Avila Valley Advisory Council

Minutes of January 10, 2005 Meeting

Call to Order

K. Bittner called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.

Members Present: K. Bittner, M. Gooden, L. Newton J. Salisbury, A. Brown , J. Taylor, R. Kiessig, S. Gooding, , D. Palaia, B. Pusanik, L. Walter, T. Ivarie, B. Tickell, , K. Argano

Members Absent: T. Eberhardt, , J. Scott, N. Matlin, J. Biesek

Approval of minutes: Motion (Gooding/Taylor) to approve minutes of November 8, 2004 meeting passed

1.0 TREASURER’S REPORT T. Eberhardt

Motion (Gooden/ Gooding) to accept the following audit report of financial records for fiscal year 2004: A duly appointed audit was conducted. It included review of bank statements, receipts for expenditures, checkbook vouchers and monthly financial statements. Everything is in order and appropriately reconciled, passed unanimously.

2.0 COUNTY REPORTS

2.1Sheriff’s Department Deputy Scott

Things have been quiet except for some theft activity, a person from Pirate’s Cove who went to a home on Monte Rd. and a transient found with a weapon on the golf course. Hiring 15 new officers for the Sheriff’s Dept.

2.2 County Supervisor, District 3 Jerry Lenthall

Jerry Lenthall introduced himself. Interested in building consensus & coalitions. Mary Froggatt will be his legislative assistant. Reported on blocked culverts, downed trees, limited bridge access due to storms. Is working on getting oriented and understanding work left by previous supervisor. In response to a question about advisory board funding he said that money will be a problem, but expects that for the next year it will be “business as usual.”

2.3 County Planning Staff James Caruso

Referred members to the article in January 2005 Avila Community News, Avila 2005 Development Progress Report for current information on Avila Beach. PG&E is submitting an application for the steam generator replacement project. Dry cask storage will start soon with a portable batch plant to mix all needed concrete. Board of Supervisors approved the DeVincenzo Local Coastal Plan amendment. It is now in the Coastal Commission’s arena. Starting discussion with King Ventures for 2nd phase of Sycamore Mineral Springs expansion.

Car show in Avila falls under the non-profit status, so it does not need special permits.

3.0 OLD BUSINESS

3.1 AVAC Nominating Committee Report Lynn Walters

Bob Pusanik - Chair; Lisa Newton - Vice Chair & Treasurer; Karin Argano - Secretary

3.2 Election & Introduction of New officers

Motion (Gooding/ Brown) to accept the slate as presented passed unanimously.

Bob Pusanik - retired after 39 years working for Shell Oil, engineering degree, relatively new to area, built a home in our area; Lisa Newton - born & raised in Holland, came to Avila in 1979, built a home in Avila, real estate broker for 27+ years, president of Avila Civic Association; Karin Argano - moved to Squire Canyon in 1988, proponent for agribusiness, works in administration @ Old Mission School

Audience member thanked Karla Bittner for her past 2 years of excellent work.

Karla thanked AVAC for their continuing willingness to work.

3.3 The Courtyard of Avila Construction Report Jason Blakenship

Shared information about cement work needed to complete the project’s deck. Planned for early morning hours (2:00 AM) in mid February. Jason presented the parameters of the plan - has been approved by the SLO County Planning Department. Will notice all residents in Avila.

3.4 San Luis Bay Drive Bridge Replacement - projected to be closed from May to November 2006. Will come back for public comment before replacement starts.

3.5 Port San Luis Master Plan/ General Pan Amendment J. Elder & D.

Rudd

Presented status report - January 27, 1st Planning Commission hearing, with a follow up in February, then to the Board of Supervisors. Will go to the Coastal Commission in the summer of 2005. Check www.portsanluis.com for more information.

Offered to present “tsunami ready” information to AVAC if interested.

3.6 Avila Foundation & South Coast Area Transit Boyd Horne

Presented background & status report on trolley. Operation began Jan. 2002, ran for 18 months as a demonstration project, then ran as a County project for another 18 months. Jan. 1, 2005 turned over to South Coast Area Transit to operate under a contract between SCAT & Foundation. Will provide regular weekend routes (Sat. & Sun. 9 AM to 6 PM). Primarily funded by County with Foundation providing 10% to keep ridership free. Hope to use it for special events

and want to add Friday route to lessen Farmer’s Market traffic. Colleen Kubel, Bruce Scott & John Gillespie are people involved in trolley operation.

4.0 NEW BUSINESS

4.1 County code enforcement Program Harley Voss No Report

5.0 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE/COMMUNICATIONS

Karla Bittner & Bob Pusanik attended a meeting of representatives from all 15 county advisory councils. Jerry Lenthall complimented AVAC for its smooth operation.

6.0 STANDING & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS

6.1 Avila Beach Committee (Lisa Newton/John Salisbury) - Nulty Project on San Luis St. discussed. Safety concerns include driveway width, backing into traffic, difficulty with turning around and drainage swale (sidewalks are not allowed on hillsides in current plan).

Motion (Newton/Salisbury) to approve Nulty project with recommendations sent to Mr. Caruso in January 5, 2005 letter passed. Questions were asked about Mid-block Passage Project.

6.2 Avila Valley Committee (Jan Taylor) No report

6.3 San Luis Bay Estates (Sheri Gooding) Avila Village commercial projects are still not open. Mr. Rossi submitted an application to build maintenance buildings on 11th fairway of golf course, exploring General Plan Amendment to build employee housing in same area.

6.4 See Canyon (Bill Tickell) 5 large trees fell during past week of storms. Thank you to public works for their prompt response in clearing the road.

6.5 Squire Canyon (Karin Argano) Bridge on San Luis Bay Dr. has been closed several times. New developments have really changed the water flow patterns.

6.6 Traffic Circulation (Jan Taylor/Sherri Gooding) Hope that SLO County will assume maintenance responsibilities for the whole bike path in 2005.

Motion (Gooding/ Newton) AVAC form a study committee to evaluate possible uses for the UNOCAL tank site that might be preferable to the greater Avila community in terms of summer weekend circulation impacts was tabled. Discussion by board & audience focused on circulation concerns, simultaneous building & clean up and timing. UNOCAL will be invited to future AVAC meetings to provide status reports.

Motion (Brown/ Palaia) to table motion until a future meeting passed with 2 no’s.

6.7 Community Liaisons

Port San Luis (Karla Bittner) Karla commends Port for grants & use of resources

Flood Zone 9 - no representation for past 6 months, important to have AVAC participate

6.8 Diablo Report (Dusty Palaia) program on PBS about nuclear security will be taped by Dusty who will share with members.

7.0 PUBLIC COMMENT Karla thanked Mary Matakovich for her work on the Avila circulation committee. Pirate’s Cove property offer to dedicate may be picked up by a consortium of groups. - presentation @ February AVAC meeting

8.0 ADJOURNMENT

Meeting was adjourned at 9:05 PM. Respectfully submitted, Marylou Gooden, Secretary