HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC_2026-01-13 Regular Meeting Minutes
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MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
January 13, 2026, 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 5:31 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 matters: two property negotiations matters involving the former wastewater
treatment plant and former Morro Elementary properties, and public employee
performance evaluation for the City Attorney. No reportable action was taken in
closed session pursuant to 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
1. Water Reclamation Facility & Morro Bay / Cayucos Sanitary District JPA
2. Morro Bay Power Plant (Vistra)
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3. Offshore Wind Energy
4. Morro Elementary School
5. Shared Fire Services
4. RECOGNITION AND PRESENTATIONS
4.a City of Morro Bay Years of Service Awards
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
Lynsey Hansen, Big Brothers, Big Sisters of SLO, appreciated the City's
recognition of National Mentoring Month and encouraged residents to consider
contributing to their community by mentoring youth through their program.
Wendy Blacker, 805 Outreach, thanked the City for its support and shared that,
due to generous donors, services would be expanded to include a laundry trailer.
Linda Winters, Morro Bay, provided a Monday night dinner update.
Cameron Wilson, Owner/Operator of the Bay Theatre and member of the
Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, introduced its new Chamber CEO,
Tina Clark.
Tina Clark introduced herself and announced the Chamber will hold a ribbon
cutting at Flippos on Friday, January 23rd.
Michael Wambolt, Visit Morro Bay, announced Highway 1 is expected to fully
open tomorrow at 12 noon.
Cal Myers, Morro Bay, asked when the Channel 20 broadcast would be restored.
Bill Martony, Morro Bay, commented on Botso Koresheli's contributions to the
city and acknowledged the passing of Roger Ewing.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, announced the passing of Sandy Helow and
Candace Botich.
Margaret Carman, Morro Bay, sought clarification regarding the reported cost
paid by waterfront hotels for use of public parking spaces.
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.
Sean Green, Morro Bay, respectfully asked that Item 6.g be pulled to allow more
time for review.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, offered lease negotiations used to be conducted by
the Harbor Advisory Commission at a public meeting, and opposed Item 6.c
being on the Consent Agenda, adding the project should receive full CEQA
review.
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Margaret Carman, Morro Bay, finished Ms. Winholtz's comments regarding Items
6.c.
End of public comment.
Mayor Wixom invited Public Works Director Kwolek and City Engineer Stong to respond
to questions regarding Item 6.c.
Council Member Edwards pulled Item 6.g.
Motion by Council Member Eckles
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Approve consent agenda items 6.a through 6.f and 6.h 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
Approve as submitted.
1. December 9, 2025 - Special Closed Session Meeting
6.b Approval of Proclamations
Approve as submitted.
1. Proclamation recognizing Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County
during the month of January as National Mentoring Month Proclamation
6.c Professional Services Agreement with Stillwater Sciences, Inc., for the
Morro Creek Watershed Management Plan
Authorize the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with
Stillwater Sciences, Inc. in the amount of $1,381,363 for the Morro Creek
Watershed Management Plan and to execute amendments to the agreement
increasing term duration by up to one additional year and cost amendments by a
contingency amount of up to 10%.
6.d Notice of Completion for the Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis Facility Re-
skin and Re-roofing Project (Project No. MB2024-UT09)
1. Accept the work as performed by Newton Construction & Management,
Inc; and
2. Authorize the City Engineer to execute and record a Notice of Completion
for the project.
6.e Facility Use Agreement between the San Luis Obispo County Office of
Emergency Services and the City of Morro Bay for use of the Morro Bay
Community Center located at 1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay, California
93442 as an Emergency Disaster Shelter
Authorize City staff to sign the facility use agreement.
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6.f Status Update and Reconfirm Emergency for Morro Creek Bank
Stabilization Project
Receive and file status update and reconfirm the declaration of emergency for
the Morro Creek Bank Stabilization Project by four fifths vote.
6.g Approve Tognazzini's Dockside & Dockside Too Lease Agreement
Harbor Vitality Director Munson and City Attorney Stack responded to Council
questions and issues raised during public comment.
Motion by Council Member Landrum
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Adopt Resolution No. 02-26 approving new lease agreement for Tognazzini’s
Dockside & Dockside Too located at 1245 and 1235 Embarcadero.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
6.h Trash Receptacle Donation from the Friends of the Morro Bay Harbor
Department
Accept the donated trash receptacles from the Friends of the Morro Bay Harbor
Department and authorize the City Manager to execute the Donation Agreement.
7. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
7.a Short-Term Rental Ordinance Implementation - Quarterly Update, and
Introduction of Ordinance No. 674, amending Title 1 (General Provisions) of
the Morro Bay Municipal Code to incorporate higher administrative fines
for short-term rental (STR) violations
Community Director Singewald presented the report and responded to Council
inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened the public hearing and public comment for Item 7.a.
Susan Stewart, Morro Bay business owner, was pleased with
implementation efforts and supported a measured approach of five
additional units per year.
Helene Finger, Morro Bay, suggested the City contact eligible people on
the waitlist to confirm their interest in pursuing a permit.
Cherise Hansson, Morro Bay, spoke on behalf of the Chamber in support
of staff's recommendation to allow five new permits per year.
Sean Green, Morro Bay, spoke in support of the current ordinance,
appreciated enforcement efforts and opportunity to move forward
surgically.
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Michelle Leicester-Cadaret, Morro Bay, reminded Council of the
neighborhood impacts and urged a limited approach to issuing new
permits while holding them to the utmost standards.
Ian Starkey, Rockstar Properties, appreciated staff's efforts to meet with
property managers to review the permitting process and recommended
the City move through the full wait list to identify 15-20 eligible properties.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, supported unlimited STRs in business
districts, not in residential neighborhoods.
Karen Watts suggested some on the waitlist might wish to defer one year
to prepare to meet permit requirements.
Denise Hartline was supportive of moving forward with what is allowed
under the current ordinance.
Nicole Dorfman, Morro Bay, hoped those on wait list with current long-
term renters would not be displaced if a spot comes open for a short-term
rental.
End of public comment. The public hearing was closed.
Following discussion, there was Council consensus to authorize issuance of five
new full home residential STR permits in calendar year 2026 and an unlimited
number of home share STR permits.
Motion by Council Member Landrum
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
1. Introduce for first reading by title only and with further reading waived,
Ordinance No. 674: “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Morro
Bay, California, amending Chapter 1.03 of Title 1 of the Morro Bay
Municipal Code,” amending the City’s Administrative Citation Program to
incorporate higher administrative fines for short-term rental (STR)
violations that pose a threat to health or safety, pursuant to California
Senate Bill 60 (SB 60); and
2. Authorize issuance of five new full home residential STR permits in
calendar year 2026, and authorize issuing new home share STR permits
with no limit, per the current ordinance.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
7.b Ordinance No. 675 Establishing Local Campaign Finance Contribution
Limits
City Attorney Stack presented the report and responded to Council inquiries.
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Mayor Wixom opened the public hearing and public comment for Item 7.b; seeing
none, the public comment period was closed.
Motion by Council Member Eckles
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Introduce for first reading by title only, with further reading waived, Ordinance
No.675, “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Morro Bay, California,
adding Chapter 2.50 to the Morro Bay Municipal Code Relating to Campaign
Contribution Limits.”
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
8. BUSINESS ITEMS
The Council took a brief recess at 8:08 p.m. and reconvened at 8:18 p.m. with all
members present.
8.a San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) Draft Transportation
Expenditure Plan
James Worthley, SLOCOG Deputy Director, presented the report and responded
to Council inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 8.a.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, suggested the 40% for Regional Corridor
Improvements not be decided by the Board of Supervisors or SLOCOG
but by regional oversight groups.
James Costanzo, Morro Bay, applauded SLOCOG's efforts but was not
supportive and suggested lobbying the state to allocate funds more fairly.
End of public comment.
Mr. Worthley responded to questions raised during public comment.
No action was taken by the City Council.
9. COUNCIL DECLARATION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Council Member Edwards received support for consideration of e-bike and electric
skateboard regulations (safety, speed, age requirements, etc.).
Mayor Wixom received support for Harbor Advisory Board review of insurance
requirements for boats in the harbor.
10. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:03 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Dana Swanson, City Clerk