Atascadero City Council
August 11, 2026
CITY OF ATASCADERO
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
August 11, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
August 11, 2026, 6:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers, Fourth Floor
6500 Palma Avenue, Atascadero, California
_____________________________________________________________________ A. CLOSED SESSION (5:30 p.m.)
Mayor Bourbeau called the closed session to order at 5:30 P.M.
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Bourbeau, Mayor Pro Tem Dariz, Council Member Funk, Council Member Newsom, Council Member Peek
Absent: None
Staff
Present:
City Manager James R. Lewis, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Lara Henderson, City Attorney Dave Fleishman, Support Services Technician Abby Getahun
2. CLOSED SESSION - PUBLIC COMMENT
The following persons spoke: Dennis Lanes, Lee Livick, Margret Bullock (exhibit A)
3. COUNCIL LEAVES CHAMBERS TO BEGIN CLOSED SESSION
(Support Services Technician Getahun did not attend Closed Session)
4. CLOSED SESSION - CALL TO ORDER
a. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation Government Code §54956.9(d)(4): 1 potential case
5. CLOSED SESSION – ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Bourbeau adjourned the Closed Session at 5:58 p.m.
Atascadero City Council
August 11, 2026
6. CLOSED SESSION - REPORT
City Attorney Fleishman reported that the City will initiate action and will formally identify once action has been filed.
B. REGULAR SESSION - CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Bourbeau called the meeting to order at 6:01 P.M.
Present: Mayor Bourbeau, Mayor Pro Tem Dariz, Council Member Funk, Council Member Newsom, Council Member Peek
Absent: None
Staff Present: City Manager James R. Lewis, City Attorney Dave Fleishman, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Lara
Henderson, Administrative Services Director/City Treasurer Jeri Rangel, Public Works Director Nick DeBar, Community Development Director Phil Dunsmore, Fire Chief Casey
Bryson, Police Chief Dan Suttles, Community Services and Promotions Director Terrie Banish, Support Services
Technician Abby Getahun, Battalion Chief Dave Van Son
C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council Member Peek led the Pledge of Allegiance.
D. PRESENTATIONS
1. APD Recognition Awards
Chief Suttles presented the Life Saving Award to officer Hurst and the Certificate of Excellence to Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor Ordanez and Dispatcher Pachecho.
E. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. City Council Draft Minutes - July 14, 2026, Regular Meeting Recommendation: Council approve the July 14, 2026, City Council regular meeting minutes. [City Clerk]
2. June 2026 Accounts Payable & Payroll
Fiscal Impact: Total expenditures for all funds is $4,742,252.51 Recommendation: Council approve certified City accounts payable, payroll and payroll vendor checks for June 2026. [Administrative Services]
3. Voting Delegate Designation – Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo
Fiscal Impact: None
Recommendation: Council designate Council Member Funk as the voting Atascadero City Council
August 11, 2026
delegate and City Manager Jim Lewis as the alternate for the General Assembly at the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo in September 2026 and direct the City Clerk to inform Cal Cities of the designation. [City Clerk]
4. 2026 Measure F-14 Pavement Rehabilitation Project Construction Award
Fiscal Impact: Approving staff recommendations will result in the estimated expenditures up to $1,250,000 in Sales Tax Measure F-14 Funds during fiscal year 2026-2027.
Recommendation: Council award a construction contract for $937,777 to Westrock General Engineering for the 2026 Measure F-14 Pavement Rehabilitation Project (Project No. C2025R01). [Public Works]
5. El Camino Real at Highway 41 Pavement Rehabilitation Project Construction Award
Fiscal Impact: The approval of this contract will utilize $500,000 in budgeted Local Transportation Funds. An additional $30,000 in Local Transportation Fund Reserves would also be allocated and used for this project if so approved
Recommendation: Council:
1. Award a construction contract for $429,625 to Westrock General Engineering for the Base Bid Schedule for the El Camino Real at Highway 41 Pavement Rehabilitation Project (Project No. C2025R05).
2. Authorize the Administrative Services Director to allocate an additional $30,000 in Local Transportation Fund balance to the project budget for construction contingencies. [Public Works]
6. CHP Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program
Fiscal Impact: The California Highway Patrol has awarded the Atascadero Police Department $180,671.64 through the Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program. The grant does not require a local funding match. Funds will be used solely for eligible grant activities and expenditures identified in the approved grant budget.
Recommendation: Council:
1. Accept the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Cannabis Tax Fund Grant award in the amount of $180,671.64.
2. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Grant Agreement and all related documents necessary to administer the grant.
3. Appropriate grant revenues and expenditures of $180,671.64 for the duration of the grant performance period. [Police]
7. Police Vehicle Purchase
Fiscal Impact: The total base purchase price from Jon Jones Auto Group for the purchase of two replacement K-9-equipped patrol vehicles is $111,484 in budgeted funds. The additional cost to upfit these two vehicles, including a 10% contingency, is $115,076, for a total cost of the two vehicles of $226,560 in budgeted funds.
Atascadero City Council
August 11, 2026
Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to execute the purchase agreement with Jon Jones Auto Group for the purchase of two replacement K-9-equipped patrol vehicles in an amount not to exceed $111,484. [Police]
8. Purchase of a Crane Service Truck for Wastewater Operations Fiscal Impact: Approving the recommendation for purchasing the crane service truck will result in a budgeted expenditure of $174,983 from the Wastewater Fund and reduce contractor services between $7,500 and $15,000 annually.
Recommendation: Council approve the purchase of one Ford F-550 Mechanics Crane Service Truck from Rush Truck Centers of Texas for $174,983 for wastewater operations to replace the 2003 Ford F-550 crane truck. [Public Works]
Mayor Bourbeau opened the Public Comment period.
The following persons spoke on this item: Geoff Auslen
Mayor Bourbeau closed the Public Comment period.
MOTION BY: Funk
SECOND BY: Newsom
1. Approve the Consent Calendar (Item E4, Contract No. 2026-009) (Item E5, Contract No. 2026-010)
AYES (5): Bourbeau, Dariz, Funk, Newsom, and Peek
Passed 5-0
F. UPDATES FROM THE CITY MANAGER
City Manager Lewis gave an update on current projects and events in the City.
G. COMMUNITY FORUM
The following persons spoke: Katie Osmond, Wendy Lewis, Grant Dunn, John Sanders, Geoff Auslen, Margret Bullock
H. PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Confirming Cost of Weed / Vegetative Growth Abatement Fiscal Impact: The City will receive approximately $80,092.40 from the 2026/2027 property tax rolls in weed abatement/refuse abatement assessments.
Recommendation: Council adopt the Draft Resolution, confirming the cost of vegetative growth (weeds) and/or refuse (rubbish) abatement. [Fire] Battalion Chief Dave Van Son gave the presentation and answered questions from the City Council.
Atascadero City Council
August 11, 2026
Mayor Bourbeau opened the Public Comment period.
The following persons spoke on this item: Geoff Auslen
Mayor Bourbeau closed the Public Comment period.
MOTION BY: Funk
SECOND BY: Peek
Adopt Resolution 2026-057 confirming the cost of vegetative growth (weeds) and/or refuse (rubbish) abatement.
AYES (5): Bourbeau, Dariz, Funk, Newsom, and Peek
Passed 5-0
I. MANAGEMENT REPORTS
1. Fire Department Command Staff Restructure
Fiscal Impact: There is minimal fiscal impact to Fire employee salary costs during this budget cycle due to retirements and promotions resulting in employees promoting into initial steps of the salary schedule. Maintaining daily staffing levels of 7 is estimated to increase overtime expenses by $80,000 annually. One-time costs of about $30,000 will be incurred for the new positions and will include new personal protective equipment, radios and tablets. The holiday leave accrual liquidation is not expected to exceed $150,000 and is proposed to be paid from General Fund Reserves.
Recommendation: Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to add an additional Battalion Chief position to the total budgeted positions; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to restructure all three Battalion Chiefs to a 24-hour Shift schedule; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to add a fire captain position to fill the role of fire marshal and remove a fire fighter position; and
4. Adopt Draft Resolution for Non-Represented Professional and Management Workers and Confidential Employees; and
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Side Letter with the Atascadero Professional Firefighters Local 3600 for the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), dated July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027; and
6. Authorize the Director of Administrative Services to allocate $150,000 in General Fund Reserves to liquidate a portion of the Holiday Leave Liability.
Fire Chief Bryson gave the presentation and answered questions from the City Council.
Atascadero City Council
August 11, 2026
Mayor Bourbeau opened the Public Comment period.
The following persons spoke on this item: Geoff Auslen
Mayor Bourbeau closed the Public Comment period.
MOTION BY: Peek
SECOND BY: Dariz
1. Authorize the City Manager to add an additional Battalion Chief position to the total budgeted positions; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to restructure all three Battalion Chiefs to a 24-hour Shift schedule; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to add a fire captain position to fill the role of fire marshal and remove a fire fighter position; and
4. Adopt Resolution 2026-058 for Non-Represented Professional and Management Workers and Confidential Employees; and
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Side Letter with the Atascadero Professional Firefighters Local 3600 for the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (Contract No. 2024-008 A1), dated July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027; and
6. Authorize the Director of Administrative Services to allocate $150,000 in General Fund Reserves to liquidate a portion of the Holiday Leave Liability.
AYES (5): Bourbeau, Dariz, Funk, Newsom, and Peek
Passed 5-0
2. Native Tree Regulations Update Discussion
Fiscal Impact: The proposed amendment would reduce permit fee revenue by exempting qualifying applications for the removal of dead native trees from the current $281 application fee. It would also require additional, subsidized staff time to conduct site visits and verify the condition of the tree(s). Because most native tree removals are mitigated through fee payments, the amendment would also result in a modest reduction in Native Tree Fund revenue, thereby slightly decreasing the funds available for disbursement to the Atascadero Land Preservation Society.
Recommendation: Council review and provide staff direction on minor amendments to Title 9, Chapter 11 Native Tree Regulations, to be included in the Zoning Code update. [Community Development] Community Development Director Dunsmore gave the presentation and answered questions from the City Council.
Mayor Bourbeau opened the Public Comment period.
The following persons spoke on this item: Geoff Auslen
Mayor Bourbeau closed the Public Comment period.
Atascadero City Council
August 11, 2026
Council directed Staff to make minor changes and bring the item back to Council for adoption with the Zoning Code update.
Mayor Bourbeau noted that a deeper discussion about the ordinance should be held in January after the new Council is seated.
J. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
The following Council Members gave brief update reports on their committees since their last Council meeting:
Mayor Pro Tem Dariz
1. Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO) Council Member Funk
1. Atascadero Basin Ground Water Sustainability Agency (GSA)
2. Homeless Services Oversight Council
Council Member Newsom
1. SLO Council of Governments (SLOCOG)
Council Member Peek
1. City/Schools Committee
K. INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION AND / OR ACTION:
None
L. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Bourbeau adjourned the meeting at 7:43 pm.
MINUTES PREPARED BY:
______________________________________
Alyssa Slater
Deputy City Clerk
APPROVED: 9/8/2026
Exhibit A – Letter from Sciortino Family