Key Oceano Issues

By Mark Wampler

Oceano Citizens should have a venue to discuss pressing needs and greater access to staff and board members.

The county controlled Zone 3 water district at Lopez Lake has shared interest by south county cities, including Oceano. While Arroyo Grande takes the majority share ownership at 51%, Oceano's lot is only 6%. The water treatment facility at Lopez Lake has undergone recent upgrades and repairs. In addition, the dam is to be retrofitted for earthquakes. This has cost ratepayers. The Zone 3 district advisory council is comprised of a representative from each owner member. Oceano being in the minority has evidently in past times affected very little if any of the decisions that have been passed through. Lavish spending contracts have seemingly no ceiling cap. It appears that most of the decision makers don't live in the impacted areas. Its reasonable to assume that if those who raise our rates actually lived in the impacted areas, a different attitude would exist. In other words, "its not their money, but ours" that is being spent. It has been suggested for Oceano to divorce itself from Zone 3, but that could attract legal complications as Oceano apparently has contractual obligations to Zone 3. The District does have the option to explore it's state water contract as it is possible that state water is cheaper now than Lopez water. A desalinization facility has been considered as a future alternative, but current technology estimates DeSal water at $2,400 per acre foot compared to Lopez water currently running at about $1,500 per acre foot. After being elected as director, Mark will call for an investigation into tapping into the least expensive water sources and possibly become less dependent on costly water sources. Mr. Wampler will propose an overhaul in the decision making process. The advisory council must stand up to the county administrators and be accountable who have forced out of control spending leaving low and fixed income residents in Oceano to pick up the tab along with other south county residents.

OCEANO COMMUNITY CENTER

Last year the Community Center took up an abundance of District energy in processing the financing and finalizing the lease agreement between the Oceano District (OCSD) and OCCI (Oceano Community Center INC). Now that the structure is complete and open for business, it is time to support the Center by encouraging their arts, crafts and fund raising programs to run their course. Two to three years from now will be critical in terms of the corporation's solvency. Recently, the balance of the original "RZH" grant was paid to OCCI in the amount of $100,000. Earlier this year, the SLO county parks department also issued a grant for $100,000. While it may not be known if anyone outside the corporation or its affiliates has seen an income and expense statement, it can be generally accepted that presently there isn't enough income generated to offset the nearly $13,000 in monthly mortgage payments to Coast National Bank. As a private 501c non-profit, detailed financial reporting is not necessarily open for public viewing, even though public tax payer money was used for the project, thus it may not become public knowledge how solvent or insolvent the corporation may be at any time.

COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT CHALLENGES

Bringing badly needed improvements to Oceano on both the District and County levels has historically been a question of funding. In view of the enormous volume of visitors to Oceano's beaches and the estimated $4 million in annual state income, the district receives no percentage of that income. In addition, Oceano receives no income from sales tax revenue. Neighboring Pismo Beach on the other hand boasts multi-million dollar receipts in revenue from their robust motel and restaurant landscape. Oceano's business sector for the most part has suffered from a lack of incentives to attract quality businesses. Oceano's unincorporated status presents the greatest challenge to the business sector.

Due to the shortage of funding for community projects, Oceano presently relies on Community Development Block Grant funds, (CDBG) a federal grant program that is available to low income areas such as Oceano. In addition, SLO county parks has some limited funds for park use as well as limited grant opportunities from other sources. We should be thankful for these financial opportunities, as a non-incorporated area until the day may come when Oceano can be incorporated.

AIRPORT LAND USE ORDINANCE

The recent renewal of the Airport Authority's land use ordinance has stirred controversy for property owners within the flight path of the airport. There is great concern for the jurisdictional authority the airport carries in light of federal financial assistance and exercising power that trumps all local authorities. The superior airport authority stands to override certain specifications within the Oceano Specific Plan as well. While the airport provides some limited financial benefit to local businesses, the new restraints being placed on property owners by the ordinance is calling into question the value and future of the airport itself. Faced with the reality that real estate values could plummet even more in the current market has mobilized many to consider alternatives. Mr. Wampler has promised to pursue the will of the people on this matter.