Council approves joining ‘clean energy’ agreement, will discuss short-term rentals tonight
Agreement favors ‘clean’ energy
Agreement favors ‘clean’ energy–The Paso Robles City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to join San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay and other central coast municipalities in participating in the Monterey Bay Community Power Joint Powers Agreement at their Tuesday night meeting. MBCP buys power from a variety of sources, including PG & E, and offers it to participating municipalities at rates they say are cheaper than PG and E’s rate. They favor “clean” energy: solar, wind and alternative energy generation.
Several citizens spoke against joining Monterey Bay Community Power. Michael Rivera questioned why the council was moving in this direction. He told the council, “Relatively conservative people that have common sense are doing things that I’m am actually shocked with. What the heck happened? Be patient…Table this!”
Some critics were upset that people who want don’t want to participate in the collective have to pay $5 to “opt out. The council later discussed asking MBCP to waive that $5 fee.
The vote to join Monterey Bay Community Power was 4-0. John Hamon was absent.
Tuesday’s city council meeting was continued until Wednesday night. Wednesday night, the council will address the controversial Short Term Vacation Rental Ordinance. They will consider three options. One presented by the Short Term Rental Task Force. Another approved by the Planning Commission, although six out of the seven Planning Commissioners had conflicts of interest and recused themselves. The Commission invoked the “Rule of Necessity” and the commissioners drew straws to determine which of those six who had recused themselves would still decide the issue. The third option is an all-out ban on “non-hosted” Short Term Vacation Rentals in R-1 Zoned areas of the city. They may select one of those options or any other.
The Paso Robles City Council meets at 6:30 Wednesday evening at the Library Conference Room with only the Short Term Rental issue on the agenda.
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