[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6515400,"mediaKeyId","3864322-b2fc83aa8cf4f4605fc844377e2ccd6d","parentId",3864322,"title","Council adopts sewer rate increases after hearing; staff says Cal Poly reclamation will affect future revenues","audioSeconds",743,"startMs",4289000,"endMs",5032000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864322-b2fc83aa8cf4f4605fc844377e2ccd6d&start=4289&end=5032","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864322-b2fc83aa8cf4f4605fc844377e2ccd6d/thumbnail_4289000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6515400/San-Luis-Obispo-City/San-Luis-Obispo-County/California/Council-adopts-sewer-rate-increases-after-hearing-staff-says-Cal-Poly-reclamation-will-affect-future-revenues","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515400-ce0afd7a734e4e3aec3c5abf226de542/orig.mp4?Expires=1770394840&Signature=g0twIW7jDjTxC~r1AMCfNyZa3~3TjCz5qY9k8AdAI3-1KotYoxy4NhFrBAKHGYqbtnHaEEiQwvfgjfQhfXyH47Qyg26fDW75~rZ4l5Ui~-1FKHsuKF1bqPMIWvI8SEgR6oFb8NyOHDzvFUgfH1WD5jMK3K4TGkjuc-dSHF0xhHWKvtPA1k~8Z3sgLGgH88nChN4gyXDjl33o8VS4C8zwDqdFwYQEkr1jO-K~lc7NkQhuaz0N3rEGQP7CzqgBa1oYze3Qe0PsEJ4gxi2MEuR0BF24YS7AW1P0hEXJQNatoh3CvtZToj3vuFZDVqstHkvtF6l2A7mxGKt2XJ3hobFhGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-19T08:48:46.513Z","article","The City Council adopted sewer rate increases at the June 17 meeting, approving a 6.5% increase in fiscal year 2025–26 and another 6.5% in 2026–27 after a public hearing. The council’s vote was 5–0.

Utilities staff presented a rate study update and said the sewer fund’s cost drivers mirror the water fund: regulatory requirements (notably upgrades at the Water Resource Recovery Facility), rising capital needs, inflation and efforts to limit long‑term debt. Staff reported $7.4 million in sewer‑related grant funding secured over the last seven years and an outstanding application of about $5.4 million to federal programs that, if received, could be used for projects (for example, biogas projects) intended to reduce costs over time.

As with the water hearing, staff reported 430 submitted protests, with 30 invalid and 31 duplicates, leaving 369 valid protests—statutorily insufficient to block adoption. Staff also noted the city has balanced enterprise fund forecasts with full reserves and that the rate study informed the recommended increases.

Staff emphasized that Cal Poly’s new wastewater treatment and planned on‑campus reclamation facility (WARF) will shift some flows and revenue away from the city; staff estimated the WARF’s revenue impact on the sewer rate forecast at roughly 2 percentage points. They said the city will monitor the WARF schedule and could revisit rates if the university’s timeline changes.

Councilmember Boswell moved to approve staff’s sewer recommendation; Vice Mayor Shoresman seconded and the motion carried 5–0 in roll call (Councilmembers Francis, Boswell, Marks, Vice Mayor Shoresman and Mayor Erica A. Stewart voting yes).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","06/17/2025 - City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","On June 17 the City Council voted 5–0 to adopt sewer service rate increases of 6.5% in both fiscal years 2025–26 and 2026–27 following a public hearing and rate study update.","taxTitle","San Luis Obispo City, San Luis Obispo County, California","taxId",55188,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6515405,"City Council adopts water rate increases, expands low‑income assistance program",3086,1230000,4316000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864322-b2fc83aa8cf4f4605fc844377e2ccd6d&start=1230&end=4316","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864322-b2fc83aa8cf4f4605fc844377e2ccd6d/thumbnail_1230000.jpg","/articles/6515405/San-Luis-Obispo-City/San-Luis-Obispo-County/California/City-Council-adopts-water-rate-increases-expands-lowincome-assistance-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515405-087d52ee5dab9d1bd5fc97f8be5953ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1770394840&Signature=FgJzZbWeXCw44endys3b038jWtes5kpvaeQZV8ZFR~QT7q-3GcBU32F1x7AT8ZReDZ~m37wb~B9GKEZoqCpT5P7ngwBwiN5e--DRL-YJ6LJf4W87W2R1ldz4TjLHKR7tG2X0S1mIqNQghziXOjZerm2rZEyh5o8mXPPd3CDoOGogYgHlWeZReydK7xE809gzC2VQ4CddrknhMMlAMD2bXIM6b6SK5dSDqtcOKhclNxvX4hh5O7UG3THtJ~yPkQLP5ZJ~41OTA6~FJVbkBHoqhOS017fXdziEpsbWZeGWS80bn0awOmJxuf4zmv2oONOf3ZZ0E9ibwUGQ~tgDZflO1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Luis Obispo City Council on June 17 adopted new water service rates that raise rates by 5.5% in fiscal year 2025–26 and another 5.5% in 2026–27, following a public hearing and outreach that included a Prop 218 mailed notice and translated materials.

Utilities staff said the increases are driven by regulatory compliance costs, rising capital project needs (including storm recovery projects), inflation and the city’s pay‑as‑you‑go approach to minimizing debt. The council also adopted an amendment to the city’s low‑income assistance program—renaming it the Customer Assistance Program and increasing the discount from 15% to 20%—funded from late‑fee revenues permitted under Prop 218.

Utilities Director Aaron Floyd and Utilities Business Manager Julie Ridgeway reviewed the Prop 218 outreach: 20,565 notices were mailed to property owners and account holders. As of 3 p.m. on the hearing day staff counted 430 submitted protests, of which 30 were ruled invalid and 31 duplicates; the city validated 369 protests. That number did not meet the majority‑of‑parcels threshold that would legally block the rate adoption, the city clerk reported, so council proceeded to deliberation and a vote.

Ridgeway explained how the billing structure combines monthly base fees and volumetric charges tied to usage. Staff provided an example of a typical single‑family home (3/4‑inch meter, about 3,740 gallons monthly): adopting the proposed rates would raise the combined average water and sewer bill by about $8 a month in the first year and about $8 again in the next year (the water portion labeled in the hearing as a 5.5% increase). Staff also described the customer assistance program funding: recent outreach and a related rollout of a solid‑waste assistance program helped grow water assistance enrollment from ~240 to 411 active accounts.

On Cal Poly’s role in usage and revenue, staff said Cal Poly has its own Whale Rock share and treats and distributes a portion of water for the university by contract; Cal Poly is also building an on‑campus water reclamation facility (WARF) that will take treated wastewater for reuse on campus. That project reduces future sewer fund revenue to the city because some flows and fees will shift to Cal Poly’s system; staff said they will monitor the WARF schedule and can return to council with rate changes if the project timeline shifts.

Public comment included property owners and business representatives. Steve Barish, past president of the San Luis Property and Business Owners Association, urged staff to analyze Cal Poly’s contribution to system use and to examine the cumulative effect of repeated rate adjustments. Rachel Whelan, governmental affairs coordinator at the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber supported the proposed rate adjustments and urged more recycled water use, expanded purple‑pipe infrastructure, finer‑grained tiering to encourage conservation, regional water sales options and stronger public education.

Councilmember Marks moved adoption of staff’s recommendations; the motion was seconded and approved in a 5–0 roll call (Councilmembers Francis, Boswell, Marks, Vice Mayor Shoresman and Mayor Erica A. Stewart voting yes).

The council also found the actions statutorily exempt from CEQA as part of the rate adoption materials and directed staff to continue public outreach and monitoring of factors (including the Cal Poly WARF schedule) that could affect revenues or future rates.","After a public hearing and 3,690 mailed Prop 218 notices, the council approved a 5.5% water rate increase for fiscal years 2025–26 and 2026–27 and renamed and expanded the low‑income assistance program from 15% to 20%. Council recorded 369 validated written protests—insufficient to block the increase—and approved the rates 5–0.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6515410,"City manager announces bulky pickup, expanded trolley service and City Hall Friday hours",252,458000,710000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864322-b2fc83aa8cf4f4605fc844377e2ccd6d&start=458&end=710","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864322-b2fc83aa8cf4f4605fc844377e2ccd6d/thumbnail_458000.jpg","/articles/6515410/San-Luis-Obispo-City/San-Luis-Obispo-County/California/City-manager-announces-bulky-pickup-expanded-trolley-service-and-City-Hall-Friday-hours","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515410-6c81f1e7389203844ce001dc2216c816/orig.mp4?Expires=1770394840&Signature=Vl0sc0FZwF1XExp~F5Q9vF8GlOI-JfrgJuvJ7VjHOq4z0XLrmFgYOkvIcqReAaE9rraBm4GNMLy1S9peM5V18I1agcdx4vIu~O7Io5jRcG7aaL2gqpf5I2FRCHFCxkNFyhc8-O7Z01yMT8h6zrbOhYsfC4wDA~o6kfRnYOkUtt6l4A46nvH9phYJ1~W4TYwXQ0zL8IadV4F-noV8AxTX-GHSWnjes746NLHcMXCEBhdgfc~Yb1Hvavo0J~sUMXDzccL57pXKCrzXF1yiIzdGlLlHaIc37aTFPN9wDc1IWJTBqIqXImWZNbcIchoFHMES-gfdhUMRxE-Y~zx~rDe4Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Manager McDonald provided several operational announcements at the San Luis Obispo City Council meeting on June 17, including temporary and longer-term changes to city services and customer access.

For the city’s annual cleanup week, residents may place up to six extra bags of trash at no charge on their normal collection day. Account holders who call San Luis Garbage by June 20 can schedule one free bulky-item pickup (for example, a couch); leaving bulky items at the curb without scheduling may be treated as illegal dumping, McDonald said. Multi‑family complexes may place up to four bulky items; additional pickups can be scheduled at 50% of the regular charge. McDonald credited recent contract negotiations with the city’s waste hauler for the expanded options and directed customers to slowcity.org/recycle for details.

The city will run its Slow Trolley from July 3 through Sept. 27 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, operating roughly noon–8 p.m. on a continuous 30‑minute loop between downtown and the Upper Monterey Business District; fares will be 25¢ for seniors and disabled riders and 50¢ for others.

City managers also announced annual fee adjustments effective July 1. User fees will be adjusted by CPI or the previously discussed catch‑up increases; impact fees will rise by a construction cost index of 5.15%. The updated fee schedule will be posted at slowcity.org/fees.

City Hall front counter hours will expand to Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. starting July 7 (most other counters Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.) to increase public access. McDonald also noted open recruitment for several advisory body vacancies including the Area Agency on Aging, Administrative Review Board, Construction Board of Appeals, and Tree Committee; applications will be available via slowcity.org/advisory-body/vacancies and remain open for at least two to three weeks.

McDonald said the council’s July 1 meeting will be canceled and the next regular meeting will be July 15 with a “somewhat full agenda,” including easements, advisory appointments, grant agreements and an update on the building retrofit program.","City Manager McDonald detailed several service and operations updates including free additional trash bags and bulky-item pickup scheduling, expanded Slow Trolley service July 3–Sept. 27, a July 1 fee schedule adjustment and City Hall reopening Fridays beginning July 7.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_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":56,"_73":56},6515415,"San Luis Obispo proclaims June Pride Month; local center urges continued support",326,112000,438000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864322-b2fc83aa8cf4f4605fc844377e2ccd6d&start=112&end=438","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864322-b2fc83aa8cf4f4605fc844377e2ccd6d/thumbnail_112000.jpg","/articles/6515415/San-Luis-Obispo-City/San-Luis-Obispo-County/California/San-Luis-Obispo-proclaims-June-Pride-Month-local-center-urges-continued-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515415-035779cb4726b9d59e1dcdc258fc809c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770394840&Signature=F3g1nzuKRzMJxgNsYz8vzPdkq-F3KTsiOMlES0apSAmJpYVGf0ZcRZXMeQOhYDJ-rZmutuD~lIZUA8vV5Al~w8s1-~h2Y3ctwIvrLAZgt8iylUqJdriMhNYj-uBM2w1AN46zUQyobFBwhA30YCxpNHvjVywYRlgv41ftrkp~KD1FhMjnbk6rtQ5~CIEI7xjOAd29dXJWVAS0xifLCWdMKRocAV1XRarAtwJb56OeR83-fg8QeNG9Z4MtZGiCeQzg7xqjhG85K~UTjOp34QfVVIAUmUGzTnwsMOm21Y3FsCskrRABeYGgPuc6ReeIha8-DnRQZ5MScARV4MTY~nrHEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Erica A. Stewart read a proclamation on June 17 declaring June 2025 as Pride Month in the City of San Luis Obispo and urged residents to “respect and honor our diverse community.” The proclamation recognized the resilience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer residents and called for continued efforts toward acceptance and safety.

The proclamation was accepted by Linnea Valdivia, program manager at the GALA Pride & Diversity Center. Valdivia thanked the council and said civic affirmations like proclamations “really matter” because they tell LGBTQ people that “they are seen” and that their years of activism “are honored.”

Valdivia outlined three areas of work for the center: expanding access to culturally competent healthcare, promoting LGBTQ arts and history, and increasing civic engagement. On healthcare, she cited the U.S. Transgender Survey finding that many transgender people avoid care because of negative experiences and noted local limits on culturally competent services. On the arts, she reported that a partnership exhibit with the History Center and the Queer Archive Project broke attendance records during Pride Month. On civic engagement, she said the center is working on voter outreach, coalition building and advocacy training.

The council’s proclamation and Valdivia’s remarks came as similar affirmations in other jurisdictions face rollback, she said, and she thanked the council for “leaning in” to send a message that “everyone belongs here.”

The proclamation did not carry a separate council vote on policy changes; it was read as a civic recognition and ceremonial item on the council’s agenda.","Mayor Erica A. Stewart read a proclamation declaring June 2025 Pride Month in San Luis Obispo. Linnea Valdivia of the GALA Pride & Diversity Center described the center’s healthcare, arts and civic engagement work and said civic affirmations matter amid statewide attacks on LGBTQ rights.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6515395,"City Council adopts 2025–27 financial plan and FY 2025–26 budget after multi‑month process",5560,5265000,10825000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864322-b2fc83aa8cf4f4605fc844377e2ccd6d&start=5265&end=10825","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864322-b2fc83aa8cf4f4605fc844377e2ccd6d/thumbnail_5265000.jpg","/articles/6515395/San-Luis-Obispo-City/San-Luis-Obispo-County/California/City-Council-adopts-202527-financial-plan-and-FY-202526-budget-after-multimonth-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515395-455fc6bed5dc807c9186b6441514babf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770394840&Signature=chwWM5~Lt0sPsd-8HIwOntCKwuyvSmmZAD62d5AkUE7qkORgjZ3ibDxl4DuA~sKJpheQIj3qqZ3eMKofMd-OdcVAsrrEgao00zDYYd7oFErQmWav3b2VdmYpMqHGWWemmOs7mOk52rT3DeIZTu2cDgh4PyyVsmjg4Jz3Fz-4Ioc0M-LLaArqWfJzwtgBzJQHoHNJ2KMLE877dtBPZDXVpIc05ASQqFF3FuLCn8LeIq4LV3O-Vh-baXzM2amauwxzq8q6Tj0QYqtmtHQHuzAfrz52ACoEnFMZS-B9hE6RBZhrpqQdTTXIdedJfeX-xhg2pNdvLtmBL9lHqcwIkaXSUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Luis Obispo City Council adopted the 2025–27 Financial Plan and the fiscal year 2025–26 budget in a 5–0 vote on June 17 after a multi‑month public process that included goal setting, workshops and strategic budget direction.

City Manager McDonald and staff said the plan is designed for a transitionary fiscal period marked by flattening revenues (notably sales tax and fees) and ongoing cost pressures. The two‑year plan balances the FY 2025–26 budget while identifying a longer‑term structural deficit that will require additional reductions or other actions in later years. To manage the immediate shortfall, the plan recommends constrained operating budgets, a modest increase in staffing savings assumptions and a one‑time shift of roughly $1 million per year from local revenue measure funds toward operations.

The adopted plan includes $217.6 million in total recommended expenditures across general, enterprise and other funds for the two‑year period; a general fund recommendation of about $117.6 million; and a fiscally constrained 10‑year capital improvement program (CIP) totaling roughly $660 million with $112 million programmed in the first two years. Major investments in the first two years include the Water Resource Recovery Facility completion, the first phase of the Righetti community park, continued active‑transportation and complete‑streets projects (including Higuera Complete Streets work), and continued homelessness response funding (hotel vouchers, rotating safe parking, licensed psychiatric technician staffing in outreach) among other work plan items tied to the council’s major city goals.

Staff reported several technical adjustments and council‑directed changes since the April strategic direction session: additional funding for CAPSLO’s hotel voucher program (an added $45,000/year), $25,000 to cover a county contract increase for bridal (school resource officer) services to police, and reallocation of some grant revenue corrections into the general fund that created capacity for small augmentations without offsetting reductions elsewhere. The budget adds 6.25 FTE citywide across funds (3.4 in the general fund), including two police officers partially offset by a COPS grant and a communications coordinator position to support capital and transit communications (the coordinator was previously a contract role).

The plan acknowledges notable uncertainties—pending grant awards, federal/state budget changes and the timeline for some major projects—and staff said they will activate the fiscal health contingency plan and pursue a careful reduction strategy if revenue shortfalls widen. That process will include department reduction targets, scenario planning and quarterly reporting to council; staff said reductions would be presented for council consideration at the latest as part of the FY 2026–27 supplement.

Councilmembers commended staff for outreach and the document’s readability. After deliberation, Councilmember Marks moved to adopt the financial plan and the FY 2025–26 budget; Councilmember Francis seconded. Roll call was unanimous (Councilmembers Francis, Boswell, Marks, Vice Mayor Shoresman and Mayor Erica A. Stewart voting yes) and the motion passed 5–0.","After months of public engagement and a constrained budgeting exercise, the council adopted the two‑year 2025–27 financial plan and the FY 2025–26 budget. The plan funds major city goals, a 10‑year fiscally constrained CIP, and establishes further budget review steps to address a structural deficit in later years.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council adopts sewer rate increases after hearing; staff says Cal Poly reclamation will affect future revenues

City Council adopts water rate increases, expands low‑income assistance program

City manager announces bulky pickup, expanded trolley service and City Hall Friday hours

San Luis Obispo proclaims June Pride Month; local center urges continued support

City Council adopts 2025–27 financial plan and FY 2025–26 budget after multi‑month process