Jimmy Paulding asks a bold question: Should Oceano become part of Grover Beach? | Opinion
Could Oceano — a small, unincorporated community in the South County — solve its most pressing problems by annexing to the neighboring city of Grover Beach?
That’s what Jimmy Paulding is wondering, and he’s broached the idea with various community leaders in a testing-the-waters sort of way.
We’ve got to hand it to the freshman supervisor. It’s a gutsy move to even bring it up.
The idea of restructuring South County governments — through annexation, unification or incorporation — gets raised every so often, only to be smacked down and/or laughed off.
Paulding isn’t pushing the idea — he just believes it’s one option that might be worth exploring as Oceano charts a path forward.
“Right now, I’m just trying to understand if there is even any interest in studying the possibility with city, county and CSD (community services district) representatives,” he wrote in an email to community leaders.
Predictably, the initial response has been less than enthusiastic, for the most part.
“Heck no!” was the reaction from Shirley Gibson, who serves on the Oceano Community Services District.
Adam Verdin, co-owner of the popular Juan’s Cantina restaurant and a member of Oceano’s Vitality Advisory Council, jokingly advised Paulding to wear a helmet when he brings it up at community meetings.
Verdin said he initially thought the proposal sounded encouraging, but on further reflection decided Oceano is better off working with the county to try to solve its problems.
Who will provide fire protection?
The biggest issue currently facing the unincorporated community is fire service.
Oceano has been a member of the Five Cities Fire Authority — which also includes Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach — but the low-income community has been unable to meet its financial contribution to the agency. After two failed bond measures, it’s in the process of withdrawing from the agency. The separation takes effect June 30, though the fire authority will continue to provide service until another entity takes over.
It’s in this context that Paulding brought up the idea of annexing to Grover.
“The central question is — given its financial problems — whether Oceano would be better served receiving city services (police, fire, public works, water/sewer, parks/recreation, and community development) as opposed to the limited services that the Oceano Community Services District and the county are able to provide,” Paulding wrote in his email.
Another central question: How would Grover Beach finance those amenities not just for itself, but also for the approximately 7,000 residents of Oceano?
It seems like a long shot, though Grover Beach Mayor Karen Bright is approaching the idea with diplomacy.
“This subject has not been raised with the Grover Beach council,” she told us in an email. “However, I believe we are a body of open-minded individuals interested in hearing ideas that support our city and that of our neighbors.”
Grover Beach City Manager Matt Bronson has similar thoughts.
“Annexation is not something that Grover Beach is familiar with and likely would involve extensive and lengthy analysis into the costs and benefits for the affected communities, along with significant public input,” he wrote. “However, the city is open to discussing ideas and concepts that would support our community along with neighboring communities.”
Revenue is far from the only issue.
The question of whether Oceano would be able to maintain its own identity — along with its name — is another concern.
Paulding thinks yes. He points to the community of Shell Beach, which annexed to Pismo Beach in 1964, as a model.
While it’s now under the city’s umbrella, it’s definitely kept its vibe — it’s a slightly tonier, less touristed cousin of Pismo — and it’s still referred to as Shell Beach, both by locals and in promotional materials for hotels and vacation rentals.
Still, we can’t help but think that the annexation ship has sailed for the South County.
While it may make sense from a theoretical standpoint — consolidation generally means less duplication of services, which can cut costs — communities are naturally leery of being subsumed by a larger neighbor.
Unification ‘compact’ is one alternative
Paulding does have other, less tectonic ideas for Oceano.
He’s drafted a “community unification compact” that he’s shared with advisory organizations. It asks local leaders to set aside divisive issues for now — such as the contested ban on off-roading at the Oceano Dunes — to concentrate on projects the entire community can get behind.
It lists three goals:
Improving flood control and drainage, adding pedestrian crossings on Highway 1 and making it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to travel between the downtown and the beach.
Pressing State Parks to fully reimburse local agencies for all emergency services provided at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.
Collaborating on community beautification projects, a farmers market and park improvements.
Those are worthy goals, and, since grant funding should cover at least some of the projects, the work shouldn’t create a burden for local taxpayers.
So what’s next?
We don’t mean to put too much of a negative spin on annexation — if there is community interest on the part of both Oceano and Grover, it probably is worth exploring — but that process would take years, and the likelihood of success is low.
Oceano needs assistance now, and getting community buy-in on more achievable goals is a smart direction for Paulding to take — with no helmet required.
