The recent quakes in Southern California remind us of the importance of being prepared for earthquakes as well as wild fires. These tips from the Los Angeles Times are timely (pun mostly not intended).

The Board of Supervisors vote was 3-2. The appeal was upheld and the decision of the hearing officer was reversed, and the applicant for minor use permit was denied!
Read more.

Plan now to attend the CEPOA Annual Meeting and Luncheon which will be Sunday, August 4, Noon to 3 PM at La Palapa restaurant, 1346 2nd St, Los Osos. Enjoy a delicious Mexican buffet while getting better acquainted with your Cabrillo neighbors. There will be a brief business meeting to include election of 2019-2020 officers plus a special speaker (see below).   Details and a reservation form will be mailed to all CEPOA members.

The Morro Bay National Estuary Program works to protect and restore the Morro Bay estuary and the lands that surround it for people and wildlife. For the past 20 years, the Estuary Program has focused on three programmatic areas to achieve its goals: monitoring & research, restoration & conservation, and education & outreach. The Estuary Program tracks long-term conditions in the estuary and watershed, protects land through restoration and conservation easements, and works with visitors and residents alike to share a message of stewardship.

The Estuary Program works to monitor, protect, and restore habitats. Every three years, the Estuary Program compiles a report card answering common questions such as, “Is it safe to swim in the bay?”, “Does Morro Bay support healthy eelgrass beds?”, and “Is the bay clean enough to support commercial shellfish harvesting?” In her presentation, Ann will address these questions, as well as share some highlights from Estuary Program projects.

Ann Kitajima served as the Monitoring Program Manager for the Estuary Program from 2002 through 2016, directing and overseeing monitoring efforts throughout the bay and creeks. In 2016, she became the organization’s Assistant Director, with responsibilities including programmatic oversight, strategic planning, and grant management. She continues to provide support in monitoring planning and development. Prior to her time with the Estuary Program, she worked for an environmental consulting firm conducting permitting and remediation projects throughout California. She holds engineering degrees from UC Berkeley and UC Irvine and has been a Central Coast resident for 20 years.

Learn more: https://www.mbnep.org/

The following information is from Sue Morgenthaler, LOCAC member and member of the Land Use Committee.

We are getting down to crunch time. Our Board of Supervisors Hearing to appeal the 670 Santa Lucia vacation rental is July 9th. Please plan to attend! Our case is well thought out, but getting as many neighbors as possible into the Supervisors' Chambers is more important than you can imagine. WE NEED YOU THERE. PLEASE ATTEND! BRING FRIENDS! With a lot of us there, they will have no choice but to listen to us. As soon as we have an idea of when during the day we will be heard, we will let you know.

The meeting starts at 9AM, there will be the usual pleasantries and Consent Agenda Items. We are at the top of the hearing items, so they should get to us rather quickly!

Please arrive before 9AM. The closest parking structures are at the Post Office on Marsh Street and one up on Palm a couple of blocks down.

For those of you who plan speak, you will need to fill out a short form with your name and hearing item number. Speakers are limited to 3 minutes. Even if you just get up and say you support your neighbors and would like them to deny the permit, go for it! If you choose not to talk, that is perfectly fine, we are just happy you will be there!

The meeting is in the Supervisors’ Chambers
New Government Center
1055 Monterey Street Suite D430
San Luis Obispo

Also, would you please write them a letter? Address your note to 'Dear Supervisors’ and send it to boardofsups@co.slo.ca.us Ask that it be distributed to each of the Supervisors, referencing Thoman APPL2019-00006/DRC2018-00204 in the subject line. Please write as soon as you can so they will actually have a chance to read them before the hearing. They don't have to be long, short is good!

If you wrote a letter last time around, perhaps you would consider resending it, adding an introductory paragraph that speaks to the issues we are challenging at the hearing. It sounds like they may not see those letters, so they should all be sent again.