City Council Regular Meeting - September 23, 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. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Public Comments:
3. REPORTS
Public Comments:
3.a
Closed Session Report
Public Comments:
The City Council reconvened in Open Session and City Attorney Stack announced the Council met in closed session to discuss two real property matters: the Morro Elementary site located at 1130/1330 Napa Ave. and the former wastewater treatment plant site located at 160/180 Atascadero Road and 1700 Embarcadero. No reportable action was taken under the Brown Act.
3.b
Mayor and Councilmembers' Reports, Announcements and Presentations Public Comments:
3.c
City Manager Reports, Announcements and Presentations
Public Comments:
3.d
Subcommittee Reports - Verbal Update of Current Subcommittee Activities Public Comments:
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:
4. RECOGNITION AND PRESENTATIONS
Public Comments:
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Comments:
Pete Rogers, Executive Director of SLOCOG, invited the public to attend community workshops regarding Local Roads First and a potential future sales tax measure, and the Morro Bay Estuary Climate Resiliency Transportation Plan. He also provided an update regarding environmental studies for the Highway 1/41 roundabout.
Joe Silano, Morro Bay, protested paid parking at the Tidelands boat ramp parking lot.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, appreciated the recent crosswalk striping work, requested SLOCOG come to the October PWAB meeting, and commented on paid parking at the Tidelands launch ramp.
Linda Winters, Morro Bay, appreciated the announcement regarding allowable mobile home rent increases and provided a Monday night dinner update.
End of public comment.
6. CONSENT AGENDA
Public Comments:
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, spoke to investment report, asking how the Council intends to spend interest earnings.
End of public
comment.
Mayor Wixom pulled Item 6.d, Council Member Luffee pulled Item 6.g., and Council Member Eckles pulled Item 6.h.
Motion by
Council Member Landrum
Seconded by
Council Member Luffee
Approve Consent Agenda items except 6.d., 6.g, and 6.h as presented 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
Public Comments:
Approve as submitted.
a.
September 9, 2025 - Regular Council Meeting
Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CCRM_Sep09_2025 - English.pdf
b.
September 9, 2025 - Special Closed Session Meeting
Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CCCM_Sep09_2025 - English.pdf
6.b
Proclamations
Public Comments:
Approve as submitted.
a.
Proclamation declaring September 21 - 27, 2025 as the 21st Annual Sea Otter Awareness Week Attachments
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Public Comments
1. 6b Proclamation Sea Otter Awareness Week 2025.pdf
6.c
Equipment donation from the Friends of the Morro Bay Fire Department Attachments
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Public Comments
1. 6c SR Approve Drone Donation from Friends of the Fire Dept.pdf
2. 6c1 Friends of MB Fire Dept Donation Acceptance Agreement Drone.pdf Accept the donated equipment from the Friends of the Morro Bay Fire Department and authorize the City Manager to execute the Donation Agreement.
6.d
Adoption of Resolution No. 49-25 Reaffirming the City's Pledge to Follow Best Practices of Civility and Civil Discourse Attachments
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Public Comments
1. 6d Readopt Civil Discourse Resolution.pdf
2. 6d1 Reso 07-19 Civility and Civil Discourse.pdf
3. 6d2 Reso 49-25 Reaffirming Civil Discourse Policy.pdf Mayor Wixom read Resolution No. 49-25 into the record.
Motion by
Mayor Wixom
Seconded by
Council Member Landrum
Adopt Resolution No. 49-25 reaffirming the City's Civil Discourse Policy.
Ayes (5)
Mayor Wixom, Council Member Landrum, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Luffee, and Council Member Eckles CARRIED (5 to 0)
6.e
Ordinance No. 672 amending Morro Bay Municipal Code Chapter 8.12 pertaining to Weeds, Rubbish, and Defensible Space Attachments
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Public Comments
1. 6e SR Weeds Rubbish and Defensible Space ordinance second hearing.pdf
2. 6e1 Ord 672 Weed Abatement Ordinance Draft 2025a1.pdf Adopt Ordinance No. 672, "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Morro Bay, California, Amending Title 8 (Health and Safety) of the Morro Bay Municipal Code to amend and rename Chapter 8.12 Weeds, Rubbish and Defensible Space."
6.f
National Opioid Settlement Agreements with Purdue Pharma, the Sackler Family and Secondary Manufacturers Attachments
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Public Comments
1. 6f Opioid Settlement SR.pdf
2. 6f1 Reso 50-25 - Sackler and Secondary Defs.pdf
Approve Settlement Agreements and Participation Forms for the City’s participation in the National Opioid Settlement Agreements with Purdue Pharma, Sackler Family and opioid manufacturers Alvogen, Amneal, Apotex, Hikma, Indivior, Mylan, Sun and Zydus (“Secondary Manufacturers”) Reaffirm approval of California State-Subdivision Agreements Regarding Distribution and Use of Settlement Funds relating to the National Opioid Settlement Agreements Adopt Resolution No. 50-25 approving and authorizing the City Manager to carry out all necessary acts such that the City can participate in the National Opioid Settlements with Purdue Pharma, the Sackler Family and Secondary Manufacturers, including signing necessary documents and transmittal thereof as necessary.
Approve disbursement of settlement funds to County (default option) while reserving option for direct distribution of further settlement funds to City in the future.
6.g
Approve Crill's Saltwater Taffy Inc. Master Lease Agreement Attachments
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Public Comments
1. 6g SR Approve Crills Lease Agreement.pdf
2. 6g1 Reso 51-25 New 137 MLA . v2.pdf
3. 6g2 Draft Master Lease Crills 2025 V2.pdf
4. 6g2a Exhibit A Map.pdf
5. 6g2b Exhibit B Crills Proposal_Aug 2025.pdf
Staff responded to Council inquiries.
Motion by
Council Member Luffee
Seconded by
Council Member Landrum
Adopt Resolution No. 51-25 approving new lease agreement for Crill's Saltwater Taffy located at 1247 Embarcadero.
Ayes (5)
Mayor Wixom, Council Member Landrum, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Luffee, and Council Member Eckles CARRIED (5 to 0)
6.h
Fourth Quarter Investment Report (period ending June 30, 2025) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 Attachments
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Public Comments
1. 6h SR FY24-25 Q4 Investment Report.pdf
2. 6h1 FY 2024-25_Q4 Investment Report.pdf
Council Member Eckles commented on the report.
Motion by
Council Member Eckles
Seconded by
Council Member Luffee
Receive the attached Fourth Quarter Investment Report (period ending June 30, 2025) for FY 2024-25.
Ayes (5)
Mayor Wixom, Council Member Landrum, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Luffee, and Council Member Eckles CARRIED (5 to 0)
7. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
Public Comments:
7.a
Continued Public Hearing and Adoption of Resolution No. 47-25 Updating and Establishing Various User and Regulatory Fees Attachments
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Public Comments
1. 7a SR Discussion and Adoption of User Fees.pdf
2. 7a1 Planning Fees.pdf
3. 7a2 Building Part A.pdf
4. 7a3 Building Part B.pdf
5. 7a4 Building Part C.pdf
6. 7a5 Reso 47-25 User Fee Study Results FY 25-26.pdf
7. 7a6 Illustration of Current and Proposed Fees.pdf
Interim City Manager Lueker and Community Development Director Singewald presented the report and, along with Finance Director Conrad, responded to Council inquiries.
Mayor Wixom opened the public hearing and public comment for Item 7.a.
Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay, raised questions regarding CPI calculations and permit requirements for individual repairs.
Dina Lundquist, Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce CEO, offered comments on behalf of the business community.
End of public comment.
Mayor Wixom closed the public hearing.
Following individual comments, there was Council consensus and support for the proposed fees as presented by staff, with an effective date of January 1, 2026, with the following exceptions:
Phase in of Planning and Building fee increases are subject to a 10% cap (up to 10%) plus CPI per year, Deposit amounts are not subject to a 10% cap,
Business license fees are to remain at the current rate plus allowable CPI increase, In consideration of adopted City goals, temporarily reduce Sign Permit Fees to 50% of cost recovery for 12 months, Increase T-Pier Electrical Convenience Fee daily rate to $25, Increase Triangle Lot Trailer/Boat Storage monthly rate to $145, Increase Harbor Impound Fee to 100% cost recovery,
Adopt fee text revisions as recommended by staff, and
Adjust vacation rental monitoring and appeal fees to 100% cost recovery Staff confirmed the 10% cap on any increase is not inclusive of CPI (i.e., up to 10% increase plus CPI) and that the fee schedule, subject to 10% maximum increase plus CPI, would be reviewed again in April for Fiscal Year 2026-27.
Motion by
Council Member Eckles
Seconded by
Council Member Landrum
Continue the public hearing, receive the presentation of the user and regulatory fees, including Council member comments and staff responses, and adopt Resolution No. 47-25 updating and establishing various user and regulatory fees, as agreed upon by the Council majority.
Ayes (5)
Mayor Wixom, Council Member Landrum, Council Member Edwards, Council Member Luffee, and Council Member Eckles CARRIED (5 to 0)
8. BUSINESS ITEMS
Public Comments:
9. COUNCIL DECLARATION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Public Comments:
Mayor Wixom commented the City Council's joint meeting with CFAC would be an opportunity to look at the Business Tax Schedule and Council Member Edwards suggested CFAC also review the Revenue Policy before it comes to Council. The Mayor agreed the joint meeting would be an opportunity to have a discussion about what goals would be directed toward the CFAC's work plan.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Public Comments:
The meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Dana Swanson, City Clerk