Donations for work on Cayucos pier roll in
The estimated $3.5 million reconstruction and improvement of the heavily damaged, aging Cayucos pier is expected to start next month.
That’s according to Greg Bettencourt, chairman of the Cayucos Pier Project Committee, which is expected Tuesday to give San Luis Obispo County supervisors a symbolic check of $235,000 to help pay for it. In return, the committee is expected to be given a resolution commending its actions.
The Cayucos community had pledged $100,000 but gave an additional $135,000 to pay for a new lighting and electrical system for the rebuilt pier, according to Bettencourt.
“We are able to make that additional contribution thanks to the amazing generosity of people from all over SLO County, California and the U.S.,” he said.
The committee has raised about $600,000 since July 4, 2013, and intends to dedicate the remaining $270,000 to the long-term health of the pier, he said.
“The funds will be kept in a restricted pier trust fund and used to encourage the county to do regular professional inspections and maintenance on the pier into the distant future,” he said.
The pier was built in 1872 by Capt. James Cass, according to the Cayucos Pier Project website, www.savecayucospier.org, and rebuilt and lengthened in 1876.
The county and the community have known for years that the pier needed repairs. But in July 2013, the county fenced off most of the pier after discovering that some support pilings were missing or badly damaged, and some that remained were not connected to the pier’s deck.
A $230,000 stabilization project completed in January atop the pier’s deck helped protect the aging structure from the battering of high waves.
WHO IS PAYING?
SLO County: $1,790,000
Save Cayucos Pier Project: $100,000 for structural rebuild; $135,000 for new power and electrical
Chevron Corp.: $5,000
California Coastal Conservancy: $750,000
California Wildlife Conservation Fund: $750,000
Total: $3,530,000
Source: Greg Bettencourt, chairman of the Cayucos Pier Project Committee
This story was originally published September 8, 2014 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Donations for work on Cayucos pier roll in."