City Council Meeting Minutes February 4, 2025 Page 1 of 7
CITY OF EL PASO DE ROBLES
"The Pass of the Oaks"
Paso Robles City Council Minutes
February 4, 2025, 4:00 PM
February 4, 2025, 6:00 PM
Council Chamber - Library/Conference Center
1000 Spring Street
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Councilmembers
Present:
Mayor Hamon, Councilmember Bausch, Councilmember Beal,
Councilmember Gregory, Councilmember Strong
______
A. 4:00 PM CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 PM
B. ROLL CALL
Councilmember Bausch (absent at roll call and joined the meeting at 4:05 PM), Councilmember Beal, Councilmember Gregory, Councilmember Strong, Mayor Hamon C. CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
1. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957
Title: Interim City Manager
2. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE LABOR NEGOTIATIONS
Pursuant to Government Code 54957.6
City Negotiators: Elizabeth Wagner Hull, City Attorney
Unrepresented Employee: Interim City Manager
3. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957
Title: City Manager
4. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE LABOR NEGOTIATIONS
City Council Meeting Minutes February 4, 2025 Page 2 of 7 Pursuant to Government Code 54957.6
City Negotiators: Elizabeth Wagner Hull, City Attorney
Unrepresented Employee: City Manager
5. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Pursuant to Gov. Code, § 54956.9(d)(2)
Significant Exposure to Litigation: Three cases
City Attorney Elizabeth Hull announced that Council would be going in on just one case related to threat of litigation by SLO Tribune regarding Public Records Act responses.
6. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – INITIATION OF LITIGATION Pursuant to Gov. Code, § 54956.9(d)(4)
Initiation of Litigation: Two cases
7. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8
Property: Portion of 611 Spring Street
Agency Negotiators: Chris Huot, Acting City Manager
Leslie Frazier, City Engineer
Negotiating Parties: Bob Gundert, Cregor's Liquor & Deli D. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING CLOSED SESSION MATTERS
None
E. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
4:03 PM
F. 6:00 PM RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
G. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
H. INVOCATION
Pastor Stephen Anastasia, Paso Robles Church of the Nazarene I. ROLL CALL
Councilmember Bausch, Councilmember Beal, Councilmember Gregory, Councilmember Strong, Mayor Hamon
J. STAFF INTRODUCTIONS
K. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957
Title: Interim City Manager
City Attorney Elizabeth Hull reported that the Council has chosen to appoint Mr. Huot City Council Meeting Minutes February 4, 2025 Page 3 of 7 as the Interim CM and will be bringing back an employment contract for him in that role on February 18, 2025.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE LABOR NEGOTIATIONS
Pursuant to Government Code 54957.6
City Negotiators: Elizabeth Wagner Hull, City Attorney
Unrepresented Employee: Interim City Manager
No reportable action
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957
Title: City Manager
No reportable action
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE LABOR NEGOTIATIONS
Pursuant to Government Code 54957.6
City Negotiators: Elizabeth Wagner Hull, City Attorney
Unrepresented Employee: City Manager
No reportable action
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
Pursuant to Gov. Code, § 54956.9(d)(2)
Significant Exposure to Litigation: Three cases
City Attorney Elizabeth Hull report that only one case was discussed and there was no reportable action.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – INITIATION OF LITIGATION Pursuant to Gov. Code, § 54956.9(d)(4)
Initiation of Litigation: Two cases
City Attorney Elizabeth Hull report that both cases were discussed and there was no reportable action.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8
Property: Portion of 611 Spring Street
Agency Negotiators: Chris Huot, Acting City Manager
No reportable action
Additionally, City Attorney Elizabeth Hull reported that on January 27, 2025, the City Council went into closed session regarding anticipated litigation. Following the closed session the Council directed her to make a statement which indicated that the City and City Manager Lewis had reached a settlement agreement and that Mr. Lewis’s last day with the City had been January 26, 2025.
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.1(a)(3) the official report out from closed session related to an agreement affecting public employment shall be made once the agreement is effective. The agreement between Mr. Lewis and the City is now effective City Council Meeting Minutes February 4, 2025 Page 4 of 7 and, consistent with the Brown Act, the City is reporting out the following:
On August 16, 2024, City Manager Lewis presented a Government Code claim to the City alleging, among other things, a hostile work environment. The claim named both the City and Councilmember Bausch. The Claim sought $2.275 million in damages from the City and Councilmember Bausch.
That claim was tendered to the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority. The CJPIA rejected the claim and Mr. Lewis had 6 months in which to initiate litigation against the City and Councilmember Bausch. Following the rejection of the claim, legal counsel appointed for the City by CJPIA and legal counsel appointed by CJPIA for Mr. Bausch engaged in negotiations with Mr. Lewis’s attorney in an attempt to resolve the claim prior to the filing of litigation.
As a result of those negotiations, the City, Councilmember Bausch, and Mr. Lewis have entered into the Settlement Agreement which is now effective and final.
The terms of the Settlement Agreement include, but are not limited to the following:
City Manager Lewis retired from the City as of January 26, 2025.
The City will make a payment to Mr. Lewis in the amount of $145,954.66.
The CJPIA will make a payment to Mr. Lewis in the amount of $220,000.
The agreement included a prospective non-disparagement provision. It also included waivers and releases by all Parties to settle all causes of actions related to the claim filed by City Manager Lewis.
The Council voted 4-1 to settle the claim on the terms presented by the CJPIA. Mr.
Bausch was the dissenting vote.
The Settlement Agreement was signed by Mr. Lewis in his capacity as the claimant, by Mayor Hamon on behalf of the City, and by Councilmember Bausch in his capacity as an individually named Councilmember.
The Agreement has been posted to the City’s website and is available for public review.
Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement the Council will have no additional comments on this matter.
L. PRESENTATIONS
1. 75th Anniversary of the Daughters of the American Revolution Proclamation Mayor Hamon read a proclamation honoring the 75th anniversary of the Paso Robles Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The proclamation was received by Denise Carlson.
City Council Meeting Minutes February 4, 2025 Page 5 of 7
2. Capital Projects Report
Capital Projects Engineer Ditas Esperanza gave an overview of recently completed, in progress, and upcoming projects throughout the city.
3. Accessory Dwelling Unit Stock Plans and Permit Updates Community Development Director Warren Frace gave a brief report on housing activity within the City.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Linda George.
M. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS
Dale Gustin, Linda George, Michael Rivera, Gloria Fama, and Francisco Ramirez.
N. AGENDA ITEMS TO BE DEFERRED
None
O. OVERVIEW OF ITEMS ON CONSENT CALENDAR
Assistant City Manager Chris Huot provided a brief overview of the items on the consent calendar.
P. CONSENT CALENDAR
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
Motioned by Councilmember Gregory, seconded by Councilmember Bausch, and passed unanimously to approve items 1-10 of the consent calendar.
AYES: Gregory, Bausch, Beal, Strong, Hamon
Roll Call Vote Passed Unanimously
1. Approval of January 15, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes
2. Approval of the January 27, 2025 City Council Special Meeting Minutes
3. Receipt of Advisory Body Minutes
4. Receipt of Warrant Register
5. Receipt of Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2023-24
6. Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 1155 of the City Council of the City of Paso Robles, Acting in its Capacity as the Legislative Body of Community Facilities District No. 2022-2N (Olsen/South Chandler Ranch – Services)
7. Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 1156 of the City Council of the City of Paso Robles, Acting in its Capacity as the Legislative Body of Community Facilities District No. 2022-1N (Olsen/South Chandler Ranch – Facilities) City Council Meeting Minutes February 4, 2025 Page 6 of 7
8. Approval of Resolution Awarding Professional Services Agreement to AP Triton to Conduct a Public Safety Community Risk Assessment, Standards of Cover Deployment Analysis and Strategic Staffing Study
Resolution 25-010
9. Approval of a Resolution Amending a Professional Services Agreement for Development Review Engineering Consultant – Joe Chouinard, Professional Engineer
Resolution 25-011
10. Approval of a Resolution Amending the Engineering Services Contract with MNS Engineering for Additional Engineering Services
Resolution 25-012
Q. PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Approval of the 2025 Community Development Block Grant Program and the Final Annual Action Plan
PUBLIC COMMENT: Dale Gustin, Linda George, and Wendy Lewis.
Motioned by Councilmember Gregory, seconded by Councilmember Beal, and passed unanimously to approve Resolution 25-013, approving CDBG allocations for the City’s Annual Action Plan to the County of San Luis Obispo as follows:
$132,022 for public improvement project (Park View-Airport Rd. cross walk); 15,233.50 to CAPSLO for Adult Day Care services; $15,233.50 to ECHO for Homeless Services; and $14,218 for City’s program administration, for a total of $176,707.
AYES: Gregory, Beal, Bausch, Strong, Hamon
Roll Call Vote Passed Unanimously
R. DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. 2025 Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration at Barney Schwartz Park PUBLIC COMMENT: Linda George, Dale Gustin, and Gloria Fama.
Motioned by Councilmember Gregory, seconded by Councilmember Strong, and passed unanimously to authorize staff to continue the 2025 Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration at Barney Schwartz Park with all expenses exceeding available revenue covered by General Fund reserves, estimated by City staff at roughly $60,000, and to direct staff to file a Notice of Exemption pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines.
AYES: Gregory, Strong, Bausch, Beal, Hamon
Roll Call Vote Passed Unanimously
City Council Meeting Minutes February 4, 2025 Page 7 of 7
2. City Council Compensation and Impacts of Senate Bill 329 PUBLIC COMMENT: Linda George, Dale Gustin, and Francisco Ramirez.
Council received the report and gave no further direction.
S. CITY MANAGER REPORT
Acting City Manager Chris Huot provided an update on current City activities.
T. COUNCIL BUSINESS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilmembers and the Mayor reported on committee attendance and other City related activities.
Mayor Hamon requested and a majority of Council agreed to have staff reopen a conversation with the Pioneer Museum related to the purchase of a portion Pioneer Park.
U. UPCOMING EVENTS
V. ADJOURNMENT
Motioned by Mayor Hamon, seconded by Councilmember Strong, and passed unanimously by voice vote at 8:00 PM to adjourn to the February 5, 2025 City Council Special Meeting in honor of Utility Director Christopher Alakel's father, Michael George Alakel.
Submitted by:
_____________________________
Melissa Boyer, City Clerk
Approved: February 18, 2025