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City of Seaside Community Report |
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Submitted by Jaclyn M. Gonzales and David Rodriguez We did not know what to expect when attending our first city council meeting. For those who have never attended a city council meeting, like ourselves, prior to our involvement with Land Watch, it seems to be basically run like a student council meeting reminiscent of the days of elementary or high school. We were members of the public who sat and listened to the workings of our democratic system while following the agenda of the City Council meeting for the City of Seaside. On the agenda for March 15, 2001, the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Seaside wanted to remove a wall located on Echo Avenue and Fremont Boulevard, in the auto dealership for Nissan, which not to mention has a budget of $25,000. On the agenda was another wall with an iron fence, where no more than $17,500 can be reimbursed to Cardinale Automotive Group. This meeting mainly discussed the removal of walls and the money budgeted for these projects. We were expecting different items to be discussed at the meeting; items that affect the community members of Seaside rather than big business. In the next meeting there were more items to be discussed. There were routine items, we are guessing issues that needed to be discussed every month, that included authorization for a letter in response to the Monterey County Civil Grand Jury, to approve resolution of updated job descriptions and salary ranges for the positions of Public Works Superintendent, Parks Maintenance and Operations Supervisors. Lastly, on the agenda was to approve adoption of a resolution for the Monterey Regional Waste Management District to receive funds to promote recycling and litter control. Old Business agenda items included issues regarding traffic control devices, signs, and markings recommendations. The proposal of seasonal lifeguard coverage for beaches in Seaside was also discussed. In order for this item to be adopted, funding from the City of Monterey, Sand City and California Parks and Recreations needs to be secured. New business, although not as exciting as a seasonal lifeguard, but nonetheless on the agenda, was a discussion about the Monterey-Salinas transit permit requirements, including discussion on liability insurance requirements for employees and for contractors. On a more personal level, there was a proposal on the agenda to fix a water unit that would allow an additional bathroom to be constructed in a single-family home without having to get approval from the city. The next item on the new business portion of the agenda was the approval to block off the streets for the Sea Otter Classic Mountain Bike Races. Wednesdays Seaside Planning Commission Meeting was extremely short and simple. One proposal included the redevelopment of Fort Ord Military reservation and also to legally adopt the proposed "Preliminary Plan". These proposals, if adopted, would greatly impact the citizens of Marina, the students of California State University, Monterey Bay as well as other community members of Fort Ord. Hopefully the adoption of these proposals would lead not only to the beautification of Fort Ord also but the redevelopment of some of the vacant buildings so that they may finally be used. You can contact Jaclyn Gonzales at: Jaclyn_Gonzales@monterey.edu |
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