Fairview Park Committee Makes "Progress"

QUICK MEETING
In a meeting that ran slightly less than the planned two hours, tonight the Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee - guided by Chairman Dr. Richard Mehren and Vice Chair Steve Smith -  made "progress" of sorts as it slogged slowly through the agenda.  You can read the agenda HERE.  Only Anna Vrska was absent from this meeting.

RESTORATIVE NURSERY

There were two presentations tonight.  Resident Cindy Black presented a brief PowerPoint show on the value of considering a plant nursery on the grounds of the park - probably the Northeast Quadrant.  Members of the committee seemed receptive to further consider this concept and Dennis Popp suggested it be agendized for the next meeting for further consideration.

IMPROVEMENTS A "GO"
Connie "Destiny" Colocho an archaeologist with Scientific Resource Surveys, Inc. (SRS) gave a presentation on the work done by her firm at the location earmarked for "improvement" near the end of Pacific Avenue.  Drilling and careful digging - overseen by representatives of Native American groups -  resulted in a report indicating that it's OK to proceed with the planned Tot Lot, car turnaround and storm drain improvement.

NONE OF THE ITEMS MOVED FORWARD

The eight remaining items to be considered for the Northeast Quadrant were discussed by the committee and, as was the case with the first eight, NONE were selected for consideration in that quadrant.  You can read those items in the staff report, HERE.  Only one item, Lawn Bowling/Bocce Ball, even received a motion, (by Ron Amburgey) but died for lack of a second.  The rest couldn't even generate a motion.

SOUTHEAST QUADRANT IS NEXT
That took us to the initial consideration for items from the Master List - 35 items created nearly a year ago when this committee was first formed - that MIGHT be possible for the Southeast Quadrant.  The staff had already noted items that seemed inappropriate for that quadrant, so the committee reviewed their selections, then added more to the list to be deleted for consideration.  What is left is slightly less than half of the items on the Master List.  Those will receive staff investigation and formal discussion will begin at the next meeting - on August 6th.  History shows us that it will take more than one meeting to plow through those items, particularly since this quadrant is the one most "field advocates" have been waiting for.  Here's the list of what will be considered, using the numbers from the Master List:
2 - Dry land wildlife viewing area NE and SE Quadrants
3 - Baseball/Softball Facilities SE or SW Quadrant
4 - Recreate Heritage Native American Village SE Quadrant
7 - Vernal Pools preservation with cables, signage and delineation
9 - Soccer/Football Fields
11 - Multi-use athletic fields SE/NE Quadrants
12 - Retain the elements of the Master Plan as it reads now
13 - Install a two-tier building that includes an interpretive center and terrace/viewing deck
17 - Basketball/Handball courts
18 - OCME track expansions/improvements SE Quadrant
21- Trail exercise stations
22 - Improve Placentia Ave. with cable and post delineation
23 - Roller hockey surface
25 - Improve/designate bike paths
28 - Concrete Path from NW traffic signal to SE traffic signal at Estancis HS
29 - Dog Park
33 - Nature Center - Bird watching platforms

AMBURGEY WANT TO HELP THE "MEXICANS"
It was clear from comments made by Amburgey that he's coming loaded for bear at the next couple meetings.  He told us that he wants to see this segment looking like TeWinkle Park, with ball fields, dog park, etc., and that the "Mexicans" that live near the area would appreciate it.  Yes, he DID say that.  You will recall that he made a similar boneheaded remark about "Indians" when an Archery venue was first discussed.

TYPICAL TURNOUT
The turnout for this meeting was about what it has been - around 30 people attended.  Most of the folks who spoke favored keeping the park a natural venue.   Amburgey made a backhanded comment about it, criticizing the folks who show up to speak.   I saw several field advocates in the audience, but they chose not to speak this time around.

PLEASE ATTEND AND OFFER YOUR VIEWS
I encourage those of you with ANY interest in the future of Fairview Park to plan to attend the next couple meetings and share your views during public comments.  The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Victoria Room of the Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Avenue. (Lions Park). 

PARKS, OPEN SPACE AND CONSERVATION WORKSHOP
Ernesto Munoz, Director of Public Works, reminded us of the upcoming General Plan Workshop, also at the Neighborhood Community Center, on July 16th beginning at 6:00.  There will be an open house for the first hour, then a "Facilitated Discussion" for the second. The topics will be Parks, Open Space and Conservation.  See you there.

Fairview Park Committee Meets Wednesday

CONTINUING THEIR WORK
In case I forget later, led by Chairman Dr. Richard Mehren and Vice Chair Steve Smith, the Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee meets Wednesday, June 4, 2014 from 6:00-8:00 at the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Avenue (Lions Park).  You can read the entire agenda HERE.

FOR SOME BACKGROUND...
To give you a flavor of how these meetings go you can review the minutes of the two previous meetings, April 2nd, HERE and May 7th, HERE.

SOMETHING NEW...
This meeting has a twist to it not previously seen.  Apparently members of the committee and a Parks and Recreation Commission liaison have asked for consideration of items NOT PREVIOUSLY included by this committee in their prioritizing meeting last year.  You may recall that a list of 35 items were compiled by this committee and they've been methodically working through each quadrant of the park, considering those items that MIGHT be appropriate.  Interestingly, there is no staff report on any of the three items, but each will be discussed, submitted to public comment and a vote taken.  the items are:

• BMX Concept (Southeast Quadrant)
• Pickleball Concept (Northeast Quadrant)
• Naming of the Ponds after the Great Lakes 

CONTINUING WITH THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT
From that point forward the committee will discuss proposed changes for the Northeast Quadrant - that little section shown as "Area G" in the image above -  broken into two segments.  Again, each will include a discussion, public comments and a vote.  Those items area:
1 - Dry Land Wildlife Viewing Area
2 - Soccer/Football Fields
3 - Forest of Redwood Trees
4 - Multi-use Athletic Fields
5 - Roller Hockey Surface
6 - Install a Two-Tier Building that includes an Interpretive Center and Terrace Viewing Deck
7 - Basketball/Handball Courts
8 - Trail Exercise Stations 

Here's 2nd half list of proposed changes:

9 - Improve/Designate Bike Paths
10 - Lawn Bowling/Bocce Ball
11 - Retain the Elements of the Master Plan as it Reads Now
12 - Dog Park
13 - Skate Park
14 - Nature Center-Bird Watching Platforms
15 - Marked Running Courses
16 - Archery Area




A CHANCE TO PROVIDE INPUT
I'll report on this meeting later that evening.  If you have an interest try to attend.  You'll have three minutes to discuss anything relevant to the committee's work at the beginning PLUS be able to discuss each of the above items when it comes up on the agenda.  Now's the time...  

NEXT TIME...
The next meeting of this group will be on July 2, 2014.  It's likely that the highly-controversial Southeast Quadrant - where the model trains and the parking lot is located - will begin being discussed at that time.  It's probably going to take more than one meeting to get through that quadrant - at a time of the year when many folks will be vacationing.  Funny how things work out sometimes, isn't it?  Below may be an example of what some folks in the community envision at that 40 acre location...