GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXVI, NO. X
THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2025
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
PRJUSD discusses future of 36th Street Campus; weighs demolition, public use
Bausch turns over thousands of records amid public records dispute
District explores turning former school site into youth sports hub
Local newspaper pushes for records release tied to former city manager
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (PRJUSD) Trustees discussed the potential future of the 36th Street Campus (formerly Georgia Brown Elementary School). District staff outlined extensive issues facing the site, including the unresolved seismic anomaly, deteriorating infrastructure, and costly ADA compliance triggers. The district currently has “constructive notice” of a dangerous condition on the property, meaning any significant renovations would first require a full determination of the seismic anomaly’s impact. This anomoly is what prompted the relocation of students to other campuses and closing the site down. The aging campus suffers from persistent problems with sewer connectivity, roof leaks, outdated air conditioning, and insufficient restroom facilities. Officials stressed that converting the campus into a functional CTE facility would require major utility upgrades — including water, sewer, and electrical systems — far beyond routine maintenance.Any improvements could require extensive ADA accessibility upgrades, driving up costs significantly. The district is operating under tight financial limitations. While approximately $4.8 million remains from Measure M bond funds, those are insufficient to support full-scale renovation. Other funding streams — including developer fees and one-time deferred maintenance funds — are either limited in use or not applicable to large capital projects. Staff emphasized that general fund revenues, intended for day-to-day operations, cannot be stretched to cover major redevelopment. Additionally, enrollment declines call for more efficient use of district resources. Staff and trustees favored plan so far for the 36th Street site includes demolishing existing buildings and converting the space into a public recreational facility. PRJUSD is in early discussions with the City of Paso Robles and the local Youth Sports Council to assess community needs. Proposed features of a future joint-use facility could include: • A walking track • Synthetic turf fields for soccer, baseball, and football • An ADA-accessible playground (modeled after
PASO ROBLES — After a months-long battle, Paso Robles City Councilmember Chris Bausch handed over thousands of emails and text messages to the City after ongoing requests and litigation with the San Luis Obispo Tribune (The Tribune). At the beginning of March, The Tribune filed a petition for Bausch and the City of Paso Robles to comply with a “writ of Mandate and Declaratory Relief under the California Public Records Act” with the San Luis Obispo County Courthouse. Paso Robles Press filed a public records request with the City of Paso Robles for the legal records related to the litigation with The Tribune on April 29 and received those records on June 9. City Attorney Elizabeth Hull told Paso Robles Press, “The City provided all non-exempt public records responsive to the Tribune’s requests that were in the City’s possession. On May 16, 2025, Councilmember Bausch provided the City with approximately 5,400 records consisting of emails and attachments.” Requests for records and backand-forth arguments between the city, Bausch, and The Tribune began with the county newspaper’s coverage of former City Manager Ty Lewis’s leave of absence due to stress he claimed was caused by Bausch. Bausch, who represents District 2, was first appointed to the seat in August 2022 following the resignation of City Councilmember Maria Garcia. He left his position as a member of the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees to apply for the position on the City Council. While he was appointed to finish Garcia’s term, which ended in December of that year, Bausch ran in that November’s election for a full four-year term. Running unopposed, he won the District 2 spot, and his term ends in 2026. Prior to serving as city manager, Lewis served as the City of Paso Robles’s chief of police. In 2021, Lewis was selected to serve as the new city manager. He served as the chief of the Paso Robles Police Department since 2018 and was hired by the city on March 31, 2002, as a police officer, sergeant, and later a commander. Back in 2024, Lewis filed a $2.75 million complaint against the city, alleging a hostile work environment, naming Bausch as the primary city employee involved. Before filing, Lewis took a leave due to health reasons
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Those who came for Open Farms Day got to meet and pet various farm animals during the three-day event. Photo by Brittany App
Open Farm Days celebrates local agriculture with record turnout across SLO County
FARMstead ED’s fifth annual event showcases over 50 farms, kicks off with marketplace in Paso Robles By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
NORTH COUNTY — FARMstead ED wrapped up the 5th Annual Open Farm Days on June 20–22, offering a hands-on opportunity for locals and visitors to explore and engage with San Luis Obispo County’s vibrant agricultural community. The weekend-long event kicked off with the Farmers Marketplace, which was held in Paso Robles City Park on Friday, June 20. “Friday night was absolutely magical — farmers, community partners, ticket holders, and even curious travelers all came together
in the most organic and joyful way,” Hambly Farms Founder Gina Hambly told Paso Robles Press about the Farmers Marketplace event. While the Central Coast has long been celebrated for its wines, Open Farm Days highlighted the area’s lesser-known but deeply rooted farming heritage. Once dominated by grain fields, almond orchards, and cattle ranches, the region now supports a wide variety of sustainable agriculture and artisan producers. The event celebrated this legacy while offering unique, educational, and family-friendly experiences.
The annual event welcomed guests to tour more than 50 participating farms, artisans, and purveyors across the county. With the latest SLO County Farm Trail map in hand, attendees created their own custom itineraries and experienced the region’s diverse agricultural offerings — from flower fields and mushroom farms to olive groves and alpaca ranches. “The weather couldn’t have been better for exploring, and with more farms than ever on the SLO County Farm Trail this year, there was something for everyone,” Hambly said. CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
A good time was had by all at the 27th Annual Atascadero Lakeside Winefest on Saturday, June 21. Photo by Rick Evans/PRP
Atascadero Lakeside Winefest draws 1,300 guests for summer celebration Festival delivers wine, music, and family fun while raising funds for local zoo and chamber programs By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
NORTH COUNTY — The 27th Annual Atascadero Lakeside WineFest returned to Atascadero Lake Park on Saturday, June 21, and once
CRIME
again delivered an afternoon of wine and music that lived up to its reputation as one of the North County’s favorite summer events. From 4 to 8 p.m., an estimated 1,300 guests — mirroring last year’s record-breaking
NORTH COUNTY LIFE
attendance — filled the park, the Central Coast Zoo (formerly Charles Paddock Zoo), and the surrounding garden and band areas to sample over 100 wines from more than 50 wineries, alongside offerings from craft breweries, cideries, and specialty
EDUCATION
food vendors. The family-friendly festival also featured live music, artisan booths, and interactive activities that entertained guests of all ages. The crowd-favorite “Roarand-Pour” experience at the CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
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