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GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CX, NO. XVI
THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2025
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
Trustees hear progress from two AUSD schools
Atascadero moves forward with sewer rate hike process
District board elects Denise McGrew-Kane as president
City Council approves Prop 218 protest procedure in 4-1 vote as aging wastewater system faces urgent upgrade needs
By MIKE CHALDU michael@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — For the first time in three weeks, the Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees convened for its regular meeting, and heard from the principals of two district schools to Maria Contreras, aunt of 11-year-old hit-and-run victim José Gutiérrez, holds the medal awarded to José while posing with members of the Atascadero Police Departhear the progress of their educa- ment during the April 23 ceremony honoring José. Photo by Rick Evans/ATN tional programs. Principals Marshawn Porter, of Santa Margarita Elementary School, and Sarah Betz, of Santa Rosa Academic Academy, each gave a presentation outlinCommunity gathers at City Hall to remember the 11-year-old who dreamed of becoming ing the strategy each school uses to get students to achieve and a police officer excel, and how their schools are month since the tragic hit-and- Despite the quick response charges, including vehicular By HAYLEY MATTSON and CAMILLE DEVAUL meeting it. run accident that took José’s life of emergency personnel, José manslaughter while intoxi“Thank you for having me; I on March 14. succumbed to his injuries. cated, felony hit-and-run resultJosé was walking home from get to brag about Santa MargarATASCADERO — On The Atascadero Police ing in death, and possession of ita, which is a pretty incredible Tuesday, April 23, commu- school along the 10800 block of Department launched an fentanyl. place,” said Porter, who was the nity members gathered on the El Camino Real when he was immediate and thorough invesBut on Tuesday, the focus first to give her presentation. steps of Atascadero City Hall in struck by a vehicle driven by tigation. Bernal, the registered shifted from grief to gratitude, “We’re in our own little bubble, front of the Rotunda building to 31-year-old Zachary Bernal of owner of the Dodge Ram as the city came together to so it’s nice to get to brag and talk honor the life and heroism of Atascadero. Witnesses reported involved in the crash, was remember José — not just as a about our school a little more.” 11-year-old José Gutiérrez. The seeing a gray Dodge Ram soon identified and taken into victim, but as a hero. Porter explained to the ceremony marked roughly one speeding away from the scene. custody. He now faces multiple CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 board how her school teaches its students through graduate profiles — Teamwork, Self-Directed Individual, Responsible and Contributing Citizen, Effective Communicator, and College Career Ready — through projects unique to each profile. For instance, for Teamwork, students contribute “quilt squares” containing positive messages and goals, which are then stitched together. Also, for Effective Communicator, Porter said, students create a comic strip that illustrated a problem and proposed solution, and use the strip that lead to the solution in four panels. For College Career Ready, the principal explained, the student makes a pennant that can display the college they want to go to, or the career for them to pursue. “They can make a pennant Paso Robles/Templeton Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Gina Fitzpatrick (in green) and Kathy Kelly of Digs Vacation Rentals, a Chamber board member, cut the of what college they want to go ribbon for the Chamber’s new visitor center on 524 Main St. in Paso Robles. Photo by Camille DeVaul/ATN to, or what career they want to pursue,” she said. “We also want to convey that college is great, but it’s not for everyone, and some students might look at trade school or some other way Historic Main Street building restored as new home for Chamber, symbolizing community to pursue a career.” pride and progress Porter went on to explain how day, April 16, the Templeton heart of Templeton. The visitor Visitor Center promises to be a the school uses “intervention” By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com community came together to center was previously located hub for locals and tourists alike, teachers and aides to identify and celebrate the long-anticipated at 321 South Main St. Back in offering information, resources, help students who may struggle TEMPLETON — A grand opening of the Cham- 2022, the Paso Robles Cham- and a warm welcome to all who and need extra attention, and points out activities and awards, new chapter has begun for ber’s new home at 524 S. Main ber of Commerce announced walk through its doors. “This building is not only in its merger with Templelike “Mustang Bucks” that the the Templeton Chamber of St. The event marked not just ton, creating the Paso Robles the heart of Templeton, but the students earn for good behavior, Commerce as it officially all under the concept of RITE, opened its Visitor Center on the opening of a new facility & Templeton Chamber of Chamber of Commerce is also Main Street. On Wednes- but a renewed presence in the Commerce (PRTCC). The new CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Atascadero honors José Gutiérrez with Lifesaving Medal
Templeton Chamber of Commerce celebrates grand opening of new visitor center
COMMUNITY
NORTH COUNTY LIFE
SPORTS
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — The City of Atascadero has moved forward with the process to approve wastewater rate increases for its residents. The increase was approved with a 4-1 vote at the Tuesday, April 22, City Council meeting. The rate increase follows procedures set by Proposition 218, known as “The Right to Vote on Taxes Act,” which allows property owners a say in some fee increases through a majority protest process. Atascadero’s wastewater system serves nearly all commercial and industrial properties and a portion of residential areas, primarily within the city’s urban core. Of the city’s 15,000 acres, about 2,000 are connected to the sewer system, encompassing approximately 5,500 parcels. The remaining properties rely on private septic systems. The city took over the wastewater system from the Atascadero County Sanitation District in 1982, shortly after its incorporation in 1979. Although upgrades and improvements have been made over the years, the treatment system — based on stabilization ponds — remains largely unchanged and is now outdated under California’s strict environmental regulations. The city charges fixed sewer service fees to customers connected to its sanitary sewer system, as it lacks access to individual water usage data. Unlike utilities that base sewer rates on winter water consumption, Atascadero uses a flat rate model based on Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs). One EDU represents the average wastewater flow and strength of a single-family residence (SFR), estimated at 240 gallons per day. Other property types are charged proportionally, depending on their wastewater volume and strength compared to an SFR — for instance, apartments are 0.75 EDUs, while small restaurants are 4 EDUs due to stronger wastewater content like chemicals and cleaners. Currently, there are about 8,300 EDUs in the system. Charges are collected annually CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
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