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Home My WebLink AboutCC_2015-05-18_Special Meeting MinutesMINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING – MAY 18, 2015 COMMUNITY CENTER MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM 1001 KENNEDY WAY – 5:30 P.M. PRESENT: Jamie Irons Mayor Christine Johnson Councilmember John Headding Councilmember Matt Makowetski Councilmember Noah Smukler Councilmember STAFF: Susan Slayton Administrative Services Director Scot Graham Community Development Manager Dana Swanson City Clerk ESTABLISH QUORUM AND CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:36pm. https://youtu.be/js0hROupstA?t=1m2s Mayor Irons opened discussion on the following items: The Council Policies and Procedures provide a general policy that precludes an advisory board member from serving on two standing committees. Based on advice received from the City Attorney, the Council has the authority to make an exception to that general policy and consider appointing one person to two standing committees. Although hesitant to make policy exceptions, the Council discussed and agreed there are four highly qualified candidates for four available positions, and given the Citizens Advisory/Finance Committee will meet infrequently, it would be willing to make an exception and allow Ms. McPherson participate on both the PWAB and Citizens Advisory/Finance Committee, if she is willing to do so. Mayor Irons confirmed there is unanimous Council support for allowing Ms. McPherson to be considered and appointed to both positions. The Council discussed the make-up of the General Plan/Local Coastal Program Advisory Committee (GPAC). Mayor Irons suggested seven members with two alternates, with the understanding the alternates would be required to attend all meetings as non-voting members so they are prepared to step in, if needed. Councilmember Johnson suggested that based on experience establishing the WRFCAC, the committee have nine members with no alternates. Councilmembers Headding, Makowetski and Smukler support nine full members with no alternates. Mayor Irons noted two non-residents had applied for consideration to the GPAC. There is a precedent in the Recreation & Parks Commission and Harbor Advisory Board By-Laws to allow non-residents and asked for Council discussion on this item. Councilmember Smukler is comfortable with non-residents, however it’s important to have a connection to Morro Bay, whether home or business ownership; however, he would be cautious and want to keep majority in favor of residents. Councilmember Headding agrees, noting a different view point would be AGENDA NO: A-1 MEETING DATE: June 9, 2015 2 MINUTES - MORRO BAY SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING – MAY 18, 2015 valuable. Councilmember Makowetski suggests capping the number of non-residents to two or three on a nine-person board. Mayor Irons noted that based on receipt of two non-resident applicants, it isn’t necessary to set a cap. The Council considered and discussed whether to consider two applicants who are not able to attend interviews. Councilmember Headding has no objection, however notes it is a disadvantage if we do not know the individual or have the opportunity to vet the individuals prior to the interviews. He did speak with both Mr. Davis and Mr. Woodson prior to the meeting. Councilmember Johnson finds it can be successful if the applicant is already active in the community. Councilmembers Smukler and Makowetski agreed. MOTION: Mayor Irons moves the Council accept applications submitted by Mr. Davis and Mr. Woodson be considered for appointment to the General Plan/Local Coastal Program Advisory Committee. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Headding and carried unanimously, 5-0. The public comment period was opened. https://youtu.be/js0hROupstA?t=31m43s Joan Solu, Morro Bay Tourism Bureau and TBID Advisory Board Chair, noted there are two applicants for three available positions. The parameters for placing an individual on the TBID board are fairly narrow given the board must be made up of those who are assessed. The Tourism Bureau changed their By-Laws to avoid pigeon-holing by number of rooms; she suggests the TBID By-Laws be adjusted as well. She asks the Council reopen the remaining position based on narrowness and specific positions that should be filled. The public comment period was closed. The City Council interviewed the following applicants for two (2) vacant seats on the Recreation and Parks Commission: Jeffrey Cox, Karen Robert and Eliane Wilson. The City Council voted by written ballot and Administrative Services Director Slayton read the results: Jeffrey Cox received three votes (Mayor Irons, Councilmembers Headding and Johnson) and was appointed to the Recreation and Parks Commission for term ending 1/31/18. Karen Robert received three votes (Councilmembers Johnson, Makowetski and Smukler) and was appointed to the Recreation and Parks Commission for term ending 1/31/16. The following applicants were considered for four (4) vacant seats on the Citizens Oversight/Citizens Finance Committee, with one seat expiring 1/31/19 and three seats expiring 1/31/16: Betty Forsythe, Gregory Head, Marlys McPherson, and Susan Schneider. The City Council voted by written ballot and Administrative Services Director Slayton read the results. 3 MINUTES - MORRO BAY SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING – MAY 18, 2015 Marlys McPherson received three votes (Councilmembers Johnson, Makowetski and Smukler) and was appointed to the Citizens Oversight/Citizens Finance Committee for term ending 1/31/19. Betty Forsythe, Gregory Head and Susan Schneider received unanimous support from the Council and were appointed to the Citizens Oversight/Citizens Finance Committee for term ending 1/31/16. The following applicants were considered for three (3) available Tourism Bureau Improvement District Advisory Board positions: Roger Corwin and Fred Reed. There was unanimous Council support to appoint Roger Corwin to the vacancy for hotelier (50 rooms or less) expiring 1/31/17, and to appoint Fred Reed to the hotelier member-at-large vacancy to expire 1/31/19. The following applicants were considered for the San Luis Obispo County Tourism Marketing District (TMD) Advisory Board representative: Roger Corwin and Valerie Seymour. Councilmember Johnson announced she had an ex parte conversation with Mr. Corwin and asked that he expand on that conversation. Mr. Corwin shared that he would like to participate on just one board and prefers to serve on the Tourism Business Improvement District, rather than as representative to the San Luis Obispo County TMD. Ms. Seymour introduced herself and the explained that many vacation rental owners and hoteliers are not happy with the 1% assessment and she wants to be sure Morro Bay is represented on the County board. There was unanimous Council support to appoint Ms. Seymour to serve as representative to the San Luis Obispo County TMD. Following the vote, Mayor Irons disclosed that as a vacation rental owner he has a conflict of interest and must recuse himself from the discussion regarding the San Luis Obispo County TMD. He turned the meeting over to Mayor Pro Tem Smukler and left the room. Mayor Pro Tem Smukler asked the Council to re-state their votes regarding appointment of Morro Bay’s representative to the San Luis Obispo County TMD. The Council voted 4-0-1 in support of appointing Ms. Seymour as Morro Bay’s representative to the San Luis Obispo County TMD, with Mayor Irons abstaining. Mayor Irons re-joined the meeting. Mayor Irons disclosed his ex parte communications and interview of Mr. Woodson and Mr. Davis, who were not able to attend tonight’s meeting. Councilmember Johnson noted she talked with them, as she did others, but did not interview them. The following applicants were interviewed and considered for nine (9) available positions on the General Plan/Local Coastal Program Advisory Committee: Rich Buquet, James Costanzo, Robert Davis (unable to attend), Jan Goldman, Paul Nagy, Cathy Novak, Christine Rogers, Susan Schneider, Glenn Silloway, Stewart Skiff, Melani Smith, Susan Stewart, Robert Tefft, Jim Vosseler, and Bill Woodson (unable to attend). 4 MINUTES - MORRO BAY SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING – MAY 18, 2015 The City Council voted by written ballot and Community Development Manager Graham read the results: Rich Buquet, Melani Smith, Susan Stewart and Robert Tefft each received five votes. Robert Davis (Headding, Johnson, Makowetski & Smukler), Christine Rogers (Irons, Headding, Johnson & Smukler), Susan Schneider (Irons, Headding, Johnson & Smukler), and Glenn Silloway (Irons, Johnson, Makowetski & Smukler) each received four votes. Jan Goldman (Irons, Headding & Makowetski) and Cathy Novak (Irons, Headding & Makowetski) each received three votes. The City Council voted by written ballot to break the tie between Ms. Goldman and Ms. Novak for the final available seat and Mr. Graham read the results: Ms. Goldman received four votes (Irons, Johnson, Makowetski & Smukler) and Ms. Novak received one vote (Headding). Ms. Goldman was selected for the final seat. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:12 p.m. Recorded by: Dana Swanson City Clerk