City seal with sunset behind an oak tree in the background

City of Paso Robles Newsletter for November 1-15, 2020


City seal

Sewer Rates for the Coming Year

It’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.

Cash register

Small Business Grants

Staff 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

City seal

First Quarter Fiscal Report

Staff 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
3CE logo

3CE Electrical Service

Communities 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

City seal

Cannabis Tax

On 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


Motel 6

Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) Grant Allocation

The 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

City Council meeting screen saver

Virtual Meetings Livestream

The 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.

COVID-19 Updates

Test tube

Free COVID-19 Testing

If 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. 

If you need to register by phone, call 1-888-634-1123 or emergencyslo.org/testing
Mask drive

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.

Paso's Balancing Act graphic

COVID-19 Updates

Because 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.

Upcoming City Meetings, Forums, & Workshops


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

Virtual Meetings Livestream

Paso 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.

Recreation Events & Classes 

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.

Boy with pumpkin in garden

Gratitude in the Garden

Mindfulness 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.

Cutting board with beach scene

Resin Beach Scene Cheese/Cutting Board

This 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.

City Library Events & Classes

olive & thyme book cover

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+. 

Abe movie cover

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+.

Broach

Embroidered Broach Craft

Registration 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+. 
 

Regular City Reports

Rainfall Totals

Downtown Ambassador Reports
Visitor Center Reports
Building Permit Reports
Community Development Project Reports
City Financial Reports

Other News

Melissa Martin head shot

Melissa Martin Named City Clerk

Melissa 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.  

Paso Robles Firefighters in Southern California

Silverado Fire
Silverado Fire

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.
 

Blue Ridge Fire
Blue Ridge Fire

Connect with Us on Social Media


Square with 4 logos inside - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and City seal

Connect with Us on Social Media

If you want to keep up-to-date on local issues, City business, public workshops, etc., follow us here:

Facebook: facebook.com/prcitygov
Twitter: twitter.com/prcity
Instagram: instagram.com/prcity_pasoroblesca
Website: prcity.com

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. 

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email

City of Paso Robles
1000 Spring Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446

Powered by
CivicSend - A product of CivicPlus