HomeMy WebLinkAboutREDjonasc4RECEIVE D
JAN 5 2010
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There appears to be two distinct, separate parts to the project you ar e
being requested to approve : installation of turf and irrigation in th einfield of the baseball diamond at Stockton Field in Sinsheimer Park, an dthe reduction of irrigation somewhere else in the city to offset increase dirrigation requirements for the new turf . The Stockton Field project i sproposed as a community-wide benefit for city recreation programs thatadmirably partners the City with other community organizations . This i s
a formula that has worked well in a achieving a variety of othe rcommunity goals in addition to recreation . It seems appropriate t ocontinue such partnerships in the current case .
Unfortunately, the recommendation for achieving off-setting irrigatio n
reductions is not on such firm ground . It appears to lack an appropriat e
depth of policy and technical analysis, and to my knowledge suffers fro ma complete absence of effort to involve residents of adjoining propertie s
and the larger surrounding neighborhood in arriving at the conclusio npresented. The only public exposure for this project seems to have been a
lunch-time meeting of the Joint Use Committee . Evaluation at publi c
hearings by such bodies as the Architectural Review Commission and/o r
the Planning Commission (which bodies review parks location an d
design), or the Parks and Recreation Commission, are appropriate an dshould have occurred .
A de facto policy, and precedent for future actions, will be established b ywhatever decision the Council makes on the matter in question . Thu syou should be confident and comfortable that your action is equitabl eand reasonable . The elimination of turf in Meadow Park will have a
specific, negative impact on the immediate surroundings . It woul d
2437 C i)rt9rPacYStLER K
San Luis Obispo, CA 9340 1
January 4, 2010
RED FILE
MEETING AGEND A
DATE,4io .ITEM #C ~
Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of San Luis Obisp o
990 Palm Stree t
San Luis Obispo, CA 9340 1
Re : January 5, 2010 City Council Agenda, Item C-4
Dear Mayor Romero and City Council Members ,
I have just received notice of the above referenced item and fee l
compelled to comment concerning the staff recommendation, and th e
process through which the matter has progressed to you for action .
remove a tranquil, useable open space area which currently require s
little maintenance but provides significant benefit to both the residence s
which open directly onto it and neighborhood residents in general . Othe r
alternatives mentioned in the staff report seem to have the potential fo r
achieving water-use reduction goals with impacts that are shared by th e
community in general and with less specific neighborhood impact .
I do not see a need for Council action on this specific water reductio n
strategy at this time . The approval of the Babe Ruth agreement ca n
proceed separately from a more reasonable, and reasoned, analysis o f
water use alternatives that would be implemented at a future date at th e
discretion of the city .
I urge you to take your time and employ the public planning processe s
for which our city is noted .