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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05151990 - 2.5 (2) TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator Costa County DATE: May 15, 1990 SUBJECT: Report from County Administrator on County Service Area M-17 (Montarabay) SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Dissolve the M-17 Advisory Committee and end the current terms of all members effective immediately. The committee members should be thanked for their service and commitment to the area and direct that they be{ notified of any public meetings in the future. 2. Direct that quarterly public meetings for public input and citizen participation be conducted at the Montarabay Community Center by appropriate County staff and with oversight by the County Administrator. All interested groups and individuals should be notified of these meetings. 3. Direct that the restoration effort at the Montalvin Park be continued and that the General Services Department establish a regular maintenance schedule. 4. Direct that County Administrator monitor the Montarabay Ballfields Project and determine if a portion of any new revenue generated by the project can be dedicated for Montalvin Park maintenance and repair. BACKGROUND The Montarabay M-17 County Service Area was created years ago to provide recreation and park facilities for the Tara Hills, Bay View and, Montalvin Manor area. A Citizens Advisory Committee was created by the Board of Supervisors to review the needs of the area and make recommendations for facilities and improvements. The major facilities of the district are the Montalvin Park and the Montarabay Community Center and adjacent ballfields. Over time the Montalvin Park has deteriorated due to chronic vandalism and lack of maintenance money. Although the Montarabay Community Center has increased its utilization by both local residents and non-residents, the adjacent ballfields have suffered from low use CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: _X_YES SIGNATURE: G RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER I SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON May 15, 1990 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: County Administrator ATTESTED a!„ 1 990 Members, CSA M-17 PHIL BATCHE69R,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF Montarabay Community Center (P. Christiansen) SUPERVISORS AND CO UNTY ADMINISTRATOR County Counsel General Services Community Development (D. Fransen) BY DEPUTY M382 (10/88) Iff because of the relocation of the Little League teams to a nearby school site. In the past two and one-half years both the Montalvin Park and the Community Center have been highly criticized by a group of citizens objecting to both the current conditions and the planned use of the facilities. On February 27, 1990 the Board of Supervisors directed the County Administrator to assess the status of the situation and activities surrounding the M-17 Citizens Advisory Committee. Interviews and field visits were conducted to determine the general concerns of the Advisory Committee and citizens. All people contacted were coopertive and helpful. Montarabay Center Issues During the course of interviews, concern was expressed that the Community Center receives more attention from County staff than Montalvin Park. There was concern that programs and scheduled classes offered at the community center have not been . designed for local residents and that the people of the area are paying for services that only a small number of residents receive. Concern was also expressed over .the high number of classes that have been cancelled this year. Conclusions The Montarabay Center continues to offer a wide variety of scheduled classes for children and adults. There is a fee charged for area residents and a somewhat slightly higher fee for non-residents. While it is true that approximately one-half of the classes were cancelled due to a lack of enrollment, the other two-thirds have been scheduled with enrollment in varying degrees. Revenue generated by these sessions provides the service area with a small amount of additional funds. The County should continue in its efforts to provide classes at the center and to publicize their availability. The community center building provides office space for County staff and as such is the natural point where the staff members spend their time. However, in the future, it is advisable that the staff make at least a daily visit to Montalvin Park to see what conditions are present. The Montalvin Park ballfield project recently approved should generate some additional revenue and a portion should be earmarked for maintenance activities at Montalvin Park. Montalvin Park Issues The Montalvin Park has been plagued with chronic vandalism due to its isolated location. The area is at the end of a cul-de-sac and is difficult for police to patrol and many parents will not send children to the park due to its current condition. Concern was expressed about the slow response of the County in repairing damage and the lack of any apparent ongoing maintenance program. The park sprinkler system was vandalized by vehicles coming into the park and destroying the irrigation system and exposing wiring to public view. Monthly P.G. and E. bills appear suspicious because of the same charge each month during `a period when most of the lights have been broken. There was an additional concern that park benches and tables have been inappropriately removed. Conclusions The Montalvin Park needs direct and immediate attention. It has suffered from vandalism and inadvertent neglect. It has the capacity to be a useful and delightful neighborhood park if enough resources can be generated for its maintenance and improvement. The recent decision to move forward with Phase; I of the park restoration is a step in the right direction. This phase will provide barriers and gates to vehicles, new picnic tables and benches, playground equipment, new light fixtures and repair of the tennis court area. In addition to this restoration effort, the County Department of General Services, which provides maintenance service, needs to take a more active role in responding to maintenance needs. Other Issues and Concerns Several people raised concern that neither County staff nor the Advisory Committee has communicated well with area residents. There is a perception that County staff members have not been sensitive to the concerns and comments of area residents. In addition, some believe that the Advisory Committee composition is disproportionate to the three communities that it serves and should be reorganized. A major concern was that the monthly meetings have been characterized by a high degree of tension and acrimony which has left all participants with feelings of frustration, anger and in some cases fear. Some public meetings have been difficult to conduct in any dignified manner due to ,p these high emotions. Consequently, even the most routine items up for consideration are often heatedly debated on the Committee's agenda. Conclusions It is readily apparent that there is a division of views within the community and on the advisory committee with regard to all aspects of the M-17 Service Area organization and operation. The monthly meetings have turned into a forum for discord rather than a ,rallying point for constructive discussion on improvements. It is apparent that there has been a lack of communication, misunderstanding and disagreement on a whole range of operational, maintenance and improvement issues. The future goal for County staff should be to insure that all views are heard and taken into consideration before decisions are made affecting programs and improvements. We believe that the best interests of the community and future of the park and community center will be served by eliminating the monthly Advisory Committee meetings because the constant feuding carries over to even the most routine items. The current system is not functioning well and the conduct at these meetings has frustrated most who attend. While a cooling off period is clearly needed, it is vitally important that there be a method for public input and citizen participation. We believe this can best be accomplished by directing the County Administrator to coordinate an ongoing series of public sessions on a quarterly basis at the Montarabay Community Center. Appropriate staff from various County departments would need to be available to provide status reports on park and community center operations; update plans in progress; provide a budgetary summary of revenues and expenditures; and respond directly to concerns and questions from the community. t