Do not forget to mention that the land was extorted from Barney as the "price" to get the other homes approved that had taken 2 years to process, on land he had owned for years and within the zoning and plan requirements for the land. HE is forced to "Give" land and PAY FEES, that did not exist when he purchased the land. HIS Fees weren't waived like they were for others.
Bark about the Park?
A quick history of the "Pocket Park", what does a review of concept mean, an approval of a concept? an approval to have a park? an approval of a specific park? City Staff, City Manager and Assistant City Manager, strong armed the City Council to Approve a Contract which excluded public input. WHY?
It isn't a BIG DEAL it is just the Same Bad Deal all over again.... WHEN WILL IT STOP? 100,000.00 for rocks, thorns and grass to drive by. Remember we have no program for Youth between the ages of 13 to 18. NONE ZIP ZERO
News Paper represented that the Park to be discussed by the City Council was the Passive Park on Grand Terrace Rd, adjacent to the Senior Center and Senior Housing.
Council Agenda September 28, 2006 page 2
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. Council to Review Proposed Passive Park Design and Comment on the Concept
Review and Comment
Council Minutes September 28, 2006 Page 5 and 6
NEW BUSINESS
8A.
Council to Review Proposed Passive Park Design and Comment on the Concept Assistant City Manager Berry, stated that the City is looking to design and build a simple pocket park on the corner of DeBerry and Mt. Vernon. The cost estimate for the completion of the park ranges from $61,000 to $95,000 depending on the maturity of the landscaping installed, electrical infrastructure, public art, and other incidentals. Funding of the park can come from a combination of sources like Fund 13, the Parks Development derived from developer fees and community donations. The Foundation of Grand Terrace has agreed to work with the City on accepting all financial donations as part of their non-profit tax status.
If the Council approves this concept, staff will return to Council in the following months with a formal plan and statement of construction costs. It was the consensus of the Council to support the concept of the Pocket Park with the understanding that this corner will compliment the opposite corner by the Middle School and that staff consider using art from local artists if it is used in the park
NO PUBLIC MEETINGS or Inclusion of the Public on the Design and Use of the park was done, and no public notice for bid was done in selecting a design contract .
Comments included a desire that there be public input, in the design and use of the proposed park area. THIS WAS IGNORED…Staff went on to select a bid, prior to making a report to the Council regarding Citizen Input, and Citizen Participation, Staff Jumped right to Design Contract Selection, without Council Approval of Citizen Participation in Design, and Use, and prior to Council Approval to Solicit Design Bids.
Council Minutes October 26, 2006
NEW BUSINESS
8A. Approve Pope and Associates as the Landscape Architect for the Passive Park on Mt. Vernon and DeBerry
City Manager Tom Schwab detailed the selection process as being he called 3 vendors to submit a proposal, and he and staff recommends Pop and Associates as their proposal was more inclusive of details important to the Council and Staff. THE contact had not been made publicly available for bid, nor has the public been included in the design and use input as requested by the Council at the September 28, 2006 meeting. Other related and important communication by City Manager Tom Schwab and Assistant City Manager have been excluded from the record of the minutes. The Cost of 11,600.00 was not spoken to the Citizens to my best recollection and if known should have been part of the agenda detail. Why is this not in the minutes?
CC-2006-115 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HILKEY, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM CORTES, CARRIED 5-0, to approve Pope and Associates of San Bernardino as the landscape architects of the Mt. Vernon/DeBerry passive park, to authorize staff to negotiate a contract with Pope and Associates and to appropriate $11,600 from Fund 13, Parks Development Fund, derived from Development Fees.
Specifically noted by Council Member Lee Ann Garcia was the requirement item of 3 meetings with the public, prior to Council approval, and a utterance of approval from Council Member Herman Hilkey about the Meeting requirement being included. This was not included in the minutes of the meeting.
Nov 9, 2006 City Council Meeting Agenda Item:
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Contract with Pope and Associates as the Landscape Architect for the Passive Park on Mt. Vernon and DeBerry
Tonight we saw how the Staff Manages the City Council, rather than the City Council Exercising Management and Oversight of the City Staff.
There was a concept approved that concept was “Lets build a pocket park”. Here is a draft design by Not Related Garcia…. Of what it may look like, the council liked the concept, and directed a meeting with public input in design and use of the park be held. Staff went right to the Lets Design it and Hire an Architect to draw up the engineering plans, cutting out the Public Input, Council Review of Plan, and never mind Bidding Process for Architectural Services. That is a summary of what has happened over a small park. Recall the Mt. Vernon Boulders or one could say Mt. Vernon Pocket Strip Park which because Public Input was not included caused a need for a driveway re-alignment, and did not include best use of road way as a consideration? Oh but we don’t need public input, in such matters.
It is “Only the size of a House”; it was a condition of the Planning Being Approved and Park Fees.
How about a Center for the 4-H kids, or a Teen Center, or, a Restroom and Water Fountain for Bike Riders, and Walkers? How about a Mini Dog park with an Agility Training component designed attractively into the park. Or a Park with Chess Tables or a Small Band Shell for Non Amplified Music like the Carnation Plaza at Disneyland, with no amplification…. A Place to Swing Dance under the Stars, or Square Dance in the Sun Set… Is the City Staff Afraid of the Public, so much it can’t hear ideas, even if they ignore them how about a hearing.
Cut to the chase, the park is to be named “Steve Berry Park”, he wants total control over its design and construction, perhaps he’ll share credit with the candidate of his choice in an future election.
