Marie Balfour’s winning poster, above, and other entries are on display at the Coronado Recreation Center.

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CORONADO MAKES PROGRESS WITH 2007 PRIORITIES

Coronado Parks and Beaches are Now Smoke-Free

Coronado residents are breathing easier now that the air in parks and beaches is a little cleaner. In September 2006, the City Council adopted an ordinance banning smoking at City beaches and parks. This ordinance was designed to protect public health as well as preserve the community’s pristine environment. “The popularity of Coronado beaches and parks during peak times makes secondhand smoke a health hazard for residents and visitors,” said City Manager Mark Ochenduszko. “The increase in attendance also results in an increase in litter from cigarette butts dropped in public spaces.” The ordinance was developed as a result of a report issued to all San Diego cities by the Tobacco Free Communities Coalition (TFCC) in 2005. The report stated that local cities could be taking more proactive measures to control tobacco use and second-hand smoke and offered municipalities a number of regulations that could be adopted. One action proposed was a ban on smoking at beaches and parks. “Coronado’s beaches and parks play an integral role in the City’s history and the community’s quality of life,” said Ochenduszko. “The TFCC’s suggestion for protecting public space was one the City knew the community would support.” As an added measure of safety, the City’s ordinance also prohibits smoking within 20 feet of public school grounds. Furthermore, due to its popularity during parades and other community events, the median along Orange Avenue is also now a smoke-free zone. Designated smoking areas in the City are established by the City Manager’s Office. Coronado joins numerous coastal towns in the region that have already approved smoking bans in parks and beaches such as San Diego, Solana Beach, Del Mar and Imperial Beach. For more information on the ordinance or to learn about designated smoking areas, contact the City Manager’s Office at 619.522.7335.

Residents Help Craft New Guidelines for Parking Oversized and Non-Motorized Vehicles

The streets of Coronado may seem a little less cluttered with large vehicles this summer, thanks to a group of civic-minded citizens. For almost two years, City staff worked with a group of residents to advise the City Council on how it could better control parking of oversized and non-motorized vehicles on City streets. The result was an amended City ordinance that was adopted by the Council in December 2006. “The citizens working group was dedicated to exploring the parking regulation options that would best meet the needs of the community,” said recently retired Police Chief Paul Crook, who chaired the group. “The amended ordinance will improve the aesthetics and safety of Coronado streets.” The new ordinance applies to any oversized vehicle, in excess of 24 feet in length, more than 95 inches in width or weighing more than 10,000 pounds. The ordinance also applies to any non-motorized vehicle, regardless of size or weight. These vehicles can remain parked on City streets for up to three hours without penalty. After that time, vehicles must be moved at least 500 feet to qualify for more time. Vehicles that are being used for loading or unloading purposes may remain on City streets for up to 48 hours, but must obtain a permit from the Police Department before commencement of activity. Vehicles cannot be used for overnight camping or lodging purposes. In addition, fines have increased from $18 to $75 for offenders. The Police Department also has the authority to tow vehicles in violation of the ordinance. Vehicles undergoing emergency repairs would not be in violation of the ordinance, provided that the owners have obtained permission from the Police Department. For more information on oversized and non-motorized vehicle parking, contact the Coronado Police Department at 619.522.7349.

Lifeguard Services Building Moving Forward

Safety at Coronado beaches remains a top priority. The City recently completed the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the construction of the new Lifeguard Services building on Central Beach. The new building will consolidate services and provide lifeguards with the best opportunity to provide maximum beach security and ensure timely rescue efforts. “Coronado’s beach visitors have increased from an estimated 500,000 annual visitors in 1996 to more than 2 million in 2005,” said Sean Carey, Coronado Lifeguard Captain. “The need for a services building is a direct result of the increase in beach visitors.” This visual simulation shows the design of the Lifeguard Services building. The Lifeguard Services building will house lifeguard response equipment, including a truck with a hitched personal watercraft and an inflatable boat. Showers and lockers containing extra uniforms will also be included as a safety precaution for lifeguards who must enter contaminated water, recover from hypothermia or rinse off after coming in contact with injured persons. “The new facility will increase rescue efficiency and reduce operational costs associated with Lifeguard Services,” said Carey. The City recently completed a comprehensive environmental analysis to address concerns raised by residents during the planning portion of the project. The City is taking steps during construction to ensure that the local quality of life is minimally disrupted. For example, all trucks carrying sand and other loose materials will be covered to protect air quality. In addition, no construction-related noise will be allowed between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., as well as on Sundays and City holidays, to prevent noise pollution. The City’s goal is to begin construction of the building in fall 2007, with an expected completion date of May 2008. Residents are encouraged to visit the City’s web site (www.coronado.ca.us) to review the full environmental report. For more information, contact the Engineering Department at 619.522.7383.

Navy Reinforces Commitment to Coronado Traffic Solutions

The City is in the middle of the Project Report and Environmental Document (PR/ED) phase of the SR 75/282 Transportation Corridor Project. This phase, scheduled to be completed in 2009, will determine the best long-term traffic solution for the community. As the conclusion of the PR/ED phase nears, the City will begin to discuss and evaluate final design plans for the selected preferred traffic alternative. A significant part of this process will involve working closely with project partners, such as the United States Navy. Top City and Navy officials recently met to discuss project alternatives and funding opportunities. The result of this meeting was a positive letter from the Navy, reaffirming its commitment to the City to help relieve traffic congestion in Coronado. “We [the Navy] are prepared to fully participate in the evaluation of potential designs,” wrote Assistant Secretary of the Navy BJ Penn. “[The Navy] will help identify appropriate funding sources for subsequent phases of the process.” Secretary Penn went on to say that he is confident the partnering agencies on this project “will find the right regional approach to this multifaceted transportation problem that enables the City and the Navy to achieve respective goals and missions.” The City’s long-standing partnership with the Navy dates back more than 100 years. Most recently, the City and the Navy partnered on the completion of the Third Street Gate in Coronado, which provides naval personnel with direct access to and from Naval Air Station North Island from Third Street. “The Navy will help Coronado address its traffic problem and we are very appreciative of their support,” said Coronado City Manager Mark Ochenduszko. “Secretary Penn’s letter is a good example of the type of positive working relationship the City enjoys with the Navy.” To read a full version of the letter, visit the project Web site at www.coronado.ca.us/tcp-web/.

City Manager Appoints Louis Scanlon as New Director of Police Services

Louis Scanlon, New Director of Police Services

Following a thorough interview and evaluation process, Louis Scanlon has been appointed as Director of Police Services (Police Chief). Mr. Scanlon replaces Chief Paul Crook, who retired in March 2007.

“Lou Scanlon has devoted his career to public safety. He competed against many applicants, demonstrating his outstanding abilities. We look forward to having Lou continue the excellence of the Coronado Police Department,” said City Manager Mark Ochenduszko.

Scanlon joins the City of Coronado with over 30 years of law enforcement experience. He began his career in law enforcement in 1974 as a police officer for the City of San Diego. In his career with the City of San Diego, Scanlon rose through the ranks to become Assistant Chief of Police in 2001. In his role as Assistant Chief, Scanlon was assigned to the Patrol and Operations division, supervising all uniformed officers, detectives, and civilian employees assigned to the eight area commands. He also chaired the Fiscal Advisory Board, advising the Chief on all budget matters.

Scanlon had an integral role in developing community policing strategies to prevent and solve problems of crime and disorder in the City of San Diego. Scanlon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Boston College. He is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, as well as a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. After graduating college, Scanlon was an active duty fighter pilot in the United States Navy. He was a member of the United States Navy Reserve until 1994, honorably retiring as Commander. As Commander, he held leadership positions including Officer in Charge of the reserve detachments for the USS Constellation and USS Kitty Hawk.

Scanlon assumed his role as the Coronado Police Chief on Monday, April 2, 2007.