Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Little Libraries, Bark Park and More

INTERESTING STUFF ON THURSDAY
The Costa Mesa Parks and Recreation Commission meets on Thursday, July 24, 2014 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers to discuss a few interesting items.  You can read the complete agenda HERE.

NEW CLASSES AND FEES
On the Consent Calendar Item 7A is a list of fee proposals for Contract Youth and Adult Classes, including some fee increases.  You can read it HERE.  There are five (5) new youth instructional classes, three (3) new senior instructional classes and four (4) fee increases for current instructional classes.

TREE REMOVAL REQUEST
There are no Public Hearings nor Old Business items, but there are a few New Business items on the agenda.  Item 10a is a tree removal request at 914 Oak Street, HERE.  The staff recommends denial of the request.



GIVE A BOOK, TAKE A BOOK
Item 10b, HERE, is a fascinating proposal for "Little Library Outposts" in three parks throughout the city.  This is a kind of free lending library, where books can be left and taken from bird house-like structures in the parks.  Read the staff report and you'll smile, guaranteed.

BARK PARK OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
Item 10c, HERE, involves the maintenance and operation of the Bark Park, adjacent to the Tennis Center and Volcom Skate Park.  The staff report indicates that the City has terminated the agreement with the Costa Mesa Bark Park Foundation and will henceforth take over the responsibility for the operations and maintenance of the Bark Park, which has fallen on bad times.  The City hopes to maintain a good relationship with The Foundation for future fund raising and other special events.

PARK SIGNAGE
Item 10d, HERE, discusses the plan to place signage at each park - 45 signs in all - as shown in this example.  The sign would include the name of the Parks and Recreation Commissioner assigned to the park and inquiries would be directed to that commissioner as appropriate.

FAIRVIEW PARK CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The commission meets next on Thursday, August 28th.  However, the Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee meets on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at 6:00 in the Neighborhood Community Center to discuss what changes, if any, it will recommend to the commission for the Southeast Quadrant of the park - where the trains and parking lot are located.  Anyone interested in the future of Fairview Park should plan to attend the meeting and express your views to the committee.

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8 Comments:

Anonymous David on Lorenzo said...

To the homeowner at 914 Oak Street: The city doesn't want to trim, prune, replace, or remove any parkway trees on request. Most of my neighbors just do the work themselves. (I guess the city allocated too much money for lawyers and not enough money for arborists.)

7/23/2014 10:27:00 AM  
Blogger The Pot Stirrer said...

Fine, except it's against the rules to remove a city tree, which that one is. The arborist evaluated it and said it's in good conditions. There's no evidence that it is the tree interfering with the drain - more likely the property owner's tree that sits astride the pipe.

7/23/2014 11:41:00 AM  
Anonymous Casual Viewer said...

I'm confused. I looked at the property on Google Earth, and there is no parkway. The sidewalk is next to the street. Coincidentally, there is a Asplundh tree trimming truck parked in front of the house, which obscures the view of the tree. To get a tree removed, you have to have a receipt from a plumber stating that tree roots were present in clogged pipes. Good luck getting the tree replaced!

7/23/2014 12:37:00 PM  
Anonymous Ken Nyquist said...

Interesting that an arborist has a cherry picker truck sitting in front of this tree on Google Maps dated May 2011...Must be an omen...

7/23/2014 12:40:00 PM  
Anonymous Judy Lindsay said...

Most seniors 65+ are on fixed incomes, the new charges for classes at the Senior Center will be well beyond their means. Classes in the past many have been free, quite a increase. Seniors need exercise to stimulate the heart, brain, and body. How many can keep up with a Zumba style class even sitting down???? Will new exercise classes be designed for our aged seniors as well as the younger ones???? City promised no changes, hmmmmmmmm Good luck city.

7/23/2014 08:02:00 PM  
Anonymous Where's My Coffee? said...

If you move around within the google map program, you will see that the tree is in the man's yard, but there is probably an easement of some type. I'd think it would uproot the sidewalk, as its only inches away. Not very good placement, for sure. I wonder if the city would object to the property owner removing it himself?

7/24/2014 07:51:00 AM  
Anonymous David on Lorenzo said...

Books can be very controversial. I don't think the city should sponsor book exchanges. TeWinkle Park is nice park. It doesn't need a "Little Library Outpost."

7/24/2014 09:49:00 AM  
Anonymous casual viewer said...

Maybe the little libraries would be okay if Scott Baugh approved all the books.

7/24/2014 09:02:00 PM  

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