Eco-Bulletin ~ May 23, 2007

San Luis Obispo painter Fayrene Parrish is donating the full sale price of one of her 'Daily Paintings" to ECOSLO. Bidding will start Wednesday, May 23 for the painting, "Montana de Oro Springtime" on her website http://fayrene-parrish.blogspot.com . The painting is available for $95 (plus $10 shipping) or click on the 'bid' button below the painting to bid on eBay. By bidding on eBay, the chances of it selling for more than $95 are greater, and thus a larger donation to ECOSLO. Fayrene will be auctioning paintings for ECOSLO approximately three times per year.

Show your support for an upgrade (tertiary level) of the Morro Bay/Cayucos wastewater treatment plant at the next meeting of the Joint Powers Authority (JPA) on Thursday, May 24 at the Morro Bay Community Center (1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay, CA, 93442). Meet prior to the meeting at 4:30pm for free pizza. We need as many people as possible to attend and urge the officials of Morro Bay and Cayucos to upgrade their outdated sewage plant to tertiary treatment in less than five years.

Although the necessary construction time is less than two and a half years, the plant proposes to complete the project and improve water quality by March 31, 2014. However, the plant's own documents show that a faster, more efficient upgrade is not only possible, but would be less expensive as well. To request an upgrade to tertiary (rather than secondary) level treatment, attend the meeting on May 24 and sign a petition letter at ECOSLO’s office at 1204 Nipomo in San Luis Obispo or download and print the letter located online at www.ecoslo.org/letters .

Talking Points:

· JPA must not delay its vote any longer. It has promised the public a vote, and it has had the information necessary to decide between secondary and tertiary treatment for months.

· According to the Plant’s own engineers, upgrading to tertiary will only cost about $1 more per household per month over secondary treatment.

· There are existing, willing customers for tertiary-treated water. Morro Bay Parks and Recreation Department, San Luis Coastal Unified School District, Morro Bay Golf Course, and Hanson Aggregates have all recently confirmed their continuing interest in purchasing reclaimed water from the Plant.

· According to the Plant’s own engineers, the cost to upgrade to tertiary treatment is only $2 million more than secondary treatment.

· Many funding opportunities are available for a tertiary upgrade, but the JPA must first vote to finalize the project to tertiary treatment before it can seize these opportunities.

The EV Conversion Forum is a series of "how to" presentations by Gary Dove and Francis Howard, SLO County residents who preformed their own conversion and use the converted vehicles as daily drivers. The EV Conversion Lecture focused on donor vehicle selection, parts sourcing and assembly will be held Friday, May 25 from 5pm to 6:30pm at the Cal Poly College of Business "Silo" building. Both speakers’ vehicles will be shown after the presentation. Attendance is free; arrive early and carpool, as parking is limited. Visit the C5 website www.c-5.org for a map or call Alex Bugrov for more information at (805)781-4654.

The City of Arroyo Grande wants your feedback on a draft creek protection policy at the next Arroyo Grande Creek Watershed Forum, Wednesday, May 30, from 6pm to 8 pm at the Arroyo Grande City Council Chambers. Options being considered will be presented and staff from the City of Arroyo Grande Community Development Department will be on hand to answer questions and receive your input.

This is an opportunity to help create a policy that will guide the development process related to creek set-backs, Low-Impact Development and other creek protection measures. As development proceeds in the Arroyo Grande Watershed, the Arroyo Grande City Council has made it a priority to establish policies that protect local creek resources to reduce impacts to the creek within city limits, as well as downstream of the city. A creek protection policy can guide developers in satisfying development requirements as projects are reviewed by the city.

The draft creek protection ordinance and alternatives will be presented and city staff will take input and feedback. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance on June 5, 2007. Additionally, the County of San Luis Obispo is working on an update to the General Plan Conservation Element. County staff will discuss progress on this update that will include direction for the consideration, development and utilization of natural resources within the County of San Luis Obispo.

The forum will also include updates on progress in coordinating local efforts to address flooding, fisheries, and water quality. Representatives of Central Coast Salmon Enhancement (CCSE), which has been facilitating the Watershed Forum since 1999, will be joined by City officials and staff from the City of Arroyo Grande, and the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District (RCD) for this panel discussion, including an opportunity to provide input on the City’s Draft Creek Policy and the development of projects within the watershed.

This is an excerpt from a recent article by ECOSLO Board member Calvin Wilvert, Professor Emeritus of Geography, and Morgan Rafferty, Executive Director ECOSLO. For the complete article, visit http://www.ecoslo.org/atascaderosetbacks052307/ .

Once again, the Central Coast has witnessed a clash between advocates of environmental protection and property rights. In Atascadero, the proposed increase in creek setbacks is generating controversy and hostility among some of the residents.