In the News
Survey Results Roll In | Public Service Center Plans
Modified
Parking Garages Get Security Upgrades
Utilities Investments, Energy Upgrades Save Tax Dollars
Health & Fitness - Strength Training for Kids, Teens
Trash Talk - Keeping Highways Litter Free Everyone's Job
Legal Beagle - City Bans Aggressive Begging
Survey
Results Roll In
We collected a lot of input through the
spring 2005 Community Survey – nearly 450 responses were submitted. Thank
you for taking the time to share your experiences.
The survey (www.monterey.org/survey)
gave community members the opportunity to rate City services and programs.
Raters said we are doing a great job in most areas, but in some we need to
improve. The data helps shape work programs and define priorities, and as
we’ve been dealing with budget challenges, results aid us in monitoring
reaction to changes in specific services.
Survey questions covered City appearance and services and asked
about neighborhoods, business districts and community safety.
The following summarizes some of what we learned. All
percentages are cumulative average or better.
> About City Appearance: Of those who responded, 99%
rated the City’s park maintenance as average or better. Beach maintenance
(97%) and medians, greenbelts and street trees (92%) all received very high
ratings. However, the average or better rating for City street conditions
has dropped 24 points since 1998. Overall City cleanliness continued to
receive high marks from 95% of raters.
> In City Government: Satisfaction with the City’s
efforts to date regarding preservation of open space/parks and historic
resources increased slightly to 93% average or better ratings. This year we
also asked about the City’s efforts to keep pollutants out of the Bay and
88% of raters gave high marks. Code/zoning regulation enforcement has
rebounded from 78% in 2002 to 85% average or better ratings this year, a
seven-point increase, taking us back to previous levels.
> Regarding Services: Traditionally ranked City
services, including fire (98%), police (92%), library (91%) and overall City
services (94%) continued to receive high marks. Although, cutbacks appear to
have affected satisfaction with library services, which has declined some
five points when compared with the previous survey. Vehicle traffic
enforcement has rebounded to 83% average or better ratings, although it is
still down from 90% in the late 1990s.
About Neighborhoods: Community members rated four areas regarding their own
neighborhood: safety, street cleanliness and conditions and police patrols.
Respondents gave safety an 88% average or better rating. Street cleanliness
remained constant at 87%. Street conditions dropped about three points to
76%.
> Regarding Safety Issues: Since 1997, we have asked about
areas in the City where community members do not feel safe at night. In
general, safety concerns continue to remain low and stable.
Thanks again for participating in this process and sharing your
thoughts. To view the comprehensive survey report, go to
www.monterey.org/survey
Public
Service Center Plans Modified
Modification to plans for the Public Service
Center call for a size reduction of nearly 20% for the one-stop shop
proposed for the corner of Madison and Van Buren streets. Early this fall,
the City Council approved decreasing the building footprint from 32,000 to
26,000 square feet.
The proposed changes include reducing the size of the north
building, facing the Vasquez Adobe, and creating a landscaped plaza as a
buffer between historic Civic Center buildings and the new structures. In
addition, the architects were asked to emphasize design feature variations
to soften the buildings’ overall tone and presence.
Revisions to the most recent development plans, which were sent to
the City’s commissions for assessment this summer (2005), were made in
response to community input and recommendations made during the commission
review process. Plans currently call for building two, two-story buildings,
with a proposed 9,000-square-foot basement. Design schematics have not yet
been considered.
Next steps include minor plan design work and completion of a block
model. The Public Service Center project is scheduled to be resubmitted to
the commissions for review and recommendation to the Council.
Stay tuned to the local media or check the Web site
www.monterey.org/civiccenter
for updates. Background details are also outlined online.
Utilities
Investments, Energy Upgrades Save Tax Dollars
Reducing utility usage and expenses supports
our efforts to be more efficient and operate more cost effectively.
So when we consider replacements or upgrades to our systems, water
conservation and energy savings are key factors in our decisions. Now at
many of our public facilities, you’ll find time clocks on irrigation
systems, sensor lights and waterless urinals or dual-flush toilets in
restrooms.
The return on investment?
We saved some 1.9 million gallons of water over a 12-month period after 12
waterless urinals replaced traditional ones. Using state-of-the art control
panels and heating systems, we have
lowered our electric and heating bills and have been able to take advantage
of energy
saving rebates offered by the California Energy Commission. These rebates
not only help us finance ongoing projects, they also provide seed money for
future improvements.
How can you save?
These savings also translate at home. When considering a remodel, think
about dual-flush toilets, which use a tiny 0.8-gallon flush for liquid waste
or a full 1.6-gallon flush when needed.
Water savings is significant and the Monterey Peninsula Water
Management District (MPWMD) supports adding new dual-flush toilets with a
$100 incentive, per toilet.
Find out more about available residential and commercial rebate
programs at www.pge.com
Rebate programs also can allow triple rewards; for instance, washer rebate
programs are available with PG&E, Cal-AM as well as MPWMD.
For more information about energy savings at the City, call the
Public Works Department
at 646.3920.
HEALTH & FITNESS...
Strength Training Practices Essential for Kids, Teens
 Today many kids play baseball, basketball,
soccer, football and other organized sports and develop competitive skills.
However, some basic fitness concepts for children are largely neglected as a
result.
Fundamental athletic skills include running, throwing, jumping,
swimming and gymnastic-type exercises. These once were staples in daily
physical education programs, but now supervised playground activities and
after-school sports programs have become the norm. Therefore, many children
are given little or no introduction to strength training, instruction vital
for strong muscles and bones regardless of activity preferences.
Parents wanting to introduce kids and adolescents to strength
training should take into consideration these basic principles about injury
prevention and safe practices.
> Beware of overuse injuries, the
most common type. Each year, one out of every three kids has to seek
treatment for musculoskeletal injuries. Most injuries are a result of poor
mechanics, insufficient strength in the supporting joints and muscles and
over-training.
> Have your child screened before starting sports and other
physical activities. Good communication is essential among physicians,
therapists, trainers, coaches, parents and kids.
> Only trained professionals should introduce kids to
weight-training processes. Children must practice good techniques, as they
experience rapid bone growth which makes them susceptible to soft tissue
injuries.
> Supervise your children. At the Monterey Sports Center, youth 13
to 15 must be supervised by an adult when using our fitness rooms or be
trained by a professional prior to using the rooms unsupervised. Kids
under 13 should stick with organized programs.
> Children should not attempt maximal lifts, but should focus on
lighter weights that can be managed easily in order to develop appropriate
technique.
At the Sports Center, we have professional
athletes who know about proper weight training for children. Along with our
fit kids classes, we also provide personal training for youth at reasonable
fees. For more info, call the fitness department at 646.3495 or visit
www.monterey.org/sportscenter.
Return to top
 Parking Garages Get Security Upgrades
New video security systems are
now operating in our parking garages, including Cannery Row and the East
and West Custom House facilities. The systems were designed to enhance
safety and security at these City-operated garages.
All cameras in the three structures were replaced and more cameras
were installed, providing better coverage. There are some 80 cameras, up
from 49, at Cannery Row and 112 between the East and West Custom House
garages. Cameras were also installed in all elevators and stairwells.
We replaced the antiquated VHS tape system with state-of-the-art
digital video recorders (DVRs), which allows for quick searches and
instantaneous recording to disc.
Through the use of specialized software, we can view any of the 192
security cameras from one workstation.
For more info on parking in the City, visit
www.monterey.org/parking.
TRASH TALK - Keeping
Highways Litter Free Everyone's Job
Scenic beauty is a community hallmark. Yet
that splendor is often marred by the amount of litter left along our
highways – litter which frequently makes its way into Monterey Bay.
Where does litter come from?
Litter flies out of truck beds and from garbage haulers; loads are
not secured well; and sometimes, people toss trash out the window.
Who is responsible for cleaning the highways?
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is ultimately
responsible for highway care and clean up. This is a big job, considering
Caltrans has only four employees locally tasked with maintaining the areas
from Garapata Bridge in Big Sur to Santa Cruz.
Fence repairs and safety issues take priority; then, highway cleaning is
addressed.
However, to augment their efforts, Caltrans operates a “litter
cleaning” program whereby
sections of the highways can be adopted by local organizations. These areas
are usually cleaned once or twice monthly. Unfortunately, many sections
cannot be adopted due to safety issues, including some on/off ramps.
Caltrans also gets help from local agencies. For instance in
Monterey, thanks to a donation from Monterey City Disposal Service, we have
been able to contract for cleaning of several on/off ramps once or twice per
month. However, because some areas along our highways have been deemed too
dangerous for private cleaning, we are considering alternatives.
How can you help?
Be aware! Secure vehicle loads carefully. If you notice a commercial vehicle
or garbage truck with litter flying out, get the license plate, location,
time and date and notify the company.
If you see a vehicle drop something that is a road hazard (couch,
box of nails, large pieces of wood), get the license plate number, time,
location, date and call 911 immediately. Remember, the California Highway
Patrol (CHP) can and will ticket those who do not secure loads properly.
Please note, do not call 911 for litter only.
> Caltrans 372.0862
> CHP (non-emergency) 796.2100
> Waste Management Services 384.5000
> Monterey City Disposal Service 372.7977
> BFI 775.3840
> TriCities Disposal 888.678.6798
 LEGAL
BEAGLE - City Bans Aggressive Begging
A new ordinance prohibiting aggressive
solicitation in the City was approved by the City Council early this fall.
This code replaced another already in place, which banned all begging and
solicitation of contributions but could have been subject to legal
challenge.
The new ordinance does not ban all forms of begging. Instead,
persons may not solicit, ask or beg in any public place in an “aggressive
manner” that would lead someone to fear bodily harm
to oneself or another; to fear loss of property; or otherwise to be
intimidated into giving money.
Aggressive tactics when begging include touching someone
intentionally; blocking someone’s passage, even if they are in a vehicle;
following someone persistently after they walk away; or using profane or
abusive language.
The ordinance also prohibits solicitation in specific locations
such as ATM machines, in public parking lots or structures after dark and on
medians.
If you have been the victim of aggressive begging tactics or
other prohibited solicitations, report it to the Monterey Police Department
at 646.3914.
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