Arroyo Grande council agrees to create Measure E24 citizen oversight committee with amended recruitment language

The Arroyo Grande City Council voted Feb. 25 to establish a citizen oversight committee to review annual revenue and expenditure reports for Measure E24, the 1-percent sales tax increase approved by city voters in November 2024.

City Manager Matt Downing summarized staff’s recommendation: the committee would review Measure E24 annual reports, provide feedback on fund allocation prior to council budget action, and consist of five members appointed by the council. Downing said the measure is expected to generate about $6 million annually and noted the ballot language included oversight language but did not require a formal committee.

Why it matters: councilors and public commenters said the committee is necessary to maintain transparency and public trust as the city begins to collect and allocate Measure E24 receipts on April 1.

Public comment and council discussion

Melissa Watkins, an Arroyo Grande resident, told the council she supported forming an oversight committee to ensure the public sees how funds are spent. “My hope is that the citizen oversight committee being formed can help remind all involved in spending the new tax revenue of the goals that the citizens are expecting to be met,” she said.

Council members discussed scope, meeting frequency and recruitment. Staff indicated other cities use a range of meeting schedules; Atascadero’s committee meets annually. Council member Guthrie suggested the committee could be a place for public prioritization of capital projects but warned that volunteer committees sometimes function as a rubber stamp without sufficient public outreach.

Amendment and vote

Council approved staff’s recommendation to create the Measure E24 citizen sales tax oversight committee with one amendment to recruitment language: rather than the staff draft phrase that “preference would be given to applicants who reflect diversity,” the council directed staff to solicit applicants who reflect the city’s diversity and to use language that seeks that representation rather than promises formal preference. The motion to create the committee with that change passed on a roll call vote: yes — Council member Guthrie; Council member Maravilla; Council member Lowe; Mayor Pro Tem Seacrest; and Mayor Karen Rae Russell.

Next steps

Staff said it will prepare the ordinance or resolution and application materials, solicit applicants through city communications channels and return with a recommended recruitment and appointment process. The committee is expected to review Measure E24 annual reports before they are presented to the council and to meet at least once a year (staff proposed one to two meetings annually, with additional meetings if needed).

Ending

Councilors emphasized transparency and the need to report progress on projects funded by Measure E24 as funds begin to be collected April 1. The council’s action established the oversight process and directed staff to implement recruitment consistent with the amended language.