A Master Plan
for Bike Riders
The City Council last year appointed a
nine-member Ad Hoc Bicycle Committee
to direct the development of the City's
first Bicycle Master Plan and to address
issues raised by the bicycling community.
A community workshop is scheduled
to solicit public opinion of the City's
bicycle network. Public participation and
comments are encouraged. Workshop
details are below:
Wednesday, May 26 at
6 p.m.
Nautilus Room
Coronado Community Center
1845 Strand Way
A follow-up workshop to present
the committee's findings and
recommendations will be scheduled at a
later date. Please watch for these meeting
announcements on the City's website
and in the Coronado Eagle & Journal.
Interested residents are also encouraged
to attend the monthly meetings of the Ad
Hoc Bicycle Committee, held on the first
Thursday of the month at 3 p.m. at the
Police Department Community Meeting
Room, 700 Orange Avenue.
Back to top >

|
|
Coronado PERT Program is
Here to Help
|
 |
 |
Officer Robert Kline was one of the first officers to become a part of
Coronado's pert. |
Ask any law enforcement
officer how they handle calls
from the community and they
will tell you that it depends on
the situation. The Coronado
Police Department offers
programs to train officers
how best to respond and to
serve the community in a
wide range of public safety
situations. One program is
the Psychiatric Emergency
Response Team (PERT).
PERT is a private, nonprofit
organization. It is a subsidiary
of the Community Research
Foundation, a San Diego based
mental health
organization. The program is
funded by San Diego County Mental Health
Service, San Diego Police Department, San
Diego County Sheriff's Department, and
other community organizations.
Coronado became a part of the PERT
program in 2007. Since that time, four
officers have completed the training
program. A team consists of a law
enforcement officer and a licensed mental
health clinician who ride together in a
marked patrol car. Each member receives
extensive cross training, which allows the
law enforcement officer and the clinician to
support and assist each other.
"The goal of the PERT is to work with
individuals and families to stabilize
situations and assist individuals in getting
the help they need," said Coronado PERT
Officer Robert Kline.
PERT responds to 911 calls that involve a
person displaying behavior indicating the
need for psychiatric crisis intervention or
assessment.
"Because we are trained to handle these
situations, we can respond and allow other
law enforcement officers to focus on other
facets of public safety," said Officer Kline.
It functions in collaboration with all San
Diego County law enforcement agencies, the
San Diego County Alliance for the Mentally
Ill, and other San Diego organizations.
For more information on PERT, contact
the Coronado Police Department at
619.522.7350. |
Back to top >
JUNE 8, 2010 SPECIAL ELECTION:
UNDERSTANDING PROPOSITION H

The Coronado City Council has placed an advisory measure on the June 8 ballot about
continuing the study of long-term traffic relief options in the community. This article is
designed to provide residents with relevant information that will assist them in
making an informed decision on Election Day.
Proposition H is an advisory measure
placed on the ballot by the City
Council that asks Coronado voters:
| Do you support the City
continuing to use and
seek federal, state, and
local funding to complete
the study of long-term
traffic relief options,
including a tunnel,
between the Coronado
Bridge and Naval Air
Station North Island? |
Project Background
For many years the City has been
looking at options to reduce traffic
congestion in the community along
Third and Fourth streets between
the Coronado Bridge and Naval
Air Station North Island (NASNI)
and at the intersection with Orange
Avenue. Advisory measures in 1988
and 1998 addressed the issue. In 1988,
59 percent of voters did not support
"construction of a cut and cover
tunnel" and in 1998, 83 percent of
voters did support the City "seeking
funding sources to construct a bored
tunnel" between the Bridge and
NASNI.
Since the 1998 vote, the City has
pursued and secured funding
to complete the engineering
and environmental studies (the
Study) as required by the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
and the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) for possible
traffic-reducing alternatives. The
Study is now approximately 90 percent
complete and includes analysis of nine
alternatives. Two are no-build options
and seven are major construction
projects. The two no-build alternatives
are status quo and traffic management
solutions such as traffic calming,
mass transit, and ridesharing. Of
the seven alternatives that involve a
major project, one is Orange Avenue
Underpasses at Third and Fourth
streets; four are cut and cover tunnels
beneath Fourth Street; and two are
bored tunnels that run underneath
Fourth Street.
As of March 2010, the City of
Coronado has approximately $7.8
million in existing funds that could
be used to complete the Study, which
is estimated to cost $2 million to
complete. It is anticipated that the
Draft Study will be available for
public review and comment in April
2011. Once the Study is finalized, the
City Council will be asked to select
one of the alternatives. To the right is
a table that describes what a Yes or No
vote on Proposition H will mean to
the City.
For more information on Proposition
H and the history and current
status of the Study, see the City
of Coronado's website at www.coronado.ca.us and click on
"Understanding Proposition H."
Key Dates for Voters
| May 24 – Last day to
register to vote |
May 25 – Last day to
request a vote by mail
ballot |
June 8 – Special Election
held in conjunction
with Statewide Primary
Election |
What a Yes or No Vote on Proposition H
Will Mean to the City
| What does this
mean for... |
A YES Vote Means... |
A NO Vote Means... |
| The
Project
Overall |
You support the City finishing the
Study of long-term traffic relief options
between the Coronado Bridge and
NASNI, which examines the engineering,
environmental, and financial impacts of
nine different alternatives. |
You do not support the City finishing
the Study of long-term traffic relief
options between the Coronado Bridge
and nasni, which examines the
engineering, environmental, and
financial impacts of nine different
alternatives. |
| Tunnel |
Does not approve or disapprove
construction of a tunnel or any other
alternative being studied, but does advise
the Council to complete the Study, which
includes analysis of the various project
alternatives, including tunnel options. |
Advises the Council to end the Study,
which includes analysis of the various
project alternatives, including tunnel
options. |
| Taxes &
Tolls |
Does not increase taxes, reinstate bridge
tolls, or indicate support for any other
federal, state, or local funding method.
A Yes vote does advise the Council to
complete the Study, which includes
analysis of all funding options for the
various project alternatives. |
Advises the Council to end the
Study, which includes analysis of all
funding options for the various project
alternatives. |
| Property
Acquistion |
Does not support the City acquiring
private property to accommodate a
construction alternative, but does advise
the Council to complete the Study,
which includes analysis of various project
alternatives in this regard. |
Advises the Council to not complete the
Study, which includes analysis of the
use of private property acquisitions for
various construction alternatives. |
|
|
Back to top >
The Facts about Tsunamis
 |
| Beaches, like those in Coronado, can be affected
by tsunamis. |
Governor Schwarzenegger declared
the week of March 22, 2010, Tsunami
Awareness Week for the State of California.
In light of recent worldwide events, the
Fire Department is providing the following
information to give a basic understanding
of tsunamis.
What is a Tsunami? What
Causes It?
A tsunami is not one, but a series of waves
most often generated by an earthquake
along a subduction zone or fault. It is
important to note, however, that not all
major coastal or near-coastal earthquakes
produce tsunamis.
The time between waves at a given point
is usually 10 to 45 minutes. Generally,
the second or third wave can be the most
destructive. In the deep and open ocean,
tsunamis travel at speeds of 300 to 600
miles per hour. Upon reaching shallower
water, the speed of the advancing wave
diminishes, its wave length decreases, and
its height may increase greatly, due to the
piling up of water. The configuration of
the coastline, shape of the ocean floor,`
and character of the advancing waves all
play important roles in how the coastline is
affected.
The coastline adjacent to the City of
Coronado has a very shallow and large
ocean floor. This type of underwater terrain
would greatly diminish the speed and
impact of any tsunami that might affect
the City.
Tsunamis in California
Since 1812, 14 tsunamis with wave heights
higher than three feet have struck the
California coast. Only six of these tsunamis
were destructive. The worst tsunami
affecting California in recent history
resulted from a 1964 Alaskan earthquake,
which caused 12 deaths and at least $17
million in damage in northern California.
The most significant remote tsunami to
hit southern California was in 1960, when
an 8.6 magnitude earthquake off the coast
of Chile generated a tsunami resulting in
4 ½ foot waves at Santa Monica and Port
Hueneme, causing major damage to the Los
Angeles and Long Beach harbors.
|
Since a tsunami is unpredictable, preparedness and
education are the best methods of reducing panic and
damage associated with this natural event.
- An emergency preparedness plan in place is the best
approach to ensure your family's safety in any disaster
situation.
- A strong earthquake felt in a low-lying coastal area is
a natural warning of possible danger. Additionally,
approaching tsunamis are sometimes heralded by a
noticeable rise or fall of coastal waters.
- Tsunamis can occur at any time, day or night. Do not
go to the beach to look for the tsunami.
- Sooner or later, tsunamis visit every coastline in the
Pacific. All tsunamis, like hurricanes, are potentially
dangerous even though they may not damage every
coastline they strike.
- The upper floors of high, multi-story, reinforced
concrete buildings can provide refuge, if there is no
time to quickly move inland or to higher ground.
- If you are on a boat or ship, and there is time, move
your vessel to deeper water. If not, it may be safer
to leave the boat at the pier and physically move to
higher ground.
- Damaging wave activity and unpredictable currents
can affect harbor conditions for a period of time after
the tsunami's initial impact. Be sure conditions are
safe before you return your boat or ship to the harbor.
- During a tsunami emergency, your local emergency
management office, police, fire and other emergency
organizations provide details via ALERT SAN DIEGO
and AM 600 KOGO News.
|
|
Back to top >
Coronado's Emergency Siren System
The City of Coronado has three sirens
to alert the community in the event of a
disaster. The sirens are tested twice a year,
generally in May and November, and they
are located at the Main Fire Station at Sixth
Street and Palm Avenue, Glorietta Bay Park,
and at the Cays Fire Station at Coronado
Cays Boulevard and Grand Caribe Causeway.
Coronado's Emergency Siren System was
designed to alert the community in the
event of a disaster or potential disaster.
In that situation, residents can tune
into the San Diego County Emergency
Alerting System (AM 600 KOGO radio)
or can receive information through the
Alert San Diego notification system,
which is the designated alerting system
in the City of Coronado. Alert San Diego
notifies listed and unlisted residences
and businesseswithin San Diego County
impacted by, or in danger of being impacted
by, an emergency or disaster.
Residents would receive accurate and timely
information on what steps they should take
during the emergency through these two
vital systems.
What to expect during a real
emergency:
In the event of an impending disaster or
immediately after a disaster, the City will
activate the emergency sirens and provide
instructions to the community about what
to do next. The sirens will be activated for
several minutes at a time and will make an
extended horn-like sound, similar to the old
civil defense sirens. The volume of sound
emitted from the sirens may vary based on
your proximity to the sirens.
What to do during a real
emergency:
- Stay in your home, office, or hotel room,
unless told differently by the Fire or
Police Department.
- Tune your radio to AM 600 KOGO, the
Emergency Broadcast Channel.
- Turn on your television and wait for
the Emergency Broadcast Message that
will come across the upper portion of
the screen.
- Have your home emergency kit close
at hand.
- Don't use your telephone unless you
have an emergency.
What to expect if you hear the
emergency sirens:
- Expect a short emergency message to be
transmitted over AM 600 KOGO and
television stations.
Situations where Coronado's
Emergency Siren System
may
be used:
The sirens could be sounded in the event
of both natural and manmade disasters. It
is important to remember that the sirens
do not have one specific meaning, but are
simply used to alert persons in Coronado to
tune into the Emergency Broadcast System
for further instructions.
For more information on the Emergency
Siren System, please call the Fire Department
at 619.522.7374. For more information about
Alert San Diego, visit www.readysandiego.org. |
 |
CERT
COURSES
(Community Emergency Response Team)
Spring 2010 |

All classes are held at the police station, located at 700 Orange Avenue. To register for these free classes, or for more information, please contact the Coronado Fire Department at 619.522.7374. Classes run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
| Module |
Class
Title |
Description |
| 1. Wed. - May 10 |
Disaster Preparedness |
An introduction to the
CERT program |
| 2. Wed. - May 26 |
Disaster Fire Suppression |
Fire safety and extinguisher
use |
| 3. Wed. - June 2 |
Disaster Medical Operations |
First aid, establishing
treatment areas, treating airway obstruction, bleeding
and shock |
| 4. Wed. - June 9 |
Light Search & Rescue |
Planning, techniques
and rescuer safety |
| 5. Wed. - June 16 |
Terrorism, Disaster Psychology,
Team Organization |
Symptoms experienced
by victims & rescuers. |
|
CPR Schedule: Classes are $25 and run from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Tues., June 22; Wed., July 28; Sat., Aug. 28; Sat., Sept. 25.
Call 619.522.7374 to enroll. |
Back to top >
Going Underground to Improve Overhead Views
The City of Coronado is in the process of undergrounding overhead
utilities, such as electric, phone, and cable television lines,
throughout the community.
While the cost and time associated with undergrounding utilities is
extensive, ther are three different ways to achieve this goal:
- The most common way is by working with SDG&E using
SDG&E's Rule 20A. Under this funding mechanism, the cost
of undergrounding the utilities in the public right-of-way is
paid from a surcharge on your electric bill.
- Under SDG&E Rule 20B, the undergrounding of the utilities
can be accomplished when the majority of the costs are paid
by the neighborhood property owners.
- All undergrounding costs are paid by the applicant(s) under
SDG&E Rule 20C.
"The cost to underground utilities is roughly $2 million per mile,"
said Ed Walton, Director of Engineering and Project Development.
Projects under Rule 20A are designated by the City. The following
areas have been identified as possible future undergrounding
districts (non-prioritized) by the City Council:
- Bay Circle
- Pomona Avenue/Park View
- First Street
- Silver Strand Phase II
Cities or neighborhoods can
establish assessment districts if they
wish to expedite the funding of
undergrounding projects, but these
can be difficult to form given the cost.
These assessment districts would be
eligible for undergrounding under Rule
20B, which allows a smaller subsidy
for the project. Rule 20C projects are
usually smaller projects funded entirely
by the applicants, as agreed to by the
applicant and SDG&E.
For more information about the
City's plan to underground utilities,
contact the Engineering Department at
619.522.7383. |
Back to top >
WE VALUE YOUR OPINION
Let us know what you think about Coronado Currents or the City's web site. Please email us your thoughts at: www.coronado.ca.us/currents
|
|