Arroyo Grande hates on charter-bashing bill 

In a continued bid to transform Arroyo Grande into a charter city, the City Council sent a stern letter on May 14 to Gov. Jerry Brown and key members of the California Senate and Assembly. The letter denounced Senate Bill 7, which would preclude charter cities from using state funds if they don’t pay state-required prevailing wages on construction projects.

“While Arroyo Grande is a general law city, we oppose this measure for its intrusion into local authority, as well as the effort to undercut the flexibility provided by the Constitution to charter cities,” the letter reads. “This bill would establish a disturbing precedent for State micromanaging of charter city laws and policies.”

The letter was slated for approval without discussion, but councilmember Caren Ray pulled the item from the consent calendar, expressing concerns that the city hadn’t adequately studied the benefits of paying prevailing wages.

“In the interest of the middle class, sustaining a skilled workforce, and keeping money local, I have to oppose this,” Ray said.

The letter was approved 4-1, with Ray opposing.

*EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was changed on May 17, 2013 to remove a reference to a charter measure that failed to win voter approval in the November 2012 election. That effort was made in Grover Beach.