During the regular City Council meeting on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, the Council discussed important topics impacting and benefiting the community. Below is a brief recap of the meeting. You can also review the meeting video recording on YouTube.

Presentations
The meeting began with several brief presentations. First, Mayor Erica A. Stewart presented a proclamation declaring November 2 as “Arbor Day” in San Luis Obispo. Then, the City Manager briefly reported on current City programs, services and projects, including the status of efforts to enforce the City’s short-term rental ordinance.

Public Hearings
The City Council held two public hearings:

1. Continuing the Tourism Business Improvement District (Item 6a):
   The City Council adopted the resolution to continue the San Luis Obispo Tourism Business Improvement District, which includes levying the annual assessment on lodging properties in San Luis Obispo to continue funding tourism marketing activities. The City did not receive any written or oral protests to discontinue the assessment from hotel businesses. At the City Council meeting on October 1, City staff presented the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) annual report detailing how funding from the TBID’s assessment revenue was used over the past year to promote tourism and benefit the lodging industry in SLO. The City collected nearly $11 million in transient occupancy tax (TOT) last fiscal year, the highest amount to date. This money goes directly into the City’s General Fund and helps pay for day-to-day public services and programs that our community needs and values.
   
   
2. Conditional Use Permit for Fraternity Housing (Item 6b): 
   The City Council upheld the Planning Commission’s unanimous decision to allow a property on East Foothill Boulevard near Cal Poly to be used for fraternity housing for up to 24 residents. The property was previously used for fraternity housing and is in a high-density residential zone that allows for such uses, and the Planning Commission recently approved a Conditional Use Permit that would allow it to be used as fraternity housing again, with certain conditions. However, the Planning Commission’s decision was appealed by Residents for Quality Neighborhoods who claimed that the conditions placed on the project do not adequately address concerns related to large gatherings, noise, and ongoing enforcement of the conditions. The City Council reviewed and approved the Conditional Use Permit with additional changes that would address the neighbors’ concerns. The City’s Municipal Code also directly addresses impacts related to noise, public disturbances, and other disorderly conduct, regardless of permit approvals. Violations can result in hefty fines, criminal prosecution, and/or and other penalties.

Consent Agenda 
As part of the consent agenda, the City Council approved several items with one vote, including a program update to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips by City employees, resulting in less pollution (Item 5c). Two items were pulled out of the consent agenda for separate discussions:

• Item 5g: The Council delayed final acceptance of proposed public improvements for a portion of the Toscano housing project after neighbors expressed new concerns about erosion and environmental safety in common areas. City staff will return to the site to inspect the area based on questions raised by neighbors at the meeting.
  
  
• Item 5k: The Council updated its meeting schedule for December 2024. The regular meeting on December 3 was rescheduled to December 9 to swear in the new City Council; this will allow for extra time that may be needed to certify the November 5, 2024 Municipal Election results. Additionally, the Council decided to reinstate a meeting that had previously been cancelled to dedicate the November 19 meeting to a discussion addressing the California Voting Rights Act demand letter; other items scheduled for the original November 19 meeting will instead be heard on December 10.

The next regular City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 990 Palm Street.

Attendees of City Council or Advisory Body meetings are eligible to receive one hour of complementary parking in one of two public parking garages downtown; restrictions apply, visit Parking for Public Meetings for more details.

For ways to provide input to the City Council, download the meeting agenda when it’s posted at www.slocity.org/agendas. 

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Media Contact: Whitney Szentesi, Public Communications Manager, 805.783.7716, wszentes@slocity.org