SLO County Board of Supervisors votes to shun Oceano Advisory Council. ‘An issue of civility’

The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 to un-recognize the Oceano Advisory Council at its meeting on Tuesday.

This means that the county’s Department of Planning and Building will no longer accept recommendations from the council for proposed plans or developments, nor will the council have an official role to give input to the Board of Supervisors, the staff report said.

Supervisors Lynn Compton, Debbie Arnold and John Peschong voted to un-recognize the council, while Supervisor Bruce Gibson voted to support the council. Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg abstained from voting.

What is the Oceano Advisory Council?

The Oceano Advisory Council was created by the community to advise the Board of Supervisors on planning and development issues including land use, public services and community growth, according to the staff report.

The board voted to recognize the council in 1991, allowing it to be an official channel for community input to the board.

The council has four officers, including a delegate from the Oceano Community Services District and a delegate from the Oceano Beach Community Outreach Association, according to its website.

The council is supposed to engage with the community through meetings and other outreach, and then deliver its feedback to the Board of Supervisors, according to the group’s bylaws.

However, on June 8, 2021, the board recognized a second advisory council, the Vitality Advisory Council of Oceano, according to the staff report.

Now, the Vitality Advisory Council of Oceano will be the only advisory group officially recognized by the board in Oceano.

At least 18 people spoke at public comment about the issue, with some supporting the Oceano Advisory Council and others calling for it to be un-recognized.

Oceano homeowner Catherine Schwinghammer asked the board to continue recognizing the council, explaining that the members care deeply about the community and work in the interest of those who work in Oceano.

“To me it sounds like the voices of Oceano are being silenced,” she said.

Oceano resident and business owner Linda Austin called for the board to un-recognize the council. She served on both the Oceano Advisory Council and the Vitality Advisory Council of Oceano, explaining that she eventually resigned from the Oceano Advisory Council due to its lack of civility.

“This group is often in conflict with each other and members of the public because of leadership carrying the conference into social media, (and) assaulting, ridiculing and name calling those that disagree with them,” she said. “Sadly, the once non-partisan organization turned into a political action group.”

Oceano Advisory Council Chair Charles Varni said he doesn’t know if the group will continue working in an unofficial capacity from here on out, but he plans to focus his energy on serving as a new director of the Oceano Community Services District board.

He won the seat with 57.2% of the vote compared to Steve Montes’ 42.8%.

Varni suggested that the board disband both advisory councils and replace them with an elected advisory body — an idea the board did not discuss at the meeting Tuesday. Varni said Oceano citizens may bring this idea to the board again next year, depending on the outcome of the District 2 election.

Why did the board vote to disband the council?

During the meeting, Compton gave an hour-and-a-half-long presentation on her concerns with the council.

Compton said the group overstepped their official duties as an advisory council by reaching out to the California Coastal Commission and State Parks with land use recommendations, when they should only have been advising the Board of Supervisors.

Varni disagreed, saying he thought the group acted within its bylaws.

He said the group’s recommendations were related to “fundamental land-use issues,” which were “all definitely in our wheelhouse,” Varni told The Tribune on Wednesday morning following the vote.

Compton also alleged that members of the council attacked her and Oceano businesses on social media.

Finally, Compton showed video clips of Oceano Advisory Council meetings where different members used profanity and argued with community members in attendance.

“I’m trying to demonstrate a history of abuse by using a county office as a bully pulpit,” Compton said at the meeting.

The board voted to disband the council for 10 reasons, according to its resolution:

• “Due to their behavior, the council cannot fill their own vacancies and does not have the required number of members.”

• “The OAC has shown they do not want input from the community.”

• “The OAC has shown they have not built a broad sense of community or civic involvement and they do not bring the community together.”

• “The OAC has shown disrespect towards the community, businesses, the County, State Parks, the Airport, and County staff.”

• “The OAC has not followed any rules of order.”

• The OAC has shown they do not want two-way communication.”

• “The OAC has been inappropriately acting as political activists.”

• “The OAC has shown self interest in voting on projects and have not provided for public input on projects.”

• “The OAC members acted on issues with interests that are in conflict with the county and local businesses.”

Peschong and Arnold voted with Compton to un-recognize the council.

“I look at this as an issue of civility,” Peschong said at the meeting. “I truly believe that we can heal the community. ... I just don’t believe we can do it with the current situation.”

Gibson said he didn’t think reprimanding the Oceano Advisory Council would create more civility or clarity in the community.

“There is deep dysfunction in the community of Oceano,” Gibson said, and he didn’t think shunning the Oceano Advisory Council would repair it. The quality of an advisory council’s conduct and decisions are “entirely dependent on the quality of its processes,” Gibson said.

“What we need to be looking toward is the future,” Gibson said. “To instill and develop and cultivate an ability for a community to talk about things that are controversial upon which not all community members will agree, and do it in a constructive and civil manner.”

Ortiz-Legg proposed that the county create uniform rules on funding and responsibilities for advisory councils county-wide.

“All of them need to have the same rules of the road so they don’t go off the road,” Ortiz-Legg said.