|
||||
|
Here are three of the most substantial issues that were raised by the commissioners of the California Coastal Commission regarding the Los Osos wastewater project permit (in no particular order). They will be the limited focus of the Commission’s de novo hearing in April: 1. “Double dipping” at the Broderson site. The Broderson site used 72 acres . . . → Read More: Short List of Substantial Issues Here are two new articles hot off the presses! COUNTY’S SEWER PROJECT TIMELINE DELAYED MONTHS By ED OCHS As a result of the Coastal Commission’s 7-5 vote last week to hold a limited de novo hearing in April to review finite details of the Los Osos Wastewater Project, the County will have to wait at least four to six . . . → Read More: The ROCK Takes on the Coastal Commission After the California Coastal Commission hearing on Jan. 14, there have been a flood of responses from Los Osos residents who reflected on the board’s decision to move forward with a denovo hearing. If you have something to say about it, feel free to contact us here or post a comment. Here are some of The Razor‘s favorite responses from people on SanLuisObispo.com: Continue reading Responses to the CCC Hearing on Los Osos (Jan 14) → The California Coastal Commission voted 7-5 in favor of having an additional hearing over substantial issues that were raised in the appeals. While anonymous supporters of the County and alleged supporters of Taxpayers Watch have launched an irate barrage of insults directed at the majority of those who voted against the motion to find no substantial . . . → Read More: Los Osos/Coastal Commission Analysis (Jan. 14) The California Coastal Commission voted 7-5 to have another hearing on the Los Osos wastewater project after the majority of commission members said there were several substantial issues that their staff and the County staff did not adequately address. Details . . . → Read More: Coastal Commission Says “Yes” on Substantial Issues Raised Several months ago, former Los Osos Community Services Director Lisa Schicker accused SLO County Public Works Director Paavo Ogren of having a conflict of interest with Montgomery Watson Harza (MWH). County Counsel Warren Jensen later shot down the claim, saying there was no evidence to support it. On December 16, Los Osos resident Al Barrow asked Johnathan Bishop, Coastal Planner of the California Coastal Commission about a possible conflict of interest involving SLO County Board of Supervisor Khatchik “Katcho” Achadjian serving as a representative. However, in that case, all voting representatives of the CCC represent a local government in their respective region. Section 30318 of the Coastal Act protects members and representatives’ vote and influence:
It begs the question. What is conflict of interest? 2009 was the year that included the removal of STEP/STEG and other alternatives from the County Los Osos Wastewater Project’s design-build process, a formal complaint against Public Works director Paavo Ogren and hours of tedious — but sometimes heated — debate at the Planning Commission meetings. Along the way, mistakes were made on both sides of the debate while everyone hopelessly expected some of the bigger problems to be mitigated. Contrary to what the County of San Luis Obispo has said, the County has unanimously sided with County staff recommendations with each and every turn involving the LOWWP. With hope fading in their eyes, a small group of Los Osos residents pleaded with the board to reconsider their decisions, but the board moved ahead. Those with the loudest objections to the County were silenced with Supervisor Bruce Gibson’s wave of the hand, a chuckle out of pity and a quick tug of the microphone plug — and the microphone was off. On a few occasions, Gibson asserted that most of the people of Los Osos approved of their handling of the process, but do they? Whether you like it or not, it’s unarguable the County made an incredible amount of what they would call “progress.” The Planning Commission moved forward with the project, changing many of the project conditions, most of which remained uncontested by the Board of Supervisors. The BOS successfully paved a clear path for the project to be considered by the California Coastal Commission, which will discuss the LOWWP and the appeals in January of next year. The County also managed to secure consideration for USDA grant money (through a population waiver) thanks to the provision on Los Osos added to the Fiscal Year 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which President Obama signed into law. Let’s not forget the $35 million dollar authorization in the Water Resources Development Act, which is available for federal appropriation. The only problem is that after lingering fees and changes relevant to the sewer, which include paying off the interest of the USDA’s $64 million loan, Los Osos residents may not actually see the savings. For now, let’s take a look at what’s happened in 2009 and check out the highlights. Continue reading The Razor’s Los Osos Best and Worst of 2009 →LOS OSOS GROUP LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE SEEKING FEDERAL ACTION TO STOP COUNTY SEWERA group of Los Osos citizens have launched a new online publication, The Los Osos Sentinel, to stop the County’s plan to build a central sewer system in Los Osos. The new website (http://www.lososossentinel.com) is on a mission not only to better inform the community on the deep roots of the Los Osos central sewer project — but to rally the community to fight back in federal court. Click here to read the article. ARE YOU HAVING SEWER PROBLEMS??You are not alone. You are just the latest victim of the State Water Board’s “Scam of the Century.” Read about the test case of tortured Los Osos and how other small towns up and down the coast are suffering from septic shock, as rogue Regional Water Boards statewide cry pollution without proof so they can replace working septic tanks with spill-prone, unnecessary and excessively expensive central sewers — and force a select group of homeowners to pay for it. Don’t be fooled. Open your eyes and learn the facts before you find yourself paying $500 a month to fix a “problem” that never really existed in the first place — or has been falsely and conveniently attributed to all septics. The whole story of the “Sewer Scam,” how it works and what’s happening today is so incredible that unless you start reading The ROCK right now it will be far, far too late to do anything about it in time. Click on “Read Article” to access the vital information in these classic, indispensable articles, reports and expert interviews. Continue reading for Razor commentary! Continue reading The ROCK’s Greatest Hits and The Sentinel Goes Live → This Thanksgiving, let’s take a break from the mud-slinging and give thanks to those who deserve it this year. As Los Osos residents, let’s be thankful for keeping the beauty of our town’s coastal environment unspoiled. The peaceful, cloudy Los Osos bay and the windy, scenic drive around the cliffs on Montana De Oro remind us that . . . → Read More: Thanks for Not Giving Up
|
|
|||
|
Copyright © 2008-2013 The Razor Online - All Rights Reserved |
||||
The Tribune reported on October 30th
