The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is typically considered one of the dullest components in all of municipal government. Essentially, the CIP generates a list of those things a city plans to spend money on over the next five years to spruce up city facilities, maintain city infrastructure and construct new buildings and roadways. The list of projects is complied by staff, reviewed by a council subcommittee outside pubic purview, and then submitted to the City Council for approval.
The last leg of this process will take place at the City Council meeting on Tuesday when the council takes a final vote on this year’s CIP.
Most of the projects are indeed mundane — repairing a pump station, fixing a leaky roof, buying new carpets. Some are controversial but have been widely discussed — a new senior center and public restrooms at south beach. But the list that will come before the Council on Tuesday contains two items that are far from mundane and may prove controversial: this year the CIP includes $100,000 for pickleball courts and another $100,000 for a feasibility study for a multi-use path, a.k.a. a bicycle path, on the beach.
The call for pickleball courts surfaced at the parks and recreation commission at last month. The commission asked the recreation department staff to investigate alternative locations for pickleball. Locations including the Coronado Tennis Center on Glorietta Boulevard, the courts at Coronado Cays, and the gym at the Community Center have all been suggested.
Currently, there is not a plan in place to build pickleball courts in Coronado. In fact, there’s not even an existing staff report; it isn’t scheduled to be ready for several months, according to Roger Miller, Director of Golf and Recreation. However, the CIP that will come before the Council on Tuesday includes $100,000 to be held at the ready in case it’s needed.
“The pickleball courts were added as a place holder, in case some consensus is reached about how and where such a court might be situated,” said Mayor Casey Tanaka. Councilman Richard Bailey, using his council prerogative, added it to the CIP after the parks and recreation commission meeting. He and Tanaka are the only members of the CIP subcommittee.
Coronado’s pickleball playes have long wanted their own courts. For some time, they have been limited to playing a few hours a week on tennis courts temporarily re-marked for pickleball, much to the chagrin of tennis players, who vastly outnumber the pickleball enthusiasts. The figures vary, but most put the number of residents who play pickleball somewhere around 15% of those using the courts.
“More people play tennis in Coronado than play pickleball in the whole state,” admits Kirk Shoemaker, a Coronado resident and avid pickleball player.
Councilman Bailey defends his decision to include money for courts in the CIP, saying “If we had waited until the staff report came back [recommending that a facility be built] it would have taken another 18 months or so before we could have funds authorized,” he said.
Unlike the pickleball, biking riding is ubiquitous in Coronado, among both kids and adults. Virtually all locals and regular visitors would agree that riding along Ocean Blvd, especially in the summer, can be hazardous. Cars are constantly pulling in and out of parking spaces or cruising along looking for parking. The sidewalks are virtually impossible to ride on due to the summertime crowds.
Finding a way to make cycling safe along Ocean Boulevard has long been a dream of bicycle advocates in town and a high priority for Coronado’s bicycle advisory commission. The idea for a multi-use path adjacent to Ocean Boulevard first emerged in Bicycle Master Plan issued four years ago. The plan received a full airing at the time and was adopted by the City Council, although the multi-use path was in the appendix, not in the main body of the report.
Outside members of the bicycle advisory commission, few residents remember the master plan much less what was in it. Still, as City Manager Blair King points out, “The concept has been discussed for several years. When the Bicycle Master Plan was drafted [in 2011] there was a lot of discussion about the idea of a shared use path on the beach. The topic came up at public workshops as well.”
This is just a study, bicycle enthusiasts point out. “We’re just taking a look,” said Councilman Mike Woiwode. “The idea is to generate public interest and open a dialogue.”
There will be plenty of opportunity for that. Before a single plank is laid, the project will have to be approved by the California Coastal Commission and may require an environmental impact report (EIR).
“Because the project has not been conceptualized yet, we do not know the level of environmental review that will be required pursuant to CEQA [California Environmental Quality Act],” King said. “An EIR may be required, but it’s too early to tell,” he added.
The entire CIP was accepted for review by the City Council at its May 19 meeting. The Council will take it up again, this time for final approval, at its meeting on Tuesday, June 2.
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Gloria Tierney
Staff Writer
eCoronado.com
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