Hometown News Since 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CIV, NO. XLIV
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020
GOVERNMENT
Council Awards Kirk Construction Mall Plaza Bid
VETERANS DAY
Johnson, Fonzi II Distinguished as Veterans of the Year Veterans Day Ceremony held at Faces of Freedom in Atascadero
By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com ATASCADERO — The Atascadero City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 10, discussed the Housing Element plan and made some big decisions on the incoming Atascadero Mall Plaza. It will be built in the lot just south of the La Plaza building that is currently in the final stages of construction. Council voted unanimously to approve Kirk Construction’s bid of $819,344 for constructing the Mall Plaza and instructed the City Manager to take two of the five cost-saving steps presented to the Council. The Atascadero Mall Plaza project is the third step in the rebuilding and revitalization in the Atascadero downtown area, working hand-in-hand with the Downtown Infrastructure Enhancement Plan and the development of La Plaza and the Block Shops. According to the Council’s agenda, “The Atascadero Mall Plaza is envisioned as a multi-use public space with an open-walled shade structure that closely ties into new La Plaza improvements as well as the downtown El Camino Real corridor.” Initially, the Mall Plaza was part of conditional approval for the La Plaza development. However, in early 2019, it became clear that the Mall Plaza cost would exceed the amount of fees that the La Plaza project could expect to receive and became an impediment to the project itself.This prompted the City to begin looking for new ideas. On March 26, 2019, the Council reviewed two new Mall Plaza concept plans, one with a large pergola and one without, and agreed to have the City move forward with the park concept that included the pergola. The new Mall Plaza concept also identified eight essential design requirements in the preliminary process that included maintaining visibility of City Hall from Highway 101, maintaining visibility through the site and tunnel to reduce transient activity, and providing a large concrete area for events. That June, the Council approved $475,000 in Parkland Impact Fee Funds to pay for the construction of the Mall Plaza. “The preferred design in March 2019 was a concept plan approval and final design didn’t begin until the second half of 2019,” Public Works Director Nick DeBar stated. “The final design includes preparing construction plans and developing more detailed cost estimates. The $475,000 estimate was based upon CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
LOCAL NEWS
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DECISION 2020
Elections Office: Less than 5K Ballots Remaining to be Counted SLO County sets voter turnout record at 84.85% By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@atascaderonews.com
was accidentally ignited and 44 men died. Since retiring, Johnson has been the director of a Christian military retreat center for eight years, a business consultant for 15 years and the CEO-president of the county’s economic development corporation (EVC). He is a
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The San Luis Obispo County Elections Office released its updated Election Summary Report on Monday, Nov. 10, stating there were only 4,927 remaining ballots — 2,438 vote-by-mail, 2,362 provisional. The General Election was held on Nov. 3. With so few ballots remaining to be counted, all but one of the North County races remains in doubt — the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District School Board’s final seat. Nathan Williams held a 110 vote lead over Jim Cogan for the fourth seat with an estimated 830 ballots — 379 vote-by-mail and 451 provisional — remaining to be counted. None of the North County races changed significantly with Monday’s update. As of the close of election night, 117,974 ballots were counted. According to Monday’s update, 156,174 ballots had been counted. Voter turnout for SLO County increased to a record 84.85 percent. The previous high was 83%. “Counting has gone very smoothly, and yes, I am definitely aiming for completion just before Thanksgiving,” SLO County Clerk-Recorder Tommy Gong said. Vote-by-mail accounted for 148,733 votes in SLO County, with 7,441 people voting at polling locations. SLO County mailed a vote-by-mail ballot to every registered voter, but people had the option of voting in-person. The number of vote-by-mail ballots remaining to be counted could change as more ballots arrive at the County Elections Office. Vote-by-mail ballots that are postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 3, and received by the Elections Office within 17 days of the election are eligible to be counted. County elections officials must report their final results to the Calif. Secretary of State for the Presidential contest by Dec. 1 and all other state and federal contests by Dec. 4. The Secretary of State will certify the results on Dec. 11.
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The 13th annual Veterans Day Ceremony was held at the Faces of Freedom in Atascadero on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Photos by Brian Williams
By BRIAN WILLIAMS before making a few more brian@atascaderonews.com comments. “This is incredible. I want to salute all our vets. et. US Navy Cmdr. Most of them could be up here, Ray Johnson and Ret. standing in my place for what US Army Lt. Col. Al they did. Fonzi II were named Distin“Above all, I want to thank guished Veterans of the Year my wife, Helen. She’s been the
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Cemetery in place of its usual ceremony. Atascadero Mayor Heather Moreno introduced the Distinguished Veterans, reading off their many accomplishments in the Navy and Army, respectively, and their outstand-
In October 1966, on one of his two Vietnam deployments, Johnson was on board the carrier USS Oriskany — The Mighty O — when one of the worst shipboard fires since World War II broke out on the ship when a magnesium flare
US Army veteran Al Fonzi II, left, and US Navy veteran Ray Johnson, right, received the Distinguished Veteran of the Year honor from Atascadero Mayor Heather Moreno during the Veterans Day Ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Faces of Freedom in Atascadero.
during the 13th annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the Faces of Freedom in Atascadero. Johnson and Fonzi II, who both call Atascadero home, were humbled by the honor and made it a point to thank their wives. “I was asked if I had a speech prepared, I said I did and it’s just four words, ‘Thank you very much,’” Johnson said
COUNTY
wind beneath my wings,” Johnson said. Atascadero did not cancel or dramatically change its annual tribute to veterans due to the COVID-19 pandemic as some surrounding towns did. The ceremony is sponsored by the Atascadero Veterans Memorial Foundation. Paso Robles shifted to a drive-by display at the Paso Robles District
COVID-19 UPDATE
ing achievements when they returned home. Johnson served for nearly 22 years before retiring from the Navy in 1979. He entered the Navy Flight Training program in Pensacola, Fla., in January 1958 as a Naval Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD). He received his wings and commission in July 1959 — the same year he married his wife, Helen.
WEEKLY FEATURE
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WEATHER
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