Minutes of

Monday, October 8, 2007

 

7:00 P.M.

 

Call to order/Roll Call                                                          Sherri Danoff/Jayne Morton

Present: Anne Brown, Lisa Newton, John Salisbury, Julie Scott, Jan Taylor, Boyd Horne, Karla Bittner, Sherri Danoff, Ted Ivarie, Jayne Morton, Bob Pusanik, Lynn Walter, Marylou Gooden, Bill Tickell, John Schug, Karin Argano.

 

Public Comment

       A resident, Mrs. Pam Crown, expressed her concern over the speed limit on San Luis Bay Drive by the BellvueCharter School.  She has taken her own survey and found that the majority of the cars do not slow down when passing the school.  Her concern is that this puts the children that cross the street and walk home at risk.  She felt that the signs need to be more specific and that the 55-mile per hr. speed limit should be lowered.  They come down the hill going toward the school too fast and it is hard for them to slow down.  After several suggestions and genuine concern it was agreed by the Board to put this issue on the next agenda for further discussion.

Approval of Minutes

       The August 13, 2007 minutes were approved as presented.

Treasurer’s Report                                                     Anne Brown

The Treasurer had not yet received the bank statements resulting in not being able to give a current report. She assured the Board there was money in the account.

County Reports

2.1 Sheriff’s Department                                                        Lieutenant Ben Hall

Lt. Hall gave a brief report- 97 calls for service which included a couple of minor battery charges and a theft from a construction trailer.

2.2    County Supervisor                                                   Jerry Lenthall

         Supervisor Lenthall explained that the speed limit problem on San Luis Bay Drive is not unique.  It is classed a rural road because it does not have enough driveways to class it otherwise.  It is a matter of following the state law and he hopes that a current bill being discussed will enable the local county to make this kind of decision in the next year.  He will call the Highway Patrol to enforce the speed limit.

         Camping at the Port is going to be more expensive.  If the camper stays over the time limit they will receive a fine notice of $200 instead of $20.  It will begin in 30 days.

         The County is looking for other options for funding the Pirates Cove property.  The owners are willing to sell it to an organization for land conservancy.

2.3  Planning, AVAC Representative                                  Ryan Hostetter

         In the absence of Ryan, Supervisor Lenthall reported that the bridge project is 45 days ahead of schedule and $30,000 to $40,000 under budget thanks to Mike Britton.  The Board also showed their appreciation.

 

2.4  Public Works                                                                                     Mike Britton

For all intents and purpose the bridge is done and they hope to have it open next month.  They still have post work to do and they have to raise the roadway to meet the bridge.  This means entrance to SLBE if being disrupted and will be for awhile because it also will be raised to meet the roadway going to the bridge.  Hopefully the whole project will be done by the end of the year.  The creek work has to be done by the end of the month and then the bike trail will be completed.

         The real estate sign at the resident’s entrance to SLBE is in a right away dispute.  The developer says he has permission to put the sign there.  Code enforcement is still looking into it.

 

3.0 Old Business

3.1  Community Forum Questionnaire Report                                                                   Karla Bittner

         Karla made a motion to accept the Community Forum Questionnaire Report as presented.  The Board passed the motion with one member voting against it.  MSP

         She explained that there weren’t any public comments attached to the report she passed out to the audience.  The comments are for the agencies involved – Chevron, Lenthall, Fossil Point Committee and RRM.  She thanked Ken Schuetz for compiling the statistics for the report.  A Board member said it was a well conducted and presented forum and thanked the presenters..

         John Salisbury expressed his disappointment with the forum. He felt it was not thorough enough.  Boyd Horn shared that this was not the end of the process and asked “What do we believe the next step is?” A Board member said it shows we have an interested community.

         A cover letter was written to David J. O’Reilly, Chevron Chairman & CEO to accompany the report.  A motion was made to approve the letter as is.  There was a lengthy discussion on the pros and cons about sending the report to the head of Chevron and who should receive the report.  The motion was then amended to approve the letter as is and sent directly to David O’Reilly as recommended by the Land Use Committee. It was approved. MSP              

4.0  New Business 

Regional Water Quality Control Board                                           Roger Briggs, Executive Officer

Mr. Briggs gave an overview of the 9-member board from all over the state appointed by the Governor. He gave a Power Point presentation explaining the different areas of water and sewage systems for the Avila Valley. He then introduced staff member Harvey Packard who is the Land Use Second Manager and Enforcement Manager. Some of the points are:

They regulate CSD / San Miguelito Water who handle Avila’s water and sewage. Others are using septic tanks and leach fields.

San Luis Creek did have a fixed toxicity and it is now fixed but does not meet the standard for drinking water.

There is a large amount of agricultural land that is just now being regulated.

They want to get the smaller waste water systems out of the flood plains by moving them.

Avila Golf Course does not recycle their water.

They are working with Sycamore Springs to improve their system.

New developments are being shown how to handle the water run off so it goes back into the ground.

Directing the runoff from parking lots, roads, driveways etc. to go back into the ground is necessary for keeping the water table up.

4.2  Fundraising for open space purchases                                              Mila Gujovich-La Barre

                 Mila shared that she is very interested in getting money for open space purchases.  She shared her qualifications for raising funds and would like to find funds to purchase the land at Pirates Cove.  She offered her services to the Board and Jerry Lenthall to start finding money sources needed to purchase the property.  She is happy to help and will work with anyone.

 

Executive Committee Communications 

Correspondence from the Director of Planning said the events ordinance is several months away.

Development on Golf course – there is no application for general plan amendments for cottage units.

6.0 Community Liaisons                                                                      

Avila Business Association; Civic Assn.; Foundation

ABA                                                                                                     Leonard Cohen

Farmers Market went very well and is finished

They will sponsor a golf tournament to raise funds to handle next years advertising.

Membership drive is on going wanting to get all the businesses involved.

They have sent a letter to the Port regarding putting up the signs about shark sightings.

The ABA was not aware there was an issue regarding the promenade. He is calling a meeting of all the people involved in it ASAP.  He encouraged AVAC and anyone else to be sure to let the ABA know if there are any issues so they can take care of them.

Fossil Point – they have a letter to go out to Chevron regarding their concerns about Fossil Point.

Civic – The Grand Opening of the new Civic Center is Saturday Oct. 20th at 10:00 am and they would like to see everyone there.

Foundation – no report

6.2  Port San Luis (from AVAC)                                                          Karla Bittner

Lighthouse road is under construction and on schedule.

Coastal Gateway- bids are out and will go to the Commission with recommendation for award in November.

Lighthouse Keepers received a matching fund grant for $650,000.

Coastal Clean Up Day, September 15th was very successful.  They collected over 1,000 lbs. of trash.

 

7.0 AVAC Committees Reports

7.1  Land Use Committee – Avila Circulation Study                                                        Karla Bittner

The Avila Circulation Study is a work in progress.  It was due by the 1st of Nov. and several Board members wanted more time to look it over and make comments.  Jerry Lenthall said he will have it presented at the Dec. 18th Board meeting if that would help.  The Board accepted the offer and asked members to get their comments given to the Committee in a timely manner.

7.2  Diablo Committee                                                                                                               Lynn Walter

Julie Scott volunteered to be on the committee to replace Dusty Palaia. 

The car and van pool has started and is continuing with some success.  The goal is to have 20 vans by the end of the year.

7.3  Avila Beach Committee                                                                                   Lisa Newton/John Salisbury

The committee discussed the encroachment of the promenade by the Custom House.  A letter was written to be sent to Ernie Delio of Parks and Rec. expressing the committees concern’s.  A motion was made and passed to accept the letter to Ernie and send a copy to the ABA. MSP

7.4  San Luis Bay Estates Committee               No report                                                  Ted Ivarie

7.5  Avila Valley Committee                               No report                                                  Jan Taylor/Boyd Horne

See Canyon Committee                                                                                            Marylou Gooden

7.7 Squire Canyon Committee                                                                                                Karin Argano

The Association Director is leaving.

 

Adjourned at 9:35 P.M.

Respectfully submitted by

Jayne Morton, Secretary