Paso Robles City Council Meeting Highlights, July 2019
–Highlights from the July 16, Paso Robles City Council meeting, as submitted by the City of Paso Robles, are as follows:
The council:
- Proclaimed a local public health and safety emergency, due to the risk of multi-day electrical power outages this summer and fall, as a result of PG&E’s need to shut down electrical transmission and distribution lines during periods of high fire risk. The city needs to prepare city facilities to have backup power capabilities, serve as cooling centers, and ensure the city can assist residents and businesses in remaining healthy and safe throughout any extended outage.
- Approved a contract with American Asphalt South to slurry seal eight streets in the city, including Creston Road between Niblick and Myrtlewood, as well as portions of Ponderosa Lane, Marigold Lane, Queenanne Road, Silver Oak Drive, Caymus Court, Silverwood Way, and Beechwood Court. City crews have already patched and cracksealed these road segments in preparation. Queenanne will also have curb ramps installed. Total cost of all of this work is $577,000. The slurry seal project will provide 7-10 years of additional useful life to the pavement surface.
- Amended Title 14, Water and Sewers, of the city’s municipal code, to adjust bill paying timelines and notifications. These changes will facilitate the implementation of the city’s new bill paying software, which will increase information available to customers about their accounts and improve communication between customers with questions or concerns and city staff.
- Approved a contract with Stonehouse Drilling & Construction to replace the Tarr Well, a major production well in the city’s water supply system, located at the airport. The Tarr Well, which is 26 years old, has exceeded its useful life. Total cost of this project is $580,000.
- Approved contracts for downtown signage and to repair the city parking lot at 13th and Spring Street. These efforts are part of the city’s overall effort to upgrade parking opportunities in the downtown. The parking kiosks have already been installed and paid parking will begin on August 14. Employee parking permits will be available soon for $5/mo. Much additional information on the program will soon be available on the city’s website, at businesses throughout the downtown, and at local visitor-serving establishments.
- Initiated a community collaboration effort for the redesign of Niblick Road. The city received a grant to assist in engaging residents and businesses to develop a new vision and plan for Niblick Road, one that will ensure the road serves the community well into the future. The plan will provide a blueprint for Niblick Road upgrades and operations until we reach buildout. Completion of the plan also will allow the city to qualify for competitive state construction grants that would otherwise be unavailable.
- Approved an annual contract with the Main Street Association to fund events, promotions, and other activities that welcome visitors and residents to the downtown.
- Proclaimed a second local public health and safety emergency, due to the recent fires in the Salinas Riverbed, to allow the city to reduce the vegetative fuels in the river corridor, create fire breaks, and work with the homeless currently living in the corridor to find needed services and shelter.
- Introduced an ordinance amending the City’s Zoning Code to regulate short-term rentals in all zoning districts throughout the city. After 31 public meetings over 4+ years, called by the Short-term Rental Task Force, the Planning Commission, and the Paso Robles City Council itself, the council held first reading of an ordinance that permits home shares in all zones, permits non-hosted short-term accommodations in single family residential neighborhoods, and grandfathers existing non-hosted accommodations in the R-1 zone. It requires the council to review the status of the industry in one year and two years from now, and specifies that the ordinance will expire if not modified or replaced in three years, to ensure that we, as a community, are reacting and anticipating changes in the short-term rental industry.
This is just a subset of the actions taken by the Council Tuesday night. To view the full agenda and supporting documentation, click here: https://www.prcity.com/AgendaCenter/City-Council-2
The next city council meeting takes place on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the Library Conference Center at 1000 Spring Street.
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