HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC_2025-01-28 Regular Meeting Minutes
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MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
January 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: City Manager Yvonne Kimball
Interim City Attorney Robert Schultz
City Clerk Dana Swanson
Finance Director Emily Conrad
Public Works Director Greg Kwolek
Community Development Director Airlin Singewald
Fire Chief Dan McCrain
Harbor Vitality Director Chris Munson
Police Commander Tony Mosqueda
_____________________________________________________________________
1. ESTABLISH QUORUM AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Wixom called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. with all members present.
2. MOMENT OF SILENCE
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4. REPORTS
4.a Closed Session Report
https://youtu.be/OPtubNCcBQg?si=B5DVPWwv0JQ9vru9&t=89
Mayor Wixom announced no closed session meeting was held.
4.b Mayor and Councilmembers' Reports, Announcements and
Presentations
https://youtu.be/OPtubNCcBQg?si=RiWHGbK1ixaDjrfQ&t=106
4.c City Manager Reports, Announcements and Presentations
https://youtu.be/OPtubNCcBQg?si=bXbPGS5K2kaRZVsE&t=897
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4.d Subcommittee Reports - Verbal Update of Current Subcommittee
Activities
https://youtu.be/OPtubNCcBQg?si=n9Qku-6iltTld2oe&t=971
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
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
https://youtu.be/OPtubNCcBQg?si=C8d6bw_SCZ_P78Hu&t=1145
Nicole Dorfman, on behalf of REACT Alliance, inquired about community
outreach opportunities for the Mott McDonald Study and announced an
event to be held Wednesday, February 5, at the Benedict Center on
Quintana. Visit reactalliance.org for more information.
Ed Griggs, Morro Bay, requested information regarding traffic cameras
recently installed in north Morro Bay.
Karen Aguilar, Morro Bay resident and representative of the State of New
California, expressed concern regarding battery energy storage facilities
and encouraged the Council to stop the proposed Vistra project.
Jen Ford, Senior District Representative for Assemblymember Addis,
commented on the Vistra fire in Moss Landing and need for transparency,
an independent investigation, and accountability. Visit a30.asmdc.org to
learn more about proposed legislation AB 303.
Garry Johnson, Morro Bay, commented on battery energy storage
systems.
Richard Cunningham, Morro Bay, opposed a battery energy storage
system in Morro Bay.
Aaroh Ochs, Morro Bay, thanked Assemblymember Addis for opposing
the proposed BESS project in Morro Bay and urged residents to write to
our legislators in support of AB 303.
Kiernan Cottle, Morro Bay, offered comments.
Tina Metzger, Morro Bay, urged the Council to app rove Items 7.b.and 8.b.
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Gene Doughty, Morro Bay, shared the waterfront is one of the most
regulated and costly locations to build and urged the City to do all it can to
support leaseholders who take on that financial risk.
Judy Setting, Morro Bay, hoped the City would consider adopting a drone
ordinance and extended her thanks to Assemblymember Addis for
proposing AB 303, noting she hoped the safety buffer would be more than
3,200 ft.
End of public comment.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
https://youtu.be/OPtubNCcBQg?si=7X8-TLhmVkYcsU-0&t=3133
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 a n
opportunity to comment on consent agenda items.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, spoke in favor of Item 7.b.
Semu Torres commented in favor of Item 7.b.
End of public comment.
Motion by Council Member Eckles
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Approve consent agenda items 7.a through 7.b as submitted.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles,
Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
7.a Approval of Minutes
Approve as submitted.
a. January 14, 2025 - Regular Council Meeting
b. January 14, 2025 - Special Closed Session Meeting
7.b Authorization to send a letter to San Luis Coastal Unified School
District regarding the Morro Elementary School site
Approve authorization to send the attached letter to the San Luis Coastal
Unified School District (“District”) requesting the District not take any
action to sell or dispose of the Morro Elementary School site for 120 days
to allow the community to create a financial plan to purchase the property.
8. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
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8.a Uphold an appeal by Paul Gillen and reverse the Planning
Commission's denial of Conditional Use Permit CUP24-04, and
approve a revised project for the demolition of existing structures
and redevelopment of Lease Sites at 431, 451, and 495 Embarcadero
Rd
https://youtu.be/OPtubNCcBQg?si=kC_peeaZ5bPcZPpl&t=3418
Community Development Director Singewald presented the report and
responded to Council inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened the public hearing.
https://youtu.be/OPtubNCcBQg?si=hYe1d60CgyzrlHj6&t=5115
Paul Gillen, Associated Pacific, commented on the revised
proposed project, offering details and adjustments that had been
made in response to Planning Commission comments, along with
his intended highest and best use for the site. He shared the
estimated revenues the project would provide to both the Harbor
and General Funds and respectfully asked the Council support the
revised project.
Mayor opened public comment.
Joe Ingraffia, Morro Bay, commented as a resident suggesting it
did not set a good precedent to have a project denied by the
Planning Commission be significantly modified then taken directly
to the City Council. He urged the Council to deny the appeal and
return the project to the Planning Commission.
Ron Reisner, Morro Bay, commented in favor of the proposed
project.
Bob Fowler, on behalf of the Embarcadero Master Leaseholders,
spoke in support of the project.
Homer Alexander, Morro Bay, commented on the potential
increased revenues this project would bring to support City
operations.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, expressed concern regarding off -site
parking, questioned the need for a pocket park, and whether office
space was allowed on the Embarcadero.
Debbie Highfill, Morro Bay, agreed offsite parking was a concern
and did not feel a pocket park and restrooms provided adequate
public benefit.
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Sean Green, Morro Bay, offered comments regarding the project
review and appeal process and raised safety concerns regarding
heavy commercial pier infrastructure paired with vehicular traffic.
Nattalia Merzoyan, Morro Bay, concurred with others regarding
parking issues and was concerned building height would negatively
affect the business across the street. She urged Council to not
approve the project.
The owner of 456 Embarcadero Inn requested the Council limit the
development to single story so it would not block the view from his
hotel.
The Council invited the applicant to respond to additional Council
questions.
End of public comment.
The public hearing was closed.
Mayor Wixom and each of the Council Members disclosed ex parte
communications with the applicant and offered comments on the project.
Following discussion, there was consensus to add a condition requiring a
public access safety plan for the commercial wharf area.
Motion by Council Member Eckles
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
Adopt Resolution No. 04-25 to uphold the Applicant’s appeal, accept the
Applicant’s Revised Project (January 2025), and reverse the Planning
Commission’s denial of CUP24-04, based on the findings and conditions
contained therein with the following added condition as read into the
record by Director Singewald:
"At the time of application for a building permit, the Applicant shall submit
a public access safety plan for the commercial wharf area. The public
access safety plan shall identify measures to maximize public accessibility
of the commercial wharf and adjacent harbor walk, consistent with LCP
coastal access requirements and applicable safety regulations. This will
include painting a loading area in a visible location and only allowing for
temporary closures for the minimum time necessary for safety reasons."
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member
Eckles, Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
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8.b Request to consider an Urgency Ordinance Prohibiting the
Application, Acceptance, Approval, Commencement, Establishment,
Operation, Relocation, or Expansion of Grid-Scale Battery Energy
Storage Systems (BESS) within the city limits
The Council took a brief recess at 8:05 p.m. and reconvened at 8:20 with
all members present.
https://youtu.be/OPtubNCcBQg?si=oZSBcAp8TFU32TIb&t=10183
Community Development Director Singewald presented the report and
responded to Council inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 8.b.
https://youtu.be/OPtubNCcBQg?si=H_LTbHhr24RW_t2H&t=10667
Rachel Wilson, Cayucos, spoke in support of a moratorium on new
BESS projects.
Nicole Dorfman, Morro Bay, expressed strong support for the
urgency ordinance and thanked the Council for its efforts to protect
the community.
Nattalia Merzoyan, Morro Bay, agreed with previous speakers.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, spoke in support of the urgency
ordinance.
Judy Setting, Morro Bay, appreciated the proposed ordinance and
hoped for a permanent ban to BESS projects.
End of public comment.
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Landrum
1. Adopt by number and title only, with further reading waived,
Urgency Ordinance No. 668, entitled “An Urgency Ordinance of the
City Council of the City of Morro Bay, California, Imposing a
Prohibition on the Application Acceptance, Approval,
Commencement, Establishment, Operation, Relocation or
Expansion of Grid-Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems within
the City Limits during the Pendency of the City’s Review and
Adoption of Regulations of Such Uses; and Finding the Action to be
Exempt from CEQA,” prohibiting applications for grid-scale Battery
Energy Storage Systems facilities within Morro Bay city-limits for an
initial period of 45 days; and
2. Direct staff to return to Council at the regularly scheduled February
25, 2025 Council meeting with an Ordinance extending the BESS
urgency ordinance to January 28, 2027.
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Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member
Eckles, Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
9. BUSINESS ITEMS
9.a Update on Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 and 2024-25 City Council Goals
and Action Items
https://youtu.be/OPtubNCcBQg?si=t0vp3KIRobaW4OE9&t=12101
City Manager Kimball presented the report and responded to Council
inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment on Item 9.a.
https://youtu.be/OPtubNCcBQg?si=F9I-6YnALT32EMXs&t=14585
Dina Lundquist, Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce, looked forward
to the FY 25-27 Goals discussion, noting it was imperative that our
city government is fiscally sound and working in a way that will
benefit our community and businesses.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, requested the City consider a safe
parking program during the Goals discussion.
End of public comment.
Following discussion, there was Council consensus to pause on preparing
an RFQ for the Market Plaza properties until further consideration during
the Goals process.
Receive a progress report on the City Council goals and action items and
provide direction on remaining items.
10. COUNCIL DECLARATION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
https://youtu.be/OPtubNCcBQg?si=hZrQsDv-ueYeG1D1&t=14875
None
11. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.
/s/ Dana Swanson, City Clerk
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