City Council Meeting - January 27, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ray Russom called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
City Clerk Matson 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
None.
5.b
Ordinances read in title only
Moved by
Mayor Ray Russom
Seconded by
Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia
Move that all ordinances presented at the meeting shall be read by title only and all further readings be waived.
AYES (5)
Mayor Ray Russom, Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia, Council Member Secrest, Council Member Guthrie, and Council Member Loe Passed (5 to 0)
6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
6.a
Honorary Proclamation Recognizing February 2026 as "Black History Month"
1. CC 2026-01-27 Honorary Proclamation - Black History Month.pdf Mayor Ray Russom presented the Proclamation recognizing February 2026 as "Black History Month"
. John King, Executive Committee Member, Freedom Fund, accepted the Proclamation.
No action was taken on this Item.
6.b
Introduction and Oath of Office of FCFA Captain Burl Vreeland Chief Hallett introduced Five Cities Fire Authority Captain Burl Vreeland, and highlighted his educational and professional background. Five Cities Fire Authority Board Clerk Tricia Meyers administered the Oath of Office.
6.c
City Manager Communications
City Manager Downing provided updates on the Wesley and Vernon Waterline Replacement Project; adult sports registration now open; current City employment opportunities; the Traffic Way Bridge Replacement Project Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on February 4 th
at 5:00 p.m.; and recognized Cody Stiles for receiving Volunteer Service Award, J.R. Garcia for the Community Service Award, Menchie’s and Toste Construction for the Sponsorship Award, Knights of Columbus Council 1375 and California Conservation Corps for the Service Club Award, and New Life Painting for the Recreation Services Director Award at the Volunteer Appreciation Event.
No action was taken on this item.
7. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
The City Council provided brief reports from the following committee, commission, board, or other subcommittee meetings that they attended as the City’s appointed representative.
7.a
MAYOR RAY RUSSOM:
Audit Committee
California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA)
Five Cities Fire Authority JPA Board
San Luis Obispo County Mayor's Meeting
South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District (SSLOCSD) Other
7.b
MAYOR PRO TEM MARAVIGLIA:
Five Cities Fire Authority JPA Board
Visit SLO CAL Advisory Board
Other
7.c
COUNCIL MEMBER GUTHRIE:
Central Coast Community Energy (CCCE) Policy Board
Integrated Waste Management Authority Board (IWMA)
REACH Economic Development Roundtable
Other
7.d
COUNCIL MEMBER SECREST:
Air Pollution Control District (APCD)
Homeless Services Oversight Council (HSOC)
South County Chambers of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee State of South County
Mayor's Meeting
7.e
COUNCIL MEMBER LOE:
Council of Governments/Regional Transit Authority (SLOCOG/SLORTA) County Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC)
Zone 3 Water Advisory Board
State of South County
LOCC Mayors and New Council Members Academy
8. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. Speaking from the public was John Rohner. No further 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.
Council provided comments on Item 9.h. and Item 9.j. Community Development Director Pedrotti and City Manager Downing responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
Moved by
Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia
Seconded by
Council Member Secrest
Approve Consent Agenda Items 9.a. through 9.j., with the recommended courses of action.
AYES (4)
Mayor Ray Russom, Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia, Council Member Secrest, and Council Member Loe ABSENT (1)
Council Member Guthrie
Passed (4 to 0)
9.a
Approval of Minutes
1. CC 2026-01-27 Approval of Minutes_Jan13_2026 .pdf
Approved the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of January 13, 2026, as submitted.
9.b
Cash Disbursement Ratification
1. CC 2026-01-27 Cash Disbursement Ratification.pdf
2. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 1 - Cash Disbursement Ratification.pdf
3. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 2 - Cash Disbursement Ratifcation.pdf Reviewed and ratified the attached listing of cash disbursements for the period of December 1 through December 31, 2025.
9.c
Annual Adjustment of Development Impact Fees Including the Sewer Connection Fee
1. CC 2026-01-27 Annual Adjustment of Development Impact Fees; Including the Sewer Connection Fee.pdf
2. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 1 - Annual Adjustment of Development Impact Fees Resolution.pdf 1) Adopted a Resolution entitled:
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE ADJUSTING DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES; INCLUDING THE SEWER CONNECTION FEE TO INCREASE BY 2.43%, CONSISTENT WITH ENGINEERING NEWS RECORD CONSTRUCTION COST INDEX"; and
2) Found that establishing development impact fees, including sewer connection fees, are not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because the action has no potential to result in either a direct, or reasonably foreseeable indirect, physical change in the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060, subd. (c)(2)-(3), 15378.).
9.d
Appointment to the Community Service Grant Program Committee
1. CC 2026-01-27 Appointment to the Community Service Grant Program Committee.pdf
2. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 1 - Resolution.pdf
3. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 2 - Application to CSGPC_JR Garcia_R.pdf Adopted a Resolution entitled:
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE APPOINTING JR GARCIA TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANT PROGRAM COMMITTEE".
9.e
Public Outreach and Education Related to a Potential Cannabis Tax Ballot Measure
1. CC 2026-01-27 Appropriation of $40,000 to Support Public Outreach and Education Related to a Cannabis Tax Ballot Measure.pdf
2. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 1 - Resolution(1).pdf
1) Adopted a Resolution entitled:
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE APPROPRIATING $50,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE TO SUPPORT PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION RELATED TO A POTENTIAL CANNABIS TAX BALLOT MEASURE"; and
2) Found that appropriating funds from the General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because it has no potential to result in either a direct, or reasonably foreseeable indirect, physical change in the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060, subd. (c)(2)-(3), 15378).
9.f
Annual Military Equipment Report Pursuant to California AB 481
1. CC 2025-01-27 PD Military Equipment Report .pdf
2. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 1 - 2025 Military Equipment Inventory.pdf
3. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 2 - Annual Military Equipment Report.pdf
4. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 3 - O 714.pdf
1) Received and filed the “2025 Military Equipment Use Inventory Report” and the “2026 Annual Military Equipment Report” in accordance with California Assembly Bill 481, determined that said report meets all standards for approval set forth in Government Code Section 7071(d); and 2) Approved the renewal of Ordinance No. 714.
9.g
Adoption of an Ordinance Certifying Extension of Existing Radar Speed Surveys
1. CC 2026-01-27 Radar Speed Survey Extension second reading.pdf
2. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 1 - Ordinance Radar Speed Survey Extension.pdf 1) Adopted the Ordinance entitled:
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE EXTENDING THE CERTIFICATION OF THE 2018 FIVE-YEAR RADAR SPEED SURVEY" ;
and;
2) Found that adoption of this Ordinance does not constitute a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because it has no potential to result in either a direct, or reasonably foreseeable indirect, physical change in the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines, §§15060, subd. (c)(2)-(3), 15378.).
9.h
Award of 2026 Pedestrian Improvements Project
1. CC 2026-01-27 Award 2026 Pedestrian Improvements.pdf
2. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 1 - Resolution .pdf
3. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 2 - HSIP Allocation Letter.pdf
4. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 3 - Bid Opening Log.pdf
5. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 4 - Contract V Lopez and Sons.pdf 1) Adopted a Resolution:
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE 2026 PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT (PW 2025-19) TO V. LOPEZ JR. & SONS GENERAL ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS INC."; and
2) Found that the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) under Sections 15301 (Class 1 – Existing Facilities) and 15303 (Class 3 – New Construction of Small Facilities), as it consists of repair and minor alteration of existing public facilities and construction of small pedestrian and traffic safety improvements within the existing public right-of-way, with no expansion of use beyond existing conditions.
9.i
Calendar Year 2025 Water Supply and Demand Update
1. Calendar Year 2025 Water Supply and Demand Update.pdf
2. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 1 - Monthly Operations Report.pdf
3. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 2 - Lopez Reservoir Storage Projection Chart.pdf
4. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 3 - Yearly Water Use Comparison.pdf
5. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 4 - Deep Well Index Level.pdf Received and filed the Calendar Year 2025 Water Supply and Demand Update.
9.j
General Plan Update Progress Report – January 2026
1. CC 2026-01-27 General Plan Progress Report.pdf
2. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 1 - General Plan Progress Report.pdf Received and filed a progress report on the Comprehensive General Plan Update.
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
11. BUSINESS ITEMS
11.a
Information Technology (IT) Strategic Plan
1. CC 2026-01-27 IT Strategic Plan.pdf
2. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 1 - IT Strategic Plan Resolution.pdf
3. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 1 Exhibit A - IT Strategic Plan.pdf IT Manager Waddy introduced the Item. Patrick Griffin, consultant with SDI, presented the Item.
Mr. Griffin responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
Moved by
Council Member Loe
Seconded by
Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia
1) Adopted a Resolution:
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE APPROVING THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIC PLAN"; and
2) Found that adopting a Resolution approving the IT Strategic Plan is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because it has no potential to result in either a direct, or reasonably foreseeable indirect, physical change in the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060, subd. (c)(2)-(3), 15378).
AYES (4)
Mayor Ray Russom, Mayor Pro Tem Maraviglia, Council Member Secrest, and Council Member Loe ABSENT (1)
Council Member Guthrie
Passed (4 to 0)
11.b
Update on City Council Goals and Priorities
1. CC 2026-01-27 Update on Council Goals and Priorities.pdf
2. CC 2026-01-27 Attachment 1 - City Council Goal's Work Plan_Q2_updated.pdf City Manager Downing presented the Item and responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Ray Russom invited public comment. No public comments were received.
Council discussion ensued regarding the importance of the General Plan Update and its timeline. Council commended staff for their work on the Council Goals.
Receive an update regarding progress made toward meeting the City Council’s Goals and Priorities for Fiscal Year 2025-27 (July 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025).
No action was taken on this item.
12. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Council Member Secrest commented on her experience participating in the Homeless Services Oversight Council point in time count.
13. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Ray Russom adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m. in honor of Black History Month.