HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-21-2026 City Council Action Update
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Council Action Update
July 21, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
Council Members
Present:
Council Member Mike Boswell, Council Member Jan Marx,
Council Member Michelle Shoresman, Vice Mayor Emily
Francis, Mayor Erica A. Stewart
City Staff Present: City Manager Whitney McDonald, Christine Dietrick, City
Attorney, Teresa Purrington, City Clerk
_____________________________________________________________________
1. CLOSED SESSION (4:00 PM START)
1.a CALL TO ORDER
1.b CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
ACTION: City Attorney Christine Dietrick reported the Council met in
Closed Session on one matter of anticipated litigation regarding exposure
to litigation arising from allegations related to the potential application of
the City’s recent Mobile Home Rent Stabilization Ordinance amendments
to existing long term leases. There was no reportable action taken on this
item.
1.c CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—EXISTING LITIGATION
ACTION: Assistant City Attorney Markie Kersten reported Council
unanimously authorized defense of the city and individually named
defendants in existing litigation as parties and facts listed on the agenda.
The individually named defendants did not participate in the Closed
Session and Council was represented by outside legal counsel.
1.d ADJOURNMENT
Closed Session adjourned at 5:10 PM to the Regular Meeting of the San
Luis Obispo Council at 5:30 PM.
2. CALL TO ORDER
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A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo City Council was called to order on
July 21, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 990 Palm Street, San Luis
Obispo, by Mayor Stewart.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council Member Boswell led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. PRESENTATIONS
4.a INTRODUCTION AND OATH OF OFFICE - FIRE CHIEF RANDY HARRIS
City Manager Whitney McDonald introduced Fire Chief Harris. City Clerk
Teresa Purrington administered the Oath of Office.
4.b SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY 2026 POINT-IN-TIME COUNT UPDATE
Timmi Tway, Community Development Director, Daisy Wiberg,
Homelessness Response Manager and Kate Borne, Business Services
Analyst with the County of San Luis Obispo provided an in-depth staff
report and responded to Council questions.
Public Comments:
Barry Price
---End of Public Comment---
4.c CITYWIDE SINGLE VOTE COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE
Deputy City Manager Greg Hermann, Communication Manager Whit
Szentesi and Policy and Program Manager Natalie Harnett provided an in-
depth staff report and responded to Council questions.
Public Comments:
None
---End of Public Comment---
4.d CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Whitney McDonald provided a report on upcoming projects.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Public Comment:
Dawn Ortiz Legg spoke during City Manager Report
Katie Ikard
Stephan Talka
Shawn Harris
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Dona Hare Price
Volonakis
--End of Public Comment--
6. CONSENT AGENDA
Council Member Marx indicated that she would be recusing herself on Item 6h.
Public Comment:
Rachel Whalen - Item 6d
Clifford Betita - Item 6i
Babak Naficy - Item 6i
Kathy Borland - Item 6i
Kim Slickler - Item 6i
Alaina McBride - Item 6i
--End of Public Comment--
Motion By Council Member Shoresman
Second By Council Member Marx
To approve Consent Calendar Items 6a to 6k.
Ayes (5): Council Member Boswell, Council Member Marx, Council Member
Shoresman, Vice Mayor Francis, and Mayor Stewart
CARRIED (5 to 0)
6.a WAIVE READING IN FULL OF ALL RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES
Waive reading of all resolutions and ordinances as appropriate.
6.b MINUTES REVIEW - MAY 26, 2026 SPECIAL MEETING AND JUNE 16,
2026 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Approve the minutes of the City Council meeting held on May 26, 2026
and June 16, 2026.
6.c ADVISORY BODY APPOINTMENT FOR AN UNSCHEDULED VACANCY
ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD
Confirm the appointment of William Bartlett to the Housing Authority Board
(HAB) for the remainder of the vacated term ending on June 30, 2027.
6.d ANNUAL CANNABIS BUSINESS PROGRAM UPDATE
Receive an update on the City’s Cannabis Business Program.
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6.e ADOPTION OF FY 2026-27 COMMUNITY PROMOTION PROGRAMS
FOR TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (TBID) AND
PROMOTIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE (PCC)
As recommended by the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID)
Board and the Promotional Coordinating Committee (PCC):
1. Authorize the City Manager to enter into program expenditures and
various contracts for the TBID not to exceed the 2026-27 projected
revenue of $1,952,383 (excludes administration overhead and
staffing costs), based on the recommendations by the TBID Board;
a. This includes, but is not exclusive of, approval of the funding of
the first year of an extended two-year contract with Noble Studios
for marketing services in the amount of $1,250,000;
b. The funding of the contracts with the SLO Chamber of Commerce
for Guest Services and Public Relations in the amount of
$148,000; and
c. The funding of the contract with Badger Branding for content
marketing services in the amount of $107,700; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to use the TBID Fund Balance of
$1,630,929 for tourism marketing expenditures in FY 2026-27 in
accordance with City policy; and
3. Approve amendments to Article 7 in TBID’s Bylaws to reflect an
increase in fund reserve from $100,000 to 20% of projected annual
revenue; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to enter into various contracts and
program expenditures for Community Promotions not to exceed the
FY 2026-27 program budget of $352,000 (excludes staffing costs)
based on the recommendations by the PCC;
a. This includes the funding of the contracts with the SLO Chamber
of Commerce for Guest Services, Public Relations, and Cultural
Arts & Community Promotions (CACP) Grant Marketing Support
in the amount of $194,250;
b. The FY 2026-27 CACP allocations in the amount of $100,000 and
authorization to execute individual agreements with each grant
recipient;
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c. Additionally, authorize the City Manager or her designee to
modify allowed uses of grant funding when executing contracts
for the FY 2026-27 CACP grant recipients in cases where the
grantee’s specific line items in their proposed marketing or
advertising plan has shifted but retains its overall intended
purpose; and
d. Authorize the City Manager or her designee to use discretion in
accepting or rejecting submitted expenses from the FY 2026-27
CACP grant recipients, up to the approved grant amount for each
recipient, while ensuring overall purpose and intent remains
consistent with recommendations from the Promotional
Coordinating Committee and approval by City Council. Grantees
must notify staff of any requested deviation in the use of funds in
advance of the expenditure, and staff will bring any substantial
deviations back to the PCC for consideration.
6.f FREEWAY MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT AND PROJECT SPECIFIC
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
1. Adopt a draft Resolution entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council
of the City of San Luis Obispo, California, authorizing execution of
a Freeway Maintenance Agreement with Caltrans for portions of
State Route 101 within the City limits”; and
2. Adopt a draft Resolution entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council
of the City of San Luis Obispo, California, authorizing execution of
a Project-Specific Maintenance Agreement with Caltrans for
portions of State Highway Route 1 within the City limits.”
6.g SELECTION OF VOTING DELEGATE AND ALTERNATES FOR THE
2026 LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Appoint Council Member Mike Boswell as the Voting Delegate and Council
Member Jan Marx as Alternate Voting Delegate to vote on the City’s behalf
at the Annual Business Meeting of the League of California Cities on
Thursday, September 24, 2026.
6.h 2026 ANNUAL MONITORING FOR THE SAN LUIS RANCH
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, MITIGATION MEASURES, AND
PROJECT CONDITIONS
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Council Member Marx declared a conflict on this item, due to owning
property in the development.
Receive and file the 2026 annual monitoring report for the San Luis Ranch
Development Agreement, mitigation measures, and required project
conditions.
6.i 2026 ANNUAL MONITORING FOR THE AVILA RANCH DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT, MITIGATION MEASURES, AND PROJECT CONDITIONS
Receive and file the 2026 annual monitoring report for the Avila Ranch
Development Agreement, mitigation measures, and required project
conditions.
6.j CONSIDER PARTICIPATING IN THE URBAN COUNTY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, OVERSEEN BY THE COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, FOR
THE 2027-2029 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT
PROGRAM CYCLES
1. Adopt a draft Resolution entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council
of the City of San Luis Obispo, California, Approving the
Participation in the San Luis Obispo Region Urban County,
Overseen by the County of San Luis Obispo, for the 2027-2029
Community Development Block Grant Federal Program Cycles”;
and
2. Authorize the City Manager to sign the 2027-2029 Cooperation
Agreement to participate in the San Luis Obispo Region Urban
County.
6.k POLICE DEPARTMENT GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR FY 2026-27
1. Authorize the Police Department to submit grant applications to the
following agencies: a. California Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax
Fund Grant Program in an amount of $134,200; b. COPS Hiring
Program Grant in an amount of $125,000
2. If the California Highway Parol Cannabis Tax Fund grant is
awarded, authorize the City Manager and Chief of Police to
execute related grant documents and authorize the Finance
Director to make necessary budget adjustments upon the award of
the grant.
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3. Authorize staff to suspend and remove funding for the current
School Resource Officer position, due to the loss of revenue from
the San Luis Coastal Unified School District.
4. Adopt a draft resolution entitled, “A Resolution of the Council of the
City of San Luis Obispo, California, accepting a grant award
provided through the California Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax Fund
Grant Program to increase education, prevention and enforcement
programs focusing on driving under the influence of alcohol and
other drugs and authorizing the City Manager and Chief of Police to
execute all related grant documents”.
8. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. The next Regular City Council Meeting
is scheduled for August 4, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City
Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.