Paso Robles Press • February 12, 2020

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Hometown News Since 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXX, NO. XXXV

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

CITY

Council Calls for Changes to PC, Housing Authority Bylaws

pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY

CITY

CITY HALL, LIBRARY WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE SPACE

Council members call for discussion on adding stipends By MARK DIAZ mark@pasoroblespress.com PASO ROBLES — On Tuesday, Feb. 4, the Paso Robles City Council had a special meeting directly after its regular meeting, voting 5-0 to have City staff make changes to the bylaws of both the Paso Robles Planning Commission and the Paso Robles Housing Authority. According to City staff, the request for the special meeting came after the Council’s agenda posted. State law dictates that the public must have the opportunity to review what is going to be discussed at a Council meeting and to give people ample time to attend and comment on the agenda items. Special meetings take place when time is of the essence. In the case of last week’s special meeting, the Council was looking to interview for positions on both the Housing Authority and the Planning Commission. The special meeting allowed Council members to discuss their views and ideas about the two groups and direct the staff to research and advise. Doug Barth stepped forward during the public comment portion of the meeting and suggested that the Council look at the possibility of issuing a stipend to the people who volunteer their time to the PRPC. Due to term limits, Barth is vacating his position of the past nine years on the Planning Commission. Barth argued that a stipend would show people that the City appreciates their volunteering and also might attract younger business owners. “The Planning Commission is not going to make $100,000 off this thing,” Barth said. “But to just give them something [that says], ‘Hey, we appreciate your time.’” Councilmember John Hamon agreed with the rest of the Council that a stipend is a potentially good idea. He said that the amount of money does not matter but boils down to the thought behind the action. Councilmember Fred Strong noted that members of the PRHA and the PRPC are not quite part-time employees but are close to it. He said that the application and interview process is very much like filling a paid position. Strong went so far as to say that paying members a minimum wage would not be out of the question. “There are so many parallels there,” Strong said, “that I can almost see doing a minimum wage for the actual hours they meet rather than just a stipend, but that’s a decision that has to be made.” Hamon shared his concerns about the “applicant pool.” He said there might not be people applying who have the knowledge and background that the Council is looking to bring on the two boards. Hamon said he sees a need to “encourage the right kind of people.” He also suggested an idea that caught the interest with the rest of the Council. Hamon said that he would like to explore having an alternate member on the panels as a backup when enough members are not present to cast a deciding vote. CONTINUED ON PAGE A10

The Paso Robles City Council voted unanimously Feb. 4 to move forward with a master plan for the combination library/city hall building. Photo by Mark Diaz

Council votes to develop facility master plan By MARK DIAZ mark@pasoroblespress.com

PASO ROBLES — In a 5-0 vote, the Paso Robles City Council decided to employ RRM Design Group to develop a comprehensive co-op plan for City Hall and the library. For decades the City staff has occupied the upstairs of the Paso Robles City Library. In 1995, the City of Paso Robles constructed the library with the intention that City Hall would use the building until 2010. However, due to the economic downturn of the Great Recession, plans for building a new facility fell by the wayside. “The original intent was that the library would be a two-story library and the City Hall would essentially rent space from the library for about ten years than either a new City Hall would be constructed or space would

be rented elsewhere,” City Manager Tom Frutchey said. Advocating for a City Hall master plan in the November 2019 City Council meeting, Frutchey told the Council he believed it was time for City Hall to relinquish its hold on the library. “The City Hall master plan hand not been forthcoming,” Frutchey said. “We have made some progress but certainly not at the pace the Council would have wanted, nor the community and the Library advocates deserve.” With a room full of library advocates, the Council seemed to agree with Frutchey’s sentiments. In a 5-0 vote, the Council approved an initial motion to authorize an agreement with RRM Design to create a comprehensive space plan for City Hall. In a January 2019 Council meeting, with only a few library repre-

sentatives, the Council seemed to rethink its position on building a City Hall. Fiscal conservative Councilman John Hamon pulled the RRM Design motion from the consent calendar and opened a whole can of worms. After several failed motions, the Council finally directed staff again to review the decision to employ RRM Design Group to develop a suitable space plan for both facilities, including the Union Road. On Oct. 1, 2019, the Council authorized the purchase of 8.5 acres located at 2930 Union Road, which closed escrow in December 2019. The site is a proposed location for an emergency services facility. The area would encompass a fire station, a back-up emergency operations center, a Police substation, the City’s corporation yard, and other core City services. At the Feb. 4 Council meeting, the matter came back to the floor

for an open discussion with Hamon questioning whether the City had enough funds to fulfill the Library Master Plane and develop a City Hall master plan as well as pursue the EMS facility on Union Road. With a room once again full of library advocates, the Council deliberated on the best course of action. Hamon elicited groans from a majority of those present when he stated that libraries are not as relevant as they used to be. “People aren’t using libraries like they used to,” Hamon said. “I can find what I need to look for in my phone faster than I can go downtown and go to the library to get it.” Frutchey reminded the Hamon that the Library Master Plan has already been approved by them and agreed to move forward with the project. CONTINUED ON PAGE A10

COMMUNITY

Pour Your Heart Out

Fundraiser for Braden Waterman takes place over Valentine’s weekend CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE

Braden Waterman, center, poses for a photo with his parents, Brochelle Winery owners Brock and Michelle Waterman after a Bearcats football WARRIORS FOR KRISTIN game last season. Contributed photo

PRESENT

SLO

The Wineries of 46 East are joining forces and dedicating the upcoming Valentine’s weekend (Feb. 14-16) to Paso Robles teen Braden Waterman. Waterman, the son of Brochelle Winery owners Brock and Michelle Waterman,was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Participating wineries along the 46 East Wine Trail will be donating a portion of the weekend’s sales and/or tasting fees directly to the Waterman CONTINUED ON PAGE A10

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR pasoroblespress.com

LOCAL NEWS

LOCAL NEWS

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ENTERTAINMENT

WEATHER

Please join your friends and neighbors in this peaceful demonstration to honor the legacy and the quest for justice for Kristin Smart!

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SPORTS

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SIERRA VISTA Regional Medical Center receives Gold Seal of Approval | A2

KRISTIN SMART New search warrants served in this 24-year-old case | A7

SENIOR NIGHT: Overtime VINEYARDS SANTA ROSAKELSEY PARK LUIS OBISPO goal lifts Hounds toSAN victory Atascadero native now the over Mission Prep | B1 Assistant Winemaker | B3

Saturday, February 1 5:00 PM

High 69º • Low 37º


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