HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC_2025-06-10 Regular Meeting Minutes
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MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
June 10, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
Veterans Memorial Hall
209 Surf St., Morro Bay, CA
Members Present: Mayor Carla Wixom
Council Member Cyndee Edwards
Council Member Jeff Eckles
Council Member Zara Landrum
Council Member Bill Luffee
Staff Present: City Manager Yvonne Kimball
City Clerk Dana Swanson
Finance Director Emily Conrad
Public Works Director Greg Kwolek
Community Development Director Airlin Singewald
Police Chief Amy Watkins
Fire Chief Dan McCrain
Harbor Vitality Director Chris Munson
Management Analyst Janeen Burlingame
_____________________________________________________________________
1. ESTABLISH QUORUM AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Wixom called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m. with all members present.
2. MOMENT OF SILENCE
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4. REPORTS
4.a Closed Session Report
https://youtu.be/qwtSObCOKtQ?si=xZypxUMN5bqD3sbX&t=87
City Manager Kimball announced no reportable action was taken in closed
session that requires reporting pursuant to the Brown Act.
4.b Mayor and Councilmembers' Reports, Announcements and
Presentations
https://youtu.be/qwtSObCOKtQ?si=YFfR4iy8k1gP84S5&t=120
4.c City Manager Reports, Announcements and Presentations
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https://youtu.be/qwtSObCOKtQ?si=nOX_xEfCwfs0vUBr&t=984
4.d Subcommittee Reports - Verbal Update of Current Subcommittee
Activities
https://youtu.be/qwtSObCOKtQ?si=GGeWbGSQlmSjYB4y&t=1627
a. Water Reclamation Facility & Morro Bay / Cayucos Sanitary District
JPA
b. Morro Bay Power Plant (Vistra)
c. Offshore Wind Energy
d. Morro Elementary School
5. RECOGNITION AND PRESENTATIONS
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
https://youtu.be/qwtSObCOKtQ?si=vqiT5m2Np24Nwyb5&t=1775
Linda Winters, Morro Bay, commented on recently attended events and
announced an upcoming benefit to support the Altadena Senior Center.
Sheri Hafer, Nicole Dorfman, Mandy Davis and Andrea Lueker f rom
REACT Alliance presented information regarding a Coastal Development
Permit issued by the California Coastal Commission in July 2024, and
requested the City consider a position opposing the potential installation of
high voltage cables along Dog Beach.
Kiernan Cottle, Morro Bay, commented in support of the unhoused
community.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, announced a screening of "Water's Edge", a
documentary celebrating the work of photographer Arthur Tress, on June
21st from 1:00 - 3:00 pm at the Bay Theatre, with a book signing at the
San Luis Obispo Historical Society Friday evening.
Betsy Gaudette-Cross, Morro Bay, urged council to reconsider its decision
to stop flying the Pride Flag during the month of June.
Margaret Carman, Morro Bay, expressed concern about a proposed
project that would require more cell towers and offered to provide
information on the detrimental effects of EMFs.
Jamie Irons, Morro Bay, restated concerns submitted as agenda
correspondence and asked if there would be clarification regarding the
Police Department's role in emergency evacuation procedures.
End of public comment.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
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https://youtu.be/qwtSObCOKtQ?si=Ty6WuW8TLJtDElml&t=3454
Unless an item is pulled for separate action by the City Council, the following
actions are approved without discussion. The public will also be provided an
opportunity to comment on consent agenda items.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, commented on Item 7.d., requesting
Waterfront Master Plan Advisory Committee meetings be held on
evenings and weekends and commented on the style of workshops she
found most beneficial.
End of public comment.
Council Member Eckles pulled Item 7d.
Motion by Council Member Landrum
Seconded by Council Member Edwards
Approve Consent Agenda Items 7.a through 7.e as submitted, less Item 7.d.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
7.a Approval of Minutes
Approve as submitted.
a. May 13, 2025 - Regular Council Meeting
b. May 27, 2025 - Special Closed Session Meeting
c. May 28, 2025 - Special Meeting
7.b Proclamation
Approve as submitted.
a. Proclamation declaring the second Saturday of June 2025 as
"Juneteenth Day"
7.c Ordinance No. 671 amending Morro Bay Municipal Code Chapter
14.08.080 to adopt the California State Fire Marshal Fire Hazard
Severity Zone Map for Morro Bay
Adopt Ordinance No.671, “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of
Morro Bay, California, Repealing and Replacing Chapter 14.08.080 of Title
14 (“Buildings and Construction”) of the Morro Bay Municipal Code
relating to Fire Hazard Severity Zones” with adoption of the California
State Fire Marshal Fire Hazard Severity Zone map for the City of Morro
Bay as required by senate Bill 63 and Government Code 51178.5.
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7.d Award of Consultant Contract to Placeworks, Inc. to prepare an
update to the City's Waterfront Master Plan and an Addendum to the
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Plan Morro Bay
https://youtu.be/qwtSObCOKtQ?si=eYFDgq_FzFr0st3u&t=3701
Community Development Director Singewald responded to Council
questions and acknowledged the scope of work should be revised to
include, "incorporating existing information (from other studies) regarding
the feasibility of waterfront infrastructure for offshore wind development."
This was specified in the Request for Proposals and inadvertently omitted
from the proposed scope of work.
Motion by Council Member Eckles
Seconded by Council Member Landrum
Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Placeworks,
Inc. in the amount of $714,275 to prepare an update to the City’s
Waterfront Master Plan and an Addendum to the Environmental Impact
Report (EIR) for Plan Morro Bay with amended scope as discussed.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member
Eckles, Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
7.e Approve Lease Amendment for Morro Bay Oyster Company
Adopt Resolution No. 31-25 approving Amendment #1 to the lease
agreement for Morro Bay Oyster Company located at 1287 Embarcadero.
8. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
8.a Public Hearing to Report on Delinquent Solid Waste Collection
Accounts and Adopt Resolution No. 32-25 Authorizing San Luis
Obispo County Auditor to assess Amounts Due to Delinquent Solid
Waste Collection accounts as Tax Liens Against the Properties
https://youtu.be/qwtSObCOKtQ?si=NISLEwbRRk_QL0sb&t=4413
Management Analyst Burlingame presented the report and responded to
Council inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened the public hearing and public comment for Item 8.a.
https://youtu.be/qwtSObCOKtQ?si=RsZB130Kg5ze2UfG&t=4972
Amber Castro from Waste Connections responded to Council
inquiries, clarifying accounts must have a minimum amount of $50
past due and be at least 120 days delinquent to be processed as a
tax lien against the property.
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End of public comment.
The Council expressed interest in considering different thresholds for
processing delinquent accounts as a tax lien against the property. Staff
advised any change would come back to Council as a proposed
ordinance.
Motion by Council Member Luffee
Seconded by Council Member Eckles
Adopt Resolution No. 32-25 authorizing the San Luis Obispo County Tax
Auditor to assess amounts due on delinquent solid waste collection
accounts as tax liens against the properties.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member
Eckles, Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
9. BUSINESS ITEMS
The Council took a brief recess at 7:06 p.m and reconvened at 7:16 p.m. with all
members present.
9.a Community Risk Assessment and Standards of Cover for the Morro
Bay Fire Department
https://youtu.be/qwtSObCOKtQ?si=99PoIH7PBWTL1NZz&t=5452
Fire Chief McCrain presented the report and responded to Council
inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 9.a.
https://youtu.be/qwtSObCOKtQ?si=36_SMHD5SLVRmaxK&t=6570
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, questioned whether Council's receipt of
this report implied agreement with its recommendations.
Staff responded to questions raised during public comment.
As a receive and file report, no formal action was taken by the City
Council.
9.b Bonita Street Fire Station Development
https://youtu.be/qwtSObCOKtQ?si=fRl5xd4Eelvoqq6E&t=6662
Fire Chief McCrain presented the report, noting a correction to the fiscal
impact section. The Development Impact Fee balance available for this
project is $77,776, leaving a funding shortfall of $15,414.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 9.b
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https://youtu.be/qwtSObCOKtQ?si=_kz2af1xFppqmW0K&t=9063
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, commented in support of Option C,
noting concerns about the ongoing financial commitment to staff a
second station.
Margaret Carman, Morro Bay, spoke in support of Option C while
expressing concern about neighborhood noise and LED light
impacts.
Mike Groves, Morro Bay resident and Vice President of Friends of
Morro Bay Fire, shared the Friends' Board of Directors agreed to
cover the $15,414 shortfall so there's no extra cost to the City.
Betsy Gaudette-Cross, Morro Bay, commented in favor of having a
second station in north Morro Bay.
Judy Setting, Morro Bay, supported a second station but cautioned
against overbuilding.
Nattalia Merzoyan, Morro Bay, requested clarification regarding the
increase in calls for service mentioned in the presentation.
End of public comment.
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Eckles
1. Affirm that it is intent of the City Council to redevelop and staff,
when possible, the Bonita Street Fire Station as City funding and
departmental staffing becomes available and consider the options;
and
2. Direct the Fire Chief to complete architectural drawings, sufficient
to create a “shovel ready” project with the funding and appropriate
a total of $93,190 including $77,776 of Fire Department
Development Impact Fees to fund the remainder needed to
complete these documents; and
3. Authorize the Fire Chief to seek funding sources for construction of
a new fire station (Option B), if possible; and
4. Include this project in the City’s Capital Improvement Project list.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member
Eckles, Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
9.c Consideration of State Water Transfer Policy Update
https://youtu.be/qwtSObCOKtQ?si=PblyuB89wOYRYFf7&t=11514
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Public Works Director Kwolek presented the report and, along with Wes
Thompson, Supervising Engineer for County of San Luis Obispo,
responded to Council inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 9.c.
https://youtu.be/qwtSObCOKtQ?si=5kDEyQRFcJL7yzqy&t=13464
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, urged the City to submit a comment
letter to the Board of Supervisors expressing the City's concerns.
End of public comment.
Following discussion, there was Council consensus to provide input to the
District, as discussed, generally consisting of the following:
Make sure framework meets the desire to protect our water supply,
Given subcontractors have priority, policies should not allow the
district to set up new subcontracts,
Consider excluding agricultural and private users from prioritization,
and
Ensure cost recovery to subcontracts for historical capital
investments
10. COUNCIL DECLARATION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
https://youtu.be/qwtSObCOKtQ?si=glacacCBBdz2mP4Z&t=15399
Council Members Landrum and Luffee requested discussion of whether the
Coastal Development Permit issued by the Coastal Commission to Atlas Wind in
July 2024 is within the Dog Beach restrictive covenants and, if so, consider
notifying Coastal Commission that installation of high voltage cables would not
be allowed.
11. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
/s/ Dana Swanson, City Clerk