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SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXI, NO. XLVII
THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2021
CITY
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FUNDRAISER
13th Annual Tour of Paso Huge Success
City Council Discusses Enterprise Funds Report Downtown business owners ask to support long-term parklets By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — During the Paso Robles City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 4, some business owners called in requesting the parklet program to be added as a future agenda item. The business owners who called own restaurants in Downtown Paso expressed their support for the parklet program. One said many customers still feel safer eating outside even if the State allows inside capacity to increase. Parklets were previously approved by City Council to be used as-is until Nov. 1. At the end of the meeting, Councilmembers discussed whether or not to add parklets as a future agenda item. “Staff has a lot on their hands—I think there is a lot of report work that needs to be done first before we make a decision,” said Councilman John Hamon. All council members agreed to have anyone wanting to discuss parklet programs be directed to the Downtown Parking Advisory Commission and directed staff to research the technical aspects of
long-term parklets. Council directed staff that they will not be ready to hear anything on parklets for at least 90 days. Councilmembers unanimously adopted ordinance No. 1109, which reads: “Ordinance of the City Council authorizing an amendment to the contract between the City Council of the City El Paso de Robles and the Board of Administration of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, which authorizes an amendment to the CalPERS retirement contract for the City’s tier 1 miscellaneous POA members, and tier 1 and tier 2 police and fire safety members.” Then, Ryan Cornell, Administrative Services Director, presented a report on the Enterprise Funds Budget Development for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. The Enterprise Funds focuses on water, wastewater, and airport operations. Council approved the report with a 5-0 vote. Next, Council moved on to discuss consent agenda item 9: Adopt Ordinance No. 1110, Amending Section 14.16.020 of the Paso Robles Municipal Code regarding Sewer (Wastewater) Service Charges. The item was requested by a CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
GOVERNMENT
Supervisors Give Direction on Election Processes for the Future
Dr. Penny Borenstein addresses Vaccine Passports By MELISSA MATTSON melissa@pasoroblespress.com
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors held a regularly scheduled meeting on May 4 from 9 a.m until 11:35 p.m. The meeting opened with public comment, which focused mainly on item 13, the request for the Board of Supervisors to sign and send a letter to the State Water Resource Control Board opposing two applications to appropriate water for the Shandon-San Juan Water District. Supervisor Bruce Gibson
SPORTS
moved for approval of the consent agenda with exception of item 13. His discussion on item 13 indicated that there was not enough information on the item for the Board to make a decision and should be tabled for future discussion. Supervisor John Peschong made a motion to support the letter of opposition, which was seconded by Supervisor Debbie Arnold. The motion passed 3-2 with Supervisors Gibson and Supervisor Dawn Otiz-Legg in opposition. Next was the county update from County Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein. Borenstein spoke about the current cases, which is at 21,196 as of Tuesday morning, with one person in the hospital. Two more deaths had been added to the county’s total, bringing it to 260, which she stated means our area has faired better CONTINUED ON PAGE A5
INSTALLATION
150 registered riders showed up for the annual Tour of Paso fundraiser event that supports local cancer patients and their families. Contributed photos
By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — On Sunday, May 2, the 13th Annual Tour of Paso Bike Ride benefiting the Cancer Support Community- CA Central Coast (CSC-CCC) broke a record by raising over $50,000! The bike ride broke another record this year with 150 registered riders and the most 50 mile riders they have ever had registered. Proceeds from the fundraiser directly benefit the CSC-CCC. This non-profit organization offers social and emotional support and health and wellness programs to local cancer patients, survivors, and
their families free of charge. Starting at 8:30 a.m., riders launched from the Omkar Medical Plaza at 1310 Las Tablas Road in Templeton. They rode their 50 or 26-mile trails through the backroads of Paso Robles’ wine country. Some highly experienced riders completed in under two hours, but all were back in time for their gourmet lunch provided by Niner Winery. In past years the bike tour started and ended at Niner Winery who provided a sit-down gourmet lunch while awards were presented. Due to COVID, Niner Winery provided pre-packaged gourmet boxed lunches for participants to
take home after the ride for the second year. In addition to a sponsored lunch, participants received a complimentary bottle of J Dusi wine with a custom CSC-CCC label. Paso Bike Tours provided
complimentary CSC-CCC wine glasses and t-shirts. Several local businesses and residents made donations to the CSC-CCC through the Tour of CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
EVENT
ECHO Hosts Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser Sold out event hits record numbers and raises $50,000 By HAYLEY MATTSON hayley@pasoroblespress.com
ATASCADERO — On Thursday, Apr. 29, the El Camino Homeless Shelter (ECHO) hosted their annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, and this year they were back in action. Starting at 11:30 a.m., cars lined up in the Atascadero Bible Church parking lot off of Atascadero mall ready to greet all the volunteers and ECHO support staff to pick up their handcrafted one of a kind ceramic bowls and “to-go” soups that were beautifully presented in brown bags with the ECHO logo. The bags included various soups from local restaurants including Niner Wine Estates, Dan’s Grub Shack, McPhee’s Grill, Pacific Harvest Catering, Wild Fields Brewhouse, Giovanni’s Fish Market, Street Side Ale House, Woodruff Family, Red Scooter Deli, Odyssey World Café, Caiwala Food CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
ECHO Celebrity Servers welcome the community to the beloved Empty Bowls event after having to cancel last year due to the pandemic. Contributed photo
PREP SPORTS
Bearcats Take Down Hounds in Season Finale Unprecedented football season ends with rivalry game at Memorial Stadium By CONNOR ALLEN connor@pasoroblespress.com
PRHS Sophomore Leo Kemp drags a group of Greyhounds with him for a first down. Photo by Connor Allen
SMART CASE
ATASCADERO — The Bearcats and Greyhounds met Friday night for the season finale of the 2021 spring football season, and Paso Robles ran away with the victory, 42-13, at Memorial Stadium in Atascadero. The Bearcats were unstoppable Friday night, scoring on their first four possessions of the game while not giving up a first down until
WEEKLY FEATURE
there was only 4:10 seconds to go in the second quarter. Sophomore running back Leo Kemp led the way for the Bearcat offense, rushing for over 100 yards again this season, and was joined in the century club by Devin Mowreader, who burst through the line for a 45-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The Paso Robles offensive line, which has been the Bearcat’s strongest unit all season, took over Friday night and created big holes that allowed for rushing touchdowns from five different running backs and one from their quarterback Trevon Bridewell. CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
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UNPRECEDENTED SPORTS season continues as youth athletes take to the courts and field | A3
SENSORIO FIELD OF LIGHTS re-opens with newly added light towers | A4
FINDING TRUTH among speculations in the Kristin Smart case | A5
CREW-1 ASTRONAUTS safely splash down after Space Station mission | A13
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