AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
PRIOR TO THE MEETING
AGENDA NO: PC
MEETING DATE: May 13, 2025
1 Heather Goodwin
From: Debbie Jones
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 7:28 PM
To: Council
Subject: Environmental review
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
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Dear Mayor Wixom and Council Members
As you already know, I was one of those consƟtuents that was surprised by your vote to stop the environmental review. I am not alone as there has been a lot of public comments about the issue.
There is a way to legally move on and reconsider this vote so that the review can be completed and the project can be opened up to public comment. Please consider uƟlizing the procedures for ReconsideraƟon to reconsider that vote in the Tuesday, May 13th meeƟng, allowing the study to be completed as planned. This will allow for true transparency with your consƟtuents.
Thank you
Debbie Jones
North Morro Bay resident
AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
PRIOR TO THE MEETING
AGENDA NO: PC & 7f
MEETING DATE: May 13, 2025
AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
PRIOR TO THE MEETING
AGENDA NO: 7d
MEETING DATE: May 13, 2025
AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
PRIOR TO THE MEETING
AGENDA NO: 7f
MEETING DATE: May 13, 2025
AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
PRIOR TO THE MEETING
AGENDA NO: 9a
MEETING DATE: May 13, 2025
Page | 1
Lic. # 394886
495 Embarcadero
Morro Bay, Ca. 93442
May 12, 2025
Mayor Carla Wixom and Morro Bay City Council
[email protected]
Continued Financial Support of the City of Morro Bay’s Chamber of Commerce This letter is to encourage the City Council to continue financial and resources support of the Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber of Commerce provides a vital resource to the city council and all the contributory committees in developing, planning, and executing the growth and prosperity of our city.
The City council should approve a realistic budget and contract to allow this Chamber to continue their valuable contribution.
Regards,
Paul E. Gillen
President
Associated Pacific Constructors
495 Embarcadero
Morro Bay, CA 93442
P: 805-772-7472
C: 805 234 5055
www.associatedpacific.com
Casey Kelso, Owner
Legends Bar
899 Main St.
Morro Bay, CA 93442
May 9, 2025
RE: Support for $90,000 Contract with the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce Dear City Council Members,
As the owner of Legends Bar, a small business proudly operating in Morro Bay, I am writing to express my support for the proposed $90,000 contract with the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce.
For the last few years, the Chamber has been a valuable partner in promoting local downtown business, driving foot traffic downtown, and creating opportunities for collaboration and growth. The events, marketing initiatives, and business advocacy led by the Chamber directly contribute to the vitality of our business community.
The Chamber has the infrastructure, relationships, and expertise to amplify the city’s goals for business retention, tourism and downtown development.
I urge the City Council to approve the contract and continue working closely with the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce to support small business and drive sustainable growth in Morro Bay.
Sincerely,
Casey Kelso, Owner
Legends Bar
1 Heather Goodwin
From: Yvonne Kimball
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 5:57 PM
To: Council
Subject: 9a. Chamber contract
Council,
We received a few questions on 9a. Chamber Contract.
1. How much other fees has the City paid the Chamber outside of the monthly contractual payments this year or since July 1, 2024?
a. $600 for staff support related to the City’s 60th Anniversary celebrations b. $20 for annual summit tickets
c. $95 for gala ticket
What is not included are any payments via credit card. That information is less easily accessible as it requires pulling monthly credit card statements for each cardholder and reviewing each transaction. That would take staff an estimated 8-10 hours to pull. If needed, Council can collectively direct staff to proceed with this research.
2. What is the most common type of business license applications? The most common type of business application is a contractor license. Here is Page 159 of City’s Financial statements. Here is a link to the full document: 2024-Annual-Comprehensive-Financial-Report
2 3. Page 112 of the agenda packet, the second paragraph referred to “$44,000 plus additional fees” as the total amount for the scope of work. It should have been $45,000. Sorry I miscounted.
4. What should Council do with tasks listed in Page 112 to Page 114? It is not intended for Council to discuss or provide direction on each individual task. Instead, Council is recommended to establish a dollar amount parameter for the contract, should it wish to continue a contract with the Chamber. For context, the detailed tasks were developed in response to Chamber’s original proposal at $90,000 x 2 years. This suggested list serves to clarify areas where Chamber and City can realistically collaborate.
5. We have requested financial statments and staff resumes from the Chamber of Commerce. CEO responded that resumes will be presented at tomorrow’s meeting, and the financials will be by the end of the week.
Yvonne Kimball
City Manager
City of Morro Bay
RE Item 9a Economic Development
Subject: Urgent Need for a Dedicated Economic Development Function in Morro Bay Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council,
I am writing to you today to express my strong concern regarding the lack of a dedicated economic development function within the City of Morro Bay and to urge the establishment of such a vital resource without delay. I am writing this as a resident, property owner and business owner.
As you are well aware, the business community is the cornerstone of Morro Bay's financial stability, contributing approximately 46% of the City's General Fund through sales tax revenue, BUSINESS property taxes, business license fees, and other related sources. A significant portion of this revenue is generated by our long-standing, stable businesses that reliably serve the local population year round.
While we also benefit from new businesses, many of which cater to the tourism sector, this segment often experiences considerable turnover due to factors such as unrealistic expectations and inadequate planning. Currently, our established businesses have the Chamber of Commerce as a valuable resource.
However, new businesses entering our community lack a dedicated point of contact for crucial guidance beyond basic factual information provided by city staff.
City staff, while dedicated and knowledgeable, are not equipped to provide the nuanced insights necessary for new businesses to thrive. Factors like seasonality, local events, weather patterns, and effective marketing strategies are critical for success. This is precisely where a dedicated economic development function becomes indispensable.
An economic development professional or department would serve as a vital resource for these new ventures, offering guidance, connecting them with relevant resources, and fostering a supportive environment for growth. This proactive approach is not just about attracting new businesses; it is fundamentally about ensuring their long-term viability and contribution to our local economy.
It is concerning that we may be overlooking the very sector that provides nearly half of our existing funding. A review of successful municipal agencies consistently reveals a core economic development activity driving stability and growth.
Therefore, I strongly urge the City of Morro Bay to shift its focus from simply asking what new businesses can do for our community to proactively asking what Morro Bay can do to attract and, more importantly, retain strong and stable businesses. Investing in a dedicated economic development function is not an expenditure; it is a strategic investment in the future economic health and resilience of Morro Bay.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this critical matter. I look forward to your positive response and action on this important issue.
I will point out that I don't believe that these funds for Economic Development will not even come out of the General Fund but will instead come from the recent increase in sales tax in Morro Bay.
Sincerely,
Ken MacMillan
20+ Year resident and business owner in Morro Bay
2 sales tax collection, it also shows that we need help in the areas that have historically been much greater economic drivers.
All the best,
Susan Stewart
Beads by the Bay