HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC_2025-08-12 Regular Meeting Minutes
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MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
August 12, 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: Interim City Manager Andrea Lueker
Interim City Attorney Robert Schultz
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
_____________________________________________________________________
1. ESTABLISH QUORUM AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Wixom called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. with all members present.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. REPORTS
3.a Closed Session Report
https://youtu.be/zm5TDozeRuY?si=TPceDEKp_8_Q86WF&t=1577
Interim City Attorney Schultz announced the Council met in closed session
prior to this meeting and discussed Real Property Negotiations.
The two properties discussed were the lease for Morro Dunes RV Park
and the potential purchase of the Morro Elementary School site
As for the Morro Dunes RV Park lease, no action was taken that required
reporting under the Brown Act.
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As for the potential purchase of the Morro Elementary School site, the
Council unanimously gave direction to make an offer for purchase of 30%
of the property under the Naylor Act and to continue negotiations with the
School District for purchase of the entire property. It is important for the
public to understand that any purchase of the property, whether partially or
in its entirety, would have to be approved by Council at a public hearing in
open session.
3.b Mayor and Councilmembers' Reports, Announcements and
Presentations
https://youtu.be/zm5TDozeRuY?si=hYxSU9Bx_JszInd6&t=124
3.c City Manager Reports, Announcements and Presentations
https://youtu.be/zm5TDozeRuY?si=KLSos4Ih9Hsl5Zh5&t=568
3.d Subcommittee Reports - Verbal Update of Current Subcommittee
Activities
https://youtu.be/zm5TDozeRuY?si=e7polt1BJ_7AuUKd&t=1518
a. Water Reclamation Facility & Morro Bay / Cayucos Sanitary District
JPA
b. Morro Bay Power Plant (Vistra)
c. Offshore Wind Energy
d. Morro Elementary School
4. RECOGNITION AND PRESENTATIONS
None
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
https://youtu.be/zm5TDozeRuY?si=c9Lodhyn1xd97ryF&t=1638
Joe Silano, Morro Bay, commented on the need for Harbor maintenance
and dredging and questioned the proposed fee increases.
Linda Winters, Morro Bay, shared her appreciation for staff efforts and
events and provided a Monday Night Dinner update.
Kiernan Cottle, Morro Bay, offered comments.
Margaret Carman, Morro Bay, brought attention to an item on an
upcoming Board of Supervisors' agenda, approving a contract
amendment with Mott MacDonald related to offshore wind studies, and
encouraged residents to join REACT Alliance in its efforts to educate the
public regarding effects of offshore wind.
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Nicole Dorfman, Morro Bay, asked for any information the City could
share regarding the Mott MacDonald study, scope expansion, or work
completed to date. She appreciated the Council's vote to pursue Morro
Elementary and commented on SLOCOG's contract with GHD related to
the roundabout project.
End of public comment.
Mayor Wixom and staff responded to questions raised during public comment.
6. CONSENT AGENDA
https://youtu.be/zm5TDozeRuY?si=XaG0G1hPz8V9Jk0x&t=2520
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.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for the Consent Agenda; seeing none, the
public comment period was closed.
Mayor Wixom pulled Item 6.b.
Motion by Council Member Luffee
Seconded by Council Member Landrum
Approve Consent Agenda Items 6a through 6e, as submitted, less Item 6b.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
6.a Approval of Minutes
Approve as submitted.
a. June 17, 2025 - Special Closed Session Meeting
b. July 22, 2025 - Special Closed Session Meeting
c. July 22, 2025 - Regular Council Meeting
6.b Acceptance of Equipment Donation from SYTIS
https://youtu.be/zm5TDozeRuY?si=II4T9B126pO3ixfW&t=2576
Fire Chief McCrain responded to Council inquiries.
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Accept the donated equipment from SYTIS and authorize the City
Manager to execute the Donation Agreement.
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Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member
Eckles, Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
6.c Receive and File the Required Annual Military Equipment Use Report
per CA Assembly Bill No. 481
Receive and file of the required Annual Military Equipment Use Report per
Assembly Bill No. 481.
6.d Approval of Revised Compensation Range for the City Manager
Amend the compensation range for the City Manager by adopting:
1. Resolution No. 45-25 Approving Updated Compensation Range,
and
2. Resolution No. 46-25 Approving Updated FY 2025-26 and FY
2026-27 Pay Schedules.
6.e Determination of Public Convenience or Necessity for ABC License -
1215 Embarcadero Road, Suite D, Grassy Bar Oyster Company
Make the Determination of Public Convenience or Necessity to approve
the request to allow sales of alcohol with use of a Type 20 – Off-Sale Beer
and Wine license for Grassy Bar Oyster Company at 1215 Embarcadero
Road, Suite D; and direct staff to provide the applicant with a letter of
support.
7. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
7.a Public Hearing and Adoption of Resolution No. 47-25 Updating and
Establishing Various User and Regulatory Fees
https://youtu.be/zm5TDozeRuY?si=4UcIuVJgYDFf2ydx&t=2881
Finance Director Conrad introduced Terry Madsen from Clearsource
Financial Consulting, who presented the report and responded to Council
inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened the public hearing and public comment for Item 7.a.
https://youtu.be/zm5TDozeRuY?si=NZ8jkNLAXiz8dlAr&t=6191
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, urged the Council to establish a low
appeal fee that is consistent for all types of appeals and not feel
obligated to reach 100% cost recovery all at once. She suggested
a small percentage-based increase across the board and avoid any
large increases, particularly in Planning and Building. She also
questioned whether it was necessary to charge a fee for certain
permit types.
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Onan Champi, Morro Bay, agreed the state should not encumber
people to require permits and asked when the new fee increases
would take effect.
Judy Setting, Morro Bay, urged the Council to keep fees low for
residents.
End of public comment.
Mayor Wixom closed the public hearing.
Mr. Madsen and staff responded to Council inquiries. Following
comments and discussion, to allow time to fully evaluate the report, along
with changes requested by Council, a motion was made to continue the
item to a date certain, September 23, 2025.
Motion by Council Member Landrum
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Council directed that the item be continued to the September 23, 2025
Regular City Council meeting to allow staff sufficient time to review the
modifications submitted by Council and return the item for further
discussion.
Ayes (5): Mayor W ixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member
Eckles, Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
8. BUSINESS ITEMS
8.a Adoption of Resolution No. 48-25 Appointing Brian Stack as City
Attorney and Approving a City Attorney Employment Agreement
Between the City of Morro Bay and Brian Stack
https://youtu.be/zm5TDozeRuY?si=9Nyqnf3e58Bl74ya&t=7896
Interim City Manager Lueker presented the report and welcomed Mr.
Stack to introduce himself.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment on Item 8.a; seeing none, the
public comment period was closed.
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Adopt Resolution No. 48-25 appointing Brian Stack as the City Attorney of
the City of Morro Bay and approve an employment agreement between
the City of Morro Bay and Brian Stack.
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Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member
Eckles, Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
8.b Chorro Creek Floodplain Resilience Project Coordination with
Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District
The Council took a brief recess at 7:54 p.m. and reconvened at 8:04 p.m.
with all members present.
https://youtu.be/zm5TDozeRuY?si=uBitfZ9Y42nku5oG&t=8319
Public Works Director Kwolek presented the report.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 8.b.
https://youtu.be/zm5TDozeRuY?si=iJwCHqM1mmjK_AuT&t=9648
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, believed this property was put under the
RCD in order to capture run off and silt to protect the bay, and
questioned whether that was correct.
End of public comment.
Scott Smith, Stillwater Sciences, and Hallie Richard, Executive Director of
CSLRCD, responded to Council inquiries.
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Direct Staff to coordinate with Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation
District on the potential Chorro Creek Floodplain Resilience Project. Any
formal agreements regarding the City’s commitment to participation in this
project would be brought to City Council for their approval consideration
before any decisions were made impacting the City’s property.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member
Eckles, Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
9. COUNCIL DECLARATION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
https://youtu.be/zm5TDozeRuY?si=DzK_FZtzato_hkzN&t=10215
Council Member Edwards requested and received support for review of the City's
Event Policy. Ms. Lueker explained it is currently in draft form and, once finalized,
will go to the Recreation & Parks Commission then City Council.
10. ADJOURNMENT
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The meeting adjourned at 8:26 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Dana Swanson, City Clerk