Sun, June 10, 2007

Timeline: HMB’s Pilarcitos Creek park site

By Barry Parr on Sun, June 10, 2007

The history of the Pilarcitos Creek park site can be confusing, unless you're one of the few dozen people who've been following it closely. And it doesn't help that the story has more subplots than the Sopranos. We put together a timeline of all the significant events in Half Moon Bay's history with the site to help you understand the process that got us here, and the time scale over which it took place.

Each event below is linked to a story on Coastsider or the Half Moon Bay Review, so you can read it for yourself. However, I'm not sure either site is a definitive source on this matter. I've always believed the park was a great thing for Half Moon Bay, and the Review's coverage has been unrelentingly negative. My all-time favorite Review headline: "City's 3 million parkland purchase upsets widow".

2003
	October	Review writes that city negotiating with Nurserymen's Exchange.
	November	Marina Fraser, Sid McCausland elected to city council.
	December
2004	January
	February
	March
	April
	May
	June
	July
	August	Review says city about to buy land.
	September	City decides to buy park site. Naomi Patridge and council member Marina Fraser speak out in protest.
	October	City signs papers. California Dept of Fish & Game tours park site, sees few problems.
	November	City gives tour of park site. City forms park planning committee.
	December	Review says city ignored its own appraisals, but city says appraisals were incomplete.
2005	January	City selects MIG as contractor. City's application for state grant with placeholder park plan emerges.
	February	Sid McCausland resigns from city council.
	March	Park committee releases survey. David Gorn apppointed to city council.
	April
	May	Cypress Cove residents attack park plan. California red-legged frogs found on park site, as anticipated by city.
	June
	July	Cypress Cove releases resident survey. Coastal Commission and Fish & Game meet at park site.
	August	City releases redacted reports in response to Cypress Cove lawsuit. Park Committee narrows alternatives to two.
	September
	October
	November	Naomi Partridge, Bonnie McClung elected to city council. (This dragged on until Dec 21). City approves park design.
	December
2006	January
	February
	March
	April
	May
	June	David Gorn resigns from city council.
	July	John Muller appointed to city council.
	August	MIG releases unsubstantiated estimate. (There will never be another).
	September
	October	Grady, Muller negotiate extension from POST.
	November
	December
2007	January
	February
	March
	April
	May	POST writes to the city requesting a clarification of city's plan by June. City holds park budget "workshop" on 24 hours notice.
	June	City holds park sale meeting on 24 hours notice, releases redacted portions of due diligence report.
	July
	August
	September
	October	Loan expires: City must pay POST $3.1 million or extend loan.
	November
	December