Kevin Faulconer got an earful Tuesday night, but that’s what he wanted.
Duringa community workshop held in Ocean Beach March 21, more than 100 residents split up into groups and hammered out a list of their top 10 concerns and local issues they wanted addressed, resulting in more than 30 wide-ranging items that were presented to the Dist. 2 councilman.
“I’m a big believer in sending out a list of priorities and being held accountable to them,” Faulconer said. “If you don’t have an action list, nothing gets done.”
The action list proved to be as varied as the residents themselves, who ranged from stay-at-home moms, to business owners, to environmentalists, students and retirees.
At the top of list was the removal of transients at the foot of Newport Avenue at Saratoga Park. Preventing another gas station from being built at the corner of Voltaire Street and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard was also a top priority, as was restoring the previously cut operating hours of the library and recreation center.
Beyond those concerns, votes were evenly spread among other hot-button issues, such as a smoking ban on the beach, better pedestrian infrastructure, enforcing the over-sized vehicle ordinance, preserving Dog Beach, and safeguarding Ocean Beach’s history and small businesses from redevelopment.
But true to form in this community known for its green streak, some residents wanted the city to develop a way to sweep sidewalks and streets in such a way that would prevent waste from entering the gutters and ultimately the ocean. Mandatory recycling throughout the community was also a popular proposal, as was holding bars accountable for cigarette butts that litter sidewalks.
The public workshop was organized by the Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association, Town Council, Community Development Corporation and Planning Board.
A question and answer period toward the end of the workshop gave the audience direct access to a councilman who has largely spent the first months of his term gathering information from a district that was without representation for seven months.
“I think he’s got great positive energy,” said Claudia Jack, associate director of OBMA. “He’s steppin’ up to the plate.”
For his part, Faulconer said similar workshops held across the district will be helpful in assembling a list of priorities as the mayor begins to design the upcoming budget.
“I ran for this job because I actually want to get stuff done,” Faulconer told the audience. “I really want to start lining them up and knocking them down.”