City council approves employment agreement with interim city manager
Chris Huot
Huot has served as interim city manager since Aug. 12
– The Paso Robles City Council held its regular meeting on Oct. 1, addressing several key issues, including the approval of an interim city manager employment agreement with Chris Huot. Huot has served as interim city manager since Aug. 12, while City Manager Ty Lewis remains on leave.
The council voted 4-1 to accept the employment agreement with Huot, with Councilmember Chris Bausch abstaining.
Effective Aug. 12, Huot’s gross base salary is set at $247,033.80, increasing to $256,915.10 annually as of Aug. 18. He will continue to receive the same benefits as in his assistant city manager role, excluding the automobile benefit, for which he will receive a car allowance of $230.77 per pay period.
Before being selected as the Assistant City Manager for the City Of Paso Robles, Huot served as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Bakersfield.
The meeting began with a proclamation for Dating and Domestic Violence Month by Mayor John Hamon. The council also celebrated the Resident Academy graduation, with remarks from Mayor Hamon and Assistant City Manager Huot.
Ditas Esperanza, capital projects engineer, along with Public Works Operations Manager David LaCaro and Public Works Director Freda Berman provided a Capital Projects Report. Colonel Stephen Trotter, garrison commander at Fort Hunter Liggett, updated the council on developments at the fort, and Gus Khouri of Khouri Consulting delivered a CalTrans Quarterly Report.
The consent agenda passed unanimously.
The council then held two public hearings on development-related issues. The first hearing, regarding a tentative map amendment for Planning Area 9 of the Olsen Ranch Tract 3149, was continued to the Nov. 5 meeting at the request of the applicant.
Mixed-use development approved
The second public hearing focused on a rezoning and development plan for a mixed-use affordable housing project on Spring Street. The proposed project includes 3,400 square feet of first-floor commercial space featuring a wine-tasting room, 16 hotel rooms, and eight residential units, one of which will be designated for very low-income housing. The project is owned by the Tobin James Cellars family.
Associate planner Katie Banister presented the project, which involves rezoning the property, approving a development plan with an affordable housing density bonus, and granting a conditional use permit for the winetasting room.
During the hearing, council and public comments addressed concerns regarding parking and potential noise issues.
The project was approved unanimously.
Click here to view the full agenda.
Watch the live stream replay on YouTube below:
