Morro Bay City Council Meeting -- October 24, 2005
Citizen’s Suggestions on How to Reuse the Duke Power Plant Site

Summary 

The following is a summary of the comments received by the Council during an open public forum regarding the future use of the power plant site.

General

• Approximately 35 people spoke representing both individuals and various organizations.
• With only a few exceptions there seemed to be a common theme regarding the suggested uses.
• Most people suggested a mixed use approach.
• Most favored centering the facilities on a marine/maritime theme to be consistent with the overall existing identity of Morro Bay.
• Residential use was not suggested at all.  One individual recommended against any residential use.
• Comments like make Morro Bay an “international destination experience” were often used.
• The smoke stacks are the worst visually and should be taken down.  Concern was expressed about potential pollution if the towers were imploded.
• The location should reflect not only the personality of Morro Bay.  It should also reflect the arts, agriculture, viticulture and personality of the Central Coast.
• Duke currently provides room for a triage center run by the Marine Mammal Center which should be preserved.
• The Sierra Club was submitting a recommendation to use the area as a world class cultural center (We should get a copy of this report)
• Many people voiced a strong opinion against a power plant due to a) pollution especially particulates, b) the negative impact on the plant’s noise and pollution on our tourism industry, and c) the negative impact on the estuary

Suggested Uses

The following is a list of suggested uses in approximated ranking grouped as “most suggested”, “frequently suggested” and “mentioned”.  It is not possible to rank the suggestions with total accuracy as speakers in the second half of the meeting frequently said they supported “prior suggestions” without being more specific.

Most Suggested

• Marine museum
• Maritime museum
• Aquarium
• Museum/center featuring art of the Central Coast (see Crockett recommendations)
• IMAX Theater
• Estuary experience center
• Cloisters bike path extension
• Cal Poly/Questa marine laboratory (marine environmental research center)

Frequently Suggested

• Power generating facility – Wind, Wave and Solar selling energy to the local community. (Wind was cautioned as it could be problematic due to Morro Bay being on the flight path of migratory birds.
• Hotel/conference center
• Native American experience center (as well as protect sacred ground located on  the Duke property for Morro Bay’s founding mothers and fathers)
• Convert the existing building into a museum (like the Tate Museum)

Mentioned

• The building may be a unique architectural statement as it is over 50 years old and one of the largest aluminum clad structures in the country. (Maybe it can be given a facelift to gain more character)
• Observatory (Dark Sky program)
• Morro Bay should buy the plant and go into the power generating business selling at peak times only
• Public swimming pool
• The marine museum could include glass enclosed tide pools and water polishing ponds
• Farmers market
• Series of extended lagoons  with wildlife rehabilitation and viewing centers and native plants
• Boatyard and dry-dock

Summary

The speakers seemed to support a mixed used facility combining all or most of the “Most Suggested” and “Frequently Suggested” items above.  The general consensus was toward a “public and private partnership” to make Morro Bay an “example city” and use the property to create interactive experiences in the forms of maritime and marine museums, local Native American culture and history, Central Coast arts and industries (wine and agriculture) and a marine biology research center linked to Cal Poly.  This would all be built around a state of the art renewable resource power plant which would supply power to the site and the local community (and would also be part of the interactive experience).  In total this was described and making Morro Bay the “crown jewel tourist destination of the Central Coast.”

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