Highlights from the City Manager’s Weekly Update: Central Beach Restroom Renovations

Each week, the City of Coronado City Manager’s Office provides an update that includes information on programs, services and issues within the City, as well as news, project updates and follow-up information when applicable. Featured below are highlights from that update. The entire City Manager’s Weekly Update can be found on the City’s website.

Second Annual Ride the Lights Event

Nearly 300 participants decorated themselves and their bikes with festive holiday costumes and lights and followed Santa on a bicycle tour of Coronado’s holiday lights on Sunday, December 14. The event was sponsored by the Coronado Bicycle Advisory Committee, the Recreation Department, Holland’s Bicycles and Hannah’s Monster Cookies/Business Products Express. The Coronado Police Department provided traffic control and Recreation provided hot cocoa. One participant filmed the event and the video can be seen online here. To watch the video, you must sign in to Vimeo or create an account.

Coronado Holiday Schedule 2014-15

Most non-public safety facilities in the City of Coronado will be closed on Thursday, December 25, and Thursday, January 1, 2015, for the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. Coronado Police and Fire will be staffed for the holidays. Public Services will be on call over the holidays to respond to emergencies. Certain City of Coronado departments and services will close early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Public Services crews will NOT sweep streets on either holiday. EDCO will NOT perform regular residential trash collection on Christmas Day or New Year’s. Here is the holiday schedule:

Recent Coronado Police Department Arrests

• At 11:18 a.m. yesterday, a resident in the 300 block of C Avenue found a burglar inside her home. The suspect fled the area after being confronted by the resident. Patrol officers and detectives searched the area and located the suspect near Albertsons a short time later. He was arrested for residential burglary and transported to San Diego Central Jail.
• On Tuesday, December 16, at around 8:30 p.m., officers were patrolling the Silver Strand State Highway when they noticed what appeared to be a disabled vehicle on the side of the road. As the officers exited their patrol car to investigate, the driver stepped out of his vehicle telling the officers that everything was ok, and that the officers could leave. The officers noticed that the subject was acting suspicious, and what appeared to be the smell of fresh paint in the immediate area. As it turns out, the subject had pulled over to spray paint graffiti on several objects on and off the roadway and was “caught in the act.” Officers found additional evidence of the crime in the suspect’s vehicle. The officers arrested the man for vandalism.

City of Coronado’s 125th Anniversary Planning

The City of Coronado was incorporated on December 11, 1890. The City’s Cultural Arts Commission has been working on plans for the 125th anniversary celebration in 2015. This year-long celebration will reflect on the City’s accomplishments and focus on why this town is so special. The Commission is considering re-introducing outdoor family movies, the possibility of a San Diego Symphony concert at Tidelands, a weekend tribute to Coronado author L. Frank Baum and many other special events. There are community-sponsored events throughout the entire year. However, beginning in August, there will be a series of City-sponsored special events counting down the final 125 days to the actual anniversary. The grand finale is a Mayors’ Dinner at the Del on December 11, 2015. Coronado Mayors will serve as Honorary Chairmen. To learn more about the festivities or to volunteer, contact Heidi Wilson at [email protected] or call (619) 435-1108.

Employee of the Quarter

Fire Department Capt. Mike Bechtold has been selected as the recipient of the Employee of the Quarter award for the period October to December 2014. Capt. Bechtold, who has worked for Coronado for 10 years, was nominated for a recent incident which reflects an outstanding one-time work performance. On the evening of July 7, Fire Station 36, led by the captain, was among the first responders to a call of a swimmer in distress. It was dark and after hours, meaning no lifeguards were on duty. The water conditions included heavy surf with rip tides. Bechtold entered the water and provided aid to three people, including a 12-year-old boy. The incident had a favorable outcome due to Capt. Bechtold’s prompt response in the time of an emergency. He was recognized for his efforts on Wednesday, December 17.

PAWS/Animal Care Facility Update

Since taking over the management and operation of the Animal Care Facility, PAWS of Coronado staff is actively working on improvements. PAWS hired a consulting veterinarian to come into the facility once a week and to be on call throughout the week. The veterinarian will help the facility secure a premises license through the California Veterinary Medical Board. The license will allow PAWS to order rabies vaccine, pain medications, injectable antibiotics and other drugs at wholesale prices. No surgery will take place at the facility. PAWS also began using the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility for its spay/neuter work. Between that, its new consulting veterinarian and the premises license, PAWS should save substantially on the cost of basic medical care for the animals. The savings will be put toward community animal welfare events such as the Pet Fair in February 2015, which will include a rabies vaccination clinic for the public.

EV Charging Stations

Coronado will soon double the number of electric vehicle charging sites in town. The City hopes to encourage the use of electric vehicles whenever possible by demonstrating the viability of owning or driving one. Coronado had four electric vehicle chargers installed at two locations in 2012. Two chargers went in at City Hall and two at Bradley Field. The City Council in September approved four charging stations for two additional sites, two charges will be placed at the Coronado Cays Homeowners Association facility and two at the Coronado Golf Course with installation expected to begin early next year.

Central Beach Restroom

The City’s portable restroom, which was taken to Central Beach for use during the future restoration of the Central Beach restrooms, is currently not in service. The City Council is expected to consider authorizing work on the Central Beach restrooms at its January 6 meeting. Staff anticipates that, if approved, construction will begin in February on 2015. The work includes refurbishment of the interior spaces of the permanent restrooms and to repair and replace rotted and termite damaged roof. Some residents have asked why the portable restroom was moved to the site so early. The portable restroom was moved in late November following a rain event, which packed the sand and made transporting the large facility manageable. The City opted not to open it to save money on pumping and cleaning. Once repairs are started on the nearby permanent restrooms, the portable facility will be open and remain open during repairs. Matting will be placed around the facility to limit sand getting on people’s shoes and inside the facility. Work on the project should take up to three months.

Upcoming Meetings

• The Planning Commission meeting set for 3 p.m. on Tuesday, December 23, at City Hall, 1825 Strand Way, has been canceled.
• The Design Review Commission meeting set for 3 p.m., on Wednesday, December 24, at City Hall, has been canceled.
• The Bicycle Advisory Committee meets at 3 p.m on Monday, January 5, 2015, at City Hall.
• The City Council meets at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6, at City Hall.
• The Historic Resource Commission meets at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, at City Hall.
• The Coronado Transportation Meeting will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, January 8, at City Hall.
• The RSIP-3 meets at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 8, at City Hall.
• The Civil Service Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 8, at City Hall.