______City Manager's Weekly Update
October 8, 2021
The following is provided as an update regarding programs, services and issues within the City.
Weekly Update Video
Community News & Updates
Storm Brings Heavy Rain, Lightning to Coronado

A powerful storm hit Coronado Monday, Oct. 4, bringing heavy rain and lightning from the late evening through the night. Frequent lightning strikes were reported, causing power outages and two small tree fires, one on Third Street and the other at the Golf Course. The Golf Course also received damage to some irrigation components that will require repairs. A power outage south of the Naval Amphibious Base was temporary for most. Areas prone to flooding were affected, including SR 75 and Coronado Cays Boulevard, B and C avenues at First Street, and the Five Points intersection. The Fire Department made an elevator rescue and had two medical calls with critical patients. Ten firefighters and four Police personnel were on duty, with an additional two officers called in to assist with weather calls. The Police Department communication center received 29 911 calls and 14 storm-related calls. (Photo right by Edith Salas shows a tree at the Golf Course being struck).



New Storm and Sandbags: Another storm off the coast is expected to bring widespread rainfall and cooler temperatures through Friday, Oct. 8. Sandbags are available for residents at the usual places: First Street and Alameda Boulevard, Fourth Street and Alameda, North Beach, and the Cays, across from the Cays fire station. They will remain stocked until around May.

 
City Monitoring Beach for Tar Balls from OC Spill
Coronado Lifeguards and other public safety personnel are monitoring the City’s beach after tar balls that may be linked to a recent major oil spill were found in in San Diego County. The spill is estimated to have caused 144,000 gallons of oil to flow into the ocean off Huntington Beach. Work to contain it is ongoing but it is moving. The County of San Diego has activated its Emergency Operations Center in response to tar balls reportedly discovered in Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas and Del Mar. If beachgoers see unusual tar balls, please contact Lifeguards at (619) 522-7346.
Coronado Police/Fire Departments Don Pink Patches
Columbus Day 2021 Holiday Schedule
The City of Coronado will observe the Columbus Day holiday on Monday, Oct. 11, and reminds residents and businesses that some municipal facilities will remain open and some will close. Public Services will not sweep streets Monday. EDCO will perform regular residential trash collection. Certain City of Coronado departments and services will be open with varying hours of operation. See the schedule below.
'Halloween Happening' Events Planned for October 29
Three City facilities will offer residents a special “Halloween Happening” this year with fun activities for all ages on Friday, Oct. 29. Dress up in your best Halloween costumes to get in the spirit. Families are welcome to attend a party at Spreckels Park from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. with festive music, entertainment, trick-or-treating, and “Spooktacular” games. The Library will be screening Disney’s “Hocus Pocus” free on the lawn and will also have a spooky scavenger hunt from 6 to 8 p.m. The John D. Spreckels Center will host a Halloween Bash for those 21 and up at 6 p.m. The cost for the Spreckels Center party is $13 for residents and $18 for nonresidents and includes hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.

The City will close down Margarita Avenue for Halloween. Coronado MainStreet is planning the return of "Downtown Goes Ghostly" on Sunday, Oct. 31, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. This beloved community event is supported by a grant from the City of Coronado Community Grant Program. For more information on all these events, call (619) 522-7342.
Golf Course to Close Temporarily for Aerification
Council Approves Newest Public Art Piece - 'The Knot' 
The City Council approved a recommendation earlier this week of the Cultural Arts Commission to accept a bronze sculpture donated by the Wood Family Trust and install it in Glorietta Bay Promenade Park. "The Knot" sculpture's installation site is near the sea wall, selected due to its proximity to a popular wedding spot. Artist Jim Wood was a resident of Coronado. The piece will be part of the City of Coronado’s public art collection and should be installed by early 2022.
Public Services & Engineering Projects
Parker Pump Station Replacement Project: Asbestos remediation at 800 Coronado Ave., the City’s newly acquired property, was completed this week and the contractor on the nearby Parker Pump Station Replacement project, will be back on site the week of Oct. 25 to demolish the structure. Prior to demolition, the Police and Fire departments will utilize the property to conduct search and rescue style trainings. The purchase of the property provides an opportunity to improve the project in a variety of ways that benefit both the City and surrounding residents. The City will reconfigure the site to provide about 6,000 square feet of publicly accessible green space and relocate all planned above-ground structures to 75 feet behind the face of curb along Coronado Avenue. The purchase eliminates the need for a temporary, above-ground storm water and wastewater bypass system during construction by keeping the existing pump station operational throughout construction of the new station. The site also will eliminate the need to close the intersection of Eighth Street and Coronado Avenue for the entire duration of construction.
Country Club Infiltration Reduction: The Country Club Infiltration Reduction project was completed this week with final testing occurring early next week. The project reduced the groundwater infiltration into the storm water system that both lowers the amount pumping required and pumping costs for the City.


 
Trinidad Pump Station Upgrade: The contractor on the Trinidad Pump Station Upgrade project set the new manhole section and dismantled the dewatering system. Backfilling of the excavation was completed this week, allowing the electrical subcontractor to begin laying conduit and other electrical materials. It is anticipated it will take a week to install the underground electrical system.
 




Electric Vehicle Charging Stations:  Blink Charging is upgrading the electric vehicle charging stations at City Hall and Vernetti Stadium at no cost to the City. The agreement includes a portion of the revenue to be shared with the City. Upgrades to the outdated stations from 2G to 5G will provide faster charging speed to allow quicker turnover. City Hall stations were completed this week. An unforeseen site condition delayed the installation at the Vernetti Stadium parking lot. The vendor has ordered the parts for repairs and completion is anticipated by early next week. (Photo: Before and after images of the stations at City Hall)



 
Lighting Upgrade: Facilities Division crews replaced sections of the decorative lighting on the roof of the Bluewater Boathouse Seafood Grill to improve the exterior luminaires and enhance the overall shape of the building.
Police Station Upgrade: Facilities Division crews replaced three valves and five linear feet of steel piping to the chilled water closed loop servicing the heating and air conditioning system to the Police Station due to a water leak.
Community Meetings
Public Meeting Calendar
Tuesday, Oct. 12; 3 p.m.
Library Board of Trustees
Library's Winn Room

Wednesday, Oct. 13; 3 p.m.
Design Review Commission
City Hall Council Chambers

Thursday, Oct. 14; 11 a.m.
Spreckels Advisory Committee
John D. Spreckels Center

Thursday, Oct. 14; 2:00 p.m.
Golf Course Advisory Committee
Golf Course Board Room

Thursday, Oct. 14; 5:30 p.m.
Civil Service Commission
City Hall Council Chambers

Monday, Oct. 18; 3 p.m.
Naval Complexes Coordinating Group
City Hall Council Chambers

Tuesday, Oct. 19; 4 p.m.
City Council
City Hall Council Chambers
City Council Actions
The Council at its Oct. 5 meeting:

  • Received a report on the 2021 Free Summer Shuttle;
  • Accepted a gift of $183,334 from the Margaret H. West Trust to support the Police, Fire and Library Services Departments;
  • Approved all applications for Historic Resource Preservation Agreements for eight historic properties;
  • Received a report on the Coronado Animal Care Facility; and
  • Accepted the bronze sculpture "The Knot" donated by the Wood Family Trust and approved installation in Glorietta Bay Promenade Park.

The next City Council meeting is Oct. 19.
Community Programs & Events
Public Services Events
Fall Bulky Item Cleanup:  Community Cleanup Week is scheduled for the week of Oct. 18 on regularly scheduled residential curbside collection days. Place unwanted bulk items on the curb along with your regular carts by 6 a.m. Bulky trash items typically include broken appliances, water heaters, furniture, old mattresses, yard waste, and other bulky household items. Residents are required to wrap mattresses prior to setting them out. Mattress disposal bags can be purchased at hardware stores or online. All yard waste will be recycled and must be bagged or bundled. Tree trimmings should be cut into 3-foot lengths and tied securely into bundles not greater than 18 inches in diameter. Hazardous waste and debris from contractors, landscapers or commercial businesses will not be accepted.
 
Free Mulch: During the Community Cleanup week, free mulch will be available for self-load/haul at the corner of A Avenue and Second Street, behind the Vernetti Little League field. Mulch will be replenished each morning by 8 a.m. If you plan to haul mulch in an open truck or trailer, please remember to bring a tarp to cover your material.
Recreation & Golf Services Events

Turkey Coloring Contest: The Recreation Department’s annual Turkey Coloring Contest for Coronado students began Wednesday, Oct. 6 and ends Thursday, Nov. 4. Students must color the printed turkey with crayons, markers or colored pencils and write your contact information on the page. Drop off the entry in person at the Community Center or by email to recdept@coronado.ca.us. One entry per child. Please no glitter, sequins or stickers. Past winners are not eligible. Coronado students only. Winners will be recognized at the Nov. 16 City Council meeting.
Coronado Public Library Events
Computers Replaced: All the aging public computers at the Library have been replaced as part of a long-scheduled upgrade. The new computers have much improved performance and screens with crisper resolution and anti-glare coatings. The keyboards and mice are fully washable. A total of 32 computers were replaced including all the catalog, internet and equipment reservation computers.
Suicide Warning Signs Training: Training intended to help lower the risk of suicides is being offered at the Library on Saturday, Oct. 9, from 10:30 a.m. until noon. San Diego County Suicide Prevention Council is offering a free QPR Gatekeeper Training in the Winn Room that will cover recognizing warning signs, how to offer hope and how to get the right help. This training is for anyone in a position to recognize a crisis and the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide. Registration is recommended using Library Events Registration or cplevents.org. Unreserved spots available on the day of will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Author Talk: Alfred Scott McLaren will speak about and sign his new book, “Emergency Deep: Cold War Missions of a Submarine Commander” at the Library on Thursday, Oct. 14, from 7 to 8 p.m. The talk will cover Capt. McLaren’s experiences commanding USS Queenfish, mainly in the waters of the Russian Far East and also off Vietnam. McLaren offers a story that illuminates the intensity and pressures of commanding a nuclear attack submarine in some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable. As commander, McLaren led at least six major clandestine operations, including the first-ever exploration of the entire Siberian Continental Shelf. Copies of the book will be available for purchase in partnership with Bay Books Coronado.

 

Autumn Concert Series: Works by Schubert, Chopin and Rachmaninoff will be performed in the Library’s Winn Room by Indonesian born pianist, Ines Irawati, on Friday, Oct. 15, from 1 to 2 p.m. Irawati recently served as the music and artistic director of San Diego Opera's Young Artist Training Program and was the head vocal coach and collaborative piano faculty at Point Loma Nazarene University for many years.  
Coronado Cultural Arts Events
Find out the four hottest upcoming arts and cultural events going on in Coronado with "Four on Friday," a feature brought to you by CoronadoARTS.com. Click on the Four On Friday Logo to view this week's edition.
Upcoming Events of Note
Friday, Oct. 8:  CHS Homecoming Parade -- Floats staged at 1000 block of Adella Avenue between Tenth Street and Ynez Place. Travels along Orange Avenue northbound to Seventh Street. Starts at 4 p.m. and is expected to end at 4:30 p.m. Rolling closures on Orange Avenue.

Sunday, Oct. 10: Sharkfest Swim -- San Diego Harbor from Fifth Avenue Landing to Tidelands Park. 100 participants. Active 9 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 31: Halloween Street Closure on Margarita -- Spans 600 and 700 blocks of Margarita from Sixth Street to Visalia Row from 5 to 9 p.m. 




Flute, a 6-month old Tuxedo cat, is this week’s Pet of the Week. Flute is the last of the symphony kitties, a group of kittens that came in at the same time. The others have all found homes. Flute is a sweet girl in a beautiful tuxedo coat. She is good with kids and is looking for a quiet or active home. Her adoption fee is $50. To find out more about Flute, call PAWS of Coronado, which runs the City’s Animal Care Facility at (619) 522-7371.  

Boards, Commissions & Committees
Board, Commission, Committee Vacancies
The following positions are open on the Street Tree Committee, the Cultural Arts Commission and the Civil Service Commission. Responsibilities, qualifications for appointment, term of office and deadline for receipt of applications can be found at the bottom of the City’s Boards, Commissions and Committees page.