City Council Regular Meeting - July 22, 2025
1. ESTABLISH QUORUM AND CALL TO ORDER
Public Comments:
Mayor Wixom called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. with all members present.
2. MOMENT OF SILENCE
Public Comments:
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Public Comments:
4. REPORTS
Public Comments:
4.a
Closed Session Report
Public Comments:
https://youtu.be/8P64QbWAyoA?si=Mruj5bh8tP8hf2gP&t=81
Interim City Attorney Schultz announced no action was taken in Closed Session that required reporting under the Brown Act.
4.b
Mayor and Councilmembers' Reports, Announcements and Presentations Public Comments:
https://youtu.be/8P64QbWAyoA?si=Iy_XHA9ngli_B3h0&t=98
4.c
City Manager Reports, Announcements and Presentations
Public Comments:
https://youtu.be/8P64QbWAyoA?si=-NDl3YlyQ1L6DRuU&t=615
4.d
Subcommittee Reports - Verbal Update of Current Subcommittee Activities Public Comments:
https://youtu.be/8P64QbWAyoA?si=i11vJWzOnxzWRy1h&t=710
None
a.
Water Reclamation Facility & Morro Bay / Cayucos Sanitary District JPA Public Comments:
b.
Morro Bay Power Plant (Vistra)
Public Comments:
c.
Offshore Wind Energy
Public Comments:
d.
Morro Elementary School
Public Comments:
5. RECOGNITION AND PRESENTATIONS
Public Comments:
5.a
Donation Presentation by Friends of the Morro Bay Fire Department Public Comments:
This item was postponed to a future meeting.
5.b
National Night Out Proclamation
Public Comments:
https://youtu.be/8P64QbWAyoA?si=-GcYIADvz2DkADs1&t=744
Presented to Police Chief Amy Watkins who announced the City's National Night Out event will take place Tuesday, August 5th at Cloisters Park from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Comments:
Alice Kolb, Morro Bay, announced an upcoming Historical Society event to be held at at Calvary Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall at 3:00 p.m. on July 27th.
Courtney Shepler, Morro Bay, invited the Council to have a community dialogue regarding fireworks regulations and consider a drone show as a children and dog friendly alternative.
Nicole Dorfman, Morro Bay resident and representative of REACT Alliance, promoted an upcoming event to be held Saturday, July 26th at Tidelands Park from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Barry Branin, Morro Bay, offered a suggested approach to retire debt related to construction of the Water Reclamation Facility in order to remove the water/sewer surcharge from monthly bills.
Linda Winters, Morro Bay, expressed concern about the manner in which the City communicated Ms. Kimball's dismissal.
Garry Johnson, Morro Bay, welcomed Ms. Lueker as Interim City Manager and shared his appreciation to the Fire Department for their response to a recent medical call.
Kiernan Cottle, Morro Bay, offered his thoughts on community.
Lynda Merrill, Morro Bay, spoke in support of adding pickleball courts and, regarding Item 9.a, requested the Council not revise the public comment policy.
June Swall, Morro Bay resident and representative of Friends of Morro Elementary School, announced Conductor Kent Nagano would be interested in doing a fundraising concert to support community efforts to purchase Morro Elementary.
Margaret Carman, Morro Bay, looked forward to the upcoming Historical Society event. Regarding Item 9.a., she hoped the Council would not limit public comment to 30 minutes and wished to have an overhead projector.
Michelle Leicester-Cadaret, Morro Bay, requested the City ban fireworks and explore the option of having a drone show.
Nancy Johnson, Morro Bay, was pleased to welcome Ms. Lueker as Interim City Manager.
End of public comment.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
Public Comments:
https://youtu.be/8P64QbWAyoA?si=Gqm-DeDqmNntKO2U&t=2868 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 items on the Consent Agenda; seeing none, the public comment period was closed.
Council Member Eckles pulled Item 7.c.
Motion by
Mayor Wixom
Seconded by
Council Member Edwards
Approve Consent Agenda items 7.a and 7.b as submitted.
Ayes (5)
Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles, Council Member Landrum, Council Member Luffee, and Mayor Wixom CARRIED (5 to 0)
7.a
Approval of Minutes
Public Comments:
Approve as submitted.
a.
June 10, 2025 - Regular Council Meeting
Attachments
|
Public Comments
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CCRM_Jun10_2025 - English.pdf
b.
June 24, 2025 - Special Closed Session Meeting
Attachments
|
Public Comments
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CCCM_Jun24_2025 - English.pdf
c.
June 24, 2025 - Regular Meeting Minutes
Attachments
|
Public Comments
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CCRM_Jun24_2025 - English(1).pdf
d.
June 25 and 27, 2025 - Special Closed Session Meeting
Attachments
|
Public Comments
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CCCM_Jun25_2025 - English.pdf
e.
June 27, 2025 - Special Closed Session Meeting
Attachments
|
Public Comments
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CCCM_Jun27_2025 - English.pdf
f.
July 1, 2025 - Special Closed Session Meeting
Attachments
|
Public Comments
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CCCM_Jul01_2025 - English.pdf
g.
July 10, 2025 - Special Meeting Minutes
Attachments
|
Public Comments
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - City Council Special Meeting_Jul10_2025 - English.pdf
7.b
Proclamations
Public Comments:
Approve as submitted.
a.
Proclamation declaring August 5, 2025, as "National Night Out" in Morro Bay Attachments
|
Public Comments
1. 7b 2025 National Night Out Proclamation.pdf
7.c
Approval of a 2-Year Lease Extension with Let's Get Tuned, LLC for property located at 781 Market Avenue Attachments
|
Public Comments
1. 7c SR_Let's Get Tuned Lease_2025.pdf
2. 7c1 Lease at 781 Market_Let's Get Tuned_2025.pdf
https://youtu.be/8P64QbWAyoA?si=q-mYaf_hJaSLrOk6&t=2918 Council Member Eckles noted an error in Item 3.1 where the numerical and written values for monthly rent did not match. Staff concurred and agreed to correct the written dollar amount to match the numerical value of $5,528.
Motion by
Council Member Eckles
Seconded by
Council Member Luffee
Approve and authorize the Interim City Manager to execute a 2-year lease extension, with the corrections noted, for the City-owned property located at 781 Market Avenue (APN: 066-321-027).
Ayes (5)
Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles, Council Member Landrum, Council Member Luffee, and Mayor Wixom CARRIED (5 to 0)
8. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
Public Comments:
9. BUSINESS ITEMS
Public Comments:
9.a
Discussion and Consideration of Adoption of Proposed Changes to the Council Policies & Procedures Attachments
|
Public Comments
1. 9a SR Revise Council Policies and Procedures.pdf
2. 9a1 Council Policies Procedures Manual_2025.07.09 Draft.pdf
3. 9a2 Reso No 44-25 Amending and Readopting Council Policies and Procedures.pdf https://youtu.be/8P64QbWAyoA?si=Vb8UCV64z6tBHKAU&t=3047 City Attorney Schultz presented the report and responded to Council inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened public comment for Item 9.a.
https://youtu.be/8P64QbWAyoA?si=Ys0dgF12AIu_Egu5&t=5401 Tim Crowley, Morro Bay, opposed limiting public comment to 30 minutes.
Courtney Shepler, Morro Bay, urged the Council to defer voting on the item to allow further review and provide each Council Member an opportunity to review with the City Attorney and Clerk. She suggested speaker slips be required for public comment and expressed concerns about Chapter 8.
Nancy Johnson, Morro Bay, spoke in support of the policy update and, if not tonight, hoped it would be approved very soon.
Garry Johnson, Morro Bay, opposed the required use of speaker slips.
End of public comment.
Following discussion, there was consensus to approve the revised Council Policies with the following changes: Section 1.2.7, Council Member Reports and Announcements have a 'suggested' limit of 3 minutes each to allow flexibility; Section 3.11 specify the City's participation in an Amicus Curiae be consistent with the adopted legislative platform; and Section 5.6.3 regarding handling of private, personal and confidential mail specify staff will notify the Council Member they have confidential mail in their mailbox.
Motion by
Council Member Eckles
Seconded by
Council Member Luffee
Adopt Resolution No. 44-25 approving the revised Policies with the following changes: 1) the section regarding the City Attorney's filing of an Amicus brief be revised to state the the brief must be consistent with the adopted legislative platform; 2) the section on the handling of confidential mail specify staff will notify the Council Member they have confidential mail in their mailbox; and 3) the time limit for Council Member announcements have a suggested limit of three minutes and suggested limit of five minutes for staff.
Ayes (5)
Mayor Wixom, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Eckles, Council Member Landrum, and Council Member Luffee CARRIED (5 to 0)
10. COUNCIL DECLARATION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Public Comments:
https://youtu.be/8P64QbWAyoA?si=8cwnLSAdiuxoSzZW&t=7638 Council Member Eckles requested and received full support for consideration of a revised fireworks ordinance.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Public Comments:
The meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Dana Swanson, City Clerk