HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC_2026_8_11_MinutesAtascadero City Council
August 11, 2026
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CITY OF ATASCADERO
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
August 11, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
August 11, 2026, 6:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers, Fourth Floor
6500 Palma Avenue, Atascadero, California
_____________________________________________________________________
A. CLOSED SESSION (5:30 p.m.)
Mayor Bourbeau called the closed session to order at 5:30 P.M.
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Bourbeau, Mayor Pro Tem Dariz, Council Member Funk,
Council Member Newsom, Council Member Peek
Absent: None
Staff
Present:
City Manager James R. Lewis, Assistant City Manager/City
Clerk Lara Henderson, City Attorney Dave Fleishman, Support
Services Technician Abby Getahun
2. CLOSED SESSION - PUBLIC COMMENT
The following persons spoke: Dennis Lanes, Lee Livick, Margret Bullock
(exhibit A)
3. COUNCIL LEAVES CHAMBERS TO BEGIN CLOSED SESSION
(Support Services Technician Getahun did not attend Closed Session)
4. CLOSED SESSION - CALL TO ORDER
a. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation
Government Code §54956.9(d)(4): 1 potential case
5. CLOSED SESSION – ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Bourbeau adjourned the Closed Session at 5:58 p.m.
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August 11, 2026
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6. CLOSED SESSION - REPORT
City Attorney Fleishman reported that the City will initiate action and will
formally identify once action has been filed.
B. REGULAR SESSION - CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Bourbeau called the meeting to order at 6:01 P.M.
Present: Mayor Bourbeau, Mayor Pro Tem Dariz, Council Member
Funk, Council Member Newsom, Council Member Peek
Absent: None
Staff Present: City Manager James R. Lewis, City Attorney Dave
Fleishman, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Lara
Henderson, Administrative Services Director/City Treasurer
Jeri Rangel, Public Works Director Nick DeBar, Community
Development Director Phil Dunsmore, Fire Chief Casey
Bryson, Police Chief Dan Suttles, Community Services and
Promotions Director Terrie Banish, Support Services
Technician Abby Getahun, Battalion Chief Dave Van Son
C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council Member Peek led the Pledge of Allegiance.
D. PRESENTATIONS
1. APD Recognition Awards
Chief Suttles presented the Life Saving Award to officer Hurst and the
Certificate of Excellence to Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor Ordanez
and Dispatcher Pachecho.
E. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. City Council Draft Minutes - July 14, 2026, Regular Meeting
Recommendation: Council approve the July 14, 2026, City Council regular
meeting minutes. [City Clerk]
2. June 2026 Accounts Payable & Payroll
Fiscal Impact: Total expenditures for all funds is $4,742,252.51
Recommendation: Council approve certified City accounts payable, payroll
and payroll vendor checks for June 2026. [Administrative Services]
3. Voting Delegate Designation – Cal Cities Annual Conference and
Expo
Fiscal Impact: None
Recommendation: Council designate Council Member Funk as the voting
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August 11, 2026
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delegate and City Manager Jim Lewis as the alternate for the General
Assembly at the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo in September
2026 and direct the City Clerk to inform Cal Cities of the designation. [City
Clerk]
4. 2026 Measure F-14 Pavement Rehabilitation Project Construction
Award
Fiscal Impact: Approving staff recommendations will result in the estimated
expenditures up to $1,250,000 in Sales Tax Measure F-14 Funds during
fiscal year 2026-2027.
Recommendation: Council award a construction contract for $937,777 to
Westrock General Engineering for the 2026 Measure F-14 Pavement
Rehabilitation Project (Project No. C2025R01). [Public Works]
5. El Camino Real at Highway 41 Pavement Rehabilitation Project
Construction Award
Fiscal Impact: The approval of this contract will utilize $500,000 in
budgeted Local Transportation Funds. An additional $30,000 in Local
Transportation Fund Reserves would also be allocated and used for this
project if so approved
Recommendation: Council:
1. Award a construction contract for $429,625 to Westrock General
Engineering for the Base Bid Schedule for the El Camino Real at Highway
41 Pavement Rehabilitation Project (Project No. C2025R05).
2. Authorize the Administrative Services Director to allocate an additional
$30,000 in Local Transportation Fund balance to the project budget for
construction contingencies. [Public Works]
6. CHP Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program
Fiscal Impact: The California Highway Patrol has awarded the Atascadero
Police Department $180,671.64 through the Cannabis Tax Fund Grant
Program. The grant does not require a local funding match. Funds will be
used solely for eligible grant activities and expenditures identified in the
approved grant budget.
Recommendation: Council:
1. Accept the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Cannabis Tax Fund Grant
award in the amount of $180,671.64.
2. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Grant
Agreement and all related documents necessary to administer the grant.
3. Appropriate grant revenues and expenditures of $180,671.64 for the
duration of the grant performance period. [Police]
7. Police Vehicle Purchase
Fiscal Impact: The total base purchase price from Jon Jones Auto Group
for the purchase of two replacement K-9-equipped patrol vehicles is
$111,484 in budgeted funds. The additional cost to upfit these two
vehicles, including a 10% contingency, is $115,076, for a total cost of the
two vehicles of $226,560 in budgeted funds.
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August 11, 2026
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Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to execute the purchase
agreement with Jon Jones Auto Group for the purchase of two
replacement K-9-equipped patrol vehicles in an amount not to exceed
$111,484. [Police]
8. Purchase of a Crane Service Truck for Wastewater Operations
Fiscal Impact: Approving the recommendation for purchasing the crane
service truck will result in a budgeted expenditure of $174,983 from the
Wastewater Fund and reduce contractor services between $7,500 and
$15,000 annually.
Recommendation: Council approve the purchase of one Ford F-550
Mechanics Crane Service Truck from Rush Truck Centers of Texas for
$174,983 for wastewater operations to replace the 2003 Ford F-550 crane
truck. [Public Works]
Mayor Bourbeau opened the Public Comment period.
The following persons spoke on this item: Geoff Auslen
Mayor Bourbeau closed the Public Comment period.
MOTION BY: Funk
SECOND BY: Newsom
1. Approve the Consent Calendar (Item E4, Contract No. 2026-009)
(Item E5, Contract No. 2026-010)
AYES (5): Bourbeau, Dariz, Funk, Newsom, and Peek
Passed 5-0
F. UPDATES FROM THE CITY MANAGER
City Manager Lewis gave an update on current projects and events in the City.
G. COMMUNITY FORUM
The following persons spoke: Katie Osmond, Wendy Lewis, Grant Dunn, John
Sanders, Geoff Auslen, Margret Bullock
H. PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Confirming Cost of Weed / Vegetative Growth Abatement
Fiscal Impact: The City will receive approximately $80,092.40 from the
2026/2027 property tax rolls in weed abatement/refuse abatement
assessments.
Recommendation: Council adopt the Draft Resolution, confirming the cost
of vegetative growth (weeds) and/or refuse (rubbish) abatement. [Fire]
Battalion Chief Dave Van Son gave the presentation and answered questions
from the City Council.
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August 11, 2026
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Mayor Bourbeau opened the Public Comment period.
The following persons spoke on this item: Geoff Auslen
Mayor Bourbeau closed the Public Comment period.
MOTION BY: Funk
SECOND BY: Peek
Adopt Resolution 2026-057 confirming the cost of vegetative growth
(weeds) and/or refuse (rubbish) abatement.
AYES (5): Bourbeau, Dariz, Funk, Newsom, and Peek
Passed 5-0
I. MANAGEMENT REPORTS
1. Fire Department Command Staff Restructure
Fiscal Impact: There is minimal fiscal impact to Fire employee salary costs
during this budget cycle due to retirements and promotions resulting in
employees promoting into initial steps of the salary schedule. Maintaining
daily staffing levels of 7 is estimated to increase overtime expenses by
$80,000 annually. One-time costs of about $30,000 will be incurred for the
new positions and will include new personal protective equipment, radios
and tablets. The holiday leave accrual liquidation is not expected to
exceed $150,000 and is proposed to be paid from General Fund
Reserves.
Recommendation: Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to add an additional Battalion Chief
position to the total budgeted positions; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to restructure all three Battalion Chiefs to
a 24-hour Shift schedule; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to add a fire captain position to fill the role
of fire marshal and remove a fire fighter position; and
4. Adopt Draft Resolution for Non-Represented Professional and
Management Workers and Confidential Employees; and
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Side Letter with the
Atascadero Professional Firefighters Local 3600 for the existing
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), dated July 1, 2024 – June 30,
2027; and
6. Authorize the Director of Administrative Services to allocate $150,000
in General Fund Reserves to liquidate a portion of the Holiday Leave
Liability.
Fire Chief Bryson gave the presentation and answered questions from the City
Council.
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August 11, 2026
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Mayor Bourbeau opened the Public Comment period.
The following persons spoke on this item: Geoff Auslen
Mayor Bourbeau closed the Public Comment period.
MOTION BY: Peek
SECOND BY: Dariz
1. Authorize the City Manager to add an additional Battalion
Chief position to the total budgeted positions; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to restructure all three Battalion
Chiefs to a 24-hour Shift schedule; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to add a fire captain position to fill
the role of fire marshal and remove a fire fighter position; and
4. Adopt Resolution 2026-058 for Non-Represented Professional
and Management Workers and Confidential Employees; and
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Side Letter with the
Atascadero Professional Firefighters Local 3600 for the
existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (Contract No.
2024-008 A1), dated July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027; and
6. Authorize the Director of Administrative Services to allocate
$150,000 in General Fund Reserves to liquidate a portion of
the Holiday Leave Liability.
AYES (5): Bourbeau, Dariz, Funk, Newsom, and Peek
Passed 5-0
2. Native Tree Regulations Update Discussion
Fiscal Impact: The proposed amendment would reduce permit fee revenue
by exempting qualifying applications for the removal of dead native trees
from the current $281 application fee. It would also require additional,
subsidized staff time to conduct site visits and verify the condition of the
tree(s). Because most native tree removals are mitigated through fee
payments, the amendment would also result in a modest reduction in
Native Tree Fund revenue, thereby slightly decreasing the funds available
for disbursement to the Atascadero Land Preservation Society.
Recommendation: Council review and provide staff direction on minor
amendments to Title 9, Chapter 11 Native Tree Regulations, to be
included in the Zoning Code update. [Community Development]
Community Development Director Dunsmore gave the presentation and
answered questions from the City Council.
Mayor Bourbeau opened the Public Comment period.
The following persons spoke on this item: Geoff Auslen
Mayor Bourbeau closed the Public Comment period.
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August 11, 2026
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Council directed Staff to make minor changes and bring the item back to
Council for adoption with the Zoning Code update.
Mayor Bourbeau noted that a deeper discussion about the ordinance
should be held in January after the new Council is seated.
J. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
The following Council Members gave brief update reports on their committees
since their last Council meeting:
Mayor Pro Tem Dariz
1. Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO)
Council Member Funk
1. Atascadero Basin Ground Water Sustainability Agency (GSA)
2. Homeless Services Oversight Council
Council Member Newsom
1. SLO Council of Governments (SLOCOG)
Council Member Peek
1. City/Schools Committee
K. INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION AND / OR ACTION:
None
L. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Bourbeau adjourned the meeting at 7:43 pm.
MINUTES PREPARED BY:
______________________________________
Alyssa Slater
Deputy City Clerk
APPROVED: 9/8/2026
Exhibit A – Letter from Sciortino Family