DATE: July 2, 2009
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Mark Ochenduszko, City Manager
RE: Weekly Update The following is provided as an update regarding programs, services, and issues within the City. (Please note: For those receiving electronic copies of the Weekly Update, the attachments referred to below are available in the City Manager’s Office).
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
State Budget: There is no State budget, it does not exist.
Fourth of July: City offices are closed on Friday, July 3 for the 4th of July Holiday. Alcohol is not permitted at any of Coronado’s beaches, and during the summer, alcohol is not permitted at Silver Strand State Park. This should reduce the risk of the types of problems that occurred last Fourth of July when the television media sensationalized the consumption of alcoholic beverages at Silver Strand State Beach. City staff is geared up and ready to carry out its responsibilities for the Independence Day celebration. This is a very large effort for Police, Fire, Public Services and Golf personnel, and all have a history of performing outstandingly for this big event. Television Broadcast of Fourth of July Parade: The Fourth of July parade will be broadcast, live, beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 4. It will air on Time Warner Cable channel 19. The Fourth of July Committee has arranged to air the parade with cooperation from Time Warner Cable.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
New Fiscal Year: The last day of the FY 2008-09 was on Tuesday and Finance has posted the new budget for FY 2009-10 in the City’s accounting system. Even though the fiscal year has ended, we will continue to pay bills from FY 2008-09 for several weeks.
Staff will publish the COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Building Division Activity: During the period June 25 through July 1, the Building Division issued a total of 13 permits and conducted a total of 87 inspections, including 26 final inspections. The total valuation on which building permits were based during this period is $27,608.90.
Vons: Vons has submitted construction plans for a complete interior remodel and have also submitted an application for Design Review Commission approval for exterior façade improvements. This is scheduled for the Design Review meeting of July 8. No expansion beyond the current footprint is proposed.
Coronado Yacht Club Expansion: The Port District (lead agency) has issued a Notice of Preparation (NOP) of a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the proposed slip expansion, Club House replacement and site improvements. The comment period on the NOP ends on July 30. A public scoping meeting has been scheduled for July 9 at 4 p.m. at the Yacht Club.
Historic Resource Commission: On Wednesday, the Historic Resource Commission designated the residence at 731 C Avenue as a Historic Resource; 127 structures have now been designated historic. The Commission also discussed a letter of appeal that was filed with the City Clerk concerning the Commission’s decision to deny an alteration permit for changes to the residence at 1127 F Avenue. The appeal has subsequently been withdrawn and a new application will be filed for the Commission’s consideration in the near future.
ENGINEERING & PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Animal Care Facility: The underground utilities were completed and the concrete slab was poured. The contractor will be installing concrete block walls over the next several weeks.
Lifeguard Service Building: A recommendation to approve a Notice of Completion is on the July 7 City Council agenda.
Marina Building: A recommendation to approve a Notice of Completion is on the July 7 City Council agenda.
Cays Fire Station Expansion: All work has been completed and the Notice of Completion is on the July 7 City Council agenda.
Coronado Rotary Plaza: The original underwater lights were replaced with lower wattage bulbs as an energy-saving measure and the fountain is operational (with a temporary pump as the specified pump is still on order). The remaining site furnishings, landscaping, signage and pavement delineation have been installed and the plaza is complete. It is anticipated that the punch list and final walk-through will be scheduled during the third week in July.
Restoring Lawn Bowling Green with Artificial Turf: Staff is preparing the bid documents to advertise the project next week. It is anticipated that the pre-bid meeting will be scheduled for July 22, with a bid opening day of July 29.
Traffic Channelization at Palm and Alameda: A field meeting with RBF Consultants regarding the design of permanent improvements at the intersection of Palm Avenue and Alameda Boulevard was held to discuss project requirements. The project will replace the “candlestick” delineators that currently channel traffic through the intersection and replace them with a permanent and more visually appealing configuration.
Skatepark Modifications: The scope of work and design fees have been negotiated with RTN Architects and a contract will be drafted for the design of the project. The modifications consist of enclosing the check-in area to allow for a more controlled and safe entry into the Skatepark, as well as providing secured equipment storage on site.
FIRE SERVICES
Truck 37: July 1 marked a historic event in the City’s Fire Department. Truck 37 was placed into service and will operate out of Station 37 located in the Cays. The Fire Department has not operated its own truck for more than twenty years. The Tiller Truck has a 103′ ladder, and has the ability to pump its own water. Fire Department personnel have been diligently training on the apparatus in preparation for this day, and are extremely proud of such a beautiful piece of equipment. Additionally, over the last week, modifications have been made to the dispatch computer programming which controls the incidents it will be assigned to, as well as Zone 4 operations to address the shift in resources.
Station 37 Open House: On June 30, the Fire Department hosted an Open House at the Cays Fire Station providing a firsthand look at both the new truck and the Fire Station Expansion project. The event was well attended by residents from the Village and the Cays as well as the Mayor, all four City Councilmembers, the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, and employees from several other City Departments. The event provided a good opportunity for an up-close look at the truck prior to its being placed in service on July 1.
Emergency Responses: Last week, Coronado Fire units responded to 33 incidents in Coronado: 21 emergency medical incidents, 2 traffic accidents, 1 fire, 1 hazardous condition, 1 call for public assistance, 6 incidents dispatched and cancelled en route, and 1 false alarm. There was a total of 34 incidents including mutual/automatic aid and North Island responses.
Fire Training: This week, the Coronado Fire Department provided instruction and support to the Truck Company Operations Academy. The Truck Company Operations Academy is a regional approach to providing extensive training in the specialized area of truck company functions. Established in the City of Coronado for the members of the Coronado Fire Department and surrounding agencies, this program has gathered tremendous interest and a waiting list of personnel from throughout the County and the region wishing to attend the next academy. Cooperative regional training is nothing new to the Coronado Fire Department; however, this program is new to the region and the personnel in attendance during the most recent training program included personnel from the City of Solana Beach, City of Carlsbad, and the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District. With the enthusiasm and willingness to share information and resources, the Coronado Fire Department has gained tremendous training opportunities and knowledge as the lead agency in this regional training program, while establishing a necessary training opportunity to area agencies and personnel in a cost efficient and cost sharing manner.
LIBRARY SERVICES
Library Schedule: Since the Fourth of July occurs on a Saturday this year, the Library will be closed on Saturday rather than on Friday, July 3, as approved by the Library Board. Remaining open on Friday will better serve the public on this busy day of the week; however, most of the Library office staff will not be working Friday.
Parade Float: Ellenjoy Weber and Eileen Lawson are building the Library’s float entry for the Fourth of July parade, aided this year by Eagle Scout candidates. Float workshops have also been held for children to help with the project, and the final workshop will be held Friday. The theme of the Library’s float is Winnie-the-Pooh.
Summer Festival: Friday evening, the Silverwood Musical Ensemble will perform at the Library in the Winn Room at 7 pm. This program will feature a sing-along of popular songs.
POLICE SERVICES
D.U.I Press Conference: A representative of the Department participated in a press conference on Thursday to publicize the regional effort to crack down on D.U.I. drivers over what has become the deadliest D.U.I. crash-related holiday weekend.
Holiday Staffing: A traffic plan and extra staffing will be implemented to address holiday demands for Police Services.
RECREATION
Summer Entertainment Series: The Summer Entertainment Series continued this week with “Why Dogs Fly.” The dog trainer and his three incredibly agile canines performed their Frisbee catching tricks on the Promenade to a crowd of about 325 people. Next week, the Community Center will be hosting “The Green Machine,” a hands-on interactive environmental science program.
Holiday Hours: The Coronado Community Center and pool will operate regular hours on Friday, July 3. On the Fourth of July, the Community Center will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The pool will be open for adult lap swim from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., and for family swim from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. The north end of the Community Center (snack bar and restrooms) will be open from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Summer Registration: Camps and classes continued this week with a total of 498 participants. Registration has been busy with families coming into town for the Fourth of July festivities, and those who will be staying in Coronado through July. History shows an increase in participation for July and August. Foot traffic in the Community Center has already increased and staff is monitoring attendance to see if participation numbers are at those of previous years.
