Avila Valley Advisory Council Minutes

July 2011

1)  Quorum established.  Present:  Anne Brown, Lisa Newton, Julia Hartzell, Boyd Horne, Jan Taylor, Jayne Morton, Sherri Danoff, Ken Thompson, Bob Pusanik, Lynn Walter, Ted Ivarie.  (Eight members make up a quorum.)

2)  Minutes for June approved.  (motion made by Sherri Danoff, second by Boyd Horne, unanimous approval on vote).  AVAC is still looking for a volunteer for permanent secretary.

3)  Public Comment:  NONE

4)  Treasurer's report:  The treasurer reported a balance of $894.88 with no transactions occurring during the previous month.

5)  County Reports:

a)  Sheriff:  Sergeant Marrs reported there were 24 calls made during the last month – with some resulting in arrests mostly during the July 4th weekend.  He provided a reminder to lock vehicles and not leave valuables in plain sight so as not to encourage thieves or opportunists.  A question was asked about the recent single car crash and resulting fatalities. Traffic collisions are handled by the highway patrol, not the Sheriff's department.

b)  Planning:  Ryan Hostetter provided an update that the See Canyon Fruit Ranch project was scheduled for a planning commission hearing this week and that the staff recommended approval of this project.  This project was also concurred with by AVAC.  Ryan will be sending a copy of the application to Sherri Danoff.  The events ordinance will be heard, most probably finally, at the July 28th planning commission meeting.  Also at the July 28th planning commission meeting will be the hearing for the McCarthy project at Cave Landing Road.  The staff report will be available on the website, but Ryan will be emailing the report to AVAC.  Ryan continues to pursue funds for 28 bike racks for downtown Avila.

c)  Public Works – no report

d)  Cal Fire:  Steve Reeder reported there were 19 medical aides, 9 structural fire calls and 1 surf rescue.  There has been good progress on clearing brush around see canyon structures and areas.  There is an open house scheduled for July 29th at 10am for the new addition at the fire house.

e)  County Supervisor:  Adam Hill mentioned that the First Solar's 550MW project in California Valley will be heard at the next supervisor's meeting.  This project is of great significance for our area.  Next Tuesday there will be the first discussion of supervisory redistricting proposals.  The redistricting will no impact AVAC as all the proposals make no changes to the AVAC boundaries or to the supervisor representative.  The overall effect will be to have district 3 absorb more of San Luis Obispo since Pismo, Avail and Grover beach have had lesser growth over the years than North County and Arroyo Grande.  Public input will be received and the supervisors will narrow down the proposed redistricting to a few choices.  He reminded AVAC that festival Mosaic starts this week.  AVAC asked if Shawn Cooper of Parks could be here next meeting to discuss the Cal Trains consideration of the Bob Jones undercrossing possibilities.

6)  Old Business – Karla Bittner mentioned that David Church from LAFCO responded regarding their potential involvement in helping Avila get an assessment for the Avila Paramedics by saying that LAFCO would not be an agency that would have any involvement in this process.  A re-designation of Rural to Urban is needed in order to secure funds.

7)  Community Liaisons:

a)  Avila Business Association: Karin Argano was not present however Anne Brown mentioned that the Business Improvement Distribution committee met on the 13th to discuss strategies for promoting tourism in Avila Valley.

b)  Avila Beach Civic Association: Anne Brown advertised the albacore feed that is scheduled for October 8th.  The cost is $20 for adults, $10 for children and there will be two sittings.  This is fresh caught off the Avila coast and processed through Avila, donated by the Port.  Last year was delicious and a successful fund raiser.  The July 4th pancake breakfast served 289 breakfasts and made about $1500 for the civic association.  The Civic Association volunteered at the Wine Classis – it was a lot of hard work!  There will be a Sheriff's Town Hall meeting on July 21st at the Community Center from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.

c)  Avila Beach Foundation:  Rick Cohen mentioned that Grant Applications are open for requesting money for projects needing a cash infusion from the Avila Foundation.

d)  Port San Luis:  Steve McGrath reported that July 4th weekend was a very safe one with only 2 tow assists and 2 kayak assists.  There were few and minor harbor patrol enforcement issues.  Work on the umbrella coastal permit for concessions is progressing slowly due to non-response from the Santa Cruz coastal commission staff.  Steve will drive up there personally to move things along.  A question was asked about any jet ski problems over the summer without the presence of the jet ski concession.  The answer was that personal watercraft have been generally respectful of the bay with only a couple of cases of "hot-doggers" within the buoy boundaries.  The kayaks and stand up paddle boards have been doing a great business.

e)  PG&E:  John Shoals mentioned that PG&E will be doing seismic studies in the area and an open house is planned to help people understand the impact to their environment during the tests.  There will be a demonstration of the technology at the PG&E energy education center on July 27th between the hours of 2pm and 7pm with the actual demonstrations at 3pm and 6pm.  The thermocouple project at Diablo Canyon was deferred based on the fact that it was an enhancement, not a required correction to the system.  There is adequate capacity in the existing system.

8) New Business:  None

9) AVAC committees:

i)  Land Use:  Sherri Danoff made a motion to send a letter to the County Supervisors reflecting previous comments on the events ordinance supporting the changes that are recommended by the planning department.  The motion was seconded by Boyd Horne.  The motion passed unanimously.  Sherri made another motion regarding "simultaneous events".  This motion proposed a letter to the County supervisors that the events ordinance be reflective of addressing the problem evaluation of impacts to the community of simultaneous events.  (This was a previous comment of the AVAC and the current proposed draft does not contain a stipulation for simultaneous events).  Boyd Horne seconded the motion.  The motion was passed unanimously.

ii)  Diablo:  Ken Thompson reported on events completed since the last AVAC meeting including an NRC public meeting on the DCPP Annual Performance Assessment on June 15th in SLO.  There were 3 hours of public comment at this meeting, mostly Mothers for Peace.  Also, the Diablo Canyon Independent Safety Committee held public meetings on June 21st and 22nd.  Presentations were held on the DCPP Emergency Operating Procedures and response to plant events.   This can be viewed @SLO-SPAN.ORG.  Also a task force review of NRC Processes and Regulations following events in Japan on June 15th was held.  These discussions were on the east coast and were at the highest levels within the NRC about Station Black Out and Mitigation strategies.  The video of this meeting can be viewed on the NRC website.   There is an NRC webcast planned for July 19th at 0930 (EST) updating the public on events in Japan.  This webcast is also viewable on the NRC website.

iii)  Port:  Nothing to add.

iv)  Avila Beach:  Nothing to report

v)  See Canyon:  Nothing to report

viii)  Squire Canyon










10) Next Meeting will be September 8th.  (August meeting is cancelled due to summer vacations)

11)  Meeting was adjourned at 8:25 pm