Postcard Causes a Mystery
Summary: Many people received large glossy postcards in the mail recently, advocating they support rebuilding the existing wastewater treatment plant where it is. But not all got the cards. Turns out only those who support not moving it got the postcards, for the most part, but who organized the costly effort? No one knows — yet.
A mysterious thing happened in Morro Bay a week or so ago.
A glossy, oversized postcard was mailed to residents — that is, some residents. (See card below.) That anyone got it will be a surprise to a lot of residents because many did not. And no Cayucos residents received a card, even though the subject on the card was the Morro Bay-Cayucos wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).
Apparently no Morro Bay residents who were thought to oppose keeping the plant where it is now when it is rebuilt/replaced — which is what the card advocates — received cards. (Knowing who among voters opposes or supports keeping the plant where it is now located in order to decide on who to mail it to is pretty sophisticated knowledge, isn't it?)
So those are not mysteries. From these data, it is clear what the card developers' motives were — to persuade those to whom the cards were mailed to not only support keeping the plant where it is now located on the shores of Estero Bay. But also — and this is a big one — to join in advocating that position. How? By mailing advocacy letters to the California Coastal Commission (CCC) AND, probably even more importantly, sending emails to its staff. That is the same staff which has developed a powerful report to the Commission adamantly opposing allowing the plant to remain where it is and is unyielding in that position (Coastal CA).
Morro Bay and Cayucos apparently think they can get the CCC staff to change its mind and are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on lobbyists to convince them to do so.
The City of Morro Bay and the Cayucos Sanitary District (MB/CSD), which jointly own and operate the WWTP under their Joint Powers Agreement, will build a new plant wherever it may be placed by the Coastal Commission.
But who did it? who paid money, probably in the thousands, to produce and mail the card? That is the mystery.
Whoever did, had to have had very sophisticated knowledge of how various residents stood on placement of the plant. (They fouled up on the person who gave me her card — she supports moving it.) But a quick survey shows virtually every other person in Morro Bay who shares her views did NOT receive a card. They found out about the card through being asked if they got a card or knew anyone among their friends who got one. They weren't persuaded by the misinformation on the card.
For example:
— It says the current Morro Bay residential sewer and water rate is $57, and sewer and water for an out of town project (note the loaded words: "out of town") would be $101.
Size of cited properties, extent of use of the sewer and water, and documentation of the card's figures? Nothing.
— Timeline. It says construction of a new plant at the existing site would take three years. Out of town project: sewer project delayed seven to 10 years; multiple new state and federal permits needed.
Who says? No documentation. It also says the "permitting process nearly complete" for a new plant at the existing site." How could that be when state agencies haven't even considered, much less approved such a project?
— Reclamation - Benefits our residents at the existing location. Reclamation at the out of town project benefits non-residents. Why would non-residents (who are they?) benefit from reclamation and not residents when wherever the new plant is built it is owned and operated by the Morro Bay-Cayucos partners?
That means Morro Bay residents inherently benefit.
— There would be "cleaner discharge into the ocean by 2015" while it would take until 2022 for the out of town project to produce cleaner discharge.
Documentation? None.
— The plant at the existing location would be "energy efficient" while the out of town project would use "1,000% more energy pumping raw sewage."
That would depend on the technology used wouldn't it? — And there is no design yet, much less a selected location of the plant. Why would the out of town project use more energy pumping raw sewage? How much would the plant at the existing location use? Let's compare figures to prove our case.
— The existing location would be a "superior environmental choice" while the out of town project would be an "inferior environmental choice."
Well, that is simple enough — or should that be simplistic? Why would one be a superior environmental choice — not one single reason is given.
— The existing location would be "in our city limits" and the out of town project would be outside city limits under "county control."
How could it be under county control if Morro Bay and the CSD owned and operated the plant? The county has nothing to do with it.
— Pipes in place for the existing location's plant while the out of town project would "need to pump raw sewage up hill."
Maybe, but the effluent processed, say, by a plant alongside Highway 41 east of Morro Bay (a site which the CCC staff seems to favor), would flow freely of charge by using gravity to most of Morro Bay. And it would be readily available for use by farmers alongside Highway 41, producing income for the city and to use to recharge the city's wells to produce water for irrigation and drinking.
— No flood issues after construction for a plant at the existing location while the plant at the out of town project (notice that the card never identifies the location of this project but the implication seems to be along Highway 41) would face "known landslide/earthquake/flood issues."
The existing plant site is in the middle of an area threatened by being in a tsunami zone and a 100-year-flood zone, despite the failed attempt by Dudek, the city's contract engineer, to prove otherwise. The CCC staff has acknowledged that key fact.
— There are no known archeological issues with the existing location plant but archeological issues with the out of town plant.
Fine, let's see the evidence.
The card says it is paid for by "rate payers for an affordable, common sense sewer." Who would that be? No name or way to contact the anonymous party.
That part is still a mystery — as well as who is behind the card.
One distinct possibility is it is those still on the Morro Bay City Council — Carla Borchard and/or Bill Yates, and due to be replaced by Christine Johnson, Jamie Irons and Noah Smukler as a new majority of the Council on December 10. Borchard and Yates, of course, could be responsible along with Dorothy Johnson and George Leage, still serving on the Council for two more years. And possibly city staff. Or Joan and John Solu. She was a losing candidate for the Council in the June 5 primary. And they are in the motel business with plenty of money to pay for a postcard project.
There was a confirmed report that the Four Amigos — a long-time conservative activist group of ex- and current business people — might have been involved. Of course, the Cayucos Sanitary District also may have been involved because they are adamant about keeping the plant where it is. They would have money to contribute, but they couldn't select among Morro Bay residents as the aforementioned could. (CSD board president Robert Enns is a sworn opponent to moving the plant because it would produce more water "that we don't need)."
So the key may be who knew the right people — those who support upgrading the existing plant — to send the cards to, and the Amigos probably don't. But the lame duck and remaining two Council members and the city staff surely do. Because they are at EVERY Council meeting seeing who is saying what, as are the city staff.
But it is still a mystery. Those responsible for the card are still hiding themselves.
