Though the city of Atascadero wasn’t incorporated until July 2, 1979, its history stretches back much further. The community was founded by Edward Gardner Lewis, an East Coast magazine publisher and land developer who moved to California to form a “planned community” funded by the proceeds from a processing plant that supplied the United States Army with dehydrated vegetables. One tangible (and visually stunning) remnant of this era now houses the Atascadero City Hall: an Italian Renaissance-style brick structure designed by Walter D. Bliss, which was built between 1914 and 1918. with a cornerstone laid in 1914.with bricks made from local clay.
A general law city, Atascadero is governed under the council-manager system. The five-member City Council is an elected body that sets policy for the city. The administrative head of the government is the city manager, who is appointed by the council to enforce municipal laws, direct the daily operations of the city, and prepare the municipal budget. The city treasurer is an elected official who is voted into office by the electorate to serve a four-year term. The City Treasurer is responsible for ensuring that city funds are invested in a manner consistent with the city’s investment policy, in coordination with the director of Administrative Services.
The city clerk, appointed by the city manager, administers democratic processes such as elections and access to municipal records. The city clerk also compiles and distributes council agenda packets and minutes, addresses public records requests, and manages city records. Copies of meeting recordings are available for a fee. Contact the city clerk for more information: (805) 470-3400.
The City Council is composed of a mayor and four councilmembers, elected at large by the citizens of Atascadero. Meetings are the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.
The seven-member Atascadero Planning Commission advises the City Council. Meetings are twice-monthly and open to the public.
