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Pismo Beach council splits on SLOCOG transportation plan; motion to support local expenditure plan fails
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Summary
Council debated a proposed countywide half‑cent transportation expenditure plan that uses a population‑based allocation; members expressed concern that the formula shortchanges Pismo Beach, where tourism and through‑traffic exceed resident counts. A motion to approve the SLOCOG local expenditure plan failed on a roll call vote.
The Pismo Beach City Council on March 17 debated whether to support a countywide half‑cent transportation expenditure plan developed by the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG), and ultimately rejected a staff resolution backing the plan.
Staff explained the plan's funding breakdown: a population‑based guaranteed local allocation (estimated at about $550,000 annually for Pismo Beach at a half‑cent) plus a regional pot for corridor projects that requires competitive selection. Council members pressed SLOCOG staff and a citizens' initiative representative about why the Price Canyon/Price Canyon Road corridor had not been specifically guaranteed in the local expenditure plan.
James Worthley, deputy director at SLOCOG, said the plan aims for a simple, understandable formula and that population was chosen to be transparent to voters; he noted regional projects are intended to be competed for through the regional pot. George Aguilar, chair of the citizens' initiative, argued the plan would allow better leveraging of grant dollars and make the county more competitive for state funds reserved for "self‑help" counties.
Several council members said a population‑based formula shortchanges Pismo Beach because transient and tourist activity places outsized strain on local circulation and infrastructure. One council member asked whether cities could pursue local measures to fund their own projects; staff said that is an option but that pooled county funding can leverage state and federal grants more effectively.
A motion to approve the local expenditure plan passed or failed by roll call (the motion failed; key votes were No from multiple council members), so the council did not adopt a supporting resolution. Staff noted that if Pismo Beach declines to support the SLOCOG plan it may reduce political leverage at the SLOCOG board but also allows the council to register objections about formula and priorities.
Council asked staff to continue conversations with SLOCOG to press for Price Canyon recognition in regional project lists and to track next steps if a citizens' initiative reaches the ballot.
