Read updates from your County government, including important projects and events in your community.

Dear Inquirer,

As summer winds down, there is a lot happening across South County. With the potential for a very wet winter ahead, storm preparedness is especially important to me, and I want to make sure our communities are doing everything we can now to prepare. I’m also looking forward to two opportunities to roll up our sleeves and give back: Creeks to Coast Cleanup next month and our fourth annual We ❤ Nipomo event in October.

This month’s newsletter also includes updates on roads, parks, Diablo Canyon lands planning, and several opportunities to get involved in decisions affecting our communities. As always, thank you for staying engaged and helping make South County a great place to live.

Yours in service, 

Jimmy Paulding 
District 4 Supervisor

• How your local governments are preparing for El Niño storms, and the role the public will need to play as well.
• Creeks to Coast cleanups in Oceano, Nipomo, and around the county, and save the date for We ❤ Nipomo next month.
• Share your voice in developing SLO County Parks Master Plan, the future of Diablo Canyon's lands, and the Homeless Services Division's Community Needs Assessment.
• The South County Advisory Council is looking for community members interested in volunteering to serve on the council. 
• Highlights and photos from the past month.
• And mark your calendars for upcoming meetings, workshops, and some fun community events!

Storm preparedness is one of my highest priorities as we head into fall and winter. NOAA is forecasting a greater than 90% chance of a very strong El Niño this year, with an increased likelihood of wetter-than-normal conditions along much of coastal California later this winter. While no forecast can tell us exactly what storms will bring to San Luis Obispo County, we need to take the risk seriously and prepare now.

We saw firsthand in 2023 how quickly major storms can become dangerous. Heavy atmospheric-river storms caused severe flooding across our region, including in the Tally Ho neighborhood in Arroyo Grande, along the AG Creek in Oceano, and throughout other low-lying areas of South County. The AG Creek levee overtopped and breached, Cecchetti Crossing washed out, roads and bridges failed across the county, and homes, businesses, and agricultural land were flooded. In total, the 2023 storms caused more than $70 million in damage to County roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure at nearly 880 locations—and that doesn’t include damage to other public agencies, homes, or businesses.

Those experiences are why I am pushing our County government to be as proactive as possible this year. Public Works is inspecting and clearing County-maintained culverts, drainage facilities, and other infrastructure ahead of the rainy season. Our Office of Emergency Services is coordinating with cities, special districts, law enforcement, fire agencies, and nonprofit partners so we have consistent public information and a coordinated response when storms arrive. We will also be compiling El Niño-specific resources on a new page on ReadySLO.org so residents know where to find reliable information before and during an emergency.

I also recently directed County staff to work with local nonprofit and community organizations to identify opportunities for additional creek clearing and flood-mitigation work, including helping residents and organizations better navigate the complicated state and federal permitting requirements that can apply to work in waterways. In Oceano, we have already completed more than $2,700,000 of major improvements to the AG Creek channel and levee since the 2023 storms, including sediment removal and levee rehabilitation and strengthening. 

Local government has an important role, but storm preparedness is a shared responsibility. Nearly 75% of the waterways in SLO County are located on private property, which means actions taken by individual property owners can make a real difference.

Before the rains arrive, I encourage you to:

• Sign up for AlertSLO and Reverse 911 so you can receive emergency information and evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions via your cell phone or email. Sign up for both at AlertSLO.org.
• Know your flood risk. Check FEMA flood maps and understand whether your home, business, or evacuation route is in a flood-prone area.
• Prepare your property now. Clean gutters and drains, secure outdoor items, and inspect drainage areas and waterways on your property. If you have a creek or stream, review the County’s Creek Care Guide before doing work—some debris and vegetation can be removed by hand, while more substantial work may require state or federal permits.
• Get sandbags before you need them. Sand is available at locations throughout the county during storm season, but residents generally need to provide their own bags and shovel.
• Make an emergency plan for your household, including medications, pets, important documents, transportation, and where you would go if you needed to evacuate. Find more tips at ReadySLO.org.

It is equally important to recognize the limits of what preparation can accomplish. Many areas of South County were built within natural floodplains. In those areas, no amount of creek clearing, sandbagging, or drainage maintenance can guarantee that flooding will not occur during a sufficiently large storm.

When flooding does occur, please follow directions from public safety officials. Never drive around a barricade or attempt to walk or drive through floodwater. If you are ordered to evacuate, leave promptly; if you are directed to shelter in place, follow those instructions and move to higher ground if water begins to rise.

We will be sharing much more in the coming weeks about County preparations, community-specific flood risks, and opportunities for residents to prepare. I care deeply about making sure we are doing everything reasonably possible to protect our communities—and the more we prepare together before the rain starts, the safer and more resilient we will be when it arrives.

On Saturday, September 19, volunteers across San Luis Obispo County will roll up their sleeves for ECOSLO’s annual Creeks to Coast Cleanup, our county’s largest volunteer cleanup event.

I’ll be serving as the site captain for the Arroyo Grande Creek cleanup in Oceano ("22nd Street Bridge in Oceano"), where we’ll be removing trash and debris from the creek and surrounding area. In Olde Towne Nipomo, longtime community volunteer Debbie Handy of Nipomo Clean Sweep will also be leading a cleanup project to help beautify the heart of Nipomo.

Last year, 839 volunteers removed more than 7,300 pounds of trash and 177 pounds of recyclables from sites throughout the county. These projects make an immediate difference for our neighborhoods, waterways, beaches, and wildlife—and cleaning up our local creeks and drainage areas is especially timely as we prepare for the upcoming rainy season.

I hope you’ll join us in Oceano or Nipomo, but there are cleanup sites throughout SLO County, so I encourage you to find the project that works best for you.

Creeks to Coast Cleanup
Saturday, September 19 | 9 a.m.–Noon

Sign up to volunteer through ECOSLO (the Oceano and Nipomo projects are near the bottom of the signup page)

Mark your calendars! Our fourth annual We ❤ Nipomo community service day is coming up on Saturday, October 10 at 9 a.m.

We ❤ Nipomo started as a simple idea: bring neighbors together to roll up our sleeves and give back to the community we all care about. Over the past three years, volunteers have helped beautify the Nipomo Community Park and other areas around town by maintaining the Nipomo Native Garden, picking up litter in Olde Towne, removing weeds, restoring picnic tables, spreading mulch, and tackling many other hands-on projects. Check out this fun video from last year. 

This year, we’re looking to expand our efforts even further, with projects planned both at Nipomo Community Park and throughout the surrounding Nipomo community. We’re still working with our community partners to finalize the project list and volunteer registration, and we’ll share those details soon.

For now, save the date for October 10 and plan to join your neighbors for a morning of service, community, and showing a little love for Nipomo.

We ❤ Nipomo
Saturday, October 10 | 9 a.m.

SLO County is developing a Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and the draft will be available for public review starting Tuesday, September 1. This Master Plan will help the County shape it’s park and recreation system for the next 15 years.

The County will be accepting public comment on the plan until September 30th, which will be available at slocountyparksplan.com.

If you’d like to learn more about the Master Plan and how to leave comments on the draft plan, register for one of two online community workshops by clicking on one of the dates below.

• Tuesday, September 1, 6:00 – 7:00 PM
• Wednesday, September 9, 12:00 – 1:00 PM

I hear from community members constantly how important our parks are to them. I highly encourage you to participate in this process to help ensure our parks continue serving our community’s needs well into the future.

The future of the lands surrounding the Diablo Canyon Power Plant will have lasting importance for our entire region, and I want to make sure South County residents have a voice in the process.

The California State Coastal Conservancy is developing a conservation plan for approximately 12,000 acres and 14 miles of coastline between Avila Beach and Montaña de Oro State Park. The planning process will consider Tribal access and resources, habitat conservation, public recreation opportunities such as hiking and camping, and areas that may remain protected.

I encourage you to attend the project’s kick-off community workshop on Wednesday, September 23, from 4–7 p.m. at the San Luis Obispo Library Community Room (995 Palm St.). This drop-in workshop is an opportunity to learn more and provide input on the long-term stewardship of these remarkable lands.

For more information, visit DiabloCanyonLandsPlanning.com.

The South County Advisory Council (SCAC)—an advisory body to the Board of Supervisors on land use development in the Nipomo/AG Mesa area—is accepting applications from individuals who wish to be appointed to represent their communities. There are current vacancies for two representatives for geographic Areas #1 and #7 (an interactive map is available at SCAC.ca.gov).

• Area #1 is described as all of the community within the Nipomo Urban Reserve Line and east of the 101 Freeway. (first map above, outlined in pink)
• Area #7 is described as that area outside the Urban Reserve Line, east of Pomeroy Road, north of Los Berros Road and south of Division Street. (second map above, outlined in purple)

Candidates must be over 18 years of age and reside in the area they represent, although the council has been considering expanding eligibility beyond residency. Interested candidates may contact SCAC Chairperson Darrell Sisk at (805)709-9766 or pismodarrell@gmail.com for further information. SCAC meets on the fourth Monday of every month at 6:30pm at the Dana Adobe Cultural Center.

SCAC is a great way to get involved in shaping the future of the greater Nipomo area. If you’re not familiar, I highly encourage you to attend their meetings.

This year, SLO County will receive an estimated $3 million in federal funding to support affordable housing, homeless services, neighborhood improvements, public facilities, and other public infrastructure. Before funding decisions are made, the County wants to hear from members of the community.

The Homeless Services Division invites you to participate in the 2027 Community Development Needs Assessment (CDNA) Survey which is open from August 13 to October 13, 2026. The survey takes just 10-minutes and is available online at slocounty.gov/communitydevelopment.

The survey results and proposed funding priorities will be presented to the Board of Supervisors on December 8, 2026. Please complete the survey and share it with your friends and neighbors. 

Last month, I shared that Measure H, the Local Roads First transportation sales tax measure, had been placed on the November ballot for voters to consider. Since then, the SLO Council of Governments Board voted unanimously on August 5 to have the measure removed from the ballot. Following additional review and community feedback, the Board determined that this was not the right time to move forward, particularly given the cost of placing the measure before voters and broader economic uncertainty.

While Measure H will not move forward, the transportation needs it sought to address remain. We will continue working with our regional partners to identify funding for road maintenance, critical transportation projects, public transit, and safer infrastructure for people walking and biking throughout our county. With our unmet needs continuing to grow, it is likely that our region will need to consider a similar measure in the future.

The Friends of the Nipomo Library publishes a monthly newsletter, Library Link, publicizing Nipomo Library programs, Friends events, and information about the SLO County library system. You can check out there August newsletter here and view their archive from the past 12 months at friendsofnipomolibrary.org/newsletter.  

Stay connected with all the latest news, events, and updates from the City of Arroyo Grande by checking out the latest quarterly edition of the Arroyo Grande Gazette. The June 2026 issue is available in both English and Spanish

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It was an honor recognizing Convivencia with a resolution at our Board of Supervisors meeting earlier this month. Since 2023, our local Muslim community has hosted Convivencia—which means “Living Together”—as an opportunity to bring people of diverse faiths together to learn from one another. This year, awards were given to local law enforcement officers, medical and nonprofit leaders, and other stalwart members of our community. I have attended this event several years now and I always leave inspired. Thank you to Drs. Nisha and Rushdi Cader for organizing such a beautiful event.

I had a lovely time visiting the Nipomo Senior Center earlier this month and sharing about the latest efforts the County has been working on in Nipomo and throughout the region. If you’re unfamiliar, the Nipomo Senior Center offers all kinds of wonderful classes and events, and it’s a great place to socialize and even get a free lunch from Meals that Connect. They’re located at 200 E Dana St and you can learn more about their programs on their website nipomoseniorcenter.org. They were recently featured on KSBY too!

September 1 – Board of Supervisors Meeting, 9am, Katcho Achadjian Government Center Board Chambers. Key agenda items include a presentation on the County’s desalination plant site feasibility study and the potential dissolution of the San Simeon Community Services District.

September 1 – Highway 227 Roundabouts Community Meeting, 5-7pm, Octagon Barn (4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo). The proposed improvements, including new roundabouts at Buckley Rd and Los Ranchos Rd and a multi-use path between Los Ranchos and the SLO Airport, are designed to make driving, biking and walking in South SLO safer and smoother for everyone. Learn more about the project and how to stay engaged at this community meeting or by visiting the project website.

September 7 – Labor Day, County offices are closed.

September 10 – Dana-Carrillo Nature Preserve Community Meeting, 5:30pm, Dana Adobe Cultural Center. Come learn about this new nature preserve and recreational space in Nipomo.

September 12 – Heritage Day at the Dana Adobe, 9:30am-3:30pm. Enjoy a day of living history reenactments, live music, dance performances, family activities and more. Walk back in time to the 1800s at the Dana Adobe for the day. Tickets are $5 for adults and free for kids. Learn more here.

September 19 – Creeks to Coast Cleanup, 9am-noon, sites throughout SLO County. Learn more above and at ecoslo.com/creeks-to-coast.

September 19 – Girls in Aviation Day, 11am-2pm, Oceano Airport. Organized by our County Airports Department, this free, family-friendly event celebrates the women shaping the future of flight. Guests ages 3 and up can get up close with aircraft, meet local pilots and aviation professionals, and enjoy hands-on activities built to inspire young dreamers. Learn more here. 

September 23 – Diablo Canyon Lands Workshop, 4-7pm (drop-in open house), SLO Library Community Room. More information above and at DiabloCanyonLandsPlanning.com.

September 25 – Native American Day, County offices are closed. County offices will be open on Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day on October 12.

September 28 – South County Advisory Council Meeting, 6:30pm, Dana Adobe Cultural Center. This is a great opportunity for you to weigh in on land use decisions in the AG Mesa/Nipomo area. Learn more at scac.ca.gov.

September 29 – Board of Supervisors Meeting, 9am, Katcho Achadjian Government Center Board Chambers. Key agenda items include a legislative update from our state lobbyist, a presentation on our updated Parks Master Plan, a discussion on forming a Fire Appeals Board (moved from August 18) and water planning for “Zone 3” South County communities including Arroyo Grande, Oceano, Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, and Avila Beach. There will also be budget actions related to closing out the last fiscal year and final adoption of the current year budget.

October 10 – We ❤ Nipomo, 9am, Nipomo Community Park. Save the date! More details coming soon. 

Please note that anticipated Board agenda items are subject to change. Always be sure to check the posted agenda at slocounty.ca.gov to confirm if an item will be discussed at the next meeting. Agendas are usually published the Wednesday prior to each Board meeting.

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