The Coronado City Council meeting on September 5 kicked off with a proclamation for September 10-16 as Arts in Education Week. Members of the Coronado Cultural Arts Commission and CUSD teachers of the arts were invited to receive the proclamation, which noted the important role the arts play in education, growth, and community.
Dr. Howard Somers and Robin Hagemann of the City’s Mobility Commission then gave an update to the Council, requesting a new Bayshore Bikeway user count (which last had been counted at 3,000 individual users on a single day in 2015) for a better idea of the user base today. The Commission has also been looking into the various lease documents of the Bayshore Bikeway and would like staff to help determine who the official leaseholders are today, and whether the various leases are still valid so that they can move forward with recommendations for the Bikeway.
The Commissioners also brought up concerns with the continued price increases for the ferry service operated by Flagship. While the City has no control over those prices, the Commission requested that this concern be conveyed to Flagship and the California Public Utilities Commission by the City, and a proposal for a reduced rate voucher system for residents to encourage increased usage of the ferry and minimize traffic.
During oral communications, various members of the public spoke to reiterate their concerns over book selection for story time at the library regarding a book selection made in June.
The meeting then moved to address the councilmember’s interagency committee and board assignments, beginning with Councilmember Carrie Downey. Downey started by addressing public concerns with the variation in reporting length of this item at council meetings, explaining that any perceived discrepancy largely stems from the nature of the boards and committees each councilmember is a part of, when and how often they meet, and what may or may not be moving forward with each.
In regards to the Winn Room in particular, she also noted that the process of renovation is ongoing and that no changes would be made without a period of public comment, which will be expected to happen after the initial presentation of the item to the City Council. Similarly, the CUSD 2×2 Committee she and Councilmember Casey Tanaka currently serve on is also pending larger updates.
Councilmember Mike Donovan also took this time to thank everyone who was at the Stop the Sewage rally and participated in the event. Donovan also mentioned recent developments on AB 46 regarding retired military pensions, noting that the bill made it to the State Senate and has been put into the “suspense” category, where it will remain in a two-year rotation for consideration in the next legislative year rather than be dismissed. Efforts to get the bill passed at the next opportunity will continue in the meantime.
Councilmember Tanaka then gave an update on the Golf Course Advisory Committee, which recently had a joint meeting with the Parks and Recreation Commission. There has been an ongoing effort to study and evaluate the fees for Coronado’s recreation programs and given that the irrigation system on the golf course is outdated, a small increase in fees is being considered for future expenses and investment for maintaining the course. The fee increases would be mindful of trying to create the least amount of impact on resident rates as much as possible, and will come before the Council in the future for approval before any changes are implemented.
Councilmember John Duncan made a note of the recent update regarding the trans-border sewage that the EPA has backed the International Boundary Water Commission (IBWC) in immediately beginning the contracting process for designs of the new treatment facility, which the IBWC had previously stated they would not begin until all funding was secured. With the announcement, the EPA also stated they would help commit to securing the remaining funds needed. The issue has been gaining traction at higher levels as well, with California’s senators committed to securing the funding to solve this issue as well.
Duncan also mentioned the new water treatment plant project for San Diego in development and noted that may change how wastewater is billed and processed for Coronado in the future.
Following those reports, the Council then considered applicants for student representative to serve a one-year term on the City’s Parks and Recreation Commission, appointing Sophia Hodges to fulfill that role.
In the final item of the meeting, councilmembers heard a presentation from City staff and the micro-transit company, Circuit, regarding a six-month trial proposal for an electric mini-shuttle program for Coronado. The rate for a six-month pilot program using the rates Circuit has previously negotiated with SANDAG would come to a total of $601,696 and would include six Gem E6 vehicles for the Village and two electric vans for the Cays.
One of each vehicle type will be ADA accessible, each of which will seat one less passenger to accommodate wheelchairs. The non-ADA vehicles will, however, have room to accommodate mobility items such as walkers, or bags, groceries, and other such items.
The program would provide flexibility for the City to make adjustments as needed based on ridership data, such as increasing or reducing the number of vehicles, adjusting hours of operation, etc.
In discussion, most councilmembers were supportive of doing a trial with the pilot program with minor adjustments to recommendations, including starting the program with door-to-door service in the Cays rather than fixed route pick-up locations and adjusting Friday and Saturday hours to run later from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. (and run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday).
Mayor Bailey brought forth his concern that with existing ride-share companies such as Uber already in operation, the City would be paying for a redundant program.
Councilmembers noted a desire to have a measurable goal or goals for the program, stemming from the original impetus for the pilot program to reduce greenhouse gasses by reducing the number of trips made in Coronado by gas-powered vehicles. In addition to the ridership data that will be collected by Circuit, a survey was suggested as a possible method to get direct feedback from the community and visitors on whether their use of the program was negating trips they would make with their own vehicle.
An additional goal of the program was proposed as an overall service to improve the lives of Coronadans, such as providing a method for less mobile citizens to continue to lead active lives through door-to-door service or allowing community members to attend events, go to dinner, etc. without having to worry about not being able to find a parking spot nearby.
A motion was made to authorize the pilot program proposal for a six-month period from March of 2024 through August of 2024, with the previously proposed hours, door-to-door service for both the Village and the Cays, as a free service for the trial period, and directing staff to work with Circuit to evaluate data to ensure the most efficient and effective use of the program throughout the trial. The motion was passed in a four-to-one vote, with Mayor Bailey voting against.
The next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 19, at 4 p.m. at City Hall. For more information on upcoming meetings and agendas, please visit the City’s website at https://www.coronado.ca.us/449/Agendas-Minutes.
VOL. 113, NO. 35 – Aug. 30, 2023
