Council picks top candidate for City Manager First, there were more than 100 applicants. That number was narrowed to 50 “serious” candidates. Then, it was down to seven who were interviewed by the City Council, which soon picked its top three. Now, insiders report that City Council members have unanimously and enthusiastically agreed on the top choice. City staff, who independently also interviewed the top candidates, also picked the same person as their first choice. The present task is to work on terms of an employment agreement. If a deal can be made, there’s a good chance that the new city manager could start in mid to late January. City fights for rationality from Water Quality Control    The City of SLO is in a battle with the Regional Water Quality Control Board over San Luis Obispo creek’s designation as a “municipal drinking water source.” Of course, no municipality, or anyone else, distributes San Luis creek water for drinking. If it sticks, this designation could cost the City $45 million to bring the sewer discharge to the Water Board’s new standards. That’s $1,000 for every man, woman and child who lives in San Luis Obispo. The standard is so high that SLO’s excellent tap water would be illegal to pour into the creek. Union Pacific Railroad to SLO: we’ve changed our minds Five years ago, a detailed agreement between the City of SLO and Union Pacific allowing the City to build a part of the Railroad Safety Trail on railroad right-of-way was worked out. There were numerous conditions to protect railroad uses, current or future, and to make sure the trail actually improved safety. The City, private donors and service clubs raised money for the project. Only 20 percent of the trail would have been on railroad right-of-way, but now Union Pacific executives say they’ve changed their minds. No trail on their right of way. No negotiations. End of story. If you know California (and U.S.) history, you know that the railroads controlled the legislature in the 19th Century and much of the 20th. When it comes to their right-of-way, they aren’t above the law. They wrote the laws. This will be a tragedy if the decision stands. Members speak loudly on outdoor smoking ban  More than 600 Chamber members weighed in on the possible bans on outdoor smoking that might be considered by the City Council. On a ban of tobacco products in parks, including Mission Plaza, 54 percent of the respondents thought this was a good idea, and 40 percent opposed it. (Seven percent were neutral.) But, when it comes to banning smoking in all outdoor public places downtown, including downtown sidewalks, it was much closer: 50 percent were in favor and 45 percent were opposed. Almost 200 members left comments. Most went something like this: “I’m not a smoker, and I hate smoking, but I don’t want that much government control over the lives of private citizens.” After considering the members’ input, the Chamber Board of Directors voted to support the parks ban, but there wasn’t strong sentiment to go forward with a more comprehensive ban at this time. Click here to see the survey results.

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