Rick Kowalczyk nominated Brian Ginna as his appointee on the HMB Parks & Rec Commission

Letterposted by Sabrina Brennan on Jan 19, 2010 at 11:04 pm in
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Naomi Patridge reported that she attended a recent C-CAG meeting. During the C-CAG meeting Patridge said it was announced that a large amount of money was available to cities that had shovel ready low-income housing projects. Patridge told the C-CAG board that she was not aware of any shovel ready low-income housing projects in Half Moon Bay.

The Big Wave project planned for the Midcoast might have received stimulus funding had the project been located in The City of Half Moon Bay and if the project actually offered low income housing. Patridge is an ardent supporter of the Big Wave Project however if approved the project would not offer the Coastside any low-income housing.

Sofia Freer, Dennis Paul and Dave Buckley spoke about a new initiative to support State Parks. The ballot initiative proposal would increase the vehicle license fee by $18.00 and allocate the revenue to state parks. The surcharge would buy car owners an annual pass that would provide year round access into most state parks.

If approved the plan would create $500 million every year and save the state $200 million on the general fund budget, even though it would mean the loss of $50 million each year from day-use fees.

Buckley said he works with developers and the Sierra Club and he understands the importance of sate parks from more than one perspective. Dennis Paul said, “The needs of the legislature have led them to cutback on state parks.” Freer, Paul and Buckley are collecting signatures to get a vehicle license fee for State Parks on the ballot.

Council-member Rick Kowalczyk nominated Brian Ginna for Parks and Recreation Commissioner. The HMB City Council unanimously approved Kowalczyk’s nomination. Under the Municipal Code a person nominated for a commissioner appointment “shall be appointed to the commission upon receiving a majority of votes from the entire city council.”


Council-member Allan Alifano will announce a replacement for Park and Recreation Commissioner Sofia Freer and council-member John Muller will announce a replacement for Park and Recreation Commissioner Mary LaVigne-Butler at a future City Council meeting. Both Freer and LaVigne-Butler will not seek reappointment at this time.

Comments

Comment 1 by Joel Farbstein  on  Jan 20  at  9:01am  •  All my comments • 

Stronger headline: ‘Recreation supporter Ginna unanimously approved as Kowalczyk pick for Rec Commission’. (Or maybe choose something from the first 5 of 7 paragraphs.)

Good move by the new City Council member. Ginna has spent countless hours running several active youth recreation programs, and I expect him to tirelessly dedicate himself to enhancing the parks and recreation opportunities for Coastisde children and adults alike.

Comment 2 by Barry Parr  on  Jan 20  at  9:37am  •  All my comments • 

Joel makes a good point about Brian’s work in youth sports.

However, to many Coastsiders, Brian is known mostly for his deliberately provocative and often disingenuous posts here and over at the Review.

Such a polarizing person a surprising nomination for someone (Kowalcyk) who pledged to bridge the divide in the community.

To clarify, I don’t write the titles people put on their letters.

Comment 3 by Kevin Barron  on  Jan 20  at  11:12am  •  All my comments • 

“Such a polarizing person a surprising nomination for someone (Kowalcyk) who pledged to bridge the divide in the community.”

Anyone with an opinion on the coastside is “polarizing”, moreover anyone with a minority opinion on local matters. Brian has stated his opinion on a number of matters, well outside the realm and/or affects of parks and recs, so I will take Joel’s word on Brian’s dedication in this arena.

Mabye he can somehow/way help with our efforts getting Moss Beach Park a loo.

Comment 4 by Barry Parr  on  Jan 20  at  1:34pm  •  All my comments • 

Even in our polarized community, Brian is something special. He’s the only person in the community that we’ve had to put on permanent pre-moderation. Too many baseless accusations.

Comment 5 by Jimmy Benjamin  on  Jan 20  at  4:45pm  •  All my comments • 

Councilmember Kowalcyk is of course free to nominate his choice of eligible citizens for the consideration of the City Council. Mr. Ginna’s distinguished history of trash-talking anyone who advocates environmentally responsible development makes him a great test case of our newest leader’s commitment to bridge the gap between communities. Perhaps he will counterbalance this appointment with a new planning commissioner who expects development to conform to our environmental law. We’ll see.

Comment 6 by Cid Young  on  Jan 26  at  5:47pm  •  All my comments • 

I wish Big Wave Project could move to Half Moon Bay so they can get the Low Income Housing Funding they deserve. Plus, then BW could get the water from CCWD, because it is my understanding that there is a question as to who has the boundaries (MWSD or CCWD) for providing water at the moment to the project as proposed in it’s current location. They do have an Ag well to get them started, but it would seriously take a lot more water to service the proposed four 3-story buildings (225,000 sq ft) and one wellness center. Since it has such a great supporter in Naomi Patridge, perhaps she can find a space for it near the Wavecrest area, in Half Moon Bay.

 

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