MINUTES - MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING

-
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:
  • Interim City Manager Andrea Lueker
  • City Attorney Brian Stack
  • 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

1.
ESTABLISH QUORUM AND CALL TO ORDER

  

Mayor Wixom called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. with all members present. 

2.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

  

3.
REPORTS

  

3.a
Closed Session Report

  

City Attorney Stack announced the Council met in closed session on Monday, October 13, to discuss two real property matters and one potential litigation matter.  No reportable action was taken under the Brown Act for that meeting.  The Council also met in closed session on Tuesday, October 14, to discuss the City Manager recruitment and no reportable action was taken under the Brown Act.

3.b
Mayor and Councilmembers' Reports, Announcements and Presentations

  

3.c
City Manager Reports, Announcements and Presentations

  

3.d
Subcommittee Reports - Verbal Update of Current Subcommittee Activities

  

4.
RECOGNITION AND PRESENTATIONS

  

5.
PUBLIC COMMENT

  
  • Members of the Morro Bay 4-H Club shared information regarding their programs in honor of National 4-H Week. For more information, contact [email protected].  
  • Linda Winters, Morro Bay, encouraged residents to prepare in advance for weather-related events.
  • Jeff Heller, Morro Bay, appreciated the work of the Council and City staff.
  • Nicole Dorfman, Morro Bay resident and member of REACT Alliance, announced an upcoming event on Saturday, October 25, from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. at Shindig in San Luis Obispo.  
  • Garry Johnson, Morro Bay, acknowledged visitors place a burden on City services, hoped for more information regarding paid parking at the Rock and was not supportive of paid parking at the boat ramp or charging Morro Bay residents a fee for parking.
  • Margaret Carman, Morro Bay, announced SLOCOG was hosting a community forum regarding the Climate Resiliency Plan on Oct 22, from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. at the Nazarene Church in Los Osos.  She also asked whether the contractor would be held responsible for costs associated with the City's response to a recent broken water line. 
  • Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, requested all department heads be seated in the front of the room. 
  • Cal Myers, Morro Bay, clarified the movie night being planned by Friends of the Morro Bay Harbor Dept will be held on Thursday before the Lighted Boat Parade. 
  • Katie Schlott, Morro Bay, thanked City for taking the Morro Elementary negotiations seriously.  

End of public comment.

6.
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 announced Item 6.f. is being pulled from the agenda and moved to the next meeting.

Mayor Wixom opened public comment for items on the Consent Agenda.

  • Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, expressed concern regarding Item 6.g and hoped the Council would set parameters on those discussions.

End of public comment.

Mayor Wixom pulled Item 6.g.  Council Member Luffee pulled Item 6.c.

  • Motion byCouncil Member Landrum
    Seconded byCouncil Member Eckles

    Approve Consent Agenda items except 6.c, 6.f and 6.g as submitted. 

    Ayes (5)Mayor Wixom, Council Member Landrum, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Luffee, and Council Member Eckles
    CARRIED (5 to 0)

6.a
Approval of Minutes

  

  • Approve as submitted.

6.b
Approval of Proclamations

  

  • Approve as submitted.

6.c
Type 3 Fire Engine Vehicle Replacement

This item has attachments.  

Fire Chief McCrain responded to Council questions regarding funding for the Type 3 replacement vehicle.

  • Motion byCouncil Member Landrum
    Seconded byCouncil Member Luffee

    Authorize the Fire Chief to sign a purchase agreement in the amount of $669,101.49 for a Pierce Type 3 Wildland Fire Engine to replace Engine 5371 through South Coast Fire Equipment using a Sourcewell Cooperative purchasing agreement.

    Ayes (5)Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles, Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
    CARRIED (5 to 0)

6.d
Adoption of Resolution No. 52-25 Authorizing the City of Morro Bay to Enter into a Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange Grant Contract and Related Budget Amendment

This item has attachments.  

  • Adopt Resolution No. 52-25 authorizing the Harbor Business Manager to execute and act as the City’s agent for the attached FY 2025-26 Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange Grant (SAVE) Agreement #C25S0605 with the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) for $15,750.00 for funding to remove abandoned/surrendered vessels and hazards to navigation, and authorizing the related budget amendment.

6.e
Adoption of Resolution No. 53-25 Authorizing the City of Morro Bay to Enter Into a Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment Grant Contract and Related Budget Amendment

This item has attachments.  

  • Adopt Resolution No. 53-25, authorizing the Harbor Business Manger to execute and act as the City’s agent for the attached FY 2025-26 Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment Grant (BSEE) Agreement # C25L0604 with the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) in the amount of $32,689.96 to purchase two replacement transom assemblies and two outdrives, and authorizing the related budget amendment.

6.f
Determination of Public Convenience or Necessity for ABC License - 640 Quintana Road, Morro Bay Cigarettes, Inc.

This item has attachments.  

This item was pulled from the agenda.

6.g
Letter of Interest from LOCSD regarding shared fire protection and emergency medical services

This item has attachments.  

Fire Chief McCrain responded to Council inquiries regarding shared fire protection and emergency medical services for LOCSD.  There was Council support for creating a subcommittee to participate in the analysis of obligations involved in providing shared services and how that might impact the level of service for our community.

  • Motion byCouncil Member Landrum
    Seconded byCouncil Member Luffee

    Authorize City staff to prepare a response to the letter of interest exploring shared fire and EMS services.

    Ayes (5)Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles, Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
    CARRIED (5 to 0)

7.
PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS

  

8.
BUSINESS ITEMS

  

8.a
Advisory Board Interviews and Citizens Oversight/Finance Advisory Committee Appointment

This item has attachments.  

Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 8.a; seeing none, the public comment period was closed.

Michael Jones was unable to attend interviews due to illness and, given two more seats come available February 1, 2026, the Council agreed to hold his application open for the annual recruitment.    

Mayor Wixom invited Mr. Branin forward to introduce himself. 

  • Motion byCouncil Member Landrum
    Seconded byCouncil Member Luffee

    Appoint Barry Branin to fill an unscheduled vacancy on the Citizens Oversight/Finance Advisory Committee (“CFAC”) for two years and carry forward the applicant that was unable to attend tonight.

    Ayes (5)Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles, Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee
    CARRIED (5 to 0)

8.b
Adopt Resolution No. 54-25 revising the City of Morro Bay Community Grant Policy

This item has attachments.  

Interim City Manager Lueker presented the report and responded to Council inquiries.

Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 8.b

  • Dina Lundquist, Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce CEO, expressed concern the proposed policy changes disproportionately burden smaller organizations.    
  • Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, opined the process was too formal and overly burdensome. 

End of public comment.

Following individual comments and discussion, there was Council consensus to rescind the 2019 Community Grants Policy and reevaluate opportunities to support local non-profit groups by way of partnership agreements and event fee waivers. 

  • Motion byCouncil Member Eckles
    Seconded byCouncil Member Landrum

    Rescind Resolution No. 67-19.

    Ayes (5)Mayor Wixom, Council Member Landrum, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Luffee, and Council Member Eckles
    CARRIED (5 to 0)

8.c
Short-Term Rental Ordinance Implementation - Quarterly Update

This item has attachments.  

Community Development Director Singewald presented the report and responded to Council inquiries.

Mayor Wixom opened public comment on Item 8.c.

  • Barry Branin, Morro Bay, suggested the STR ordinance be amended to eliminate the grandfather clause or impose a 3-to-5-year limit.  
  • Michelle Leicester-Cadaret, Morro Bay, supported limiting terms and requested fire pits be phased out.   
  • Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, supported removing the grandfather clause, suggested unhosted hotels be required to comply with the STR ordinance, opposed issuance of new permits except for homeshares, and supported increased fines for non-compliance.  
  • Jeff Heller, Morro Bay, hoped for a reduction in the number of licenses and supported increased fines for non-compliance.  He suggested residents be given authority to enforce rules and rescind licenses, offering the Palm Springs ordinance as a good example to follow.  
  • Maggie Juren, Beach N Bay Getaways & U Relax Vacation Rentals, offered the STR permitting process was time consuming but effective, and urged the Council to not reduce the number of permits issued as there will be attrition due to non-transference of permit upon sale.  She noted almost all licensed STRs would not convert to full home rentals and the housing shortage is largely due to second homes.  She requested Council allow the current regulations time to achieve their intended purpose.  

End of public comment.

The Council directed staff to return with an ordinance increasing fine amounts as allowed by SB 60 and reconsider the issuance of homeshare permits in January. 

The Council took a brief recess at 7:45 p.m. and reconvened at 7:56 p.m. with all members present.

8.d
Discussion and Request for Direction Regarding Potential to Establish Local Campaign Finance Contribution Limits

This item has attachments.  

City Attorney Stack presented the report and responded to Council inquiries.

Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 8.d; seeing none, the public comment period was closed.

Following comments and discussion, there was Council consensus to direct staff to bring back an ordinance establishing a $500 campaign contribution limit with alternatives for enforcement. 

9.
COUNCIL DECLARATION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

  

Council Member Landrum requested the list of pending future agenda items be listed at the bottom of the agenda.  Ms. Lueker offered to send it to Council on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. 

With the economic vitality goal in mind, Council Member Landrum requested discussion of how to create policies (vacancy tax or other mechanism) to encourage owners of vacant property to put businesses in them and address blight (vacant commercial properties at the two entrances to Morro Bay and the Vistra property were listed as examples).  Also, in light of discussion on STRs, wished to explore a possible tax on secondary homes.  Lastly, she hoped to find a way to encourage property owners along the Embarcadero to use vacant property for parking rather than taking steps to implement paid parking at the Rock, and requested an update on the camping ordinance and massage business regulations. 

10.
ADJOURNMENT

  

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Dana Swanson, City Clerk

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