City Council Meeting - August 12, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ray Russom called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:02.
2. ROLL CALL
Deputy City Clerk Hawkins took roll call.
3. MOMENT OF REFLECTION
4. FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Ray Russom led the flag salute.
5. AGENDA REVIEW
5.a
Closed Session Announcements
City Attorney Rosen announced that the City Coucil met in Closed Session for the following items and there was no reportable action:
August 12, 2025
a)
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION:
(Paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Government Code § 54956.9) Name of Case
: San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper, et. al v. County of San Luis Obispo, U.S. District Court Central District of California (Western Division – Los Angeles), Case No. 2:24-cv-06854-SPG-AS
5.b
Ordinances read in title only
Moved by
Mayor Ray Russom
Seconded by
Mayor Pro Tem Secrest
Move that all ordinances presented at the meeting shall be read by title only and all further readings be waived.
AYES (4)
Mayor Ray Russom, Council Member Maraviglia, Mayor Pro Tem Secrest, and Council Member Guthrie ABSENT (1)
Council Member Loe
Passed (4 to 0)
6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
6.a
City Manager Communications
City Manager Downing invited FCFA Chief Hallett to provide an update on the current status of the Gifford Fire. City Manager Downing provided an update on the Traffic Way Bridge Replacement Project, reminding the community that school returns to session this week and to plan for delays from the Project; AGPD's participation in a joint training exercise with the Cities of Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, FCFA and State Parks preparing officers for critical incidents; AGPD and Recreation Services hosting an after school event at Heritage Square Park on Thursday; provided an update on the Summer Concert Series; Fall Activity Guide now available; and provided an update on Summer Camp attendance.
7. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
None.
Reports are made during the Second Council Meeting each month.
8. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
9. CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Ray Russom asked the Council if there were any questions or any items to be pulled from the consent agenda for further discussion.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
Council Member Guthrie requested Item 9.i. be considered separately due to a conflict of interest from him serving on the Harvest Festival Committee.
Chief Culver responded questions from Council regarding Item 9.h.
City Manager Downing provided comments on Item 9.f.
Moved by
Council Member Guthrie
Seconded by
Council Member Maraviglia
Approve Consent Agenda Items 9.a. through 9.h., with the exception of Item 9.i., with the recommended courses of action.
AYES (4)
Mayor Ray Russom, Council Member Maraviglia, Mayor Pro Tem Secrest, and Council Member Guthrie ABSENT (1)
Council Member Loe
Passed (4 to 0)
9.a
Cash Disbursement Ratification
Reviewed and ratified the attached listing of cash disbursements for the period of July 1 through July 15, 2025.
9.b
Statement of Investment Deposits for June 2025
Received and filed the attached report listing investment deposits of the City of Arroyo Grande as of June 30, 2025, as required by Government Code Section 53646(b).
9.c
Receive and File the Biennial Budget Book for Fiscal Years (FY) 2025-27 Received and filed the City of Arroyo Grande Biennial Budget Book for Fiscal Years (FY) 2025-27.
9.d
Approval of Minutes
Approved the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of July 22, 2025, as submitted.
9.e
Appointment of a Voting Delegate and Alternate for the League of California Cities Annual Conference Appointed Mayor Ray Russom as the voting delegate and Council Member Guthrie as the alternate for the League of California Cities Annual Conference; and authorized submittal by the City of the League of California Cities’ Voting Delegate/Alternate Form.
9.f
Confirmation of Appointment of David Culver as Chief of Police Confirmed the appointment of David Culver as the Chief of Police, effective August 15, 2025.
9.g
Subscription Agreement with Safe Fleet’s COBAN NEXUS Cloud Platform Data Storage System 1) Adopted a Resolution approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute the five-year Safe Fleet Nexus Customer Subscription Agreement in an amount not-to-exceed $178,502, subject to any minor, technical, or non-substantive changes as approved by the City Manager in consultation with the City Attorney; and 2) Found that adopting the Resolution is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because approval of a software subscription agreement does not in itself have potential to result in either a direct, or reasonably foreseeable indirect, physical change to the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060, subd. (c)(2)-(3), 15378.)
9.h
Agreement with the California Office of Traffic Safety
1) Adopted a Resolution authorizing the Chief of Police to execute a grant agreement with the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to accept grant funding for traffic safety programs; 2) Approved a Budget Amendment Request for FY 2025-26 in the amount of $80,000 to account for the additional revenue and expenditures related to the grant; and 3) Found that adopting the Resolution is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because adopting the Resolution does not in itself have potential to result in either a direct, or reasonably foreseeable indirect, physical change to the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060, subd. (c)(2)-(3), 15378.)
9.i
Temporary Use Permit 25-005; Authorization for the 86th Annual Arroyo Grande Valley Harvest Festival, Friday and Saturday September 26-27, 2025; Location – Heritage Square Park and Olohan Alley Moved by
Mayor Ray Russom
Seconded by
Council Member Maraviglia
1) Adopted a Resolution approving Temporary Use Permit 25-005, authorizing closure of City streets, sale of alcohol, waiver of fees, and use of City property for the 86 th
Annual Arroyo Grande Valley Harvest Festival, Friday and Saturday, September 26-27, 2025; and 2) Found the action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15304 of the CEQA Guidelines.
AYES (3)
Mayor Ray Russom, Council Member Maraviglia, and Mayor Pro Tem Secrest ABSENT (2)
Council Member Guthrie, and Council Member Loe
Passed (3 to 0)
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
10.a
Public Hearing to Consider Amending the Authorized Uses of the Arroyo Grande Tourism Business Improvement District (AGTBID) Funds and Amending the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code Mayor Ray Russom declared a conflict of interest due to ownership of an ADU and left the meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Secrest presided.
Recreation Services Director Bohlken presented the staff report and responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Secrest opened the public hearing. Upon hearing no public comments, Mayor Pro Tem Secrest closed the public hearing.
Deputy City Clerk Hawkins reported that, as of the close of the public hearing, no protests were received.
Moved by
Council Member Guthrie
Seconded by
Council Member Maraviglia
1) Adopt a Resolution to make modifications to the authorized uses funded by assessments imposed through the AGTBID, and directing the introduction of an ordinance amending Chapter 3.46 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code, 2) Introduce an Ordinance for first reading to amend Chapter 3.46 of the Municipal Code authorizing amendments to authorized uses of AGTBID funds; and 3) Find that the recommended actions to support the Arroyo Grande Tourism Business Improvement District are not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because these efforts have no potential to result in either a direct, or reasonably foreseeable indirect, physical change in the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060 (c)(2) and (3), 15378).
AYES (3)
Council Member Maraviglia, Mayor Pro Tem Secrest, and Council Member Guthrie ABSENT (2)
Mayor Ray Russom, and Council Member Loe
Passed (3 to 0)
11. BUSINESS ITEMS
11.a
2024 Annual Report for the Northern Cities Management Area and City Water Supply and Future Resources Evaluation Update Mayor Ray Russom returned to the meeting.
Public Works Director/Assistant City Manager Robeson, and Utilities Manager Taylor presented the NCMA annual report and responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
The 2024 Northern Cities Management Area (NCMA) Annual Report was received and filed.
12. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Council Member Guthrie requested that the Council consider directing staff to agendize a discussion of a request for restriping the Pickleball Courts. Council concurred.
Mayor Pro Tem Secrest commented that she attended the Balayco on Barca Transitional Housing Anniversary Event; and participated on the panel for the Leadership Academy.
13. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Ray Russom adjourned the meeting at 6:43 PM.