Lake Merced Update – August 2005
Hello All:
There has been quite a bit going on at Lake Merced lately, much of it good.
Wednesday evening RMC Engineering, the group retained by Daly City and the SF-PUC to study the Vista Grande Watershed, issued their first public report. By and large I was very pleased with the results, especially the emphasis on wetland development and the related issue of restoring lake levels at Lake Merced. Whatever the outcome, implementing the recommendations of this study is likely to require a major effort, and this will only be possible if there is strong community support. I’ve encouraged the project leaders to put much more effort into public outreach, and offered our support for that effort.
Yesterday Yomi Agunbiade was formally installed as General Manager of the Recreation and Park Department. In addition, three new executive positions were announced, a new chief financial officer, a new head of the capital division and — for the first time in more than 30 years — a chief operating officer; his name is Dennis Kern. I’ve invited Dennis to come to Lake Merced for a tour, and he indicated that when he’s figured out where his desk is he’d like to do that. Anyone who would like to join the tour, please let me know.
Also as you probably all know, the new clubhouse at Harding Park Golf Course was dedicated a couple of weeks ago. It is indeed a beautiful facility. With the PGA tournament coming up in October Rec & Park is doing a lot of sprucing up of the area. Look for a significant amount of cosmetics, but unfortunately not yet a lot of lasting value. For example, painting the façade of the Boathouse so that it will look pretty for the golfers on their way to the $5 million clubhouse seems like a real slap in the face to the community. Let me know if you don’t feel that way.
The Natural Areas Plan was put to bed this week, with the comment period ending on Thursday. By and large it looks to me as though the science is pretty good this time. However, we are quite dissatisfied with the amount of community involvement in the development of this plan, and have expressed that both to Gloria Bonilla, Rec & Park Commission President, and to Mayor Gavin Newsom. Both seem responsive, and I am hopeful that as the plan goes through the environmental review process many more opportunities for community input will be provided. This being a City-wide program the Neighborhood Parks Council is picking this up as one of the planks in their platform, and we are providing as much support as we can.
As always, there’s more. But for now, That’s all folks!
Have a happy rest of the summer
John
