HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC_2025-02-25 Regular Meeting Minutes
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MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
February 25, 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
Police Chief Amy Watkins
Fire Chief Dan McCrain
Harbor Vitality Director Chris Munson
Administrative Programs Manager Melissa Green
_____________________________________________________________________
1. ESTABLISH QUORUM AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Wixom called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. with all members present.
2. MOMENT OF SILENCE
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4. REPORTS
4.a Closed Session Report
https://youtu.be/-Nirv9KAYhI?si=5BqLkD5K2IDTIC3_&t=70
Interim City Attorney Schultz announced no action was taken during
Closed Session that required reporting under the Brown Act.
4.b Mayor and Councilmembers' Reports, Announcements and
Presentations
https://youtu.be/-Nirv9KAYhI?si=w-A3Ncv4rYimAZQY&t=107
4.c City Manager Reports, Announcements and Presentations
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https://youtu.be/-Nirv9KAYhI?si=3BARfkWWnsjXXmkj&t=1157
4.d Subcommittee Reports - Verbal Update of Current Subcommittee
Activities
https://youtu.be/-Nirv9KAYhI?si=Wy4ZRx2WQjRJHZKG&t=1317
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
5.a Measure Q/E Report by CFAC Chair Stephen Peck
https://youtu.be/-Nirv9KAYhI?si=9XmFcaa_i8ySyWzJ&t=1355
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
https://youtu.be/-Nirv9KAYhI?si=41UGjaUd5s4tkSiY&t=2120
Judi Brown, Morro Bay, announced Terry Simon's passing on January
31st and shared a message of hope for a united community.
Shachiko Lamen, Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary,
announced they are recruiting to fill seats on the National Marine
Sanctuary Advisory Council. Visit https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/chumash-
heritage/advisory/ for more information.
Jeanne Marie Colby, shared a presentation regarding reported health
conditions following the Vistra fire at Moss Landing.
Garry Johnson, Morro Bay, commented on his experience researching
lithium-ion battery technology and coordinated efforts with other residents
to pass Measure A-24. He hoped other communities will do the same.
Barry Branin, Morro Bay, thanked the City for bringing forward an urgency
ordinance to prevent BESS project applications in Morro Bay and
encouraged the County Board of Supervisors to approve a county-wide
moratorium.
Kiernan Cottle, Morro Bay, offered comments.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, displayed her Morro Bay Council season ticket
holder t-shirt.
Charlie Clingman, Owner of Forever Stoked, urged the City to acquire
Morro Elementary.
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Margaret Carman, Morro Bay, commented on importance of not allowing
BESS project development in San Luis Obispo County.
Nic De Angelis, Morro Bay, encouraged the Council to uphold City policy
prohibiting public comment that has no relevance to City business and
urged the Council to be diligent in driving back commitments to the
community.
End of public comment.
7. 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.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for items on the Consent Agenda.
https://youtu.be/-Nirv9KAYhI?si=zPpiw-Injfi9saan&t=3859
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, commented on Item 7.c., suggesting a 40 -year
lease term is too long and urged the City reel back the maximum lease
term going forward.
Jason Maher opposed Item 7.b and urged the City to support his vision for
potential display of the Aquafen in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
End of public comment.
Motion by Council Member Luffee
Seconded by Council Member Landrum
Approve consent agenda items 7.a through 7.d 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. February 11, 2025 - Regular Council Meeting
7.b Declaring the Vessel Aquafen Abandoned Property
Adopt Resolution No. 07-25 Declaring the Vessel Aquafen Abandoned
Property Pursuant to Harbors and Navigation Code Section 522 for the
purposes of abatement.
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7.c Adoption of Resolution No. 08-25 Approving a New Lease Agreement
with California Coastal Investments, LLC, Eric Newton for Lease Site
86/86W, Libertine located at 801 Embarcadero
Adopt Resolution No. 08-25, approving 40-year Master Lease Agreement
with California Coastal Investments, LLC, Eric Newton for lease site
86/86W, Libertine located at 801 Embarcadero.
7.d Report on attendance at the 2025 C-MANC Washington Week
Meetings
Receive and file.
8. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
8.a Consider Adoption of Urgency Ordinance No. 670 extending Urgency
Ordinance No. 668 prohibiting applications for grid-scale Battery
Energy Storage Systems (BESS) facilities
https://youtu.be/-Nirv9KAYhI?si=IvJIMrxZ9rHsHZZO&t=4273
Community Development Director Singewald presented the report and
responded to Council inquiries. For the record, Mr. Singewald announced
that due to this report being brought forward early, to extend the
prohibition a full two years from the date of adoption of the initial Urgency
Ordinance, the term for the extension is 23 months and 3 days from the
date of adoption.
Mayor Wixom opened the public hearing and public comment period for
Item 8.a.
https://youtu.be/-Nirv9KAYhI?si=RJUHyC3Llt3FOeEd&t=4981
Barry Branin, Morro Bay, complimented Mr. Singewald on the
quality of work and hoped the Council would heed his suggestions.
End of public comment.
Following discussion, there was Council consensus to direct staff to return
in 2-3 months with information to facilitate a conversation and seek
direction on how to proceed with permanent regulations.
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Edwards
Adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 670, entitled “An Urgency Ordinance of the
City Council of the City of Morro Bay, California, Extending Urgency
Ordinance No. 668 Imposing a Prohibition on the Application Acceptance,
Approval, Commencement, Establishment, Operation, Relocation, or
Expansion of Grid-Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) within
the City Limits During the Pendency of the City’s Review and Adoption of
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Regulations of Such Uses; and Finding the Action to be Exempt from
CEQA.”
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member
Eckles, Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
9. BUSINESS ITEMS
The Council took a brief recess at 6:59 p.m. and reconvened at 7:10 p.m. with all
members present.
9.a Fiscal Year 2024-25 Midyear Report
https://youtu.be/-Nirv9KAYhI?si=fy1mluONFDtX8OPU&t=5303
Finance Director Conrad and Administrative Programs Manager Green
presented the report and responded to Council inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 9.a.
https://youtu.be/-Nirv9KAYhI?si=VGlPAqtC8WMZ1ei0&t=7445
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, appreciated business licensing being
brought back in house.
Nic De Angelis, Morro Bay, encouraged the Council to look at
increasing revenues and opportunities that help the community
continue to develop and grow.
End of public comment.
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Luffee
1. Receive the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 Midyear Budget Report; and
2. Adopt Resolution No. 09-25 authorizing the attached Budget
Amendments.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member
Eckles, Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
CARRIED (5 to 0)
9.b Review of Capital Project Prioritization
https://youtu.be/-Nirv9KAYhI?si=xSP3FzVmdu_BQTgy&t=8321
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Public Works Director Kwolek, City Engineer Cecil, Assistant Engineer
Della, and Utilities Division Manager Hanson presented the report and
responded to Council inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 9.b.
https://youtu.be/-Nirv9KAYhI?si=lZnfQ34ZR8UNQeve&t=12816
Tina Wener, Morro Bay, suggested projects be evaluated based on
where they are in the timeline and asked whether upstaffing had
been considered.
Betsy Gaudette-Cross, Morro Bay, asked if harbor projects are
under the City's purview and whether damage to Morro Creek
bridge would be covered by FEMA.
End of public comment.
Following discussion, there was consensus to refine the report using a
criteria matrix, along with in-depth informatioon on the few projects where
a decision is needed, for PWAB and Harbor Advisory Board review and
bring back recommendations to City Council on which projects to move
forward or pause.
10. COUNCIL DECLARATION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
https://youtu.be/-Nirv9KAYhI?si=vouCye7FQWsaHPnR&t=14173
Council Member Landrum requested and received full support for discussion of
the Hwy 41/1/Main Street roundabout project to understand the project status
and budget.
11. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:27 p.m.
/s/ Dana Swanson, City Clerk