The Mission Bay Park Committee (MBPC) was unable to vote at its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, March 6, because it did not have a quorum. Only eight of the MBPC’s 16 members were at the meeting, which drew a crowd of approximately 80 people.
Although the committee heard scheduled presentations on July Fourth alcohol usage and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, it was unable to vote on items such as permit requests.
“I have never had a worse feeling than when I had to apologize to these people serving their community and giving up time with their children to attend that meeting,” acting MBPC chairperson Bob Ottilie said.
This is the second time in a year that the committee has not had a quorum.
One reason for waning participation, Ottilie said, is that all MBPC members have served beyond their appointed terms.
Under Section 26.30 of the city’s municipal code, the mayor is responsible for making all appointments to the MBPC, the Park and Recreation Board and other advisory bodies.
MBPC members are appointed to two-year terms. Eight of the members’ terms expired March 1, 2006, and the other eight expired March 1, 2007.
Ottilie said that representatives from Mayor Jerry Sanders’ office have told him repeatedly throughout the past year that appointments would soon be announced. “It’s gone on too long,” Ottilie said.
“I believe the mayor cares a great deal about Mission Bay Park. I don’t think he or the community is being well served by neglecting these appointments,” he said.
Committee appointments “have not been the highest priority,” Councilwoman Donna Frye said, because Sanders has been dealing with the budget crisis and other urgent issues.
She believes that planning board elections being held this month in Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach and Clairemont further complicate matters.
“The timing’s not as good as it could have been,” Frye said.
Nevertheless, she believes the committee appointments need to be a priority.
“It’s public park land,” Frye said of Mission Bay Park. “It’s more grassroots with appointed citizens conducting the meetings. It’s a far better way to serve the public.”
Councilman Kevin Faulconer plans to call on the public soon as part of a ballot initiative to keep more of the revenue generated in Mission Bay Park in the park ” and out of the city’s general fund.
“We need a fully staffed committee to help move this forward,” said Faulconer, who formerly served as MBPC chairperson and on the Park and Recreation Board, which also has lapsed appointments.
“I’ve been pressing very hard to have these appointments filled as soon as possible. It’s taken too long,” Faulconer said.
Sanders’ director of communications outreach and boards and commissions, Aundene Hugg, recently indicated that the office would be “moving very quickly” on appointments, Faulconer said.
“Hopefully that will be the case,” Faulconer said.
Hugg did not provide a specific timeline or immediately return calls for comment.
In his report to the MBPC regarding Fourth of July alcohol consumption, Capt. Boyd Long of the San Diego Police Department said arrests on the holiday spiked in 2004 and 2005, due to increased enforcement and police presence, before declining last year, despite a record number of visitors to the city’s beaches and bays.
Roughly 90 percent of arrests occurred near the Reed Street substation, Long said.
The committee also heard a report on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, which will keep last year’s route.
The MBPC is scheduled to meet Tuesday, April 3, at 6 p.m. The location will be announced.