A Gubernatorial Threat Gets Coronado's Attention

At it’s regular meeting on Tuesday, the Coronado City Council will discuss what to do if Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to on July 1 succeeds.

Brown has proposed closing the agencies and using the $5 billon for state education and public safety projects. The proposal would leave local communities scrambling to pay for an array of improvement projects. 

Coronado is no exception. Its Community Development Agency (CDA) stands to lose some $30 million per year—money it had planned to put toward renovating the and the on Sixth Street, among dozens of other projects, according to city documents.

At the Feb. 15 meeting, Councilman Al Ovrom said the council should ask city staff to look at other ways to finance projects, including issuing a bond, if the redevelopment agencies were closed.

Coronado currently has a $133.3 million bond debt, a $35 million city loan obligation, and owes money on several construction projects, according to a report in the San Diego Union-Tribune. 

During its 25-year existence, the CDA has used its share of property tax revenues to build and restore public buildings, affordable housing and school facilities.  

At this point it is unclear whether the state will be successful in abolishing the agencies or what form the governor’s proposal will take after it churns its way through the legislative process. Still, the council is planning to explore its options and move forward with a prudent plan of action.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the council will also consider scuttling plans to build public restrooms on South Beach and instead provide a portable restroom to be used during the summer months.

There are no public restrooms on this stretch of beach. The closest ones are at the , and the marina office building on the Silver Strand Highway. The idea of providing facilities on South Beach has been suggested many times over the years. The city has received complaints about “unsanitary activity" in the Shore's parking lots and other surrounding areas.

On June 15, 2010, the city adopted a five-year capital improvement plan to install public restrooms on South Beach. But after looking at several locations along South Beach, staff couldn’t find a suitable area and now recommends portable restrooms as an alternative.

There was also considerable opposition from the and residents, who were against the building of a permanent structure. Representatives of both argued that residents and hotel guests would suffer from the noise, odors and lighting associated with restrooms.

If portable restrooms are approved, staff promises to try to mitigate any objections from Shores residents or hotel management. Plans call for the restroom to be set up each morning and removed at night for servicing and storage.

First-class portable restrooms cost an estimated $30,000 to $50,000—considerably less than the $250,000 originally budgeted for the project. The facility could also be used for special events, such as the Fourth of July parade or concerts in the park, the staff report suggests.

The final bit of business for the council on Tuesday involves the protecting of tennis players from misfired golf balls. For many years, golf balls hit from the 15th tee box have occasionally landed in tennis courts or picnic areas around the . 

Efforts to correct the problem by relocating the tee box were unsuccessful. When courts five and six were recently shut down for resurfacing, three golf balls were found. Another was discovered in the picnic area during the same four-day period.

City staff is recommending the adoption of a plan recommended by golf course architect Steve Halsey more than four years ago. Halsey suggested that screens and trees be added along the 15th fairway to intercept any errant balls from flying onto the courts. The cost of installing a screen and planting trees would cost about $25,000 and would be included in a change order for .

The order would also include eliminating the resurfacing of court seven and installing a premier court material instead. According to city documents, several tennis players requested the premier court, a thin surface that is more “forgiving” than concrete surfaces.