HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC_2025-10-28 Regular Meeting Minutes
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MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
October 28, 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
Public Works Director Greg Kwolek
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
City Attorney Stack announced the Council met in closed session to discuss
three items: City Manager recruitment, real property negotiations related to the
Morro Elementary site, and real property negotiations regarding the former
treatment plant site. No reportable action pursuant to the Brown Act was taken
on any item.
3.b Mayor and Councilmembers' Reports, Announcements and Presentations
3.c City Manager Reports, Announcements and Presentations
Due to technology issues, a brief recess was taken at 5:50 p.m.; the meeting
resumed at 5:53 p.m. with all members present.
3.d Subcommittee Reports - Verbal Update of Current Subcommittee Activities
1. Water Reclamation Facility & Morro Bay / Cayucos Sanitary District JPA
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2. Morro Bay Power Plant (Vistra)
3. Offshore Wind Energy
4. Morro Elementary School
4. RECOGNITION AND PRESENTATIONS
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
John Rohner, SoCal Gas Public Affairs Manager, introduced himself as the new
Public Affairs Manager for our region, and Morro Bay resident.
Dr. Jill Stearns, Superintendent/President of Cuesta College, commented on the
dual enrollment programs offered by Cuesta College, noting the program served
343 Morro Bay High School students from 2021 - 2024.
Linda Winters and Lauren Leidenger announced the annual Morro Bay
Community Thanksgiving Dinner to be held Thanksgiving Day.
Lisa Breen Strickland, Lumina Alliance volunteer, appreciated the recognition for
the month of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and shared
information regarding the programs and services offered.
Dina Lundquist, Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce CEO, shared an update
regarding the Chamber Foundation's scholarship program.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, encouraged the City to investigate potential
annexation of two properties currently in the sphere of influence.
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 announced Item 6.c. has been pulled from the agenda and will come back at a
future meeting.
Paula Juelke Carr, San Luis Obispo resident and architectural historian,
commented in favor of Item 6.b.
Bob Fowler, Chamber of Commerce Board and Business Advisory Committee
member, supported the approval of an MOU regarding Morro Elementary as it
supports the goal of historical preservation and need for workforce housing.
D'Arcy Castro, Morro Bay, spoke on behalf of Friends of Morro Elementary,
thanking the City for the hopeful MOU with San Luis School District, and urging
the City to allow current tenants to remain on site to support maintenance costs
and avoid the property becoming vacant.
Emily Thorne, Morro Bay, supported Item 6.b, and hoped the City will consider
retaining the current leases until a decision is made about the property's future.
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Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, commented in support of Item 6.b. and, regarding
Item 6.d., sought clarification as to whether the pictures provided are a model of
something being considered or an exact representation.
End of public comment.
Mayor Wixom pulled Item 6.d and Council Member Landrum pulled Item 6.a.
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Approve Consent Agenda Item 6.b as submitted.
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
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Landrum
Approve Items 6.a.1 and 6.a.2 as submitted.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
1. October 13, 2025 - Special Closed Session Meeting
2. October 14, 2025 - Special Closed Session Meeting
3. October 14, 2025 - Regular Council Meeting
Council Member Landrum requested review of her future agenda item
request during the October 14th Regular Meeting.
6.b Memorandum of Understanding Between San Luis Coastal Unified School
District and City of Morro Bay
Approve entering into the Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with San Luis
Coastal Unified School District (“School District”) for exclusive negotiations
regarding the potential purchase of the Morro Elementary School Property
(“Property”).
6.c Adopt Resolution Nos. 55-25 and 56-25 for Grant Applications for Potential
Rancho Colina Utilities Consolidation
This item was pulled from the agenda.
6.d Authorize Purchase of $333,169 for Restroom from CTX for Coleman Park
Project
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Public Works Director Kwolek and Senior Engineer Della responded to questions
raised during public comment, noting adding windows will change the roofline
and increase the cost by $8,000.
Following Council questions and comments, there was consensus to approve the
contract with the addition of windows.
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Authorize the City Manager to purchase and a restroom from CXT for the
Coleman Park Project in the amount of $341,169 with the addition of windows.
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 Ordinance No. 673, repealing and reenacting multiple chapters of Title 14
(Buildings and Construction) of the MBMC to incorporate the 2025
California Building Standards Code, including the 2025 Wildland-Urban
Interface and related local amendments,
Community Development Director Singewald and Fire Chief McCrain presented
the report and responded to Council inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened the public hearing and public comment on Item 7.a.
Barry Branin, Morro Bay, commented regarding fire concerns near Morro
Strand Campground.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, appreciates the ban on safe and sane
fireworks and appreciated clarification regarding battery storage.
End of public comment.
The public hearing was closed.
Chief Plans Examiner, Chad Ouimet, responded to Council questions regarding
the requirements for electric-ready (pre-wired) kitchen and bicycle parking in non-
residential, residential, multi-family developments.
Motion by Council Member Eckles
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Introduce for first reading by title only and with further reading waived, Ordinance
No. 673: “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Morro Bay, California,
repealing, amending and reenacting Chapters 14.01 – 14.12 of Title 14
(Buildings and Construction) of the Morro Bay Municipal Code, thereby adopting
by reference and amending the 2025 California Building Code (Volumes 1 and
2), Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Historical Building,
Fire, Existing Building, Green Building, Administrative, and Reference Standards
Codes, the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code, the 1997 Uniform
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Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Building Code, and the 2025 Wildland-
Urban Interface Code.”
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
8. BUSINESS ITEMS
8.a Determination of Public Convenience or Necessity for ABC License - 640
Quintana Road, Morro Bay Cigarettes
Police Chief Watkins presented the report and responded to Council inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 8.a.
Feras Mawas, owner of Morro Bay Cigarettes, stated he was not trying to
add a liquor license in town and understood he purchased the Morro Bay
Rite Aid license.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, suggested the Council consider a one-year
conditional approval to see what effect, if any, it had on the crime rate.
Council Member Luffee invited Mr. Mawas to the podium to respond to Council
questions.
End of public comment.
Motion by Council Member Luffee
Seconded by Council Member Edwards
Make the Determination of Public Convenience or Necessity and approve the
request to allow sales of alcohol for an off sale general Type 21 license at 640
Quintana Road with certain conditions placed on approval, including a written
agreement between the city and the business owner stating no alcohol sales will
take place on the premises and the alcohol license will be surrendered to ABC
for a period of one year.
Ayes (2): Council Member Edwards, and Council Member Landrum
Noes (3): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Eckles, and Council Member Luffee
FAILED (2 to 3)
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Take no action, deny the request and adhere to recommendations of the Police
Chief
Ayes (4): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles, and
Council Member Luffee
Noes (1): Council Member Landrum
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CARRIED (4 to 1)
8.b Quarterly Update on the Status of City Council Goals
The Council took a brief recess at 7:38 p.m. and the meeting reconvened at 7:50
p.m. with all members present.
Interim City Manager Lueker presented the report and responded to Council
inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 8.b.
Dina Lundquist, Morro Bay Chamber CEO, commented on City's
Economic Vitality / Fiscal Health goal.
Susan Stewart, Morro Bay business owner and Chamber member, stated
her desire to have a point of contact for economic development,
implementation plan and measurements for success.
End of public comment.
As a receive and file report, no formal action was taken by the City Council.
9. COUNCIL DECLARATION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Council Member Landrum requested support for discussion of listing pending future
agenda items on the bottom of the agenda.
10. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Dana Swanson, City Clerk