County launches program to streamline services

San Luis Obispo County officials launched a new program aimed at streamlining services, increasing efficiency, and eventually saving taxpayers money.

Supervisors Dawn Ortiz-Legg and Jimmy Paulding joined County Administrative Officer (CAO) John Nilon in unveiling the County’s commitment to the Lean Six Sigma Program.

Lean Six Sigma is a program used by some of the most successful organizations in the private sector that uses statistical analysis to increase efficiency and reduce waste. The County will implement it within all departments. The Department of Planning and Building will serve as its champion and be the first to put it into action.

“Dozens of local governments over the past few years have begun to implement a Lean Six Sigma strategy to address the growing demand for scarce resources,” said CAO John Nilon. “This methodology can save organizations money, improve morale, boost performance, and elevate the services we provide to the people of San Luis Obispo County.”

Nonprofit applications open

Applications are open to nonprofit organizations for operations and specific projects. 

The county will award Other Agency Grants to nonprofit organizations for programs/projects that are not related to health and human services. Only public and private nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply by July 14, 2023, at 5 p.m. All grant submissions are to be sent electronically to ad_admin_grants@co.slo.ca.us for processing.

Visit the Administrative Office’s website to review the formal request for applications (RFA) and grant application.

For questions, please contact Olena Nagorna in the Administrative Office at (805) 781-5496.

COVID-19 tests at no cost outside public health clinics

San Luis Obispo County residents who need COVID-19 tests may now pick up tests at no cost outside Public Health clinics in Grover Beach, Paso Robles, and San Luis Obispo. Tests are also available at pop-up events countywide in collaboration with food bank distributions.

Residents may take two tests per person in their household at these sites. There are no requirements related to residency, income, insurance, or immigration status. The tests are available during business hours. Tests may occasionally run low but will be restocked while supplies last. People who have symptoms of COVID-19 should not go into clinics but may pick up tests outside.

San Luis Obispo County agrees to wage increases for 6 employee groups

Six county employee groups have negotiated wage increases of up to 2.5 percent, starting in June. 

Scheduled wage increases for June

The following employee associations and unrepresented bargaining units have negotiated wage increases effective the pay period including July 1, 2023:

• District Attorney Investigators’ Assocaition (BU06) - 2.5% Across the Board Increase
• Deputy County Counsel Association (BU12) - 2.5% Across the Board Increase
• San Luis Obispo County Employees’ Association (BU01, 02, 05, & 13) – 3.0% Across the Board Increase
• San Luis Obispo County Probation Peace Officers’ Association (BU31 & 32) - 1.5% Across the Board Increase
• San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Managers’ Association (BU15) – 2.5% Across the Board Increase
• Unrepresented (BU07, 08, 09, 10, 11 & 16) – 2.5% Across the Board Increase

For additional information, please review the Memorandum of Understanding for your employee association.

County adopts new redistricting map, legal challenges loom

San Luis Obispo County's Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 on Tuesday, along party lines, to adopt Map A for redistricting, with Supervisors Debbie Arnold and John Peschong opposing the move. The newly-adopted map bears a striking resemblance to the one chosen in 2011, despite numerous calls from supporters for a change.

Proponents of the map change contended that the Patten Map was discriminatory and illegal. However, Supervisor Arnold cautioned both her colleagues and attendees that the court did not find the Patten map to be either of those things, according to a report by CalCoast News.

In December 2021, after a lengthy and contentious process, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to adopt the Patten Map, with Supervisors Bruce Gibson and Dawn Ortiz-Legg dissenting. The issue was a partisan one, with local Democrats seeking minimal changes while Republicans preferred cities and communities to remain intact. In 2021, several supporters of Democratic candidates threatened to file a lawsuit if the board majority chose the Patten Map.

Map viewer with latest food inspection results

If you're curious about what happens behind the scenes in the kitchen of your favorite restaurant or are looking for a new place to try, the Environmental Health team has got you covered. They conduct unannounced inspections of all actively permitted retail food facilities in the county and make the inspection reports available in a timely manner.

You can access these reports by visiting www.EatSafeSLO.org or by using the mobile-friendly EatSafeSLO map viewer. By doing so, you can make informed decisions about the locations you choose to visit, based on the available inspection reports of these facilities in your current vicinity. Additionally, you can explore the expanding inventory of the many food facilities in the county.

The goal of this service is to provide consumers with the information they need to make informed decisions when choosing where to dine or purchase food items. With this information readily available, you can be confident that you are making informed decisions when it comes to the safety and quality of the food you consume.

Garbage rate hike hearing set for March 21

The San Luis Obispo County Supervisors have set a hearing date of March 21 for proposed garbage rate hikes in the unincorporated towns of San Luis Obispo County, with Los Osos garbage customers alone facing a 41% increase. 

However, rates outside cities will double, jumping over 82% for the rest of this year, due to various reasons such as capital investments, market rate wage adjustments, increased costs of insurance premiums, and increasing operating expenses. 

While customers living in towns where the CSDs hold the franchise agreements can vote in protest against the rate hikes, those living outside the jurisdictions of the local CSDs cannot as garbage service is not mandatory. Source: Estero Bay News

County's Disaster Recovery Center to close Tuesday

The storm Disaster Recovery Center located at the SLO Veterans Memorial Building in San Luis Obispo will continue to operate for another week, closing on Tuesday.

Residents who would like to apply for assistance in-person must do so before the closing date. Following the close of the Disaster Recovery Center, applications for federal assistance will still be available online at disasterassistance.gov until March 16, 2023.

County approves fee for new cannabis businesses

New cannabis businesses operating outside of city limits in San Luis Obispo County will now be charged more than $3,900 for a license.

On September 13th, the Board of Supervisors approved changes to the County’s cannabis program, including approving a new required fee for licensed cannabis businesses operating in the unincorporated areas of the County. The new fee will take effect on October 14, 2022.

Every County cannabis business license will be required to pay a Cannabis Tax Compliance fee of $3,918 at the time of license issuance and each year at the time of license renewal. This fee is in addition to the required annual business license fee, which is currently $44 per new license and $34 per license renewal.

COVID-19 “Omicron Boosters” soon available in SLO County

Updated COVID-19 booster vaccines that specifically protect against current variants will soon be available in San Luis Obispo County. The bivalent vaccines provide targeted protection against the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 strains of COVID-19 as well as the original strain. The updated doses will replace current boosters for those age 12 and older.

“Like the flu shot, this booster dose is updated to protect against the strains circulating right now,” said Dr. Penny Borenstein, County Health Officer. “Staying up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccine protection, along with getting your flu shot, is the best way to protect yourself this winter, protect your family as we look ahead to the holiday season, and do your part to help protect our community’s hospital capacity ahead of a possible winter surge.”

County office buildings get battery storage units for power emergency

The switch has been flipped, bringing life to the first battery energy storage systems (BESS) installed at San Luis Obispo County government buildings – at zero cost to residents.

BESS units were installed this summer at the County Public Health Department and Health Agency Administration building in San Luis Obispo. They will serve two primary purposes, banking up to 31 hours of electricity, which can be used during power outages, and also by providing energy during peak demand periods when PG&E grid electricity rates are highest and then recharging during off-peak periods when rates are lowest. Collectively, the two units are expected to save the County $800,000 over their predicted 20-year lifespan. That money will support community health programs.

“Not only is it good financially, but it’s good for the health of our community,” said Health Agency Director Nicholas Drews.

The BESS projects were developed by county Public Works staff with Tesla, Inc. and funded through the State of California Public Utilities Commission’s Self Generation Incentive Program. The program promotes the use of clean energy technologies through prioritizing incentives to install battery storage systems in communities situated in high fire-threat regions.

“The Public Works team is one that solves problems before they happen,” said Public Works Director John Diodati. “That forward-thinking approach defines the success of this BESS project. It not only makes our infrastructure more resilient but is also cost-effective for the county taxpayer.”

Third District Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg recognized the staff’s forward-thinking efforts, “SLO County’s Public Works Department continues to take an active and integrated approach toward carbon reduction at our county facilities. With the new bank of Tesla batteries at the public health campus, the county takes a big step into the future, assuring delivery of energy with this 24/7 back up, which is very important for county’s health care operations.”

Supervisors approve new approach to address homelessness

In a 5-0 vote, San Luis Obispo County Supervisors approved a new 5-year-plan to address homelessness in our communities by 50 percent.

The plan approved this week by Supervisors aims to curb homelessness by 50 percent in 5 years. The plan represents months of collaboration and input from the public, various agencies and non-profits who work with the homeless, formerly homeless clients, and cities throughout the county.

“What we have is a plan that focuses on streamlining resources, strengthening partnerships among cities and other agencies, and regular accountability of how the program is working as we progress,” said County Administrative Officer Wade Horton.

Cannabis tax rate in SLO County increases to 8%

Cannabis operators in unincorportated areas of San Luis Obispo County must collect a tax of 8 percent starting July 1. 

In 2018, San Luis Obispo County voters approved the Cannabis Business Tax (CBT), which is applicable to cannabis businesses operating in the unincorporated areas of San Luis Obispo County. This voter-approved measure states that the cannabis tax rate increases by 2% each July 1st, up to a maximum of 10%, unless the Board of Supervisors votes to hold or reduce the tax rate.

DA to auction off luxury items seized as evidence during a criminal investigation

The District Attorney's Office in San Luis Obispo County has hired SLOCAL Estate Auctions, Inc. of Morro Bay to auction jewels, watches, sports memorabilia, designer shoes, purses, artwork, and other things confiscated as evidence during an embezzlement investigation.

To ease any concerns about the auction goods' origins, the District Attorney's Office said they "were acquired by a criminal defendant using cash embezzled from her employment."

SLO County voters slow to return ballots

As of last week, slightly less than 10% of the primary election ballots from San Luis Obispo County voters had been returned, according to a report by CalCoast News.

Only 18,360 of the 186,626 ballots mailed to registered voters have been returned, with 9,262 Democrats and 5,467 Republicans voting.

Three supervisor elections in SLO County will be decided in the primary on June 7: District 2, District 3, and District 4. In District 4, there are 4,681 returning ballots out of 40,981 registered voters.

Only 3,493 of the 7,760 votes sent to District 2 voters have been returned. Only 2,979 of the 30,907 ballots mailed to voters in District 3 have been returned.

During midterm elections, voters tend to come out in smaller numbers. In the 2018 primary election, 53 percent of voters in SLO County cast votes, a significant increase over the 2014 primary, when just 41% of ballots were tallied.

To be counted, your vote must be dropped in or mailed on or by June 7th, election day.

Applications open to fund pandemic recovery health improvement projects

The COVID-19 public health emergency in SLO County has prompted the county's Public Health Department to issue a Call for Proposals for funding initiatives that address the effects or deteriorating metrics on public health.

For up to 12 projects, $5.9 million is available. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2008 granted this one-time sum (ARPA). Applicants may be non-profits, government entities, companies, or coalitions. The application date is 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2022. Project submissions must address at least one of the following:

• Access to Care: SLO County has long faced healthcare workforce challenges and disparities in access to care. The pandemic has made these challenges even more extreme. Building a robust healthcare workforce and ensuring equitable access to care will be key to a healthy future for our community.