Two NCAC members won’t seek election

As North Coast advisers prepare to approve the ballot for their council’s April 5 election, two current members have decided not to seek another term.

Tony Church represents the North Coast Advisory Council’s Area 8, chairs the council’s Traffic Committee and is a participant in the Land Use Committee. He announced at NCAC’s Feb. 17 meeting that he wouldn’t run again because of “recent actions of the executive committee” regarding the land-use group, actions he called “unprofessional at best.”

Since nobody else had applied to run for that seat by the Feb. 17 deadline, the council will continue to take applications for a possible future appointment.

Area 8 in mid- and southern Lodge Hill stretches along the west side of Highway 1 to Ardath and Pineridge drives from approximately Trenton Drive to the southern edge of western Cambria. Area maps are online at http://bit.ly/20VerC0.

Church, who was elected in 2014, said later he’ll serve out the remainder of his term through April and will continue to participate in meetings, “but as a concerned citizen, not as a member.” He declined to elaborate on what actions the executive committee — council Chairman Bruce Fosdike and Vice Chairman Ted Siegler, Heide Santos, CeCe Lomeli and Marjorie Sewell — had taken to prompt his decision not to run again.

According to Fosdike, NCAC member Jason Anderson also has decided not to run again, and retracted conditions-of-service paperwork he had submitted earlier. Anderson represents Area 4 (Pine Knolls, and downtown/rural areas east of Main Street).

The council

The council of volunteers recommends actions to 2nd District Supervisor Bruce Gibson, and through his office to all other county agencies and departments. NCAC members review items ranging from countywide land-use regulations to where and how to put up a single cellular canister antenna or stop sign.

The unpaid members serve two-year terms, during which time they also work on specific committees such as land use or traffic. Members can serve more than one term. The council meets on the third Wednesday of every month except December.

The letter

Fosdike said a letter the executive committee sent to Land Use Committee Chairwoman Mary Webb may have triggered the decisions by Anderson and Church. However, Fosdike said he didn’t know if either man had seen the letter.

Fosdike said some issues addressed in that letter, which he considered to be guidelines for the land use chairperson, included making sure that person retains control of NCAC’s mailbox key and requires that the committee’s meetings maintain a cordial demeanor, and also reminds committee members that they are advisers to the county, but are not representing it.

Church said he believes Webb “has been doing a sterling job, a wonderful job. Under her direction, I believe the Land Use Committee is doing a very worthwhile and thankless task for the community.”

According to NCAC’s website, the “Land Use Committee reviews county land-use proposals and makes recommendations concerning their impact on the community,” using such considerations as “compatibility, flooding and drainage, emergency services, disaster planning, traffic, public transit, etc.” The committee also “compares projects to requirements as outlined in the North Coast Area Plan and Coastal Zone Land Use Ordinance Title 23.”

Church reiterated that the committee and the council are “just advisory. We advise the county about what we think about an application.” He said the committee — and indeed the council itself — “can’t make people (project applicants) do anything.” He said applicants sometimes disagree with findings of the committee or the council, “and they’re entitled to their opinions.”

The election

Fosdike said the council will vote March 16 to approve the ballot.

He said Tuesday, Feb. 23, that the only candidates for the 2016 election are in Area 2, which covers the Moonstone Beach and Happy Hill areas north to San Simeon.

Candidates include: Alternate council member Marty Main, business representative Mike McLaughlin, business alternate John Nixon, Bob Sfarzo (who participates in the land-use and traffic committees) and Brendan Bailey.

Fosdike said there were two applicants each in two other areas, and those applicants have decided among themselves who will serve as the primary member and who will be the alternate.

Susan McDonald will be primary in Area 4, while Don Sather will be alternate. In Area 6 (Lodge Hill’s Marine Terrace to Ardath, Trenton and Berwick drives and Benson Avenue), Siegler will continue as the primary member, while newly appointed alternate Cindy Steidel will continue in that post.

Fosdike said new and continuing members in those areas will be seated at the end of the April 20 meeting, after which officers will be elected and the environmental and agricultural appointees will be considered.

This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 10:44 AM with the headline "Two NCAC members won’t seek election."