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Proposition B Fletcher Cove Community Center Use Permits City of Solana Beach Proposed Ordinance - Majority Approval Required
See Also:
Index of all Propositions |
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Pass:
1947 /
50.9% Yes votes ......
1875 /
49.1% No votes
| Information shown below: Yes/No Meaning | Official Information | Impartial Analysis | Arguments | | ||||||
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An Ordinance of the City of Solana Beach, California, Amending Title 11, Chapter 11.40 of the Municipal Code to Allow for Special Use Permits to be Issued for the Fletcher Cover Community Center
Currently, the FCCC is one of two community centers in the City of Solana Beach and is used for the City's recreation program, for adult education classes through the San Dieguito Adult School, and non-profit sponsored community events. Resident- sponsored events are allowed subject to City Council Policy 23. Under the measure, a special event permit may be issued to Solana Beach residents for the use of the FCCC and the adjacent patio and lawn areas for private events, including, but not limited to, meetings, classes, and celebrations. The issuance of special event permits for resident-hosted events would be allowed for up to two of the three days per weekend (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday). A special event permit for the FCCC, under the measure, would be issued for a nominal fee. The special event application fee is set by the City's User Fee schedule. The current permit cost is $50 for City residents. The measure will override the existing limits placed by the City Council on alcohol consumption, noise, frequency and occupancy during special events at FCCC. Instead, the permitted events at the FCCC would be subject to any applicable rules of the Alcoholic Beverage Control for the service of wine and beer and any applicable noise and occupancy regulations in the SBMC. Under the measure, all private events must be concluded, including the cleanup for such events, by 10:00 p.m. The measure also provides that any violation of the laws and regulations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control, the State of California or the City of Solana Beach would result in the immediate closure of the event, revocation of the special event permit, fines, or any other action authorized by the SBMC. Should the measure pass, the City Council will not have the ability to change the provisions of SBMC Section 11.40.140. It may only be amended, revised, or repealed through a vote of the people. The measure provides that these changes to the SBMC would become effective immediately. A "yes" vote is in favor of amending the City's existing municipal code to allow the special event permits to be issued for the FCCC subject to the conditions outlined above overriding the existing Council policy regarding community rentals. A "no" vote is against amending the City's municipal code, which would leave in effect the City's existing ordinances and policies for special event permits issued in the City.
Johanna Canlas, City Attorney
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Official Information City of Solana Beach News and AnalysisDel Mar TImes KPBS.org Los Angeles Times San Diego Union-Tribune
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| Arguments For Proposition B | Arguments Against Proposition B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yes on Proposition B - put the "community" back in the Community Center.
The City allowed Fletcher Cove Community Center to fall into disrepair. Financial support was solicited from residents for the renovation, and they generously contributed over $250,000. For two years, Council debated various proposals for citizen rental of the Center. Then in June 2013, the City Council "indefinitely postponed" any further consideration of a rental policy. This was in response to objections by a small group of local residents - political allies of the council - who had concerns about parking and traffic. Only after this occurred did a group of concerned Solana Beach citizens draft this Initiative. Contrary to claims by opponents, the Initiative does not remove the City's authority to protect public health and safety. It simply restores the historic uses of our Community Center. Because of this Initiative effort, Council enacted a so-called "compromise." The new rules are so restrictive only one special event was scheduled during the first three months. In October 2013, the City Council commissioned an independent report on Initiative impacts. This report concluded "there are not expected to be adverse impacts ...(on) parks, traffic, parking, open space, business retention or ... business districts." But the City Council didn't discuss this report in public until AFTER they scheduled the special election. In spite of its own consultant's conclusion, the City Council chose not to adopt the initiative and instead spend $200,000 of your tax dollars on a special election. Your tax dollars and voluntary contributions created a unique ocean front Community Center for use by the entire community. Now a small group of vocal residents are trying to restrict your use and enjoyment of it. Preserve your right to use a community asset that belongs to all of us. Yes on Proposition B.
The current rental policy balances the concerns of the entire community. Prop B dismisses the concerns of all but the partiers! Prop B Proponents are wrong:
| DO YOU WANT REPEATED AND COSTLY ELECTIONS TO FIX PUBLIC SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT ARISE FROM PROP B? OF COURSE NOT! VOTE NO ON PROP B!
There is an existing City Policy that allows private parties at the Fletcher Cove Community Center (FCCC)! We agree private parties at FCCC are an appropriate use. But parties must be fairly regulated to ensure public safety, minimize conflicts with nearby businesses and neighborhoods, and preserve our limited beach access parking. Prop B ends this fair regulation! FCCC is a small meeting room in a residential neighborhood at the beach. It has only 2 parking spaces (handicapped only). It's already used Monday through Saturday, 135 hours each month, for classes, meetings and civic events, as it has been for the past 50 years. The current rules effectively manage any impacts generated from these uses. The City Council protects our community by ensuring development and uses are appropriate and don't cause harmful impacts to existing neighborhoods or businesses. In that spirit we enacted a Compromise Policy that allows weekend private parties at FCCC and balances the concerns of those who want to rent FCCC, the people who use the beach and parks, shoppers and diners along Highway 101, and the residents who live in the area. AND it can be adjusted when necessary without an election! Prop B changes City codes to greatly intensify usage by adding two parties every weekend with unlimited alcohol, live bands, and 100 guests when the demand for weekend parking is at its highest. The Council won't have the authority to fix the problems that arise from the impacts of Prop B. Another costly election is required. The Compromise Policy isn't perfect. But it's flexible and adjustable by the Council. Don't set the rules in stone...Vote No on Prop B!
The Council failed to mention in their ballot argument that the so-called 'compromise' policy regarding the use of Fletcher Cove Community Center can be revoked at any time, returning to no citizen rentals and once again restricting YOUR use of the Center. They failed to mention Proposition B specifically states it will operate under the City's existing Public Health and Safety laws, through the existing permit process, including restrictions on alcohol use, noise and occupancy. They failed to mention that all of the City's existing Public Health and Safety laws continue to apply and remain enforceable by the City Council if Proposition B is approved. They failed to mention that two special events per weekend is a maximum, not a requirement of Proposition B. And they failed to mention that a permit can be immediately cancelled by the City and an event shutdown if any of these rules and regulations are violated. The Council failed to mention that their own independent study regarding the Initiative concluded there would be NO ADVERSE IMPACTS TO THE COMMUNITY. And they publicly admitted they DID NOT actually review the study they commissioned. They committed $200,000 of your tax dollars on a special election BEFORE their public review of the study. The primary purpose of Proposition B is to protect your right to use and enjoy YOUR Community Center. Don't let the City Council take away that right. Vote Yes on Proposition B.
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Created: March 13, 2014 11:48 PDT
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