March 2008 minutes

Minutes of

Monday, March 10, 2008

7:10 P.M.

Call to order/Roll Call Sherri Danoff/Jayne Morton

A quorum was established.

Present: Lisa Newton, Jan Taylor, Boyd Horne, Sherri Danoff, Ted Ivarie, Jayne Morton, Bob Pusanik, Ken Thompson, Sandy Keller, Darryl Armstrong, Bill Tickell.

Excused: Anne Brown, John Salisbury, Lynn Walter, John Schug, Jack Biesek, Rick Rowe, Karin Argano.

Public Comment - None

Approval of Minutes Sherri Danoff

Minutes from February 11were approved as presented.

Treasurer’s Report Anne Brown

The current balance is $1117.13. If any bill is to be presented please contact Anne after March 21^st. Report given by Jayne Morton upon treasurer’s request.

County Reports

2.1 Sheriff’s Department Lt. Ben Hall

The Port had 12 calls and 3 reports – 2 trespassers and 1 lost item.

Avila Beach had 30 calls and 3 reports- one theft that ended in a civil compromise, one sexual undercover assault case and a juvenile assult case at Cave Landing.

Avila Valley had 18 calls and 3 reports- one lost property and vehicle burglaries.

Lt. Hall was asked about having substations during the busy season. He explained that a substation is a convenience for the deputies to have a place in their area where they report in, have computer access, make their reports and meet with citizens. It helps keep the deputy in the area he is assigned to so they don’t have to return to the station as often. He said that the deputies in Avila use the Lifeguard Station office as their substation and the arrangement has been working well so far.

2.2 County Supervisor Jerry Lenthall

Supervisor Lenthall joined the county workers in cleaning up the beach from Avila to the Port. They had six truckloads of driftwood that they took to Harbor Terrace. The Port has a contact with someone who takes the driftwood and recycles it. They also had two truckloads of trash to dispose of. He felt it was a job well done.

It was brought to his attention that on the path under the east side of the San Luis Bay Drive bridge there is a dark area that needs a light. He is working on getting a light over the area and hopes to have a report on it at the next meeting.

He reported that at the last SLCOG meeting there was $600,000 allocated for Avila. Out of that there is $150,000 for the Lighthouse trail and $350,000 towards the purchase of the Avila Ranch. He said that Mrs. Blakesly is very active in raising money for the project and she has a Power Point presentation that he thinks we would be very interested in seeing. The Board agreed on seeing the presentation in May if Supervisor Lenthall would make the arrangements.

He thanked the Chairperson for her input on revising the promenade. He said it was very valuable and appreciated.

2.3 Planning, AVAC Representative Ryan Hostetter

The Avila Colony project has submitted a request for four Use Permits and a request for a permit for a hill side property across from the Civic Center on San Miguel St. The Schoolhouse project is still being revised by the owners because of its historical status.

Ryan gave the Board a copy of their 2006-2007 Annual Report and their current newsletter for our information.

2.4 Public Works Mike Britton

Mike explained that there has been lots of personnel movement this year leaving several positions open. There were four project managers and now there are two. The area has been divided in half. He will no longer be the manager of our area. He will be manager of the North County. He introduced Dale Ramey who will be our new project manager and overseeing South County. He also introduced Ryan Chapman who is now the only traffic engineer and transportation planner for the County. The County has been asking departments to reduce their budget and this is Public Works way of complying.

The speed survey on San Luis Bay Drive has been completed. They should have the results in the next couple of weeks and they will give us the results.

The Board thanked Mike for all he has done for us and wished him well in his new position.

3.0 Old Business

3.1 Candidate’s Forum Ken Thompson

The filing period closed last week and the committee members are talking to the candidates but have not been able to lock in a date. They are looking at a window before the absentee ballots go out. It will be in April and when they get a firm date they will move forward with the plans.

4.0 Community Liaisons -

4.1 Avila Business Assoc., Avila Beach Civic Assoc., Avila Beach Foundation

ABA- Leonard Cohen

Leonard again expressed his appreciation for the improved communications between everyone.

The ABA was asked and given a presentation to endorse or not endorse adding a ½ percent to the motel, hotel and home rental fees. He said that the ABA would not make any endorsement until they got input from the owners of the various facilities.

He said that the ABA is working with the Harbor District and other community organizations about special events so that none of the events in the area would overlap. They are planning a couple of events on the promenade and everyone will be notified of the dates in order to eliminate any conflicts.

The ABA is working with the County Council to finalize its position for caring for the promenade.

There have been some complaints by some of the business owners about the Hot Dog Carts. There is a concern that the carts are selling some of the same things the businesses are. They are working on a resolution.

They will work with the Civic Association and help fund the Avila’s new sign project.

The Fish and Farmers Market begins on Friday of the first week in April.

Civic Assoc.- Lisa Newton

The Association has hired a part time program coordinator. All the activities i.e. fitness program, yoga classes, lectures are well attended as well as the planned Easter Egg Hunt. Membership is $25.00 for a family. Lisa feels it is going to be a real exciting year.

ABF – No report

Port San Luis – Carolyn Moffitt

Everything is going well. The Port is updating the mooring program to increase efficiency, improve services and accommodate the new changes. The money for the Lighthouse road is available and the project will start in a month. All the pier work is nearly completed. PG&E has offered to the Port pieces of property around Harbor Terrace. This is due to the recent PG&E mitigation and the Port is considering purchasing them. They have been rented until now.

The Port has never had to have lifeguards before April and since Easter comes in March they are working hard rescheduling in order to have lifeguards for the Spring Break.

PGE Diablo – no report Patricia Wilmore

5.0 New Business- None Sherri Danoff

6.0 Executive Committee Communications

6.1 Letter from Chevron Sherri Danoff

Chevron sent a letter thanking us for providing a copy of the results of the community forum. We were encouraged to contact Rob Rossi of Fossil Point LLC (543-4333) or Bill Almas in San Luis Obispo (784-0490) or Don Means (925-842-5413) if we have questions or just want to talk more about the issues.

7.0 AVAC Committees

Land Use Committee –

The President once again reminded the Board that the Committee still needs a chairman.

The committee will review the new Circulation Study, which is much improved. They will meet on the 1^st Monday of the month and make their recommendations immediately following.

Diablo Committee – Sandy Keller/Lynn Walter

Sandy will have some target dates for the Diablo tour by the next meeting.

7.3 Port Committee – No report Darryl Armstong

7.4 Avila Beach Committee Lisa Newton

The committee approved plans for the Hertel Project, lots 9 and 10 of the Avila Colony. However, AVAC has not seen the plans. A motion was made that AVAC approve the project of Hertel’s lots #9 and #10 of the Avila Colony with recommendations for the changes to the exterior to the County Planning Dept. The Board was not willing to approve of something they have not seen. The motion was tabled. There is also a problem with the drainage area next to the Project that belongs to the Port that is being addressed by Planning. It was decided that Ryan Hostetter of the Planning Dept. will arrange a presentation for the next meeting regarding the drainage channel, and she will coordinate a meeting between the County Public Works Department, Port and Developer.

Plans were given to the committee for a remodel of the Johnny Gorman home built in 1875 across form the Civic Center. The plans were completely unacceptable. They were not in keeping with the town’s specific plan and the building may be a historical site.