HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC_2024-11-12 Regular Meeting Minutes
1
MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
November 12, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
Veterans Memorial Hall, 209 Surf St., Morro Bay, CA
Members Present: Mayor Carla Wixom
Council Member Zara Landrum
Council Member Laurel Barton
Council Member Cyndee Edwards
Council Member Jennifer Ford
Staff Present: City Manager Yvonne Kimball
City Attorney Chris Neumeyer
City Clerk Dana Swanson
Finance Director Emily Conrad
Community Development Director Airlin Singewald
Police Chief Amy Watkins
Fire Chief Dan McCrain
Utilities Division Manager Damaris Hanson
_____________________________________________________________________
1. ESTABLISH QUORUM AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Wixom called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. with all members present.
2. MOMENT OF SILENCE
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4. REPORTS
4.a Closed Session Report
City Attorney Neumeyer announced no reportable action was t aken in
closed session.
4.b Mayor and Councilmembers' Reports, Announcements and
Presentations
https://youtu.be/oon9Ss1pdLc?si=In6tbSj3XquDes0L&t=84
4.c City Manager Reports, Announcements and Presentations
https://youtu.be/oon9Ss1pdLc?si=ccjWfLeTcUuelPIB&t=498
2
4.d Subcommittee Reports - Verbal Update of Current Subcommittee
Activities
https://youtu.be/oon9Ss1pdLc?si=rotRxL75yHE-LnLt&t=792
a. Water Reclamation Facility & Morro Bay / Cayucos Sanitary District
JPA
b. Morro Bay Power Plant (Vistra)
c. Offshore Wind Energy
d. Downtown Design District
5. RECOGNITION AND PRESENTATIONS
https://youtu.be/oon9Ss1pdLc?si=Ig5VwvNKLSIad18v&t=855
5.a Morro Bay Police Explorer Post 43 Recognition
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
https://youtu.be/oon9Ss1pdLc?si=IwL_2SXBjlzo9625&t=1261
Linda Winters, Morro Bay, announced recent and upcoming community
events.
Larry McNally, Morro Bay, expressed concern about potential fires related
to battery energy storage projects.
Kiernan Cottle, Morro Bay, offered comments.
Garry Johnson, Morro Bay, thanked Morro Bay citizens for passing
Measure A-24.
Joe Yukich, Morro Bay, commended Morro Bay Police Department for
their work and voiced concerns about the proposed Panorama project.
Dina Lundquist, Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce, announced upcoming
events and thanked the community and business leaders for attending
Shop, Sip and Stroll.
Bill Martony, Morro Bay, suggested alternative locations for the proposed
Vistra Plant.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, expressed concern and frustration regarding
the City's tree trimming practices.
Nattalia Merzoyan, Morro Bay, shared her appreciation for the current
Council, congratulated the newly elected members, and offered
information from a REACT Alliance event.
3
Betsy Gaudette-Cross, Morro Bay, requested improvements to the bike
path near Cloisters and expressed concern regarding the proposed
development at 3300 Panorama.
Michelle Leicester-Cadaret, Morro Bay, commented on potential flooding
and traffic impacts related to the proposed development at 3300
Panorama.
An unnamed resident, opposed the battery storage project and suggested
other methods of repairing sidewalks while preserving trees.
End of public comment.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
https://youtu.be/oon9Ss1pdLc?si=n_bRO4On9us2sgPZ&t=3433
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 items on the Consent Agenda; seeing
none, the public comment was closed.
Council Member Edwards pulled Item 7.d.
Motion by Council Member Edwards
Seconded by Council Member Ford
Approve Items 7.a through 7.c. as submitted.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Landrum, Council Member Barton,
Council Member Edwards, and Council Member Ford
CARRIED (5 to 0)
7.a Approval of Minutes
Approve as submitted.
a. October 22, 2024 - Regular Council Meeting
7.b Approval of Fiscal Year 2023-24 Year-End Budget Amendments
Receive the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 Year-End Budget Review contained
herein and adopt Resolution No. 70-24 approving FY 2023-24 Year-End
Budget Adjustments.
7.c Equipment donation from the Friends of the Morro Bay Fire
Department
4
Accept the donated equipment from the Friends of the Morro Bay Fire
Department and authorize the City Manager to execute the Donation
Agreement.
7.d Monetary donation from Morro Bay Beautiful
https://youtu.be/oon9Ss1pdLc?si=h36rgzJzv-KdW2Q8&t=3490
The Mayor and Council Members recognized Morro Bay Beautiful
volunteers for their decades of service to the community.
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Landrum
Accept the monetary donation from Morro Bay Beautiful and authorize the
City Manager to execute the Donation Agreement.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Landrum, Council Member
Barton, Council Member Edwards, and Council Member Ford
CARRIED (5 to 0)
8. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
8.a Review and Adopt Draft Funding Recommendations for the 2025
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program
https://youtu.be/oon9Ss1pdLc?si=9_uKvSR41xFFg3xF&t=3646
Community Development Director Singewald presented the report and
responded to Council inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 8.a.
https://youtu.be/oon9Ss1pdLc?si=5_T0IbXf3Mlv_LU-&t=4592
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, expressed interest in leaving the
consortium and was concerned funds were being used for sidewalk
repairs rather than helping the homeless. She also restated her
concerns about removal of major vegetation.
Mandy Davis agreed with the previous speaker and urged the City
to repair sidewalks without harming or destroying trees.
Nattalia Merzoyan, Morro Bay, commented on the importance of
planting trees correctly to force the roots down below the problem
zone.
Michelle Leicester-Cadaret, Morro Bay, urged the City to allocate
funds for homeless services rather than public works projects.
End of public comment.
5
Motion by Council Member Ford
Seconded by Council Member Landrum
Approve the 2025 draft funding recommendations for the two applications
received under Resolution No. 71-24.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Landrum, Council Member
Barton, Council Member Edwards, and Council Member Ford
CARRIED (5 to 0)
9. BUSINESS ITEMS
The Council took a brief recess at 7:19 p.m. and reconvened at 7:28 p.m. with all
members present.
9.a Discussion and Direction regarding Agreement for City Attorney
Services
https://youtu.be/oon9Ss1pdLc?si=tL4cVwFdLA3lE -dc&t=6487
Fire Chief McCrain, who was Acting City Manager at the time the issue
arose, presented the item.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 9.a.
https://youtu.be/oon9Ss1pdLc?si=Ews-LDzf4H-LXxrA&t=6775
Martin Koczanowicz, Aleshire & Wynder, LLP, provided a brief
resume and committed to seamlessly provide services should the
Council vote to remain with the firm.
Jeff Heller, Morro Bay, urged the Council to retain Mr. Neumeyer's
service with the new firm for at at least six months to a year, then
explore other alternatives if that's the desire of Council.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, suggested the Council stay with
Aleshire & Wynder for 4-6 weeks, leaving the decision to the new
Council.
Nicole Dorfman, Morro Bay, supported maintaining the current firm
until new council is seated.
Judy Setting, Morro Bay, agreed this decision should be made by
the new council.
End of public comment.
Mr. Neumeyer offered comments, apologized for the short notice, and
shared he would be privileged and honored to continue serving Morro
Bay.
6
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Landrum
Keep the current contract with Aleshire & Wynder for City Attorney
Services and request a new City Attorney and Assistant Attorney from
Aleshire & Wynder to start November 14th in two days because that is
how much notice we have.
The motion was seconded for discussion.
Motion by Council Member Ford
Seconded by Council Member Edwards
A substitute motion was made to approve the agreement with Burke
Williams and Sorenson for a City Attorney Services and appoint current
City Attorney Chris Neumeyer as City Attorney and terminate agreement
with Aleshire & Wynder for City Attorney services with the exception of
closure on ongoing items to be specified.
Pursuant to Robert's Rules of Order, the Council addressed and voted on
the Substitute Motion first. The Substitute Motion carried 3 -2, therefore no
vote was taken on the primary motion.
Ayes (3): Council Member Barton, Council Member Edwards, and Council
Member Ford
Noes (2): Mayor Wixom, and Council Member Landrum
CARRIED (3 to 2)
9.b Discussion on Potential Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
Urgency Ordinance
Council Member Ford declared a conflict on this item. (Due to a perceived
conflict as her employer has worked on battery energy legislation in the
past.)
https://youtu.be/oon9Ss1pdLc?si=XahPoR22kVgavOak&t=9789
Community Development Director Singewald presented the report and
responded to Council inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 9.b.
https://youtu.be/oon9Ss1pdLc?si=7RQVW26NMfLmPPXI&t=11068
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, urged the Council to adopt an urgency
ordinance to prevent new BESS applications from being submitted.
End of public comment.
7
Motion by Council Member Landrum
Seconded by Mayor Wixom
Direct staff to draft an urgency ordinance for battery energy storage
systems and prepare findings satisfying requirements of the Government
Code that there's an immediate threat to health, safety and wellfare, and
return to a future Council meeting.
Ayes (4): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Landrum, Council Member
Barton, and Council Member Edwards
Recused (1): Council Member Ford
CARRIED (4 to 0)
9.c General Plan Annual Progress Report for Reporting Year 2023
https://youtu.be/oon9Ss1pdLc?si=YEZCBFt-olKRNrNU&t=11479
Council Member Ford returned to the dais.
Community Development Director Singewald presented the report and
responded to Council inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 9.c.; seeing none, the
public comment period was closed.
No formal action was taken by the City Council.
10. COUNCIL DECLARATION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
11. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:04 p.m.
/s/ Dana Swanson, City Clerk