HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC_2024-01-23 Regular Meeting Minutes
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MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
January 23, 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
Asst City Mgr/Admin Svcs Director Steve Conway
Public Works Director Greg Kwolek
Community Development Director Scot Graham
Police Chief Amy Watkins
Fire Chief Dan McCrain
Harbor Director Ted Schiafone
Planning Manager Cindy Jacinth
_____________________________________________________________________
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
https://youtu.be/Sula8Wp-v5M?si=IvfpEoIyOMbzEknD&t=87
Mayor Wixom sought Council consensus to hear Business Item 9.a. before
Public Hearing Item 8.a.
4.a Closed Session Report
City Attorney Neumeyer announced no closed session meeting was held
therefore no reportable action.
4.b Mayor and Councilmembers' Reports, Announcements and
Presentations
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https://youtu.be/Sula8Wp-v5M?si=D8CUG7xxbK3kWemW&t=125
4.c City Manager Reports, Announcements and Presentations
None
5. RECOGNITION AND PRESENTATIONS
5.a Measure Q/E Report by CFAC Chair Stephen Peck
https://youtu.be/Sula8Wp-v5M?si=OrY6r4mXFhSjnzY2&t=883
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
https://youtu.be/Sula8Wp-v5M?si=J4KbDzeLUUzpRXDe&t=1280
Jon Elliott introduced Joel Leidinger, a new barber at Northside Mike's located at
2300 Main Street, Suite 2. Visit mikesbarbershop.com for more information.
Joel Leidinger introduced himself and was pleased to be part of the Morro Bay
community.
Linda Winters, Morro Bay, shared her appreciation for advisory board volunteers.
Jeanne Marie Colby, Morro Bay, urged residents to vote yes on Measure A -24
and requested a 90-day comment period for the BESS EIR.
Aaron Ochs, Morro Bay, stated his support for Measure A-24 and shared
concerns regarding Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce.
Nicole Dorfman, Morro Bay, rejected REACH's proposal for the role Morro Bay
may play with regard to the battery project or wind energy. She added her
support for Measure A-24 and a 90-day comment period for the BESS EIR.
Cherise Hansson, Chairperson for the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce,
provided an update on Chamber activities and its search for a new
CEO/President.
An unnamed person requested a 90-day review period for the Vistra EIR.
Nattalia Merzoyan, Morro Bay, disputed offshore wind and battery storage were
green energy and added her support for 90-day review of the Vistra BESS EIR.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, asked why steel plates were placed in several blocks
along Morro Avenue.
An unnamed person concurred with Ms. Dorfman's comments and spoke in
support of Mr. Ochs' recent blog.
Margaret Carmen, Member of REACT Alliance, spoke in opposition to the BESS
project and offshore wind, added her support for Measure A-24 and a 90-day
review period of the BESS EIR.
An unnamed person commented on racism and classism.
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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.
https://youtu.be/Sula8Wp-v5M?si=gdpQVcl_3APpPpar&t=2965
Public Comment:
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, was pleased the Lila Keiser parking lot would be
repaved and hoped the road leading to the park would also be paved.
End of Public Comment
Motion by Council Member Ford
Seconded by Council Member Landrum
Approve Consent Agenda Items 7.a through 7.d 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. December 12, 2023 Special Closed Session Meeting (Revised)
b. January 9, 2024 Special Closed Session Meeting
7.b Application for California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Grant
Authorize the Fire Department to submit applications to the California
Office of Traffic Safety Grant program for hydraulic extrication equipment.
7.c Resolution No. 06-24 for Award of Bid - Project No. MB2022-MA01,
Morro Bay Parking Lots Rehabilitation and Improvements Project
Adopt Resolution No. 06-24 approving an agreement with Ramsey
Asphalt Construction Corp. for Project No. MB2022-MA01, Morro Bay
Parking Lots Rehabilitation and Improvements Project, in an amount not to
exceed $251,467.48. All agreements implementing such project work shall
be processed and based on the review of the City Attorney’s Office to be
in form and substance acceptable to City staff and legal counsel.
7.d Adoption of Resolution No. 07-24 Authorizing Submission of Rural
Transit Fund Grant Application and Execution of Related Documents
Upon Award
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Adopt Resolution No. 07-24 authorizing submission of Rural Transit Fund
(RTF) Grant Application for a new transit bus and execution of related
documents upon award.
8. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
8.a Adoption of Resolution No. 08-24 approving Conditional Use Permit
#CUP22-09 at 801 Embarcadero for redevelopment of the Libertine
Brewing site (Lease site 86/86W) and public access improvements
https://youtu.be/Sula8Wp-v5M?si=lxii0xhYW -5HAzKW&t=5307
Planning Manager Jacinth presented the report, including proposed
language for Condition #25 regarding deferral of plaza improvements until
a plan is prepared that addresses relocation of parking spaces.
Public Comment:
Eric Newton, Applicant, thanked staff and the Planning Commission for
their hard work and guidance, described the collaborative process and
efforts to maximize the property potential, and addressed parking
concerns.
Jeff Heller, Morro Bay, spoke in support of the project.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, illustrated her concerns about extending the
harborwalk 5 ft. beyond the required 10 ft.
An unnamed resident offered comments on the project and suggested this
was an opportunity to consider closing the Embarcadero to private
vehicles.
Linda Donnelly, Morro Bay, expressed concern about the elimination of
parking spaces, particularly accessible spaces.
Terry Simons, Morro Bay, offered comments on parking credits based on
past uses and need to initiate an in-lieu program to fund a parking
structure.
End of public comment.
The Council took a brief recess at 8:39 p.m. and reconvened at 8:46 p.m.
Mr. Graham asked Mr. Neumeyer to read language added to Condition 25
into the record (full text of Condition 25, including proposed addition
(provided below).
25. Plaza improvements shall be deferred until a relocation plan is
prepared that addresses relocation of parking spaces; or unless
relocation of parking spaces for street ends is identified and
included with approval of the future Waterfront Master Plan update.
Deferral of the plaza improvements shall be included in the lease
for the subject property. Plaza improvements shall be installed
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within 24 months of an approved relocation plan for the relocated
parking spaces. Upon written determination by the City Manager
and the Community Development Director, that parking relocation
is unlikely, including but not limited to, through anticipated untimely
delay of the waterfront master plan update, Applicant will within 30
calendar days deposit into the City’s general fund for use in Harbor
area by City a sum equal to the total amount of plaza improvement
cost as reasonably determined by the Community Development
Director based upon industry standards. If within 14 months after
the building permit is issued for Applicant’s project, plaza
improvements have not been determined by the City to move
forward then Applicant has the option of depositing said sum to the
City, rather than waiting for a determination on whether or not
parking relocation will or will not occur.
Mr. Newton was invited back to the podium and agreed on record to
Condition #25, including language read into the record by Mr. Neumeyer.
Mr. Graham noted development without plaza would eliminate four parking
spots. Given this, he suggested adding a condition to investigate the
ability to place an ADA parking space along the frontage or within street
end and/or a passenger drop off loading zone space with priority toward
providing an ADA parking space (new Condition #26)
Motion by Mayor Wixom
Seconded by Council Member Ford
Adopt Resolution No. 08-24, making the necessary findings for approval of
Conditional Use Permit #CUP22-09 as Concept/Precise Plan approval,
located at 801 Embarcadero with the alternative that we modify conditions
of approval from the Planning Commission to include conditions 25 and 26
as articulated by staff and Council.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Landrum, Council Member
Barton, Council Member Edwards, and Council Member Ford
CARRIED (5 to 0)
9. BUSINESS ITEMS
9.a Advisory Board Interviews and Appointments
https://youtu.be/Sula8Wp-v5M?si=zOPuqLeWMrVond9t&t=3109
The following applicants were interviewed to the Planning Commission:
Derek Dahlgren and Joe Ingraffia.
The City Council voted by written ballot and City Clerk Swanson read the
results: Joe Ingraffia received unanimous support by the Mayor and City
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Council Members and was appointed to a 4-year term on the Planning
Commission.
Given this assignment, there was Council consensus to have Mr. Ingraffia
step down from consideration for appointment to the Public Works
Advisory Board.
The following applicants were interviewed to the Public Works Advisory
Board: Derek Dahlgren and Doug Hill.
See first motion below.
Council Member Landrum recused herself from interviews for the
Recreation & Parks Commission given her relationship with one of the
applicants. Ms. Merzoyan withdrew from consideration and Council
Member Landrum returned to the dais.
The following applicants were interviewed to the Recreation and Parks:
Megan Fazio and Betty W inholtz. Following interviews, Ms. Winholtz
offered to serve the partial term.
See second motion below.
Following this item, the Council took a brief recess at 7:00 p.m. and
reconvened at 7:13 p.m.
Motion by Council Member Ford
Seconded by Council Member Barton
Appoint Doug Hill and Derek Dahlgren to 4-year terms on the Public
Works Advisory Board.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Landrum, Council Member
Barton, Council Member Edwards, and Council Member Ford
CARRIED (5 to 0)
Motion by Council Member Ford
Seconded by Council Member Barton
Appoint Megan Fazio for a 4-year term ending January 31, 2028 and
appoint Betty Winholtz to fill the remainder of a term ending January 31,
2025 to the Recreation and Parks Commission.
Ayes (5): Mayor Wixom, Council Member Landrum, Council Member
Barton, Council Member Edwards, and Council Member Ford
CARRIED (5 to 0)
9.b Update on Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 and 2024-25 City Council Goals
and Action Items
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https://youtu.be/Sula8Wp-v5M?si=cFJtyHvzTZN59L-y&t=11447
City Manager Kimball and the Department Directors presented the report
and responded to Council inquiries.
There was Council consensus to continue the meeting past 9:30 p.m.
Public comment:
Jeff Heller, Morro Bay, appreciated the report and suggested the goals
process be tied to what the City is able to fund and accomplish.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, agreed with the City Manager's first three
options as the priorities, along with street striping and STR code
enforcement.
An unnamed resident suggested the City should focus on preservation of
quality of life, not continued growth.
Terry Simons, Morro Bay, appreciated the City's efforts to address
encampments along Quintana Road, suggesting that area is appropriate
for some type of low income housing project.
End of public comment.
There was consensus to direct staff to come back a prioritized status
report update.
No formal action was taken on this item.
10. COUNCIL DECLARATION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
11. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10:19 p.m.
/s/ Dana Swanson, City Clerk