SLO LIFE Magazine AprMay 2021

REVIEW
march 11
Following a nationwide search, the City of San Luis Obispo
announces the appointment of Rick Scott, “a law enforcement
leader focused on community engagement, transparency, and
trust,” to serve as the city’s next police chief. Scheduled to
report to work on May 13, he currently serves as assistant
police chief in North Richland Hills, Texas, a city of 70,000
in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Scott succeeds Deanna
Cantrell, who left last August to become police chief in
the City of Fairfield. Captain Jeff Smith, who has served as
interim police chief since then, has announced he will leave in
April to become police chief for the City of Pismo Beach.
March 2
The SLO City Council approves a General Plan amendment to
rezone a parcel of land to accommodate a neighborhood park,
fulfilling a need for open space, playground equipment, and
walking paths between Foothill Boulevard and Highway 101,
according to the City’s Parks and Recreation master plan. Almost
an acre in size, and currently home to a community garden,
the parcel is located at 533 Broad Street. Funding for the park
will come from developer fees, and the council will review final
project plans before construction begins.
march 10
The San Luis Obispo Planning Commission hosts a discussion of the
proposed Central Coast Layover Facility project to gather public input about
its potential environmental impact on the eight-acre site located behind
Miner’s Ace Hardware on Santa Barbara Street. SLO’s historic Railroad
District could undergo a major infrastructure change, adding a new rail yard,
storage, train tracks, buildings, and more. The project envisions a relocation of
the existing layover facility adjacent to the SLO Train Station to an expanded
march 16
The SLO County Sheriff ’s Office wrap up a search of the
Arroyo Grande home of Ruben Flores, father of Paul Flores,
who, according to Sheriff ’s officials, remains the “prime
suspect” in the disappearance of Kristin Smart from Cal Poly
in 1996. Officers used cadaver dogs and ground penetrating
radar during the two-day search, and hauled away a vehicle,
but released no new information on whether any evidence
was found in the “active and ongoing investigation.” Last
month, Paul Flores was arrested in Los Angeles County on
suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
march 18
The California Coastal Commission votes unanimously
to phase out off-highway vehicle (OHV) use at Oceano
Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area in three years,
shortening a Commission staff recommendation that the
transition take place over five years. The historic decision,
the most sweeping change to the use of the Dunes in a
century, reflects staff concerns that OHV use is unlawful in
environmentally sensitive habitat areas under the California
Coastal Act. California State Parks, which operates the
Area, could phase out OHV use over three years, or
prohibit it all at once. An outpouring of public comments
came in prior to the decision and ranged from support for
recreational opportunities to concerns about environmental
justice from members of the public, government officials,
space at the mostly vacant Union Pacific property at 1320 Roundhouse Street. tribal officials, and public agency leaders. SLO LIFE
APR/MAY 2021 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 21