HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC_2026-03-24 Regular Meeting Minutes
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MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
March 24, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
Veterans Memorial Hall
209 Surf St., Morro Bay, CA
Members Present: Mayor Carla Wixom
Council Member Jeff Eckles
Council Member Cyndee Edwards
Council Member Zara Landrum
Council Member Bill Luffee
Staff Present: City Manager John Craig
City Attorney Brian Stack
City Clerk Dana Swanson
Community Development Director Airlin Singewald
Fire Chief Dan McCrain
Harbor Director Chris Munson
Police Commander Tony Mosqueda
Management Analyst Janeen Burlingame
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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.
Mayor Pro Tem Eckles participated remotely as noted on the agenda.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. REPORTS
3.a Closed Session Report
City Attorney Stack confirmed no closed meeting was held since the last regular
meeting.
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)
3. Offshore Wind Energy
4. Morro Elementary School
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5. Shared Fire Services
4. RECOGNITION AND PRESENTATIONS
4.a Month of the Child and Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation
Presented to Shana Paulson, CAPSLO Child Care Resource Connection; Wendy
Wendt, First 5 San Luis Obispo County; Kids Club attendees and Angelica
Jepsen, City of Morro Bay Recreation Services Coordinator.
4.b Arbor Day Proclamation
Presented to Carlos Mendoza, City of Morro Bay Maintenance Division
Supervisor.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
Nancy Johnson, Morro Bay, announced the 38th Annual AAUW Garden Tour on
Sunday, April 26th from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. Tickets are available at Coalesce
Bookstore and my805tix.com.
Linda Winters, Morro Bay, questioned closure of the hazardous waste disposal
facility.
Garry Johnson, Morro Bay, spoke in support of Michael Erin Woody for District 2
Supervisor and invited residents to attend a Meet and Greet on April 1st from
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Judy Setting, Morro Bay, congratulated City staff on the tree award and
suggested maintenance efforts were needed at the city's entry points and
Cloisters Park.
Craig Painter, Morro Bay, commented on paid parking at the Tidelands Launch
Ramp.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, opposed Port San Luis's proposal to expand its
boundaries and asked the Council to engage with County Library staff regarding
recent schedules changes, noting the reduced hours do not meet the needs of
our community.
Michael Wambolt, Visit Morro Bay Executive Director, expressed his gratitude for
an amazing five years and excitement for the future of Morro Bay.
Nicole Dorfman, Morro Bay, offered suggestions to improve the Citywide Yard
Sale and invited residents to attend the REACT Alliance general meeting on April
1st from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at The Benedict.
End of public comment.
The Council and staff responded to questions raised during 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.
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Mayor Wixom opened public comment for items on the Consent Agenda
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, commented on issues related to the Arbor Day
Proclamation and, regarding Item 6.c, questioned whether it's necessary to see
this as an emergency item.
Marie Rawlings, Ree's Re-Sail & Curiosities, requested Council approval of the
proposed building lease and support to remain at her current location.
Margaret Carman, Morro Bay, spoke in support of the continued operation of
Ree's Re-Sail and Curiosities.
End of public comment.
Council Member Luffee pulled Item 6.b and Council Member Landrum pulled Item 6.c.
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Approve Consent Agenda Items 6.a and 6.d as submitted.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Eckles, Council Member Edwards, Council
Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
6.a Approval of Minutes
Approve as submitted.
1. March 10, 2026 - Regular Council Meeting
2. March 10, 2026 - Special Closed Session Meeting
6.b Approval of Proclamations
Maintenance Division Manager Mendoza responded to Council questions
regarding tree maintenance and re-planting.
Motion by Council Member Luffee
Seconded by Council Member Landrum
Approve as submitted.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Eckles, Council Member Edwards,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
1. Proclamation Declaring April 2026 as Month of the Child and Child Abuse
Prevention Month
2. 2026 Arbor Day Proclamation
Approve the Arbor Day Proclamation and being a Tree City USA community.
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6.c Status Update and Reconfirm Emergency for the Morro Creek Bank
Stabilization Project
City Manager Craig responded to questions raised during public comment.
Motion by Council Member Landrum
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Receive and file status update and reconfirm the declaration of emergency for
the Morro Creek Bank Stabilization Project by four-fifths vote.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Eckles, Council Member Edwards,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
6.d Adopt Resolution No. 15-26 Approving Ree's Re-Sail & Curiosities Building
Lease Agreement
Adopt Resolution No. 15-26 approving a new building lease agreement for lease
site 62 with Ree’s Re-Sail & Curiosities located at 551 Embarcadero.
7. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
7.a Resolution Declaring Results of the Majority Protest Proceedings to Renew
the Morro Bay Tourism Business Improvement District
City Manager Craig briefly presented the report and invited Visit Morro Bay
Executive Director Michael Wambolt to respond to Council inquiries. Mr.
Wambolt committed to engaging with RV Parks in the next 12 months about the
possibility of being added to the TBID.
Mayor Wixom opened the public hearing and public comment; seeing none, the
public comment period was closed.
Mayor Wixom closed the public hearing.
Motion by Council Member Landrum
Seconded by Council Member Edwards
Conduct the Public Hearing, declaring results of majority protest proceedings,
and adopt Resolution No. 16-26 renewing the Morro Bay Tourism Business
Improvement District for a 10-year Term.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Eckles, Council Member Edwards,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
8. BUSINESS ITEMS
8.a Adoption of the Morro Bay Transit 2025 Short Range Transit Plan
Management Analyst Burlingame introduced the item and turned to Geoff Straw,
RTA Executive Director, to present the report and respond to Council inquiries.
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Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 8.a.
Barry Branin, Morro Bay, offered suggestions for increased trolley
ridership, particularly along Morro Strand State Beach.
Michelle Leicester-Cadaret, Morro Bay, asked why the map does not
show trolley service to the marina or campgrounds, expressing concern
about potentially losing that clientele.
Judy Setting, Morro Bay, agreed with the importance of trolley service for
a tourism-based economy and questioned whether designating bus stops
as transit stops would tie Morro Bay to housing development incentives.
Kathy Claasen, Morro Dunes RV Park, hoped future plans would resume
trolley service to the campgrounds.
End of public comment.
Mr. Straw and Ms. Burlingame responded to questions raised during public
comment.
Mayor Wixom asked RTA to consider resuming trolley service to Morro Dunes
RV Park.
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Staff and the Public Works Advisory Board (PWAB) recommend the City Council
adopt the Morro Bay Transit Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP).
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Eckles, Council Member Edwards,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
8.b Recommendation to Approve a Purchase and Sale Agreement with the
Cayucos Sanitary District for the Jointly Owned Wastewater Treatment
Plant Property Located at 160/180 Atascadero Road and 1700
Embarcadero, take related actions and find no further action
environmental review is required under CEQA
The Council took a brief recess at 7:29 p.m. and reconvened at 7:35 p.m. with all
members present.
City Manager Craig and City Attorney Stack presented the report and responded
to Council inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 8.b.
Barry Branin, Morro Bay, expressed support and noted the Main Street
pipeline was not included in the purchase. He stressed the importance of
repair or replacement of the Beachcomber and Main Street sewer lines
and hoped that any future revenue from this property would go back into
the enterprise fund.
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Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, supported the purchase adding the City
should then sell the property and put those funds back into the enterprise
fund.
End of public comment.
The Council and staff responded to questions raised during public comment.
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Landrum
1. Adopt Resolution No. 17-26 approving a Purchase and Sale Agreement
(Agreement) and Budget Resolution between the City of Morro Bay (City)
and Cayucos Sanitary District (CSD) for the purchase by the City of the
CSD portion of the jointly owned Former Wastewater Treatment Plant
Property (WWTP) located at 160/180 Atascadero Road and 1700
Embarcadero (Property) and other jointly owned assets, in substantially
the form attached, subject to review and approval by the City Attorney as
to form and legal effect.
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement and related escrow
documents, and to negotiate and execute non-substantive amendments
consistent with the terms approved by the City Council, subject to review
and approval by the City Attorney as to form and legal effect; and
3. Authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to undertake due diligence
activities during the due diligence period consistent with City procurement
requirements and within available appropriations.
4. Find that no further environmental review is required pursuant to State
CEQA Guidelines section 15162.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Eckles, Council Member Edwards,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
9. COUNCIL DECLARATION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
10. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Dana Swanson, City Clerk