City of Paso Robles Newsletter for November 1-15, 2020
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Sewer Rates for the Coming YearIt’s that time of year again to start reducing your outdoor water use in order to minimize your 2021 sewer bills. Each year, the City surveys your water use in December, January, and February, because those months best represent your indoor water use. The survey results will become the basis of your new sewer bill in July 2021. As the days get shorter and cooler, consider turning down or turning off your landscape irrigation system.
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Small Business GrantsStaff updated Council and the public on the City’s fiscal status after the first quarter of the fiscal year (July-September). There are some preliminary positive signs for the City’s sales tax and TOT (hotel) tax revenue, indicating that they may not have dropped as far as was feared. This is good news. Since we are still early in the fiscal year and uncertainty remains about what the winter months have in store for our community, no significant budget changes were made. The January/February midyear update will be the next fiscal review and will benefit from additional months of revenue and expenditure data. Details
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First Quarter Fiscal ReportStaff updated Council and the public on the City’s fiscal status after the first quarter of the fiscal year (July-September). There are some preliminary positive signs for the City’s sales tax and TOT (hotel) tax revenue. While we are still early in the fiscal year and uncertainty remains about what the winter months have in store for our community, this is positive news. No significant budget changes were made, given that we are so early in the fiscal year. The January/February midyear update will be the next fiscal review and will benefit from additional months of revenue and expenditure data. Details
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3CE Electrical ServiceCommunities within San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties have chosen Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) to be their primary electricity provider. All eligible electricity customers in these communities will begin service with 3CE throughout January 2021, with no action required. Service Begins January 2021 in Paso Robles and residents can expect to receive four mailers beginning in November 2020 - two before service begins in January 2021, and two after the start of service. These mailers will provide more information and explain to opt out of the service if you choose. Details
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Cannabis TaxOn October 20, 2020 City Council held a hearing to implement a Cannabis tax that had been approved by voters in 2018. If passed during the second reading of the ordinance on November 3, 2020, a tax of six cents for each one dollar of gross receipts will be levied on cannabis delivery businesses, which are currently the only permitted cannabis businesses in the City. Given that the City’s Zoning Code currently authorizes only medical cannabis delivery businesses, all other commercial cannabis businesses--including growing operations, manufacturing, testing, and storefront cannabis retail dispensaries--are currently prohibited in Paso. Taxes on these other types of cannabis-related businesses will be reevaluated during the process of determining whether these other types will be allowed in Paso Robles. Council directed staff to create a task force to examine the many key issues involved. The task force will include Councilmembers Hamon and Garcia as City Council representatives. Anyone interested in serving on the task force should watch for the application process to be announced. Details
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Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) Grant AllocationThe City’s HEAP grant award of $920,126 must be reallocated to a new project in Paso Robles or returned to the County. In recent months, Governor Newsom rolled out Project Homekey, which is intended to rapidly disburse funds to cities and counties to build facilities for Californians experiencing homelessness. On October 29, Paso Robles City Council voted to assign its HEAP allocation to SLO Co (with stipulations) for the conversion of Motel 6 into emergency housing. More details, or view the video message from Mayor Martin about the project
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Virtual Meetings LivestreamThe next City Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 3 at 6:30pm. To listen live and view the presentations for this virtual meeting, go to the City's YouTube channel here. If you would like to call with public comment during either meeting, know the item number(s) you'd like to comment on and call 805-865-PASO (7276). You will be able to listen to the meeting while you wait. City Council agendas. Planning Commission agendas.
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Free COVID-19 TestingIf you’re experiencing symptoms or think you may have been exposed, it’s a good idea to get tested.
Paso Robles Event Center - Frontier Pavilion 2198 Riverside Ave Paso Robles, CA 93446
Tests available Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
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Mask Drive Calling all crafting and sewing community members: we need your help making cloth face masks for our SLO County neighbors! Pre-cut kits, graciously donated by Birch Fabrics, are available at the Paso Robles City Library and completed masks can be dropped off at the Paso Robles Police Department at 900 Park Street. Deadline for mask drop off is November 11. Mask tutorial here.
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COVID-19 UpdatesBecause of the dynamic nature of the changes being announced as California, SLO County and Paso Robles are working together to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and hasten the reopening of businesses. We have provided links below to business and resident resources, County Public Health updates, volunteer opportunities, and more. Details
Sign up for our COVID-19 email updates here.
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Upcoming City Meetings, Forums, & Workshops
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City Council Meeting November 3, 2020, 6:30 PM More Details
Senior Citizen Advisory Commission Meeting November 9, 2020, 1:30 PM More Details
Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting November 9, 2020, 4:00 PM More Details
Planning Commission Meeting November 10, 2020, 6:30 PM More Details
Library Board Meeting November 12, 2020, 9:00 AM More Details
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Virtual Meetings LivestreamPaso Robles continues to livestream audio and presentations from City Council and Planning Commission meetings. To listen live and view the presentations for these virtual meetings, go to the City's YouTube channel here. If you would like to call with public comment during either meeting, know the item number(s) you'd like to comment on and call 805-865-PASO (7276). You will be able to listen to the meeting while you wait. City Council agendas. Planning Commission agendas.
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Recreation Events & Classes
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Due to limited space, advance registration for all classes is strongly encouraged. Please contact Paso Robles Recreation Services at (805) 237-3988 or recservices@prcity.com.
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Gratitude in the GardenMindfulness and giving thanks will be the theme for this outdoor class series for children ages 2-6 and their adults. Join garden educator, young mother and doula, Victoria Carranza in the Centennial Park garden to engage your senses! Thursdays, November 5-19. Each family will schedule a 30 minute block of time between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. for their one-on-one class in the garden, then take home activities to enjoy together during the week. $30 registration + $25 supply fee.
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Resin Beach Scene Cheese/Cutting BoardThis virtual class from Creative Me Time is a craft from home at your own pace experience. Start with a 17" x 7" wood cutting/cheese board and transform it into a beautiful beach scene using several colors of resin and a blow dryer to manipulate the 'waves'. $15 registration + supply fee ($40 for kit with cutting board or $25 if student provides their own cutting board). Kits include step-by-step instructions and are available for pick-up at Centennial Park on Tuesday, November 10 from 6-7 p.m. Advance registration is required.
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City Library Events & Classes
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Library Cookbook Club to Discuss olive & thyme ZOOM Meetup: Thursday, November 5, 7-8PM Everyday meals made extraordinary, drawn from French, Californian, Italian, and Middle Eastern influences, along with breezy, practical entertaining advice and stunning photos. Simply access this cookbook from the library’s hoopla Digital platform, choose a recipe to make, then during the meetup, discuss the book and the successes (or challenges) with the recipes tried! Registration is required for all participants to receive an invitation to the ZOOM meetup. For ages 16+.
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Abe: Film Discussion ZOOM Meetup: Thursday, November 12, 7-8PM Abe is a 12-year-old boy living in Brooklyn who loves food and loves to cook. But with Palestinian heritage on one side of the family and Jewish heritage on the other, family meals mostly descend into arguments and bitter feelings on both sides. Abe wants to find a way to bring the two sides together, and when he discovers fusion cooking, he thinks he's found a way to do just that. Simply download this film for free from the library’s hoopla Digital platform then join in the discussion. Registration is required for all participants to receive an invitation to the ZOOM meetup. For ages 16+.
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Embroidered Broach CraftRegistration Deadline: November 13 ZOOM Meetup: Wednesday, November 18, 7-8PM Create this stylish embroidered broach – perfect for adding a festive touch to your favorite outfit or to give as a gift. Based on a design from Cloth Paper Scissors magazine, this piece is created using a few different embroidery stitches on a felt base; it is simple enough for a beginner while being intriguing enough for intermediate crafters. Registration is required for all participants to receive craft kit materials in plenty of time to complete the craft before the ZOOM meetup. For ages 16+.
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Melissa Martin Named City ClerkMelissa started working with the City as a temp in 2016 in the Administrative Services department and became regular employee in January 2017. Melissa was promoted to Deputy City Clerk in August of 2019. She became the Interim City Clerk in August, 2020, upon Dennis Fansler’s retirement and has subsequently transitioned to appointed City Clerk based on the voter’s approval in 2018 making the office of the City Clerk appointive.
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Paso Robles Firefighters in Southern California
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 Silverado Fire
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Paso Robles Department of Emergency Services sent one Battalion Chief and four firefighters to southern California on Monday to assist with the Silverado and Blue Ridge Fires. The Silverado Fire is near Irvine, has consumed 13,354 acres and 25% contained. The Blue Ridge Fire is in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, has consumed 14,334 acres and 16% contained. Base on fire weather outlooks, we predict we will see temperatures remain above normal through January and significant fire potential through December. California recorded the 5 largest fires in history this year. California’s Climate is changing. Heat waves are becoming more common, snow is melting earlier in the spring, and in the southern region of the state we are seeing a decline in rainfall. The California coastlines recorded its third hottest July through September since 1895.
All of these factors contribute to an increase in the severity, frequency and extent of wildfires.
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 Blue Ridge Fire
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Connect with Us on Social Media
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Need more info? If you'd like information on a specific item, event or issue that isn't listed here, please use the Search function at www.prcity.com, send an email to info@prcity.com or call 805.237.3888.
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