City manager updates council on Gifford fire status, recruitment and community events

City Manager Matt Downing told the council on Aug. 26 that the Gifford fire continues to remain away from Arroyo Grande and that the city is grateful for assistance from statewide partners. “We are so grateful for all of the assistance from across the state on this incident,” Downing said, and he added that mop‑up operations continue and that the city’s engine and five personnel assigned to the incident are expected to be released by the end of the week.

Downing announced a number of personnel recruitments and activities. He said the Fire Authority is recruiting to fill a firefighter vacancy with applications closing Sept. 15 and that the city has received more than 100 applications for that opening so far. He also said the city is recruiting for a lateral police officer and a police trainee and directed interested applicants to the governmentjobs.com listing.

Downing highlighted recent and upcoming community events: a post‑first‑day‑of‑school ‘‘day in the park’’ collaboration between Recreation Services and the police department drew nearly 300 students and included music, lawn games and free ice cream. He also previewed the summer concert series schedule at Heritage Square Park and encouraged residents to sign up for the city’s FlashVote platform for brief, anonymous opinion surveys.

Council members asked no substantive follow‑up questions; Downing closed by offering to answer questions and the council moved on to reports.