Agenda Breakdown

There are not enough affordable homes for all of the people who want to live in San Luis Obispo. At the same time, there seems to be a lot of empty commercial space. So why not just convert those empty storefronts to places where people can live?  The answer is so complicated that it's going to take more than one episode to explain it. This is the first conversation in a series about how publi...

Like most cities, San Luis Obispo has laws on the books that limit the construction of new housing—because having too much housing in a given neighborhood used to be a common concern. Times have changed, and the lack of affordable housing has topped the city's list of priorities in recent years. So city leaders are proposing a plan that would remove some of the obstacles to building more housing u...

Every other January, the city of SLO hosts a public workshop where residents can weigh in on the city's spending priorities for the next two-year budget cycle. I spoke with Whitney Szentesi, the public communications manager for the City of SLO, about how the budget process works and what to expect at the community forum. Action item:  Before you go to the community forum on Jan. 26 from 6 to...

San Luis Obispo adopted an ambitious climate action goal in 2020: to become carbon-neutral by 2035. Since then, there's been progress in green electricity, active transportation, organic waste reduction, and more. Now the city has drafted a Climate Action Work Program that will guide its actions in the next several years.   Chris Read , San Luis Obispo's sustainability manager, talks about th...

Aging classrooms, leaky roofs, broken toilets and nonexistent fences. That's what supporters of Measure C-22 hope to fix with a local school bond proposal that voters in the San Luis Obispo Coast Unified School District will weigh in on in the Nov. 8 election.  I spoke with Jay Beck, a community banker who is one of three co-chairs on the “Taxpayers for Safe Schools" committee, to find out ho...

The countdown to the Nov. 8 election has begun, and you're probably seeing signs of it all over SLO County. Literal signs—yard signs—are popping up all over our neighborhoods, and mailboxes will soon be bursting with campaign materials for city council candidates, school board candidates and more. In this episode, I wanted to put a spotlight on the less visible aspects of those political campaigns...

It's no secret that San Luis Obispo lacks the diversity of California at large. According to the latest census estimates, more than two-thirds of SLO County residents identified as white, compared to about one-third statewide. In 2020, the Black Lives Matter protests in SLO put a spotlight on some of the challenges faced by marginalized community members here. In response, the city created a Diver...

There are many reasons to love San Luis Obispo, but the cost of housing isn't one of them. Tuesday night, SLO City Council will consider an update to its Inclusionary Housing Ordinance that could lead to the construction of more affordable homes. Maybe.  I spoke with Rachel Kovesdi of Kovesdi Consulting about the ordinance, the proposed update, and what a housing policy change may mean for ou...

The temporary Open SLO program that brought parklets to downtown San Luis Obispo is set to expire this month. On July 5 and 19, City Council will consider a plan to make those parklets permanent. I spoke with Adam Fukushima and Luke Schwartz from SLO's Public Works Department to find out what the city is proposing.  Action item: Take a look at the new Outdoor Dining Guide draft at openslo.org...

SLO County residents will have the opportunity to vote for a county supervisor on June 7. My guest, Cal Poly political science professor Michael Latner, explains what our supervisors do, who can (and can't) vote in this election, and exactly what's at stake.  Action item: May 23 is the voter registration deadline. Check your voter status to make sure you're registered at the correct address....

As San Luis Obispo grows, the city must decide where to build housing, how residents will get around, how to manage water and open space, and more. The roadmap for that growth and development is called the General Plan . SLO City Council will hear an update on the city's General Plan next week. My guest, Steve Peck of Peck Planning and Development, talks about what's in the plan, and why this meet...

San Luis Obispo County is working on a plan to build two roundabouts on Highway 227, and public sentiment about it is mixed. Cal Poly transportation engineering professor Anurag Pande ( @PolyProfPande ) helps me explore the science of roundabouts and the complicated feelings that surface in neighborhoods where they're being introduced.  Action item: Learn about the background and timeline of...

It's mid-year checkup time for the San Luis Obispo city budget . City manager Derek Johnson explains how our city funds are being spent, what kinds of changes we may see at the Feb. 15 city council meeting , and how you can weigh in.  Action item: Read the staff recommendations in the city council agenda: slocity.org/agendas , then contact city council with your thoughts about expenditures th...

Have you ever been to a city council meeting? Odds are good that the answer is no. After all, weeknights are really busy when you've got a job to wake up for, kids to tuck in, rent to worry about ...  But here's the thing. The relatively small number of community members who DO attend public meetings don't often represent the range of backgrounds and priorities that exist in the community at...

There's been a lot of chatter lately about redistricting, which is a process that SLO County is going through right now. If you heard about it and your eyes glazed over, don't worry, you're not alone. Cal Poly political science professor Michael Latner talks with me about what redistricting means, how SLO County's district boundaries can impact our lives, and how we can all have a say on boundary...

San Luis Obispo's police station is old and run-down. Is a new Public Safety Center the solution? This question will come to city council at a time when cities are reimagining what local law enforcement and community safety should look like. City Engineer Brian Nelson talks with me about what the project would entail.  Action item: read the staff report and submit public comment before the No...

On Sept. 21, San Luis Obispo mayor Heidi Harmon stepped down with more than a year left in her term. I talk with SLO city clerk Teresa Purrington about how city council plans to fill the vacancy and how SLO residents can weigh in on the decision.  Action item: submit public comment before the Oct. 5 city council meeting .  Produced by Francisco Martinez. Music by Wes Bisheff.