A proclamation declaring October 13, 2025, as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in San Luis Obispo.
A proclamation declaring November 1, 2025, as Arbor Day in San Luis Obispo.
A brief report from City Manager Whitney McDonald on city services, programs and projects.
Consent Agenda Highlights Council approved all items on the Consent Agenda, including:
Funding priorities and details about the Human Services Grant and Community Development Block Grant for fiscal year 2026-27.
A contract to upgrade the City’s firewall infrastructure that will improve cybersecurity.
Adding a building on Buchon Street to the City’s master list of historic resources.
A construction contract to update sign and street striping on Grand Avenue near Cal Poly, improving traffic flow into campus and making the area safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers.
A grant for fire prevention programs and firefighter health and safety programs.
A final map for the Bullock Ranch housing development.
The City Council approved a resolution authorizing the Community Development Department to hire a retired annuitant Donald Wright to examine and review building plans while the permanent Plans Examiner is on an approved leave of absence, if ultimately approved by CalPERS. This allows the City’s Community Development Department to maintain essential services, avoid backlogs, and keep all development projects – including much-needed housing projects – moving forward. Mr. Wright previously worked for the City of San Luis Obispo as a Plans Examiner and is a CalPERS retired annuitant with specialized skills in building plan review. Temporarily hiring Mr. Wright is preferable to using a consultant because he is already familiar with the City's local regulations, policies, and practices.
The City Council confirmed the costs and work completed for sidewalk repairs that the City performed on behalf of a property owner who was unable to complete the repairs after receiving formal Notices to Correct. Under State law, property owners are responsible for maintaining the sidewalks next to their property. When they don’t fix hazards after being notified, the City can complete the work and then recover the cost from the property owner through an assessment (essentially, billing the owner and, if unpaid, placing a lien on the property). In this case, five property owners were originally notified to make repairs. Three completed them on their own, one reimbursed the City for completing the work, and one property still owes payment. The City Council authorized staff to recover the cost of doing that work and voted to lower the interest rate from the staff-recommended 10% to 5%.
After no legally sufficient protest was made, the City Council approved the continuation of the San Luis Obispo Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) and renewed the assessments within the TBID area in FY 2025-26 at the same rate as in FY 2024-25 (2%). Thanks in large part to the TBID’s marketing and public relations efforts, the City had a strong year of tourism industry performance, allowing the City to collect a record-breaking $11.4 million in transient occupancy tax revenue in FY 2024-25 – 3.2% above the prior year. Transient occupancy tax, or TOT, is a local tax added to the cost of the room that visitors pay when they stay overnight. The money collected goes to the City’s General Fund, where it helps pay for public services that both residents and visitors benefit from, such as police and fire protection, parks, street maintenance, and community events.
A fraternity house near Cal Poly can no longer operate at 1236 Monte Vista Place. The City Council reviewed and denied Delta Chi fraternity’s appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision to revoke its conditional use permit following multiple noise and unruly gathering violations earlier in 2025, including a large early-morning party during St. Patrick’s Day weekend. While Delta Chi argued it had worked in good faith with the City and sought to continue operating under revised conditions, the Council agreed with the Planning Commission that the fraternity’s activities were incompatible with the surrounding neighborhood and upheld the revocation.
The Council voted to conditionally revoke the permit. Under the adopted resolution, the fraternity use at the site must stop immediately. The appellant (the Fraternity) may apply for a modification to their existing permit with the City within 60 days. This provides an opportunity to propose revised conditions for review by the Planning Commission and City Council. If no modification application is submitted within 60 days, or if the property receives a noise or unruly gathering citation before Council approval, the revocation will become final. At that point, the fraternity would need to apply for a new conditional use permit to resume operations.
The City Council updated local zoning regulations to make the zoning code clearer and allow the City to install needed safety features as a part of City projects more efficiently, without unnecessary additional review or risk to public safety. This common-sense update to the zoning code provides limited flexibility to allow City projects to include features that would protect the health, safety and welfare of the community. The change also clarifies how the City’s zoning regulations apply to different properties. This change would not preclude new City projects, such as a new fire station, from going through the review process or environmental requirements, and complying with City policies and regulations.
Looking Ahead
The next City Council will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
Attendees of City Council or Advisory Body meetings are eligible for one hour of complimentary parking in designated City garages. Learn more at Parking for Public Meetings.
