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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC_1983-09-26 Adjourned Meeting MinutesMORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNED MEETING - SEPTEMBER 26, 1983 CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM Mayor Shelton called the meeting following members present: PRESENT: ABSENT: STAFF: Eugene R. Shelton John Lemons Bruce Risley Bud Zeuschner Rodger Anderson P aul Baxter N ick Nichols P eggy Buchanan AGENDA NO. Date ' ° Action to order at 5:00 p.m. with the Mayor Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember City Administrator Public Works Director Deputy City Clerk Mayor Shelton stated that the purpose of this meeting was to select members for the newly created Harbor Commission. Mayor Shelton stated that 5 regular members and 5 alternates were to be chosen. 1. The first applicant was Greg Bewick. Mayor Shelton asked him to give the Council his reasons for wishing to be on the Harbor Commission. Mr. Bewick stated that he lived on -board his vessel in the Bay and was concerned about the rights of the live aboards, as well as a concern for the Bay. Mr. Bewick stated that he had lived in Morro Bay for several years. Councilmember Risley questioned Mr. Bewick regarding his feelings about offshore oil drilling in the Morro Bay area. Mr. Bewick stated that he was opposed to any such development, and would rather not see Morro Bay develop into a large commercial port. 2. The second applicant was Mary Coffeen, who stated that she was a retired biologist and was concerned for the environment. Mayor Shelton asked her what she felt the biggest problem was along the waterfront. Mary stated that she felt the City should remain aware of environmental issues, and noted suggestions for further review of actions such as dredging and their effect on the environment. Councilmember Risley questioned Mrs. Coffeen regarding her feelings about offshore oil drilling. 1 MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIy" ADJOURNED MEETING - SEPTEMBER 26, 1983 PAGE TWO Mary stated that she would be opposed to any offshore oil drilling, but the City should be prepared in case in it comes about. 3. Fred Deschler was the next applicant, and he noted that he h ad been serving on the Harbor Advisory Board as an alternate member for the past year, and has felt that the bay should remain just about as it is. Mr. Deschler stated that he would like to be appointed to the Commission so that he could see the completion of several projects started by the Board. Mr. Deschler noted that it was important to look at the waterfront in t erms of not only appeal to visitors but to residents as well. Councilmember Risley asked Mr. Descher how he stood regarding offshore oil drilling. Mr. Deschler stated that the City should try to prevent offshore drilling at this time, but should be prepared and plan ahead for when it might happen. 4. Mr. George Finneran stated that he had an interest in recreation boating, and wished to serve on the Commission so that h e might represent this interest. Mr. Finneran stated that his past experience in yachting and commercial ventures would serve t he committee well. Mr. Finneran noted that he was opposed to offshore oil and was especially against the onshore facilities it would bring. Councilmember Risley asked if Mr. Finneran was aware of the City policy against serving on two city boards or commissions at the same time. Council discussed this situation, and Mr. Baxter noted that the O rdinance prohibited it, and Mr. Finneran would have to resign from his seat on the T.V. Advisory Board. Mr. Finneran also commented on what he felt was a poorly designed Harbor mouth, and suggested that before the City dredged again, t hat it be reworked. Councilmember Lemons asked Mr. Finneran what he thought of the ✓ ecent legislation regarding harbor safety. Mr. Finneran stated that he did not feel this was the correct answer to the problem. 5. Mr. Ron Lipshay was the next applicant, and he noted that he had been serving on the Harbor Adivsory Board, and wished to continue his work on the Commission. Mr. Lipshay noted that he was a recreational boater, and felt that the waterfront area 2 MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNED MEETING - SEPTEMBER 26, 1983 P AGE THREE needed to reach a certain balance between the recreational and commercial uses. Mr. Lipshay stated that the City should develop a 5-year study or plan with limitations on both recreational and commercial boats. Councilmember Risley asked Mr. Lipshay his feelings regarding offshore oil drilling. Mr. Lipshay stated that he was opposed to drilling and felt that t here were other means available. 6. The next applicant was Jim Olson, who stated that he wished t o continue working on projects that he had been involved in d uring his term on the Harbor Advisory Board. Mr. Olson noted t hat the Board had progressed in their development of a long-term plan for the harbor. Mr. Olson stated that he did not feel offshore oil wells, or onshore facilities were suited for this area, but felt that the City should be prepared for them. 7. Doug Riddell stated that he had been a member of the Harbor Advisory Board since its inception, and felt that just recently, t he balance that had been sought between recreational and commercial operators had begun to swing around. Mr. Riddell stated that he did not feel the City was ready for offshore oil drilling, but should prepare a plan for guidelines for control of any onshore development. Mr. Riddell stated that he would like t o be able to work on completion of several projects that were n earing completion. 8. Mr. Cliff Smith stated that he had served on the Harbor Advisory Board and wished to see several of the projects they w ere working on come to a completion. Mr. Smith stated that projects for future development of the. Harbor should be stepped u p. Mr. Smith stated that he did not feel that the City is ready for onshore oil facilities, and felt that he would support a moratorium as proposed by Congressman Panetta. 9. Dean Tyler, owner and operator of the Morro Bay Aquarium, n oted that as a resident of Morro Bay since 1948, he was concerned about various aspects of the community. Mr. Tyler n oted that one area of particular interest to him was seawater q uality and the changes in the harbor that affect the water. Mr. Tyler added that he was also concerned about the effects of dredging and what the City does with the tailings from this dredging. Mr. Tyler felt the need for oil was great enough to w arrant offshore oil drilling, and stated that he believed that 3 MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNED MEETING - SEPTEMBER 26, 1983 PAGE FOUR t he oil companies would exercise caution in their drilling operations. 10. Mr. Donald Walsh stated that he had previous experience in planning and operating harbors, and noted that he had worked with t he Corps of Engineers and had worked in the development of various ports. Mr. Walsh stated that he felt one area of concern t o Morro Bay was beach erosison. Mr. Walsh noted that he did not t hink Morro Bay would accomodate too much growth, but probably could accomodate most interests in the harbor. Mr. Walsh stated t hat he was retired, and felt this committee would give him some w ay to participate. Mr. Walsh responded to Councilmember Risley s question regarding offshore oil, by noting that he was basically pro -development, and did not feel that drilling o ffshore (10 miles out or further) would harm Morro Bay. 11. Virginia Yeoman stated that she and her husband wanted to see only the best for Morro Bay, and want to represent the commercial fishing industry on the Commission. Mrs. Yeoman noted t hat she would like to see the harbor stay as it is, without too much growth or change. Mrs. Yeoman told Council that she was against any oil drilling or onshore development facilities, and w as hopeful that the fishing industry would continue to be profitable and successful. Council then discussed the various applicants qualifications and t he five different categories to select representatives for. It was suggested that the following applicants be selected for t he Harbor Commission: Commercial Fishing: Alternate: Fish Processing: Alternate: Marine -Oriented Business: Alternate: Recreational Boating: Alternate: Member -At -Large: Alternate: 4 Cliff Smith N elson Sullivan Virginia Yeoman S teve Yeoman Doug Riddell Dean Tyler Ronald Lipshay Donald Walsh Fred Deschler Mary Coffeen MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNED MEETING - SEPTEMBER 26, 1983 PAGE FIVE MOTION: MOTION: Councilmember Zeuschner moved that the above applicants be appointed to the indicated categories and positions, by acclamation. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Risley and carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Zeuschner, Risley, Lemons, Shelton NOES: None ABSENT: Anderson Councilmember Lemons moved that the meeting be adjourned to the regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Risley and carried unanimously. (4-0-1) The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.rn. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, PEG" A% ! CHANAN DEPUTY CITY CLERK 5