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Paso Robles residents to cover costs for bad legal advice on paid parking

July 17, 2024

By KAREN VELIE

Four members of the Paso Robles City Council vehemently rejected a proposal by Councilman Chris Bausch on Tuesday evening to seek reimbursement from the city attorney and consultants for the cost of the failed paid parking program.

Despite the majority of downtown business owners arguing the paid parking program was harming their ability to make a living, the city council voted 3-2 in Nov. 2023 to continue the controversial program. Mayor John Hamon and council members Steve Gregory and Sharon Roden voted not only to continue the program, but to also raise the rates.

However, a CalCoastNews investigation revealed the city’s paid parking ordinance violated state law as it did not provide zones or require parking rate changes by ordinance.

After agreeing their downtown paid parking program was not legally set up, the Paso Robles City Council agreed to refund parking tickets given for only the last 12 months of the program. The failures in the program were allegedly the result of bad advice from the city’s attorney firm Best Best & Krieger and other consultants. When canceled, the program was operating more than  half a million dollars in the red.

At the end of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Bausch asked the council to seek reimbursement for Hull and other consultants for the city’s losses.

“Even though the overwhelmingly successful referendum to overturn the ill-advised and illegal Paid Parking program was rejected by the City of Paso Robles on a technicality, the fact remains that many, if not most, Paso Roblans feel that throughout the duration of the paid parking program, the City Council was given poor advice by advisors that were trusted to know and to do better,” Bausch said. “Tonight, I am asking my fellow council members to join me in requesting that information be researched and brought back to this City Council within the next sixty days as to what redress can be sought against any attorneys, advisors, consultants, vendors or the like who took part in the paid parking program during the past five to six years.

“Given that the city’s current attorney may have participated from time to time in this advice, the City Council should consider directing staff to nominate a pool of alternate attorneys from which council may select to provide this service. Which of my fellow council members will join me in this request?”

The council members looked over at City Manager Ty Lewis who shook his head. Council members Strong, Roden, Hamon and Gregory then denied Bausch’s request.

 


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While I understand the councilman’s point, truth is residents “pay” for a lot of bad decisions made by various councils. But this one…whoever was in favor of annd pushed it forward should be fired, recalled, whatever. The city doesn’t have the kind of disposable money that was wasted on this kind of boondoggle. How much was actually spent on “advice” and/or “research studies”? They still put in motion such a poor operation they were an half million dollars in the red. Through out the process everything in the paid parking universe seemed to be scream “No!” or at least “wait!”. The council, for whatever reason, was determined to blow a lot of money & cram a square parking peg into a round hole. They should be embarrassed. Then to turn around and be unable to fence the lousy meters…. Why? They were virtually brand new…. What a complete mess. If they did this poorly on something like parking… what should we expect when something truly critical happens? The council(s) should have acted on this years ago and acquired land. Why not use city planning or engineering students from Poly and listen to the people who pay the bills!


8

You hired some lawyers and lost: welcome to the real world.


3

Congratulations to Chris Bausch for being the lone voice of reason and accountability. Reminds me of the Paso Robles school board.

Makes me wonder if the city council was given the full story on whos’ idea it was to increase the parking rates without adopting an ordinance with the proper public notices and hearings.


11

Oh yeah, let’s just spend an absurd amount of money on outside lawyers to cause a bunch of havoc so that one councilman can yell even more about how people who violated parking rules are victims of technicalities.


I look forward to the cycle repeating in a few years; to hear business owners clamoring for paid parking in order to alleviate downtown congestion and enforce violations. Then entitled locals will freak out that paying a dollar for the privilege of parking in front of a expensive store/restaurant is an affront to their dignity and demand government handouts (free parking) again.


-18

“The council members looked over at City Manager Ty Lewis who shook his head. Council members Strong, Roden, Hamon and Gregory then denied Bausch’s request.”


Why don’t Roden, Gregory, Hamon and Strong quit and just appoint Ty Lewis to be the City Administrator.


19

The tail wagging the dog, just like San Luis Obispo’s city council. Pathetic.


18

Another example of this City Council Not Listening or holding anyone accountable. Roblans again being poorly represented! It’s time for change.


41

Gee what a thought holding overpaid city attorneys accountable for bad advice. Similar to the fiasco in Pismo Beach. These council members are absolutely spineless and at the mercy of brain dead city administrators.


42

Disinformation bureaucrats are always bad for business.


26

My suggestions:

1. It seems the Law Firm (Dewey Chester and How) was guilty of either legal malfeasance or at best (no pun intended), Negligence. They should have malpractice insurance that the City should go after.


2. The Mayor and 2 Council Members that screwed this up should be publicly censured, and asked to resign or, at least, voted out when their time is up.


3. The businesses that complained about parking, and the businesses that couldn’t control where their employees parked, should learn a lesson here – everything has consequences. Paid parking in a little town like Paso doesn’t make sense. You lost revenue and customers – that is your consequence.


4. Finally – City of Paso Robles – buy up some acreage and build parking.


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