Features
Monterey
Weathers 1998 Storms, Floods | New
Marina Rules Working
Keep
Monterey Bay Waters Clean | “Omega”
Fire Sprinklers Defective
Monterey Weathers 1998
Storms, Floods
Preparation and investment in street, storm drain maintenance
pays off
It rained and poured and then it rained and poured some
more. This winter it rained more than any other year on record, but damage
in the City of Monterey was minimal compared to other years in part due to
the City’s advanced planning and aggressive maintenance programs.
Throughout the year, City crews worked to prepare streets, drainage
systems, trees and other plants to withstand stormy winter months.
That hard work paid off.
“Our aggressive efforts to repair and
maintain our streets, lakes and storm drains helped us weather this winter
without too much damage,” Public Works Director Bill Reichmuth said.
“There was less flooding, in general, because we didn’t let storm drains
get clogged.
“Volunteers have also helped us be more successful. By
identifying hazards, they allow City crews to concentrate on fixing
immediate problems.”
While street crews cleaned and inspected the 26
miles of storm drains as well as the City’s manholes and catch basins,
forestry crews made sure that trees didn’t fall over on the first windy
day.
City Forester Robert Reid said our tree preservation programs
worked - fewer trees fell or became hazards this year because of the
preventive work.
He also noted there were no personal injuries or
significant damage to private property from trees this year, unlike years
past.
During the rainstorms of 1995 more than 100 problems with trees
were recorded in the City in just two days. This year for the entire month
of February there were only 40 reports.
Reid says the reduction can be
attributed in part to the work of City crews. Since 1995 more than 7,500
trees - 2,500 per year - have been pruned or trimmed for health and safety
reasons. The City also removed dead trees as quickly as possible and
worked with residents to maintain privately owned trees.
Weathering
storms isn’t always easy, but City programs, volunteers and planning help
ensure we have the best possible methods in place to provide safety and
service to the community.
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New Marina Rules
Working
Renting a slip in Monterey Marina is now easier
A berth
in Monterey Marina is a beautiful thing.
Once an unpopular idea, not
to mention a difficult thing to acquire, berthing is now more desirable
and easier for boat owners.
Thanks to improved rules defining the
rights and limitations of possessing a license to park a vessel in the
Marina, waiting lists have been whittled down and commercial fishermen
have found increased flexibility in Marina policy.
It used to be that
berths became available once or twice a year. Under the new guidelines, 16
berths have opened up in the past two years. The policy allows, under
certain circumstances, berths to be transferred with the sale of a vessel.
About two years ago, the Monterey City Council wanted to reform the
policies in response to complaints about overcrowding and a burgeoning
waiting list. The new rules have been a welcome change for boat owners and
City officials alike.
A boat owner for many years, Don Jensen recently
acquired a berth after years of waiting. He appreciates the City’s
efforts.
“I’m glad that what needed to be done about the waiting list
finally happened,” said Mr. Jensen.
“I’d like to thank the City for
putting together a program that addressed the needs of everyone who has an
interest in this Marina.”
Boat owners were not always so pleased.
When Monterey Marina opened in 1960, it was difficult to convince boat
owners to trade in their free harbor moorings for the $25-a-month berths
offered in the Marina.
Slowly, though, the convenience and safety of
the Marina won hearts. By the 1970s, the waiting list had swelled to some
200 names, with future projected waits reaching 30 to 40 years.
Today
boat owners happily pay the fee which averages about $180 per month for a
30-foot berth.
The changes have alleviated some of Harbormaster Steve
Scheiblauer’s sometimes stormy duties.
“Calling someone who’s been
waiting for 23 years to offer them a berth is among the most cheerful
phone calls we get to make,” he said.
Return
to top Keep Monterey Bay
Waters Clean
What you put into a storm drain flows into Bay untreated
On sunny days, residents flock to our Bay and its beaches to enjoy our
coastal waters.
Every day, people spray off sidewalks, streets or
parking lots sending detergents, automotive fluids, animal waste and other
products directly into the same Bay.
You may be polluting Monterey Bay
without even knowing it. Chemicals, fertilizers and other materials that
are poured or washed down storm drains flow to the coast and pollute our
waters.
Unlike the materials and products you put down your sink,
washing machine or toilet bowl, storm drain pollutants are NOT cleaned by
a treatment plant before going back into the environment.
Storm water
and other materials in the drain flow untreated directly into Monterey
Bay.
The City of Monterey works continually to keep our environment as
safe and natural as possible.
Our public education programs inform
people about the hazards of washing materials down storm drains and
encourage residents to use recycling programs.
You can help by storing
your household chemicals and automotive fluids in covered areas where they
will not be exposed to rain or runoff waters. Use garden pesticides and
herbicides according to the instructions on the container;
over-application leads to polluted runoff. Wash cars with biodegradable,
phosphate-free detergent. Recycle used motor oil, excess paint, paint
thinners, pesticides and fertilizers.
Locations for recycling these
and other hazardous wastes can be found by calling the Monterey County
Recycling Hotline at 384.5313.
Return
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Sprinklers Defective
Help us locate the systems in use in Monterey
As many
as 500 buildings throughout the City may have defective automatic fire
sprinkler heads.
The City Fire Department needs your help in locating
these faulty “Omega” fire sprinklers.
If you own or manage a building
with an automatic fire sprinkler system, please examine the sprinkler
heads. Many of the “Omega” fire sprinkler heads will not activate as
designed when exposed to fire. The problem is with a defective “o-ring”
within the head.
The “Omega” fire sprinkler head has three small round
disks in the center of the head (see photo). It is estimated that nearly
10 million heads have been installed in systems throughout the United
States. Please help us find those in our City.
If your system has
“Omega” heads or you have questions, please call the Fire Department at
646.3900.
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