Council also OKs Agreement for Consolidation to move Dial-a-Ride under SLO Regional Transit Authority umbrella

ATASCADERO — The Atascadero City Council moved forward with big plans for the city’s Charles Paddock Zoo during its regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25.

The council approved the reallocation of $1 million in budgeted Zoo Exhibit Refurbishment Agreement Zoo Exhibit Refurbishment Match funds to Zoo Animal Habitat Maintenance and Upgrades. The councilmembers also committed to funding up to $340,000 in additional staff costs for future.

In her report, Terrie Banish, the city’s Director of Community Services and Promotions, said that for the zoo, the city is prioritizing two things. The first is renewal of its Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation.

“AZA accreditation is the gold standard; we’ve been accredited for over 30 years,” Banish said. “We’ve been busy since April 2024 to keep it. We submitted our application in September, and we’re ready for the AZA hearing on March 26.”

The second priority, Banish disclosed, is for the zoo to achieve financial sustainability in five years. Last year, according to Banish, it cost $1.5 million for the city to run the zoo, with revenues of approximately $750,000, leaving a $750,000 deficit.

Banish revealed a few ideas to reduce that deficit, including a rebrand and marketing campaign, online ticketing platform, increasing zoo sponsorships, and more efficient operating hours, among other things.

As for the proposal at hand, she said the $1 million reallocation would go toward an expansion of the Tiger Habitat, and the building of Phase II of the Madagascar exhibit. The additional $340,000 would go toward increased staffing in maintenance and zookeepers.

“We’re looking forward to taking the zoo to the next level,” Banish said.

The council was mainly supportive of the proposal although Councilmember Heather Newsom had concerns about the budget, noting that the deficit increased in the past year and asking why that was the case.

“Well, COVID hasn’t helped us, and we also dealt with adjusted salaries, and the higher prices for food and utilities, which we can’t control,” Banish said. “We have ideas about reducing the animal numbers, and the hours of operation also.”

During Public Comment on the item, a familiar face assured the council that the city would have help in improving the zoo’s situation.

Former City Manager Rachelle Rickard is president of the Friends of the Zoo, a fundraising arm for the facility, and she told the councilmembers her organization is doing plenty to assist the zoo.

“You aren’t doing this alone; we have a group of passionate people to make sure we maximize the support,” Rickard said. “We’ve completed a land survey, and have established goals and an action plan.”

When the item went back to council, Newsom moved to approve the expenditures, and Councilmember Susan Funk seconded. The motion passed 5-0.

In another item, the council heard the proposed Consolidation of Atascadero Transit Services into San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority.

Atascadero Transit Services, known as Dial-a-Ride, is a curb-to-curb, demand-response public transit system (different from a transit system that runs routes and makes regular stops) that has served the citizens of Atascadero since 1979, including seniors, individuals with disabilities, school children, and people with low incomes. The service currently employs two part-time transit dispatchers, operates a fleet of four transit vehicles, and contracts with a private firm to provide qualified transit bus drivers.

Public Works Analyst Ryan Betz told council that the operational cost for the service rose 30% in the past fiscal year, and ridership has dropped 57% since 2019.

Betz said the $650,000 annual cost for the city to have RTA manage the Dail-a-Ride is approximately similar to the current budget to manage the service, and the benefits would be improved customer service, competitive wages for the employees, and the responsibility for the “stringent” reporting requirements would fall to the RTA.

“Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and Pismo Beach have all consolidated services with RTA,” Betz said. “Other cities say the deal with RTA is going well.”

RTA Executive Director Geoff Straw was on hand to answer councilmembers’ questions, saying that when vehicles are grounded for service, those from other areas can be lent. He also said, in reply to a question by Funk, that current ATS employees would be considered to be retained in the RTA.

Funk moved to approve the item, with Mayor Pro Tem Mark Dariz seconding. The motion passed 5-0. RTA would take over the Atascadero service on June 22.

In other items:

The City Council unanimously approved Community Development Block Grant Funding recommendations by staff. Those grants will go to the City of Atascadero, $95,248 (Viejo Camino Sidewalk and ADA improvements) in the Public Facilities category; the City of Atascadero, $12,520 (Youth Activity Scholarships); El Camino Homeless Organization $9,460 (Operation of homeless shelter), both in the Public Services category; and San Luis Obispo County, $19,049 (program administration); and the City of Atascadero, $10,257 (program administration), both in the Administration category.

The next Atascadero City Council meeting will be Tuesday, March 11, at 6 p.m.