HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC_2025-09-23 Regular Meeting Minutes
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MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
September 23, 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
City Attorney Brian Stack
City Clerk Dana Swanson
Finance Director Emily Conrad
Community Development Director Airlin Singewald
Police Chief Amy Watkins
Fire Chief Dan McCrain
Harbor Vitality Director Chris Munson
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1. ESTABLISH QUORUM AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Wixom called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. with all members present.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. REPORTS
3.a Closed Session Report
The City Council reconvened in Open Session and City Attorney Stack
announced the Council met in closed session to discuss two real property
matters: the Morro Elementary site located at 1130/1330 Napa Ave. and the
former wastewater treatment plant site located at 160/180 Atascadero Road and
1700 Embarcadero. No reportable action was taken under the Brown Act.
3.b Mayor and Councilmembers' Reports, Announcements and Presentations
3.c City Manager Reports, Announcements and Presentations
3.d Subcommittee Reports - Verbal Update of Current Subcommittee Activities
a. Water Reclamation Facility & Morro Bay / Cayucos Sanitary District JPA
b. Morro Bay Power Plant (Vistra)
c. Offshore Wind Energy
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d. Morro Elementary School
4. RECOGNITION AND PRESENTATIONS
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
Pete Rogers, Executive Director of SLOCOG, invited the public to attend
community workshops regarding Local Roads First and a potential future sales
tax measure, and the Morro Bay Estuary Climate Resiliency Transportation Plan.
He also provided an update regarding environmental studies for the Highway
1/41 roundabout.
Joe Silano, Morro Bay, protested paid parking at the Tidelands boat ramp
parking lot.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, appreciated the recent crosswalk striping work,
requested SLOCOG come to the October PWAB meeting, and commented on
paid parking at the Tidelands launch ramp.
Linda Winters, Morro Bay, appreciated the announcement regarding allowable
mobile home rent increases and provided a Monday night dinner update.
End of public comment.
6. CONSENT AGENDA
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.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, spoke to investment report, asking how the Council
intends to spend interest earnings.
End of public comment.
Mayor Wixom pulled Item 6.d, Council Member Luffee pulled Item 6.g., and Council
Member Eckles pulled Item 6.h.
Motion by Council Member Landrum
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Approve Consent Agenda items except 6.d., 6.g, and 6.h as presented
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. September 9, 2025 - Regular Council Meeting
b. September 9, 2025 - Special Closed Session Meeting
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6.b Proclamations
Approve as submitted.
a. Proclamation declaring September 21 - 27, 2025 as the 21st Annual Sea
Otter Awareness Week
6.c Equipment donation from the Friends of the Morro Bay Fire Department
Accept the donated equipment from the Friends of the Morro Bay Fire
Department and authorize the City Manager to execute the Donation Agreement.
6.d Adoption of Resolution No. 49-25 Reaffirming the City's Pledge to Follow
Best Practices of Civility and Civil Discourse
Mayor Wixom read Resolution No. 49-25 into the record.
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Landrum
Adopt Resolution No. 49-25 reaffirming the City's Civil Discourse Policy.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
6.e Ordinance No. 672 amending Morro Bay Municipal Code Chapter 8.12
pertaining to Weeds, Rubbish, and Defensible Space
Adopt Ordinance No. 672, "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Morro
Bay, California, Amending Title 8 (Health and Safety) of the Morro Bay Municipal
Code to amend and rename Chapter 8.12 Weeds, Rubbish and Defensible
Space."
6.f National Opioid Settlement Agreements with Purdue Pharma, the Sackler
Family and Secondary Manufacturers
1. Approve Settlement Agreements and Participation Forms for the City’s
participation in the National Opioid Settlement Agreements with Purdue
Pharma, Sackler Family and opioid manufacturers Alvogen, Amneal,
Apotex, Hikma, Indivior, Mylan, Sun and Zydus (“Secondary
Manufacturers”)
2. Reaffirm approval of California State-Subdivision Agreements Regarding
Distribution and Use of Settlement Funds relating to the National Opioid
Settlement Agreements
3. Adopt Resolution No. 50-25 approving and authorizing the City Manager
to carry out all necessary acts such that the City can participate in the
National Opioid Settlements with Purdue Pharma, the Sackler Family and
Secondary Manufacturers, including signing necessary documents and
transmittal thereof as necessary.
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4. Approve disbursement of settlement funds to County (default option)
while reserving option for direct distribution of further settlement funds to
City in the future.
6.g Approve Crill's Saltwater Taffy Inc. Master Lease Agreement
Staff responded to Council inquiries.
Motion by Council Member Luffee
Seconded by Council Member Landrum
Adopt Resolution No. 51-25 approving new lease agreement for Crill's Saltwater
Taffy located at 1247 Embarcadero.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
6.h Fourth Quarter Investment Report (period ending June 30, 2025) for Fiscal
Year (FY) 2024-25
Council Member Eckles commented on the report.
Motion by Council Member Eckles
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Receive the attached Fourth Quarter Investment Report (period ending June 30,
2025) for FY 2024-25.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
7. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
7.a Continued Public Hearing and Adoption of Resolution No. 47-25 Updating
and Establishing Various User and Regulatory Fees
Interim City Manager Lueker and Community Development Director Singewald
presented the report and, along with Finance Director Conrad, responded to
Council inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened the public hearing and public comment for Item 7.a.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, raised questions regarding CPI calculations
and permit requirements for individual repairs.
Dina Lundquist, Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce CEO, offered
comments on behalf of the business community.
End of public comment.
Mayor Wixom closed the public hearing.
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Following individual comments, there was Council consensus and support for the
proposed fees as presented by staff, with an effective date of January 1, 2026,
with the following exceptions:
Phase in of Planning and Building fee increases are subject to a 10% cap
(up to 10%) plus CPI per year,
Deposit amounts are not subject to a 10% cap,
Business license fees are to remain at the current rate plus allowable CPI
increase,
In consideration of adopted City goals, temporarily reduce Sign Permit
Fees to 50% of cost recovery for 12 months,
Increase T-Pier Electrical Convenience Fee daily rate to $25,
Increase Triangle Lot Trailer/Boat Storage monthly rate to $145,
Increase Harbor Impound Fee to 100% cost recovery,
Adopt fee text revisions as recommended by staff, and
Adjust vacation rental monitoring and appeal fees to 100% cost recovery
Staff confirmed the 10% cap on any increase is not inclusive of CPI (i.e., up to
10% increase plus CPI) and that the fee schedule, subject to 10% maximum
increase plus CPI, would be reviewed again in April for Fiscal Year 2026-27.
Motion by Council Member Eckles
Seconded by Council Member Landrum
Continue the public hearing, receive the presentation of the user and regulatory
fees, including Council member comments and staff responses, and adopt
Resolution No. 47-25 updating and establishing various user and regulatory fees,
as agreed upon by the Council majority.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
8. BUSINESS ITEMS
9. COUNCIL DECLARATION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Wixom commented the City Council's joint meeting with CFAC would be an
opportunity to look at the Business Tax Schedule and Council Member Edwards
suggested CFAC also review the Revenue Policy before it comes to Council. The Mayor
agreed the joint meeting would be an opportunity to have a discussion about what goals
would be directed toward the CFAC's work plan.
10. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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/s/ Dana Swanson, City Clerk