MBPC Votes 6-4 to recommend City of San Diego solicit proposals for operation of Mission Bay Aquatic Center
Voting against the recommendation of the City Staff to approve terms of a lease renewal for the operation of the Mission Bay Aquatic Center with the Associated Students of SDSU and the Regents of the University of California, the Mission Bay Park Committee voted 6-4 to recommend the City prepare a Request For Proposals (RFP) and explore any interest there may be for other proposals for use of the property on Santa Clara Point.
Supporters Rally In Outstanding Effort
The Committee's recommendation, which will be forwarded to the City Park & Recreation Board, was made despite the overwhelming public support for renewal of the lease. Approximately 40 people urged the committee to recommend approval and only 1 spoke against. Many more were signed up to speak, but were disappointed to endure 2.5 hours of other committee business for their opportunity to speak on the Aquatic Center issue. After polling the audience and determining that a large majority of the audience was there to hear the MBAC debate, the Chairman inexplicably moved the MBAC action item from early in the agenda, to the last item, resulting in the issue not being heard until well after 9pm and lasting until it adjourned after 10:30pm. Unfortunately, several families from Saint Vincent dePaul Villages and other supporters with health issues or disabilities who had made a point of attending to offer their support for the MBAC lease renewal, were not able to be heard during the forum due to the agenda change.
How It Happened
The motion to open the facility for RFP was made by Ocean Beach Planning Board member Mindy Pellissier, and seconded by Council District 6 Representative Ryan Levinson. The Committee members discussed the prospects of expanding the scope of Aquatic Center users to include more school-aged youth, but also to limit competition with area businesses that offer similar programs or services.
Committee member Pellissier commented that the MBAC was an "…elitist group of college-educated people…" and that the Aquatic Center should be open to more people. Her statement followed public comment by Alma Covarrubias, representative of St. Vincent dePaul Villages who brings homeless children to MBAC camps for several weeks each year, urging the Committee to recommend approval of the lease renewal. The diversity of the speakers in favor of renewal of the lease included youth who participate in camps, senior age users, school administrators who run high school and middle school programs at MBAC, persons with disabilities, members of the collegiate sports teams who reside at the center, college students, parents of counselors-in-training, and others.
What Does This Mean For MBAC Programs?
This action comes on the heels of more than 6 years of diligent effort between the City, Associated Students of San Diego State University, and the University of California San Diego to agree on the terms of the lease renewal. It potentially turns back the clock to the beginning of the process, and if the recommendation stands, will require the current lessees to submit a proposal in response to any RFP that may be developed. The process could potentially invite other groups and commercial enterprises to bid on the location.
Current MBAC programs that provide community service and safe boating programs could be at risk.
"I cannot imagine who the Committee thinks can operate this facility with its current services," according to MBAC Instructional Manager Kevin Straw. "Many commercial entities would like to come in and offer rentals and classes, but nobody will be able to perform all the public services we do, nor be as committed to programs for persons with disabilities without university student subsidy."
"As a perfect example of how this affects programming," states MBAC Youth Programs and Programs for Persons with Disabilities Coordinator Kevin Waldick, "I have been trying to meet the Challenged Athletes Foundation to design some new programs for this summer. I have had to delay our meetings several weeks because I have been completely pre-occupied with this issue."
How You Can Help
We greatly appreciated the MBAC supporters who showed up to the forum and endured the 4.5 hour arduous meeting. We encourage you to write to the mayor and your council member and voice your opinion!!! We also encourage you to subscribe to our MBAC Supporters email list to be updated on current information.
PLEASE DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED BY THE ACTIONS OF THIS COMMITTEE!!! We can prevail if we proceed with your support! A written letter is the most effective, followed by a fax, then a phone call, or an email. Below are the addresses to write to:
Council Member Kevin Faulconer
202 C Street, MS #10A
San Diego , CA 92101
Phone: 619-236-6622
Fax: 619-236-6996
Email: CouncilDistrict2@sandiego.gov
Website: http://genesis.sannet.gov/infospc/templates/cd2/index.jsp
Mayor Jerry Sanders
City Administration Building
11th Floor, 202 C Street
San Diego , CA 92101
Phone: (619) 236-6330
Fax: (619) 236-7228
Email: JerrySanders@sandiego.gov
Website: http://www.sandiego.gov/mayor/
How the Mission Bay Park Committee Voted:
Council District 6 Representative - Rick Bussell (Supported opening facility for RFP)
Mission Beach Planning Board - Pam Glover (Was not present during vote but voiced support for MBAC)
Lessee Other than Hotel - Ted Jardine (Opposed RFP)
Council District 6 Representative - Ryan Levinson (Supported opening facility for RFP)
Environmental Organization Sierra Club - Richard Miller (Supported opening facility for RFP) Member at Large - Bob Ottilie (Supported opening facility for RFP)
Member at Large - Mike Pallamary (Opposed RFP)
Stakeholder OMBAC - Don Peterson (Opposed RFP)
Ocean Beach Planning Board - Mindy Pellissier (Supported opening facility for RFP)
Clairemont Mesa Planning Group - Chris Rink (Supported opening facility for RFP)
Council District 2 Representative - Judy Swink (Opposed RFP)
