Carmel-by-the-Sea COMMUNITY SURVEY Deficiencies: Omissions & Questions Which Should Have Been Asked

ABSTRACT: The State of California mandates that each community prepare, adopt and periodically update a comprehensive General Plan. The General Plan acts as the “constitution” for land use decisions. Government Code Section 65300 et. seq. requires the General Plan contain “elements,” including Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, and Safety. For the purpose of Carmel-by-the-Sea’s General Plan Revisions Project, the City’s COMMUNITY SURVEY contains four sections, namely TRAFFIC SAFETY, CIRCULATION AND PARKING; PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES; CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY; NOISE; and ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY. Deficiencies in the COMMUNITY SURVEY, specifically omissions and questions which should have been asked but were not asked in the PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES Section are presented. Three COMMUNITY SURVEY questions, namely PS-1, PS-5 and PS-6 are reproduced; and COMMENTS at the end of PS-1, PS-5 and PS-6 describe the omission or questions which should have been asked but were not asked in the COMMUNITY SURVEY. A QUESTION is posed.

"The purpose of this General Plan is to favor the general interest over the special interest in order to give durability to the Carmel experience and our special quality of living.”
(Source: Carmel-by-the-Sea General Plan and Local Coastal Plan)

The State of California mandates that each community prepare, adopt and periodically update a comprehensive General Plan. The General Plan acts as the “constitution” for land use decisions. Government Code Section 65300 et. seq. requires the General Plan contain “elements,” including Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise and Safety.

Carmel-by-the-Sea’s General Plan has been combined with its Local Coastal Land Use Plan. Carmel-by-the-Sea’s General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan is comprised of Land Use and Community Character Element, Circulation Element, Housing Element, Coastal Access and Recreation Element, Coastal Resource Management Element, Public Facilities and Services Element, Open Space/Conservation/Scenic Highways, Environmental Safety Element and Noise Element.

Carmel-by-the-Sea’s General Plan Update Revisions Project addresses Circulation, Public Facilities, Open Space, Conservation, Safety and Noise. Note: "General Plan community survey released. Surveys should be returned by September 1st 2008," according to the Carmel General Plan Update Calendar July 2008.

For Survey purposes, the City’s COMMUNITY SURVEY contains four sections, namely TRAFFIC SAFETY, CIRCULATION AND PARKING: PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES; CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY; NOISE; and ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY.

COMMUNITY SURVEY Deficiencies, as follows:
I. PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES
PS-1: Please indicate your level of satisfaction with each of these City parks, open spaces and amenities.
PS-1a Mission Trail Nature Preserve
Very Satisfied, Somewhat Satisfied, Neutral/No Opinion, Somewhat Dissatisfied or Very Dissatisfied

PS-1b Carmel Beach
Very Satisfied, Somewhat Satisfied, Neutral/No Opinion, Somewhat Dissatisfied or Very Dissatisfied

PS-1c Forest Hill Park
Very Satisfied, Somewhat Satisfied, Neutral/No Opinion, Somewhat Dissatisfied or Very Dissatisfied

PS-1d Devendorf Park
Very Satisfied, Somewhat Satisfied, Neutral/No Opinion, Somewhat Dissatisfied or Very Dissatisfied

PS-1e First Murphy Park
Very Satisfied, Somewhat Satisfied, Neutral/No Opinion, Somewhat Dissatisfied or Very Dissatisfied

PS-1f Piccadilly Park
Very Satisfied, Somewhat Satisfied, Neutral/No Opinion, Somewhat Dissatisfied or Very Dissatisfied

PS-1g Landscaping along the public right of way.
Very Satisfied, Somewhat Satisfied, Neutral/No Opinion, Somewhat Dissatisfied or Very Dissatisfied

PS-1h Bicycle trails.
Very Satisfied, Somewhat Satisfied, Neutral/No Opinion, Somewhat Dissatisfied or Very Dissatisfied

PS-1i Pedestrian trails/hiking trails
Very Satisfied, Somewhat Satisfied, Neutral/No Opinion, Somewhat Dissatisfied or Very Dissatisfied

COMMENT:
• “City parks, open spaces and amenities” excluded from PS-1, which should have been included, as follows:
PS-1j Forest Theatre
PS-1k The Flanders Mansion, a City-owned National Register of Historic Places Resource (no public access)
PS-l The Scout House (no public access)

II. PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES
PS-5: The City should raise funds to pay for improvements to services, facilities and buildings, by:
PS-5a Increasing the sales tax rate
Strongly Agree, Somewhat Agree, Neutral/No Opinion, Somewhat Disagree or Strongly Disagree

PS-5b Increasing the property tax by adopting a special assessment
Strongly Agree, Somewhat Agree, Neutral/No Opinion, Somewhat Disagree or Strongly Disagree

PS-5c Increasing the Transient Occupancy Tax (motels)
Strongly Agree, Somewhat Agree, Neutral/No Opinion, Somewhat Disagree or Strongly Disagree

PS-5d Charging fees for the impacts of new construction
Strongly Agree, Somewhat Agree, Neutral/No Opinion, Somewhat Disagree or Strongly Disagree

PS-5e Selling City property
Strongly Agree, Somewhat Agree, Neutral/No Opinion, Somewhat Disagree or Strongly Disagree

PS-5f Charging fees for services provided by the City
Strongly Agree, Somewhat Agree, Neutral/No Opinion, Somewhat Disagree or Strongly Disagree

PS-5g Other: __________________________
Strongly Agree, Somewhat Agree, Neutral/No Opinion, Somewhat Disagree or Strongly Disagree

PS-h None of the above. The City shouldn’t raise more funds. (Mark an X in the last box)

COMMENTS:
• Excluded from PS-5, “City should raise funds to pay for improvements to services, facilities and buildings, by,” as follows:
PS-5i Use Reserve Funds (in excess of $10 million)

• Deficiency in PS-5e Selling City property, specifically the failure to name a particular “City property.”

III. PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES
PS-6: The City owns vacant property known as the Rio Park property. It is located between the Carmel Mission’s Larson Field and the Mission Ranch tennis courts. This property fronts on the Carmel River and is within a flood plain. I think this property should be:
PS-6a Restored to provide habitat for native plants and animals and then preserved as open space
PS-6b Developed into an active recreational park (trails, sports field, activities)
PS-6c Both of the above (part restored to habitat and part developed for active use).
PS-6d Developed as housing
PS-6e Sold
PS-6f Other. Please specify: _____________________
PS-6g Don’t know

COMMENT:
• PS-6 covers Rio Park property; other questions of the type “I think this property should be,” should have covered the Flanders Mansion property, Scout House and the Public Works building.

QUESTION:
• Were the omissions of the Flanders Mansion property, Scout House, Forest Theatre and Public Works building meant to imply that the “City” does not want any public input on these city-owned properties as the “City” has already determined the fate and/or use for these properties, i.e. sell Flanders Mansion and Scout House, renovate Forest Theatre and indefinitely postpone Public Works building maintenance?