______City Manager's Weekly Update
September 17, 2021
The following is provided as an update regarding programs, services and issues within the City.
Weekly Update Video
Community Updates
Personal Note from Coronado's New City Manager
Hello Coronado:

I am so happy to be here. I started work this week as Coronado’s new city manager and next week will participate in my first City Council meeting.

A little about my background. I have more than 16 years of management and executive level experience in coastal California local government. Most recently, I served as city manager of Scotts Valley, California. Prior to that, I was assistant city manager for the City of Santa Cruz for nearly 10 years.

As far as my education goes, I have a law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law, a master’s degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho.

I am proud to come from a military family. My father was stationed locally. My husband, a San Diego native and lifelong Padres fan, and our 6-year-old son look forward to attending many games in the future.

I look forward to getting to know and serving the Coronado community.

Tina Friend
Employee of the Quarter

Mason Benoit, Maintenance Worker II for the Facilities Division of the Public Services & Engineering Department, has been selected as the recipient of the City of Coronado Employee of the Quarter award for the third quarter of 2021. With his consistent effort, Benoit has been instrumental in maintaining the Fire Department, Lifeguard and other facilities that are occupied by multiple people a day and used to their fullest capacity. He works diligently to maintain facilities’ operational conditions at a high level, shows up every day with a positive attitude, works in an efficient manner, addresses all concerns, and is committed and willing to get the job done right. Benoit conducts himself with professionalism both on and off duty and is a pleasure to work with. Congratulations.
Public Services & Engineering Projects
Annual Palm Pruning: As part of an annual palm-pruning program, the City’s contractor will prune 3,136 palms in parkways and parks throughout Coronado. Palm fruiting and hanging fronds are a common concern for residents. The City must be diligent to remove both fruit and fronds. The contractor will begin work in the Cays on Sept. 20 and then work on the east side of Orange Avenue. The contractor will start work on the west side Orange and expects to finish by the end of January. The contractor will work on a street-by-street basis first on lettered streets, then numbered streets. Diverting from this plan can cause palms to get missed. “No Parking” signs may appear on short notice when the contractor can get ahead of schedule. The City appreciates residents’ quick response in moving vehicles out of the contractor’s path so the work can be completed. The contractor has two crews of up to three people, each with one supervisor working in white and yellow trucks. Queen palms take longer to prune than most other palms.

Country Club Infiltration Reduction: The contractor working on the Country Club Infiltration Reduction project began lining the structures that were grouted and prepped in prior weeks. The structure lining operations are expected to be completed by the end of the week with testing occurring next week. Additionally, there will be another crew on site Monday, Sept. 20, to install sectional liners in an existing storm drain. This operation will be completed in one day. 




Trinidad Pump Station Upgrade:  The contractor installed Phase II bypass piping this past week and will begin work to modify the wet well. This work will entail removing the top portion of the wet well, constructing a circular concrete foundation around the modified well and setting a new manhole section. Phase II of the project is expected to take five weeks to complete.
SDG&E Gas Main Replacement Projects:
 
  • E and F Avenues: The contractor performing work on the gas main replacement for SDG&E in the 100 to 200 block of the alley between E and F avenues has substantially completed the gas main and services replacement. A few meter relocations on private properties are still pending and concrete repair work is expected toward the end of next week. The SDG&E crew will be coordinating with residents with regard to the gas meters and trash collection service as needed. There will be some asphalt patching to repair asphalt excavations on First Street, Second Street, and F Avenue.
 
  • J Avenue and Alameda Boulevard: The SDG&E crew working on a gas main replacement in the 100 to 500 blocks of the alley between J Avenue and Alameda Boulevard completed replacement of the gas main in the 300 block of Fourth Street. They will continue the work next week in the 400 and 500 blocks of the alley between J Avenue and Alameda Boulevard. The work is expected to be completed by the end of October.
Community Meetings
Calendar
Sept. 20; 3 p.m.
Naval Complexes Coordinating Group
Council Chambers
 
Sept. 21; 4 p.m.
City Council
Council Chambers
 
Sept. 22; 3 p.m.
Design Review Commission
Council Chambers
 
Sept. 23; 3 p.m.
Mobility Commission-Special Meeting
Council Chambers

Cays Park Master Plan Workshop
The City held a workshop on Sept. 9 to review what staff has heard from residents over the past 18 months on efforts to create a long-term master plan for Coronado Cays Park. The meeting and presentation are available for review on the City’s community engagement platform -- Comment Coronado. Comments from the public on this project can be sent to principal engineer on the project Jim Newton at [email protected] by Sept. 23. 

City Council Agenda

Items of note on the Sept. 21 agenda that the City Council is set to consider:

  • Authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Master Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchasing Agreement and execute a purchase order for $353,000 for emergency medical equipment for Fire Services;
  • Authorizing the City Manager to execute a sole source agreement with Vigilant Solutions for License Plate Recognition System Hosting/Data Access Fees with ARJIS Interface for $117,000;
  • An update from the City’s federal lobbyists; and
  • An update regarding regional developments related to enforcement at the Zuniga Jetty Anchorage.
Community Events
9/11 Ceremony Marks 20th Anniversary
Coronado Firefighters, Police, Lifeguards and local military personnel held a 9/11 ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the attacks last Saturday, Sept. 11. The community also was invited to Fire Station 36 to honor and remember the nearly 3,000 people who died that day in 2001. Coronado’s first responders began the 6:45 a.m. ceremony with an invocation, followed by a moment of silence and a symbolic ringing of the station’s bell. 
California Clean Air Day
Last year more than 500 organizations, including Coronado, pledged to clean California’s air in 2020. California Clean Air Day, a project of the Coalition for Clean Air, encourages groups, individuals and kids to be a part of the effort to bring clean air to California by pledging to do your part for California Clean Air Day, Oct. 6. The pledge suggests actions everyone can take to improve air quality based. Individuals can change their home air filters, switch to natural all-purpose cleaners and make online purchases in one order per week. Things kids can do is bike to school, plant a tree or garden and give a report on the environment. Things the City pledged to do include spreading the Clean Air message via social media and the Weekly Update and encouraging employees to take the pledge. Check the website and take the pledge. at www.cleanairday.org.
National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month and Coronado encourages residents to prepare for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. Each September, National Preparedness Month is recognized to promote family and community disaster planning now and throughout the year. Situations residents should need to prepare for are wildfires, earthquakes, major storms and floods. Residents are urged to review their emergency plans, create an emergency supply kit and stay informed. The 2021 National Preparedness Month website provides helpful tips and ways to prepare for an emergency. Visit ReadySanDiego.org for more ways to be ready.
Upcoming Events of Note
Saturday, Sept. 18:    Honor Foundation Swim for SOF (Special Operations Forces): Athletic activity starting at South Beach, running to Glorietta Bay Park, then swimming to Tidelands Park and across the bay to the USS Midway Museum. Up to 75 participants. Active 6 to 9:30 a.m. 
Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25-26: CRSSD Fest: The County of San Diego has notified the City of the twice-a-year two-day music festival at its Waterfront Park, on Harbor Drive in downtown San Diego. The music festival will be held from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept 25, and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 26. Organizers expect 15,000 people per day and will work with an independent sound monitoring company to manage sound. Questions can be directed to the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation at (619) 232-7275. Complaints or concerns regarding the event can be directed to the event’s Community Relations Manager Christian Clark at (858) 337-8001 or [email protected].
Saturday, Oct. 2: Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church Picnic: Up to 150 people. Street closure on C Avenue from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

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.
Community Programs
Arts and Culture


Orange Avenue Banners
The next nonprofit series of banners for the Orange Avenue Banner Program installation marks major milestones for two Coronado nonprofit organization. Orange Avenue light poles currently feature banners for the Coronado Playhouse, celebrating its 75th anniversary, and for FOCUS: Friends of Children United Society, which is marking its 40th anniversary. Banners were installed this week and will remain up through the Thanksgiving holiday. The program, initiated in 2016 and funded through a Discover Coronado grant, displays banners on the Orange Avenue corridor from First Street to Avenida de las Arenas. Two of the five annual banner installations are open to local nonprofit organizations. For more information on the program, contact Kelly Purvis at [email protected] or by calling (619) 522-2633.

'Take Two' Art Exhibition in the Spreckels Gallery
After an 18-month hiatus, art is back in the Spreckels Gallery at the John D. Spreckels Center. "Take Two" is an exhibition featuring artwork by local artists Doris Besikof, Phil Martin and Carol Young. In February 2020, the gallery featured these local artists for a wonderful opening before COVID-19 forced the closure of the gallery after only two weeks of display. "Take Two" features artwork from the original show as well as new pieces created during the pandemic. Come meet the artists on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Center, 1019 Seventh St. The event is free and open to the public.
Tootsie by Carol Young
Oil on Canvas
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.
Coronado Public Library - Upcoming Programs

Emerald Community Read
The Coronado Public Library and Emerald Keepers team up again to offer the annual Emerald Community Read. This year the book is “Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore” by Elizabeth Rush, which contains testimonials revealing how sea level rise is affecting American shorelines and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. As part of the program, there will be a panel discussion in the Winn Room on Monday, Sept. 20 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to discuss how storytelling and interview techniques can be used to highlight these issues. Panelists include Brad Willis, retired NBC News foreign correspondent; Joshua Chao, English literature educator; and photographer Kel Casey. 



Aviation Lecture Series
"The Indestructible Man" tells the story of Silver Star and Distinguished Service Medal recipient Dixie Kiefer who survived several deadly attacks during his navy career. Author Don Keith will discuss his book with a Coronado audience via Zoom on Tuesday, Sept. 21, from 11 a.m. to noon. Register for the link at cplevents.org.
Parks and Recreation
Join the Community Chorus at John D. Spreckels Center
The Coronado Cultural Arts Commission and Spreckels Center invite the community to a Chorus Information Night being held on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 6 p.m. Anyone who would like to sing in a group setting is qualified. Meet the director, Elena Vizuet, as she shares her background, discusses plans for the chorus group and hears from those in attendance about what they would like to sing. 
Park Field Closures
Park field closures for annual maintenance are coming up next week. From Sept. 20-27, Cays Park and Sunset Park fields will be closed. From Sept. 27-Oct. 3, Tidelands Park sports fields will be closed. The turf is being prepared for heavy use in the fall. Thanks for your patience.


Halloween Happenings
Recreation & Golf Services, Coronado Arts Commission and Coronado Public Library are working on plans for this year’s Halloween Happening. More information will follow in the weeks to come.
Harmony and Tuba, a pair of young Domestic Shorthair cats, are this week’s Pets of the Week. Both came to PAWS after being abandoned in a local hotel room. They are looking for a home, either alone or together. Harmony is a sweet and gentle 2-year-old cat, and as her name implies, she is a balanced and calm being. Tuba, who is 3, is extremely social and would love to be in a forever form with another feline. Their adoption fee is $50 each. To find out more about Harmony and Tuba, 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 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.