Inal Eport San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury

R1

The San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury Recommendation R1 will not be implemented because it is recommends that the County revise its plan not warranted or reasonable. The current Countywide Plan to include more specific and quantifiable already incorporates detailed timelines and measurable goals timelines for implementing the “San Luis for each initiative outlined. The timelines are designed to Obispo Countywide Plan to Address track progress and ensure that milestones are achieved Homelessness 2022-2027” by December 31, within specified timeframes. Additionally, the plan includes 2024. performance metrics to evaluate our success in reducing homelessness, increasing housing units and improving community engagement. SLOCGJ Recommendation 1 (R1) Inquiry Update The SLOCGJ would like to acknowledge the County's efforts in addressing homelessness through the "San Luis Obispo Countywide Plan to Address Homelessness 2022-2027" (Countywide Plan). However, the SLOCGJ finds the County's response to its 2023-24 recommendation R1 for more specific and quantifiable timelines disappointing, deeming it “not warranted or reasonable”. It is the SLOCGJ's opinion that the County failed to provide an adequate response as to “why” the recommendation would not be implemented. The SLOCGJ’s recommendation R1 resulted from a major challenge in assessing the County's progress due to insufficient details which made it difficult to determine whether they were on schedule or if there were deficiencies in execution as noted in last years SLOCGJ Homelessness report. In response to the SLOCGJ's request for a more detailed explanation as to why the County would not implement the recommendation, the Board of Supervisors (BOS) failed to provide a response. 2024-2025 San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury Final Report 17 2024-2025 Continuity Report Grand Jury’s Comment to County’s Response for Additional Information While the County characterizes its current approach as already incorporating detailed goals and timelines, the SLOCGJ position remains that the Countywide Plan’s lack of clearly defined actions, time-phased milestones, and detailed responsibilities undermines the ability to track progress effectively and hold stakeholders accountable. Without these essential elements, it is impossible to determine if the plan is on track or to address potential challenges in a timely and proactive manner. Specific areas of Concern: • Lack of Defined Actions and Milestones: The absence of time-phased goals with clear requirements makes it difficult to determine if the County is meeting its commitments, relying instead on a broad 5-year timeline. • Insufficient Accountability: The plan does not specify what needs to be done, by whom, or when, which hinders accountability among stakeholders and limits Citizens’ Homeless Accountability Commission’s (CHAC’s) ability to report meaningful progress. • Delayed Issue Identification: Detailed actions and timelines would enable early detection of potential issues, facilitating proactive solutions. Flexible frameworks are no substitute for well- defined timelines that ensure projects stay on track despite changing circumstances. On May 21, 2024, the County presented a status report on the Countywide Plan to the BOS. The SLOCGJ commends the County and its partnering non-profits for their progress. However, the presentation did not clarify whether the plan remains on schedule and noted that some initiatives face risks due to funding concerns. During the status report, the BOS directed the County to provide a full status update on the Countywide Plan every two years, with brief updates in alternating years. This schedule allows for only one more comprehensive report in 2026 before the plan concludes in 2027. The SLOCGJ 2024-2025 San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury Final Report 18 2024-2025 Continuity Report believes that limited reporting, coupled with the absence of detailed actions and milestones, weakens oversight and transparency. Additionally, it fails to inform the public about potential delays or obstacles—such as reduced funding, inflationary pressures, community concerns, or logistical challenges—that could hinder the plan’s progress or completion. 2023-24 Report: Moving San Luis Obispo County from Homelessness to Hopefulness: Recommendation R3 Board Of Supervisors Response

R2

The SLOCGJ recommends that the BOS provide the required update as to the status and anticipated completion date of a revised Master Tax Exchange Agreement.

R3

The San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury Recommendation R3 will not be implemented because it is recommends that the County aggressively not warranted or reasonable. The County through Line of implement its plan for a comprehensive public Effort #6 of the San Luis Obispo Countywide Plan to Address awareness campaign to advise the community Homelessness has actively pursued public engagement. This on homelessness issues. It is further includes extensive community outreach, engagement recommended that the County and Cities work through social media platforms, partnerships with local together to provide a cohesive voice. The San entities and participation in community forums and Luis Obispo County Grand Jury recommends workshops. The County’s current efforts adequately address completion by December 31, 2024. the need for a comprehensive public awareness campaign with existing resources and strategic frameworks. SLOCGJ Recommendation 3 (R3) Inquiry Update: The 2023-2024 SLOCGJ’s recommendation (R3) was a result of the “The San Luis Countywide Plan to Address Homelessness 2022-2027” (Countywide Plan), Line of effort #6 which was to actively pursue public engagement through community outreach, engagement through social media platforms, partnerships with local entities and participation in community forums and workshops. It also called for the County and Cities to work together to provide a cohesive voice. The SLOCGJ recommended that the County aggressively implement its plan for a comprehensive public awareness campaign, which was noted during its investigation as being delayed due to staff turnover. The BOS responded to this recommendation stating that it was “not warranted or reasonable”. The SLOCGJ found that the BOS failed to provide an adequate response as to “why” the recommendation would not be implemented as they simply restated the SLOCGJ’s 2024-2025 San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury Final Report 19 2024-2025 Continuity Report recommendation. As a result, the SLOCGJ requested a more detailed explanation from the County as to why the recommendation would not be implemented, and if it was their position that they are now on schedule with its plans, or rather that they will not be implementing the outlined objectives in their Countywide plan, in part or entirely. County’s Response to Request for Additional Information: In response to the SLOCGJ's request for a more detailed explanation as to why the County would not implement the recommendation, the BOS failed to provide a response. Grand Jury’s Comment to County’s Response for Additional Information: It remains unclear how the SLOCGJ recommendation was deemed unwarranted or unreasonable when the recommendation was to simply implement their own stated goal, which was noted as being behind schedule by county staff. 2023-24 Report: Annexation: A Taxing Dilemma Recommendation R1 Board Of Supervisors Response

R4

The SLO City Council should initiate a task force to explore the creation of a “Student Overlay Zone” near the campus that would allow for municipal code requirements to be 2024-2025 San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury Final Report 40 Round & Round with Town & Gown introduced that would differentiate it from the rest of the city and recognize the needs of a dynamic university environment. This could facilitate changes to such things as density, parking, noise and fraternity activities.

R5

The SLO City Council should consider adopting a tiered planning appeal fee structure to promote accessibility of community concerns by individual residents. Such a structure could ensure that financial burdens do not deter public involvement.

R6

The SLO City Manager and the Planning Commission should move toward adopting more uniform conditions for CUP’s and enforcement of existing requirements. Due to the time span (1971-2024) in which these CUPs were approved, the requirements are inconsistent. The City should consider using future CUP violations to determine if it is appropriate to revise the conditions to make them more relevant for today’s environment. This may require consideration of additional code enforcement staff or alternative work schedules.