ECONOMIC PROFILE

Prepared by the

PISMO BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

Founding: Laid out by the Pismo Beach Company in 1887. Pismo Beach is part of the original 8,838 acre Rancho Pismo. The City was founded in 1891 and incorporated in 1946. Pismo Beach proper is 3.38 square miles.

Location: Pismo Beach is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the cities of Arroyo Grande, and Grover Beach to the south. San Luis Obispo is approximately 10 miles north. Pismo Beach is 196 miles north of Los Angeles and 249 miles south of San Francisco.

Access: Pismo Beach is located along the U.S. Highway 101. State Highway 1 branches off the 101 to provide access to the downtown and pier before continuing inland through the communities of Oceano and Guadalupe.

Transportation: Air: Airport facilities are available 10 miles north in San Luis Obispo, with United Express, American Eagle, Skywest and Alaskan Airlines offering flights. Bus: Normal stops include Arroyo Grande and a main depot in San Luis Obispo. Rail: AMTRAK has a depot in Grover Beach with a main depot in San Luis Obispo that provides free bus service for passengers to Pismo Beach.

Lodging: Pismo Beach has almost 2,000 rooms, many located along the beach and cliffs offering spectacular ocean views. Accommodations range from budget minded properties to deluxe resorts. No Bed and Breakfasts are located in Pismo Beach itself, but some can be found in neighboring communities of Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo and Nipomo. There are also resort RV Parks and state campgrounds in Pismo Beach.

Dining: Some 40 restaurants are located in Pismo Beach specializing in a wide variety of cuisine's. Steakhouses, Italian and seafood are especially popular, but just about every style of food is represented at the various eateries.

Attractions/Recreation: Pismo Beach provides a wide variety of opportunities for recreation and relaxation. The city is primarily known for having one of California's longest and widest stretches of beach. This stretch of sand is perfect for walking, horseback riding and ATV riding. Golfing is also a popular activity on the three area golf courses. Kayaking along the cliffs can bring a new view of Pismo Beach.

Special Features: Pismo Beach hosts many annual events including a Custom Car Show, 4th of July Fireworks, Western days, St. Anthony's Celebration and the Clam Festival. In addition, the city is home to two annual Dixieland jazz festivals.

2. ECONOMIC GROWTH AND TRENDS

	1993	1995	1996	1998
POPULATION:San Luis Obispo County	228,380	236,038	232,400	239,000
Total Taxable Retail Sales(in Millions)	1,679.0	1,654.0	1,674.0	1,674.5
Population of Pismo Beach	7712	7966	8250	8375
School Enrollment for Lucia Mar School District	9,278	9,876	10,712	11,500

3. CLIMATE

Average Temperatures (for the year of 1996)

PERIOD	MINIMUM	MEAN	MAXIMUM	RAIN(INCHES)
Jan.-Mar.	42	53	64	2.94
Apr.-June	47	60	72	.53
July-Sept.	52	67	81	.12
Oct.-Dec.	45	60	74	1.83

4. WATER SUPPLY

A. Name of Supplier: City of Pismo Beach

B. Plant output: 3141 Acre Feet.

C. Cost per 100 cubic foot: .75 cents (Revise per city)

D. Meter Installation rates:$110.00 to $5,230.00 per meter (Revise per city)

E. The water supply for the City of Pismo Beach service area is Lopez Lake, Arroyo Grande Aquifer, Meadow Creek Aquifer and State Water.

* For complete rate structure, write: City of Pismo Beach, 760 Mattie Rd. Pismo Beach, CA 93449 Phone: (805) 773-4655

5. SEWER SYSTEM

A. Agency responsible for treatment: City of Pismo Beach

B. Capacity of sewer plant: 1.75 MGD

C. Sewer rates charge is a 27.11 for 2 months.

D. Type of treatment plant: Class three actuated sludge. Secondary treatment.

*For further information, write: City of Pismo Beach, 760 Mattie Rd. Pismo Beach, CA 93449 Phone: (805) 773-4655

6. STORM DRAINS AND FLOOD CONTROL

The Pismo Beach City Council has adopted a flood policy is part of the national flood insurance emergency program and has flood plain zoning standards.

7. STREET IMPROVEMENTS

Improvement Requirements:
1. In subdivisions, full local street improvements.

2. For normal building permit: curb, gutter, sidewalk and pavement.

3. Along major streets: dedication, curb, gutter, sidewalk and pavement.

8. NATURAL GAS

A. Name of Supplier: Southern California Gas Company * For rates and areas served in Pismo Beach, contact the district office at 9400 Oakdale Ave., Chatsworth, CA 91313-6511. Phone (800) 427-2200. For areas not served, Propane is available.

9. COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Health: Pismo Beach is served by a modern well equipped hospital located five miles south at 345. S. Halcyon, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. Phone: (805) 489-4261. There are also several major hospitals in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria. The medical community is well represented by numerous physician specialties in private practice. Also available, numerous dentists, chiropractors, audiologists, podiatrists, skilled nursing homes and convalescent homes.

Education: Lucia Mar Unified School District covers nearly 550 square miles and serves over 10,000 students in kindergarten through 12. The district currently has 10 elementary schools, 3 Middle School s and 1 High School. In addition there are private schools, nursery schools and child care centers. Higher education is provided by the California Polytechnic State University, and 2 community colleges, Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, and Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria.

10. GOVERNMENT FACILITIES-TAX AND INSURANCE RATES

A. Pismo Beach has the Council/Manager type of government. Assessed Valuation of City, $96,898,900.00 (F.Y. 91-92); County 16,402,302, 768 (F.Y. 91-92)

B. Combined total industrial property tax rates: 1% of Market Value plus bonded indebtedness prior to 1978.)

C. Combined total commercial property tax rates: 1% of appraised valuation plus rate for bonded indebtedness.

D. Retail Sales tax: State 6.25%; City/County 1%; Total 7.25%

E. Police Department: 29 persons, 1 chief, 1 commander 5 sergeant, 8 dispatchers, 6 patrol cars, 7 unmarked units, 1 step van and 2 motorcycles. There is a main station plus a downtown substation.

F. Fire Department: Two fire stations, 1 chief, two captains, three shift engineers, 23 volunteer firefighters. The department operates three fire engines and one truck. There are also two rescue units, a command vehicle, and a lifeguard truck.

G. San Luis Obispo County Government Seat and Courts: Located in the City of San Luis Obispo- 18 miles north.

11. HOUSING AVAILABILITY, PRICES AND RENTS

Rents for one bedroom apartments range from $475 to $600 per month; two bedrooms apartments range from $550 to $775 per month. Rental on homes range from $725 to $1300 per month. There are 32 hotels with a total of 2000 rooms, several mobile home parks, 2 recreational vehicle parks, and one state beach campground without hook-ups. Average sale prices for 2 bedroom home is $231,621, and 3 bedroom home is $263,639. Average condos run for $89,000 and up.

12. ELECTRIC POWER

Name of Supplier: Pacific Gas & Electric Company * For rates applicable to area contact district office at 406 Higuera, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Phone: (800) 743-5000.

13. TELEPHONE

Name of Supplier: Pacific Bell Company * For business rates and types of services contact the district office at 994 Mill St. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Phones (800) 834-7900.

14. SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS

Compared to county-wide figures, Pismo Beach has fewer low-income households, some middle-income households, and a large proportion of higher-income households. The median household in Pismo Beach is high for the county, but comparable to statewide figures. Compared to county-wide age distribution, Pismo Beach tends to have a wide variety of ages from families with school age children, to retirees.

15. LABOR MARKET AREA

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

	1989/90	1990/91	1991/92	1993/94	1995/96
Civilian Labor Force	98,100	98,750	99,150	98,100	104,100
Unemployment Rate	3.7%	4.5%	5.8%	8.3%	5.8%

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
WAGE & SALARY EMPLOYMENT

Agriculture	2600	2700	2400	2100	4200
Mining	150	200	200	300	100
Construction	4900	4800	3700	2800	3600
Durable Manufacturing	3100	3200	3250	4000	3600
Nondurable Manufacturing	2850	2550	2600	2700	3300
Transportation and Public Utilities	4100	3900	4200	4700	4200
Wholesale Trade	1800	2000	2250	2000	2400
Retail Trade	19450	15100	17650	16400	18500
Fin./Ins./Real Estate	3700	5200	5650	7100	4900
Services	16200	16100	17950	18700	20300
Government	18200	16400	17150	17600	17800

16. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LABOR FORCE

Extent of unionization: Except for large construction firms on government projects, the construction trades are almost completely non-unionized. Labor in large restaurants and grocery stores tends to be unionized. Other retail trade and service workers are non-union. For further information, contact the Employment Development Department at 3196 S. Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Phone (805) 544-9050.