[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6651567,"mediaKeyId","2499280-9344604813ca473d2d6c7b109379376d","parentId",2499280,"title","Council approves consent calendar, sells small parcel and authorizes groundwater JPA","audioSeconds",11931,"startMs",4641000,"endMs",16572000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2499280-9344604813ca473d2d6c7b109379376d&start=4641&end=16572","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2499280-9344604813ca473d2d6c7b109379376d/thumbnail_4641000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6651567/El-Paso-de-Robles-City/San-Luis-Obispo-County/California/Council-approves-consent-calendar-sells-small-parcel-and-authorizes-groundwater-JPA","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6651567-e847a56636a67bafc456595a34406edb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151623&Signature=a6ZaHuksdKA2G~uUPhuBCQ5L1gGHwUFyqtcYyuaONYPUgCOS5WI6sQToUHLlIAPwfYt8Sy2NzL0kfhWDahQoeTFXjklAUV8xZaBedxRDPYPOShocMGgGvGtu9WKafRwgveYavt8neKRHmjgtTrcpFTN3q-a08moIMoylTWGr7Hc08d9OgH5JNcP0lgVG2cY94FlGZrQRQsqC2NLzTvfp2Rmg04MKJYR2dhLkzPoH7DgPLYEa~5n7zUWLWbzwTlhEdfKsuAIWl1nyb1JQSYf-IjdPrjD2O92nAQ0wB5HYrvNk2dRBvFIcYH7jYCkQA3gM0Z~Xs6Yt2O71zLEO4aF23g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Paso Robles","date","2025-03-05T13:07:16.987Z","article","The Paso Robles City Council voted on three formal blocks of business during the March 4 meeting: routine consent items, a public hearing on the sale of a small city parcel, and the joint-powers agreement to administer the Groundwater Sustainability Plan. Key outcomes were unanimous approval of the consent calendar, approval of the property conveyance, and a 4-1 vote to authorize staff to sign the groundwater JPA.

Consent calendar (items 1'12)

The council approved twelve consent items by unanimous roll call. Staff summarized the items before the vote; among the higher-value payments and items listed were:

- Stantec: fee amendment $102,471 (work on South Pine Street)
- Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce: annual payment for visitor services $115,000
- Justin Vineyards & Winery: reimbursement for public improvements $643,765
- Lopez Junior & Sons General Engineering: pedestrian improvements on 20th/Fourth Street $104,736.07
- Main Street Association: annual contract $117,000
- Bridal Paso (pass-through assessment): $101,890.97

The consent calendar passed unanimously (Council member Gregory, Council member Bausch, Council member Beal, Council member Strong, Mayor Mary Hammond all voted yes).

Sale of city property at 417 Cool Valley Drive

Council opened a public hearing on the proposed conveyance of a small unimproved parcel (about 6,925 square feet) that had an illegal wall obstructing public open space. Staff said the city had negotiated a purchase-and-sale agreement with the adjacent owner, David Anderson, for $10,000 based on comparable sales and site conditions.

There were no written protests and no speakers opposed to the sale. Councilmember Gregory moved to adopt the resolution authorizing the interim city manager to execute the PSA; Councilmember Beal seconded. The measure passed unanimously.

Groundwater JPA

After an extended public hearing and more than three hours of public comment, council approved the staff recommendation authorizing the city manager to sign the joint-powers agreement (either the four-party or five-party version) to create the Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority. The motion carried 4-1 (see separate article for full background, vote breakdown and implications).

Ending

Council adjourned after additional business and administrative items. Several action items adopt contracts and reimbursements are recorded in the consent register and now move to implementation by staff.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 4, 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its March 4 meeting the Paso Robles City Council approved items 1'12 on the consent calendar (unanimous), adopted a resolution to sell a small city-owned parcel at 417 Cool Valley Drive to the adjoining owner and approved a joint-powers agreement to create the Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority (4-1).","taxTitle","El Paso de Robles City, San Luis Obispo County, California","taxId",4845,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6651571,"Paso Robles updates Creston Road corridor, traffic-signal work, pickleball courts and bridge bids",461,623000,1084000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2499280-9344604813ca473d2d6c7b109379376d&start=623&end=1084","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2499280-9344604813ca473d2d6c7b109379376d/thumbnail_623000.jpg","/articles/6651571/El-Paso-de-Robles-City/San-Luis-Obispo-County/California/Paso-Robles-updates-Creston-Road-corridor-traffic-signal-work-pickleball-courts-and-bridge-bids","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6651571-2511465b935eeed0dba33eed8cd47bd7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151623&Signature=VJWECXznc49rIhdkasZg9ihn5MI8ezNvdw-fzavfogvF1p-JZdS9CpNK~NKTRCzU0dMz6As~ZACve0AjcgLQGV8~pTiJ9BWE-UxF86oczJYjKi3PPD0I2ZmKLKCzhlSH3Tz2FS1MuzQKxi14GjRIJJdMhIrA6Of3kpN5VfKoXekNrrRBIha5mSC8ToGUzIJdUzW5UG1uS1N0pr2Qvnf6GoP0hlsEtUoDsw2aofUNjvRcTZSEy-ACXppBMOuyiqSwl5Xx-jP~IIQSp2NBohjMLk1BdQHGQ52pqIJiZgV9q9cH2G~8-RGkEGOanjLYyxjmI7MI4ckj6IH-nuppSogvCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ditas Esperanza, the city's capital-projects engineer, presented the monthly capital projects status report to the City Council on March 4. Her update covered several projects now in construction or close to starting and outlined near-term timelines.

Creston Road corridor and pedestrian improvements

Esperanza said all underground utilities on the Creston Road corridor project are complete and crews are finishing curb ramps, sidewalks and pedestrian signal work. Decorative pole lights and push-button flashing pedestrian crossings at Ivy, Trego and Orchard are installed and operational. A raised sidewalk will be provided at the Ivy crossing in front of the high school. Once the curbs, sidewalks and signals are completed the final road surface repairs and striping will be completed this summer and into the fall.

Traffic signals, phase 2 and roundabout

Foundations for the traffic signal at Walnut and Bolin have been poured and are curing, with mast-arm and pole installation expected in February if weather permits. Esperanza said phase 2 of the corridor includes a Rolling Hills roundabout and will follow completion of phase 1.

Sidewalks, pickleball courts and other projects

- A contractor is installing sidewalk in front of the Mid State Fair on Riverside; Esperanza said that work should be complete in time for the Mid State Fair this summer.
- The city has mobilized fencing and construction has begun on a new pickleball court complex; the contract term is roughly 400 calendar days.
- The Sherwood Acres neighborhood waterline project is underway; crews have encountered old buried utilities including a storm drain that required work to remove or accommodate before installing the new mains.

South Vine Bridge and bids

An artist rendering was shown of the planned South Vine Bridge. Esperanza said the realignment and grading work will be performed by the developer, and the road/utility cost split is roughly 48% developer and 52% City of Paso Robles. Bids for the bridge are due April 17; more than 30 firms had downloaded the plans as of the presentation.

Other items

Esperanza said the Paso Robles Airfield pavement repair project was on the agenda for council approval that night; the public-safety training facility has a groundbreaking Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

Ending

Council members asked for timing confirmations for Creston Road and the Riverside sidewalk; Esperanza said curb and signal work should finish in weeks and the resurfacing and final striping will occur by summer/fall, while the Riverside sidewalk will be complete before the Mid State Fair.","Capital projects engineer Ditas Esperanza gave a monthly status report on March 4 covering the Creston Road corridor completion steps, a new traffic signal, upcoming roundabout phase, pickleball courts construction, Sherwood Acres waterline work and bids for the South Vine Bridge.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6651575,"Paso Robles police report shows hiring gains, steady crime trends; homeless enforcement highlighted",791,1109000,1900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2499280-9344604813ca473d2d6c7b109379376d&start=1109&end=1900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2499280-9344604813ca473d2d6c7b109379376d/thumbnail_1109000.jpg","/articles/6651575/El-Paso-de-Robles-City/San-Luis-Obispo-County/California/Paso-Robles-police-report-shows-hiring-gains-steady-crime-trends-homeless-enforcement-highlighted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6651575-8f5ead2ae7ac5e474f3896ab5fdab761/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151623&Signature=Pe3RNdZmA36SLzGq4NpqOJNOg~D2ETpXvFiwy1sLnwL4FFn4IIhmAxt-IQE6spsvBTt3g2TMd1Yb4EjKhYeN7N7rGcojmaIGTp7GoRkHzk0Q~928JcNHM5S2V6CThXH6A1nRQPgfcNiwnypbJrM7y4QaTZBRkb~G3RXfnekU1G6JzI2XmGr0yubb1XeQpXEIRdbL~nA0MZfBiTMP9P7b7T0FwSYJheBTykjDjfIkc740X-PPqUoHWj8Cc2bWq738VB~lw75l4j8yvsiL3ydsOGFh-Cw2fxCYIUPaGmcrtRqfWhhBupzHO4bAZBPVDCtYuhCz993T7SI-s6WiM~4vJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Police Chief Damien Nord presented the Paso Robles Police Department's 2024 annual review on March 4, describing improvements in recruiting, retention and several operational programs while flagging continued challenges with theft-related crimes, traffic collisions and homelessness-related calls to service.

Key takeaways from the presentation

- Recruitment and staffing: Nord said the department received 227 applications for police recruits and 61 lateral applications in 2024. The department hired 23 employees last year, including 18 sworn officers; at the time of the presentation Nord said the department had 49 sworn officers, 6 recruits in academy and 23 non-sworn staff for a total of 78 personnel.

- Retention and training: Nord said the department did not lose officers to other agencies in 2024, a shift from recent years. He credited enhanced hiring incentives, a recruitment team and use of a widely circulated recruitment video. Training needs reduced some enforcement capacity (motor officers were pulled for training and field training duties), which the chief said temporarily lowered citation totals.

- Calls for service and dispatch: Nord reported the dispatch center handled more than 85,000 calls (police and fire) and noted the department relies on community service officers (CSOs) to handle lower-acuity calls and free sworn officers for patrol duties.

- Homelessness and encampments: Nord said the department made 469 arrests related to enforcement and coordinated cleanup that removed about 250,000 pounds of trash. He described multiagency work with the county, mental-health providers and local nonprofits to provide services; when people decline services, the department uses enforcement tools where appropriate.

- Crime trends and reporting changes: Nord said overall crime rates have declined in many categories but theft/larceny rose. He explained a spike in reported assaults followed a statewide transition to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), which captures a broader range of offenses than the older system.

Requests and next steps

Nord listed goals including continuing to hire to full capacity, implementing a citywide camera project to deter crime, expanding the Community Action Team that handles encampments, participating in countywide active-shooter exercises with the Paso Robles Unified School District, and staffing for a joint training center with fire services.

Public questions at the presentation

- Rosie Hebron, a retired sergeant, asked about female recruits; Nord replied the department had one candidate in background review and that female participation historically has been low but the recent group included a woman who progressed to background checks.

- Caller Linda George asked whether warrant policies and new laws such as Care Court were changing enforcement; Nord said local capacity is affected by county jail availability and DA prosecutorial priorities, and he said the department works with the DA and sheriff to pursue no-bail warrants for habitual offenders when possible.

Ending

Council members commended Nord for recruitment and retention improvements, and the chief thanked the council and community for funding and support.","Police Chief Damien Nord told the City Council the department recruited and hired strongly in 2024, increasing sworn staffing while emphasizing retention, community policing and enforcement of homeless encampment laws.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":46,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6651582,"Paso Robles council approves joint groundwater authority after lengthy public hearing",11339,5233000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2499280-9344604813ca473d2d6c7b109379376d&start=5233&end=16572","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2499280-9344604813ca473d2d6c7b109379376d/thumbnail_5233000.jpg","/articles/6651582/El-Paso-de-Robles-City/San-Luis-Obispo-County/California/Paso-Robles-council-approves-joint-groundwater-authority-after-lengthy-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6651582-934e0c9dcd810050342a6ff2fc38e074/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151623&Signature=aQUbmkiSZmRACTzky-03NNKdTFXSM6Y-Ud6hl4FtKTrTAl9yJsuzKN51V-tVtJzA9SxHhqvgqgxzbzTqfy-5XFS2MNl220DUIcopFlhIf4B~oyRXayBNsZQXA7HvRfViUi1ni0E1IaIk3vLejeSh2cJf0nwWpapQ9uykfSFI9C4RJxOwr4kjn5OGg1CCXfTdzIFtNCSBFkOxF7x7CXXP8qUZgRzKx~MdKWdQQ~TlmXK356FNvWmRo4iojF6wpW6QytX1aY~VIQ~sSvJRcBrHFP6a5qZnqyz1G4n1hw5zU~sLctB1jScZMbFg0KkR56Ow43YkL6desXP2FsOixBfcbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Paso Robles on March 4 approved a joint-powers agreement (JPA) to create the Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority, authorizing the interim city manager to sign either a four- or five-party version of the contract. The vote was 4-1: Council members Gregory, Beal and Strong and Mayor Mary Hammond voted yes; Council member Chris Bausch voted no.

The JPA formalizes long-running cooperation among the five locally designated Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) that cover the Paso Robles subbasin to implement the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) required by the state'level Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Utilities Director Christopher Luckle presented the agreement and said the authority would handle administrative tasks, regulatory compliance, and specific GSP implementation actions delegated by member GSAs.

Why it matters: SGMA requires local agencies to end chronic groundwater declines or risk state intervention. The JPA is designed to create a single governance body to manage implementation, share technical and legal costs among pumpers and agencies, and adopt extraction-based fees to pay for monitoring, demand management and potential projects.

Key points from staff and council discussion

- Scope and limits: The authority would receive only the powers delegated by member GSAs. It is not intended to change a member's municipal water rights, acquire appropriative rights to surface water without approval, or exercise land-use authority.

- Initial delegated powers: preparing annual reports and five-year evaluations for the Department of Water Resources (DWR); serving as GSP manager; carrying out outreach specified in the GSP; addressing monitoring data gaps; and developing voluntary—and if necessary mandatory—groundwater demand reduction programs and other management actions.

- Funding and costs: The JPA is expected to be funded primarily by groundwater extraction fees. Staff estimated the city's share at roughly 2% of total basin extractions, based on recent pumping; that would make Paso Robles' contribution proportionally smaller than some other users. A draft budget shown to the basin committee included line items such as a domestic well mitigation program and administrative costs, but the council emphasized those budgets would be set later by the authority.

- Governance and voting: Each member GSA gets one vote on the authority. Most actions require a simple majority; major items'including adoption of fees, mandatory pumping limits, budget amendments and real property acquisitions'require a supermajority (four of five in a five-party body or three of four in a four-party version).

- Exit and contingency: Members may withdraw under terms in the agreement. Staff told the council the JPA would terminate automatically on June 30, 2026 if it had not established fees to fund required activities.

Public response and concerns

More than three dozen residents, landowners and water-district members spoke during a nearly four-hour public hearing. Speakers included local growers, rural residents and elected water-district representatives. Common themes were strong opposition to charging small domestic well owners (de minimis users), worry about large agricultural pumpers purchasing or exporting water, requests for more detail on likely fees and budgets, and demands for protections for private well owners.

- Darsha Stebbins, a rural resident who described herself as an overlier, said: \"I am an overlier of the Paso Robles Basin. As an overlier, I have a priority.\" She asked the council to delay action and criticized ongoing litigation and expense between local agencies and and private parties.

- Supporters including representatives from the Estrella El Palmar Creston Water District and the EPC Water District argued a coordinated authority is the most efficient way to comply with SGMA and avoid state takeover.

Council action and next steps

Councilmember Chris Strong moved, and Councilmember Gregory seconded, to approve the staff recommendation authorizing the city manager to sign either the four- or five-party JPA, with non-substantive edits allowed. The council voted 4-1 in favor.

If members sign, the authority will be formed, then will develop a budget and the extraction-fee proposals required to fund GSP implementation. Those fees and any mandatory measures would be adopted by the authority under the voting rules in the JPA. Staff noted that if an individual GSA declines to participate, that agency would either need to fund and administer its own GSP activities or risk losing local control if DWR or the State Water Board determines local agencies are not implementing an approved plan.

Ending

Council members who voted in favor said participation preserves local control and distributes the cost of compliance; those opposed said the finance and program details were not sufficiently developed for a final decision. The authority's budgets and extraction-fee schedule will be decided after the JPA is formed, and councilmembers said they expect additional public outreach and scrutiny once specific fee scenarios are available.","The City Council voted 4-1 on March 4 to authorize the city manager to sign a joint-powers agreement creating the Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority to implement the basin'wide Groundwater Sustainability Plan required by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves consent calendar, sells small parcel and authorizes groundwater JPA

Paso Robles updates Creston Road corridor, traffic-signal work, pickleball courts and bridge bids

Paso Robles police report shows hiring gains, steady crime trends; homeless enforcement highlighted

Paso Robles council approves joint groundwater authority after lengthy public hearing