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Council appoints ad hoc committee to draft response to grand jury report on unauthorized street parties
Summary
San Luis Obispo City Council appointed Mayor Erica A. Stewart and Councilmember Marks to a two‑member ad hoc committee to work with staff on the city’s response to a grand jury report about unauthorized street parties near Cal Poly; staff will submit the formal response within the grand jury's 90‑day timeline.
San Luis Obispo City Council on July 15 appointed an ad hoc committee to work with staff preparing the city's formal response to a grand jury report about unauthorized street parties and neighborhood disturbances.
City Manager McDonald summarized the grand jury timeline and the city's engagement during the investigation; the grand jury released its report on June 23, 2025. The report included findings and recommendations addressed to multiple city entities; staff said four recommendations were directed to council, three to the city manager and one to the Planning Commission. The city has 90 days from the report’s public release to provide a written response. McDonald said staff will prepare the manager‑level responses and recommended the council appoint a two‑member ad hoc committee to collaborate on council responses.
Vice Mayor Schorzman moved to appoint Mayor Erica A. Stewart and Councilmember Marks to the ad hoc committee; Councilmember Boswell seconded. A roll call vote recorded unanimous approval (5–0). McDonald said staff would work with the ad hoc committee to draft responses and return the final draft to the full council for approval before submittal to the grand jury. The staff recommended bringing the draft back to council either Sept. 2 or, if timing or attendance warranted, closer to the 90‑day deadline; the ad hoc committee and staff agreed to coordinate schedules and confirm the target return date.
The grand jury report addressed long‑standing neighborhood concerns tied to large, unauthorized street gatherings near the Cal Poly campus and examined city responses and enforcement tools. McDonald’s presentation recapped prior city work on related topics — the city’s social‑host ordinance, an unruly‑gathering ordinance, a safety‑enhancement zone, an MOU with Cal Poly and extensive coordination around St. Patrick’s Day events — and said staff remain committed to working with the university and community on long‑term solutions. The Planning Commission will prepare a separate response to the recommendation directed to that body.
The council’s appointment of Mayor Stewart and Councilmember Marks sets a process for staff and council to finalize the city’s official responses and to return the full council with a draft prior to the deadline.
