County of San Luis Obispo seal Dawn Ortiz Legg 3rd District Supervisor County of San Luis Obsipo

Greetings to all ~

It is time to catch up on Board of Supervisors and Community Highlights in July, the month of summer vacation and the annual California Mid-State Fair!

Board Updates

The most significant milestone was made at the July 7th board meeting for the Bob Jones Trail!  Let’s Go!  The construction will begin at the Octagon Barn for phase one of the extension to the end of Cloverridge Road. There will be a groundbreaking ceremony on September 17th, with many of the partner agencies that made this finally happen!  More to Come.

 

The Board also approved a new electric aircraft charging unit (item #4) at the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, supporting the continued growth of air mobility / electric aviation.

 

The Board approved several actions to strengthen partnerships that prevent homelessness, expand permanent housing opportunities, and invest in workforce development, including a grant to grow apprenticeship programs that prepare residents for careers in the construction trades.

 

We also recognized the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, (item #34) reaffirming our commitment to accessibility and inclusion throughout our community.

 

Speaking of accessibility…Residents can now attend the Board of Supervisors meetings remotely by joining on Zoom and providing live public comment from wherever they are.

 

To participate, simply visit the the Board of Supervisors agenda webpage before the meeting to access the current Zoom link, meeting ID, and call-in information, which can be found on the agenda. 

 

When the Chair opens public comment, remote participants can request to speak by selecting the "Raise Hand" feature in Zoom or by pressing *9 if joining by telephone. When it's your turn, staff will unmute your microphone (telephone participants may need to press *6 to begin speaking).

 

Remote speakers receive the same amount of time as those speaking in person.

 

If you prefer, you can also submit written comments before the meeting by emailing BoardofSups@co.slo.ca.us. Be sure to include the agenda item number in the subject line so your comments can be distributed to the Board and included in the official meeting record.

 

More information on Public Participation can be found here.

Diablo Canyon - Information Session

Over the last few years, the majority of the Board of Supervisors has voted to support extending the operations of Diablo Canyon Power Plant through 2045. Earlier this year, the Board voted to join the Diablo 2045 Coalition, and last month we agreed to host a public information session on the plant's proposed extension. That session will be held on Thursday, July 30, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Chambers at 1055 Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo, as well as viewing remotely on SLO-SPAN.

 

In recent weeks, there has been commentary about the Board of Supervisors' role in this effort. While the State of California will ultimately make decisions regarding Diablo Canyon's future, county leaders have an important responsibility to understand the impacts these decisions have on our communities, economy, workforce, and long-term energy reliability.

 

The National Association of Counties (NACo) recognizes this responsibility through its Rural Energy Academy, which equips county leaders with the knowledge and resources needed to engage in energy policy discussions and decisions involving major energy facilities. As the Academy notes, rising energy demand, technological advancements, and local land-use opportunities have created a "meet-the-moment" opportunity for counties to help shape America's energy future.

 

In June, the Rural Energy Academy visited my hometown of Morris, Illinois, home to one of the nation's oldest operating nuclear facilities, the Dresden Clean Energy Center. Seeing firsthand how local and state leaders have partnered with industry and government to support a long-operating nuclear facility reinforced the important connection between reliable energy generation and economic security.

 

As county supervisors, we have a role to ensure our communities have access to accurate information, thoughtful discussion, and a clear understanding of how decisions about Diablo Canyon could affect San Luis Obispo County for decades to come. The upcoming informational session is an opportunity for the public to learn more,  better understand the issues surrounding the proposed extension and share comments during the listening session. 

 

Updates

Avila Valley Advisory Council: Thank you Avila for attending our dinner meeting on July 13th.  It was wonderful to see residents, businesses and agency partners enjoy in person time together. The next AVAC meeting will be back on Zoom, August 10th, and my office hours in Avila will be on August 13th, from 1:30 to 3:30 at the Avila Civic Center.

Improving State Route 227 Cooridor

The State Route 227 Multimodal Corridor Improvements Project is a long-planned effort to improve safety, reduce congestion, and enhance travel between the Five Cities and San Luis Obispo.

 

The project will add roundabouts at Los Ranchos Road and Buckley Road, operational improvements near Crestmont Drive, and a new shared-use path that will create safer connections for people walking and biking, including access to Los Ranchos Elementary School and surrounding neighborhoods.

 Why This Project Matters

  • Traffic relief: Thousands of commuters use SR 227 each day. New improvements will help reduce congestion.
  • Safety first: Roundabouts slow traffic, reduce severe crashes, and make crossings safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
  • Community connections: The new Edna Valley Trail will provide a safe, convenient bike and pedestrian route linking neighborhoods, schools, and local destinations.

The project is currently in the engineering design phase, with community meetings planned for September 1, 2026 and again in early 2027.   SLOCOG is the lead agency on this state highway project,  therefore, the Board of Supervisors will not have any decision making authority.  If you want to engage, now is the time, and this link:  State Route 227 – San Luis Obispo Council of Governments is where you can sign up for updates on the meeting locations, as they have not yet been determined. Thank you!

County Department Spotlight: Probation

This month, the Board of Supervisors recognized July 19th-25th as Probation Services Week, as San Luis Obispo County's Probation Department plays a vital role in our justice system by supporting victims, holding individuals accountable, and connecting justice-involved adults and youth with the services they need to reduce reoffending. From innovative rehabilitation programs and mobile probation services to collecting more than $1.1 million in victim restitution last year, the department's work demonstrates that public safety and rebuilding lives toward better outcomes goes hand in hand. Thank you Probation professionals!

In the Community

California Mid-State Fair

There is no fair in the state that can compete with the California Mid-State Fair!  The well-maintained fairgrounds, incredible local exhibits, free entertainment and family fun for all, this year’s fair has once again been a local highlight for many.   

Congratulations to this year's California Mid-State Fair Cattlemen & Farmers Day honorees!

🏆 Cattleman of the Year: Dale Evenson
🏆 Cattlewoman of the Year: Nicole Nicholson (pictured above)
🏆 Agriculturalist of the Year: John Lacey

Meals That Connect

On July 15th, Meals that Connect held its 30th Anniversary event, recognizing the hundreds of volunteers who help prepare, serve and deliver nutritious meals to San Luis Obispo County seniors every week of the year and offer important social interaction to those who have limited social mobility.   We thank all those involved at Meals That Connect for your caring service!  Please check out the many ways you can join in on meal delivery, fundraising and supporting this important mission.   https://mealsthatconnect.org/give/#volunteer

Maryam Far, Executive Director of Meals That Connect with members of the Board of Directors and Carson Link, District Representative from Senator Monique Limon’s office

Mark Your Calendars

Bob Jones Trail volunteers in a safety event organized by long-time Bob Jones Park volunteer Betty Hartig.  Let’s ride, walk and drive safely where ever you are folks!   

Thank you for taking the time to stay informed and engaged. I always appreciate hearing from you.

 

I hope to see you at an upcoming event or during office hours, and as always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office.

 

Warmly,
Dawn Ortiz-Legg
San Luis Obispo County Supervisor, District 3

Reach out to my office —

1055 Monterey Street, Suite D430

San Luis Obispo, CA 93408

(805) 781-4336

district3@co.slo.ca.us

 

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