Some of the more than 600 bicyclists took over downtown San Luis Obispo Sunday for the annual SLO Criterium and a celebration of bicycling in general. Story and more photos on Page 10. Photo by Christopher Gardner Volume 19 • Issue 30 • July 24 – 30, 2008 Become an Art Patron page 19 Von’s Donates to Big Brothers page 15 More to Fall in Love With page 11 Rumble at the Rock July 24-26 page 12 INSIDE INFORMATION YOUR C OMMUNITY IN YOUR HANDS Input Sought on LOVR Study By Jack Beardwood T he County Public Works Department is continuing to seek public comments on its Los Osos Valley Road Corridor Study, which is intended to serve as a blueprint for future trans- portation planning for downtown Los Osos. At a recent joint meeting of the Los Osos Community Services District Board of Directors and the Los Osos Community Advisory Council, consultants, Rick Engineering of San Luis Obispo, gave a power point presentation on the plan that will affect future development and county projects. As part of their traffic analysis, the con- sultant recommends: • Construction of a raised median along LOVR between Bush Drive and South Bay Boulevard; • Installation of a signal at the LOVR and Fairchild Way intersection; • Continuing to provide a median break in front of the driveway at Ralph’s market; and, • Creation of a median break in front of Sunset Drive at LOVR allowing full access at the intersection with a 2-way stop control for the northbound and southbound approaches. With the implementation of the improvements, the overall traffic flow, safety, and access along LOVR is expected to significantly improve under the future traffic conditions, according to the con- sultants. The study calculated average accident rates on LOVR between Bush Drive and Oak Ridge Drive at 5.25, which is more than twice the statewide average of 2.40 for similar roadways. Mike Britton, project manager for the County Public Works Department, said they would be looking to get “acceptance” of the study by LOCAC. He said there will be a discussion at LOCAC’s Aug. 28 meeting set for 7 p.m. at the South Bay Community Center. He said he hopes to get the communi- ty’s blessing by September or October. The document, which carries a price tag of $80,000, is currently not available at the library or online. Britton said inter- ested parties should contact him at Public Works, 781-5252. The study area runs along LOVR from South Bay Boulevard to Palisades Avenue. T he Morro Bay Fire Department’s future is up for discussion when the city council holds a public hearing in September on whether to contract with Cal Fire and give up its more than 70-year- old independent department. The hearing will come on the heels of a public workshop held July 12 where state and local representatives laid out the contracting process, discussed the pros and cons, issues with other counties and their contracts, and explained what could be done and for about how much. Solid cost figures for a contract won’t be known unless the coun- cil votes to move forward with Cal Fire but an ad hoc city commit- tee had some educated guesses. Bill Murphy, a firefighter, commit- tee member and union representative, explained that their prelimi- nary estimate is the city could save some $53,000 the first year and between $592,000 and $1.2 million a year after about 10 years. This is based almost entirely because the state doesn’t give as large a cost of living increase as Morro Bay has in the past. Murphy said it was a trade off for the local crews. The COLAs are smaller but the retirement is better, he said. Dispatching duties would switch over to Cal Fire’s headquarters in San Luis Obispo but still be routed through Morro Bay police. Some worried about a potential for delay but Cal Fire Battallion Chief Steve Beighter said any delay would be a matter of seconds. “It M orro Bay’s Police Department continues to bleed personnel, as two more officers are applying to new agencies, and the department wants to sponsor recruits to the police academy as potential replacements. The city council approved hiring two part-time recruits, paying them $22 an hour without benefits, to attend the academy at Hancock College in Santa Maria. One recruit is in the testing process for one position but two other possible recruits didn’t work out. So, the police chief will interview some unclaimed recruits at Hancock and at an academy in Fresno to try to fill the other posi- tion. The department is expecting to lose Cpl. Robert Root who has applied to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control agency and Ofc. Tyler Brooks, the current officer of the year. Brooks is trying to get on with the Santa Maria PD, his hometown. With the Hancock academy set to begin July 28, the department needed to act fast to make sure it has two recruits on line otherwise Fire Department Future? Council to Hold Hearing in September By Neil Farrell Police to Hire Two Recruits See Department Future, page 5 See Police Recruits, page 5 See LOVR Study, page 5