Category: Central Coast

Rain Expected For Central California Late February, Early March

PG&E forecaster John Lindsey says we should expect rain along the Central Coast by the end of this month.
“The longer-range charts and models are indicating rain on February 27 and 28. At this time, rainfall amounts should range between half an inch and three quarters of an inch.
A series of low pressure systems is expected during the first week of March. Early indicators are that the precipitation could be substantial.”

Rainfall has been very uneven across the state for the past month as seen in this NOAA map. The Tahoe area( in purple) has received good precipitation while the south part of the state has seen little.

SLO Airport January Traffic

SLO Airport passenger traffic in January was up more than 13% from the same month  a year earlier. Some 22,656 passengers used the facility in January. The numbers from January are the highest for that month since 2008 – before the recession when over 26,000 passengers went through the airport. A year later as the recession sunk in activity fell to just over 18,000 passengers.

SLO: Buffalo Wild Wings Will Flatten Taco Bell Building

Buffalo Wild Wings plans to construct a new restaurant  in the Madonna Plaza after they flatten the old Taco Bell building  in the center. The chain wants to build a larger 6850sf building that can accommodate up to 235 patrons at the same time says a city planning application. The eatery will located at 390 Madonna Rd.

The San Luis Bay Harbor District continues to plan to increase visitor attractions in Avila Bay. This week they held the first of several public hearings about the Harbor Terrace  100 unit campground project above Avila Bay to be completed in 2017. Also the district is now taking requests for proposals to develop up to 6000sf of buildings on the end of Avila Pier, a far cry larger than the 500 sf bait store Zippys At The Pier,that is there now.

Harbor manager Steve McGrath says if a developer wants to offer a proposal they have until March 7 to make one. No single building on the pier can be larger than 2000sf. McGrath says one measure of the increase in demand in Avila Beach is the parking revenue the district collects that has seen a steady increase in the past year.

The district is also looking upgrade the other major visitor pier on the bay looking to remodel development on the historic Harford Pier in Port San Luis that includes a new  fish restaurant to be operated by Chris Dorn of Morro Bay fame. That plan is being reviewed by the Coastal Commission. Several other projects are salted for the pier.

Besides what the Harbor district is planning, the community of Avila Beach has been extensively rebuilt between 2001 and today that is due to significant contamination from underground oil lines.

Chevron is now considering redevelopment of the “Fossil Point” site at the east end of the community. That could include a major resort.

By John Lindt,Sierra2theSea

The San Luis Obispo Planning Commission voted 4 to1 to approve a  permit for a McDonalds in Los Osos February 6 but denied their request to utilize the existing drive-thru at the site in the former Bank of America building on Los Osos Valley Rd.

Consultant for the project Carol Florence of Oasis Associates advised the commission as they were about to vote that without a drive-thru “there will be no project” to approve. Florence says the franchise owner has yet to decide if they will appeal the decision to the Board of Supervisors. They have 14 days, a deadline around February 20th to file.

Commissioners said they were concerned about the idling car emissions and/or traffic and parking issues in the shopping center although there was agreement the water issue could be overcome.

Critics of the fast food eatery spoke against allowing this type of restaurant in Los Osos citing water,traffic and the notion they “just don’t fit in” with a Los Osos ethic.

Typical of opponents reasoning was this from Madeline Palaszewski.

“I’m extremely concerned about what a 24 hour drive-thru restaurant will do to the air quality in Los Osos. There is a reason the city of San Luis Obispo has banned drive-thru’s and we don’t NEED a drive-thru in Los Osos! As I said, there are many more reasons McDonald’s is a bad fit for Los Osos (traffic, wastewater usage,safety) and there is a McDonald’s 5 minutes away in Morro Bay.”

Or another- “Please let the Planning Commission know that as a resident of Los Osos, I would like to keep fast food restaurants out of our town core. Having people drive through our town and see the shopping center dotted with any fast food restaurant is unacceptable to me. We are in a serious water problem, its not getting better and the use of water by this establishment is like throwing something in my face. The Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission should listen to the majority of citizens who do not want McDonalds in our town. Let us finish our community plan and then let us decide how we want our town to look” wrote Tom Cantwell.

Those in favor included the President of Miners Hardware, Paul Felice who in a letter pointed to the jobs that would be coming to town and said that the new tenants “are good local community minded people.”He added he was not concerned about traffic at the site right across from his store. “The proposed plans that I have seen suggest there will be little or no change to current parking and the proposed drive-thru  will make better use of the space and help mitigate traffic back into the center.”

A number of supporters point to the fact there are many empty storefronts in the two centers that share the site and the existing bank building has been”available” for 8 years. Two weeks ago the town’s only flower shop in back of the proposed McDonalds shut their doors.

Supporter David Freiria wrote “Please allow the McDonalds in Los Osos.We have very little here and there is a small group of people that oppose everything.I have yet to meet anyone that would not love to see the McDonalds built here.”

After the decision was announced John Zweemer in a note addressed concerns.

1.Traffic: “PLEASE drive out to the location to see this will NOT create a traffic situation, you can usually cross the 2 lanes of oncoming LOVR traffic at any given time within 30 seconds of waiting.
2. Pollution: FAR more pollution is being created now by the citizens of this town driving to SLO and MB for most every day shopping. If we had more here, then less driving and pollution. You all know that by taking away the drive thru, they won’t open.  That’s where a lot of business comes from.
3. Quality of the town: Look at the surrounding buildings around the shopping center, NONE of them are new, or goin g for the “Los Osos look”, there isn’t a look. Most are old, and many rather tired. A new McDonalds might just spark a bit of interest to others to update their appearances If this idea fails, we sure hope the folks against it will open what they do want to see here. We are sick of all the empty retail for lease, THAT is what makes the town look and feel rather poor. Obviously the company knows there is demand here, or they wouldn’t be spending their time and money on all this. If people don’t want Mc D ‘s, they don’t have to go. We just don’t get why this is such a big deal, it’s really too bad.”

Others were pleased. Resident Liz Wilson said McDonalds food was not healthy and would draw the homeless. “I agree that an empty building is not financially encouraging for our town, but have other big retail chains been approached such as a Dollar Store, Michael’s, or Staples? This would minimize the bathroom issue but still provide jobs and revenue for the town.”

One commissioner suggested reducing the hours of the drive-thru from 24 hours and that got support but the resolution approved by the commission killed the drive-thru altogether.

With supporters and critics on both sides there were even dueling petitions for and against.

The Los Osos  Communty Advisory Council supported the project 5 to 3 “with concerns” a few months back.

Florence said the company needed the drive-thru because Los Osos unlike SLO city “has a different demographic” and the franchisee needs a drive-thru to pencil out.

A recent NY Times story reported that “The drive-thru is an important revenue generator for fast-food chains. McDonald’s gets about 70 percent of its sales from the drive-thru, according Richard Adams, who now runs a consulting firm for franchisees.”

US power company Dynegy now has the green light to retire its Morro Bay power plant according to a statement from the California Independent  System Operator (CAISO) who manage the state’s grid.

“The ISO did not see any issues with the retirement of the Morro Bay units with the planned upgrades in the area” says spokesman Steven Greenlee.

There has been some speculation that lack of rain this winter would require the plant stay on line to produce power on a backup basis.

But Greenlee indicates other power sources can fill the bill. Massive solar power  resources have been added across the state in the past year.

Regarding lack of hydro power Greenlee says “Hydroelectricity accounts for about 14% of the ISO balancing area resource mix and less reservoir storage and reduced stream flows to run-of-river units will impact those units and plant operators will have to run their plants less during the day.  If less hydro plants operate, then other resources will be used, including wind, solar and natural gas units.”

The news means Dynegy will likely move forward on the layoff of some 40 staffers at the 50 year old plant this month.

Also the Tribune reported Feb 6 that Dynegy and a New Hampshire firm GWave are working on a plan to establish a wave energy farm off the Morro Bay coast and will visit the area Feb 17 to talk to stakeholders. The wave farm could be operational by 2017 and utilize the power plant facility. Another company Archon has announced interest in doing the same (reported here Jan 25).

Hotel Occupancy Up 9.7% In SLO County in December

Smith Travel reports that hotel occupancy in San Luis Obispo County climbed 9.7% in December compared to a year before. The rates went from 47.2 to 51.8%. San Francisco was the busiest in the state recording a 72% occupancy compared to 68% in December 2012. Back in SLO RevPAR was up 15%. The numbers are stronger than the year to date figures which show county lodges sold 4.7% more rooms on a YTD basis.

Morro Bay Orders Mandatory Water Conservation

Since 2013 has now gone on record as the driest calendar year in 119 years for Californians rainfall records, on January 17, 2014 Governor Jerry Brown officially declared a drought emergency, asking Californians to reduce their water usage by 20%.
Due to this declaration the City of Morro Bay will be implementing Severely Restricted Water Supply Conditions.
Morro Bay has been implementing Moderately Restricted Water Supply Conditions for some time now, but due to the Governors declaration the City will be moving to the next tier in water conservation; Severely Restricted Water Supply Conditions.
With this tier of water conservation irrigation of public and private landscaping is only permitted on Tuesdays and Saturdays for odd numbered property addresses and on Wednesday and Sundays for even numbered property addresses. No potable water shall be used for cleaning or rinsing of docks, boats and other marine facilities; driveways, patios, parking lots, sidewalks and other hardscapes. Washing cars by use of a hose is prohibited. Use of a bucket to wash a car is permitted subject to non-wasteful applications. Also all restaurants in the City will not be providing water unless requested.
Therefore during this time the City would like your continued help in conserving water. Please limit the amount of water used around the house, do not hose down paved surfaces, and run automatic irrigation sprinklers on an “as needed” basis.

Diablo Canyon Hearing Feb 12-13

THE DIABLO CANYON INDEPENDENT SAFETY COMMITTEE NOTICE OF PLANT TOUR AND PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on February 12, 2014, at 8:00 A.M., the members of the Diablo Canyon Independent Safety Committee (“DCISC”) will conduct an inspection tour of certain accessible areas of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant (ÒDCPPÓ). This tour, which will take approximately three and one-half hours, was previously advertised to the public. Because the plant is an operating nuclear power plant the number of participants was limited and space has been assigned on the basis of prior reservation taken on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to those persons who were not accommodated on recent DCISC inspection tours. Prior clearance of all public attendees is required in compliance with rules of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”). In the alternative if security considerations preclude the public tour on February 12th, the DCISC may convene an informal presentation and question and answer session at the Pacific Gas & Electric Company (“PG&E”) Energy Education Center, 6588 Ontario Road, San Luis Obispo. NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that on February 12-13, 2014, at the Avila Lighthouse Suites Point San Luis Conference Facility, located at First and San Francisco Streets, Avila Beach, California, a public meeting will be held by the DCISC in four separate sessions, at the times indicated, to consider the following matters: 1. Afternoon Session – (02/12/2014) – 1:30 P.M. Opening comments and remarks; receive public comments and communications to the Committee; approve minutes of October 9-10, 2013, public meeting; discussion of administrative matters, including review of PG&E’s response to the DCISC 23rd Annual Report on the Safety of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Operations for the period July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013; an update on financial matters and activities during 2014; review of the Open Items List; reports by Committee members, consultants and legal counsel; receive, approve and authorize transmittal of fact-finding reports to PG&E; review of Committee correspondence and documents received; and report on DCISC attendance at November 21 and December 18, 2013, meetings of the State Water Resources Control Board concerning alternatives to once-through cooling at DCPP. 2. Evening Session – (02/12/2014) – 5:30 P.M. Committee member comments; receive public comments and communications to the Committee; receive informational presentations requested by the Committee from PG&E on topics relating to plant safety and operations, including a presentation by PG&E on the state of the plant; an update on NRC performance indicators, reportable events, and notices of violation; a report on the potential implications of accelerating the movement of spent fuel to the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation and decreasing the final inventory in the DCPP spent fuel pools. 3. Morning Session – (02/13/2014) – 8:00 A.M. Comments by Committee members; receive public comments and communications to the Committee; receive informational presentations requested by the Committee from PG&E on topics relating to plant safety and operations, including a presentation on status of and plans for implementing the Personnel Seismic Safety Action Plan; an update on the status of FLEX activities; and an update on the response to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. 4. Afternoon Session – (02/13/2014) – 1:00 P.M. Comments by Committee members; receive public comments and communications to the Committee; consider further informational presentations from PG&E on topics relating to plant safety and operations, including the results of the 2013 Action Plan and key elements of the 2014 Action Plan;

What’s going on regards the future of the Morro Bay power plant owned by Dynegy Inc?

There was a little more clarity at this week’s Morro Bay City Council meeting with an agenda item regards an annual $525,000 payment due  from the power plant operator to the city as of January 21 of this year.

Council heard that Dyngey wants to postpone the payment because of uncertainties over its future.

To quote the staff report.

“In February 2014, the ISO is expected to determine whether the plant is needed or not needed “

“In November 2013, Dynegy filed a notice with the California Independent System Operator (“ISO”) initiating the retirement process for the Morro Bay Power Plant. In February 2014, the ISO is expected to determine whether the plant is needed or not needed . If the plant is not needed and no contracts can be found for operation, the process will continue with an estimated final closure in June 2014.”

The staff report continues on what could happen next.

“Due to the uncertainty regarding the plant’s future, Dynegy requested deferral of the January 2014 CDF payment, in the amount of $525,000, to allow Dynegy to obtain more information as to the plant’s future, and to allow both sides to explore a possible trade of property in lieu of that payment. Dynegy did not request a specific amount of time, but indicated they would have more information by the end of February. The March 14 date follows the Council’s first regular meeting in March, to allow staff to come back to Council in the event an additional deferral is requested. The January CDF payment is neither budgeted nor planned. Dynegy has the option of canceling future CDF payments by giving the City notice by February 28, 2014.”

The California ISO manages the state’s wholesale power grid and is charged with insuring California has adequate power reserves. Including the the permanent shutdown of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and the looming compliance deadlines for large once through cooled power plants in the region – like Morro Bay- the state is poised to lose 7,000 megawatts of generation that could disappear in the next several years.

Now with the never ending drought, the state is unlikely to have much hydroelectric power this summer and that could be a factor in keeping the Morro Bay plant alive with some state contract.

Dynegy said in their financial report last year that they were working with Greenwich Conn-based Starwood Energy to see if  the nat gas fired plant could be re purposed for some green power use. The plant no longer has a long term contract to sell electricity  and has been running at something like 5% of capacity or less – a key reason why it is shutting down.

In an effort to show airlines like United that San Luis Obispo has plenty of pent up flight demand going for it – a new consultant study shows only 38% of all flyers who reside in the area regularly fly out of SLO airport. Rather a majority chose to fly from another state hub like LA or San Francisco.

“Our consultant is finalizing the study and we will share it with United” who is considering adding regular flight service from San Luis Obispo to Denver. “This is updated information from a 2010 study with much better detail than we had back then” say assistant airport manger Craig Piper.He says the 38% figure from the leakage study is preliminary.

The leakage number is higher than an earlier study that said the San Luis Obispo airport serves only 42.8 percent of all San Luis Obispo area residents who fly with some 57.2 % to look elsewhere for flights. The latest estimate says 62% of residents chose another airport.

Stats for this past full year are not yet complied but it looks like airport passenger traffic picked up as the year progressed.  November numbers are up nearly 11% over November 2012. United added another flight to LA from SLO in December and with more seats, traffic in December is expected to be up again.

‘We don’t yet know our December numbers but I can tell you our parking lots were full” says Piper. Like the rest of the economy passenger traffic  started the year with an increase of only 0.4% over the same quarter a year earlier.But in the last quarter of 2013 it has likely grown to be over 11%. That acceleration could help make the case for SLO as well.

United is expected to decide in the next month or so whether to launch service between SLO and Denver as soon as this Spring after local public and private incentives totaling more than $1.7 million in cash and commitments  were offered to offset start-up costs for the service.

A Sixel Consulting Group marketing study found that United Airlines faces a possible $1.5 million loss in the first two years of service that  this county subsidy fund could help reduce.The funds committed by SLO area businesses also helps assure United  that demand is there mitigating the airline’s risk.

Will Los Osos get a a McDonalds? The county Planning Commission will take up the matter February 6 at 9AM. McDonalds would occupy most the old Bank of America building vacant for a number of years. The eatery would take 3000sf with 900sf for lease for office space. The restaurant would utilize the existing drive-thru. The issue has divided the community of Los Osos in a matter likely to be appealed to the Board of Supervisors.Opponents do not like chain restaurants coming to town and cite water use while supporters say the community has a large number of vacant commercial spaces and needs more business.

Speaking of hamburgers – Sonic Burger is expected to land at the NE corner  of Hwy 41 and Hwy 1 according to a City of Morro Bay pending project list.

To improve water pressure the City of Morro Bay is constructing a new 1.23 million gallon water tank that will replace a 140,000 gal unit at the end of Nutmeg on the hill above the city.The project is expected to be complete by September 2014.

US Coast Guard plans to expand operations in Morro Bay adding 5000sf of building space along the Embarcadero in Morro Bay. Staff have met with the city to find the right spot.  Between the influx of panga boats and rescues – the 27 person Coast Guard contingent  stays busy protecting the area that includes the Diablo Canyon power plant. About half the new spaced is expected to house a boat maintenance facility with the balance for office use. This part of the coast has seen some 10 panga boats carrying drugs land here in the past year.
Reports indicate that the Coast Guard is now using unmanned aircraft  to fight drug smuggling off the California coast. In November Rear Admiral  William Lee  told a House panel that the aircraft is being used successfully to spot the smuggling boats. An account of the testimony says
“A considerable threat along our entire maritime border involves the use of ‘pangas’,” explained Alles. “Smugglers use these wood or fiberglass homemade fishing vessels’ relatively high-speed capabilities, small radar signature, and the cover of darkness to attempt to evade detection by surface patrol vessels and patrol aircraft.”
CBP has noticed that smugglers are using larger and larger vessels, sometimes reaching up to 50 feet in length, which can carry multiple tons of contraband for longer and longer distances.
“A recent trend identified off the California coast is a shift from using smaller panga vessels that make quick cross-border trips to beach areas near San Diego to using larger pangas,” Alles noted. “Larger pangas are typically used in the Western Caribbean transit zones from South America, but are now transiting from Mexico farther offshore and farther Northward along the California coast.”