Paso Robles council approves new solid‑waste rates, orders Fourth of July fireworks and sets special election for CFD

The Paso Robles City Council on Jan. 15 approved a series of measures, including revised solid‑waste rates under Proposition 218, a special election and ordinance steps for Community Facilities District (CFD) Improvement Area 2, authorization to order the city’s July 4 fireworks, and the first reading of updated animal‑control rules.

The actions, taken after staff presentations and brief council discussion, affect city contracting, public utilities and upcoming voter action. The council voted on consent calendar items and separate motions; most measures passed unanimously, while a request to support SLOCOG legislation drew a 3‑2 split.

Citywide context The council approved routine consent items that included contract awards and final payments related to road, drainage and public‑safety projects, and directed staff to defer one consent item for later review. The meeting record shows several large warrant payments on this agenda cycle, including a $400,921.19 payment for an EDA‑funded fiber installation, a $587,392.80 payment to San Luis Obispo County for Nacimiento water operating fund billing, and a $268,884.55 closeout payment for Fire Station 3.

Community Facilities District: special election, results and ordinance Administrative Services Director Ryan Cornell told the council the hearing and related documents satisfied the statutory steps to call a special election for the CFD known in staff materials as Olson South Chandler Ranch (Community Facilities District no. 2022‑1N). Mayor John Hammond moved to call a special election; the motion passed unanimously.

The city clerk then opened the official ballots and reported that every returned ballot supported the proposition. The council adopted a resolution declaring the results and then introduced — by title only — an ordinance to levy the revised special taxes in the district; both measures passed by unanimous votes.

Solid‑waste rates: Prop 218 process concludes, new rates approved Ian Hoover, general manager of Paso Robles Waste and Recycle, summarized the hauler’s five‑year rate review and said rising costs for labor, fuel, landfill tip fees, insurance and recycling processing prompted the…