October 10, 2005

Members of City of Oceanside, City Council, Planning Commission, and City staff: The following pertains to the proposed Buddy Todd Park reservoir re-use project and adoption of a resolution establishing a parking zone on Mesa drive adjacent to the park. The initial reason for the BTP proposal was the removal of an outdated reservoir, which left 2.5 acres of useable parkland.

During the month of April, 2005 there were three community meetings to collect community input. On May 24, 2005 there was a meeting at BTP where alternative schematics for the park plan were presented with approximately 40 residents in attendance. We feel it is important to note that of those residents, only 30 provided written response to City staff. We feel that this may not be an accurate gauge of the entire community desire regarding this important initiative.

Additionally, at all three community meetings there was confusion regarding the repeal of Resolution R96-154 allowing park-side parking on Mesa Drive and no one remembered that being an item that was discussed or considered.

On September 13, 2005, at the Loma Alta Neighborhood Association meeting, Phase 1 plans for Buddy Todd Park (hereafter referred to as BTP) were presented by City staff members Peter Weiss and Nathan Mertz.

The presentation was a synopsis of a staff report put forward on August 17, 2005. According to that report, “the majority of the community is in favor of allowing parking on the park side of Mesa Drive”. Keeping in mind that only 30 residents responded or provided input, this small number of responders would make it difficult to ascertain the desires of the “majority of the community”.

Our goal is to find a more accurate consensus of the community regardless of the desires of any specific area affected by the BTP proposed changes. That is to say, we are not only focusing on the desires of residents who reside on Mesa Drive, but on the desires of the community as a whole. Additionally, we are basing any findings on quality of life, safety and a desire to better the area and BTP for the enjoyment of the entire city of Oceanside, not jut the residents of Loma Alta. We do, however, recognize the impact that changes at BTP have on those who reside in the immediate area adjacent to the park.

Based on input from the Loma Alta Community and evidenced by several residents at the September 13 LANA meeting, it appears the community is not in agreement with the August 17 staff report. At that meeting, there was considerable concern regarding the proposed changes at BTP with several LANA members quite vocal in their contention that the proposed changes should NOT include the repeal of Resolution R96-154 allowing park-side parking on Mesa Drive. At the conclusion of that meeting it was decided to hold a LANA focus group meeting to consider all aspects of the BTP proposal and to discern the actual desires and concerns of the entire Loma Alta community as it relates to BTP.

The process will be as follows. A focus group will convene to review and consider all aspects of the staff report. Those findings will be presented to the entire LANA group for consensus on October 11, 2005 and finally that report will be presented to City Council on October 19, 2005 to illustrate, as accurately as possible, the community’s desires regarding BTP.

Focus group:

The BTP focus group convened at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, September 27^th 2005.

In attendance were L.A.N.A. Board President Greg Root, Vice President Edward Burns, and 11 L.A.N.A. members. These LANA members/volunteers represent a significant cross section of the community. Their homes are located throughout the community and range in location from directly adjacent to BTP to several blocks away. Thanks to Nathan Mertz for producing several BTP preliminary master plans illustrating Phase 1.

All in attendance agreed there are many positive aspects to the proposed enhancements to BTP and we are pleased that Mr. Weiss and Mr. Mertz took the time to share their proposal with our community.

Identified Issues and focus group findings:

4 way stop at Parnassus Circle:

Everyone in attendance was appreciative regarding the proposed 4-way parking with entrance to BTP at Parnassus Circle. The group agreed this would slow speed on Mesa and create a safer entrance to the park.

Loop Road:

Though the staff report recommends the elimination of the loop road within the park, by a vote of 17 to 1 at the focus group meeting (13 in attendance plus 4 additional emails from Loma Alta residents), the community wants the loop road left fundamentally in tact and connected to the new Parnassus Circle entrance/exit. The reasons are as follows: The loop road provides 66 parking spaces and allows park goers to drop park equipment at various spots within the park. With the loop road in place, we request OPD to regularly patrol to ensure compliance regarding illegal activities, sleeping in cars and other undesirable activities.

Parking:

The focus group felt there were safety issues and quality of life issues associated with allowing parking on Mesa drive on the park side from 12 noon to 9PM on weekends. It was generally agreed upon that parking on Mesa would attract curbside activities from children playing near Mesa, car doors opening onto Mesa and a narrowing of Mesa Drive that would result in additional accidents. Further, though there has been “no parking” signs on Mesa for several years, there has been occasional times when there was no enforcement and, by the accounts of several residents, times when the police actually told Mesa drive residents that no enforcement was mandated by City Staff.

This has lead to a feeling by some residents that the City is uncaring regarding the desires of those residents and would not enforce parking on the residential side of Mesa Drive making the narrowing of Mesa even more of an issue with cars parked on both sides on weekends. Should parking be allowed on the park side of Mesa, we would ask the City to stipulate that no parking on the residential side of Mesa drive be strictly enforced by City staff and Police.

As stipulated in the staff report, we encourage the construction of the proposed parking lot to accommodate an additional 72 spaces.

Quality of Life:

There are some Mesa Drive residents who feel that their quality of life and property values will be compromised by allowing parking on the park side of Mesa drive. They contend that there has been frequent instances where park goers have played music from car stereos at excessive volumes, left trash and caused destruction to parkland. We would ask that volume laws from car stereos be considered to alleviate these issues and that trash receptacles be provided at Mesa drive. Also, we ask OPD to regularly patrol to ensure compliance with the 9:00 PM stipulation regarding weekend parking.

Respectfully submitted,

Loma Alta Neighborhood Association BTP Focus Group

Greg Root President

Loma Alta Neighborhood Association
404 Hoover Street Oceanside, CA 92054
760 721 7958 Residence
760 420 3590 Cell
gregroot@cox.net
gregr@cpsprinting.com
www.lomaalta.org
L.A.N.A. Committed to the past, present and future of the Loma Alta
Community