City Council Overview

The City of Pismo Beach is a general law city, governed by a City Council/City Manager form of government. The City Council is comprised of five members, selected through a municipal election to serve a four-year term; the Mayor serves a two-year term. Each member must be a registered voter in the City. Each member represents the interests of the City as a whole.

Elections are conducted on staggered terms so transition of a continuing measure is maintained from one Council to the next.

Meetings Unless otherwise noticed, City Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 5:30 pm in the Council Chamber, 760 Mattie Road, Pismo Beach.
Members

• Shelly Higginbotham , Mayor
• Edward Waage, Mayor Pro Tem
• Erik Howell , Council Member
• Mary Ann Reiss, Council Member
• Kris Vardas , Council Member

NOTE: E-Mail correspondence sent to or from members of the City Council via the City's website are considered public records and may be subject to disclosure pursuant to the Public Records Act.

City Council Members, Shelly Higginbotham, Erik Howell, Mary Ann Reiss , Kris Vardas , and Ed Waage , are elected officers identified in Government Code Section 87200 and file statements of economic interests with the City Clerk's office. Copies of the statements of economic interests filed by the above elected officers may be obtained by visiting the offices of the Fair Political Practices Commission ( FPPC ) or the office of the City Clerk.

The physical address of the FPPC is 428 J Street, Suite 620, Sacramento, California 95814.
The physical address of the City Clerk's office is 760 Mattie Road, California 93449.

The statements of economic interests for some state and local government agency elected officers may be available in electronic format on the FPPC's website at http :// www . fppc .ca.gov/ ."

Compensation and Benefits Ordinance No. O-2007-008 sets compensation rates for the Mayor and Councilmembers as follows:

Mayor - $814.80 monthly
Councilmembers - $514.80 monthly

In addition each member of the Council shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of Council's duties in the amount not to exceed as follows:

$55.00 for phone, $40.00 for Internet, and $150.00 for expenses.

Health Benefits
Resolution No. R-2009-079 establishes the Health and Welfare Benefit contribution for members of the City Council.

Parking Advisory Committee Overview

As Pismo Beach developed and implemented a long-term parking plan, it was advantageous to have an officially formed Advisory Body, which would advise the City Council on parking-related issues within the City limits. At the February 6, 2007 meeting, the City Council approved the formation of the Parking Advisory Committee.

The Committee is comprised of five members of the public. All members of the committee are selected by the City Council in the same fashion as other City Boards/Commissions.
The Parking Advisory Committee is appointed by the City Council to:

• Act as an advisory committee to the City Council with respect to implementation of an overall Parking Management Program
• Act as an advisory committee to the City Council with respect to parking issues within Pismo Beach
• Act as a community forum to hear requests from the public regarding the operation and maintenance of downtown parking lots and programs
• Maintain adequate liaison with other committees, agencies and districts.
• Advise Council as to other matters upon the Council's request
• Meeting Schedule The Parking Advisory Committee meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 10:00 am in the City Council Chambers, 760 Mattie Road, Pismo Beach, unless otherwise noted.
  
  Notices of public meetings and their agendas are posted on this website in the Archive Center and outside the Council Chambers at City Hall.
  Related Documents

• Powers, Duties, and Membership of the Parking Advisory Committee
• Parking Management Plan
• Residential/Business Discount Parking Permit Plan
• Paid Parking Area Map

Planning Commission Overview

The Planning Commission, an advisory board to the City Council, consists of five members nominated by individual City Council Members and appointed by a majority vote of the City Council.

All Commissioners must be Pismo Beach residents and are required to take an oath of office prior to commencing their term of office.
The Planning Commission is appointed by the City Council to:

• Review site plans
• Makes amendments to the Development Code and General Plan
• Reviews residential designs
• Makes recommendations on surplus open space sales
• Establishes design and development standards

Meeting Schedule

The Planning Commission meets the second & fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm in the City Council Chambers, 760 Mattie Road, Pismo Beach, unless otherwise noted.

Notices of public meetings and their agendas are posted on this website in the Archive Center and outside the Council Chambers at City Hall.

You can pick up a copy of the Planning Commission agenda and staff reports at the Community Development Department Planning division office on the second floor of City hall at 760 Mattie Road on the first and third Fridays of each month. The agenda for an upcoming meeting of the Planning Commission is also available ten days ahead of the meeting.

You can attend the meeting in person, watch the meeting live on the second and fourth Tuesdays, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Charter Communications Ch. 20, watch the recorded meeting daily during meeting weeks on Charter Communications Ch. 20 at 1:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. the week of the meeting. You may also view meetings online using our webstreaming module.

You can purchase a DVD of a Planning Commission meeting by contacting the City Clerk's Office at (805) 773-4657.

Municipal Code About the Municipal Code

The Pismo Beach Municipal Code represents the most current regulations adopted by the City. The document is a compilation of ordinances of the City. Following adoption by the City Council, ordinances of a general and permanent nature are codified into the Municipal Code.

This Code guides how the City is governed and is updated as the City grows and changes

Doing Business

Business License

Business License Summary
A business license , also referred to as a Business Tax Certificate, is required of all businesses and in-home businesses operating within the City limits, including temporary activities and contractors with offices located outside of the City. Please refer to the Business Tax Certificate Application Procedure brochure for commonly asked questions, resources, and additional information.

In addition to a regular license to do business within the City there is a Contractor Business License and a Special Events Business License .

Home Occupation Permit
If the business is conducted from your home in Pismo Beach , you will need a Home Occupation Permit .

A Home Occupation Permit is submitted to the Community Development Department, Planning Division. The Administrative Services Department requires proof of payment of the Home Occupation Permit prior to issuing a Business Tax Certificate.

Any additional information regarding a business license can be obtained by calling the Finance Department at (805) 773-4655.

Planning Overview Contact
Carolyn Johnson, Planning Manager
760 Mattie Road
Pismo Beach, CA 93449

Ph: (805) 773-4658
Fx: (805) 773-4684

Hours
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Monday - Friday
The Planning Division is responsible for:

• Work with the Planning Commission and City Council to create and implement long-range plans, including the Local Coastal Plan, for the city's growth and development consistent with approved planning principles and state law.

• Providing information to the public on the City's land use policies and regulations.

• Review of project applications (including potential environmental impacts) for compliance with all city, state, and federal land use laws.

• Management of special projects, including but not limited to oversight of parks and open space planning, grant writing, and assisting in redevelopment agency administration.

Business License

. How do I get an application for a City of Pismo Beach Business License? Pick up an Application in person at the Administrative Services Department at City Hall (760 Mattie Road), download an application from the Website, or request by phone (805) 773-4655 or mail that an application be mailed or faxed to you.

In addition to a regular license to do business within the City there is a Contractor Business License and a Special Events Business License. Business License Application

2. How much does a business license cost? Fees vary depending on type of business. For many retail and services businesses, the annual fee is based on the amount of Gross Receipts. A Home Occupation Permit is required if the business is conducted from a home in Pismo Beach. The fee for the Home Occupation Permit is $105.00.

3. What if my business is home-based? Every business conducted from a home in the City of Pismo Beach must first get a Home Occupation Permit (from the City's Community Development Department, Planning Division). Then submit the completed Home Occupation Permit to Administrative Services as part of the application for a City business license. Home Occupation Permit

4. Where do I get the application for a Home Occupation Permit? Pick up an Application in person at the Community Development Department, Planning Division at City Hall, 760 Mattie Road, download an application from the Document Center at the City Website, request one to mailed or faxed to you by calling (805) 773-4658.

The fee for the Home Occupation Permit is $105.00.

5. How long does it take to receive the business license? Usually, Business Licenses are mailed about a week after receipt of a complete application (including payment).

6. How do I get a business license for special events, such as Art in the Park, Car Show, etc.? In addition to a regular license to do business within the City there is a Special Events Business License. This application is for use by vendors with no permanent place of business in the City of Pismo beach, and includes vendors who may do business only on selected days. Fees vary depending on one-time use, 6- or 12-month application. Business License for Special Events

7. When do I need to renew my license? Once you have a Business License, the City will automatically mail a renewal notice to the mailing address of record about thirty (30) days before the expiration date. If you do not receive a renewal notice before the expiration date, please contact the Finance Department. Failure to receive a renewal notice does not relieve the business owner of responsibility for renewing the business license - nor is it grounds for waiving any penalties due.

8. What if I sell my business? A business license is not transferable. The license is terminated when business ownership changes. The new owner will be responsible for obtaining his/her own business license.

9. How do I obtain a Fictitious Business Name? Fictitious business names are filed with the County of San Luis Obispo County Records Office in the City of San Luis Obispo. To contact the Records office, call (805) 781-5088 or visit their web page at www.slocounty.ca.gov. SLO Clerk-Recorder

10. How do I obtain a resale or sales tax permit? To obtain a Seller's Permit, contact the State Board of Equalization at (800) 400-7115, or visit their web site. www.boe.ca.gov State Board of Equalization

11. If I hire someone to do work at my home, such as gardening or housekeeping services, do they need to have a City of Pismo Beach business license? Yes. All persons or businesses doing work within the City limits are required to obtain a City of Pismo Beach business license. To verify if the person you hired has a business license, call (805) 773-4655.

12. What if I have a complaint about a business located in the City of Pismo Beach? The City does not handle complaints about unfair business practice or poor service. If the complaint is regarding unfair business practice or poor service, contact the Better Business Bureau at (562) 216-9240 or visit their website. www.la.bbb.org Better Business Bureau

13. What if I have a complaint about a contractor that I hired to do work at my home? All complaints against contractors are handled through the Contractors State License Board. they can be reached at (800) 321-2752, or visit their website at www.cslb.ca.gov.