AGPD HONORS FALLEN
OFFICERS AT SLO
COUNTY PEACE
OFFICERS MEMORIAL
DEVELOPING
Dear Readers,
It is with great pleasure that I present to you the Spring Issue of the Arroyo Grande Gazette As we transition from spring into summer, we’re eagerly anticipating spending some more time outdoors For those seeking engaging activities this season, take a look at the Recreation Services Activity Guides. From adult dance classes to youth science camps, there is truly something for everyone. In this second edition of the Arroyo Grande Gazette in 2024, we are excited to share an update on the Active Transportation Plan, which will establish a vision and roadmap for creating infrastructure that allows movement of all users throughout the City without the use of a car We also shine a spotlight on the Public Works Department, giving you insight into their ongoing projects and future plans. “In Other News” on page six shares some recent activities and accomplishments of the City, such as the redwood tree lighting at the Village gateway on Traffic Way and Branch Street, and the SLO County Peace Officers Memorial, which was hosted by the Arroyo Grande Police Department on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at Heritage Square Park.
In this edition, we also highlight the results of the survey mailed out to residents in early March. We had a fantastic response with nearly 1,500 submissions. We want to share what we learned from you. If you participated, whether by mail or online, I want to extend my sincere gratitude Your feedback and comments on the survey are invaluable, and we look forward to your continued engagement Lastly, I want to express my gratitude for the warm welcome I have received as I step into my role of City Manager. Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement in our community. I firmly believe that through collaboration, there are no challenges beyond our ability to overcome Together, we'll work to ensure that Arroyo Grande thrives both now and into the future
Sincerely,
Matt Downing
In June 2023 the City initiated efforts to prepare the Active Transportation Plan with the assistance of a consultant, KTU&A The City’s Circulation Element of the General Plan, which was adopted on July 27, 2021, directs City staff to prepare an Active Transportation Plan
Put simply, an Active Transportation Plan establishes a vision and roadmap for construction of infrastructure that encourages and allows movement of all users throughout the city without the use of a car. Adoption and implementation of the plan aims to make parks easier and safer to access; routes to school safer for students and parents; and biking to school, work, and recreation safer and more enjoyable. Additionally, an Active Transportation Plan will benefit the City and residents by addressing community health concerns related to air quality issues, climate change, as well as everincreasing energy costs An important component of this vision is planning that embraces “complete streets” Whether achieved through the implementation of smart growth principles, traffic calming, universal access, or more consistent integration of pedestrian and bicycle facilities within our rights-of-way, the technical challenges must be met by making our streets and communities complete and accessible to all users.
After the initial step of identifying and documenting existing infrastructure throughout the city and relevant policies impacting active transportation, staff began gathering input from the community Recognizing that community outreach is instrumental in developing a comprehensive plan, an extensive outreach strategy was developed The outreach plan includes workshops, pop-up events, and online engagement to solicit feedback from all members of the Arroyo Grande Community
Input will help identify areas where infrastructure for active transportation is deficient or problematic and establish priorities for future improvements identified in the plan
In addition to identifying an active transportation network, the plan will include an implementation plan, which will outline a strategy to implement the recommended infrastructure improvements and programs. The implementation plan will establish priorities based on community needs, funding, project complexity, and input that is gathered from the community throughout the development of the plan
Nearly ninety percent (90%) of the costs to develop the plan will be covered by a Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant from the California Department of Transportation. The Active Transportation Plan strives to meet the Caltrans Grant Program Objectives of Accessibility, Safety, and Social Equity, Health, and Economy. Identifying a network of bicycle and pedestrian improvements across the City will make active transportation more accessible to a broader cross-section of residents and visitors, and will improve accessibility to destinations
Th well be the backbone of the City of Arroyo Grande - responsible for maintaining all City infrastructure, which includes streets, parks, City buildings, Soto Sports Complex, and water and sewer facilities, as well as maintaining the City’s vehicle fleet & equipment. The Public Works Department even administers the City’s treeprogramandsupportsmanyeventswithin the city Keep reading to learn more about the Public Works Department, and their latest projects.
Under the leadership of the Assistant City Manager and Public Works Director Bill Robeson, the Department is committed to ensuring the seamless operation of essential services and enhancing the quality of life of all Arroyo Grande residents. In order to do that, the Public Works Department is comprised of three main divisions, Engineering, Utilities, and Streets&Landscaping.
The Engineering Division, led by City Engineer Shannon Sweeney, is responsible for overseeing the planning, design, and construction of the City’s infrastructure projects. The Engineering Division is gearing up for a year of big projects starting with the retrofit of the historic Swinging Bridge which willbecompletebySeptember,justintimefor
the Harvest Festival Next is the replacement of the Traffic Way Bridge. This complete bridge replacement will remove degrading bridge supports that have been exposed from years of channel erosion. The 92-year-old bridge will be replaced with a modern span bridge that will not require intermediate supports in the Arroyo Grande Creek bed and will improve public safety. In addition, the Engineering Division is responsible for planning street and road maintenance and repair. At the January 23, 2024, City Council Meeting, Sweeney presented the 2024 Pavement Priority Project List, which carefully balances the muchneeded street repairs with available funding. This is a balancing act of epic proportions
The Utilities Division, led by the long tenured Utilities Manager, Shane Taylor, is responsible forensuringtheefficientprovisionofwaterand wastewaterservicesintheCity.
Inadditiontotakingweeklywatersamplesto ensure that water quality meets state water quality standards, maintaining and repairing infrastructure, and reading water meters, the Utilities Division is busy completing other big projects.
Currently underway is a project to replace water services on Brighton Avenue, Fairview Drive, and Ledo Place This entails digging up and replacing 27 water service lines This proactive work is planned ahead of the 2024 PavementResurfacingProjectthatwillinclude work on these streets Planning and completing a long-term water utilities maintenance project in tandem with a pavement project is just the type of strategic planning that is taking place in the City on a dailybasis.
Utilities Division operators are continually training and working towards upgrading their Water Treatment and Water Distribution Licenses - both of which are required to operatemunicipalwatersystems
The Streets and Landscaping Division is led by Public Works Manager Dan Kies. The Division includes Streets, Parks, Building & Maintenance, and Soto Sports Complex The Streets Division maintains all streets, rights-ofway, sidewalks, storm drains, and sign maintenance. Streets crews often manage several projects at once, from filling potholes and clearing storm drains, to assisting Police & Fire with road closures following traffic accidents.
OurParksandSotoSportsComplexstaffspend their days maintaining field conditions, City parks and City playground equipment. They are continuously mowing, prepping baseball fields for softball and little leagues, and cleaningandcaringforCityfacilitiesthatmany residents count on for daily recreation and leisure.
The City’s Fleet Maintenance Division is quite literally a one-man show Citywide Fleet Coordinator, Raul Juarez is responsible for maintaining the Public Works vehicles as well asthePoliceDepartment’sfleetofvehiclesand equipment. Raul really does keep the City movingforward
Finally, we would be remiss if we didn’t recognize the continual efforts of our building andmaintenancestaff,taskedwithresponding to all sorts of issues, from repairing leaky roofs to cleaning floors. Their behind-the-scenes workiscrucialtoCityoperations.
Public Works Crews repair a water main leak at the intersection of Valley Rd and Fair Oaks Ave on Saturday, May 11, 2024
Photo by Victor RochaPublic Works crews are no strangers to emergencyresponse OvertheweekendofMay 11th and 12th, several City employees quickly respondedtoawatermainleakonValleyRoad and Fair Oaks Avenue. Working from dawn until well beyond dusk, crews cut away the road to reveal the damaged pipe, installed a replacementpart,refilledthehole,andpatched uptheasphalt Allinaday’swork
Andfinally,tooverlookthevitalroleplayedby the Public Works Department during the winter storms our region has experienced in thelastcoupleofyearswouldbeadisserviceto their contributions. While it is not unexpected to see the Fire and Police Departments respondtoweatherrelatedemergencies,brave individuals from the Public Works Department are also on call and respond within 15 minutes to cut away fallen trees, clear clogged City drains, and provide support in response to other emergencies within the city. They are owedadebtofgratitude
AlthougheachofthedivisionswithinPublic Works is managing a high volume of assignments and balancing a number of projects and priorities at any given time, a key message stands out: Public Works staff are dedicated to serving and assisting the public. Asthesayinggoes,“thepublicworks,because ofPublicWorks.”
So, whenever you spot a City of Arroyo Grande Public Works Employee, give them a wave hello, and say thanks - they’ll appreciate it
For more information about the Public Works Department, visit the City’s website at wwwarroyograndeorg
Anthony Martins moving fallen and broken trees at Strother Park. Photo by Victor Rocha Victor Rocha works to clear a drain on The Pike during a short break from the rain during the February 2024 storms. Photo by Victor Rocha
Chief Hallett joined the Five Cities Fire Authority on April 29th after serving as an Operations Battallion Chief for the City of Paso Robles. Chief Hallett has dedicated over 32 years to the fire service in San Luis Obispo County.
The Arroyo Grande Police Department hosted the San Luis Obispo County Peace Officers Memorial on May 16th at Heritage Square Park. The ceremony honored California Police Officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2023.
With funding from the Arroyo Grande and PismoFive Cities Rotary Clubs, the redwood tree at the Village gateway is now lit with color changing LED lights A tree lighting ceremony was held May 9th with a message from Mayor Ray Russom.
The Historic Swinging Bridge Rehabilitation Project is underway Plans to improve public safety while maintaining the historic charm will continue through the summer, with re-opening planned for September.
With freshly sealed pavement, the Village Construction Projects, including parklets, new brick crosswalks, and new planter tile bands, the Village projects are wrapping up!
The Recreation Services Summer Activities Guide is out!
With something for everyone and activities for the whole family, the Activity Guide is your ticket to a fun-filled summer! You don’t want to miss the Hollywood Family Dance June 21st!
