Hello friends and neighbors. I hope you are enjoying the summer and all its trappings. Things are in full swing throughout Avila Beach and the Valley as locals and tourists alike flock to our area. To begin this month’s report, I’d like to provide you with some updates on ongoing projects that were featured in last month’s column. First, my apologies for the delay in the placement of commercial trash bins along the beach boardwalk on the east and west sides of the Promenade. With four project partners sharing responsibility - all on different schedules - it has taken longer than we hoped. As I pen this column on June 18th, it appears we are only days away from actually placing the order for the receptacles, which means they should be on their way soon.
Next, I wish to thank Avila Beach Foundation Trustee Boyd Horne for attending a recent meeting conducted by the Port San Luis Harbor District regarding parking and traffic management in and around Avila Beach. Following is Boyd’s summary of the meeting……………”The meeting was called to order by Steve McGrath, Harbor District Manager. Also attending the meeting were representatives from the SLO County Parks Department, Public Works Department, Avila Beach Community Services District, Council of Governments, Avila Beach Civic Association, Avila Beach Advisory Council and Avila Beach Community Foundation. Due to the area’s increasing parking and traffic management issues and challenges, the SLO Council of Governments has awarded a grant of $50,000 to conduct a study and make recommendations for both short and long range solutions and mitigations. The resulting consensus of those in attendance is for the possible establishment of a Parking District under the authority and control of a board to be created through a joint powers agreement of the three governmental jurisdictions (Port San Luis, ABCSD and the County), with involvement from other constituencies. The next step is to contact LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission) regarding feasibility and requirements.” Wow – that’s quite a mouthful, and leads me to believe this won’t be quick turnaround project. However, the topic is of great concern to so many of us. I will do my best to keep you readers informed of progress as it occurs.
Moving along, the Foundation recently received some good news and some not so good news from our friends at Pacific Gas and Electric Company. The good news is that we were awarded a $5,000 grant from PG&E – a portion to support our Avila Beach History and Heritage presentation series, and a portion to be pooled with the Foundation’s Emerging Community Needs and Opportunity Fund. This “Fund” consists of money that is available to support small projects and address community needs that may pop up outside of our annual grant making period. It also has fewer grant making restrictions than does the money comprising our endowment as established by the UNOCAL beach clean-up settlement.
For information about the “Fund”, please contact us at 595-4095 or avilafoundation@gmail.com. The not so good news is that one of the Foundation’s newest board members, PG&E Vice President in charge of operations at Diablo Canyon Jim Becker, is relocating to Arizona. We wish Jim and his family all the best as they open the next chapter of their lives.
And now, I must give the Foundation a pat on the back for two projects we funded this year at the Avila Beach Sea Life Center. While full credit for a successful endeavor goes to the Sea Life Center, it is important that I remind everyone that the Avila Beach Foundation doesn’t just exist, but is here to help enhance the Avila Beach lifestyle. Having just received the ABSLC mid-year grant report, we learned that 490 central coast schoolchildren were able to participate in their Scientist for a Day Floating Lab and Discovery Lab Programs. The other project we supported was the Center’s Habitats of Avila Exhibit and lecture series. The new habitat tank was curated and installed in the spring, and is designed to showcase three different marine habitats found in Avila Bay. The lecture launched with the first of a series designed to engage the public in learning more about ocean related issues from local experts – in this case the featured topics were shark tagging, the connection between air and water, marine protected areas, and the Morro Bay Estuary. I encourage you to visit the Sea Life Center soon to see the new exhibit and register for the remaining segments of the lecture series. Check out their website at www.sealifecenter.org.
My final bit of news is the result of some expressed dissatisfaction over the elimination of the free Avila Trolley stop that used to be at Woodstone Deli at the base of San Luis Bay Estates. Last month I received a small flurry of emails from SLBE residents wanting to know why the stop was discontinued. Upon consulting the Trolley operator – South County Area Transit – I learned that ridership for that stop was terribly low in 2011, so as part of an overall realignment of the route and schedule to become more efficient, the Woodstone stop was ceased. Following the “flurry” of emails, I contacted SCAT, and then facilitated an email survey to SLBE residents to help determine interest and need. Quite frankly, the number of respondents – fourteen - was far from overwhelming, but the matter is under consideration by the Trolley operator. While the Foundation provides an annual grant to keep Trolley rides free, we have no control over routing decisions. It’s in the hands of SCAT, so let’s wait to see what happens. That’s it for now. I’ll see you at the beach.
Next, I wish to thank Avila Beach Foundation Trustee Boyd Horne for attending a recent meeting conducted by the Port San Luis Harbor District regarding parking and traffic management in and around Avila Beach. Following is Boyd’s summary of the meeting……………”The meeting was called to order by Steve McGrath, Harbor District Manager. Also attending the meeting were representatives from the SLO County Parks Department, Public Works Department, Avila Beach Community Services District, Council of Governments, Avila Beach Civic Association, Avila Beach Advisory Council and Avila Beach Community Foundation. Due to the area’s increasing parking and traffic management issues and challenges, the SLO Council of Governments has awarded a grant of $50,000 to conduct a study and make recommendations for both short and long range solutions and mitigations. The resulting consensus of those in attendance is for the possible establishment of a Parking District under the authority and control of a board to be created through a joint powers agreement of the three governmental jurisdictions (Port San Luis, ABCSD and the County), with involvement from other constituencies. The next step is to contact LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission) regarding feasibility and requirements.” Wow – that’s quite a mouthful, and leads me to believe this won’t be quick turnaround project. However, the topic is of great concern to so many of us. I will do my best to keep you readers informed of progress as it occurs.
Moving along, the Foundation recently received some good news and some not so good news from our friends at Pacific Gas and Electric Company. The good news is that we were awarded a $5,000 grant from PG&E – a portion to support our Avila Beach History and Heritage presentation series, and a portion to be pooled with the Foundation’s Emerging Community Needs and Opportunity Fund. This “Fund” consists of money that is available to support small projects and address community needs that may pop up outside of our annual grant making period. It also has fewer grant making restrictions than does the money comprising our endowment as established by the UNOCAL beach clean-up settlement.
For information about the “Fund”, please contact us at 595-4095 or avilafoundation@gmail.com. The not so good news is that one of the Foundation’s newest board members, PG&E Vice President in charge of operations at Diablo Canyon Jim Becker, is relocating to Arizona. We wish Jim and his family all the best as they open the next chapter of their lives.
And now, I must give the Foundation a pat on the back for two projects we funded this year at the Avila Beach Sea Life Center. While full credit for a successful endeavor goes to the Sea Life Center, it is important that I remind everyone that the Avila Beach Foundation doesn’t just exist, but is here to help enhance the Avila Beach lifestyle. Having just received the ABSLC mid-year grant report, we learned that 490 central coast schoolchildren were able to participate in their Scientist for a Day Floating Lab and Discovery Lab Programs. The other project we supported was the Center’s Habitats of Avila Exhibit and lecture series. The new habitat tank was curated and installed in the spring, and is designed to showcase three different marine habitats found in Avila Bay. The lecture launched with the first of a series designed to engage the public in learning more about ocean related issues from local experts – in this case the featured topics were shark tagging, the connection between air and water, marine protected areas, and the Morro Bay Estuary. I encourage you to visit the Sea Life Center soon to see the new exhibit and register for the remaining segments of the lecture series. Check out their website at www.sealifecenter.org.
My final bit of news is the result of some expressed dissatisfaction over the elimination of the free Avila Trolley stop that used to be at Woodstone Deli at the base of San Luis Bay Estates. Last month I received a small flurry of emails from SLBE residents wanting to know why the stop was discontinued. Upon consulting the Trolley operator – South County Area Transit – I learned that ridership for that stop was terribly low in 2011, so as part of an overall realignment of the route and schedule to become more efficient, the Woodstone stop was ceased. Following the “flurry” of emails, I contacted SCAT, and then facilitated an email survey to SLBE residents to help determine interest and need. Quite frankly, the number of respondents – fourteen - was far from overwhelming, but the matter is under consideration by the Trolley operator. While the Foundation provides an annual grant to keep Trolley rides free, we have no control over routing decisions. It’s in the hands of SCAT, so let’s wait to see what happens. That’s it for now. I’ll see you at the beach.
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