City Council dips toe into aquatics park design
Jan 19, 2010 | 2244 views | 43 
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The unanimous vote will spend an extra $350,000 now to design a water park that will include a lazy river, waterslides, an “activity pool,” a wet playground, a sprayground, a wave machine, a swimming pool for lessons and recreation, and 52-meter pool for competition.
The recreation pool, the wave machine and the 52-meter pool will be built last — but what order they’ll be built in still remains to be decided.
The city will have about $13 million to build the swim park once it receives the $10 million that The Surland Cos. promised to pay the city in exchange for the right to build 2,250 homes in southwestern Tracy starting in 2012. A lawsuit over an environmental impact report for those homes has stalled the project, though, and other bureaucratic hurdles must be overcome before Surland hands over cash to the city.
The recreation and 52-meter pools will be built after other amenities because they cost the most to build and maintain. The city is short on cash and expects to be so until the economy rebounds.
Parks director Rod Buchanan recommended the 52-meter pool be built last and the recreation pool be the next-to-last amenity constructed.
But several people who had been involved for years in the planning of an aquatics park, many of whom have had kids on swim teams, pushed hard to have construction of one of the swimming pools put higher on the priority list.
They pointed out years of town meetings showed a new pool or two were what the public wanted most.
“The community asked for a pool,” said Christina Frankel, “not an amusement park.”
Swimming pool supporter Marsha McCray said she’s excited about the center, but was “deeply disappointed” the 52-meter pool was recommended last on the to-do list.
“It’s kind of like planning the party and then not being invited,” she said.
Mayor Brent Ives agreed, and suggested the council swap out the 52-meter pool with the wave machine, which was going to be the sixth amenity built.
In the end, the council decided to hire a company to design the entire park so the city will have a firm price tag on each amenity and be better able to make a decision about what build down the road.
The timeline shown Tuesday has the aquatics park opening in 2013.
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Raley even delayed their coming to tracy for fear of a lawsuit?
What next, TRAQC?
Whatever happened to that Keenan Land Co from Palo Alto? I haven't heard any DA offers from them? Have you? Did they go back to Palo Alto?
"Mayor Bilbrey invited members of the public to address the Council.
Bob Sarvey, 501 W. Grant Line Road, addressed the Council in support of the
immediate construction of an aquatic and sports facility. Mr. Sarvey stated he was not
willing to wait for processing of DA’s, or the delay of facilities that would result from
lawsuits surrounding Measure A and recommended Council accept the proposal from
Keenan Land.
Mayor Pro Tem Ives asked Mr. Sarvey for clarification regarding a potential lawsuit. Mr.
Sarvey indicated he was not supporting any group in any litigation.
Roger Adhikari, on behalf of TRAQC, provided Council with a copy of a letter dated April
14, 2006, indicating TRAQC would challenge via Writ the approval of the proposed
actions.
Wyatt Weisel, 700 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, on behalf of Keenan Land Development
and the Saddlebrook project, addressed the Council regarding a letter given to Council
on April 17, 2006. Mr. Wiesel suggested Council include the Saddlebrook property and
Keenan Land in the current negotiations and that the negotiations proceed in a
thorough, equitable, and legal manner."
http://www.ci.tracy.ca.us/uploads/fckeditor/File/city_council/agendas/2006/04/18/minutes-2006-04-18.pdf
I doubt you know something the rest of us don't know about the lawsuit. I actually was wondering if it was tossed out of court already. Anyway, the Joe Wilson pool is over 25 years and was shutdown last year because of parts on back order. Now would you also explain to us why you want to spend $30,000 expediting pool 25 year old $3000 dollar pool parts that are on back order?
If the City would stop doing things that are illegal, there wouldn't be the lawsuits, and if the City has their own attorney on staff, why do they need to hire some other attorney to defend their actions.
To much wasted money because of their decisions.
However, I'm concerned about the costs. We are in a recession and people are starving and homeless. Shouldn't other things take higher priority?
http://www.tracypress.com/view/full_story/2178595/article-Be-patient-with-city’s-park-plans?
I do hope the special interest group will start focusing on WHAT THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE to Tracy in recreational activities instead of just take, take, and take??
CN
Dear Tracy Mom of 5.
It would be so easy to attack you the way you consistently have attacked me over the years but that would be in poor form so I shall refrain from such childish endeavors.
However it is apparent to me you are still laboring under some false notions but that’s really OK because I frequently run across people who don’t always know the full score about a wide variety of things.
So for your benefit and mainly the benefit of others I hope to correct some of your misunderstandings.
First of all, I was a City Council appointed Parks and Community Services Commissioner for 12 years, not 20 as you have alleged. This was an appointed position with four year terms. This means I had to be re-appointed by the seated City Council every four years and competed for the position against others who volunteered to fill the advertised position. For the first six years Parks Commissioners did not receive a stipend allowance.
Eventually, under the prodding of Councilwoman Tolbert, Parks Commissioners received a $25 monthly stipend for their efforts. Eventually, after another four years, it was increased to $50 per month.
The stipend was to cover our incidental expenses as we went about our duties and to defray some costs pertaining to food as me met sometimes for many hours. Whether we met formally once per month or several times a month, as sometimes happened, we only got the one month’s stipend and it had no bearing on how many meetings we attended.
Pertaining to meetings, we were not allowed to have unexcused absences more than a couple of times per year or we would be removed and replaced by City Council.
Because I was not elected and the Commissions charter was and has always been to serve City Council by acting as an intermediary between the general public, who attended Commission meetings, we met on the street and during some required City Council meetings.
When you really think about it this actually makes sense as Parks Commissioners do not create law but only recommend changes. It’s up to, and always has been, City Council to make the changes and laws that affect our community. And while it is true Parks and Community Services Commissioners frequently work with the general public, it must always be remembered, because of their charter, they do not work for or answer to the public. It’s because they work for and are actually an extension of City Council and it is City Council who must answer to the people who elected them.
At any time, with a majority vote on the City Council, any Parks and Community Services Commissioner can be removed. This has actually happened on at least one and possibly two instances during the 12 years I served as a commissioner.
The Commission made and makes recommendations to Council about various aspects of what commissioners felt, after digesting information from the general public, would be appropriate pertaining to Parks and Recreation services.
Some of those recommendations the Council acted on and made into statutes, laws and plans. Others they rejected and acted according to the way the majority of the Council members voted.
At no time and no time since did this Commission create law, statutes or approve plans for parks to be built because that was not in our charter and we had no legal authority to do so.
I hope this successfully explains what a Parks and Community Services Commissioner do, what authority he or she has and who he or she must answer to. I would recommend that if there someone who doesn’t like that arrangement that he or she take it up with a member of City Counsel to get it changed.
Now you have had some type of personal grudge against me for many years now. One reason perhaps is that I was very instrumental in over turning someone’s favorite City Council person by exposing that council member for what that council member was, a charlatan only out for political power, which was abused on several instances, or monies that could be garnered from City funds that would go to personal friends.
If you were one of the people that missed out on a cash cow award from the City, in relation to the placement of the aquatics park, that’s just the way it went. The other locations offered were not as suitable as the Holly site for many reasons and after exposing several sleight of hand tricks proffered by several members of our community who I once respected as being honest individuals, Council finally decided that the Holly site would be the best location.
Now you seem to have some type of grudge by someone calling himself, or herself, Ornley Gumfudgen. And you have alleged that you positively know who that person is and have even gone to the extremes of defaming my personal character, something that I would strongly recommend you cease and desist as it would be fairly easy to prove in a court of law that you in fact are breaking the law. No, this is not a threat, simply a statement of fact.
At one time, when I was a Commissioner like most people in the political arena, even though I was not a publicly elected official, I was in the public light and therefore was “fair game” for such criticisms from you and those like you.
However, I am no longer in the public light and am now a private citizen with all the rights guaranteed a private citizen. Therefore you have no right to continue to continue to personally defame me, which probably explains why you keep your name unknown to the rest of the community at large.
Now I have no intention on suing you over this matter but I would strongly recommend that you modify your writings, given the fact that I do positively know who you are. While I might not sue you for your scurrilous comments about me, others just might sue you for comments you have made about them. And yes, some of those people also know positively who you are so please do not think that your anonymity might offer you the protection you feel that it does. A properly worded subpoena for information handed to the Tracy Press could easily prove such an association and that really is not all that difficult to do.
Now if you desire to comment on anything TP has published in my name, feel free to do so and I have no problem with that. As a writer I completely understand that my thoughts are not agreeable to everyone reading them.
But you need to understand that other private citizens do not have to put up with your remarks personally made against them, if they are untrue, and just might decide to do something legally about it. So please just take this as a friendly warning that you are fast heading for a fall, not by me but by someone else.
I believe, but could be mistaken, that it was you who asked the question of why the aquatics park had to go to the Holly site. One big reason is the City already owned the land and wouldn’t be beholding to any one person or small group of individuals seeking to make a handsome profit from City monies. Truly the Holly property was the only property that came with “no strings attached” as the City could do with it anything they pleased; sell it, develop it into something or simply leave it fallow.
The property on the east side of town, across the railroad tracks, was not as suitable for the purpose and had superfund cleanup issues because of its close proximity to the Tracy Supply Depot. Something a member of our community conveniently tried to overlook and sweep under the rug when there was an attempt to place the aquatics park there.
The property off Lammers, next to where the new High School is, wasn’t suitable because of its size and the “deal” offered the City by the owner had strings attached and wasn’t sound.
Now one Councilperson took great measures to “prove” to the rest of the community that the Holly site was somehow bad and would be a dangerous location for an Aquatics park.
Because I had voluntarily stepped down from my Commission duties, thinking I would soon retire and move out of the area and totally free from any responsibilities or allegiance to City Counsel, several community citizens and I managed to convince Council that Holly was in deed the best possible location at the time and Council voted that the park be installed there. Sadly, for me, retirement had to be delayed but hopefully it will not be too much longer as relocating close to family has been a desire for many years now.
No one got any reward, money or recognition for the work that managed to convince City Council about the Holly site, it was just done in the spirit of attempting to have the best for all the Citizens of Tracy and not just benefit an elite few individuals.
Another commenter wondered if the Holly Sugar towers might be preserved. And another commenter correctly answered they are not owned by the City but by a private organization that will use them for what they desire to use them for. Yes, it would be a nice memorial to the once great sugar industry that use to be located here, but since virtually no one remembers why it closed to memorialize it probably isn’t going to happen.
If you desire to know that story I would recommend you speak to Tracy Pioneers and brush up on that bit of Tracy history.
And while the idea of using the towers as a climbing wall, should the City negotiate to purchase them, because of the way the City is insured, it’s doubtful such a climbing wall could be put into place because of liability issues. Now I don’t know that for a fact but given the problems encountered when attempting to install a skateboard park, it wouldn’t surprise me. The biggest hurdle to overcome there involved insurance.
Pertaining to the off road facility at Carnegie. I do not and never have supported shutting that facility down and it would be a shame if those bent on shutting it down were successful. While I do not personally use that facility I have many friends that do and know that many of the negative things said about this facility are simply untrue. But again, that’s politics.
Anyone desirous of fighting that shutdown should educate themselves about the land owners around the site and what has been going on in that area, with some collusion of California Fish and Game, for many years now. All of that information is public record and I would recommend any interested party avail themselves of that information in order to formulate a defense against their efforts.
But be warned, you will be dealing with a very powerful political machine as you take on that effort so just be prepared for a hard fight.
I hope this historical information has been beneficial to others and wish them all the success in their ventures, as long as they are completely honest and completely above board.
39-2008-00201854-CU-WM-STK
The one against Walmart also has a number 2008 in there.
39-2008-00198373-CU-WM-STK
If you look at the matrix showing the comparison of the research, you will see it is most favorable one out of Bright, Alvarez, and.... the other one is... not Keenan.
The swim park was originally proposed for Holly after the other failed plan, (blessing in disguise is what I called it) then the city council, did what I thought was a big mistake (just my view) in voting the pool to Surland... now this ping pong game of moving the pool back to Holly?
Thought for sure at this time the city would have the sports park, swim center, wetlands up and running....? Is the lawsuit the reason for all those hold ups?
City owned, that is a beautiful sound.
Go Holly!! But, City Council/Planners, be sure you dot all i's and cross all t's to prevent further lawsuit in the future?
CN
Here's an interesting website. Check it out and let us know your thoughts.
http://carnegieforever.org/
"For the last month various individuals, organizations and members of the business community that are affected by the possible closure of Carnegie have been going through a monumental change that will be remembered as an historic moment in motorcycling. We have all been exposed to the sad reality that a small group of misguided people can TYRANICALLY cause so much damage to our family recreation community. These people have one common link – they truly hate us and they believe our sport and style of family recreation is an abomination on nature.
With backing on the sidelines from the Mark Connolly/ Celeste Garamendi family, two environmental organizations, and one law firm, have managed to find a ploy to end our recreation here. In the process they also developed a way to manipulate the Staff of the OHV Division of the State Parks. Besides the immediate crisis, the real danger is that they have found a way to close other parks and riding areas using false science to hide their real motives. Their success here will be a template for CLOSING other parks and riding areas.
CORE (Carnegie Off Road Enthusiasts) was developed in the mid ‘90’s as park users’ stakeholder group. We began a series of monthly meetings with the park staff to help plan the uses for the proposed Alameda/Tesla addition to the present Carnegie. Sadly no results of any kind resulted from the work we did. There was always a mysterious roadblock that stopped us. We have soldiered on through the years never giving up belief that our good intentions and hard work would prevail.
The current lawsuit against the park is based on the assumption that OHV use has created a major disaster in Corral Hollow Creek. Here are some phrases in the suit:
“Turbid and polluted waters, massive erosion and scaring, deafening roars of myriad OHV’s, hillsides ripped and left exposed, ongoing degradation of CH Creek, shocking views as one drives past, soil and wildlife loss, loss of bird watching and wildlife viewing”, etc.
It sounds like we are really “bad” doesn’t it. I would put one 10 year old OHV boy or girl on a scale to represent the weight of what we do here, versus the claims of the lawsuit. That side of the scale with the kids would be touching the ground while the other side would be up in the air even though it was filled with kit foxes, whip snakes, red legged frogs and milk vetch plants. The growth of Carnegie through the years is a result of families being attracted to a place where their kids can explore, be challenged, make friends and be fulfilled as young members of a family. Malls, gangs, and drugs are realty for them and they don’t have any trouble making a choice that puts them in the park every weekend.
CORE is developing funding/donations, legal standing and functioning as the “boots on the ground” as this battle continues. We get and post updates directly from the OHV division headquarters. We will contact local city governments, Boards of Supervisors, Chambers of Commerce, law enforcement organizations, school districts and youth clubs for support. We will provide updates to print news and TV media. We will defend our home park and enlist the help from our other OHV organizations and Clubs.
CORE – WE ARE CARNEGIE – CARNEGIEFOREVER.ORG
Dave Duffin, CORE
January 13, 2010......"
It is really quite simple. Holly is city owned. Ellis is county approved.
Additionally both properties are adjacent to city development.
City sphere of influence and jurisdiction.
http://www.tracypress.com/printer_friendly/5504815
"Your Voice: Not another lawsuit
by Sue Rainey, Tracy
01.09.10 - 12:06 am
EDITOR,
I can’t believe that the Connollys are once again telling the residents of Tracy what is good for them. I must have missed the memo where God made them the king and queen who make the decisions for the poor peasants in Tracy.
When I first moved to Tracy, I went to some Tracy Region Alliance for a Quality Community meetings, because I did feel that growth was out of hand and needed to be slowed. After I discovered the group’s real agenda, I quit.
Now, time has proved what a bad decision Measure A actually was. The real estate market took care of itself — it did not need intervention, which badly damaged business opportunities in Tracy and family recreation possibilities, among other things.
Mark Connolly lives high on his hill, yet believes he knows what is best — for Mark Connolly and Celeste Garamendi, that is. He has brought lawsuits against anyone he can think of. Les Serpa tries to build some beautiful homes in Tracy by offering to assist in building a long-needed swim center, and Connolly sues.
Now, Carnegie Park, which has been a family recreation area for years, is suddenly in his sights. We could have had a swim center open in the near future if it were not for him and Garamendi.
Next thing you know, he will be suing the sports complex because a baseball may hit a low-flying bird. His excuses and reasons for doing these things to Tracy should fall on deaf ears.
I don’t have any small children to take swimming, and I definitely don’t ride dirt bikes, but I believe those families that do should have every opportunity to do these activities in their home town. I wonder what his family does for recreation, if anything.
Those families who want to swim sometime in the near future, or ride dirt bikes, or move to a new home someday, need to tell Connolly and Garamendi that they have been dethroned, and the City Council was elected to their jobs."
There aren't any pipes in the way of a pool at either location. I also think the lawsuit was about the number of cars out there (virtually none).