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Home My WebLink About2/17/2026 Item 6a, Flores Baltodano Erica Flores Baltodano <ebaltodano@slolaw.org> Sent:Friday, February 13, 2026 To:E-mail Council Website Subject:Center for Dispute Resolution at San Luis Obispo College of Law Grant Request Attachments:Grant Request City of SLO with Attachments.pdf Dear Mayor Stewart and Honorable City Council Members: Please see the attached letter formally requesting a grant to support the development of a new community mediation center intended to restore critical dispute resolution services to residents of San Luis Obispo. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Erica Flores Baltodano Campus Dean To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. San Luis Obispo College of Law 4119 Broad Street, Suite 200 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 www.slolaw.org | ebaltodano@slolaw.org (805) 322-3412 1 To: City of San Luis Obispo 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 From: Advisory Board Center for Dispute Resolution at San Luis Obispo College of Law 4119 Broad Street #200 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Attn: Mayor and City Council Re: Grant Funding Request for Establishment of Community Mediation Services February 13, 2026 Dear Mayor Stewart and Honorable City Council Members: This letter is written to formally request your consideration of granting funds to support the development of a new community mediation center intended to restore critical dispute resolution services to residents of San Luis Obispo. As you are likely aware, San Luis Obispo’s former community mediation center, Creative Mediation, closed unexpectedly in June of 2025 due to the closure of its parent non -profit, Wilshire Community Services. This sudden termination of services left a significant resource gap for residents of San Luis Obispo, particularly with the loss of mediation, conflict coaching and related conflict resolution services. These services were particularly essential to SLO PD, City code enforcement, and other community partners such as Cal Poly, Cuesta, the Superior Court of San Luis Obispo, the Legal Assistance Foundation, and other nonprofits that regularly referred residents for free and low-cost dispute resolution services. You may also be aware that former volunteers and staff of Creative Mediation are currently working closely with San Luis Obispo College of Law (a branch of Monterey College of Law) to create a new community mediation center to fill this critical gap in ser vices. The new Center for Dispute Resolution at San Luis Obispo College of Law (CDRSLO), is currently raising funds to support critical infrastructure development. In addition to seeking support from local philanthropists, CDRSLO is requesting fiscal support from key community partners, including the City of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly, and Cuesta College. Fortunately, San Luis Obispo College of Law is able to provide space for the delivery of in -person mediation services; however, costs associated with technology needs such as website development, office equipment, preliminary staff to establish the center and other essential expenses must be raised in order to launch programs to meet community needs. Attached, you will find an outline of anticipated CDRSLO start-up costs and several letters of support from community partners. We thank you in advance for y our review and consideration of a one-time grant of $30,000.00 to help restore access to conflict resolution services to the San Luis Obispo community. Support from the City of San Luis Obispo and other key community partners listed herein will help establish a fully functioning and sustainable community mediation center to serve residents for decades to come. Sincerely, CDRSLO Advisory Board Members Lisa Sperow President/CEO Monterey College of Law lsperow@montereylaw.edu (831) 717-7290 Erica Flores Baltodano Campus Dean San Luis Obispo College of Law ebaltodano@slolaw.org (805) 322-3412 Dena Dowsett Assistant Dean of Market Development Monterey College of Law ddowsett@slolaw.org (831) 233-9861 Nicolina Galante Community Mediator/Former Division Manager at Creative Mediation nicolinagalante@gmail.com Samantha Watkins Former Director, Creative Mediation Mediator/Owner Solve Consulting and Mediation, LLC sam@solvecm.com (805) 440-3154 Steffanie Medina Former Director, Creative Mediation Mediator/Owner, Flow LLC steff@flow-llc.com (805) 202-8539 Jason Mockford Senior Director, Leadership & Service California Polytechnic State University jmockfor@calpoly.edu (805) 756-5457 Kelly Donohue Former Community Mediator kdonohuedesign@gmail.com (310) 666-8013 Center for Dispute Resolution at the San Luis Obispo College of Law Start-Up Budget Estimates Expense Budget IT, Website and Telephone ● Initial expense to establish dedicated phone line ● Purchase of case management software ● Initial expense to develop cloud-based file sharing ● Initial expense to establish video conferencing subscription ● Development of Interactive website 20,450 Tech Equipment ● Staff computer 2,500 Community Outreach ● Materials and Print Services ● Social Media 2,000 Insurance ● Initial installment to establish Professional Liability and Workplace coverage 2,100 Staffing ● Hiring Costs ● Salary for director (anticipated 0.7 FTE) ● Specialized training in community mediation 29,828 SLO College of Law In-Kind Investment ● Designated Office Space ● Conference Room ● Caucus Rooms ● Training Rooms ● Wifi ● Photocopier and Scanner ● Office Furniture and Supplies ● Administrative Support and Overhead 32,840 Anticipated Start Up Expenses $89,718.00 SLO College of Law In-Kind Investment ($32,840.00) Funds Needed $56,878.00 Requested Grant Monies from City of SLO $30,000.00 Additional Funds to be Raised through Private Donor Fundraising and Contributions from other Key Community Partners (Cal Poly, Cuesta, etc.) $26,878.00 Providing Access to justice since 1992 3232 South Higuera Street, Suite 101D, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Phone: (805) 543-5140 www.slolaf.org January 29, 2026 Erica Baltodano Campus Dean San Luis Obispo College of Law 4119 Broad Street, Suite 200 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Re: Center for Dispute Resolution at San Luis Obispo College of Law Dear Dean Baltodano: I was thrilled to hear about SLO College of Law’s efforts to establish a Center for Dispute Resolution at San Luis Obispo College of Law to restore local access to free and low-cost conflict resolution services. When Creative Mediation (a Wilshire Community Services program) closed last year, our community lost an important program that helped countless SLO County residents resolve their disputes and avoid protracted litigation. All of us in the legal services business referred to Creative Mediation on a regular basis. There is now a gap in services that we are hoping SLO College of Law will be able to fill. Most people don’t know that Creative Mediation was SLOLAF’s first program. SLOLAF was incorporated in 1992 as San Luis Obispo Legal Alternatives, Inc. with the support of a collaboration of professionals representing legal aid, law enforcement, social services, churches, and financial institutions. It was called “Conflict Resolution Program” until 2001 when the name was changed to “Creative Mediation Services.” With SLOLAF’s support, in 2002, Creative Mediation spun off and formed its own non-profit and operated successfully and independently until it was absorbed by Wilshire Community Services. It was such a loss when that program shut down. If there is anything I can do to further support San Luis Obispo College of Law’s efforts to launch the Center for Dispute Resolution, please let me know. Sincerely, Stephanie Barclay Executive Director