[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"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","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,74,86,98],{"_32":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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6496586,"mediaKeyId","5604915-789f921867adfffbac4ef53c38283239","parentId",5604915,"title","City approves ECHO amendment, funding and shift to 90-day model amid neighborhood concerns","audioSeconds",873,"startMs",8343000,"endMs",9216000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5604915-789f921867adfffbac4ef53c38283239&start=8343&end=9216","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5604915-789f921867adfffbac4ef53c38283239/thumbnail_8343000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6496586/El-Paso-de-Robles-City/San-Luis-Obispo-County/California/City-approves-ECHO-amendment-funding-and-shift-to-90-day-model-amid-neighborhood-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496586-50de4e07bb2e69227b176f9cc7ca7398/orig.mp4?Expires=1770144861&Signature=IFudD5ZGGs94S~-tXrmekkDE6fbIB0qeFLfJaI0kS4Y4lWoqYSfbK0bwDbsyEXzh-jQNoCvw6MawspxO7fQpOsiyRybscXr1zIhG36k6zQM4YN~kuV~huqcK-tz7ZkO~TG6FRcedEyIzEryYzTqAtBOXNvwe-tjHBbCUfXYn7hElG9lDOG08NfoqdNKAyHjMPyYhZrpXebZ7386huHDD9icg0URAexmXB6yzHNclNR99~697eCVjpLnHTSyiRbq3zR8MwYb0CE8WNn7kDBA8kxiFK2BpNz7yiIGcAFxya65PJS9b-hgiedgmFZmjMM9oOGrsEw~61xEKo1lS0hhllQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Paso Robles","date","2025-08-20T11:32:00.213Z","article","Paso Robles — The City Council on Tuesday reviewed the Paso Robles shelter operator El Camino Homeless Organization’s (ECHO) fiscal year 2024–25 end‑of‑year report and approved a third amendment to the supplemental memorandum of understanding that funds shelter staffing and operations.

City staff presented the amendment change and said it strengthens reporting, data sharing, and coordination between the city and ECHO. Ashley Hernandez, the city’s newly hired home services manager, told the council the amendment “reflects operational changes and also strengthens the partnership between the city and ECHO” by standardizing reporting templates, adding quarterly quality reviews, improving data sharing and referrals, and clarifying client consent for city participation in coordination meetings.

ECHO’s director, Wendy Lewis, summarized shelter outcomes and program shifts. ECHO operates 70 beds on its Paso campus and has been shifting to a 90‑day shelter model intended to improve housing outcomes. Lewis said ECHO’s approach has moved a larger share of people into permanent housing than the night‑by‑night model: “Last year between the two campuses, 353 individuals or children were helped into permanent housing and … out of those people that are placed into permanent housing, we see a 90 percent success rate that they're still in housing today.”

Lewis told the council that ECHO is proposing to discontinue the five “night‑by‑night” beds and reallocate those spaces to the 90‑day program because the 90‑day model produces higher housing outcomes and is more cost‑effective. She said ECHO will continue nightly community dinners, drop‑in showers, on‑site case management and a police‑fire crisis resource room. ECHO also reported that it has secured county funding for a 10‑bed weather‑based warming center beginning November 2025.

Council action and payment: Councilmembers moved to receive and file ECHO’s fiscal‑year report, to direct staff to distribute the payment for the reporting period, and to approve the third amendment to the supplemental MOU for FY 2025–26. The motions were approved unanimously. (Transcript discussion includes two nearby staff statements that referenced different payment figures; staff said earlier in the meeting the disbursement for the reporting period is in the adopted budget and mentioned $101,000, while the motion recorded at the dais referenced $111,000. Staff later confirmed the disbursement is budgeted and available.)

Neighborhood concerns and public comment: The ECHO presentation drew significant public comment from property owners and business operators near the shelter on Black Oak Drive who said they continue to experience loitering, trespass, theft, sanitation problems and safety concerns around the shelter area. Commenters urged more enforcement and neighborhood‑oriented mitigation. Residents and business owners said efforts by the police, code enforcement and city staff have recently increased and urged continued attention. Other commenters, including representatives of the Templeton Chamber of Commerce and several shelter service partners, urged continued funding and praised ECHO’s housing outcomes.

Program details and outcomes cited at the meeting: ECHO reported serving hundreds of unduplicated individuals through shelter stays, outreach and prevention programs. For the most recent reporting period ECHO presented figures showing thousands of total shelter stays, thousands of meals served across its campuses, thousands of food bags distributed and dozens of clients connected to permanent housing and employment; ECHO said placements continue to outpace prior years. ECHO staff also highlighted partnerships for on‑site mental‑health van services, probation outreach, and food and clothing programs.

What the amendment does: The third amendment formalizes the operational change from night‑by‑night beds to the 90‑day model, requires standardized reporting and quarterly reviews, and clarifies insurance, indemnification and termination language. The city attorney and staff said the amendment strengthens accountability measures and does not add a new fiscal impact for FY 2025–26 beyond the distribution already included in the adopted budget.

Why it matters: The city’s funding and the MOU define the local shelter capacity and the structure of case management that directs people into housing. The shift to a longer 90‑day program reflects a policy decision to prioritize placements with higher success rates over the nightly lottery system that staff and ECHO said led to a higher turnover and lower permanent‑housing outcomes.

Ending: Councilmembers stressed that the city and ECHO must continue to coordinate with police, code enforcement, businesses and county partners to address neighborhood impacts while preserving the shelter’s role in moving people into stable housing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 19, 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Paso Robles — The City Council on Tuesday reviewed the Paso Robles shelter operator El Camino Homeless Organization’s (ECHO) fiscal year 2024–25 report and approved a third amendment to the supplemental MOU that funds shelter staff and operations.","taxTitle","El Paso de Robles City, San Luis Obispo County, California","taxId",4845,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":75,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":76,"_40":77,"_42":78,"_44":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6496591,"Paso Robles to cover $48,000 share after regional groundwater fee fails",356,5374000,5730000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5604915-789f921867adfffbac4ef53c38283239&start=5374&end=5730","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5604915-789f921867adfffbac4ef53c38283239/thumbnail_5374000.jpg","/articles/6496591/El-Paso-de-Robles-City/San-Luis-Obispo-County/California/Paso-Robles-to-cover-48000-share-after-regional-groundwater-fee-fails","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496591-04ce71297bf1c0f376d8dd8318146c21/orig.mp4?Expires=1770144861&Signature=Qw2I3J5P8kxW1FP8ocgCT9ifsG3ptOTAhOQ9FwuMu7gDQaeuRiqWOJa5dNSZXqmEYjgffZzQ9G9qnbtLMgi8xyAhffEmbKQtmNYHNcmtvO2IeN05Y~JHCqUPmRzlTTha9Zj1XmtOTMTJ-RNCv5OxAd48tKxFFOq0UjGQWnsTPkfdLry65ZMcBhDbRzMsnuoAINlRuw2Vl5ieaFRgfTUwDpzOf7Qw1uz7x0O0i4qi1mQXLUVI550VIl4vCiQ~tRB7BZlqIX50VRRomcSfsVyYOu8UPoiVCw-H5C~W8khXRVXoH4BITx7-X39ud~mgHn9AvCtGy~QpwtrNz9xdjwdfQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Paso Robles — The Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority’s (Praga) effort to establish a Proposition 218 fee to pay for groundwater sustainability implementation failed after a majority of affected parcels filed written protests, Praga staff reported at the City Council meeting Tuesday.

Praga completed a cost-of-service study and proposed a 5-year charge that would have targeted agricultural and other non-de minimis groundwater users. Utilities Director Christopher Luckler told the council that 731 protests were received out of 1,281 subject parcels, a level that under Prop 218 prevents adoption of the fee.

The failed Prop 218 process leaves Praga projecting a $300,000 cash shortfall through the end of calendar 2025, Luckler said. “In accordance with the joint powers agreement, Paso Robles Groundwater Authority voted to fund baseline regulatory and administrative functions with individual GSA contributions through 2025,” he said. The city’s share of the shortfall is $48,000, Luckler said, which the city will draw from the water enterprise fund; he said that amount is already included in the city’s adopted budget.

Why this matters: Praga was created as a joint powers authority of the city, San Luis Obispo County and several local water districts to coordinate compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Luckler told the council that Praga’s powers are only those delegated by the member Groundwater Sustainability Agencies and that continuing the JPA preserves economies of scale and local control while reducing duplicate costs.

What happens next: Praga staff outlined alternative funding options that will be discussed in future meetings. Those include (1) continued GSA contributions, (2) a Prop 26 regulatory fee limited to administrative and regulatory activities, and (3) a renewed Prop 218 local fee process. Luckler said Prop 26 would not fund capital projects but could be used for baseline monitoring, data management and plan preparation; a renewed Prop 218 effort would be more flexible but costly and politically difficult and would require significant outreach.

Council members and public commenters pressed staff on timing and consequences if a long-term local funding solution is not found. Luckler warned the council that if local efforts fail the state Department of Water Resources (DWR) could put the basin into probation or take a more hands-on role, potentially requiring measures such as metering and pumping reductions. “Going it alone means giving up influence, losing economies of scale, and duplicating costs,” Luckler said. He recommended continued participation in the JPA if a funding path can be found.

Public comment reflected mixed views: some speakers urged continued local control and cooperation to avoid state intervention; others urged that large agricultural pumpers reduce their groundwater use as the most direct way to address basin conditions.

What the council decided: There was no separate, final vote on a new local fee at the meeting. Staff reported that the city’s $48,000 share will be covered from the water enterprise fund as budgeted; further decisions on long-term funding pathways were left to Praga and future Praga board meetings.

Context and next steps: The joint powers agreement for Praga automatically sunsets in June 2026 if no long-term funding mechanism is established, staff said. Praga board members and the city will review the revenue options outlined and consider outreach, possible Prop 26 regulatory fees for baseline operations, or another Prop 218 process plus continued GSA contributions.

Ending: Praga’s financial shortfall concentrates attention on funding choices that will determine whether the basin retains locally led management or faces increased DWR intervention. The city manager and utilities staff said they will continue to participate in Praga meetings as the authority evaluates the alternatives.","A Proposition 218 ballot-based fee intended to fund the Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority (Praga) failed after a majority protest. The authority projects a $300,000 cash shortfall through 2025; the City of Paso Robles will cover $48,000 from the water enterprise fund for baseline operations.",{"_32":87,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":88,"_40":89,"_42":90,"_44":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6496576,"Paso Robles council approves armored rescue vehicle for police tactical response",1670,18250000,19920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5604915-789f921867adfffbac4ef53c38283239&start=18250&end=19920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5604915-789f921867adfffbac4ef53c38283239/thumbnail_18250000.jpg","/articles/6496576/El-Paso-de-Robles-City/San-Luis-Obispo-County/California/Paso-Robles-council-approves-armored-rescue-vehicle-for-police-tactical-response","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496576-d0587330b5357da57dbd97e4410560d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770144861&Signature=cIT30pvm~4R9aulB4Jkwfir553GP9fAbV-G3XuiHT9GNQZ9k2ei-OEutl0OYiERRdyD6hhZDSDJYUZSQI8u2oLTjUQHiQtux5ZLZRG~4J3qSJUV0whTUQXx154FmQdlBMmvOV0vqd4bE4upiJlN~ik1dOxVnAKp5l~JGCQcpvCxQsZAEN8mZAW4QWOUszLBoOvUVeyw8i-eShMb20SEfD5pgFpe0je8EkizvxaASgJtpcak87yeCVeMrnxmGG3lfutdeefYGy4CMHNI7SSGmTitjWzBV76I9hJ5nhXSDHwVabbhpijufijeCyotgMd7humhIp1~0-8g0qN-xo07RNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Paso Robles — The City Council on Tuesday approved the purchase of a BearCat armored rescue vehicle for the Police Department, citing officer and civilian safety in high‑risk incidents.

Police Chief Damien Nord told the council the city lacks a locally staged armored vehicle and noted past incidents where response time and protective cover were critical. “Seconds matter,” Nord said, adding that the vehicle would be used to evacuate injured people, transport personnel into or out of unsafe areas and provide ballistic protection. The chief described the BearCat as a nationally adopted law‑enforcement rescue vehicle configured for tactical EMS support with ballistic protection, SCBA storage and medical cabinet space.

Funding and procurement: The vehicle will be purchased with supplemental state law‑enforcement funds (SLESF/COPS). Nord and finance staff said the total cost — including shipping and buildout — is roughly $421,569; the city’s SLESF balance is sufficient to cover the purchase. Staff estimated ongoing maintenance at roughly $2,000–$6,500 a year, depending on use; the city will include maintenance costs in future operating plans.

Use, mutual aid and limitations: Chief Nord emphasized the BearCat is a defensive tool and not an offensive weapon; it is designed to protect responders, shield casualties and serve in rescues and active‑shooter responses. The vehicle’s turret is not a weapons mount, and staff said the vehicle would be operated by trained personnel, with SWAT and other specially trained officers providing initial operation and training to additional staff. Mutual‑aid agreements mean the vehicle could be deployed in support of neighboring agencies under standard mutual‑aid protocols; staff said the federal government cannot unilaterally command the vehicle out of the city in the ordinary course.

Public comment at the meeting included both support and requests for additional public‑use policy. Speakers praised the department’s need for protective equipment but asked the council to adopt a deployment policy and community oversight before widespread use. The chief said staff will report back on training, deployment parameters and mutual‑aid procedures.

Why it matters: The vehicle is intended to reduce risk to officers, fire and medical personnel and to allow safer casualty extraction in situations where conventional vehicles or foot approaches would be hazardous. City officials said the BearCat will also be available for automatic aid or mutual‑aid responses within the region.

Council decision: The council approved the purchase by motion; the vote was unanimous.

Ending: Staff said they will return with training plans, deployment policy language and a timetable for delivery; the vehicle build timeline is lengthy and staff estimated delivery in roughly 18 months to two years.","The City Council unanimously approved purchase of a BearCat armored rescue vehicle to provide protective transport and tactical EMS support for local law enforcement and first responders. Funding will come from supplemental state law enforcement funds; staff said the vehicle is intended as a defensive lifesaving tool.",{"_32":99,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":100,"_40":101,"_42":102,"_44":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6496581,"Paso Robles council directs staff to restore adult‑use delivery rules and study storefront policy",5023,13050000,18073000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5604915-789f921867adfffbac4ef53c38283239&start=13050&end=18073","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5604915-789f921867adfffbac4ef53c38283239/thumbnail_13050000.jpg","/articles/6496581/El-Paso-de-Robles-City/San-Luis-Obispo-County/California/Paso-Robles-council-directs-staff-to-restore-adultuse-delivery-rules-and-study-storefront-policy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496581-a8e239554749969673b099d18565ab1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770144861&Signature=KecvtaqeiIS-4TFTPId90CEG4OKic~S8NIQanWsVsOQXGfjA2LE2j3UML9aPDrHmBDBTKFNpqchkwnY8RSsEDeA4Xo~BYdiW3vKzwNULmYyv7EmfL16XHzEr-ibD-NDP38KJGpxSlO4eJ58tnCWZ9SwIcL6oR6lMh0GB-GF7e1chJRAtBQDkSOPQEo4kiRcYEJnk83ZiMIinxCmpNOpeJpF13ubwaqaT67~-3QfoxVgiBDSKF5mBsmJltUbYe8tmB1wT9YT8qwzXG48VPrUBl3LIx~B85lDACamgzRCIpgIrrmlwsnNTO8cccDfvCQOJeHxe8wwkUWDRKBSbIE4JDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Paso Robles — The City Council on Tuesday reopened its multi‑year review of local cannabis regulations and directed staff to return with two items: an ordinance change to permit existing, city‑permitted medical cannabis delivery operators to deliver adult‑use cannabis, and a framework and outreach plan for potentially authorizing cannabis retail storefronts in the city.

Background: Community development staff briefed the council on the city’s regulation history and options for changing policy. Since Prop 64 legalized adult‑use cannabis, Paso Robles has allowed a narrow set of medical delivery offices by conditional use permit and adopted local tax rates. In 2022 the council temporarily allowed existing medical delivery offices to carry adult‑use deliveries for one year; that provision expired in 2023. Staff recommended restoring the prior temporary allowance as a first step.

Council direction: Councilmembers discussed enforcement, tax collection and neighbor impacts. Several business owners and longtime local delivery operators testified in favor of allowing local licensed operators to compete on equal footing with delivery services based outside the city and urged a merit‑based selection process should the city adopt storefront licensing.

After public comment and staff discussion the council voted to direct staff to prepare (1) an updated ordinance to permit adult‑use delivery by the city’s existing medical delivery operators and (2) a community outreach and regulatory framework that would analyze how, whether and where storefront retail should be permitted, what selection or licensing process would apply, and what buffers and operating standards would be required. Staff said the first item (restoring delivery authority) could be returned relatively quickly, and that a full retail framework would require more study and outside subject‑matter expertise.

Why this matters: At present state‑licensed delivery operators that are based outside Paso Robles may deliver adult‑use cannabis into the city while local medical delivery operators are constrained by city municipal code. The council’s direction is intended to level the playing field for local operators, improve tax collection and produce a formal evaluation of retail storefront licensing and neighborhood protections.

Next steps: Staff will return with a draft ordinance to allow adult‑use delivery by existing city‑permitted medical delivery businesses and will develop a public engagement plan and consultant scope for a study of storefront retail options, licensing and selection processes. Council members asked staff to examine enforcement and tax collection approaches used by other local jurisdictions and to include equity, public‑health and youth‑safety provisions in any retail licensing framework.

Ending: The council’s split approach—restore adult‑use deliveries now, study retail later—reflects caution about storefronts among some members while responding to local business and tax‑collection concerns raised by residents and operators.","The City Council directed staff to return with an updated ordinance allowing local licensed medical delivery operators to also deliver adult‑use cannabis and to prepare a community‑outreach framework and regulatory plan for potential retail storefronts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City approves ECHO amendment, funding and shift to 90-day model amid neighborhood concerns

Paso Robles to cover $48,000 share after regional groundwater fee fails

Paso Robles council approves armored rescue vehicle for police tactical response

Paso Robles council directs staff to restore adult‑use delivery rules and study storefront policy