousands of sqf of commercial space sit empty. Vacancy fees on empty commercial
properties would encourage commercial landlords to fill their buildings while generating
revenue for the city. If that doesn't work, buildings that have been empty for extended periods
should be declared blight, taken by eminent domain, and converted to social housing.
Converting empty buildings downtown to rent-controlled housing for our service workers
would add tremendously to downtown vitality.
Our downtown needs a thriving arts scene as a counterweight to the challenges that retail
stores are facing. The arts play an important role as a connective tissue in building the kind of
community we want San Luis Obispo to be.
Please, our downtown needs a thriving arts scene as a counterweight to the challenges that
retail stores are facing. Arts provide critical economic benefits to San Luis Obispo's downtown
corridor.
The arts play an important role as a connective tissue in building the kind of community we
want San Luis Obispo to be.
A vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy community.
A thriving Cultural Arts District will deliver significant economic impact and contribute to social
well-being.
· A vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy community.
· A thriving Cultural Arts District will deliver significant economic impact and contribute to
social well-being.
· Thriving downtowns generally have an array of arts offerings driving economic vitality.
· Our downtown needs a thriving arts scene as a counterweight to the challenges that retail
stores are facing.
· The arts play an important role as a connective tissue in building the kind of community
we want San Luis Obispo to be.
As a friend of SLOMA and of other Cultural Arts District organizations, we know you believe in
the power of the arts to bring a community together. We also know you enjoy your experience
downtown, and many of you also dine before or after a visit, thereby contributing significantly
to downtown SLO’s economic vitality.
Thank you Ron Pippin
A Cultural Art District is needed to strengthen the downtown evenings and afternoon activities.
Downtown needs a thriving art scene as a counterweight to the challenges that restaurants
and retail stores are facing. The arts play an important role as a connective tissue in building
the kind of diverse downtown tourism I want in SLO.
A healthy and vibrant arts scene is essential to our community's health and well-being. Plus,
robust arts and culture will strengthen the SLO community’s appeal as a desirable place to
live, work, visit, and invest.
A thriving arts scene is essential to downtown vitality, driving economic growth, attracting
visitors, and supporting local businesses. The council should prioritize the Cultural Arts
District in their Major City Goals, ensuring San Luis Obispo becomes a vibrant, connected
community where residents and businesses can thrive. Thanks for your consideration!
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Downtown Vitality and Economic Development
A thriving arts scene is important in a healthy city. The Cultural Arts District is an important
part of that and should be supported.
A thriving cultural arts district is vital to SLO and will deliver a much needed economic boost
and support downtown businesses by creating a strong draw for SLO residents and visitors to
downtown.
A thriving Cultural Arts District will deliver significant economic impact and contribute to social
well-being.
A thriving Cultural Arts District will deliver significant economic impact and contribute to social
well-being.
A vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy community.
A thriving Cultural Arts District will deliver significant economic impact and is essential to a
healthy community.
A thriving Cultural Arts District will help boost economic success for restaurants, stores, etc
and contribute to social well being. Continues keeping the Arts in the downtown focus.
A vibrant art scene is the heart and soul of a downtown. Please support the art museum, the
rep theater, and the children's museum; collectively and with all the cultural arts, they create
the kind of community where I want to live and visit.
A vibrant arts center community accessible to all. Including at risk youth.
A vibrant arts community is critical to a healthy community, including economic health.
Dinning and attending a play at SLO Rep is a major draw for my wife and I to visit SLO. The
Cultural Arts District is a key to anchoring the arts offerings and attracting locals and visitors
to downtown.
A vibrant arts scene and cultural district are crucial to any city's vitality and economic
development. Visual arts bring people downtown and create an inviting environment that
encourages walking around the area.
A vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy community, making the Cultural Arts District a
key component of San Luis Obispo’s future. A thriving Cultural Arts District will not only enrich
the city's social fabric but also drive significant economic impact, attracting visitors, supporting
local businesses, and fostering a dynamic downtown. Across successful cities, a robust arts
presence serves as a powerful economic engine, ensuring vitality even as traditional retail
faces challenges. Investing in the arts provides a necessary counterweight to these struggles,
creating a more resilient and engaging downtown. More than just an economic driver, the arts
serve as the connective tissue that brings people together, shaping the kind of inclusive,
creative, and vibrant community we aspire for San Luis Obispo to be. For these reasons,
supporting the Cultural Arts District should be a priority in the city's Major City Goals.
A vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy community. A thriving Cultural Arts District will
deliver significant economic impact and contribute to social well-being. Thriving downtowns
generally have an array of arts offerings driving economic vitality.
A vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy community.
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Downtown Vitality and Economic Development
· A thriving Cultural Arts District will deliver significant economic impact and contribute to
social well-being.
Art and events are so important to keep the life of a community, economic prosperity of
restaurants and retail (i.e. Art after Dark, plays, concerts)
Art brings people together. Please invest in an art district. Thank you!
Art encourages community involvement to enrich our surroundings.
Art is a radical act of optimism.
Keep the arts downtown.
Stop oppressing optimism.
Arts are the cultural background for building an enlightened community.
Arts not included? What? The Council has already invested so much blood, sweat and tears
to create the 80% of the Cultural Arts District that already exists, why wouldn't support for the
CAD be a major bullet point in the 25-27 Major City Goals. Council, you've always taken the
long view for our City, continue to make the arts a priority for SLO.
As a local paintings conservator, preserving access to the arts and supporting local artists is
central to my work and our community’s cultural vitality. Please include the Cultural Arts
District in Major City Goals to ensure continued opportunities for creativity, connection, and
economic growth in SLO.
Be sure to include funding to support a vital Arts scene. Do not change your mind on this
since arts organisations make long-term plans based on this support. You well know the
financial contributions the arts have on the City. Do you want a cultural desert or an enhanced
community ?
The City's focus on open space is to be lauded. But there is too much open space right now --
in downtown. OK, poor joke, perhaps, but please be creative about what you can do to
incentivize landlords to lease those big empty spaces.
And make it easy for start-ups and/or new uses of those large open (empty) retail spaces to
get filled and used.
Try to streamline the regulatory hurdles so new creative uses for those spaces can be tried.
Let's not let perfect be the enemy of good.
City support and engagement in promoting the Arts is essential to offering a well rounded
community ambience and experience. People connect with others in the community when
they attend a a live performance of music or theater. Arts are driven by our emotions and
passions. We attended last nights presentation and then walked the Farmers Market for the
first time in years. We stopped and listened to 3 different musical groups playing on the side
streets. That music kept us at the Market and then we bought beverage, pizza and cookies
because we stayed longer than anticipated to hear the music. If the City were a person's
body, Art presentation and performance would be the heartbeat.
Vacancy tax on all retail/commercial spaces closed for greater than 6 months. Sliding scale
wherein longer vacancys mean a higher tax rate
Encourages market efficiency.
Continue investments/partnerships in the arts and cultural organizations to improve quality of
life in SLO. Investments in SLOMA, SLO Rep, the PAC and other arts/cultural organizations
are vital to this community.
Continue prioritizing the arts as part of downtown vitality and economic development.
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Downtown Vitality and Economic Development
Continue support for arts and culture in downtown SLO! A vibrant and supported arts and
culture scene is a major draw for tourists and gives SLO residents a sense of community
pride. Arts and culture are such good investments as they draw in visitors to downtown, who
then spend money in businesses and parking spots.
In a May 2024 report on KEYT, the City's tourism and marketing manager said it best: "The
economic impact of travel spending in SLO CAL, it put it in a way that's relatable, is each
resident would need to spend, an additional $20,000-plus to have the same economic impact
for the region," said Lisa Marie Belsanti, Visit SLO CAL Vice President of Communications.
"Travel and tourism is part of the economic lifeblood of the region. It impacts almost every
sector, lodging, restaurants, attractions, retail, everything funnels through that and creates
this benefit to SLO CAL residents."
An October 2023 article in Forbes Magazine reflects the immense impact arts and culture
organizations can have on a local economy: "Cultural tourism is one of the fastest-growing
segments of the tourism industry, accounting for an estimated 40% of all tourism worldwide."
Tourism revenue in the form of Transient Occupancy Tax is the third largest contributor to the
City’s General Fund. Invest in SLO's vibrant economy by investing in a major driver for
tourism: arts and culture!
Continue to enhance/support the Cultural Arts District. This has the potential to be a real
attraction - each element generating synergy for the others. The arts in SLO have become
more prominent in the last few years with sculpture, murals, etc, and it adds cultural richness
to our community. Keep it up!
continue to invest in public art
Continue to support and finish the building of the Monterey Place mixed use building. A
thriving cultural arts district anchored by this project, alongside the Children’s Museum, SLO
Arts Museum, the County Museum and the Mission, will deliver significant and positive
economic impact as well as contribute to the health, happiness and well being of both SLO
residents and visitors.
Continue to support arts and culture in our community; particularly the Cultural Arts District
that will need ongoing support to thrive and grow.
Continue to support, build out and promote the cultural arts corridor
Create and save the ARTS in this COUNTY.
Cultural Arts and Public Art…continue and expand investment through public/private
partnerships
Cultural arts are part of one of the major city goals and not listed in this exercise. The value of
art and music and theater and shows to both the community for our quality of life and
economic vitality is inestimable. We need the joy! Should be highlighted.
Cultural Arts District in the major cities goals because this is what keeps our city vibrant.
Cultural Arts District should be a high priority to the city. A thriving arts community will draw
people and their dollars to downtown. People need a reason to be downtown besides
shopping/eating since they can shop/eat anywhere.
Currently, Major City Goals do NOT include the arts and SLO's Cultural Arts district -- this is a
huge oversight for several reasons. SLO's status as a go-to destinaton DEPENDS ON A
VIBRANT ARTS SCENE. Arts and cultural events will deliver a HUGE economic impact to
our city -- and make it more liveable, social, and dynamic. Our downtown needs a thriving arts
scene to support SLO's retail businesses, which are facing challenges. as a counterweight to
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Downtown Vitality and Economic Development
the challenges that retail stores are facing.
The arts play a critical role in building the kind of community all of us want San Luis Obispo to
be!!!
Dear Council, Please include funding for the Cultural Arts District as a major goal in the 2025-
27 budget. Funds will be needed for promotional support of the growing district and the
resulting positive economic and cultural impact will be be felt by the entire community. We
need a thriving arts scene in downtown SLO.
Kind Regards.
Diane Clausen
Dear SLO City Council Members,
As a 25-year resident of SLO County, it is imperitive to include support for the Cultural Arts
District in your Major City Goals for the following reasons:
1. A vibrant arts scene is essential to any healthy community.
2. A thriving Cultural Arts District will deliver significant economic impact and contribute to
social well-being.
3. Thriving downtowns generally have an array of arts offerings driving economic vitality.
4. Downtown SLO desperately needs a thriving arts scene, especially now as a substantial
counterweight to the challenges that retail stores are facing.
5. The arts play an important role as a connective tissue in building the kind of community we
want San Luis Obispo to be.
Yours Truly,
Abram Perlstein
Los Osos Resident Since 2000
Developing a Cultural Arts District is crucial for the longtime success of Downtown. Presently,
the main draw of the area is its restaurants, always a volatile business especially in times of
economic downturns. A Cultural Arts District, however, is a solid long term investment that
adds another dimension to the city, one that can survive through boom and bust.
DO NOT FORGET ART, MUSIC, THEATER. This keeps tourists in town and entertained. It is
also essential for our community for the same reason. SLO is not just a place for Cal Poly
students. People live here full-time!
Vacancy tax to reduce empty businesses and homes
Encourage and support arts organizations to do more programming to bring more people
downtown who want to enjoy something in addition to food and drink.
Childcare is a critically important topic and helping our families thrive should be a priority.
what the chamber has accomplished with Christine’s efforts is to allow for an opening of a
conversation about childcare with dozens of local businesses, large and small, including ours
at Carmel and Naccasha. Many of us have changed our policies and have seriously thought
about ways to do more for our employees with small children. Please renew any grant
opportunity to keep this program open and available for all of our local businesses and to
allow Christine to continue her great work. Thank you for your consideration! Z Naccasha
Encourage downtown historic preservation and restoration
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Continue Community Officers in Downtown or out this investment into the Clean & Safe
Ambassador Program
Encourage construction of downtown housing to increase customer base and collaborate with
Amtrak/Flixbus for car-free tourism
Grow the arts. Look into Denver's SCFD program. Arts, culture, and scientific organizations
add vibrancy to downtown and drive other economic benefits such as parking fees and
spending at bars and restaurants
Hello as a native of SLO, born here in 1965, and current resident, I urge the council to include
support for the Cultural Arts District in their Major City Goals for this coming year… and the
years ahead.
A vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy community as a thriving Cultural Arts District will
deliver significant economic impact and contribute to our social well-being. Thriving
downtowns generally have an array of arts offerings which maintain, enrich, contribute, and
inspire a downtown’s economic vitality. Our downtown needs a thriving arts scene as a
counterweight to the challenges that retail stores are facing and the arts play an important
role as a connective tissue in building the kind of community we want San Luis Obispo to be.
Thank you for your time and consideration of SLO Arts!
Matt & Joan Smith
Hello from Ping Tsao. I encourage the City Council to include in its Goals for 2025-2027
support of the Cultural Arts District. SLO has been my hometown for 45 years. I have
volunteered and donated for aspects that make this community thrive - French Hospital, PHC
Clinics, Botanical Garden, Performing Arts Center, Coastal Education Foundation, and SLO
REP. An important part of thriving is economic vitality that feeds the soul and brings people
together.
Hello SLO City Council
I strongly feel that a vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy community.
A thriving Cultural Arts District will deliver significant economic impact and contribute to social
well-being . Art after Dark is a wonderful example for people gathering on Friday nights in
downtown , socializing and learning about the local artists and different venues where the
exhibits are shown.
I am a local (Avila Beach) artist myself and participated in the Art After Dark event a few
times. It attracted a lot of my friends to visit downtown, go for dinner, strolling through our
beautiful town and shopping at our local shops. Please support the artists and the
businesses in downtown in the future.
Respectfully,
Beate Amler
www.beateamler.com
Hello,
Please include support for the Cultural Arts District in our Major City Goals. A thriving Cultural
Arts District will deliver significant economic impact and contribute to social well-being. San
Luis Obispo needs to prioritize the Arts District as part of a character defining community
value that supports the community’s sense of place, livability, and culture. Than you.
Hopefully more attention will be given to expanding the arts in our community. With the
beautiful facility of the PAC @ Cal Poly and the new SLO REP theater, our town should be
ready to compete with the best of the best. Without adequate funding this cannot happen
How is there no "ARTS" room in this community forum? The mind boggles.
The Cultural Arts District (including SLOMA, History Center, Children's Museum and SLO
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REP) will be key to ensuring a robust downtown that teems with energy and economic
activity.
I am grateful for the city's investment in the cultural district and know that this will improve the
vitality of downtown. Further investment in our museums will create more of an experiential
downtown and help bind a community together.
I am urging the council to include support for the Cultural Arts District in their Major City
Goals. I have enjoyed SLO Rep and SLOMA and believe that a vibrant arts scene is essential
to a healthy community. A thriving Cultural Arts District will deliver significant economic impact
and contribute to social well-being. Although we are a smaller community, thriving downtowns
generally have an array of arts offerings which enriches and attracts others to join in and
contribute to the downtown’s economic vitality.
Our downtown needs a thriving arts scene as a counterweight to the challenges that retail
stores are facing. The arts play an important role as a connective tissue in building the kind of
community we want San Luis Obispo to be.
Please consider the importance of the Cultural Arts Center to SLO's future!
Kind regards.
I am in favor of the proposed "Arts District," which would include the SLO Art Museum and the
to-be-built SLO REP Theatre. Along with the existing Children's Museum and the historical
Mission and its Plaza, this downtown "Arts District" will add to the allure of our downtown and
increase business for local restaurants and hotels!
Funding more clean-up services - power washing the sidewalks on a regular basis and
addressing debris and homeless challenges
I ask that the City Council include support for the Cultural Arts District as one of the Major
City Goals.
The City has already invested money in the Arts and in the Cultural Arts District in a major
way through the new parking structure now under construction. Protect your (our) investment
by specifically listing Support for the Cultural Arts District as a Major City goal.
Thank you.
John Ozanich
I believe it is essential to support the cultural arts district in our major city goals. Art unites
people from all over SLO, makes cities thrive, and by investing in art, we promote community
and enrich our cities from the heart!
I believe it is important for our downtown to have a thriving arts scene. I feel that it contributes
not only to our local economy but also for bringing our community together.
Get rid of paid parking. It’s not productive to business. It is just another form of taxation to pay
bloated city salaries
I encourage the SLO CIty Council to include funding for the Cultural Arts District in your Major
City Goals. Although I live in Oakland, I visit the SLOMA museum whenever I'm in town, as
well as other art venues. It is one of the attractions for me as a visitor to your lovely town.
The arts build communities, and provides a platform to present your city's creative, vibrant
face. I urge you to include arts funding in your Budget.
Respectfully, Lorrie Fink
I encourage you to find ways to support the arts as a key driver in local economic
development and Downtown SLO vitality
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I hope you will include support for the arts and the Cultural Arts District in your major city
goals. A vibrant Cultural Arts District would add economic benefits to the downtown as people
visit restaurants and shops in conjunction with their arts activities. And the arts help to foster
the kind of community we want for San Luis Obispo.
I kindly ask that the council supports the Cultural Arts District in their Major City Goals. The
arts are essential for the future success of our youth, and the healthy well being of our
community. Thank you!
I am saddened by the loss of parklets in downtown SLO. I am unsure if it is fair, but I blame
the city for imposing regulatory burdens and financial costs on businesses that resulted in
efficiently used business space to be reconverted back to extremely inefficient on street
parking. If I had a magic wand I would pedestrianize Higuera allowing outdoor shopping and
eating outside of every Business place - parklets are compromise between that dream an
existing traffic circulation. Apparently I believe the downtown should be allowed to grow
upwards and for there to be businesses allowed on higher levels (as well as liberalized
signage regulations)
I respectfully request that the Council please add the arts as part of it major city goals .The
unique are in SLO is part of its diversity. Thank you
I see that the Cultural Arts District has not been included in the 2025-2027 Major City Goals. I
am dismayed that such an important part of any dynamic city's life is not being given the
priority it deserves. As a tourist destination, as the home of intelligent, sophisticated residents,
SLO must have a vibrant cultural scene. Please reconsider this omission.
I did not feel like the shop local program in December was fair and catered to the same
audiences. In years past, they honored both retail and restaurants. In 2024 they only
honored retail but were still offering restaurants gift cards. Our form of holiday celebration is
spending time with family at restaurants, having togetherness. This no longer is an
"acceptable" way to support local, so if they do not accept these receipts, they shouldn't be
giving them out either. Retail should support retail. I lost support for the program when they
would no longer honor something they had done in the past. Restaurant month is completely
different and should play by its own rules.
I strongly recommend the City's support for the arts in our community and continue supporting
the development of the Arts and Cultural Art District. The arts not only enrich our community
and bring people together, they encourage new visitors (locally, statewide and nationally),
who support the downtown restaurants and retail businesses. Additionally, it makes our
community a more inviting place to live, work, raise families and retire. I can hardly think of a
more important place to use our tax dollars to get an ongoing return on investment.
I think developing and supporting the arts district is critical to our city. It provides a public
space to connect and exchange ideas and cultural enrichment in addition to providing
tourism.
I think it is vital to support the development of the downtown cultural arts center! As brick and
mortar stores struggle, the cultural arts center will bring additional activity to downtown and
contribute to a thriving downtown population
I think it’s important to specifically call out the cultural arts district as this can be the unifying
force for a lot of downtown economic development
I understand that SLO Repertory Theater was not listed as a place to support. It would be
terrible if they lost any help they may get from the city. It is such a wonderful venue and an
important asset to the city. You know how small it is so ticket sales could never provide
enough revenue. Please keep the theater included in the city’s priority for development.
Thank you very much for your attention to,this matter.
Joy Tuman
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I urge support for the downtown community and cultural arts district. I'm surprised that it is not
on your list considering all of the recent changes to the infrastructure of that neighborhood. If
support for the arts isn't part of that revitalization, I will be very disappointed!
I urge the city council to support the Cultural Arts District in the council’s Major City Goals. A
vibrant Cultural Arts District has a positive economic impact on the city. The new SLOREP
theatre alone will provide over $1 million annually to the downtown. Thank you for your
consideration.
I urge the City to include the Cultural Arts District as a priority when considering future goals.
I live on Dana St., my husband works downtown and we know how vital a thriving arts scene
could be as a counterweight to the challenges that retail stores are facing. A vibrant arts
scene is essential to a healthy community and can help solidify SLO and a cultural destination
in California. Thank you for your consideration.
I urge the council to support a downtown arts district, and the arts in general in the city. As a
regular visitor to SLO from the Bay Area, the arts and their ancillary benefits are a big part of
why I spend time in the area.
I urge the council to support the Cultural Arts District in its Major City Goals. A vibrant arts
scene is essential to a healthy community.
I urge you to include the Cultural Arts District in the Major City Goals. I was raised on the
central coast and have currently lived in SLO for 9 years. I have worked in tandem with SLO
city in my previous job for over 5 years. Given my experience with talking to locals, new
residents, and thousands of tourists, part of what attracts people to visit/spend money in SLO,
is due to funding the Cultural Arts District. What draws people to SLO is the cultural,
historical, artistic charm that is possible due to funding ART. It would be a disservice to the
vitality of SLO and SLO’s economic development, if you left out ART from SLO cities Major
City Goals. I urge you to include art in SLO cities Major City Goals as it adds value to SLO’s
Economic Development.
I urge you to please consider including support for the Cultural Arts District in SLO city's major
city goals. Supporting the Cultural Arts District will help build the connective tissue of SLO's
community and continue to bring in diverse art and culture to our town. Furthermore, if we
want to continue to be a thriving downtown, throughout economic ups and downs, arts are a
necessary mainstay that will continue to anchor the vibrancy and approachability for
residents, visitors and other businesses.
I want to express ardent support for the Downtown SLO Arts District. The district is the hub of
a wheel that turns economic vitality, promotes our community character and creates important
connections and opportunities for all of us. It is San Luis Obispo at its best. Please support
this important piece of our community.
I was asked to voice my opinion on supporting the arts in Downtown SLO. I do believe it is
important. That said, I find downtown to be very depressing due to the unhoused and sick
people hanging out. The sidewalks are dirty and the trees need pruning. Some stores have
been empty for over nine years? Why is that?I used to really enjoy downtown SLO and found
it charming. Today I avoid it at all costs.
I would like the Council to continue to reiterate the importance of supporting cultural arts in
the downtown--with the fading of retail, cultural experiences (along with food & drink) become
paramount for attracting locals and visitors alike. And the arts nurture our souls during bad
times no matter what. Whether it's the Art Museum, SLO Rep, Children's Museum or other
more diverse cultural activities, it's vital that the City strongly expresses the importance of the
cultural arts for our community by including funding for the continued development of the
Cultural Arts district and activities.
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I would like to ask that support for the Cultural Arts District be included in The Major City
Goals.
Experiencing the arts is essential to our well being and sense of community.
Thank you
I would like to urge the council to include support for the Cultural Arts District in the Major City
Goals. A vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy community and plays an important role in
building the kind of community we want SLO to be, including overcoming the economic
impact of the past 4 years and reviving our downtown's vitality. Thank you.
I would like to urge you to consider supporting the Arts downtown. A thriving Cultural Arts
District will deliver significant economic impact and contribute to social well-being.
Art can bring people together and create community in our wonderful downtown!
I would love to see support for the Cultural Arts District in the goals. The arts are what tie us
together as a community because they transcend language barriers and social barriers. We
can all share the arts, both visual and performing arts.
I would love to support the cultural arts district. The work done at this point has made the
community a vital and thriving cultural hub that needs to be sustained in order to be a diverse
and welcoming community.
I would request that you support the arts in SLO as a major ongoing goal. It's places like the
Art Museum, First Friday, SLO Rep, the Palm Theater, etc. that draw a community together
and draw them to the downtown area to shop and dine. This is so important.
I’d urge the council to include support for the Cultural Arts District in their Major City Goals. I
believe a vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy community. Personally, I think a thriving
Cultural Arts District will deliver significant economic impact and contribute to social well-
being. I know my wife and I enjoy public art and activities on our date nights to SLO. It makes
for a thriving and exciting downtown and keeps us on the lookout for novel art and
performance. It’s also a great way to exist side by side with construction and retail vacancy
when we see a “pop” of art.
I’m wondering why developing the Arts is not part of the plan. Going to SLO Rep is one of
many reasons we go downtown.
· A thriving Cultural Arts District will deliver significant economic impact and contribute to
social well-being.
· Thriving downtowns generally have an array of arts offerings driving economic vitality.
· The arts play an important role as a connective tissue in building the kind of community
we want San Luis Obispo to be
I’m writing in strong support of a Cultural Arts District in San Luis Obispo.
The arts are not only what make this relatively small town punch way above its weight in
value to the region, but offer experiences that are an economic engine—and cannot be easily
outsourced like physical goods.
The theatre and arts is what brings me downtown to SLO. Let’s help keep the arts ever more
vibrant and relevant to this town.
I'd like to request that you support the Cultural Arts District in our Major City Goals. The
Cultural Arts District contributes to our vital, vibrant, relevant downtown. A community with a
healthy arts scene balances an otherwise retail-heavy environment that is needed. It brings
excitement and beauty in such an important way. Our town is unique and beautiful; it needs a
downtown with arts to stay that way.
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I'd like to see more focus on supporting the arts. They add to the vibrancy of the downtown
area. And bring in visitors and locals who will then frequent other stores and restaurants. A
vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy and interesting community.
I love our downtown, but the parking situation isn’t ideal sometimes. I know there’s no perfect
solution. I’d like to see more places to congregate. I live near downtown but sometimes it’s
not worth the hassle to drive there/find parking if only to grab a quick bite or do a take-out.
Let’s make going to downtown as a destination and then having a meal there secondary.
In addition to beautiful nature, as a city, we need to cultivate an environment for visual and
performing arts for the locals as well as to show the visitors that SLO is rich in multiple
dimensions.
In all the various categories listed, it is surprising there’s no mention of arts & culture. This is
vital to successful communities. Data show people move to towns and cities that have vibrant
arts scenes. Please include nonprofits like SLOMA and SLO Rep in your planning in order to
financially support a high quality cultural arts district. And continuing to support the PAC on
Cal Poly’s campus is important as well, thank you.
In order for SLO's downtown to remain vital and thriving, it MUST have strong culture and arts
programming. A downtown cannot just be a place to eat and shop. Cultural programs are
essential for attracting people to visit the city in the first place, which in turn will encourage
them to be patrons of the restaurants and shops. I urge the council to add expanding the
Cultural Arts District to our Major City Goals for 2025-2027.
Include Cultural Vitality. Improve the cultural corridor and cultural events in the downtown.
I see the swarm of comments on the so-called cultural arts district and feel compelled to
observe that the taxpayers of the City have already invested many millions of dollars with little
to show for it. I suppose we'll have another parking garage eventually--a mixed blessing to be
sure. Perhaps it's time to hit pause on those investments while we redirect our scarce
resources to other priorities?
Improve tenant protections so people can live within downtown areas
Increase opportunities for safe and dedicated pedestrianism. More safe and protected
walking can mean more shopping!
Increased general fund investment in economic development and business retention
programs.
Involve K-12 kids: entrepreneurial days, cleanup days, ambassador days, a-day-in-the-life
series of different types of public servants and employees.
Invest in public art and downtown activations
Invest in the ARTS!
Invest in the Cultural Arts—-the SLOMA, and all local and community oriented music, dance
theater and art.
Investment in the Cultural District, museum of art and cultural activities.
It is time for the city to prioritize the needs of our community in light of decreased funding for
affordable housing, keeping our neighbors in safe secure affordable rental housing will ensure
a workforce and thriving downtown.
Investing in anchor projects like a theater or museum when folks can’t afford to live here is
acting as if we are not in 2025 and facing climate catastrophes, diminished federal and state
funding and harm and harassment to our most vulnerable communities.
Please invest in A Tenant hotline, And ordinances that will protect and avoid spending when
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people are evicted or ensuring that only the wealthy have safe, habitable spaces to call
home. Also please cap the rent.
Make downtown Higuera a pedestrian zone
It is imperative to include the Arts and Culture when discussing plans for any city or county.
The arts are the heartbeat of any culture and deserve to be an important partner to the city's
goals and objectives. Public art is what the community resonates with and draws visitors
locally and from afar.
It is integral to a city and its community to have at its core a strong Arts District. The arts
inspires and connects people, and offers a central venue for people to meet. Please support
the art in San Luis Obispo.
It is my understanding that the city's Cultural Arts District is not listed as a major city goal. I
urge you to include it. A vibrant arts community (including the San Luis Obispo International
Film Festival and its operation of the Palm Theater, SLO Rep and SLO Museum of Art) is
critical to our city's economic vitality and social well-being. It is a connective tissue that is
vitally needed, especially given current retail challenges. Thank you. Sandy Duerr
more downtown events! and more unique partnerships to showcase our unique and thriving
downtown
Protect business owners from having the building they lease be purchased, leading to a
tripling of their rent and ultimate eviction.
reduce the excessive building and planning regulations and fees—-you will NOT have any
small businesses left—-it will be only national chains that can afford to open a business in
downtown slo
Repave our torn up streets.
Love our Little Theater "in the square" I call our SLO REP, because -we'll, it's square!
Wonderful productions! Don't let it disappear!!
SLO needs more "weird" attractions. An alleyway of bubble gum and a tacky inn isn't enough
weird for me.
SLO Restaurant Month is too specialized & the 3-course meals are too large. The former gift
card program seemed more rewards driven and generated more excitement (the Chamber’s
office was packed every day!)
Maintain full support for continuation of important "cultural corridor", particularly unfinished
components: SLOREP and SLOMA.
Maintain funding for The Arts and for The Cultural Arts District. Art, culture are essential for a
healthy, vibrant community; this district especially attracts both locals and visitors to engage,
enjoy, spend time and money in our city.
Support “quality of life” business for the downtown such as an independent grocer for actual
produce/eggs/daily needs, and health clubs/gyms
Support someplace in town that offers relatively affordable healthy food like grain bowls for
the public at large. SLO has way too much poo le nutrition restaurant food and very little
healthy food.
More variety of businesses downtown like gyms
My husband and I are very excited about the Cultural Arts District to include the new SLO
Rep theatre. As strong patrons of the arts, we recognize how the arts contribute to the vitality
of a community and help to bring people with diverse backgrounds together. It's important to
have the support of the City for a thriving arts scene - performing and visual arts. We know it
has a large economic impact on the city and can help local businesses thrive. Please be sure
that he Major City Goals for 2025-27 include support for the arts!
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My husband and I visited SLOMA yesterday, after lunch at Novo. We try to visit each new
exhibit at least once. We value what the arts bring to SLO, and we participate in several arts-
related activities Downtown. The arts bring guests - local and tourist, and guests of the arts
spend money.
Our downtown needs a thriving arts scene as a counterweight to the challenges that retail
stores are facing.
Our downtown needs a thriving arts scene as a counterweight to the challenges that retail
stores are facing. A vibrant downtown is supported by Cultural Arts and the Cultural Arts
District, which includes SLO Rep, SLOMA and now the SLO Film Center at the Palm and
should be apart of the vision of Downtown SLO.
Support the idea of “locals” neighborhoods. Creating local neighborhoods that we can walk to
or bicycle to.
The culture arts district is just entertainment for the SLO white elite. I can't afford tickets to the
theater, parking tickets, or a baby sitter and don't have time to go anyway since I have to work
three jobs to make ends meet. How about investing in me and my family?
Part of the draw to SLO is the amazing artists that live and work here. SLOMA, in particular,
provides a wonderful and accessible art experience for both residents and visitors, alike. It is
fantastic that students and anyone from the community can access the gallery for free. The
level of artistic work is outstanding. I recently visited the Whitney Bedford exhibit and
absolutely loved the work. I told everyone I know about it. Please keep things like this going...
this is part of what makes SLO great. Please do not let SLO become a homogenous, boring
town. Keep the Central Coast special... that's what it has going for it and will carry it into the
future.
Please add support for our downtown Cultural Arts District to your Major City Goals, which will
go along way in maintaining and adding to our vibrant arts scene which helps deliver a
significant economic impact and contribute to our community we want San Luis Obispo to be.
Please allow funds to support the arts.
Please be sure to add “the arts” and “cultural vitality” to this section. A thriving Cultural Arts
District will be a definite benefit to the vibrancy of downtown SLO, not to mention the positive
economic impact it will have, as patrons shop, dine and drink before or after they attend
events.
Catherine and Richard Luckett
Please be sure to continue to support the Arts in downtown San Luis Obispo. We desperately
need the representation and support of the all the arts, performing and visual downtown, as
art feeds culture in a community. Without it we could not thrive.
Please be sure to include the Cultural Arts District! It does so much to bring business to
downtown, promote empathy and community discussions, and give both youth and adults
opportunities to gain skills and training in areas not available elsewhere. It also elevates the
city in bringing tourism here, which is such a big part of our economy.
Please consider including a Cultural Arts District in your larger plan.
* A vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy and vibrant community.
* Thriving downtowns generally have an array of arts related offerings that engage the
community, its visitors and contribute to the economic vitality and enrichment of the small
businesses and culture of downtown SLO.
* The arts play an important role in community connection, collaboration and creativity that
are building blocks of the kind of community we know San Luis Obispo has been but in an
even better capacity.
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Please consider supporting a Cultural Arts District as one of our major city goals. A thriving
Cultural Arts District will have a powerful positive impact on both the economy and the social
fabric of our community. By fostering a dynamic arts scene, we can invigorate our downtown,
drawing more visitors and boosting local businesses. Thriving downtowns are often
characterized by diverse arts. Supporting a Cultural Arts District is a proactive step toward
enhancing our city and ensuring its long-term prosperity.
Please continue City support of the arts, including SLOMA, as a priority. This is a critical
opportunity to enlighten our community bringing creativity and and a space to share ideas and
create new possibilities while also attracting visitors
Please continue the support local arts. It's been a huge part of our lives and a strong
community needs a vibrant art scene for a wonderful community. It's SO important and please
do all that you can support the arts community here in SLO
Please continue to foster and grow the arts in downtown SLO, the year round programming of
SLORep and the wonderful shows are an essential option to get people downtown. A
presence of the arts downtown also help represent the community we are in SLO.
Please do not forget the arts. SLOMA and other visual arts are an essential part of downtown
SLO. Neglecting the arts is shortsighted.
Please do not let our cultural arts disappear from our city. It is so important the we are able to
enjoy and participate in our museums for us and for our children.
Marlene Goodman
Please ensure your support for the Cultural Arts District in your Major City Goals. Art after
dark and other museum and cultural art events are the main reasons we enjoy downtown
SLO, and are extremely important.
Please give meaningful support to cultural arts in our community, particularly the Cultural Arts
District that has great potential to become an important city hub for locals and visitors, a hub
that will in turn benefit the downtown business/retail community. It’s hard to think of a truly
thriving downtown in CA that doesn’t include a healthy, community-supported cultural arts
focus. Thank you for the opportunity to give input.
Please include support for a cultural arts district! As in all major cities, the arts play a crucial
role in our thriving community. Having a lively arts scene also contributes to social wellbeing
and a strong economy.
Please include support for the Cultural Arts District in SLO's Major City Goals. As a newcomer
to SLO, one of the things my husband and I have enjoyed and come to value is the thriving
downtown arts community including the REP, the Art Museum and the summer concerts. The
arts scene draws people to downtown with a corresponding and significant economic benefit.
Please include support for the cultural arts district in the city’s major goals. A thriving art scene
is vital to community well being as well as economically productive. Thank you.
Please include support for the Cultural Arts District in the Major City Goals.
We think it is absolutely top priority for this growing city to commit to cultural opportunities to
attract citizens & visitors to bring them together. We must strengthen a sense of community
with activities for all ages. The city periphery is bringing so many new residents --let's give
them reasons to love SLO and to linger in the heart of this city and not stay at home. People
align when they can enjoy colorful murals, plays, works of art, kids frolicking in museums, etc.
Restaurants and shops flourish thereby, too.
Please include support for the Cultural Arts District in your Major City Goals The Excellence of
its Arts and Music are the Signature of San Luis Obispo and the City is recognized for this all
over the country. If included, the success of the Arts will continue to have a significant
economic impact on our City. Thank you.
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Please include support for the Cultural Arts District in your Major City Goals. A thriving
downtown is defined by community participation in the arts. We are excited about having such
a district in San Luis Obispo!
Please include support for the Cultural Arts District in your major goals. We're from Iowa, for
heaven's sake, and when we travel to California, San Luis Obispo is first on our "visit" list.
The city should be so proud of its Arts District, in particular the collaboration with SLO
Repertory Theatre. Your thriving arts scene is a hallmark of the City, and gives it a well
deserved reputation as a vibrant community. Don't let up!
Please include support for the downtown arts district! The arts are an important piece of
creating the type of environment we want in the city of SLO. One where everyone has a place
and feels included!
Please include support for theCultural Arts District in their Major City Goals. The arts play an
important role in our community. Plus contribute to downtowns economy.
Please include the arts and cultural arts in the City's Major Goals - they benefit people of all
ages!
Please keep the arts as a central and important focus of SLO.
Please keep the completion of SLO Rep's theater and the Arts District a priority.
please please consider incorporating more arts into the downtown SLO scene and even
improving the SLO art museum
Please prioritize arts funding and particularly Cultural Arts District funding. We are presently
looking to move to SLO after visiting for over 30 years. A vibrant arts scene is high on our list
of reasons for choosing SLO.
Please provide funding for the Arts and cultural arts in your budgeting plans for SLO. Having
a vibrant arts program for our citizens is vital for a healthy community. Thanks You
Please provide support for the Cultural Arts District in the Major City Goals. Art brings us
together to enjoy beauty, creativity and human expression.
Please save the arts. The art museum and artist support in this community has been such an
enriching experience. I feel like it brings our community together.
Please support art programming! Our art museum and the events they run are a big draw to
the downtown area. We often eat and shop after the events. It adds another layer of interest
to our community
Please support SLO Rep Theater
Please support SLOMA and local arts.
Please support the arts and cultural district and include it in your major city goals. The arts are
important for the vibrancy of our community. SLOMA is a valued asset to our city.
Please support the arts as one of your goals; having a thriving arts scene makes SLO a more
worthwhile place to be, builds community, and encourages people to explore and visit.
Please support the arts in SLO a vibrant arts scene makes for a vibrant community!!Our
downtown needs a thriving arts scene as a counterweight to the challenges that retail stores
are facing.
· The arts play an important role as a connective tissue in building the kind of community
we want San Luis Obispo to be.
Please support the Cultural Arts centers like SLOMA. My autistic son has very much
benefitted from their classes in the past, and years later, it is still one of the proudest
moments in his life when his artwork was on display in thr museum. Our future generation is
most important. Thank you.
Please support the Cultural Arts District as part of your major goals. The City of San Luis
Obispo needs to support and cherish arts and cultural programming in order to keep our
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community vibrant and welcoming to visitors. As the publisher of SLO Review (sloreview.org) I
see every day the benefits of a thriving arts scene to local children, community-minded adults,
and visitors who want to enjoy local food, beverages, sights, and events that show off the
beautiful work and spirit of our local artists, whether they are chefs, musicians, winemakers,
performers or artists. Please don’t forget the arts! - Charlotte Alexander
Please support the Cultural Arts District in the Major City Goals.
A thriving Arts District will provide a significant economic impact as well as providing greater
social exposure.
Please support the Cultural Arts District in your Major City Goals! The arts are absolutely
integral to the character of San Luis Obispo, and a vibrant arts scene is absolutely necessary
to keep the city thriving. It's a huge part of what sets SLO apart from so many other small to
medium sized cities and to lose sight of that would be a tragedy.
Please support the Cultural Arts District in your major city goals. My entire family always
enjoys the season of performances offerred by SLO Rep. It is an amazing cultural asset of
our community. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Ron and Laurel Viola
Please support the Cultural Arts District! Arts is a vital piece of the economic engine
downtown, and the District provides valuable services to the entire County, not just the City.
Please support the Cultural Arts District. Without a healthy art scene a town like SLO loses
it's charm. I live here, but when traveling always look for a place like home that has a vibrant
music and art scene. Things are harder for my family economically and it seems that
everyone is feeling it - now I see some places are unable to fund the arts and I'd really hate to
see that happen here in SLO. Thank you for your time, Michael Eddy
The following letter was emailed to the Council, but including it here for good measure.
Dear Mayor Stewart and Members of the City Council,
On behalf of the San Luis Coastal Education Foundation, I am writing to express our strong
support for maintaining arts and culture as one of the City of San Luis Obispo’s core priorities
in the updated Major City Goals. As an organization dedicated to leveraging the power of K-
12 public education to build an economically mobile and equitable homegrown talent pipeline,
we recognize the critical role that a thriving arts and culture sector plays in fostering economic
development and community vitality.
Research has consistently shown that investments in arts and culture yield significant
economic and social benefits. According to the Americans for the Arts’ Arts & Economic
Prosperity 5 report, nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences generated
$166.3 billion in economic activity nationwide in 2015, supporting 4.6 million jobs and
generating $27.5 billion in government revenue. On a local level, a robust arts and culture
ecosystem contributes to the vibrancy and uniqueness of our community, making it a more
attractive place to live, work, and invest. This is particularly important as San Luis Obispo
continues to create high-quality jobs aligned with our region’s economic strategy.
Our Education Foundation is deeply committed to fostering economic mobility for the 44% of
socioeconomically disadvantaged students in the San Luis Coastal Unified School District.
These students represent untapped potential, and by pairing high-quality job creation with a
culturally vibrant community, we can encourage them to envision a future where they can
thrive here at home. Research indicates that communities with diverse and thriving cultural
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assets are more likely to retain their young talent, particularly those who value creativity,
innovation, and connection. For example, a study by the Knight Foundation and Gallup found
that “social offerings,” which include arts and cultural opportunities, are among the top factors
that attach people to their communities.
As the city updates its Major City Goals, we urge you to recognize arts and culture not just as
an amenity but as a foundational element of economic and community development. By
prioritizing and investing in this sector, San Luis Obispo can:
- Encourage Youth Retention: A vibrant cultural scene enhances quality of life and provides
young people with compelling reasons to stay, live, and work in their hometown.
- Support Workforce Development: Arts and culture contribute to the development of
creativity and critical thinking—skills essential for the jobs of the future.
- Promote Equity and Inclusion: Cultural programs and public art initiatives can reflect and
celebrate the diverse experiences of all community members, fostering a sense of belonging
and unity.
Our foundation stands ready to collaborate with the city and other community partners to
ensure that arts and culture remain a central priority in shaping the future of San Luis Obispo.
Together, we can build a community where every student, regardless of socioeconomic
background, has the opportunity to thrive in a culturally rich and economically dynamic
environment.
Thank you for your leadership and commitment to making San Luis Obispo a place where
creativity, innovation, and opportunity flourish. We look forward to supporting the city’s efforts
to sustain arts and culture as a cornerstone of our collective success.
Sincerely,
Christine Robertson
Executive Director
San Luis Coastal Education Foundation
With the improvements to Mission Plaza, add attractions for a children's play area so that
families have a reason to spend time in MP and have a fun break area downtown
Xxoo
Zone for business on the street level topped by apartments and low cost high density housing
projects
San Luis Obispo is poised to become a major arts destination. We would like the council to
expedite approval and grant a few waiver for the Creekside Art Walk along the entire east
facing facade of SLO Gallery. Also, there was previous support among the city council for a
banner spanning Broad Street near the museum that would say Cultural Arts District. What
happened to that proposal?
San Luis Obispo needs a vibrant Cultural Arts District to bring people downtown every night of
the week. Theatre, Music, Visual Arts are what make a city thrive. A lively arts scene can
have a significant economic impact on our city.
San Luis Obispo would be bereft were it not to support their cultural arts...the Art museum,
SLO Rep, Children's Museum, History Museum, all of which are essential to the vibrancy of
this city. The city's cultural arts and programs are also important to the many surrounding
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communities, not to forget visitors as well who flock to the central coast for the many
amenities that this region has to offer.
Slo Arts and Culture District
SLO Arts Cultural District!!!
SLO needs a vibrant arts community to maintain its status as a premier, livable city on the
central coast. Arts provide connection for young and old, all economic segments and multiple
ethnicities. Arts also support the downtown economy in general by drawing people downtown
who spend at our restaurants and shops while in town. Please support investment in the arts
such as the developing cultural arts corridor with its new and growing theatres and museums.
Thank you.
Stop with the 2 hour limit parking.
I hear people in my store all the time saying they have to leave because they can’t add more
time to their meter. They’re shopping around after lunch and forced to leave. It does not help
our businesses and lively-ness around town.
SLO REP is a crucial element of creating a vibrant arts community in SLO. Please continue
to support the development of the new theatre and know that our investment will help all
members of our community, especially the businesses in SLO that will see more foot traffic,
more tourism and better quality employees willing to move here with high quality theatre
available to all.
Increase hours of public transit to downtown to match restaurant employee hours.
Help people who park in the parking garages know what floor they are on by indicating floor
numbers in the stairwells (idea for Parking Services).
Keep the free parking days during the holidays and continue investing in new holiday lights in
Mission Plaza and around downtown. Also, more public art installations!
Lower parking rates. Bring back free parking after 6pm.
Support a strong representation of the arts in our community including the San Luis Obispo
Museum of Art.
· A vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy community.
· A thriving Cultural Arts District will deliver significant economic impact and contribute to
social well-being.
· Thriving downtowns generally have an array of arts offerings driving economic vitality.
· Our downtown needs a thriving arts scene as a counterweight to the challenges that retail
stores are facing.
· The arts play an important role as a connective tissue in building the kind of community
we want San Luis Obispo to be.
Support for the arts should be on the priority list. Cultural institutions are vital to a community.
Downtown needs more cultural attractions to remain vital and relevant.
Lower taxes for purchasing products in our city.
Make it easier to drive into town to do business, shop, and dine. My elderly relatives, and
friends no longer go downtown due to parking and driving being more difficult.
Reduction of parking rates for customers of city businesses. It’s hard to purchase large items
when riding a bike. I’m a bicyclist, but I don’t purchase as much biking as when i have my
car.
I don’t go to dinner as often on my bike, i like to drive with friends and family to go out to eat.
Support the arts! Having a vibrant art scene is a vital part of who we are as a community 😊
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Support the cultural arts district. A thriving Cultural Arts District will deliver significant
economic impact and contribute to social well-being.
Support the cultural scene, art district and Sloma, Art plays an important role in a community,
it opens up minds and is especially needed in these scary times , brings serenity and Hope
Parking makes me prefer to eat out of downtown. Amplified by the cost of parking and
requirements to pay through 9pm.
Why are we paying for parking 6-9pm? Don’t you want to encourage more people to come
downtown ?
Supporting and expanding the downtown Cultural and Arts programs are very important to a
thriving and healthy community. The Downtown can't just be retail; bringing people together
through cultural performances and the performing arts helps support economic stability.
Support for the Cultural Arts District needs to be a part of the overall city plan.
Supporting the arts and the cultural arts district is crucial to the health of downtown. The arts,
and in particular the SLO Museum of Art and SLO REP, both benefit the emotional health of
the community but can be key economic drivers as well. I'm disappointed that this was not
even an option to be ranked in the Downtown and Economic Development section.
Supporting the arts in downtown slo attracts tourists and locals alike and helps every
business gain more foot traffic.
Supporting the Cultural Arts District will allow San Luis Obispo to stand out as a vibrant and
unique city, showcasing art as a powerful way to celebrate our community's creativity.
Additionally, fostering the arts will promote the healthy, creative development of our children,
ensuring they thrive in a supportive environment.
The arts (visual, performing, etc.) are important for areas that are thriving and building
community rather than just surviving.
The Arts are a necessary, ongoing communication in our community and through time. They
offer a path of connecting and seeing each other in new ways- heart opening relationships
that are vital to a healthy community. Visual and Performance Arts are critical to enhancing
that unique creative spark in us all, as well as facilitating welcome arms to tourists. Please
support the Cultural Arts District in your Major City Goals. Thank you.
The Arts are critical to the economic growth of a vibrant downtown and adjacent areas. The
Arts are why many people visit a community. The Arts support diversity. The Arts inspire
everyone from youth to elderly. We need more affordable studio space. More grants for start
ups. Grants for art for youth.
The arts are vitally important to our family. My kids thrive on music and theater and have
learned about self expression via these arts. My husband and I love to attend plays at the
SLO REP Theater and often we bring our children along too. We hope that you will keep the
arts as a main focus as it brings such beautiful life to our community.
The arts district is a vital piece of the downtown SLO puzzle and every effort should be made
to improve and promote the area and it's direct connection to Mission Plaza
THE ARTS IN DOWNTOWN AND SLO IN GENERAL. I cannot believe there aren't any
selectable impact areas shown to choose that include the arts. SLOMA is a gift and should be
supported vigorously.
The arts play an important role as a connective tissue in building the kind of community we
want San Luis Obispo to be.
The arts play an important role as a connective tissue in building the kind of community we
want San Luis Obispo to be. A vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy community.
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The arts play an important role as a connective tissue in building the kind of community we
want San Luis Obispo to be. PLEASE SUPPORT THE ARTS FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL
DOWNTOWN.
The arts!!
The city needs to support the cultural arts district. This is so important to the development of
the Ken business as well and attracts visitors to our city thank you.
Reduce homelessness downtown and provide more affordable parking.
The city should consider eliminating or reducing parking fees downtown to make the area
more accessible and encourage more foot traffic to local businesses. High parking costs deter
residents and visitors, and offering free or low-cost parking would create a more welcoming
environment.
The cultural arts are so important to a vital downtown SLO! The visual and performing arts
are such a big part of the personality of our community. They bring the humor, the whimsy,
the laughter, the charm, the mystery, the "Aha!" moments, the sense of wonder, and the
connection to our community. It's a huge part of what makes visitors say, "Gee, I wish I lived
HERE! Let's at least come back and visit again soon!" We are so fortunate to have a
community with many talented artists and performers. The goals and priorities of our city
should reflect this vital part of our character and our economy.
To achieve downtown vitality and economic development, get rid of paid parking and you’ll
have a lot more people coming downtown spending money.
The equation for true Economic vitality in a downtown is a healthy mix of retail, cultural
spaces and housing. Ensuring that young artists can afford to live here is the foundation of a
cultural arts district. A Both and approach of protecting tenants, ensuring habitually so people
are in safe, secure housing and capping the rent means our artists can live, work and create
in downtown.
It doesn’t seem right that the non profit downtown SLO organization is needing to raise
money for a clean and safe program when our city should be charged w this. Why can’t the
city prioritize its spending on having a clean and safe ?
The Mission and the Cultural Arts District are, and will continue to be, the heart of downtown
San Luis Obispo. It is where locals young and old gather to enjoy music, the theater, learn of
their history, and experience the visual arts regional and national. It is a cultural resource
unmatched for a community of our size. At the same time it is a magnet for tourists who
search out the cultural center of a community to begin their exploration of our area and create
the financial impact that their visit will have on our economy. Please do not neglect the
importance of the Cultural Arts District on your long-term planning.
Dennis Schneider
The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art is vital to the community. And should be included in the
Economic Development Plan. It has been a draw for local residents and visitors for decades.
It is a symbol of what San Luis Obispo represents. My children growing up attended the
summer arts program for years. Those classes and visiting the museum regularly inspired our
daughter to major in the Arts in college. It would be shameful to not support the museum that
has been a fabric in our city.
The whole city would benefit from more robust arts offerings. The council’s support of efforts
to build a new theatre seem smart, especially since private dollars are being raised.
More support for the History Center and art museum would draw even more foot traffic to
downtown from people other than college students looking for cheap eats and beer.
There was always a thriving arts scene when I was growing up in San Luis Obispo. As an
adult I now work very successfully in the arts and it's thanks to what I was saw and the
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opportunities I had as a kid. At a time when people are becoming more isolated and
polarised, the arts bring people together. They also bring in money. A thriving Cultural Arts
District will not only deliver significant economic impact, but contribute to social well-being in
the area.
This council has been terrific in supporting the arts. We're lucky you cast a holistic eye as to
what makes a community health. Please retain that frame in your Major City Goals.
This message is for the council members. Your current plan for city goals DOES NOT
INCLUDE FUNDS FOR THE ARTS DISTRICT. A thriving arts district will provide significant
economic benefits and add additional social opportunities, providing a healthy community.
Please add the Cultural Arts District to your major goals for '25-'27.
A long time resident 36 years - Bette Kulp
Thriving downtowns generally have an array of arts offerings driving economic vitality.
Keep it clean and green, literally with plants, healthy shrubs, flowers, trees.
I hope that you will include the arts in your major city goals.
I agree with the following sentiments:
A vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy community.
· A thriving Cultural Arts District will deliver significant economic impact and contribute to
social well-being.
· Thriving downtowns generally have an array of arts offerings driving economic vitality.
· Our downtown needs a thriving arts scene as a counterweight to the challenges that retail
stores are facing.
· The arts play an important role as a connective tissue in building the kind of community
we want San Luis Obispo to be.
Thank you.
I write in support of investing in SLO's Cultural Arts District. This district contributes to our
community connectivity, drives economic resilience in our downtown area and continues to
create spaces for our diversity community to find themselves.
We are so grateful for the City’s current investment in the downtown’s arts and culture vitality.
This should be just the beginning as we work together to bring true vibrancy and community
through the arts
We live in Pismo Beach and travel to downtown SLO several times a month for entertainment
and enlightenment. We appreciate the many arts programs available to us here, especially
SLO Rep, SLOMA and the Cal Poly PAC, and love the creation of an arts district - it should be
an ongoing goal of the city. Like many of our friends and so many of our houseguests, the arts
are the "draw" for us, but we accompany those with shopping and lunch or dinner out each
time, thus supporting the business sector as well.
We must include support for the Cultural Arts District!!! Having the arts downtown is critical to
both engaging our local community and attracting people from afar. A key social and
economic issue.
We need a vibrant downtown, and a key component of it must be the Arts. The arts enthuse
the young and satisfy the old. Arts bring people (and their money) into the
community.
We need to support the Arts District downtown. This is an important part of a vibrant
community and something we always look for when we travel.
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We urge the City Council to include support for the Cultural Arts District in their Major City
Goals for 2025-2027. The arts play a critical role as a connective tissue in building the kind of
community we all want San Luis Obispo to be. A thriving Cultural Arts District will deliver
significant economic impact to the city and contribute to the social well-being of its citizens.
Please consider this as you finalize the Major City Goals for the upcoming timeframe.
What happened to the arts in these goals? For many of us who live in outlying areas, the arts
are what bring us downtown and we support our wonderful "big city" by visiting restaurants
and shops while we're there! Please have a goal to continue work on creating an "arts district"
that will keep our city dynamic and provide illuminating experiences for all of us.
When I think about what makes SLO so special, it is access to cultural arts and the exciting
plans for a cultural arts district. I have watched how SLOMA has experienced a rebirth under
new leadership, and continues to be an attraction of downtown SLO.
The plans to build a new SLO Rep are also exciting, bringing increased locals and tourists to
the downtown area. And wow! How spectacular the Arts District can look with this
transformation.
I believe a thriving arts scene is essential to a healthy and vibrant community. It will deliver
significant economic impact and contribute to social connections in our community. Our
downtown deserves a thriving arts scene! Please support the Cultural Arts District in your
major city goals for 2025.
Increasing Tenant and Evictions Protections allows downtown employees to live and work
downtown which means vibrant neighborhoods in downtown. Make Tenant Protections a
major city goal
Without the Cultural Arts District....what will you have?! Not much.
Please include support for the Cultural Arts District in your Major City Goals.
A vibrant arts scene keeps the community healthy & happy & attractive to visitors.
Would love to see you support the Cultural Arts District downtown. We are so excited
to see a new theater for SLO Rep which would benefit and community and bring in a lot of
economic growth for our businesses downtown. PLEASE add the arts to your goals for 2025
and beyond. Our community needs them, and will benefit from them. Debbie Wacker
WOW, we just learned the 2025-2027 Major city Goals do not include support for the Cultural
Arts District. We believe continued support for the District certainly should be considered a
Major City Goal, since the Arts District will be an even greater source of economic power
through this period. The new parking structure and new SLOREP Theater, combined with
expanded exhibitions at SLOMA, are leading the way to make SLO a true destination, driving
increased economic activity throughout the city.
WTF?! W here’s our existing goal of Cultural Vitality?
With all of our empty storefronts and the unlikely return of major retail, the city needs to
support arts groups in ensuring economic viability in attracting people to our downtown.
Facilitate convos between building owners and nonprofit arts groups. Explore lending options
to make new downtown arts presence a reality.
For the love of God, help our souls get through the next 4 years.
Don’t let these empty building owners get away with making $$ BECAUSE they’re empty.
Impose a vacancy tax. Retail is not coming back. Make it harder for those building to sit
empty.
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Yes! Cultural Arts District is the right idea. That and the library are the only reasons I will visit
downtown in the future--and I've lived here most of my life.
Increasing vacant properties are an existential issue for the downtown business district.
Oftentimes these properties are vacant because rent is too high. Is it possible to impose
penalties of some sort to property owners whose downtown commercial properties remain
vacant for too long of a period of time? This would encourage property owners to adjust rents
accordingly to attract and promote a diverse downtown business environment.
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Fiscal Sustainability
Stop spending so much money on bicycle lanes and protected bike lanes, reconfiguring
roads, and stop sign intersections, we don’t need 12 warning signs at one intersection, like
near the corner of Monterey and Toro !!
That intersection with 12 signs that say the same thing is totally ridiculous. Six signs for going
north that say the same thing and six signs if you’re heading south , let’s say the same thing.
Explain to the public the CalPers situation.
With employee salary negotiations coming up, I would urge you to maintain budget neutrality.
I understand that employee compensation will rise per employee, but we cannot afford to take
a huge hit here. Unfortunately, there may have to be some trimming of the workforce in order
to achieve this goal.
Maintain what is in place before bringing in more and new.
To fund a work program that creates a rental registry, modernizes health and safety
requirements for rental properties, and strengthens eviction protections, revenue sources you
should consider include:
o Fees on residential and commercial buildings that sit vacant for extended periods to offset
sales tax losses and the cost of ongoing police and fire protection
o Transfer fees on high-end properties, both residential and commercial
o Tax domiciles not occupied by owners at a substantially higher rate
Reduce the budget for all non essential services expenses by 5%. Essential services are
police, fire, water, sewer. All other activities can be done with less.
Its tough, but we can do it. Use the surplus to reduce our debt and pension liabilities.
Raising taxes is not an option. We already have one of the highest tax rates burdening or
local businesses, who are a main source of our revenue.
Invest year-end carry-over into capital projects to limit debt financing
Tax the rich
Cut city staff positions. You are bloated.
Spend less on aesthetic public works projects and invest more in repairing the infrastructure
that needs repair. Reduce greenways and bike path projects.
Expand existing Business license/business tax program to require listing the addresses of
ALL rental properties owned by a property owner & charge a business tax for each address.
Requiring landlords to list all properties AND charging the tax per address would provide
more revenue to the city - also it would allow the same fee to be paid per property regardless
if the owner had one rental or twenty. The fee could be lowered while increasing overall
revenue.
Is this cities employee base right sized?
Divest any funds from harmful institutions (fossil fuels, militarization, the prison industrial
complex, etc)
Expand existing business license/tax to require listing of ALL rental properties owned by a
property owner and charge a business tax for each address which will provide more revenue
to the city.
Ensure that the City’s investment portfolio continues to implement ESG screening criteria and
prioritize reducing exposure to fossil-fuel companies.
Bike park is a great way to include the local community around an all inclusive park
Develop a supplier scorecard that measures their delivery to quote. Areas to measure include
quality of work, delivery to schedule, and cost. Scorecard impacts future work.
Implement penalties to contractors for delayed project completion. Including but not limited to
blocking from future projects.
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Reduce police budget
Incorporating cost of orcutt area park as a priority when planning for the future.
Instead of investing SLO City Funds w/ southern California Finance Managers, start a City
owned & Managed Bank which makes secured loans to build & improve homes and business
structures in the City only, make money for the City, grow housing stock and keep funds local.
Partner with local non profits doing the work to achieve major city goals
Move faster with projects to increase the impact of our spend. Delayed projects cost more
with inflation and more project management. Less planning, more action.
To address the shrinking federal funds for affordable housing, increase Tenant Protections to
keep renters in safe, secure affordable housing. This also avoids the high cost of losing
employees due to the exorbitant rent.
Drop CalPERS as a benefit and go to a 401k style plan that takes the long term burden off the
city.
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Infrastructure and Sustainable/Multi-Modal Transportation
As a biker in SLO I cannot appreciate the bike lanes enough. Absolutely incredible to see the
protection of riders. However, the amount of variation in bike lane styles is genuinely
confusing for both bikes and cars. I sometimes feel it is safer and more clear to cars to just
stay on the right side of the lane rather than be weaving through a moving bike lane. Again,
no matter what, cannot appreciate the SLO bike lanes enough!!!
Connect the Madonna bike path to downtown under the freeway with a safe bike path.
Connect the Madonna bike path to downtown with a fully-paved, well-lit, wider path, providing
a safe and welcoming connection between Madonna Rd and downtown.
Do not put any more protected bike planes in the city and don’t reconfigure roads so you have
to park in the middle of the street.
Feels in many ways like the recently updated streets are less safe due to thinner lanes and
bike lane transitions especially in areas like the entry to Target in San Luis Obispo. Also, on
downtown side street transitions can be very confusing & especially when there are large
trucks there is very little room to manuever making it even more hazardous for both cars AND
bike riders. In spite of emphasis on bike lanes residents are by far using their vehicles more
especially downtown and other retail areas & many of the changes are making it more difficult
for vehicular traffic. Before investing more time & money into these types of changes in high
traffic locations there should be an in-depth review and understanding of the actual usage.
The car vs bike riding ratio seems to be about 99% car vs 1% bike/pedestrian usage and the
updates are very focused on bikes/pedestrian.
I like the new striping on Johnson Ave, and would still feel much safer in protected bike lanes.
North Chorro Greenway is great. What about Tank Farm Rd? Some better night lighting at
bus stops would also help.
More protected bike lanes especially something for So Higuera and for Madonna rd over the
freeway please.
More protected bike lanes, reduce speed limits
NO MORE BIKE LANES RUINING STREETS
Prioritize bike and public transit infrastructure
Protected bike lanes.
Stop putting in bike lanes, adding curbs and other hostile architecture. Unless you ride in the
bike lane, "voting" for a protected one does not "protect" bikes. As a cyclist myself, I feel
SAFER riding with traffic that I know can see me. Also, while I do love my bike, I don't need
to ride it to work. The traffic that SLO has created from these bike lanes is excessive and
seems to be done for the tourist/visitors, not the residents. Residents know where to ride.
Also, the new medians in the roadways are dangerous and should have been installed better
(Johnson Ave).
Stop removing city streets and replacing it with bike lines.
Stop the confusing bike lane madness
Street repairs for Sacramento Street
Want to emphasize the great work n making the city more pedestrian and bike friendly. Still
some ways to go! Higuera needs more bike infrastructure between Santa Rosa and California
to protect cyclists.
We need another east-west bike/ped connector between Broad and South Higuera. Please
initiate discussions with the Garcia Family for a multiuse pathway connecting the eastern
terminus of Prado to Broad Street. This connector is needed to achieve the 20 percent trips-
by-bike goal.
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Work with the county to build a safe bike path from the Vons/MindBody area to the SLO
Public Market/Trader Joes area.
La Loma Adobe house is the oldest adobe house in San Luis Obispo county. Allocate
sufficient funds to finish rebuilding it.
Continue and expand the dredging operations for Laguna Lake and efforts to slow additional
sedimentation. At this date, having the capacity of the lake maintained and increased has to
be considered a necessity to fight wildfires, in addition to its environmental, recreational and
visual mental health benefits.
Continue to dredge Laguna Lake on a annual basis
Laguna Golf Course is in need of very modest expenditures to install the washed-out bridge
and repair the out-of-service Clubhouse, the cost of which is covered by insurance.
Please attend to deficiencies at Laguna Lake Golf Course. The clubhouse has languished for
a number of years. The bridge, especially, needs replacement.
Please consider actions required at Laguna Golf Course, the “lungs” of SLO.
Build Pickleball courts at Laguna Lakes
Construct Pickleball Courts at Laguna Lake Park!?
I would like to see more pickleball courts built before I'm too old to play
More pickle ball courts!
Permanent and lighted pickleball courts
Pickleball courts
With the increase interests in pickleball, we definitely need more permanent pickleball courts
in the area.
Citywide speed limit of 25 mph. Environmental benefits, safety benefits, and makes biking a
more reasonable way to commute.
Concentrate on the cultural district improvements and maintenance
Fund the replacement of the bridge on the Laguna Lake Golf Course.
How many more lighted pedestrian signs do we need?! Monterey Street looks awful! Plus,
since they blink constantly, they are going to "cry wolf" and make people stop
looking/watching. I think pedestrians can push a button if they want lights. All of the road
"improvements" are excessive, and it makes our town look like we're incapable of driving.
The streets are an obstacle course!
I am in support of the Short Range Transit Plan and Active Transportation Plan, however, i
would like to see more of a data driven approach to these transportation plans. There is an
opportunity to tie transit to flexible density, which would help alleviate our housing crisis.
I would like to see a priority with much better street lighting across the city, adding a protected
bike intersection at Santa Rosa and Foothill, and safety improvements to Foothill.
I would REALLY appreciate a separated walking/bike lane that goes along Tank Farm road. I
see people walking/biking on the shoulder quite often, and the road is quite narrow. There are
also very few street lights, making it even more dangerous. If there was a separated
bike/walking path I also think it would be really enjoyable to walk along
I wrote a letter last year encouraging the city to prioritize the Tier 1 ATP goal of building a
second Railroad Bike/Pedestrian Bridge at Woodbridge or Francis St. With the Hybrid Beacon
at Broad/Woodbridge and the improved bike infrastructure as part of the Higuera St
improvement project there is going to be a greater demand for east-west bicycle transport
across the city. Currently for people trying to cross the railroad tracks (say for example to go
from Meadow Park or South Higuera going towards Shinshimer Park to watch a SLO Blues
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game) the only options are to ride to the railroad station or down to Orcutt - both significant
detours. I believe this is a project worth prioritizing.
Improve safe sustainable transportation with protected bike lands.
Include the unique features of e-bikes in the design of cycling infrastructure. Don't force them
into narrow, slow moving protected bike lanes and protected intersections. Greenways are
great!
Increase public art in parks
Invest in more facilities for older youths - the city has a lot of playgrounds for young children,
but not many spaces for tweens and teens to enjoy and have fun.
More public gym/ workout equipment like at Emerson park
Open space should be about public access. Not "conservatation" and keeping people out of
their public lands
Please reduce traffic congestion for working families that need to drive their kids and elderly
relatives to school, sports and appointments.
We’ve done enough to make it difficult to drive and do business in this city. People are
avoiding the city now in growing numbers. Stop spending money “improving” our
transportation. Lets see if our businesses will come back to generate revenue before we
spend any more or tax anymore.
Please stop with the roundabouts and pedestrian crossings (I.e. Foothill). They barely work
and people don’t use them properly. Roundabouts (like on Cerro Romauldo) are terrible for
large vehicles and many don’t use them properly. Speed bumps are a waste of taxpayer
money as people still speed.
Pls focus in repairing and maintaining our roads over the over obsession with bike paths.
Provide support to the maintenance and expansion of the Profumo Creek restoration and
enhancement project by working with creeklands.org and it’s manager to encourage
community volunteer activity and staffing for open hours to allow hiking and bicycling use of
the trails going along the creek
Ramp up bike lanes at Laguna Lake and trails. Make the piers workable for all abilities.
Increase boating on the lake! Promote public option for kayak rental, etc.
Regularly clear debris from the protected bike lanes.
Remove anti-homeless measures such as bench middle dividers and hostile architecture
Staff a “director of trails” to oversee bike, hike, equestrian trail planning development and
maintenance in coordination with state and local leaders and trail focused organizations
This is a time to maintain what is in place before bringing in new. Many projects can wait but
preparing for natural disasters cannot wait. Caring for the people who live here now cannot
wait.
To have the city work more closely with the county to improve safety the major east/west
corridor of Tank Farm Road for bicycles & pedestrian safety, which would coordinate nicely
with the upcoming south Higuera road improvements and Broad to Orcutt road improvements
Calm traffic on Broad street between South and Orcutt roads. Support vision Zero goals on
this dangerous segment. Help residents in adjoining neighborhoods get safely across Broad
street on foot or bike to destinations, on north side of Broad. Add protected/buffered bike
lanes along broad and at min one additional signal for safer crossing.
Continue to support and fund the South Broad Street Corridor Project
I live off of Broad St between South and Orcutt. I have lived there for 10 years and during
that time there have been many homes built in my neighborhood and along the railroad area.
This all creates additional traffic coming onto Broad st which requires cars to feed through the
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center median.
In addition, the new home developments south of Orcutt/Rigetti etc mean there are many
more people using Broad st to get downtown.
We need improvements for routing traffic and people across Broad St - center dividers, traffic
lights etc. It should be a requirement for these new housing projects to fund safety
improvements to the main feeder roads that link the neighborhoods to downtown.
Not sure if this goes under this category, but prioritize the Broad Street corridor traffic calming
and safety measures please for our drivers, bikers and walkers!
Support the broad street corridor plan for traffic calming.
Being work on Righetti Ranch park.
Build more parks. Specifically the one that was promised in Righetti Ranch.
Build out the Righetti Ranch park as promised. So many community members are relying on
it and Islay Park never has parking and is always packed.
Build Righetti Ranch Park
Build the promised Righetti Park ASAP
Build the Righetti Park!
Complete the Righetti Ranch parks that we were promised!
Continued work on the Righetti Ranch park.
Finally finish building the Righetti Ranch Parks that were promised.
I feel so bad for all the young families in the Righetti Ranch neighborhood. They moved here
with the promise of the soon to come pocket parks and larger sports park. It’s been far too
long. Please give these people a place to take their small children to play even if it’s ahead of
the larger schedule of plans.
I would like to see the Righetti Park project moved up in priority. The children in our
neighborhood don’t have access to a park without crossing a major street, so they end up
playing in the road. The roads aren’t safe in the neighborhood because of fast and distracted
drivers. The kids deserve a safe play to play within walking distance like the rest of the SLO
community does.
I would like to see the Righetti/Tiberon Park project moved up in priority. My kids need a safe
place to play and the closest parks are all across major, busy streets. Our kids need a safe
place to play within walking distance before they are too old to enjoy a park.
I would love for the city to prioritize the park at Rhigetti. I have lived in the neighborhood for
over 3 years, but there has been no progress. The neighborhoods surrounding the proposed
park are PACKED with kids, yet they have nowhere to play. The house lots are very small and
the kids have to play in the street. Please build the park we thought would be there years ago.
Thank you!
I’d love to see the Righetti Park project moved up higher in priority. Noveno neighborhood
kids don't have access to a park area without crossing a major street, so they play in the
roads where many drivers are speeding around not paying attention or expecting children to
be near the roads.
Let's get as much of the park put in asap please. It's part of why we moved here.
Make Righetti Ranch park a priority
Make Righetti Ranch Park a priority as was promised 6+ years ago. This community has
brought in a significant increase in budget from property taxes!
Make Righetti Ranch Park a priority!!
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Make Righetti Ranch park a priority.
Make righetti ranch parks a priority
Make the Righetti Ranch park a priority
Please build Righetti ranch park
Please build Righetti Ranch Park!
Please build the parks at Righetti Ranch. We bought our home almost 6 years ago. At that
time, the sales office told us the developers were given the money to the City to build the
parks. It’s been stalled and delayed all these years. If it had been built when the money was
given to the City there wouldn’t be this big financial deficit. Something isn’t right. Was the
money used for something else? Please get it built in 2025.
Please build the promised park at righetti ranch. It was a major selling point of buying there
and it is wrong to not build it!
Please complete Righetti Ranch Park. We moved here 5 years ago and not one park/pocket
park/garden has "broke" ground. The best we can get over here is weed abatement that we
have to often request. We have so many kids in this community that the San Luis coastal
unified School district is planning on moving the boundary from Los Ranchos to Sinnshimer
School because of overpopulation in Los Ranchos. Needless to say we have a large
community of families and children that need a safe space to play within our own
neighborhood. We were promised it would only take one to two years when we first moved in.
My kids were 8 and 5 years old at the time, they are now 13 and 10 years old. I would really
like to see this park built before my kids graduate high school. It would be great to connect
the community and the huge development. It's hard to sit back and not voice our frustration,
when we see new developments with their completed parks like Avila Ranch and San Luis
Ranch already in place. Seems this was a missed opportunity to require our developer to
complete the park before turning over the financial responsibility to the City of SLO. I'm sure
there are a thousand reasons, but in the end, it just needs to get done. I really don't want to
come back in 5 years to repeat this same sentiment. Thanks for your consideration.
Please finish the Righetti Ranch Parks. It’s been a really long time coming. It would be
appreciated if it was made a priority. Thank you.
Please focus on the park in the Righetti Ranch area (Tiburon Street). When we purchased
our home, we were promised a park, but my kids have since graduated and are off to college.
So as we age we would love a safe, neighborhood to remain active.
Please prioritize building the Righetti Ranch park. We have lived in the neighborhood for over
five years and were promised this park by the developer. Our kids are getting older!
Please prioritize parks in Righetti Ranch! This new development has brought in many new
families with young children in addition to increased property tax.
Please prioritize parks in the Orcutt area, specifically Righetti ranch park. There are SO many
kids who have lived here for 5 years now anticipating this park. It will be utilized greatly and
improve the safety of our community so kids aren’t playing in the street.
Please prioritize the park in Righetti. We have lived in the Noveno neighborhood since 2020
and have three young kids. We purchased here in part to have a local park within walking
distance. There are no culdesacs in these neighborhoods and we are all desperate to have a
safe place for our kids to play. Even if the park is built in phases that’s ok. Start with a play
structure or a splash pad at least. Thank you.
Please put in the 8 pickleball courts in the Righetti Ranch neighborhood. 350, tax paying
members of the SLO pickleball club have agreed to assist with fundraising to make up funds
required in addition to the money already contributed by the developer to the project.
Please keep your word on a project that was agreed upon several years ago. I am also a
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resident in the Righetti neighborhood. This sport is growing exponentially and the City of SLO
needs to facilitate more courts for this sport which will only enhance the well being of many
SLO residents.
Thank you.
Please start construction on the park at righetti ranch. There are so many kids in this
neighborhood with no park to play at and they end up playing in the streets, which is not safe
bc it’s a highly trafficked neighborhood. We have been promised a park for years and nothing
has happened. All the kids will be full grown by the time it’s implemented. Not enough
basketball or pickleball courts in town to accommodate people.
Please turn the dirt lot in Righetti Ranch into the promised park. So many homeowners
bought in this area for the promise of this park for our kids. The dirt lot is making
tumbleweeds that are going into our court and scratching cars instead.
Please work on the park in the Righetti Ranch, South Morros, and Noveno new
developments.
Prioritize Righetti Ranch Park
Prioritize the Righetti Ranch Park system and start construction in the summer of 2025.
Righetti ranch needs its park!
Righetti Ranch Parks
Start and complete the Righetti parks.
Start building the “orcutt area” parks off tiburon before costs go up even more!
Start the park build at Righetti Ranch. Families moved into this neighborhood 5+ years ago
with a park promised. Currently, the area is used for car donuts and not safe for the
community to enjoy.
Start/Finish the RRR Park, a project that was promised 6 years ago once all the houses were
built. The Prado bridge is a waste of money. People can drive an extra mile via Madonna to
get to the other side. This project makes no sense at all. Would rather see any money
earmarked for this to go to homeless projects.
The building of the Righetti Ranch park is essential. With the number of people living around
this new area, especially with the addition of the low income housing units, there needs to be
a place for people and their families to go to enjoy recreation. Islay park and French park
have already become impacted by the development of these new homes. We just need the
basics of a park and it needs to begin as soon as possible. Families have been waiting 5-6
years with the promise of a recreation space.
The park for the Righetti community is of utmost importance. There are so many families
living in this newly built community and we need a place for the kiddos and families to play.
Thank you.
The Righetti Ranch park, that is. Thanks, much. Our kids were 5 and 8. Now they're 8 and 10.
We've joked that it wouldn't happen till they were out of school, but it's getting less funny with
each passing year.
The Righetti Ranch parked that was promised over 5 years ago
We need the park at Righetti Ranch! We have been waiting YEARS for this project. Walking
past that huge empty field full of weeds is depressing when I know we should be seeing a
park full of SLO residents enjoying the amenities that we have been promised.
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Ensure roadways are wide enough to accomplish a mass evacuation. Physical barriers in the
roadway prevent that.
I would like to see wildfire hardening of residential homes put into the city code— mandate or
incentivize homeowners to harden their homes against fire.
Please keep the needs of the elderly, infirm and the disabled at the forefront of all public
safety, emergency and evacuation planning and responses.
Work with Cal Fire, Cal Trans, parks/resources agencies, private contractors, etc. to create
and implement a comprehensive fuel reduction plan for the Wildland Urban Interface areas
around the City. Areas like the San Luis Drive / SLO High area all the way down Johnson to
Orcutt Rd as well as Cal Poly, the Foothill neighborhoods and many others are in significant
wildfire risk areas. Consider the purchase and implementation of masticators, tracked
chippers, curtain burners etc. for the purpose of fuel reduction. Utilize grants and state
funding where possible. Manpower is available though the State via Cal Fire hand crew
project contracting.
Enforce bicycle traffic laws, like riding at night with lights, riding on the wrong side of the
street, and riding on sidewalks.
I believe motorists behave carelessly because they do not see the consequences. Making
public (at the scene, on City email distribution, etc) those consequences might offer the
opportunity to change habits and attitudes. Bad guys need attention. Others need attention to
avoid becoming bad guys. I support more visibility through greater staffing for officers on the
road enforcing traffic law (and a little data crunching and transparency and the money that
requires). Thank you!
Increase speed limit patrols.
Public safety should have been the first step in improving bike and pedestrian safety. Policing
should have been done to enforce driving rules and regulations. What the transportation
committee has done to our streets is unfortunate, and while we cannot remove the stop signs,
roundabouts and protected bike lanes, we should use our police force to regulate distracted
drivers, not continue to add road hazards.
Get rid of the homeless mentally unwell people that hang out downtown.
Add red light cameras to major intersections.
Another vote for additional Community Service Officers to help with noise abasement
Cancel construction of the new PD building. Spend that money elsewhere.
Finish building station five!!
Have free 24/7 escort services for our LGBTQ+/trans community members available?
I believe they probably feel the least safe in public these days.
Help citizens know who to contact when there is a homeless person sleeping outside one's
door or rummaging through one's trash/adding to it or acting ill or may be dead/on verge of
death. I had to call 911 once and the fire truck came and roused the person, then left. Was
that the right response? I'm not sure what rights belong to whom. I'm not sure what response
is effective. Please help the public know how to handle homeless conflicts and incidents with
sensitive accuracy and humane effectiveness.
Increase access to emergency health services for students!
Increase police force to focus on growing crime in SLO.
Increase trauma-informed outreach, prioritizing housing and basic services over
criminalization.
Initiate a program to send homeless individuals back to areas where their family is located.
Ventura started a program where any homeless individuals contacted by police or fire are
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asked if they would like to or need help getting back to their own community. If they say yes
then a team is contacted to relocate the individual closer to their family support network.
Keep criminals in jail.
Limit the expansion of Law enforcement infrastructure--especially surveillance infrastructure.
restructure public health/social service functions to non-LE agencies.
Reduce homelessness and drug addiction.
Replace police and fire vehicles with EVs to save money long term.
Stop selective enforcement. ie. not citing homeless/addicts but citing only people who are
able to pay fines.
Two (2) Community Service Officers dedicated to weekend noise abasement.
When we have a place to call home, we feel safety. When we have healthy food to eat, we
feel well. When we belong, we feel community. This is my dream of public safety.
Consider divesting funding from the police and into community policing projects
Reduce police budget
Stop Funding The Police
As someone who spent years on the Broad St. Corridor project from this community please
do something to limit speed on Broad St. between South and Orcutt. I was dedicated to the
committee when my daughter was in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades hoping some change would be
implemented - she is now in college. The only change has been a ped. crossing light at
Woodbridge that is poorly signed and does not have strong visuals - i.e., road level lighting
and colors applied to crosswalk. Also PLEASE limit traffic and speed (additional stop signs
and speed humps!!!) on Woodbridge from Broad and on Lawton and especially Meadow.
There is NO safe crossing for neighborhood children on Meadow to access the park and
there is extreme cut-through traffic from South and Broad streets trying to avoid the light at
South and Broad. Thank You!
Implement and enforce elements of the Vision Zero Plan
Increased street lights along Monterey from downtown to California st, especially around the
rail overpass
More crosswalks and traffic calming measures.
To have the city work more closely with the county to improve safety the major east/west
corridor of Tank Farm Road for bicycles & pedestrian safety, which would coordinate nicely
with the upcoming south Higuera road improvements and Broad to Orcutt road improvements
a walking/bike path along Tank Farm!
Close the many gaps and loopholes in state law that allow bad faith actors to perpetuate
unsafe and unhealthy living conditions and to harass tenants, evict them without cause, and
intimidate or push out tenants who ask for repairs or improvements.
Improving tenant protections improves public safety
Increase standards and monitoring of rental properties to avoid potential fire hazards, flood
damage, etc
Increase tenant and eviction protection programs
Increase Tenant and Evictions Protections to keep people house avoiding public safety costs
Tenant protections and code enforcement goes a long way to keep everyone safe.things like
fires,health issues such as disease carrying rodents and roaches not impact the individual
but potentially the community at large
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Arts and sustainability should be a priority! I’m seeing single use plastics from restaurants
which is so sad after years of being a climate conscious city!
I see nothing about supporting the arts in these proposals. We have a vibrant community of
artists that begs for recognition and support. The art/ theater/ music performances lighten the
lives of residents and bring in visitors. They deserve our/ your support.
The arts was not mentioned as a category, but we want to the City to make arts access a
priority - supporting Little Theatre, the SLO Art Museum, Childrens Museum, History Museum,
etc
THE ARTS! What about support for our San Luis Obispo Museum of Art? What a bout city
support of other art galleries and venues? Children's art workshops and camps?
Arts!!!
Community art center where CLASSES ARE TAUGHT for children, teens, adults. SLOMA is
no longer doing that. It's a crying shame not to have real art lessons available any more. Our
youth, especially, misses out on the development of important skills both socially and
creatively without a central art center/school.
Supporting the arts- theater, classical music, other music venues, visual arts. We have a
wonderful, vibrant art community here in the central coast which deserves to be recognized
and supported..
Continue to support art activities through Slo rep, art after dark, music in the plaza, the
historical museum, the art museum,
, etc.
Please support the Cultural Arts District as part of your major goals. The City of San Luis
Obispo needs to support and cherish arts and cultural programming in order to keep our
community vibrant and welcoming to visitors. As the publisher of SLO Review (sloreview.org) I
see every day the benefits of a thriving arts scene to local children, community-minded adults,
and visitors who want to enjoy local food, beverages, sights, and events that show off the
beautiful work and spirit of our local artists, whether they are chefs, musicians, winemakers,
performers or artists. Please don’t forget the arts! - Charlotte Alexander
1. Community art center
2. Annual Seed Exchange festival
Arts and culture initiatives
Not new but important to continue to make supporting arts and culture a major city goal. The
Cultural Arts District will bring economic benefits and enhance and encourage a vital and
growing and inclusive community in our downtown and throughout the region.
Downtown cultural arts space
I’m not sure this specifically qualifies as a new idea but I think it’s important that the downtown
plans specifically call out the cultural arts district as it develops over the years. This will be a
unifying force for downtown economic health.
Expanded Benefits of the Bike Park
1. Unique Appeal of Dirt Jumps
• Skill Development:Dirt jumps cater to a range of riders, from beginners learning basic jumps
to advanced riders perfecting tricks, making the park inclusive and versatile.
• Attracting Riders:Well-designed dirt jumps are a magnet for BMX riders, mountain bikers,
and freestyle enthusiasts, creating a hub for the cycling community.
• Spectator Draw:Jump zones are visually exciting, encouraging community members and
families to gather and enjoy the park, even if they’re not riding.
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2. Community Identity
• Local Pride: A bike park with standout dirt jumps can become a signature feature of the city,
establishing it as a destination for action sports.
• Youth Engagement: Provides young people with a safe, challenging, and fun environment to
spend time, reducing idle behavior and fostering a sense of belonging.
• Cultural Events:Enables hosting of local competitions, showcases, and rider meetups,
adding to the city’s cultural vibrancy.
3. Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship
• Erosion Control:Dirt jumps can be designed with proper drainage and landscaping, reducing
soil erosion and integrating the natural environment.
• Upcycling Materials: Recycled materials like old asphalt or concrete can be used as a base
for jumps, reducing waste and costs.
Community Involvement to Reduce Costs
1. Volunteer Opportunities
• Build Days:Organize community “dig days,” where locals help shape and maintain dirt jumps
under professional guidance. These events foster community ownership and reduce labor
costs.
• Rider Involvement:Engage riders in the design and construction process, ensuring the
jumps meet the needs of the local cycling community.
2. Partnerships with Local Businesses
• Donations of Materials: Approach construction companies, landscaping businesses, or
quarries for donations or discounted rates on dirt, gravel, and other materials.
• Equipment Sponsorships: Partner with local equipment rental companies to provide
machinery (e.g., skid steers, compactors) at reduced rates or as in-kind sponsorships.
3. Educational Workshops
• Skill-Building Clinics: Host workshops on trail and jump construction techniques, teaching
participants the basics of shaping and maintaining dirt features.
• Youth Programs:Engage local schools or youth organizations to include the bike park project
as part of educational or extracurricular activities.
4. Crowdsourcing Resources
• Community Fundraising Events: Host events like bike-a-thons, raffles, or demo rides to raise
money for the park.
• Online Campaigns:Use crowdfunding platforms to reach cycling enthusiasts and highlight
the project’s community impact.
• Material Recycling:Encourage community donations of recyclable materials (e.g., wood,
rock) that can be integrated into the park’s construction.
5. Establishing a “Friends of the Bike Park” Group
• Form a volunteer organization dedicated to the park’s development and upkeep.
• Members can help maintain jumps, organize events, and recruit sponsors.
Key Messaging for Community Engagement
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• Inclusive Vision:Highlight that the park is for everyone—riders, families, and spectators alike.
• Hands-On Fun:Emphasize the opportunity for participants to shape and maintain the park,
making it a true community creation.
• Long-Term Benefits: Showcase the economic, social, and environmental returns of their
contributions, ensuring continued interest and involvement.
Expand Laguna Lake Bike Park, build a kid friendly dirt bike”flow” bike path around the
Meadow Park walking path. Add more direction specific trails in city open space.
More areas and programs for the kids
Child care is critical.
Maintaining current infrastructure, be it facilities, art, streets, programs, people is critical.
The community needs a place to gather. A true community center for all ages.
Child care.
We need help in the following areas:
Permitting, minor use changes & exorbitant fees: we offer a much needed, essential service
to this community but our profit is much lower than many businesses. We need less
expensive rates to make owning and running a child care center achievable and sustainable.
Sliding scales for fees?
Places we can occupy:
Figure out creative ways to change the minor use permits and the zoning when possible
without the cost going to the child care center owner or director who won't be able to afford it .
How about having some kind of stipulation for incoming developers to provide one child care
center or home (for rent or for purchase) so that it can be another option for our community
(and all of the new families to have space for their children to go when they go to work?)
I've brought this up several times, but we have several parks and some city buildings that are
not being used to their full capacity. Why not turn a community building into a child care
center? Examples would be Meadow Park. This could reduce the fees that parents have to
pay and provide a more equitable and inclusive space for children to attend.
(I was unfortunately not surprised once more to see that we are in the "other" category
instead of having a seat at the table.)
Thank you for the space to provide some ideas and to be heard.
I second the request to support keeping drs in the area by removing SLO county as a rural
area and offering the same payments as non rural to keep drs here! Only then will the medical
community with thrive!
Task force on keeping doctors in the area.
Attract health care providers
Reconfigure marsh Street and Higuera Street to be three lanes like it used to be.
Let's get the La Loma Adobe improvements FINISHED. It's been languishing much too long. It
is an important component of our rich cultural history.
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Historic & Cultural resources support healthy communities. Please support the restoration of
historic buildings in San Luis particularly City-owned buildings
Restoration of Historic La Loma Adobe and Preservation of Outdoor Space; location of Adobe
and surrounding area could be jumping-off point for outdoor activities, history of area, and
building associated with the historic Mission
Turn Laguna Lake & Park into an envied icon throughout California. Make it a resplendent
environmental oasis with recreational activities easily available on the lake and in various
areas of the park.
Please prioritize dredging Laguna Lake.
As many other communities around the Country have discovered, building hiking and
mountain biking trails is a highly effective way to attract tourists and enhance demand for
local hotels, motels, restaurants and other services. You need look no further than Santa
Cruz for confirmation that this effort pays huge dividends for local businesses that cater to
tourists. We should make building more trails a priority.
Please address the lack of youth sports facilities in San Luis Obispo. This community has
welcomed many young families over the years who enjoy many outdoor sports activities. Our
sports facilities, including Baseball, softball, soccer, and flag football are in great need
improvement to meet the communities needs.
New aquatic center with better, family-friendly facilities to provide opportunities beyond just
exercise. Something akin to the Lompoc Aquatic Center
Swim lessons for folks who cannot afford them, to increase pool space and aquatic centers,
and also use them as feeders for aquatics programs for the community that could be
competitive with other cities in California, where most American Olympic aquatic athletes
come from
DIY skatepark in Meadow Park.
Neighborhood live ability and tenant protection. Use sales tax to fund code enforcement
Exploring other options for revenue and maintenance rather than charging for downtown
parking, the cost is simply too high and the cost should be covered via an increase in
downtown sales tax.
Improving the relationship with Cal Poly and putting an end to the finger pointing. Cal Poly is
a massive contributor to the local economy and an improved relationship between the
campus and city will be beneficial for everyone!
I like to see a dedicated camp Location for homeless with trash bags pickup amd with
restrooms.
Please prioritize protecting the views of our coastal peaks. Too many multi story structures
are being built and they obstruct the views that make our community unique. Any city can
build uninteresting concrete blocks that create view corridors. We have the opportunity to
show off our geologic wonders. Development with this in mind will keep our community
unique and retain the soul of SLO. Right now we are selling our soul. Change this destructive
trend before it is too late.
Downtown is dying because of the parking rates. The city should be ashamed.
There is VISUAL pollution occurring in SLO city. Yes, that's a thing. It happens when you can
no longer see the natural geography and landscape. when you build the tallest hotel and
parking structures at the tops of hills, you obscure the view and light for residents and visitors.
I used to love SLO because living here meant being in a city dedicated to preserving the
environmental beauty of the area. But now, I hate to go downtown. I can't see what is
beautiful for the built structures blocking it. That's an injustice to people who can't afford
homes with scenic views. SLO was my scenic view. I've invested in this city. Now, this city is
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divesting me from what I most cherish: the beauty of the surrounding environment. There is a
need NOW to prevent any more of this happening. City Planning, I'm looking at you.
It is difficult for the city council to get an accurate picture of what is happening in significant
groups of constituencies who may not have the time, technical capabilities, or energy to
advocate for their needs or perspective on impending city proposals (e.g low come families
with multiple jobs, the disabled, ethnic groups, senior citizens and probably a long list of
others). They are often lost in the enthusiasm displayed by an initiative’s advocates.
While district representation might have helped, that is not the direction the council has
chosen, so exploring other alternatives are necessary. For example, developing projects with
specific Cal Poly programs (e.g. Social Sciences, City and Regional Planning) that might be
able to develop a more robust community feedback loop that targets these harder to connect
with groups and extends over time, giving students experience in the chosen professions
while not being prohibitively costly to the city finances.
Having the interests of all groups of constituents in mind when considering important
community proposals would go a long way in creating a more inclusive and livable
community.
Why doesn’t the City council post the agenda items online? I want to attend a meeting about
the foolishness that goes on with some of the students of our town.
Why do students that tear up our town and through their “sense of entitlement “ think that
they have rights to do so , get away with it?
I lived through the Cal Poly riots (Poly Royal chaos in the early 90’s. ) Things have
continued to get worse and the city of San Luis continues to put up with this.
I attended Cal Poly in the mid to late 70’s. I believe we had two or three bars in town.
How many do we have now? Way too many.
We didn’t have the magnitude of trouble that we have now.
The city of San Luis needs to play hard ball with these students. If any other tax paying
citizens from San Luis did some of the foolish things that students get away with, ( drunk in
public, damage to property, excessive noise, threats to neighbors, etc) they would be
arrested and rightfully so.
City Council members need to stand up and do what is right for the law law abiding / tax
paying citizens of our town. Remember most of these students don’t vote for you. The citizens
of San Luis Obispo do. Also the students are here for maybe four or five years.
I find it interesting that the SLO City Council cares more about tree removal and re -
planting more trees in our city, then they do about dealing with the “entitled” students that
cause trouble in San Luis Obispo chronically.
Remember March 17 will be here soon. Will the city be prepared for the foolishness by
college students and their friends that can be predicted?????? My guess is. probably not.
We ought to consider attracting more mental health/addiction recovery/life skills facilities for
the unhoused/marginalized community. Many of the unhoused are unhoused because they
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don't have the skills to function successfully in life. It's not always about the housing...even if
they have housing they just can't function like we do to stay in housing. They need a strong
social safety net (i.e. mental health services, addiction recovery services, and life skills
classes/coaches). Perhaps, the police department, as part of their community policing efforts
ought to form a consortium with local churches to provide outreach to vulnerable
communities.
We have days for and weeks for and months for celebrating and recognizing various themes.
People who walk walk all year round. We would benefit from celebrating and making more
visible those individuals and that activity. Consider following other programs and timing and
begin with a "pedestrian" week where incentives promote walking, discussion illuminate
pedestrian law, current and future infrastructure is showcased.
Mental Health
Just as a thought regarding the event process, it might be beneficial to provide the list of
topics for ranking prior to the meeting so memebers in the community can come to the event
with questions for the subject matter experts. But overall it was a great experience thanks!
Please, add more public restrooms for everyone.
Prioritize smart spending. Rid of unnecessary government positions and programs. Pay
attention to how the progressive cities have fallen into chaos and reinstate order and
sensibility to the prioritization of public spending and projects.
Resolution to Divest from Israel
Please reduce special interest projects that are obviously pet projects that do not ultimately
benefit the community.
Listen to the election results. Listen to the voice of the people
Incorporate rules preventing corporations from purchasing single family homes and real
estate
Support for undocumented people. Sanctuary city.
Utilizing the newly enacted brewery catering license by the ABC. This is an opportunity to
broaden the community options to host small events with a focus on social interaction and
arts and cultural diversity
Please support the Waterman project.
One new idea would be to have more options to meet the needs of the community in the drop
downs that people are voting on tonight. There was never an option to “discontinue”
something. Instead your drop downs were all about continuing the city’s efforts towards that
goal. There are some goals that slo residents should be able to say they don’t want to see
continued as a city goal.
Ban gas-powered leaf-blowers!
Dedicate more resources to Pacific Beach High School to help students with transportation to
and from school
More patrol officers to discourage distracted and aggressive drivers who put bicyclists and
pedestrians at great risk and encourage bicyclists to obey the law.
I would like the city to aquire, design, and implement a protected bike lane on the East/West
corridor of Tank Farm Road. (Part of the Tier One projects).This road is one of the most
heavily trafficked roads in the city and yet one of the only routes to get across the city by
bicycle. It’s extremely unsafe in its current state (state law is 3ft to pass and this is rarely
followed and certainly not enforced) This improvement would be an incredible asset to our
cycling community and visitors alike!
Page 85 of 91
Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
Attachment B Page# 58
Other/New Ideas
Invest in intersectional projects (benefiting more than one dpt). E.g DEI + Tourism, Climate +
Housing, etx
i
Important to Consider wildlife corridors within the city and the surrounding areas
Increase DEI funding for nonprofits, considering federal changes.
Reopening permitted parking districts because the occupancy housing laws have changed,
which is bringing in far more cars into residential neighborhoods than before. It's not
uncommon for a house to have 8+ cars. Please reopen the parking district program! We are
in the Foothills neighborhood.
Divert money from police anti-houseless actions such as sweeps and harassment to safe
parking programs and mental health services
In addition to the Safe Parking program, the City should find a location for short-term van-life
parking, for folks who are traveling or living full-time in their vans/campers. The location could
be a luxury experience with hotel/resort-level amenities, food trucks, pool, etc.
Get rid of DEI
Defund the police
Disaster preparedness
Research and explore Geoship, geodesic housing structures that are fireproof, earthquake-
resistant, and built with nontoxic bioceramic materials, and mold-free
City should fulfil 1989 commitment to build a park at 466 Dana St at the Rose Butron Adobe.
If the City has money to build a park in the Orcutt area, they can surely afford to build this
park, and not turn it into a homeless shelter
Consider constructing Pickleball Courts at Laguna Lake Park
Addressing toxic tobacco waste: establish an electronic smoking device take back program
and require tobacco and cannabis retailers to have an (environmental) HazMat Management
Plan
Please please please bring the righetti ranch neighborhoods some parks for our kids to play
at. We need them asap and they would mean so much to all the families living here that were
promised parks
Parks!!! Build Righetti Ranch Park.
Prioritize construction of the Orcutt Area Specific Plan park (Righetti), which is over 4 years
overdue
Build the pickleball courts at righetti ranch now! They are really needed due to great demand.
Increase oversight within the city with tenant protection. Cap the amount of land ownership so
not one person could own more than(said amount of building) ex for airbnbs
Tenant protections,
Wrest control from private and corporate landlords. Empower long-time renters to invest in
their housing security via transfer of properties to public housing.
Renter/tenant protections must be incorporated as a major city goal and priority. T his
interconnects with all current city priorities.
Also climate resilience & DEI is crucial now more than ever. Please keep these as city
priorities and focus on the intersection of both priorities as climate justice. Importantly,
centering Indigenous leadership whenever possible
Expanding Tenant Protections when we know the Federal funds will be cut drastically. Keeps
people housed and is the ultimate homeless prevention program.
Page 86 of 91
Attachment B: Open-Ended Responses to Station Other Ideas
Attachment B Page# 59
Other/New Ideas
Improving Tenant Protections-rent Registry. Rent cap and renovictions
Code enforcement hotline for tenant protections
Substantially increase tenant protections to prevent no fault evictions, enhance rental safety
standards, and increase accessibility to legal resources for tenants
Increase Tenant and Eviction Protections so our families, children , students and our artists
have safe, affordable and secure housing.
Increase tenant and eviction protection programs
Rethink code enforcement to be more oriented towards renter protections 😊
Page 87 of 91
Page 88 of 91
Attachment C
Pre-Workshop Worksheet
Background: The City of San Luis Obispo is a dynamic community embracing its future
while respecting its past with core values of civility, sustainability, diversity,
inclusivity, regionalism, partnership, and resiliency. Every two years, in alignment
with the financial plan, the City Council determines the most important and highest -
priority goals for the City to accomplish over the next two years beyond the City’s core
services. Please provide feedback about the current four Major City Goals for further
discussion on February 8th at the City Council goal-setting workshop.
Instructions: To be completed by Councilmembers after the Community Forum on
January 23, 2025 and before the Council Goal-Setting Workshop on February 8, 2025.
Please reflect and provide answers to these questions by February 4, 2025 at 5:00pm.
1) What edits to the Major City Goals would you make to focus on the most important
items in these goal areas? As a reminder, there are detailed items under “strategic
approach” for each Major City Goal: https://www.slocity.org/government/mayor-and-
city-council/city-goals
Climate Action, Open Space & Sustainable Transportation
Proactively address the climate crisis and increase resiliency through the
implementation of the Climate Action Plan. Use resources to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and reach carbon neutrality by 2035, with a focus on the preservation and
enhancement of convenient and equitable alternative and sustainable transportation,
the preservation of open space, and equitable access to parks and open space.
Proposed edits to Climate Action, Open Space & Sustainable Transportation goal:
Proposed work items to be considered or edited for the Climate Action, Open Space &
Sustainable Transportation goal:
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
Further our commitment to making San Luis Obispo a welcoming and inclusive city for
all by continuing to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into all programs and
policies and advancing the recommendations of the DEI Task Force.
Proposed edits to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) goal:
Page 89 of 91
Attachment C
Proposed work items to be considered or edited for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
(DEI) goal:
Economic Resiliency, Cultural Vitality and Fiscal Sustainability
In collaboration with local partners, implement initiatives that reinforce a thriving and
sustainable local economy, support a diverse, inclusive, and vibrant community,
preserve arts and culture, and ensure fiscally responsible and sustainable city
operations.
Proposed edits to Economic Resiliency, Cultural Vitality and Fiscal Sustainability goal:
Proposed work items to be considered or edited for the Economic Resiliency, Cultural
Vitality and Fiscal Sustainability goal:
Housing and Homelessness
Support the expansion of housing options for all, and continue to facilitate the
production of housing, including the necessary supporting infrastructure, with an
emphasis on affordable and workforce housing as well as accessibly connected
development. Collaborate with local non-profit partners, non-governmental agencies,
the county, the state, and federal governments to advocate for increased funding and
implementation of comprehensive and effective strategies to prevent and reduce
homelessness.
Proposed edits to Housing and Homelessness goal:
Proposed work items to be considered or edited for the Housing and Homelessness
goal:
2) Are there any Major City Goals that need to be added? (Please note any
added/new goals may have trade-offs in the existing workplan or reducing core
services.)
Page 90 of 91
Attachment C
3) Are there any work items that need to be added (besides what is listed above)?
(Please note any added/new work items may have trade-offs in the existing
workplan or reducing core services.)
4) Within the current Major City Goals or current work items, what do you think could
be stopped or deferred, if needed?
5) Would you be interested in changing the label of Major City Goals? The intention
behind relabeling the Major City Goals would be to create overarching bodies of
work, rather than value statements, with specific work items, measurable goals, and
timelines.
Page 91 of 91
1
Council Goal-Setting Workshop
February 8, 2025
2
Today’s Agenda
9:00 a.m. Welcome, Mayor
9:05 a.m. Introduction and Budget Context, City Manager and Finance Director
9:15 a.m. Review of Community Input and Forum Results, Staff
9:35 a.m. Process and Guidelines, Facilitator
9:40 a.m. Discuss Goals for FY 2025-27 and Review Prioritization, Council
12:00 p.m. Break
12:30 p.m. Discuss Goals for FY 2025-27 and Review Prioritization, Council
2:00 p.m. Public Comment, City Clerk
2:30 p.m. Discuss Next Steps, Council/Staff
Budget Process & Community Engagement Timeline
4
City Services & Goal Setting Relationship
Special
Projects
Major City
Goals
Emergent
needs
Core Programs & Services
General Government
Infrastructure Maintenance
Development Services
Street and Parks
Public Safety
Recreation Services
MANY more
•The City of San Luis Obispo is a full-service city.
•The City’s first obligation is to provide core
services.
•New initiatives and one-time strategic goals overlap
core services and require tradeoffs.
•Historically, many Major City Goal (MCG) initiatives
have morphed into core services (Housing, Climate
Action, DEI). These programs do not go away
even if not selected as MCGs.
•MCGs should reflect the most important, strategic focus areas for the upcoming
financial plan years.
5
Budget Process and Community Input
Major City
GoalsCity Council
Community Forum
Emails & letters from community groups and interested parties
Community Priorities Survey
Advisory Body Recommendations
6
Economic Outlook
General consensus is that a recession is not expected, despite numerous
recessionary indicators since 2020
Staff is waiting for information to update the long-term forecast, but is closely
tracking a number of items:
a.Major revenue streams, analyzed by City’s consultants
b.Upcoming labor negotiations
c.Costs to support a growing community (ex. Fire Station 5)
d.2023 Storms expenditure reimbursement
e.Los Angeles fires
f.Potential actions by incoming Federal administration
7
Risks & Opportunities to factor into forecast
FY 2025-26 Upside Case Downside Case
Risk
Sales Tax ($1.0M)($3.0M)
Development Fees (2.0M)(2.5M)
Labor (1.0M)(1.5M)
Opportunity
Fire Station 5 timing +1.1M +1.1M
Property Tax +1.5M +1.0M
Base budget savings +1.0M +0.5M
TOT +0.6M +0.4M
Net Change to Last
Forecast +$0.2M ($4.0M)
8
Community Survey and Forum Results
Su
r
v
e
y
R
e
s
u
l
t
s
7
7
8
9
9
10
16
19
22
26
38
47
264
272
295
311
382
415
524
543
672
740
743
812
1008
0 500 1000 1500
Additonal Bikelanes
Permitting Process Improvements
Laguna Lake Dredging
Services/Accessibility for Seniors & Disabled
Righetti Park
Second Hand Smoke
Broad Street Corridor
Adobes/Historic Preservation
Reduced bikelanes
Healthcare Access and Medical System
Parking Rates and Policies
More Parks & Rec Facilities
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Cultural Vitality
Childcare
Safe Housing and Neighborhood Wellness
Public Safety
Sustainable and Multi-Modal Transportation
Climate Action Plan
Fiscal Sustainability and Responsibility
Open Space
Downtown Vitality
Housing Supply and Affordability
Infrastructure Maintenance
Homelessness Response
Top themes from “Other”
10
What does the community love most about SLO?
11
Station Ranking Poll Free Response
Poll Combined
Infrastructure 325 103 428
Downtown Vitality and Economic Development 175 244 419
Climate Action and Open Space 266 80 346
Housing Safety, Affordability, and Neighborhood Livability 234 60 294
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 161 43 204
Public Safety 137 34 171
Homelessness 133 36 169
Use of the Local Revenue Measure (no free-response)128 -128
Fiscal Sustainability 104 21 125
New Ideas (no ranking poll)-74 74
Participation Summary (# of participants)
Priority Projects/Programs (shortened description)Count
Implement Below Market Rate Housing best practices 143
Improve unsafe/unsanitary/illegal housing conditions, barriers to accessibility, or unsafe neighborhoods 139
Leverage grant funding and collaborate with partners to develop additional below-market -rate units.133
Update the Margarita Area Specific Plan and the completion of the Prado Road extension to Broad Street.127
Work with Cal Poly to secure the designation of on-campus fraternity/sorority living groups.121
Update the Upper Monterey Area Plan 116
Update to the 7th Cycle Housing Element to comply with state mandates 110
Continue the City’s Neighborhood Services/Code Enforcement programs 109
Support “good neighbor programs” with Cal Poly, Cuesta College, the City and local residents. 106
Continue State housing law tracking and implement changes to comply with new housing laws.105
Tenant Protections and Safe Housing (e.g. rental registry)*14
Zoning Changes for Higher Density*9
Accelerate the LUCE Update*5
Housing Safety, Affordability and Neighborhood Livability
Priority Program/Project (shortened description)Count
Acquire and protect new open spaces in the San Luis Obispo Greenbelt and manage open spaces 206
Continue to build and maintain a contemporary and sustainable trail system.195
Provide affordable and accessible sustainable transportation options (e.g., public transit, bike/pedestrian
infrastructure, electric vehicle chargers, electric car and bike share programs, etc.).159
Support the City goal to plant and maintain 10,000 new trees by 2035 (the "10 Tall" initiative).149
Invest in resilient infrastructure to improve community safety and reduce natural disaster risks 145
Provide access to resources and direct support for residents that make it easy and affordable to have a
green and healthy home 136
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from City operations 129
Laguna Lake Dredging*18
Additional bike trails and infrastructure (e.g. Mountain Bike Park at Laguna Lake)*11
More trail connections*6
Climate Action and Open Space
Priority Program/Project (shortened description)Count
Support partners in securing funding for and implementing transitional and permanent supportive housing 101
Leverage funding from partner agencies for the MCU and CAT programs 94
Work collaboratively with County and key stakeholders to coordinate regional outreach, including an
expanded hotel voucher program to ensure a bridge for temporary emergency shelter 93
Rotating Safe Parking Program Implementation 79
Continue to increase homelessness response communications, resource sharing, and education, including
increased public use of Ask SLO app 77
Continue to develop the City's Safe Housing Outreach and Education Program 76
Continue to expand implementation of digital encampment management tool internally and for potential
countywide use or explore using other countywide systems 63
Rent Control and Tenant Protections*9
Mental Health and Drug Rehabilitation Programs*4
Multi-use Homeless Site*3
Homelessness
Priority Program/Project (shortened description)Count
Grant programs that support arts, culture, and the work of non-profit organizations in the community 121
Efforts to attract and support minority-owned businesses and resources for success in SLO.110
Continue efforts to improve access and affordability of high-speed internet in the community 106
Implement strategies for enhancing disaster preparedness programs for underrepresented communities.97
Implement climate justice projects that support vulnerable populations.94
Improve participation in public meetings through updated public engagement practices 93
Continue efforts toward community-based policing to address the needs of vulnerable communities.91
Create and sustain inclusive recruitment practices to encourage a diverse workforce.89
Continue to host equity and inclusivity focused education and events (e.g. Community Belonging Series).87
Tenant Protections and Housing Solutions as a Strategy for Advancing DEI*11
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Priority Program/Project (shortened description)Count
Continuation/expansion of Cultural Vitality programs (e.g. Cultural Arts District, arts and culture)*210
Continue programs to support small businesses like Buy Local Bonus and SLO Restaurant Month 128
Support activations in Mission Plaza and other Downtown events 122
Work with regional partners to support the business community 113
Support of Downtown's Clean and Safe ambassador programs.92
Promote and empower business neighborhoods including and beyond Downtown.92
Expand outreach efforts to businesses through a business retention and expansion program.91
Continue to support childcare business startups and expansions through grants and incentives 89
Continue to bolster the entrepreneurial ecosystem.81
Implement disaster preparedness measures and training for business preparedness 73
Continue telling the SLO story via targeted marketing and activities of an authentic and inviting California
community for residents and visitors.73
Downtown Vitality and Economic Development
Priority Program/Project (shortened description)Count
Identify and secure grants and partnerships that reduce reliance on the General Fund.78
Implement cost-saving measures and explore revenue-generating opportunities to strengthen long-term
fiscal sustainability.78
Continue to implement and enhance the City’s sound financial management practices 73
Continue to implement strategies to expedite the paydown of the City's CalPERS pension liabilities.59
Complete a Development Impact Fee study and implement updated Council-adopted fees.46
Fiscal Sustainability
Other responses:
•Re-prioritizing infrastructure projects and expediting their completion to mitigate inflationary costs.
•Reducing departmental budgets and headcount.
•Expanding the business license program to include a rental registry and implementing a per-property fee
for landlords.
•Suggestions for investment strategies.
18
Use of the Local Revenue Measure
Funding Priority Count
Street Maintenance and Transportation 92
Address Homelessness 85
Open Space/Natural Areas Preservation and Maintenance 83
Safe and Clean Public Spaces 81
Community Safety and Emergency Preparedness 75
Youth/Senior Services & Recreation Facilities 74
Economic Development and Business Retention 69
Creek and Flood Protection 68
Protection of Financial Stability 54
Other Services and Projects 48
Infrastructure and Sustainable/Multi-modal Transportation
Priority Program/Project (shortened description)*Count
Implement Parks & Recreation projects for new and improved parks and park amenities.249
Implement the Active Transportation Plan Tier 1 (Bike/Pedestrian) Network 133
Continue work towards building the Prado Road Interchange and Creek Bridge Replacement.112
Continue work on flood control infrastructure improvements 110
Complete infrastructure improvements for individuals with mobility issues (e.g. curb ramps)98
Continue to implement Street Reconstruction and Resurfacing projects.98
Maintenance of traffic control devices (refreshing roadway striping, traffic signal timings, etc.)87
Improve public transit as described in the Short-Range Transit Plan and Transit Innovation Study 87
Continue projects that replace and improve water and wastewater infrastructure.86
Install additional street lighting.84
Implement traffic safety improvements identified in the Vision Zero Action Plan 84
Begin construction of the California/Taft Roundabout.74
Righetti Ranch Park*49
Expansion of Bike Paths and Bike Infrastructure (e.g. Mountain Bike Park)*19
20
Public Safety
Priority Program/Project (shortened description)Count
Utilize proven strategies to increase road safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.91
Enhance City hazard mitigation and risk reduction capabilities (fire, flood, earthquake).85
Provide diversified outreach and enforcement to keep downtown clean, safe, and secure.79
Utilizing grant opportunities to expand police and fire programs and support public safety initiatives.77
Continue to diversify outreach and support for our unhoused community members and enforce city
ordinances preserving overall quality of life for all community members.74
Increase and expand community policing initiatives 67
Increase public safety staffing to enhance service delivery to the community 67
Enhance the City Emergency Operations Center and Management capabilities.64
Continue to leverage technology to support a safer community and streamlined efforts of public safety
personnel.62
21
New Ideas and Email Responses Combined
Top 10 Themes
Program/Project Count
Cultural Arts 29
Safe Housing, Tenant Protections 18
La Loma Adobe 13
More Parks & Rec Facilities/Services 10
Righetti Ranch Park 9
Trails Systems and Open Space 7
Bike Trails/Park 6
Broad Street Corridor, Vision Zero 5
Clean Air - Smoking Ordinance for Multifamily homes 5
Childcare/Kids Programs 3
22
Sommer Kehrli, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
The Centre for Organization Effectiveness
Workshop Facilitator
23
Purpose of Goal-Setting
Define the most important, highest priority goals for the City
to accomplish over the next two years, and as such,
resources to accomplish them should be provided and
included in the 2025-27 Financial Plan.
24
25
Bike Rack
26
Overall Pre-Work Notes
•Overall, the current Major City Goals are still relevant
•Refine some of the titles and goal definition
•Refine actions for the next two years
•Potentially add performance measures to MCGs and/or action items
•Three additional goals submitted
•Openness to reorganizing the language and revisiting the label of Major City Goal (MCG) to maybe Major City Budget Goals, Pillars, Priority Areas, or Strategic Budget Priorities
•Potentially making the MCGs more inclusive of all of the work of the city (more of a strategic plan with a longer-term view and then having specific strategic budget priorities for the 2-year financial plan cycle)
27
FY 23-25
Major City Goals (MCGs)
Climate Action, Open Space & Sustainable
Transportation
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Economic Resiliency, Cultural Vitality and Fiscal
Sustainability
Housing and Homelessness
Strengthening Community Sense of Well Being
•Complete and improve parks (shade retreats, splash pads,
bike courses), including Righetti park
•Continue DEI policies in city administration and reach out to
new residents, permanent and student
•Support youth, senior & mental health services, partnering
with the county & nonprofits
•Expand local volunteer opportunities
•Make city a “Family Friendly workplace” (improve childcare
options for employees)
•Continue to facilitate high speed internet access for all
residents
Infrastructure and Transportation
•Protect water security & improve ground water
augmentation
•Extend purple pipe to older neighborhoods to save potable
water
•Upgrade maintenance of streets for automobile, bicycle,
and mass transportation
•Conduct actual usage, traffic counts and
“origin/destination” studies for need, before building future
bik l li i i ffi l
Improving Public Safety
•Increase CAT, MCU and Community
Service Officers, expand evening and
weekend coverage
•Hire more needed police officers
•Determine a location for Fire House #5 and
expedite construction
•Hire an Emergency Operations Officer
•Educate cell phone users that they need to
sign up for reverse 911 service
•Reinstate CERT and community
emergency preparedness
•Improve notification of evacuation routes,
including that of senior and disabled
Three Additional Goals
29
Public Engagement (e.g., Community Forum, Survey)
MCG
UpdatePulse
Loads of Input
30
Reflection Questions
•What needs focus over the next 2 years?
What do you want to see take a higher
priority?
•If needed, are you willing to cut services or
capital to make this happen?
31
Climate Action, Open Space &
Sustainable Transportation
Proactively address the climate crisis and increase resiliency through the
implementation of the Climate Action Plan. Use resources to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and reach carbon neutrality by 2035, with a focus on the
preservation and enhancement of convenient and equitable alternative and
sustainable transportation, the preservation of open space, and equitable access to
parks and open space.
Title Change Suggestions:
•Protection of Open Space and Natural Resources, Climate Action and Resilience
•Climate Action and Sustainability
•Climate Action >>>> Climate Resilience
•Sustainable Transportation >>>> Safe Transportation or Vision Zero
32
Climate Action, Open Space & Sustainable Transportation – Action Items
•Acquisition and care for open space and park lands,
•Continue protection and maintenance of open space and protection of natural resources
•Trail system maintenance and improvements
•First phase of Righetti Park and finish Righetti hill trails
•Purchase properties to enhance greenbelt and access to open space
•Improve bike facilities at Laguna Lake and Eucs
•Laguna Lake maintenance & conservation easement over lake natural area
•Implementation of Climate Action Plan and Lead by Example tasks
•Tree planting initiatives
•Urban forestry and maintenance programs
•Climate/emergency resilience actions
•Improve emergency preparedness for natural disasters: wildfire, flood, drought
•Electrifying city fleet
•Adding public charging infrastructure
•Green building policies for community and city operations
•Carbon sequestration
•Tracking of embodied carbon, “greening” sewer and waste practices
•Improve creek clean up and restoration, eliminating illegal camping in creek areas
33
Climate Action, Open Space & Sustainable Transportation – Action Items
•Implementation of Active Transportation Plan, Education efforts related to transportation mode shift and expansion of Mass Transit use.
•Complete Higuera, Foothill and Broad Complete Streets “next steps” with completion of at least one of the three of these in 25-27
•Taft Roundabout
•Provide education on use of bike infrastructure for riders and drivers
•Transit service improvements (including items as possible, from the Short Range Transit and Transit Innovation Study)
•ATP Tier 1 Broad Street and Broad Street Specific Plan transportation improvements.
•Community bicycle education in partnership with Bike SLO County and Cal Poly.
•Implementation of the Vision Zero Plan.
•Implementation of LHMP and CWPP.
•Implement a robust, ongoing program for counting bikes and peds so that we can develop better mode share estimates.
•Fully staffed and operational traffic enforcement in PD.
•“Sustainability in all practices” goals (operationalizing sustainability into policies, procedures, capital planning, etc.)
•Secure funding for making our internal processes more Climate friendly
•Incorporate climate action in all policies
•Develop outcome measures to help determine when we have met climate action goals.
35
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Further our commitment to making San Luis Obispo a welcoming and inclusive city for
all by continuing to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into all programs and
policies and advancing the recommendations of the DEI Task Force DEI Strategic Plan.
Title Change Suggestion:
•Diverse, Inclusive and Culturally Vibrant
38
Economic Resiliency, Cultural Vitality
and Fiscal Sustainability
In collaboration with local partners, implement initiatives that reinforce a thriving and
sustainable local economy, support a diverse, inclusive, and culturally vibrant
community, preserve arts and culture, and ensure fiscally responsible and sustainable
city operations along with fiscally responsible city operations.
Title Change Suggestions:
•Cultural and Economic Vitality
•Economic and Cultural Vitality
•Fiscal Responsibility and Sustainability
•Responsible Government and Economic Vitality
42
Housing and Homelessness
Support the creation expansion of housing options for all, and continue to facilitate the production of
housing, including the necessary supporting infrastructure, with an emphasis on affordable and
workforce housing as well as accessibly connected development. Collaborate with local non-profit
partners, non-governmental agencies, the county, the state, and federal governments to advocate for
increased funding and implementation of comprehensive and effective strategies to prevent and
reduce homelessness.
Title Change Suggestions:
•Housing, Homelessness, and Tenant Protection
•Healthy, Safe, Livable
•Housing for Social, Economic and Neighborhood Balance
Separate into two goals:
Increase Housing Quantity, Safety, and Overall Livability
Support the expansion of housing options for all, and continue to facilitate the production of
maintenance of safe and healthy housing, including the necessary supporting infrastructure, with an
emphasis on low-income, as well as accessible and attainable-workforce housing
Reduce and Prevent Homelessness
Collaborate with local non-profit partners, non-governmental agencies, all level of governments to
advocate for increased funding and implementation of comprehensive and effective strategies to
prevent and reduce homelessness.
Strengthening Community Sense of Well Being
•Complete and improve parks (shade retreats, splash pads,
bike courses), including Righetti park
•Continue DEI policies in city administration and reach out to
new residents, permanent and student
•Support youth, senior & mental health services, partnering
with the county & nonprofits
•Expand local volunteer opportunities
•Make city a “Family Friendly workplace” (improve childcare
options for employees)
•Continue to facilitate high speed internet access for all
residents
Infrastructure and Transportation
•Protect water security & improve ground water
augmentation
•Extend purple pipe to older neighborhoods to save potable
water
•Upgrade maintenance of streets for automobile, bicycle,
and mass transportation
•Conduct actual usage, traffic counts and
“origin/destination” studies for need, before building future
bik l li i i ffi l
Improving Public Safety
•Increase CAT, MCU and Community
Service Officers, expand evening and
weekend coverage
•Hire more needed police officers
•Determine a location for Fire House #5 and
expedite construction
•Hire an Emergency Operations Officer
•Educate cell phone users that they need to
sign up for reverse 911 service
•Reinstate CERT and community
emergency preparedness
•Improve notification of evacuation routes,
including that of senior and disabled
Three Additional Goals
46
Reflection Questions
•What needs focus over the next 2 years?
What do you want to see take a higher
priority?
•If needed, are you willing to cut services or
capital to make this happen?
47
Future Focus
How might
you want to
revisit the
label/
structure of
Major City
Goals?
48
Thank you!