HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-10-2017 - BillingCOUNCIL MEETING: � ' /U � I � RECEIv L
JAN 0 9 2017
9 Y CLERK
From: Heather Billing <
Sent: Sunday, January 8, 2017 9:28 PM
To: Harmon, Heidi; Pease, Andy; Gomez, Aaron; Christianson, Carlyn; Rivoire, Dan
Subject: City of SLO 2017-19 Goals: Parks and Recreation Element Update
Hello SLO City Council and Mayor Harmon,
Thank you for taking the time to host a Community Forum to explore and set goals every two years this Tuesday night
have attended this Forum in the past and appreciate the opportunity to provide input as a resident of San Luis Obispo
for over 20 years.
The goal I will be championing on behalf of our local American Youth Soccer Association (AYSO) is an update to the 2001
City Parks and Recreation Element and Master Plan (2001 Park and Recreation Element).
We truly appreciate that the City has followed and implemented the 2001 Park and Recreation Element these past 15
years. Our youth soccer organization is the largest in SLO County and is the largest youth sports organization in our City
with over 1,100 kids ages 5 to 18 years old playing on over 150 teams every Fall because of the development of Damon
Garcia Sports Complex which is part of the 2001 Parks and Recreation Element. We host an annual soccer tournament
at Damon Garcia and other area fields every year, next month the Surf 'n Turf Tournament will bring in over 90 teams
from northern and southern California who will stay in our hotels and eat in our restaurants.
With the City beginning to grow in population for the first time in decades with the new homes under construction at
Righetti Ranch and in the future at Avila Ranch, we believe it is important to update this document. Additional homes
means families with children who will likely want to play soccer (Everybody Plays in AYSO!). We have grown quickly
because of the development of fields at Damon Garcia, we would like to ensure that planning for future facilities
occurs.
It is our understanding that the City updated this document internally in 2001. We would like to ask that this time the
City consider outsourcing the update of Parks and Recreation Element to a qualified outside firm. It may be that
outsourcing the update of this document allows for new ideas and solutions to be presented to our community.
Thank you again for your time and I look forward to Tuesday night.
Best Regards,
Heather Billing
Regional Commissioner
AYSO 599 - San Luis Obispo
*Balanced Teams* Open Registration* Everyone Plays*
Good Sportsmanship*Positive Coaching*Player Development