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Paso Robles council approves support for Diablo Canyon coalition and passes consent calendar
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Summary
The council voted unanimously to join a coalition urging state action on Diablo Canyon (aligning state and federal licensing horizons, restoring unitary tax revenue) and approved routine consent items including payments and contract awards raised during the warrant register review.
The Paso Robles City Council on Jan. 14 unanimously approved a council‑sponsored motion for the city to join a coalition seeking state‑level actions related to the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. Councilmember Gregory moved to approve the city's participation; Councilmember Strong seconded. The roll call vote recorded all five council members as "Aye."
Staff and council described three coalition goals in the presentation: seek a 20‑year state operating horizon to match federal licensing, explore restoration or replacement of unitary tax revenue that local jurisdictions previously received from the plant, and support land conservation and public access plans near the facility. City staff noted that reductions in unitary tax receipts over the past decade have meaningfully affected local budgets.
The council also approved the remainder of the consent calendar (items 1–3 and 5–9) by unanimous vote. Staff summarized the warrant register and several large payments that exceeded $100,000 since the last meeting, noting that the city had issued "a little over $5,000,000 in payments" over the interval. Specific warrant items mentioned in the meeting included a dump truck purchase ($145,548.83), a Nacimiento Water Operating Fund charge ($555,061.20), and multiple monthly invoices to the law firm Best Best & Krieger (BBK) for professional services.
Council discussion and public questions sought clarification on legal invoices and developer reimbursements; the city attorney explained that some charges reflected litigation costs and developer‑initiated work that is later reimbursed.
What happens next: The coalition participation will position the city to participate in state‑level conversations about Diablo Canyon's operations and fiscal impacts. The consent calendar actions are final as recorded.
