Oct 16, 2018-Rotary Forum

Pres. Scott opened the meeting at 12:38 PM with the usual introduction of guests that included Kathy La Martina and Nan Fowler who gave a South County Regional Art Center Project presentation. They are seeking donations to beautify the Center, which benefits 200,000 people per year. Artwork will be placed in front of the entrance featuring a 6 foot Monarch butterfly. They raised $10,000 so far and are seeking to raise an additional $40,000 to fully fund the project..

Pres. Scott donated $20 in Happy Bucks for his Real Estate agents’ trip to Reno. Diane Schiesel donated $40 Happy Bucks for her son who worked on and was present for the launch of the Space X from Vandenberg Air Force Base.-He then levied the following ID’s: 20 IDs on Karen Zappia for her Las Vegas trip; 30 IDs on Dryl Buck for his and Kathy’s anniversary; 0 spin-the-wheel IDs on Ed Fish for his fishing trip to Catalina Island; 60 IDs on Charla Anderson for her and J. T.’s anniversary; and 35 spin-the-wheel IDs on Greg Baker for his and Stacy’s anniversary.

Connie O’Henley reported that next Monday at 11:55 AM the AG High School Interact Club will be filling Halloween bags for the children. She’s looking for members to come forward to help. If you call her first, she will come out and lead you to room 305. Remember that the next social is on for 5:30 PM, Thursday, October 18 at the Sea Venture in Pismo Beach. Paul Holden reported that the Adopt-a-Highway cleanup team last Saturday included Linda Osty, Anya Stanley and Darrell Buck.

Shannon Bowdey introduced Jim who needed no introduction. Jim began by stating that Pismo is economically the strongest city in the county. He admitted that the present parking in Pismo is getting harder and harder, but they are taking steps to rectify this in the future with new parking structures. They have repaved the current parking and new stripes. They have provided one-way streets to help the traffic flow. They put in smart parking meters that use a variable pricing structure. You can pay for the parking using a credit card app on your smart phone. They realize that Price Street is the worst street in town and are taking steps to improve it by adding new lighting and safer crosswalks and fixing the street so it will not sink into the ocean. They have spent $100,000’s on water conservation projects. The biggest being the recycle water project with cooperation from the other cities in the area. When the project is completed, all of the wastewater will be recycled. In the pilot plant  they were able demonstrate that the recycled water tasted better than the current city water. In fact, the water comes out so pure that minerals have to be added. At present the Lopez reservoir is down to 20% capacity so it is critical to finish projects soon as possible. The old City Hall is being refurbished and the current fire and police departments will be rebuilt. The new firehouse will include housing so that the current mobile housing will be removed. The downtown sidewalks have been revitalized with pavers. The grand opening of the new Pismo Pier will take place this Saturday October 20 during Clam Festival running from Friday, October 19 to Sunday, October 21. The old shack in the middle of the old pier will be replaced by two Airstreams, one of which will be the new visitor’s center. The $8 million pier was under budget and was finished 8 months ahead of schedule. The 8 bathrooms have been replaced with 9 female, 6 male and 6 family bathrooms. They are using solar lighting everywhere they can to save a great deal of money. The Ocean Beach steps have been redone. This city is in the best financial state it has ever been.

Pres. Scott opened the meeting at 12:38 PM with the usual introduction of guests that included Kathy La Martina and Nan Fowler who gave a South County Regional Art Center Project presentation. They are seeking donations to beautify the Center, which benefits 200,000 people per year. Artwork will be placed in front of the entrance featuring a 6 foot Monarch butterfly. They raised $10,000 so far and are seeking to raise an additional $40,000 to fully fund the project..

Pres. Scott donated $20 in Happy Bucks for his Real Estate agents’ trip to Reno. Diane Schiesel donated $40 Happy Bucks for her son who worked on and was present for the launch of the Space X from Vandenberg Air Force Base.-He then levied the following ID’s: 20 IDs on Karen Zappia for her Las Vegas trip; 30 IDs on Dryl Buck for his and Kathy’s anniversary; 0 spin-the-wheel IDs on Ed Fish for his fishing trip to Catalina Island; 60 IDs on Charla Anderson for her and J. T.’s anniversary; and 35 spin-the-wheel IDs on Greg Baker for his and Stacy’s anniversary.

Connie O’Henley reported that next Monday at 11:55 AM the AG High School Interact Club will be filling Halloween bags for the children. She’s looking for members to come forward to help. If you call her first, she will come out and lead you to room 305. Remember that the next social is on for 5:30 PM, Thursday, October 18 at the Sea Venture in Pismo Beach. Paul Holden reported that the Adopt-a-Highway cleanup team last Saturday included Linda Osty, Anya Stanley and Darrell Buck.

Shannon Bowdey introduced Jim who needed no introduction. Jim began by stating that Pismo is economically the strongest city in the county. He admitted that the present parking in Pismo is getting harder and harder, but they are taking steps to rectify this in the future with new parking structures. They have repaved the current parking and new stripes. They have provided one-way streets to help the traffic flow. They put in smart parking meters that use a variable pricing structure. You can pay for the parking using a credit card app on your smart phone. They realize that Price Street is the worst street in town and are taking steps to improve it by adding new lighting and safer crosswalks and fixing the street so it will not sink into the ocean. They have spent $100,000’s on water conservation projects. The biggest being the recycle water project with cooperation from the other cities in the area. When the project is completed, all of the wastewater will be recycled. In the pilot plant  they were able demonstrate that the recycled water tasted better than the current city water. In fact, the water comes out so pure that minerals have to be added. At present the Lopez reservoir is down to 20% capacity so it is critical to finish projects soon as possible. The old City Hall is being refurbished and the current fire and police departments will be rebuilt. The new firehouse will include housing so that the current mobile housing will be removed. The downtown sidewalks have been revitalized with pavers. The grand opening of the new Pismo Pier will take place this Saturday October 20 during Clam Festival running from Friday, October 19 to Sunday, October 21. The old shack in the middle of the old pier will be replaced by two Airstreams, one of which will be the new visitor’s center. The $8 million pier was under budget and was finished 8 months ahead of schedule. The 8 bathrooms have been replaced with 9 female, 6 male and 6 family bathrooms. They are using solar lighting everywhere they can to save a great deal of money. The Ocean Beach steps have been redone. This city is in the best financial state it has ever been.