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:
  • 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
  • Accounting Manager Megan Schotborgh

1.
ESTABLISH QUORUM AND CALL TO ORDER

  

Mayor Wixom announced she was participating via teleconference while traveling to Washington D.C. on City business.  The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. with all members present.  

The Mayor announced Agenda Item 9.a. was being continued to a future meeting.

2.
MOMENT OF SILENCE

  

In remembrance of Morro Bay resident, Terry Simons, who recently passed.

3.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

  

4.
REPORTS

  

5.
RECOGNITION AND PRESENTATIONS

  

6.
PUBLIC COMMENT

  

https://youtu.be/SccdHqjw4oU?si=4GgrFb-T_EiFYatN&t=2487

Mayor Wixom announced this is the time for members of the audience to address the Council on matters not on the agenda that are within the jurisdiction of the City. This means that comments must be limited to City business. Those desiring to speak on items on the agenda but unable to stay for the item may also address the Council at this time.

The Council requests that you refrain from making slanderous, profane, or personal remarks.

  • Shaun Farmer, Morro Bay, requested City and community assistance to continue hosting the annual Kite Festival and hoped something could be done to improve traffic flow.   
  • Cherise Hansson, Morro Bay resident and business owner, suggested the City modify the Waterfront Master Plan Advisory Committee to ensure local businesses and fishermen are represented.    
  • Kiernan Cottle, Morro Bay, offered comments.  
  • Margaret Carman, Morro Bay, opposed approval of the contract presented in Item 7.d and hoped the City would seek more bids.  Regarding Item 7.g., she urged the City to reconsider support for AB 303 letter as currently written.  
  • Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, expressed concern for residents along Panorama who may be affected by the coming storm and thanked the City for funding street improvements.  
  • Michelle Leicester-Cadaret, Morro Bay, commented on the contamination caused by the Moss Landing Fire, expressed concern regarding potential landslides along Panorama, and urged the City to curtail spending on Vets Hall A/V improvements.  
  • Assemblymember Dawn Addis appreciated the City and community's support of AB 303.   
  • Linda Winters, Morro Bay, thanked members of Council and City staff for their letters of encouragement and Morro Bay Fire Department for delivering storm preparedness flyers.

End of public comment.

7.
CONSENT AGENDA

  

https://youtu.be/SccdHqjw4oU?si=RqES_-7xHXt_10IF&t=3812

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 the Consent Agenda.

  • Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, commented on Items 7b, 7c and 7d. 

End of public comment.

Mayor Wixom pulled Item 7.d, Council Member Landrum pulled Item 7.c, and Council Member Edwards pulled item 7.g.

  • Motion byCouncil Member Eckles
    Seconded byCouncil Member Luffee

    Approve consent agenda items 7.a, 7.b, 7.e and 7.f 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.

7.b
Review and Adopt Final Funding Recommendations for the 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program

This item has attachments.  

  • Adopt Resolution No. 06-25 approving final recommendations for the City’s share of 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to 5 Cities Homeless Coalition ($3,000) for homelessness prevention services and the City of Morro Bay Public Works Department for ADA sidewalk repairs ($48,255) and forward recommendations to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. Additionally, staff recommends the City Council authorize the City Manager to make pro rata adjustments to the allocation based on the final funding amount from HUD’s final grant amount to the County. The recommended action is consistent with action taken by the Council on November 12, 2024, and will formalize and affirm the draft recommendations approved on that date.

7.c
Receive and File Fiscal Year 2024 Quarter 4 WRF Quarterly Report

This item has attachments.  

https://youtu.be/SccdHqjw4oU?si=cx9tGOjOQ7PxYnzP&t=4353

Public Works Director Kwolek responded to Council inquiries and committed to posting all WRF quarterly reports on the WRF and City websites.  

  • Motion byCouncil Member Landrum
    Seconded byCouncil Member Luffee

    Review and file the Fiscal Year 2024 4th Quarter WRF Quarterly Report and have staff bring back reports quarterly rather than twice a year. 

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

7.d
Approval of Agreement with Bill Gaines Audio, Inc., for Design and Installation Services for the Vets Hall Audio Visual Upgrades Project

This item has attachments.  

https://youtu.be/SccdHqjw4oU?si=dQmHIIwFpbRGT5QD&t=5322

Public Works Director Kwolek announced upon further negotiations, the cost for the design portion had been reduced to $15,000 for a revised total not to exceed contract amount of $285,500. 

Council Members Landrum and Eckles expressed interest in limiting project costs to the available PEG funding amount of $227,000 by coming to agreement on the project design.  Council Member Luffee and Mayor Wixom wished to review design alternatives to better understand how the higher end alternative would potentially reduce long-term operator costs. 

  • Motion byMayor Wixom
    Seconded byCouncil Member Edwards

    Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement in the not-to-exceed amount of $285,500.00 with Bill Gaines Audio, Inc., (BGA) to perform design and installation services for the Vets Hall Audio Visual Upgrades Project and see this come back to us.

    Ayes (3)Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, and Council Member Luffee
    Noes (2)Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Eckles
    CARRIED (3 to 2)

7.e
Authorize FY 2024/25 Community Grant Funds Awarded to Morro Bay Maritime Museum to be used for a Revised Project

This item has attachments.  

  • Review request received from the Morro Bay Maritime Museum and, pursuant to the City’s Community Grant Policy adopted by Resolution No. 73-19, authorize the Morro Bay Maritime Museum to direct the $5,000 Grant Award previously approved by City Council for paving the Kid’s Cove area, rather than the original stated purpose of building a walkway.

7.f
First and Second Quarter Investment Reports (periods ending September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2024) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25

This item has attachments.  

  • Receive the attached First Quarter and Second Quarter Investment Reports (periods ending September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2024) for FY 2024-25.

7.g
Receive and file letter of support for Assembly Bill 303 (Addis)

This item has attachments.  

https://youtu.be/SccdHqjw4oU?si=huz7xxwT9TFYbsJY&t=4973

Council Member Edwards appreciated the City's effort to prepare this letter and Assemblymember Addis's efforts to bring forward this proposed legislation, noting this aligns with the recently adopted urgency ordinance.  Council Member Landrum agreed with public comment the 3,200 ft. buffer was insufficient.

  • Motion byCouncil Member Edwards
    Seconded byCouncil Member Luffee

    Receive and file letter of support for proposed legislation Assembly Bill (AB) 303, the Battery Energy Safety and Accountability Act (Addis).

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

8.
PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS

  

None

9.
BUSINESS ITEMS

  

9.a
Introduce an Ordinance Amending Title 7 (Animals) of the Morro Bay Municipal Code

This item has attachments.  

This item was continued to a future meeting.

9.b
Presentation and Discussion of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

This item has attachments.  

https://youtu.be/SccdHqjw4oU?si=-C86ELV3oRfEJHR_&t=6214

Finance Director Conrad introduced Lindsay Zimmerman from Brown Armstrong, who presented the ACFR and responded to Council inquiries.

Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 9.b; seeing none, the public comment period was closed.

  • Motion byCouncil Member Eckles
    Seconded byCouncil Member Edwards

    Receive the the FY 2023-24 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), FY 2023-24 Annual Street Report, FY 2023-24 Transit Operator Financial Transactions Report, and FY 2024-25 Prop 172 Maintenance of Effort Certification. 

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

10.
COUNCIL DECLARATION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

  

None.

11.
ADJOURNMENT

  

The meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m.

No Item Selected