Q. What is the current status of the Community Center plan?
A. The Community Center plan has been updated so that the basketball court now measures 94 feet in length and the building is 35 feet high. Both measurements are consistent with November's election results.

Q. How will the new Community Center benefit Coronado's residents?
A. The vibrant new Community Center will serve as a special gathering place for the entire community and host programs and activities for children, teens, adults and seniors.

Q. Will the Community Center be open to the general public or only to Coronado residents?
A. Everyone is welcome at the Community Center. Areas such as the pool and fitness center may require users to pay small fees.

Q. When will the City begin construction? How long will it take?
A. The City expects to break ground on the Glorietta Bay Master Plan, which includes the Community Center, this summer and the project is expected to be completed by Fall 2004.

Special Events Help Preserve Small Town Charm

Local residents enjoy showing their patriotic spirit during the annual Fourth of July Celebration. Click Here to view larger image.

Special events throughout the year play an important role in Coronado’s small town festivities. As a result, the City strives to balance enthusiasm for events and maintain the unique residential and business-friendly atmosphere in Coronado by assuring all events meet standards and follow established rules. These guidelines, designed with the community in mind, ensure that potential disruptions from increased event activity in the streets and on the beaches are kept to a minimum.

The City categorizes special events into three groups to help develop appropriate strategies for each type of activity. Major events are defined as attracting more than 2,000 participants or spectators and are likely to significantly affect public services, facilities, traffic circulation or residents in the area. Events drawing less than 2,000 people are considered Moderate. Minor events are more specialized activities, such as weddings. Given the large crowds, the City Council established a Special Events Policy, limiting the number of annual major events to no more than eight. City Council approval is required for both Major and Moderate events. Approval for Minor events is granted by the City Manager’s office.

“Coronado’s tradition of special events throughout the year is one of the many reasons why the community is such a special place to live and work,” noted Special Events Coordinator and Executive Assistant to the City Manager, Mary Clifford. “The City is committed to regularly updating its policies and procedures to ensure that each event runs as smoothly as possible.

”Of the eight Major events allowed each year, four are annual traditions and considered cornerstones of the Coronado community. These are the Fourth of July Celebration, the combined Flower Show, Library Book Sale and Motorcars on Main Street event, Coronado Promenade Sunday Concert Series in Spreckels Park and the Chamber of Commerce Holiday Open House.

People who wish to host a special event in Coronado must obtain a permit from the City Manager’s office or Recreation Services. The City reviews each application and makes a decision after evaluating the benefits versus potential impacts on traffic, parking and community safety. For more information on planning a Major or Moderate special event, contact Mary Clifford at 619.522.7335, or to plan a Minor special event, contact Sandy Goodson at 619.522.7342.

Ready If Needed: Emergency Preparedness
Coronado Participates inHomeland Security Exercise

The City of Coronado is proud to be the first city in San Diego County to have participated in a new emergency preparedness program funded by the Department of Homeland Security. The program, which is offered through the County, is designed to test the City’s readiness for an emergency, as well as to identify areas in need of improvement.

City and public safety officials worked together to make important decisions during the homeland security drill. Click Here to view larger image

In conjunction with many partners, Coronado conducted this exercise on August 4, 2004. Coronado’s public safety team participated along with representatives from the Navy, Red Cross, San Diego County Emergency Operations Center and the City of San Diego. Those in attendance began the exercise reading through a mock terrorist scenario. The group then went through a comprehensive step-by-step decision-making process designed to potentially save lives and protect local residents. Elements of the response included appropriate first steps after a terrorist act occurs and how best to notify members of the community. The exercise concluded with recovery options for bringing day-to-day activities back on line in the City.

“The City of Coronado invests many hours each year ensuring that staff is well-versed in emergency preparedness and has the knowledge to make quick and competent decisions during a crisis,” said Coronado Fire Chief Kim Raddatz. “The Homeland Security exercise was an excellent session that reinforced the value of new technology and information.

The City of Coronado invests many hours each year ensuring that staff is well-versed in emergency preparedness.. . — Fire Chief Kim Raddatz

”In addition to the Homeland Security exercise, the City of Coronado conducts an annual Emergency Operations Center drill to keep City staff current on emergency procedures and safety techniques. The Coronado Fire Department also issues a quarterly Emergency Preparedness newsletter to educate residents about the issues and practices related to a City emergency. To sign up to receive the Emergency Preparedness newsletter or to review past editions, visit the City’s web site at www.coronado.ca.us.

SEMS Puts Resources at Coronado’s Fingertips

During an emergency, having access to additional life-saving resources, such as search and rescue teams or more fire equipment, can mean the difference between life and death. With stakes so high, residents can take comfort in the fact that the City of Coronado is part of the statewide Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS).

SEMS is a comprehensive computer network system that allows emergency personnel throughout a region to talk in a unified voice and access vital resources quickly and efficiently. The system has been in use in California for more than 20 years, providing an umbrella-type organizational framework for operations at each level of the state’s emergency management system.

Members of CERT take part in emergency drills to exercise the valuable skills they learn during training. Click Here to view larger image

By establishing commonterminology and language, as well as action and resource planning, SEMS facilitates the flow of emergency information and resources within and between involved agencies at all SEMS levels. SEMS operating levels range from the field, where public safety officials are on site working to stabilize situations, to the state where, if necessary, a state-wide emergency can be declared.

A recent example of SEMS at work in San Diego County was last year during the Cedar fire. SEMS was heavily used to help address a lack of local resources in the region. Through the system, equipment and personnel from Florida were dispatched to San Diego to help fight the fire.

In Coronado, City officials contact Heartland Communications Facility, a dispatch center in El Cajon, and make resource requests from a variety of different agencies with one call. Since all cities use a common method of communication, resources and personnel can be deployed quicker and more efficiently to assist in an emergency situation.

Training for City of Coronado management and public safety employees is essential for the effective use of SEMS. Public safety employees are required to complete a state-approved SEMS course of instruction to guarantee their ability to assist the public during an emergency.

“SEMS allows the City of Coronado to take advantage of equipment from adjacent jurisdictions in the event of an emergency,” said Dismis Abelman, the Coronado Fire Department Division Chief and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator.

In addition, the City offers training and classes for community members interested in becoming part of the Coronado Emergency Response Team (CERT), a volunteer organization of local residents who assist the City during emergencies. There is no fee to take part in CERT classes. After six disaster preparedness and rescue classes, participants receive their certification. For more information about CERT or SEMS, contact the Coronado Fire Department at 619.522.7374.

Regional Planning Helps Coronado Plan for the FutureGiven Coronado’s relatively isolated location, residents might assume that regional planning efforts are not important. Nothing could be further from the truth. Water quality, traffic congestion, a future airport and public safety are just some of the issues that Coronado officials tackle when meeting with regional planners and elected officials from other cities.

“Planning decisions made beyond Coronado’s borders directly affect the quality of life in our city,” said Tony Pena, Coronado’s Director of Community Development. “The City’s best opportunity to protect its interests and its current and future lifestyle, is to participate in regional planning groups, such as SANDAG.

”SANDAG is the San Diego Association of Governments, comprised of representatives from the 18 cities in San Diego County and the County government itself. The purpose of SANDAG is to influence how the region develops through a collaborative planning process and to determine appropriate allocations of federal and state resources.

To ensure that Coronado’s issues are heard, the City takes an active role in SANDAG discussions. Currently, the City is represented on the SANDAG Board of Directors by a member of the Coronado City Council. City staff also regularly attends SANDAG workshops and meetings that address a wide-range of issues, such as housing, beach protection, future highway projects and urban development.

Council and staff also participate in similar regional planning efforts with other groups, such as the San Diego Unified Port District, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, Caltrans, the California Coastal Commission and the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

For additional information about regional planning, please contact the Community Development Department at 619.522.7326.