Monthly Legislative Update




The recently passed 2021-23 SLO City budget prioritizes direct support to businesses through an allocation of $750,000, funding made possible by the Chamber-supported Measure G sales tax, passed in 2020. Watch as our Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern shares what priorities we’re advocating these funds be directed towards to ensure a positive ripple effect is seen across our local economy.




The City of SLO’s Open SLO program began at the onset of the pandemic and includes street parklets, sidewalk dining, updates to Monterey Street and activations in Mission Plaza as well as throughout downtown SLO. The support for these initiatives has been overwhelming — and on July 20, the SLO City Council discussed the community’s feedback and possibilities for the future of the program. Watch as SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern discusses what we advocated for as part of the continuation of these programs and how they can further serve the community as a whole.




Whether you realize it or not, the simple act of spending your dollars locally goes beyond that one transaction to help create jobs, support other local businesses, and shape the unique character and personality of San Luis. As things start opening up and we begin to return to some of our pre-pandemic habits, SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern reflects on how much our community had done over the last 16 months to come together, support one another and our local business community.




Last week, state and federal governments announced plans to open about 400 square miles of the Pacific Ocean to offshore wind. SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern breaks down this exciting development and explains why the Chamber is supporting a federally funded feasibility study. Learn more about this incredible opportunity below and we look forward to keeping you updated as the project progresses.




Last week, SLO City Council discussed the budget for the next two years which will impact both business owners and residents. SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern points out a few of the most exciting elements that the Chamber is proud to support during our April Good Morning SLO program.




The Chamber has advocated for a renewed focus on addressing the growing challenge of homelessness at both the City and County levels. In the past few weeks, our Board and Legislative Action Committee have identified ways for the business community to support and amplify the great work being done by so many nonprofits in our region. Listen to SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern share more about the community’s response and plans for next steps.




Last week, we saw the passage of California’s $9.6 billion bi-partisan relief package. Listen to SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern break down what it means for individuals and businesses as well as share updates on federal and local financial relief. For most recent updates on the state relief package visit: https://covid19.ca.gov/​.




While there has been undoubtedly some silver linings of this past year, it turned out to be so tough. SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern shares what the future months and years will bring for the City and Chamber as the pandemic continues to have overarching influence on each of our lives. Learn more about how the key business community priorities that the Chamber will be advocating for, HERE.




Molly Kern, SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, celebrates the achievements of recent weeks including City and County housing elements being approved and the community support shown with the passage of SLO Measure G. We are grateful for how the community has stepped up to support each other during this challenging time.




Watch as SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern breaks down what you need to know about certain measures on this year’s ballot. See where we stand on the issues and become a more informed voter by viewing our full 2020 Voter Guide, HERE.




SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern breaks down two of the decisions that will be taking place at the September 1st SLO City Council Meeting. One being the City’s Housing Element and the other, key changes to oversight of Measure G.

On Tuesday, July 21st, the SLO City Council placed a City of SLO SalesTax measure on the November ballot, joining Atascadero, Grover Beach, Morro Bay and Paso Robles in asking voters to increase sales tax to 8.75% — the same rate as Santa Maria and Santa Barbara. Molly Kern, our Director Of Governmental Affairs spoke at our July Good Morning SLO program to share more about how this measure will help our members.
Even in this new reality, our advocacy continues to be driven by Imagine SLO and we’ve been most focused on our Doers & Dreamers theme – advocating for the needs of businesses, their employees, and their families in this challenging time. We’ve been working with government staff and elected leaders to identify shifts, large and small that’ll make a difference for businesses as they fight to survive. Learn more about our current and future efforts from Molly Kern, our Director of Governmental Affairs.

SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern, reviewed the shared regional goals that will guide collaborative resolution of our housing and infrastructure challenges. Voting in the upcoming election can influence the future of our community.
This election year could bring significant political changes to our community, locally and nationally. SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern, provides important dates and updates to keep voters informed for this election year.
SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern, provides an update on the current state of the decommissioning of the Diablo Canyon power plant and an outlook for the future.
SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern, shares details and updates on the new parking structure to be built on Palm St. and Nipomo St. in Downtown San Luis Obispo and the Chamber’s support for this as a gateway for more community involvement.
SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern shares details behind the City of SLO’s bold action to pay down the City’s pension liabilities early and the Chamber’s support for this type of financial responsibility.
SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern shares some of the details behind San Luis Obispo’s Major City Goals for the next two years and what the SLO community can look forward to.
SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern shares the basis behind the Chamber’s support for community choice energy, how it aligns with Imagine SLO, and what this means for residents and businesses in the SLO community.
SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern shares recent efforts made to learn more about the need for childcare in our community and region, and how the results prove how important this need is for the business community.
SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern provides an overview of how our recently revised economic vision ImagineSLO.com, specifically the theme of Doers and Dreamers, goes hand in hand with the efforts of our day to day advocacy.
Working closely with the City of SLO, SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs, Molly Kern gives an update on the sign ordinance, helping business secure their visual platform and when we can expect additional updates in 2019.
SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales gets you up to speed on the city of SLO’s suplemental budget including top SLO Chamber priorities: infrastructure and paying down unfunded liabilities.

SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales gets you up to speed on the city’s zoning update and proposed cannabis tax with a reminder to vote in the June 5 primary.

Recently, the San Luis Obispo City Council gave the public further ideas about how they would like the City’s cannabis regulations to look – with many similarities to what the Chamber has recommended

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce impact fees task force is diving into an important component of the City of San Luis Obispo’s Economic Development Strategic Plan – the update to its water, wastewater and development fees program. These fees tie directly to getting the things we say we want in our community— like better roads, bike lanes and more housing. The city’s reliance on new construction to help pay for key community needs has led to a backlog of infrastructure investments which impact our everyday lives through higher priced – and not enough- housing and increased traffic. Our Director of Governmental Affairs, Charlene Rosales, shares an update on the work and what you can expect.

The City of San Luis Obispo is developing adult use marijuana regulations and business community is weighing in. The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce convened a task force to study and learn from other communities that have experienced legalization and recommend a measured approach to regulating this new industry. Our Director of Governmental Affairs, Charlene Rosales, shares a suite of positions that would allow for business growth and competition while supporting the safety and quality of life that we appreciate in San Luis Obispo.

This month, a significant focus has been updates to the city’s Capital Facilities Fees program and the Water and Wastewater Capacity and Connection Fees program. Put more simply, we have spent a lot of time evaluating potential changes to fees paid by new development which are used to fund citywide infrastructure improvements. Things like roads, water lines and bike paths.

Charlene Rosales recaps progress on key issues and previews what’s to come on the city’s fiscal health and cannabis regulations, with ways to get involved.

By now you’ve received a mail-in ballot for measure B-17, Non-Discrimination in Housing. This sounds like a good a ballot measure that appears to protect renters and home buyers alike from discrimination – but could actually hurt access to affordable housing in San Luis Obispo, which, as you all know, is already one of the least affordable housing markets in the country.

In early August, San Luis Obispo residents will be given the chance to vote on a ballot measure that appears to protect renters and home buyers alike from discrimination – but could actually hurt access to affordable housing. The measure, B-17, calls to repeal the former Rental Housing Inspection program, which has already been repealed, and replace it with a provision entitled “Non-Discrimination in Housing.” This sounds like something that everyone could get behind, but, as is often the case, the details and verbiage used in the measure could leave the city open to costly lawsuits. And this is how affordable housing could be hurt. Affordable housing programs are discriminatory by nature, as they mandate that participants have to make under a certain level of income. http://www.slocity.org/government/municipal-elections

Updates, progress and what the money is going to from last November’s voter-approved bonds, Measure G as well as Education Bonds D and L. Charlene Rosales, your director of governmental affairs breaks it all down in just 3 minutes.

The city of San Luis Obispo’s 2017 – 19 budget priorities and the SLO Chamber’s recommendations on how to achieve them, the ongoing process to update the city’s zoning regulations and how they impact housing downtown, and updates to the user and regulatory fees in the city. Charlene Rosales, the Chamber’s director of governmental affairs explains the complexities and how they affect your life.

Follow this link to share your opinion before the joint Planning Commission and City Council meeting on April 12. http://www.slocity.org/government/department-directory/community-development/planning-zoning/zoning/zoning-regulations-update The City of San Luis Obispo is making moves that will affect commercial development and housing opportunities as staff works on updating city user regulatory fees as well as the city’s zoning program. Charlene Rosales, the Chamber’s director of governmental affairs breaks down a months-worth of work, and how the results will affect your life.

The San Luis Obispo City’s goal setting workshop and resulting action by the City Council, the Rental Housing Inspection Program, the Chamber’s advocacy work on housing proposals to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. The SLO Chamber’s Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales breaks it all down in less than three minutes.

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce’s recommendation for SLO City’s update of their Major City Goals, the implementation of the Climate Action Plan, and upcoming events. The SLO Chamber’s Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales breaks it all down.

Charlene Rosales, the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce’s director of governmental affairs, shares the Chamber’s recommendations for the City of San Luis Obispo’s 2017-2019 major city goals. They include: investing in critical transportation infrastructure, driving economic development and addressing fiscal challenges that the city faces. Follow this link before January 10, 2017 to help determine the San Luis Obispo City’s priorities for the 2017-2019 budget. http://www.peakdemocracy.com/portals/189/Issue_4144

Charlene Rosales, the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce’s director of governmental affairs, breaks down the work that the Economic Vitality Corporation, the Home Builders Association of the Central Coast and the Chamber did on the workforce housing front, as well as SLO’s Box Art program and updates to the closure of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.

Charlene Rosales, the San Luis Obispo Chamber’s director of governmental affairs shares the Chamber’s positions on the ballot measures and propositions that voters will be asked to weigh in on when they mail in or step into the ballot box. She reviews them all, including becoming a self-help county, recreational marijuana and the statewide plastic bag ban in just over two minutes and 53 seconds. Download the latest version of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 Voter guide here https://slochamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Voter-Guide-2016-9-22.pdf

San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales breaks down what it means to be a Self-Help County as well as what the benefits are and why we should vote for it.

The board of supervisors vote to put a countywide half-cent sales tax on the ballot, the Chamber’s engagement in Diablo Canyon closure conversations and a slew of other issues, including recreational marijuana, that Chamber committees are tracking. Charlene Rosales reviews them all in just over three minutes. Download the latest version of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 Voter guide here https://slochamber.org/2016-voter-guide/

SB 968 a study looking into the economic impact of a possible closure of Diablo Canyon Nuclear power plant, transportation infrastructure funding, and rental housing inspection. The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce’s Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales breaks it all down in 2 minutes and 52 seconds.

The Board of Supervisors vote to connect desalination plant to Lopez Lake, Measure G funds projection for San Luis Obispo City and the upcoming Fifth annual State of the State, Charlene Rosales, the Chamber’s director of governmental affairs tells it all in 2.5 minutes. To apply for the open seats on the Citizens’ Revenue Enhancement Oversight Commission go to http://www.slocity.org/…/advisory-bodi…/application-handbook

Residential projects in San Luis Obispo, proposed on-campus housing for faculty and staff at Cal Poly, the County’s vacation rental ordinance and an invite to the Chambers Green Business Symposium. Charlene Rosales, the Chamber’s director of governmental affairs runs through it all in under four minutes. For more information and to register for The Green Business Symposium click here.

Updates to San Luis Obispo’s Downtown Concept Plan as well as the Mission Plaza Master Plan, the City’s update to the Sign Ordinance, exploring becoming a Self-Help County, supporting updates to the LUCE and a parking structure on the corner of Palm and Nipomo streets. Charlene Rosales, the Chamber’s director of governmental affairs explains a how the Chamber kicked off 2016.

The creation of the Piedras Blancas National Monument, following how funds from Measures D, L and G are being spent, and a possible pipeline to the Diablo Canyon desalination plant, Charlene Rosales, the Chamber’s director of governmental affairs, breaks down 2015 in its entirety (more or less) and hints on what’s to come in 2016 in just over three minutes.

The creation of a national monument in the area between San Simeon and the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse, a parking structure on the corner of Palm and Nipomo streets and work that the SLO Chamber has been doing regarding transportation funding in SLO county. Charlene Rosales, the Chamber’s director of governmental affairs explains a month’s worth of the Chamber’s work in two minutes and 36 seconds.

In September the Chamber’s Economic Development Committee and Housing Task Force discussed downtown building heights and the financial constraints limiting achieving mixed-use projects. The Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee studied the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. Charlene Rosales, the Chamber’s director of governmental affairs gives the run down and the Chamber’s position in less than three minutes.

In August the SLO City Council broached an update to the downtown concept plan and the County started to take action on the proposition of building a pipeline to tap into the Diablo Canyon Desalination Plant. Charlene Rosales, the Chamber’s director of governmental affairs gives the details and the Chamber’s position in less than two minutes. To apply for the San Luis Obispo Downtown Concept Plan update team click here.

SLO Chamber of Commerce’s Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales gives an update from San Luis Coastal Unified School District and Cuesta College on how funds raised from bonds, that passed last November with Chamber support, are being spent. Rosales also touches on a Chamber committee meeting with representatives from the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) and the lack of funds for road improvements or transportation infrastructure beyond 2019.

SLO Chamber of Commerce’s Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales talks about the county’s new Tourism Marketing District, the city’s ban on polystyrene use in businesses, the start of the new Chamber committees, taskforces and councils, and the adoption of San Luis Obispo City’s 2015-2017 budget. For more information on the San Luis Obispo City ban on the use of polystyrene by businesses visit slocity.org/eps

SLO Chamber of Commerce’s Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales talks about the city’s adoption of a rental housing inspection program, the Chamber’s support of the potential expanded polystyrene ordinance, the Orcutt Area Specific Plan and the increased housing it brings as well as the City of San Luis Obispo’s water conservation efforts.

SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales talks about San Luis Obispo’s potential polystyrene ordinance, the rental housing inspection plan as well as the upcoming State of the State and Legislative Lunch with Katcho Achadjian. For more information on the Polystyrene ordinance and Rental Housing Inspection go to http://www.slocity.org/government/open-government/open-city-hall

SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales talks about the new hotel plan for Monterey St., the Citizens’ Revenue Enhancement Oversight Commission and the expansion of the Bob Jones City to the Sea Trail.

SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales talks about the City of San Luis Obispo’s two year financial plan and the goal setting process that saw several Chamber recommendations make the list.

To participate in the City survey visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/?sm=DCxyTvE%2bedTgGxlGR5UkXqTM7exY5cGPj%2bM24FxVbA4%3d SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales gives a few highlights from 2014, shares what’s up next for San Luis Obispo and how you can get involved and share your ideas on the City budget process.

To participate in the City survey visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/?sm=DCxyTvE%2bedTgGxlGR5UkXqTM7exY5cGPj%2bM24FxVbA4%3d This month SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales addresses the Chamber’s recommendations for the City of SLO’s budget goal setting process, the potential overrule of the Airport Land Use Commissions findings and next steps following the passage of Measure G.

This month SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales talks about the progress made in the City’s homestay program, the Chamber’s 2014 Voter Guide and gives insight into the Chamber’s support or opposition to the Statewide propositions and local measures, including the educational bonds, Measures D and L and the City’s half-percent sales tax, Measure G.

SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales talks about the approval of Chevron’s final environmental impact report, updates to the Landuse and Circulation Element, SLO City Council’s potential override of the Airport Land Use Commission’s recommendations, and the Chamber’s support of the educational bonds, Measures D and L and the City’s half-percent sales tax, Measure G.

SLO Chamber Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales talks about the SLO City Council’s potential override of the Airport Land Use Commission’s recommendations, and the Chamber’s support of the educational bonds, Measures D and L and the City’s half-percent sales tax, Measure G.

San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Director of Governmental Affairs Charlene Rosales gives a quick rundown of the legislative work that the Chamber has been working on in July. These topics include Measure G, the Pismo Preserve and the purchase of 40 Prado Road for the construction of the new homeless services center.