The meeting started with two presentations by the Mayor which were declaring June 19, 2026 as Juneteenth and recognizing appointed advisory body members for their service to the community. Then the City Manager gave a brief report on City business and updates.
There were several routine matters on the Consent Agenda which the City Council approved with a single vote. These included:
Approving and funding a waterline replacement project on California Boulevard from Taft to Mill streets to update infrastructure and prevent future issues due to old age.
Creating new priorities for DEI grant funds to best serve community needs.
One item on the Consent Agenda was pulled for further discussion before it was ultimately approved by the City Council. For item 6i, City staff proposed an update to the Unrepresented Management Compensation Resolution to help improve recruitment and retention of high‑level City leaders. The change allows the City Manager to negotiate and sign individualized employment contracts with Department Heads, while staying within approved budgets and established guidelines. The City competes for executive‑level talent in a highly competitive California labor market. This change allows for tailored employment contracts that help the City attract and keep top leadership while still maintaining strong fiscal oversight and legal review. This item also authorized the City Manager to execute an individual employment contract with the Police Chief to provide some adjustments to its compensation to address compaction issues.
Public Hearings and Business Items
Council adopts new regional plan for disaster prevention The City Council adopted a multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan, replacing the previous local plan from 2019, that identifies risks facing the community from hazards such as wildfires, floods, extreme heat, drought, and earthquakes, and outlines actions to reduce those risks before disasters occur. Community members can expect the City to continue implementing more than 40 actions identified in the plan, including improving evacuation routes, strengthening emergency communications, preparing for drought, managing vegetation, protecting critical infrastructure, and expanding public education and preparedness efforts. The updated plan maintains eligibility for important state and federal funding that supports disaster prevention, emergency preparedness, and recovery efforts. Developed through a partnership between the County of San Luis Obispo and local jurisdictions, the plan provides a cost-effective way to meet state and federal requirements while addressing hazards that affect communities throughout the region. The plan is intended to reduce disaster impacts, support faster recovery after emergencies, and improve long-term community resilience. City and County staff worked with community organizations, partner agencies, and community members throughout the planning process to gather input and identify local priorities. Federal law requires local governments to maintain disaster mitigation plans to remain eligible for certain disaster assistance and mitigation funding programs.
SLO has Enough Water to Meet Community Needs for Decades Good news: the City has enough water to meet community needs today and in the coming decades, even during extended dry periods. And the community continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to water conservation. That’s according to expert staff who presented three important water planning documents for the City of San Luis Obispo at a public hearing on Tuesday. The Council adopted three plans. The 2025 Urban Water Management Plan is updated and adopted every five years, and is the City’s primary long-range water supply plan for up to the year 2050. The 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan is the City’s six-stage response to conditions that may limit water supplies, such as drought, water quality issues, and catastrophic infrastructure and supply interruptions. The 2026 Water Supply & Demand Assessment evaluates current water availability and if a water shortage is anticipated in the 2026-27 fiscal year. Based on the assessment, no water shortage is anticipated. The City is well-prepared for the future and water supplies remain reliable, even during dry years. Community members can review the full plans and learn more about the City’s water management and planning efforts on the Utilities Department website. Community members can also access information about water conservation tips, rebates, and complimentary water savings items on the City’s Water Conservation page.
City Shifts Gears to Install Traffic Signal at Busy Intersection on South Street With feedback from community members who live on or around King Court and recommendations from City staff, the City Council adopted changes to the South Street and King Court Crossing Project. Instead of the originally proposed pedestrian hybrid beacon, the City will install a full traffic signal at that intersection. The crossing project is meant to help create a safer, more efficient route for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists in that area, which also includes a common school route. A full signal was previously considered but not selected due to concerns about slowing emergency vehicles. However, the City has since installed new technology, allowing fire and police vehicles to clear intersections more quickly. With these upgrades in place, emergency responders now support the full traffic signal option. Even with this change, the project budget remains largely the same, with enough contingency funds to cover the estimated $35,000 in additional costs for a full traffic signal. This intersection is a high‑priority in the City’s Active Transportation Plan and, ultimately, installing a full signal aligns with the City's Vision Zero efforts to eliminate severe traffic injuries and fatalities. Construction is underway and is expected to be completed later this year. Based on community input and Council direction, the City will continue to monitor potential increases in neighborhood cut-through traffic following installation of the new traffic signal. More information can be found at www.slocity.org/SLOinMotion.
City’s DEI Strategic Plan Well Underway and On Track The Council received an update on how the City is creating a more inclusive, accessible, and welcoming community, which is a Major City Goal. City staff from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion presented the annual update on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Strategic Plan, which was first adopted in 2024. The plan guides the City’s work through 2027–28 and focuses on four key areas: community engagement, accessible communication, accountability in City systems, and an inclusive workplace culture. Of the 90 total tactics in the DEI Strategic Plan, 22 are complete, 46 are on track, including 24 that are ongoing and now embedded into the office’s regular operations, 10 are in progress but delayed, and 12 have not yet started. Through these efforts, the City has built stronger community partnerships and events, created a new DEI Advisory Council, hosted 11 interns who support outreach and research, and so much more. Looking ahead, the City will roll out a multilingual “How to Participate in Public Meetings” guide, release a new Access & Belonging Icon, launch a toolkit that will help the community respond to hate and bias, and expand DEI resources for community members and staff. Learn more about the work being done and explore valuable resources at www.slocity.org/Diversity, or contact the Office of DEI at dei@slocity.org for support or questions.
Looking Ahead
The City Council will take its annual summer break, and the next City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers office at City Hall.
Attendees of the City Council Advisory Body meetings are eligible for one hour of complimentary parking in designated City garages. Learn more at Parking for Public Meetings.
