City Council - January 20, 2026
1. CLOSED SESSION (4:30 PM - 5:30 PM)
1.a
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNCIL - EXISTING LITIGATION
Pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of California Government Code Section 54956.9.
Name of case: Randall Arseneau v. City of San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo Superior Court Case No. 22CV-0121
1.b
ADJOURNMENT
The City Council will hold a Regular Meeting on January 20, 2026 at 5:30 PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
2. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Erica A. Stewart will call the Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo City Council to order.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Erica A. Stewart will lead the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. PRESENTATIONS
4.a
CITYWIDE SINGLE VOTE TRANSITION - COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH PLAN
1. Item 3a. Citywide Single Vote Transition - Communications and Outreach Plan - Staff Agenda Correspondence.pdf
2. Citywide Single Vote Comms Plan_FINAL DRAFT.pdf
Presentation on the communications and outreach strategy to educate the community about election changes related to the Citywide Single Vote System, effective November 2026.
4.b
CITY MANAGER REPORT
Receive a brief report from City Manager Whitney McDonald.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Not to exceed 15 minutes. The Council welcomes your input. State law does not allow the Council to discuss or take action on issues not on the agenda, except that members of the Council or staff may briefly respond to statements made or questions posed by persons exercising their public testimony rights (Gov. Code sec. 54954.2). Staff may be asked to follow up on such items.
6. CONSENT AGENDA
Not to exceed 15 minutes. Matters appearing on the Consent Calendar are expected to be non-controversial and will be acted upon at one time. A member of the public may request the Council to pull an item for discussion. Pulled items shall be heard at the close of the Consent Agenda unless a majority of the Council chooses another time. The public may comment on any and all items on the Consent Agenda within the three-minute time limit.
Recommendation:
To approve Consent Calendar Items 5a to 5d.
6.a
WAIVE READING IN FULL OF ALL RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES Recommendation:
Waive reading of all resolutions and ordinances as appropriate.
6.b
MINUTES REVIEW - JANUARY 13, 2026 COUNCIL MINUTES
1. 01-13-2026 City Council Minutes - Draft .pdf
Recommendation:
Approve the minutes of the City Council meeting held on January 13, 2026.
6.c
AUTHORIZATION TO APPLY FOR THE 2025 COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS PLAYGROUND GRANT
1. Authorization to Apply for the 2025 Community Champions Playground Grant.pdf
2. A - Draft Resolution Approving the Application for the Community Champions Playground Grant.pdf
3. B - Community Champions Playground Grant Application Form.pdf
4. C - Concept Design Plans for Vista Lago Park Playground Replacement (CIP No. 2000033-02).pdf Recommendation:
Adopt a Draft Resolution affirming the submittal of a Community Champions Playground Grant application (Attachment A) requesting an award of grant funds toward the purchase of a new playground system for the Vista Lago Park, from GameTime, a PlayCore Company (GameTime); and Authorize the Assistant City Manager to execute the necessary grant documents and appropriate the grant amount into the Vista Lago Playground Replacement project (CIP No. 2000033-02) budget to support the replacement of the playground equipment upon grant award.
6.d
FINAL ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO 1754 (2026 SERIES) IMPLEMENTING CITYWIDE SINGLE VOTE FOR CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS
1. FINAL ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CITYWIDE SINGLE VOTE FOR COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN 2026 AND SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS.pdf
2. A - 20260120 Ordinance 1754 Adopting Citywide Single Vote.pdf Recommendation:
Adopt Ordinance No. 1754 (2026 Series) adding Chapter 2.38, entitled “Citywide Single Vote Method of Electing City Councilmembers” to the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code, implementing a new method for elections of City Councilmembers and adopting regulations providing for the administration of City Council elections by Citywide Single Vote beginning in November 2026.
7. PUBLIC HEARING AND BUSINESS ITEMS
7.a
2025 STATE LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING (25 MINUTES)
1. 2025 State Legislative Briefing.pdf
Recommendation:
Receive and file a report on the 2025 State Legislative Briefing which summarizes the adopted laws from the 2025 regular session of the California State Legislature (December 2024 through October 2025); and Consider appointing an ad-hoc committee of the City Council to review the current legislative platform and suggest changes for the 2026 legislative session.
7.b
CONSIDER INVITATION TO JOIN LETTER FROM THE COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO REQUESTING STATE LEGISLATION RELATED TO DIABLO CANYON POWER PLANT (20 MINUTES)
1. Item 7b. McDonald and Harnett - Staff Agenda Correspondence.pdf
2. Council Consideration of Invitation to Join County Coalition Request for State Legislation, Diablo Canyon Power Plan .pdf
3. A - Draft Letter - County Legislative Request for Action Regarding DCPP Licensing.pdf Recommendation:
Receive the County of San Luis Obispo’s invitation to join a request for State legislation related to the Diablo Canyon Power Plant and provide direction to staff regarding participation in the letter drafted by the County.
7.c
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS PRESENTATION ON LOCAL ROADS FIRST PROPOSED BALLOT MEASURE– DRAFT TRANSPORTATION EXPENDITURE PLAN (30 MINUTES)
1. Item 6c. Floyd and Rice - Staff Agenda Correspondence.pdf
2. A - Draft Transportation Expenditure Plan - Rev. 1.16.26.pdf
3. B - Draft Ordinance - Rev. 1.16.26.pdf
4. C - Polling Results.pdf
5. SLOCOG Presentation on Local Roads First - Draft Expenditure Plan.pdf
6. A - Draft Transportation Expenditure Plan.pdf
7. B - December 10, 2025 SLOCOG Board Staff Report.pdf
Recommendation:
Receive and comment on a report and presentation by the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) staff regarding a potential Countywide Self-Help Sales Tax Measure and Draft Transportation Expenditure Plan.
8. LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Not to exceed 15 minutes. Council Members report on subcommittee assignments, listed below, and other City activities. At this time, any Council Member or the City Manager may ask a question for clarification, make an announcement, or report briefly on their activities. In addition, subject to Council Policies and Procedures, they may provide a reference to staff or other resources for factual information, request staff to report back to the Council at a subsequent meeting concerning any matter or take action to direct staff to place a matter of business on a future agenda. (Gov. Code Sec. 54954.2) Mayor
Stewart
Vice Mayor Francis
Council Member Boswell
Council Member Marx
Council Member Shoresman
SLO Council of Governments
Airport Land Use
Community Action Partnership
Air Pollution Control District
Downtown Association Board
Regional Economic Action Coalition
Nacimiento Water Project
SLO Climate Coalition
County Water Resources Advisory Committee
CP Campus Planning Committee
CA Men’s Colony Advisory Committee
Zone 9 Advisory Committee
Local Agency Formation Commission
Homeless Services Oversight Committee
Performing Arts Center Commission
Integrated Waste Management Authority
SLO Regional Transit Authority
Visit SLO County Advisory Committee
Central Coast Clean Energy
9. ADJOURNMENT
The next Regular Meeting of the City Council will be held on February 3, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
LISTENING ASSISTIVE DEVICES
for the hearing impaired - see the Clerk.
The City of San Luis Obispo wishes to make all of its public meetings accessible to the public. Upon request, this agenda will be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with disabilities. Any person with a disability who requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting should direct such request to the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 781-7114 at least 48 hours before the meeting, if possible. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (805) 781-7410.
City Council meetings are televised live on Charter Channel 20 and the City's YouTube Channel:
www.youtube.com/CityofSanLuisObispo
. Agenda related writings or documents provided to the City Council are available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s Office located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California during normal business hours, and on the City’s website https://www.slocity.org/government/mayor-and-city-council/agendas-and-minutes . Persons with questions concerning any agenda item may call the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 781-7114.