June 1, 2023
Hello South County! I must start this week by recognizing May was National Small Business month and did you know that of all US institutions, Americans have the most confidence in small businesses? Gallup polling continues to reveal that American adults trust small businesses more than anything else! That’s you! I learned this fact when the Fresno-based SBA presented the SLO County-based Precision Construction company the 2023 California Small Business of the Year. Precision Construction’s involvement with the SBA was a good reminder of the vast resources at www.sba.gov to help as our economy continues to shift and evolve. In addition, if you have suggestions on how we can assist your business, please let us know!
The County of San Luis Obispo Stormwater Program is hosting a free public webinar 10-11:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 6, to overview a draft of the Post-Construction Stormwater Guidebook. The new guidebook will replace the County’s Low-Impact Development Handbook, which was published in 2014 to support developers with implementing the Central Coast Post-Construction Stormwater Requirements (Resolution R3-2013-0032). The requirements intend to reduce the adverse effects of urbanization on watershed processes and water quality.
County staff, supported by consultants from the Wallace Group, will present an overview of the most significant updates in the 90-minute webinar. Professionals from the design, development, engineering, and construction industries are encouraged to attend. Registration for the webinar is now open, and participants are encouraged to register and submit questions in advance. Information and registration can be accessed at www.slocounty.ca.gov.
The time came to bid a fond farewell to our fantastic County Parks and Recreation Director Nick Franco, as he retires and congratulate Tanya Richardson as the new Director. Tanya has been preparing since she joined the Department in 2021 and she brings over 35 years of experience in the field of Parks and Recreation in public, nonprofit, private, and college organizations. Ms. Richardson was the Community Services Director for the City of Sandy, Oregon, the Aquatics Director for Mt. Hood Community College, and the Multi-generational Center Manager and Aquatics Manager for Roanoke County Parks in Virginia. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in Recreation from the University of Southern California and a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Recreation and Tourism Administration from Old Dominion University. Ms. Richardson has extensive experience leading teams, coordinating with nonprofit and other governmental agencies, and managing large projects. Director Richardson was selected through a nationwide search that resulted in over 150 candidates and interviews that included park staff, community members, and partnering organizations. Welcome Tanya!
The Board received an ambitious update from Joe Dzvonik and the Homeless Division on May 16th listing the number of potential projects in the pipeline to add more beds and services. If funded by the State of California, the three large projects are slated for Paso Robles, SLO city, and Grover Beach, adding over a 100-bed capacity.
Speaking of dedicated people helping to house individuals, South County’s own Janna Nichols was recognized by Congressman Salud Carbajal as one of the Central Coast’s 2023 Women of the Year! The Board of Supervisors also issued a resolution to recognize Janna’s 10-year mark at 5Cities Homeless Coalition and her contribution to SLO County. Congratulations Janna and thank you for your tireless and compassionate leadership!
Do you want to make a meaningful impact on June 2 for Hunger Awareness Day? You can join @slofoodbank and become a #HungerHero! Share on social, donate, fundraise, or help people get CalFresh to support compassionate hunger relief in our community. Come join me as I dance my socks off at the Good Fruit Benefit Concert at SLO Brew, 7 pm on June 2nd! Tickets and information at www.slofoodbank.org
June 3 & 4 will be PRIDE weekend with a ton of great events! www.slopride.com
The SLO Chapter of the NAACP will host a Juneteenth celebration. Learn more at www.juneteenthslo.com.
I was a guest speaker at the Family Care Network Independent Living Program's award night. The event honors the hard work and achievements of foster youth within our community. During the event, I met with graduating teens who received scholarships from local organizations and generous individuals. Being a teenager is challenging under normal conditions, and their circumstances compound those everyday stressors. I see our County's incredible support system within our institutions, nonprofit partners, and resource families. It takes a village of outstanding individuals who want nothing more than to see these teens succeed. As Christopher Reeve said, "a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure despite overwhelming obstacles." Not only are these young people quite remarkable, so too are the staff and volunteers. They are heroes, guiding and supporting these kids as they overcome significant obstacles. Each year we see the results: Most of these students grow to discover their own inner heroes and strive for their future and contribute to our communities. There is always room for more volunteers to support these incredible young adults. www.fcni.org.
Dawn Ortiz-Legg
San Luis Obispo County
District 3 Supervisor
