Calling all goal-setters! Do you have a better idea for Paso Robles? Feb. 17th is when the “rubber meets the road” when it comes to goal-setting for the next two years. We’ll review our progress since the last goal-setting session and plot a course for the future… all with your input, of course. If you want in on the “ground floor” of planning for the city’s future, plan to attend from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the conference room at the Paso Robles Police Department, 900 Park Street.
Congratulations to Councilman Fred Strong. He was recently appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) 2018 Transportation and Infrastructure Services (TIS) federal advocacy committee. This committee has the lead responsibility for developing NLC’s federal policy positions on issues involving transportation, including planning, funding, safety and security of public transit, streets and highways, aviation, railroads and ports. The appointment was announced by NLC President Mark Stodola, mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas.
Our Library Board recently recommended improvements that will include an expanded children’s section, re-orientation of stacks and storage and increased floor space within the existing structure. The recommendation will be reviewed and acted upon by the Council Our city library is great in any language and now you can discover even more within its walls using “Mangoi.” You now have 24/7 access to over 70 world languages and more than 20 ESL courses through Mango Languages. Mango’s practical, self-paced courses make it simple to brush up on that high school French, rekindle your lifelong dream of visiting Ireland, or simply
build on your high school Spanish. Mango’s language courses are built to provide the tools and guidance you need to expand
your language skills however, whenever, and wherever you learn best. You can access Mango on your computer by going to the city website and clicking on the Mango logo. With your library card, create a profile, then pick your language and begin your
fun, language-learning adventure. You can also download the free mobile app!
The Council has reviewed plans for the Creston Road project. Citizens offered a variety of opinions. Concerns included the cost, feasibility of the proposed roundabout at Rolling Hills Road and details about the proposed grant funding for the project. Council heard from consultants that the roundabout is the most effective and cost-efficient solution to the dangerous intersection, but that grant funds are not contingent upon its inclusion in the plans. Additional signalization was rejected because it would be less effective moving traffic and would not save any money for installation. Some citizens questioned the safety of a roundabout. Staff explained that the design of this roundabout will accommodate traffic flow projected through the city’s build-out population, can handle truck traffic as well as residential drivers and represents a significant safety enhancement. (For more information about the safety of roundabouts, check out this report from CalTrans.) Concerns regarding street width, school access and bicycle/traffic lanes were also discussed. If a grant is acquired it will cut the cost to local taxpayers by $4-million. Councilman Gregory said it well when he spoke on the funding issue.
“I’m tired of the State taking our money and not giving us anything in return. These are our funds and putting them back into (this project) is a way of getting some of our money back,” he said.
The entire project will cost an estimated $8-million.
I had a really fun time recently helping parents and kids open the new play area at Barney Schwartz Park. Many thanks to our REC Foundation and city staffers for this great addition to an already great facility.
In other activity, it was a busy couple of weeks for the Mayor. I attended to more than two dozen business items on your behalf including:
- SLOCal website training
- State of the City Presentation to Paso Robles Rotary
- Community Assistance Program of San Luis Obispo County (CAPSLO) board meeting
- Input meeting, recruitment for SLO County Public Health Director
- PR School District liaison meeting
- Economic Vitality Corporation board meeting
- PR Chamber of Commerce report
- Negotiation meeting re: SLO County Animal Shelter
- PR Chamber of Commerce marketing meeting
- Library planning presentation
- Monthly Mayors of SLO County meeting
- Mid-State Fair Annual Event
- Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Annual Event
- Additional consultations with:
- New director of TravelPaso
- Paso Magazine
- Assembly Jordan Cunningham
- Management team, IQMS
- KSBY-TV
- Mayor Tom O’Malley, Atascadero
- Mayor Heidi Harmon, San Luis Obispo
And it’s barely February! Whew!
Until next we blog, here’s to you Paso Robles!