Council's Corner  Semi-diverter Update
Q. What is the status? Q. What will the EIR study? Q. Will the public have input? Q. What's next? |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Animal Services Facility Improved
The City recognizes that pets are an important part of the lives of many Coronado residents. As a result, the Council recently approved several significant improvements to the community's Animal Services Facility on Sixth Street.
Much of the renovation work has already been done. New dog runs, separate areas for cats and dogs, and more lighting are just some of the new features at the facility. The Council also has allocated more resources to extend staff hours, making it easier for Coronado residents to find their temporarily misplaced pets. Coronado's Animal Services Facility is now open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. "Coronado's Animal Services Facility is an important part of the community and helps contribute to the positive quality of life in the City," said Chief of Police Robert Hutton. "With expanded hours and new amenities, our staff will be better equipped to handle lost pets and more available for local residents."
Nearly 50 percent of the animals at the facility are returned to their owners within a day. When animals are not claimed, the City coordinates with the San Diego Humane Society and other local shelters that specialize in finding suitable homes for stray animals. The Animal Services Facility is not a shelter, but it provides an invaluable community service for the City. The facility is responsible for animal control, which includes handling strays, and the licensing of pets. As the facility typically houses one to two animals on average per day, a shelter is not necessary. Animal shelters focus on providing long-term care and housing for animals, as well as medical care and staff members who have expertise in animal behavior and illness. Changes in the law require all animals to undergo a medical exam and vaccinations before they can be adopted. Animals recovered by the City must go to a shelter to receive medical care. City staff is happy to put interested adopters in touch with rescue organizations taking unclaimed strays. For more information on Coronado's Animal Services Facility, call 619.522.7371. Building Projects Help Improve Business District�
"The completion of these projects will contribute to the overall economic viability of the downtown business district," said Toni Gaylord, CMSM, Executive Director of Coronado Main Street. "Hopefully they will be a catalyst for the revitalization of the 800 block." Sharing similar design styles, the two projects will complement one another on prominent corners in the business district. Spanish-style arches on the ground floor and open plazas encouraging pedestrian use have been incorporated into the design. The projects respond to the requirements of the City's new Downtown Specific Plan. "The details and architectural influences are very Coronado," said Joe Cristilli, architect and Coronado resident. "Both projects were designed to reflect the work of renowned San Diego architect Irving Gill, who is responsible for much of the cherished Coronado architecture that surrounds us today."
While some design aspects of the projects tie them together, some will set them apart. The Ninth Street corner building will include a rectangular tower on the corner, with a second level exterior walkway and subterranean parking. The Eighth Street building will have an upper level plaza featuring a cylindrical tower reminiscent of Coronado's crown logo. Landscape details will contribute to the personal flair of each building. The Eighth Street building will be surrounded by smaller trees and several Coronado-style trellises and include a fountain on the second level plaza. Queen palms will greet visitors at the entrance of the Ninth Street building, as well as bougainvillea-garnished planters along the wide walkways. "The varied architectural elements will help blend the buildings into Coronado's existing social fabric, picking up on the relaxed, island-like atmosphere of the City," said Cristilli. Village Theatre to be Revived The theatre has graced Orange Avenue since opening night in 1948. Sold to new owners in 1950, the theatre was open for business until 2000, when it was temporarily shut down. Over the years, the 600-seat facility was improved and repaired on several occasions. In 1968, the standard two projector operation was replaced with an automated projector. Stay tuned for more information later this year. New Project Planned for Former Restaurant Site�
The new three-story building will accommodate commercial and retail uses on the ground floor with space for offices on the second and third floors. The project will also include underground parking and additional public parking. With large, open plazas on each floor, visitors will be able to take advantage of the temperate Coronado weather, as well as enjoy the shopping and working experience in downtown. Below the roofs, large overhangs will provide relief from the sun. Following the curve of the street, the shape of the building will resemble the forward part of a ship with a round turret on the third floor, which will serve as a beacon for pedestrians and a new landmark for the City. Single-Family Workshop Scheduled� The City Council formed RSIP last year in response to community feedback that single-family zoning standards should be improved. The 11-member RSIP subcommittee, comprised entirely of Coronado residents, has been meeting for several months to learn about the City's existing standards and to review approaches other communities used to improve single-family zoning standards. The subcommittee will provide the Council with suggested changes later this year. Preserving the village atmosphere and enhancing the quality of life for Coronado residents are two of the guiding principles adopted by the RSIP subcommittee, which meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 4 p.m. in the Coronado Police Station community room. Members of the public are welcome to attend. City Seeks Input on Name for Glorietta Bay Master Plan Area� Citizens are invited to attend upcoming public meetings to suggest potential names for the area. The meetings will be as follows: January 21st at 6 p.m. February 2nd at 6 p.m. Citizens unable to attend the meetings may submit name suggestions in writing to the City Clerk's Office, 1825 Strand Way, Coronado, CA 92118 or by e-mail to cityclerk@coronado.ca.us. Written suggestions must be received by January 30th. A subcommittee led by City Council members Casey Tanaka and Frank Tierney will review all suggestions and forward a recommendation to the City Council to select a final name for the area. "The City is seeking input from local residents about a potential name for this cherished part of Coronado," said City Manager Mark Ochenduszko. "When completed, the Glorietta Bay Master Plan area will reflect the unique style of the City and improve the quality of life for local residents and generations to come." The Glorietta Bay Master Plan is a $30 million effort to improve public access along the Bay, improve local water quality, and enhance City services for Coronado residents and visitors. The project includes a series of landscaped parks, pedestrian-friendly courtyards and interactive plazas blended together with a new 40,000-square-foot Community Center and new and improved 16,000-square-foot City Hall. City Moves Forward on Short-term Traffic Improvements�
Bulbouts are a means of calming traffic flow by reducing pedestrian crossing distances at intersections. By extending the curb, gutter and sidewalk into the street forming a bulbout, pedestrians are able to safely cross the street faster because of the shorter distance between sidewalks. Bulbouts also improve access for emergency response vehicles, as on-street parking is not allowed at bulbout intersections. The proposed additional traffic signals would be located on Third Street at B and F avenues, Fourth Street at B and F avenues, as well as Alameda Boulevard. These signals would be coordinated with the existing signals at Third and Fourth streets at Orange Avenue and the new signal that is proposed at Third Street and Alameda, which is a part of the Navy's Third Street Gate project. A metering system for traffic entering Coronado from the bridge would potentially slow speeding motorists as they enter the City. As a State highway, any changes to Third and Fourth streets require the approval of Caltrans. A cooperative agreement is being written between the City and Caltrans and selection of a consultant to perform the required EIR is underway. Citizens Satisfaction Survey 2003�
For more information on the survey, contact the City Clerk's office at 619.522.7320.
|
