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P.O. Box 65 Avila Beach CA 93424 (805) 595-2797 |
AVILA VALLEY ADVISORY COUNCIL
AVAC meets the 2nd Monday of every month, 7-9 p.m. at the PG&E Community Center, 6588 Ontario Road, Avila Beach, CA. Items for each agenda may be submitted to the Executive Committee two weeks in advance of the meeting. Public Participation: Following discussion of each agenda item by Council, the Chair may allow public comment as time permits. Non-agenda concerns may be raised during the Public Comment period. Please limit remarks or questions to 3 minutes. |
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Officers for 2007 Chair Sherri Gooding (San Luis Bay Estates) 805-595-2797 Vice Chair/Treasurer Anne Brown (Avila Beach) Secretary Jayne Morton (San Luis Bay Estates) ________________Members of Council Avila Beach: Lisa Newton John Salisbury Anne Brown Julie Scott (alt) Avila Valley: Jan Taylor Boyd Horne Vacancy (alt) San Luis Bay Estates: Karla Bittner Sherri Gooding Jayne Morton Dusty Palaia Bob Pusanik Ted Ivarie Lynn Walter (alt) Vacancy (alt) See Canyon: Marylou Gooden Bill Tickell Jack Biesak (alt) Squire Canyon: Karin Argano John Schug Vacancy (alt) |
Minutes of the Monday, March 12, 2007
7:00 P.M. Call to Order/Roll Call – a quorum was established Sherri Gooding/Jayne Morton Public Comment A concerned citizen, Jesse Arnold, explained about genetically engineered BT corn. This is a corn that has a bacterium gene engineered into it that kills earworms and is classed as a pesticide. The Food and Drug Admin has approved it for human consumption and no labeling is required. He feels that all genetically engineered food should be labeled. People should know what they are eating because of the health risk. The corn is sold at the Avila Valley Barn and he feels they need to label their produce. He wants AVAC to ask Supervisor Lenthall to support the labeling and circulated a petition for individual signatures. A Board member stated that any AVAC response probably should be referred to the County Health Commission. He said the Health Commission assigned a task force to look into it and they decided not to take a position at this time. Stu Jenkens, the Lighthouse Keeper, wanted the Board to know that there will be a fundraiser May 12th at the Salisbury Winery for raising the roof of the Lighthouse. He will be e-mailing everyone invitations. Approval of Minutes – February 12, 2007 minutes were approved as read. 1.0 Treasurer’s Report Anne Brown The balance as of February 12, 2007 was $376.44. There was one bill paid in the amount of $5.53 leaving a March 12, 2007 balance of $370.91. There was a maintenance charge submitted to AVAC and the Treasurer was able to get it reversed because we are non-profit. She also reported that we still have not received the approved grant money of $960.00 from Jerry Lenthall’s office. 2.0 County Reports Sheriff’s Department Lt. Ben Hall He reported in the last 60 days there were 141 calls for service and 26 reports. Nothing really unusual. However, there was a rash of stealing back in February from unlocked cars in residential areas. A couple has been arrested and the stealing has stopped. He emphasized the importance of locking our cars when we get out particularly in the beach areas. The couple said they would go up and down an area checking for unlocked cars and would steal what they could from any car that was unlocked. Stealing from unlocked cars is a misdemeanor, from locked cars it is a felony. A Board member asked if there was meth problem in our valley. He does not have any figures for this area but he knows it is active in the area such as Port San Luis and Avila. He explained how wide spread meth is and it doesn’t have any discrimination. It is currently the number one drug problem. 2.2 County Supervisor Jerry Lenthall Absent due to illness. 2.3 County Planning Staff Ryan Hostetter Projects that were on hold are still on hold. There is going to be a Community Advisory Council Training on the Planning Process April 14 at 8:45 am to 3:00 pm at the SLO County Library Community Room. The Board members were urged to attend. A Board member said that the date is in conflict with the Fossil Point Committee meeting and maybe it could be changed. She said that Chuck Stevenson from the Long Range Planning Div. will be at the next AVAC meeting to discuss the County Area Plan Updates wanted by AVAC. A Board member asked about an excavation going on at 3.8 miles up See Canyon. Ryan said she would check and let us know. Old Business Tank Farm use recommendations Avila Beach Committee Committee feels it is a little pre-mature to consider the matter. They agreed to report at a later date. 4.0 New Business 4.1 Tank Contamination Environmental Health, Aaron Labarre Acting Supervisor Labarre says his department is the overseer of hazard materials. There are three categories: The Project as a whole Identifying hazardous materials Evaluation of uses and mediation. They determine the extent of contamination, help with assessment, health issues, sight abatement. They work with all the other Boards that may be involved with the project so there isn’t any conflicts. He explained that he is not really knowledgeable about the Tank Farm area. He said they have had an inventory statement of hazard material and have had for many years. On top of the hill everything has been removed. They still may be doing assessment mediation. A question was asked to define the difference between the Water Board and Environmental Health – the Water Board is mostly concerned with the state and ground water issues; Environment Health is concerned about contamination on property and spot wells. Ride-On Transportation Services Mark Shaffer Mr. Shaffer said that Ride-On has been in service for 13 years, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They have 64 vehicles and have given 286,000 rides. They started out as a Social Service and medical transportation. Now being a community based organization they are continually trying to meet the community needs. The have an airport shuttle, visitor shuttle program, special events transportation, safe ride home, lunchtime express, medical shuttle, van pools and more. Their prices vary depending on the funding for the type of ride. They have an 8% subsidy from the Government and do get some grants. He is particularly happy about the new grant for the Senior Door-to-Door service which runs Tues., Thurs., and Sat. for South County 9 am – 5: 00 pm. The Five Cities Shuttle is Tues., Wed., and Thurs. 8 am – 5 pm. The cost is only $2.00 one way $4.00 round trip. All are door to door rides. They are continually trying to raise funds in order to cut the cost of rides. Currently they are contacting PGE about a van pool shuttle to reduce the trips to the plant for the out of town employees for the Steam Generator project and future van pools to help eliminate the continual traffic problem on Avila Drive. He passed out brochures and said to please call anytime to find out which service would be best for you. The Ride-On web page is going to be more sophisticated and will include maps. 5.0 Executive Committee/Communications 5.1 Port email regarding its events policy Sherrie Gooding The Harbor has held the position that the beach and parking lot is for beach visitors during the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The only exception to that would logically be coastal dependent events that are directly related to our mission. 6.0 Standing & Ad Hoc Committee Reports 6.1 Land Use Committee Karla Bittner The Fossil Point Study Sessions are open to the public and will be held at the San Luis Bay Inn. The Fish and Game Dept set aside $250,000 that is available now for the walkway from Port San Luis to Town. It was suggested that Supervisor Lenthall should coordinate the Fish and Game Dept. w/ Parks and Recreation so funds can be properly distributed with Parks and Rec. taking the lead. A motion was made and passed to that affect and a letter will be drafted. MSP 6.2 Diablo Committee Dusty Palaia/Lynn Walter The county grand jury report suggested upgrading the road from Avila to Shell Beach. However, the county’s response was that it would be too costly to upgrade so that cars could drive on it. The improvements would cost between 5 and 6 million. Another grand jury recommendation to expand a workshop in June to give emergency planning information to institutional care providers and to also include people with disabilities or their caretakers who live independently would take more money than they have. They are looking for state grants or other sources. Work for the steam generator installation will begin as soon as final permits are received from the Coastal Commission. The only holdup is the issue regarding the gate. The Lighthouse Keepers want the guard station moved farther back. PG&E says that is not an option. The Coastal Commission has required PG&E to spend $300,000 to allow visitors to bypass the guards at the main entrance. There was a discussion regarding the article in the Tribune about a study to renew PG&E’s License that would eventually come out of the people’s pocket. It was pointed out that PG&E requested a feasibility study that had nothing to do with licensing. It was suggested that AVAC study the Sam Blakesly Bill #1632 and ask someone from his office explain the bill which is related to this issue. The Board asked the committee to get a speaker if possible and to get more information about this issue to present to the Board. 6.3 Avila Beach Committee Lisa Newton/John Salisbury No report. 6.4 Avila Valley Committee Jan Taylor No report 6.5 San Luis Bay Estates Ted Ivarie No report 6.6 See Canyon Committee Marylou Gooden No report 6.7 Squire Canyon Karin Argano Still watching the new housing project. 6.8 Port San Luis Liaisons Karla Bittner No report however Stu Jenkins reported that the Harbor Commission has had a number of meeting whether to arm the Ports peace officers or not. The response time from the Sheriffs Dept. is often 30-45 minutes before they arrive on the scene. Port San Luis has the longest response time of any other harbor. They have agreed to allow the Harbor Patrol to wear side arms. This will give them more authority in deterring problems. 7.0 Community Liaisons 7.1 Avila Business Association No Representative or Report 8.0 Meeting adjourned at 8:30. Respectfully submitted by, Jayne Morton, Secretary |
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