Arroyo Grande Gazette, Volume 1, Number 3

ARROYO GRANDE ARROYO GRANDE ARROYO GRANDE

GAZETTE GAZETTE GAZETTE

Photo by Vivian Krug

A Message from your Interim City Manager

Bill Robeson

Dear Readers,

I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to you for the third edition of the Arroyo Grande Gazette. It is an honor to have this opportunity to share the latest projects and initiatives that are shaping the future of our community. In this edition, we are excited to bring your attention to several key highlights including the City’s new mobile app “My AG,” the implementation of a permanent parklet program, and to shine a spotlight on a dedicated employee, Tierza Little. Also highlighted is the updating of the City’s General Plan. This update will guide the development of the City for years to come. Your input and participation in the process are invaluable, and we hope to see you at one of our upcoming community workshops

I want to express my gratitude for the privilege of serving this wonderful community during my interim role as City Manager Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement in our community Together we will ensure that Arroyo Grande continues to thrive now and well into the future.

Interim City Manager, Bill Robeson

Your city in your pocket : INTRODUCING THE "MY AG" APP

AUTHOR Jessica Matson, Legislative & Information Services Director / City Clerk

The City is thrilled to introduce “My AG” – the City’s new app for residents and members of the public The City Clerk’s office began this project at the beginning of Summer 2023 Taking into consideration City department needs and Arroyo Grande community comments, the Clerk’s office developed the app to provide quick and easy access to City information and services.

With the “My AG” app, members of the public are able to register for Recreation classes and special events, pay their utility bill, apply for permits, report concerns, get important City notifications and updates, and more all from the app. The goal is to provide an easier way for the public to receive City information and certain services, as well as improve the City’s ability to communicate with residents, visitors, and other members of the public Being able to provide accurate, timely, and trusted information will always be a top priority for the City and with the “My AG” app we move forward towards achieving this important priority.

The "My AG" app is now available in the Apple store for iPhone users and the Google Play store for Android users Download today and connect with your City!

SHAPING THE FUTURE: UPDATING THE GENERAL PLAN

The Community Development Department, which typically provides a wide range of services for the City such as issuing building permits, inspecting construction projects, and reviewing current applications for new development, and is also responsible for long-term planning of the City. The Department is currently spearheading an exciting long-term planning project, the update to its General Plan This is the road map that will shape the future of the City for the next 20-25 years

California state law requires each city and county to adopt a general plan to guide the physical development of the jurisdiction, and recommends comprehensively updating every 10-15 years The City is currently operating under the 2001 General Plan update Certain elements of the City's General Plan have been updated over the past two decades, including the Housing Element in 2020 and the Circulation Element recently updated in 2021. The City is excited to partner with its consultant, Mintier Harnish to update all existing elements over the course of the next three years

WHAT IS A CITY GENERAL PLAN?

The General Plan consists of multiple elements that directly address different issue areas.

The required elements are: land use, housing, circulation, conservation, open space, noise, and safety The City’s existing optional elements include agriculture, economic development, and parks and recreation.

The General Plan is the whole community’s plan. Participation and input from City residents, businesses, and property owners during the upcoming update process is critical for a successful General Plan, and all voices are important in this effort A shared community vision will help set priorities by informing decision makers of community values and priorities.

AUTHORS Brian Pedrotti, Community Development Director & Andrew Perez, Planning Manager

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Continued engagement and participation from the community will result in a General Plan that represents the interests and priorities of the community. It is not unusual for a General Plan to be in place for 20 - 25 years, so the opportunity to craft a vision for the City’s future development does not come around often.

There will be many opportunities for community engagement throughout the update process beyond Planning Commission and City Council meetings. Multiple community workshops and events for visioning, identifying existing opportunities and constraints, and land-use scenarios are proposed in the work schedule and will be publicized on the City’s website and social media platforms A project website has also been developed to keep the public apprised of the update and can be found at www.planarroyogrande.com.

The first opportunity for community engagement will occur on October 5, 2023. This workshop event will be held at the City Council Chambers, located at 215 E Branch Street beginning at 6:00 pm This is a chance for the community to identify assets, issues, and opportunities present in the City of Arroyo Grande. For those unable to attend, the workshop will be recorded and available for viewing at www.arroyogrande.org.

Prior to March 2020, allowing businesses to establish outdoor dining facilities, or parklets, in the public right-of-way (public sidewalks and streets) was not considered, because the parklets would typically be in parking spaces. This is particularly true in the Village, where very visible and frequently used parking spaces along the curb on East Branch Street would be lost

This mindset shifted in the early stages of the pandemic, as local restaurants were being negatively impacted by the COVID-19 indoor dining restrictions To protect public health and support economic recovery of these local restaurants that were particularly impacted by COVID-19 operational restrictions, a temporary parklets program was developed.

The City adopted a resolution on June 23, 2020, authorizing the Community Development Director to waive application fees for encroachment permits and allow Minor Use Permits/Temporary Use Permits for restaurants that were seeking additional outdoor dining space

The City rented concrete barriers to facilitate installation of safe temporary parklets Though not particularly appealing, these barriers allowed temporary parklets to be constructed safely in the Village

AUTHOR Shannon Sweeney, City Engineer

The initial temporary program was a unique opportunity to re-imagine how the City’s public right-of-way could be utilized to improve longterm community vibrancy and economic vitality.

A study session on the City’s temporary parklets program and options for potential permanent parklets programs was held on November 23, 2021.

A community survey held prior to the study session resulted in over 600 responses, with strong support for having a long-term permanent parklets program Themes of concern included parking, aesthetics, safety, and economic fairness At the study session, the City Council provided direction to staff to develop a long-term parklets program

On September 27, 2022, staff introduced an ordinance to establish a permanent parklets program. To address aesthetics and safety, the Ordinance included design criteria for uniform decorative concrete barriers. Ordinance 719 was adopted on October 11, 2022 amending the Municipal Code regarding the establishment of permanent parklets.

Staff used information in the Ordinance to develop multiple barrier configurations that met the design criteria Staff met with the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) on July 3, 2023, to review the configuration options and identify the preferred layout The preferred

Current temporary parklet barrier

layout included square planters at the outside corners of the barrier layout

Once the ARC’s recommended layout was identified, staff then had sufficient information to develop a Request for Quotations (RFQ) to seek competitive quotes for purchasing the concrete barriers and planters. The RFQ was structured for the purchase of sufficient barrier and planters for one single parking spot parklet and seven double parking spot parklets. At that time, the City had one single spot parklet and four double spot parklets with two more double spot parklets anticipated.

On July 7, 2023, this RFQ was issued to nine vendors who were identified as selling decorative concrete barriers that meet the design criteria established in the City’s ordinance and supported by the ARC The deadline for submitting quotes was July 13, 2023

Six quotes were received prior to the deadline. The quote received from Peterson Manufacturing Company was the most responsive to the RFQ indicating the ability to meet the 8-week lead time, meet all design criteria, and stay within budget.

Staff presented to the ARC again on July 17 2023, to review quotes and discuss colors The ARC recommended the color Sand Tan in a light sandblasted finish

A representation of that color and finish is shown below

On July 25, 2023, Council approved purchase of the decorative concrete barriers from Peterson Manufacturing Company. The barriers are scheduled for delivery to the City by October 2, 2023.

The City has received several applications from Village businesses for permanent parklets including: Mule Bakery, Humdinger Brewing, Villa Cantina, Hubbalicious Sweet Shoppe, and Café Andreini The applications were reviewed in August and continue to be reviewed by the ARC with anticipated approval in September

Removal of the temporary concrete barriers is scheduled for early October, alongside multiple construction projects in the Village, including sidewalk band and tree well brick replacement, East Branch Street crosswalk improvements, Mason Street and Nevada asphalt repairs, and slurry seal of the pavement along East Branch Street. Installation of the new decorative concrete barriers is scheduled following completion of those projects, in late October or early November 2023 ahead of the busy holiday season

Conceptual Design of the permanent parklet decorative barrier

TIERZA LITTLE

The Central Coast boasts some of the most beautiful towns to call home, from the top of North County to the quiet town of Nipomo. It’s one of the reasons so many people move to the area after visiting – there’s an undeniable charm and way of life that suits most But being able to say that you are from this area –born and raised – is even more special For the September Employee Spotlight, I had the privilege of speaking to an Arroyo Grande native, Tierza Little

Tierza is the Police Records and Property & Evidence Clerk for the Arroyo Grande Police Department. Beginning with the department during her senior year of high school, she has spent almost 18 years with AGPD. “I have deep roots here. I love it here, that’s why I work here.”

Tierza’s family has been in Arroyo Grande for generations.

“My great-great-grandmother went through the Mission in San Luis Obispo and married a Spaniard that was part of the Jack Powers Gang – his name was Miguel Blanco, and he was a horse thief” We both laugh as the irony doesn’t escape either of us – a horse thief’s great-great-granddaughter now works for the police department

“I started working here [AGPD] when I was 18 back in November 2004 I became a Cadet and then I was a Training Manager. The department co-sponsored me through the academy.” Starting with the department in high school, I was curious what helped drive the decision. Her answer was unexpected but the best I could have received. “Do you remember the CSI shows? CSI: Las Vegas came out when I was in high school, and I loved it. I said, ‘I want to do that!’”

Living in a small town has its advantages A family friend was a Commander for AGPD and opened the door to which Tierza could get her foot into the world of law enforcement Unfortunately, working in the field had unexpected side effects – everything about her favorite crime shows was ruined. “I can’t watch those shows anymore because I critique what they’re doing. It’s all wrong.”

After completing the police academy in 2009, Tierza found it was difficult to be hired. There would be one position and one hundred applicants. “I applied to Atascadero Police Department, and I finished number two in the process The reason I finished second, the Commander at Atascadero told me, ‘I really think you want to work for AGPD’” It was evident to those who knew her that she’d always be a small-town girl at heart After waiting patiently, a position opened at AGPD, and she was hired as an officer

“I was an Officer for a while but then I was

getting married, and I was unsure if I could do the wife and mother thing plus being an officer.” Tierza made the decision to leave AGPD and eventually move out of the area with her family Coincidentally, leaving the department and moving to Northern California turned out to be only temporary As luck would have it, Tierza was able to move back to where she always knew was home – Arroyo Grande “I love being able to walk down the street and an old basketball coach say, ‘Hey Foster!’ or see a cousin around town.”

“They [AGPD] hired me back when they heard I moved back. It was so humbling to be called and hear, ‘Hey we want you to come back here and work.’”

Having been with the department for almost two decades, it’s clear Tierza looks back with fondness “I got to work with the older generation, see them retire, see the new generation come in so now I’m the old generation” A memory pops up and she laughs, recalling when the Police Department

The job itself has provided Tierza with what most people hope for – a sense of purpose and fulfillment She explains, “ helping people with their problems and situations and making the community better – I do like this; I like being able to work for the community and feel like I make a difference.”

Going from working as an Officer to Records and Evidence was a shift, but it’s important to recognize the critical role the Records Department has in every police department. Everything the officers and dispatchers experience will inevitably come across Tierza’s desk While she may not be out in the field experiencing it firsthand, she experiences the same situations through the reports and processing of evidence “In Records we have to review every report before it gets sent to the District Attorney or to another Agency But it’s up to our department to make it the best possible report so that when it gets to the District Attorney, it will get justice for the victim.”

Acknowledging the metaphorical heavy load this job places on Tierza, I ask her how she decompresses. She answers pragmatically, “In this line of business, stress is high, you have to take care of your body. We see incredibly stressful situations, people come in with horrible issues, so you have to take care of yourself As long as my body’s healthy, I can keep my mind healthy, and I can get through these reports”

She goes on to tell me about another source of joy in her life “Music is a huge passion of mine My grandfather was the choir director for

people, to which she recalls a terrifying experience of playing at her high school graduation and proclaims it will never happen again

After spending time with Tierza and coming to understand her passion about law enforcement, I pose the question “if you were not working in this field, or public service, what would you do?”

“Growing up I went through so many things –marine biologist, meteorologist, P.E. teacher, and then criminology. […] I’d probably be a P.E. teacher I love sports, working out, nutrition is huge”

I followed up with a question that would elicit unequivocal responses from residents – “Would you ever work anywhere else?” Tierza’s reply echoed a resounding sense of hometown pride: “No I would never, ever want to work anywhere else. I love this City too much.”