“A Sticking Point With the City”

Public Interest File No. 3

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Overview

During Mayor Erica Stewart’s June 15, 2026 appearance on the Dave Congalton Show, San Luis Obispo resident Jeannie Pleasant called to discuss concerns regarding her home in the San Luis Ranch development. Pleasant described extensive construction defects, a history of failed inspections, and repeated efforts to obtain answers regarding how her home received final approval for occupancy. Mayor Stewart responded that Pleasant should work through the City’s Building Department. According to Pleasant, she already had.

Later in the discussion, when asked why Pleasant could not simply contact the Mayor directly, Stewart explained that residents should work through City staff, stating that her role was to “do ribbon cuttings and set policy.”

The exchange raises a broader question: how do housing and development issues reach the City’s elected leadership while they are still under consideration?

This set of public records concerns Cal Poly’s Vista Meadows housing project on university-owned property near the intersection of Grand Avenue and Slack Street. While the project remained subject to governmental approvals, Courtney Kienow of Cal Poly’s Office of the President sought and obtained direct access to Mayor Erica Stewart regarding what she described as “a sticking point with the City.”

The project proposed new housing for Cal Poly faculty and staff and required a series of governmental actions, including the abandonment of a portion of Slack Street by the City, LAFCO approval of boundary adjustments, and related infrastructure improvements.

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What the Documents Show

August 2, 2024

Courtney Kienow texted Mayor Stewart: “Do you have any openings in your schedule today for a quick conversation about our grand and slack housing and a sticking point with the City?”

Stewart responded by asking whether the matter was urgent or could wait until the following week.

Kienow replied that the issue was timely and offered several ways they could meet: “Happy to jump in the van and deliver flowers with you or run an errand and talk with you…” She added: “I can pick up and bring you lunch…”

Mayor Stewart indicated that she was out of town for the weekend.

August 5, 2024

After the two had spoken, Kienow followed up: “Thanks again for the call! LAFCO approval isn’t likely until end of year – after the next council meeting decision.”

The records do not explain what Cal Poly considered to be the sticking point with the City, or what was discussed during the telephone conversation between Kienow and Stewart.

They do show that, while the Vista Meadows project remained subject to governmental approvals, Courtney Kienow of Cal Poly’s Office of the President sought and obtained direct access to the Mayor regarding issues affecting the project — offering to deliver flowers, run errands, or bring lunch to secure the conversation.

November 12, 2024

The City filed a resolution abandoning a portion of Slack Street, one of the governmental actions required for the Vista Meadows project to proceed.

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Why This File Exists

The purpose of this Public Interest File is to preserve and organize the documentary records so that members of the public can review them for themselves.

Most residents experience local government through public meetings, public comment, City departments, and formal administrative processes. The records published in this file document a housing and development matter discussed directly with the Mayor while it remained under consideration through those same public processes.

The documents published in this file allow readers to review the underlying records and draw their own conclusions.

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Documents Included in This File