Smoking ban approved in SLO

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• Housing Authority bans smoking in SLO's public housing units

  Housing Authority bans smoking in SLO's public housing units

  The Housing Authority of the city of San Luis Obispo is implementing a new smoke-free policy that prohibits residents from smoking in all public housing units.

  The Housing Authority, which helps low-income residents find affordable housing, has 281 housing units in San Luis Obispo.

  In 2010, the city introduced a new law banning smoking from nearly all public places in San Luis Obispo. Under that law, smoking is prohibited in indoor and outdoor areas frequented by the public, including sidewalks, parking garages, bars, restaurants, stores, stadiums, playgrounds and transit centers.

• Government Watch: A roundup of this week’s agendas

  Government Watch: A roundup of this week’s agendas

  Arroyo Grande Planning Commission. Meets Tuesday. 473-5420. Proposed revisions to public art guidelines; discuss a draft of a proposed ordinance that would allow mobile vending.

  Grover Beach City Council. Meets Monday. 473-4567. Discuss possible smoking regulations in public facilities; status report on water resources; amendments to city’s agreement with Grover Beach Chamber of Commerce.

  Paso Robles City Council. Meets Tuesday. 237-3888. Derby Wine Estate’s proposed reconstruction of the cupola portion of the historic Farmers Alliance building; reconsider sewer connection fee increase as proposed; update on Redevelopment Agency lawsuit.

• Atascadero shoudn't secede from countywide waste agency

  Atascadero shoudn't secede from countywide waste agency

  Two weeks ago, I was stuck in traffic on Highway 101 near Buellton and soon ordered by a CHP officer to turn around and head back to Santa Barbara. Up ahead I saw black smoke.

  I learned hours later that there had been a terrible traffic collision between a passenger car and a big rig.

  The driver of the truck was killed at the scene. But a young mother and her two children, one only 10 weeks old, survived because they were wearing mandatory seat belts and the children were strapped in car seats.

• SLO City Council to start meeting three times a month

  SLO City Council to start meeting three times a month

  In March, the San Luis Obispo City Council will begin meeting three times a month in an effort to cut down on excessively late meetings.

  Council meetings are scheduled from 7 to 11 p.m. but routinely extend well past that hour. Council members expressed concern about public participation being hampered by the late hour.

  On Tuesday, the council voted 3-2, with Mayor Jan Marx and Councilwoman Kathy Smith dissenting, to add a third meeting, instead of starting at 5 p.m. as proposed at a previous meeting.

• SLO City Council narrowly passes downtown upgrade

  SLO City Council narrowly passes downtown upgrade

  The San Luis Obispo City Council approved $786,500 in improvements to a two- block stretch of downtown Tuesday.

  The 3-2 vote, with Councilwoman Kathy Smith and Councilman Andrew Carter dissenting, came after hours of debate and public discussion.

  The rising cost of the project frustrated some council members. Mayor Jan Marx gained enough support to pass the project by asking staff to find another future capital improvement project to take the needed shortfall from — about $75,000 — versus taking it from the general fund as staff originally proposed.