Message From the City Manager |
Greetings City of Grover Beach,
The days are longer, kids are out of school and vacations are on the horizon. June means the start of summer and finding time to disconnect and recharge. June is also the end of our year in City government as we begin a new fiscal year and budget on July 1 and look forward to new opportunities to serve our community.
I want to begin by highlighting our amazing Summer Concert Series, which runs every Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. through August 21 at Ramona Garden Park. This free, family-friendly music series is now in its 20th season and features amazing local and regional bands, local food truck vendors and a beer and wine booth sponsored by the Grover Beach Rotary Club. The opening concert on June 5 drew an all-time high of nearly 2,000 attendees listening to great music on a beautiful Grover Beach afternoon. If you haven’t been to a summer concert, check it out and enjoy the community camaraderie and connections each Sunday afternoon at the park.
July 4th is right around the corner, which means family, friends, festivities and celebrating our freedom and independence as a country. The holiday can also mean fireworks and we want to remind our community that only “Safe and Sane” fireworks are legal for use in Grover Beach, and only between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. on July 4. “Safe and Sane” fireworks are those that are neither a projectile nor explosive and are commonly referred to as fountains, sparklers, smokeballs, ground-spinning fireworks and other items. Our Police Department and the Five Cities Fire Authority will be on patrol for illegal fireworks, which may result in up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. We will have officers in unmarked patrol cars looking for violations, along with our new drones providing a birds-eye view from the air while adhering to FAA and privacy requirements.
A final item as we close this fiscal year is the adoption of the City’s budget for next year. The City is in strong financial shape with a balanced budget that maintains current service levels and produces a projected surplus of nearly $250,000. We have prudent reserves that exceed our Council’s goal, which is important in these times of economic uncertainty and future community needs, particularly for parks and other facilities and infrastructure. The City has over $9 million in capital projects next year, including a project to repair West Grand Avenue from 4th Street to 8th Street, which will also include a landscaped median and sidewalk improvements. We’re also spending over $2 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to address homelessness, help our local businesses and nonprofits and improve the City’s technology to better serve our community.
We have a lot to look forward to as a community over the next year, and your City government is dedicated to helping make Grover Beach a place for our residents and businesses to thrive. Let us know what we can do to assist you at (805) 473-4567 or [email protected]. Happy Independence Day and Happy (Fiscal) New Year!
Sincerely,
Matthew Bronson
City Manager
|
|
|
|
Every Sunday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Ramona Garden Park in Grover Beach will be rockin' tunes from local bands! Concert-goers will be able to enjoy delicious food truck vendors, games and camaraderie with friends and neighbors. Every weekend features a new band and there are plenty of opportunities left to hear more rockin’ music this summer until August 21!
|
|
Grover Beach City Council Approves Revised Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget |
The City of Grover Beach is in strong financial standing with an estimated surplus of $239,000 and a stable General Fund that maintains core services for the community. The sales tax and property tax revenues are each projected to grow nearly four percent in the next fiscal year, exceeding the original estimates outlined in the two-year budget for FY 2021-22 and FY 2022-23.
|
|
|
Grover Beach Prepares to enforce Safe and Legal Fireworks this Fourth of July |
The City of Grover Beach is working closely with the Grover Beach Police Department and Five Cities Fire Authority to ensure the safety of the community this Fourth of July holiday. To closely monitor the fireworks activities this July, the Grover Beach Police Department will deploy its new drone program to enhance the department’s oversight of the City.
|
|
|
City of Grover Beach Approves Rate Increases for South County Sanitary Services |
At the June 13 Council Meeting, the Grover Beach City Council adopted a resolution approving requested rate increases for solid waste collection and disposal services from the City’s waste hauler, South County Sanitary Service (SCSS). The initial rate increase for customers will go into effect on June 15.
|
|
|
Kathy Petker, Parks & Recreation Director |
Kathy has been serving the Grover Beach community since 1992. She grew up on the Central Coast and graduated from Morro Bay High School. She earned a scholarship from United States International University in San Diego to run on the cross country and track teams. She transferred to California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo complete her undergraduate degree in Recreation Administration. Shortly after, Kathy began working in the City of Grover Beach’s childcare programs and customer service office. While she was earning her Master of Business Administration from the University of Redlands, she took a break from her employment with the City and returned to the Parks and Recreation Department in 1999. Since then, she has worked her way up and has been the Parks and Recreation Director for 16 years.
Kathy's commitment to uplifting the community dates back to her childhood. Before attending Morro Bay High School, her family moved around the Central Coast a lot. Through these experiences, Kathy met many influential people that always offered to lend a helping hand to her, including her mother's best friend and cross country and track coaches who inspired her to pursue higher education and give back to her community.
Fun fact about Kathy: She has a twin brother, James, who is just six minutes older than her! In her free time, she spends time surfing, bike riding and volunteering with beach clean-up days with her daughter, Dana. She enjoys brainstorming ideas for public parks and recreation programs with her coworkers, Recreation Coordinator Madison Ochotorena and Administrative Assistant Tamie Johns. She also enjoys working with the Public Works Department to provide great park spaces for the community. Kathy is especially proud of the annual Summer Concert Series and how it brings bands and attendees from all over the state to Ramona Garden Park every Sunday in June through August.
Kathy is very appreciative of the 100+ volunteers that help City staff offer a variety of special events, programs and public art projects that help bring the Grover Beach community together. She is looking forward to providing a new pickleball program at Mentone Basin Park in the near future.
For more information about the Grover Beach Parks & Recreation Department programs, classes and events:
|
|
Upcoming Meetings & Events |
|
City Hall Schedule
Fourth of July - City Hall Closed
July 4, 2022
City Council Meeting
July 25 @ 6 p.m.
Planning Commission Meeting
August 2 @ 6 p.m.
Parks, Recreation & Beautification Commission Meeting
August 18 @ 6 p.m.
City Council Meeting
August 22 @ 6 p.m.
Labor Day - City Hall Closed
September 5, 2022
|
|
The 2022 Spring Garden Tour was held on June 4 and highlighted four different gardens, including:
🌸 Brighton Avenue Community Garden
🌸 186 North 12th St.
🌸 351 N. 9th St.
🌸 603 S. 7th St.
Thank you to those that opened up their gardens for the community to enjoy! See you all again next year.
|
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions |
|
Which districts are up for election in November 2022? |
|
Grover Beach adopted voting districts on March 28, 2022, establishing a new voting system. Districts 1 and 2 as well as the at-large Mayoral seat are up for election in 2022, and Districts 3 and 4 are up for election in 2024. 🗺
📍Want to know what district you live in and when you vote? Check out the adopted City Council district map on the City's districting website.
Reminder: The nomination period for running for office in your district is open from July 18 to August 12. For more information on how to run for office, visit the City's website.
|
|
Know the Code
How the Grover Beach Municipal Code (GBMC) City Rules Affect You
|
|
Fireworks Regulation & Enforcement
In May of 2020, the City of Grover Beach amended its fireworks ordinance to limit the public discharge period for legal “Safe and Sane” fireworks to July 4 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. only. “Safe and Sane” fireworks are those that are neither a projectile nor explosive and are commonly referred to as fountains, sparklers, smokeballs, snake-type fireworks, ground-spinning fireworks, pinwheels, most novelty fireworks and some crackling items.
To closely monitor the fireworks activities this July, the Grover Beach Police Department will deploy its new drone program to enhance the department’s oversight of the City. The drones assist with aerial views, which will help our police officers keep our community safe and respond to matters quickly. Our Police Department is authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct these flights, and the City has policies that must be strictly followed. Illegal discharge of fireworks in San Luis Obispo County may result in a misdemeanor violation with up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
|
|
Work with us! City Employment Opportunities Include: |
|
- Assistant Engineer
- Engineer Technician
- Maintenance Worker 1
- Police Officer - Lateral Transfer/Academy Graduate
|
|
City of Grover Beach
154 S 8th Street
Grover Beach, CA 93433
(805) 473-4550
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
