SAN MIGUEL ADVISORY COUNCIL MINUTES
PO BOX 425, San Miguel, CA 93451
www.sanmigueladvisorycouncil.org
MEETING TIME & DATE: 7:00 PM January 26, 2011
LOCATION: COMMUNITY CENTER – (13th Street, behind Library)
ADVISORY COUNCIL
GARY DAVIS – CHAIRMAN
NOEL CARPENTER – VICE CHAIRMAN
SHARON BROWER – SECRETARY
TOM BANISH – TREASURER
.JEAN HOFFMANN- HISTORIAN
MIKE SANDERS – PUBLIC RELATIONS
DENIS DEGHER – MEMBER
PATRICIA McHARRIS – ALTERNATE
CRAIG RAMBO – ALTERNATE

I. Flag Salute – Tom Banish
II. Roll Call – All members present, Alternate Craig Rambo in audience, Alternate Patricia McHarris absent.
III. Minutes approval held over until Feb. meeting. Minutes went out on the 25th and member Denis Degher states he has not had time to read them as yet.
IV. Treasurer’s Report – Tom Banish County check deposited (900.00) which gives us a balance of $1438.89
V. Public Reports
A. CHP and/or Sheriff
1.Lieutenant Marty Maples present for the CHP. He states that the North County Division currently has 22 officers, 3 Sergeants and himself; as Commander. The report for 2010 shows 757 collisions with 7 fatalities. There was a decrease in DUI’s, (driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs) . There were 8.427 citations written and 5,569 motor services given. To the question re: how long it takes for a report to be available he replied that 90% of the time reports are ready for the public within 9 days. The year 2011 will begin 0 tolerance for cell phone use, while driving. Denis Degher asked if a stop is made because of lack of current sticker if the Officer is able to look it up on the computer. Lieutenant Maples verified that it would show up. Gary Davis added that the Officers at the Templeton office, that he’s come in to contact with have been very polite. Mike Sanders brought up the new speed limit signs that were put up on Mission Street, before Christmas and he wondered what times the CHP made their patrols through San Miguel. Lieutenant Maples said it’s impossible to say what times because other issues could be happening in the North County. Mr. Sanders also said that trucks parked on the right side of Mission by 14 th St. impairs visibility, causing an unsafe condition.

2. Commander Benjamin Hall is present for the Sheriff’s Office. His report is: 130 calls received for the month of December with 40 reports written. The problem areas include a number of vehicle thefts as well as residential burglaries in the area of Bonita Street. They have identified that these occurrences are being done by the same individuals that were apprehended last summer. Three men were released on the 11th of the month and on the 12th the burglaries started up again. He said they are working positively to apprehend and incarcerate them again. The biggest clue is the cessation of the thefts when the offenders are in custody. There have also been some mail box thefts. A woman in Salinas was arrested past using a credit card stolen from a mail box in San Miguel. The reverse 911 system has been used a couple of times. Can put out 48 calls/min. for warning. The public can go to the Sheriff Department web site, click on 911, put in cell phone number or address. He also issued a warning regarding putting in pin numbers at atm or cash register debit sites. One of the new crimes is placing skimmers without the merchant’s knowledge. They can then be pulled out and used to purchase items by the criminal. It is safer to use the credit ability where no pin number is necessary. Metal thefts are still up – especially from ranches. Sharon Brower wanted to know if perpetrators are held at the Templeton office. Commander Hall said “no person is ever held at Templeton because we don’t have a holding area. They are transported to SLO to the jail.
3. Camp Roberts- Commander George Leone -”The Camp is currently under joint use. We are still having a problem with some people coming on to the base stealing firewood and the concern is the targets and target practicing. Additionally people are “tubing” in the rivers. There has been sewage noted in two areas entering both the San Antonio and Nacimiento Rivers so this is a concern also. The County Sheriff’s are assisting us with these situations. There are planned future expositions scheduled for the base and it appears that the USO may be coming back to the base. We are still under orders to mobilize troops so the base will remain active.” Sharon Brower told Commander Leone that the troops that she has had contact with have conducted themselves in an exemplary manner. She further stated that her grandchildren, when they see a soldier, thank them for serving our country and the response they get is always positive. The Commander said that the thank you’s do have a positive effect on the soldiers.
B. Supervisor’s Office – Vicki Shelby present. Gary Davis stated he received a letter from Supervisor Mecham re: the Community meetings which are not open to the public but are for invited guests. The first meeting will March 3rd at the CSD office from 9 – 11 AM and the second will be held on September 1 at the CSD office from 9 – 11 AM. Normal business hours will be held: January 27, February 10 in Paso Robles from 9-11 AM, January 27, February 24 in Heritage Ranch from 2-4 PM and in San Miguel February 3 and 17 from 3-5 PM.
The 3rd and last San Miguel Design Plan meeting, hosted by the County and Cal Poly will be held at the Mission Parish Hall at 6:30 PM tomorrow evening (27th). The accumulation of the information received from the first two meetings, as well as the online surveys will be presented.
The Events issue was brought up and Mike Conger said that the draft for that element was sent to SMAC in September. He went on to say that if an event is non-profit it is not regulated but if it is for profit a permit must be obtained. If the
event is scheduled for greater than 150 a zoning clearance will need to be obtained, if less than 150 it will only be an over the counter situation to obtain an administrative /minor use permit. “It will be going before the Planning Commission on March 1st. Denis Degher asked, “Does this mean if you have 1 acre you can have 150 people?” Mike Sanders replied, “A private party is not an event!” Mr. Conger reminded, “The closer you are to neighbors the faster it will trigger a need for a permit.”
The ‘transfer of development credit – amending ordinance – went to the Planning Commission a couple if weeks ago. Check the County website to read about the outcome.

VI. Council Reports
A. Gary Davis – Turned it over to Elizabeth Kavanaugh to discuss what her findings were re: public meetings to find out what the community wants for parklands, including a meeting with the elementary school children at Lillian Larsen School.
Ms Kavanaugh spoke with landowners but “not getting much cooperation” She states she spoke to the owner of the small parcel of land at the south east corner of the Community Park but he is not interested in selling the property because he is making more money with his rentals (2 on the lot) than he get by selling it. “The County can’t pay more than the market value and it is below his income.”
However there is some progress concerning the closure of K Street between 12th and 13th to enlarge the Community Park. “65% of the residents have said yes to the closure.” Based on this she spoke with Public Works who will do a traffic study. “The number one request people had was for recreation” She also spoke with the Bank holding the property of “Mission Gardens”. They are offering a strip of land for a park but that strip is in the river and is unsatisfactory.

Council Chairman Davis took back the floor and gave an update on the Design Plan meeting held on December 1st, 2010. He said that the Cal Poly students “showed lots of slides with presentations, but some of the Cal Poly answers didn’t ‘jive’”. Jean Hoffmann stated that she was “impressed that the students were so open to suggestions”
Mr. Davis received a notice from Planning and Building re: the Solar Farms in the California Valley. It will be heard tomorrow (27th ) in the AM by the Planning Commission at the Supervisor’s Chambers.
The Chairperson’s meeting will be held on 1/28/11, sponsored by Building and Planning and hosted by Marti Fisher from Environmental Planning. One of the issues likely to be brought up is the fact that some Advisory Councils have not received EIR’s (?)
B. Other Council Reports
1. Mike Sanders – CSD Liaison – No report as he was unable to attend meeting.
2. No other reports from Council Members.

VII. Community Reports
A. CSD – Dale Hamblin – “The monthly meeting of the Community Service District will be held tomorrow night at 7:00 PM The first item on the agenda will be consideration of the purchase of purge tanks to try to drop contaminants in the San Lawrence Terrace well. Karl Van Dollen wanted to know “How do you purge a well? Mr. Hamblin explained that they have been watching this well because arsenic levels have been rising up to 10 parts/billion. 1 part/billion is considered safe but the level has gone too high. To purge they will drain it much like a sump pump would, continue testing it, hopeful that the parts/billion would fall back down to a safe level. The well is 700 feet deep. The reason they are looking at a purge tank is the cost. To put in a new well would cost $250,000.00. The purge tank would be in the neighborhood of $3-4,000.00. He emphasized that the main well, in town is safe and can supply the necessary water at this time.”
The consultant is evaluating the impact of no rate increase as it relates to putting in the second storage tank on the hill.
The Board is also looking at sending bills to property owners only as they are ultimately responsible.
They will then go in to closed session to discuss the performance review for the General Manager -Mike Ellison. Note: Mr. Ellison will be retiring within the next year.
At the past meeting the proposal to surplus out the Ford 150 – R8630 was defeated. The Board approved a recruitment to fill the General Manager position and it will begin with a 3 page application, which is more intent than previous ones. The Election was held for offices within the Board and the results were: Chairman – Richard Harrison, Vice Chairman – Richard Smithen, Finance and Budget – Dale Hamblin.
Mr. Hamblin was asked about office personnel. He said that currently one person is out on sick leave, one is out on administrative leave and they are down to one office staff person three days a week, Monday, Thursday and Friday.
B. There were no Community Service Organization reports or public comments at this time. Jean Hoffmann spoke regarding her concern about the new speed limit signs placed on Mission. They decrease the speed to 25mph from 11 – 14th Sts. Her concern was, “If you are entering Mission from any of those side streets you cannot see the speed limit signs and so you are unaware of the change from the 35 mph that is marked on the south and north Mission entrances into town.” Vicki Shelby volunteered to request from the Supervisor’s office that someone from Public Works attend the February meeting. Chairman Davis and the Council members agreed that would be appreciated.
VIII. County Planning Report – Michael Conger.
IX. Chairman Davis asked Mr. Conger where we were at with the Pankey mine. Mr. Conger contacted Murry Wilson re: the mine and his reply was that they are in the early stages of their EIR, which will cost somewhere in the range of $400,00.00. (Usually they cost approximately $200,000.00) Once they get to the analysis stage they will look into alternatives, i.e. scoping at sites, such as the school. The EIR will consider all of the areas of concern and most likely will consider the rerouting of trucks; at the least they would have to document why the alternative wasn’t accepted. The Company will have a consultant for the EIR and it will probably take 4 seasons – 1 year.
There is no update on the Mission Garden development. Since the applicant is bankrupt it has reverted back to the bank. There began a lengthy discussion among the audience and the Council Members re: the situation as well as other pending projects/developments. It was brought to light that ex- Supervisor Ovitt decreased mitigation fees as well as the junkyard project proposed for the west side of the 101 freeway. This project has been dormant for ten years and it is felt that the applicant has probably dropped it altogether. The Board of Supervisors will see the Paso Robles Ground Water Basin come before them on February 1 in the PM hours. Linda Mora asked if anyone knew the timeline for the new sidewalk? Vicki Shelby stated she had spoken to Public Works and they are hoping it will be done by this summer.
Chairman Davis stated that both he and Sharon Brower have been to see the Wachtman Porta-pottie site on Monterey Rd. and what has been constructed or planted does not in any way hold true to the mitigations they had agreed to when thay were before the Council. Denis Degher had handouts of the minutes of that meeting for the other Council Members and he voiced that he would be willing to write a letter to Mr. Wachtman re: the situation. This is the only recourse that is open to the Council as the County will not get involved at this point. Their reason is that what he has done covered the requests that they gave to him. Elizabeth Kavanaugh stood and asked to apologize to the Council because she did not include the mitigations in her sign off. She stated she felt responsible and can’t even explain how she missed the requests.
Mr. Degher made a motion to write a letter and Sharon Brower seconded it. It was approved with 6-0 while Jean Hoffmann was against the letter. There was a little bit of discussion when Mr. Degher reflected that Ms. Brower write the letter. She declined and considered that Mr. Degher volunteered and should do it. The meeting when the project came before the Council was prior to Ms. Brower’s election to it.

Being no old or new business Sharon Brower made a motion to adjourn and Noel Carpenter seconded. Agreement was 7-0 and we were adjourned at 2120.

The next meeting will be held on February 23rd 2011

Respectfully Submitted,
Sharon Brower, Secretary