University Community Planning Group sends letter to Mayor Jerry Sanders questioning the need for Torrey Pines Clubhouse project.
The University Community Planning Group (UCPG) is holding its Executive Committee Monthly Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. Item number 12 on the agenda is a request to reconsider the proposed Torrey Pines Golf Clubhouse construction they had previously approved. This reconsideration comes in light of new information given to them by the citizens of the community at large who are in opposition to the clubhouse. If the Executive Committee votes to reconsider the project, it will have an in depth hearing in April to decide whether to approve or disapprove of the project.
The date, time and place for the meeting are:
Tuesday March 14, 2006 6:00 pm
Forum Hall - University Town Center
4315 La Jolla Village Drive
Map of 4315 La Jolla Village Drive - University Town Center Forum Hall
The meeting agenda can be found by clicking on the following Agenda Link.
Linda Colley UCPG Chair has put together a letter to Mayor Sanders discussing concerns about construction of the proposed Torrey Pines Clubhouse. Her letter is given below for your information.
_______________________________________________________________________
Thursday, March 09, 2006
To: JerrySanders@sandiego.gov
Subject: RE: University Community Planning Group--Torrey Pines Golf Club House
Good Morning Mayor Sanders,
I am the Chair of the UCPG and it has come to my attention that several pertinent facts regarding the Torrey Pines Golf Clubhouse were not conveyed to the UCPG Executive Committee in December 2005 when Kevin Oliver of the Park and Recreation Department presented the above proposed project. The UCPG voted 11 to 0 to approve this proposal (I do not vote unless there is a tie). I believe the UCPG will need to re-consider this project given the information that has come to light in last couple of days. It is my understanding that you asked the City Council not to vote on this issue because of the overwhelming out cry from the San Diego community. I believe this out cry is well founded and I believe the UCPG will need to follow your lead. Several important details were not conveyed to the UCPG that I want you to be aware of:
1. The UCPG was never told that the USGA was not requiring this expansion project in order to continue having prestigious golf tournaments at Torrey Pines.
2. Has the City has violated the law by taking monies derived from Torrey Pines intended to be kept in an enterprise fund, which could fund the clubhouse without raising fees, and putting it into the general fund, where it could be used for anything?
3. The UCPG was told that the Century Club was going to raise the monies necessary for this expansion. Some type of loan was mentioned but no specifics were given and there was no one from the City present to address funding.
4. The UCPG was not told that the Century Club would build the expansion but that it would not pay rent to the City until the estimated rent equaled what the Century Club had spent. It was never clarified that the cost of building this club house would be on the basis of incrementally more expensive golf green fees to the public or that no rent would be collected by the City.
5. The night the UCPG heard this project we did not have the draft mitigated negative declaration in front of us to review. All we saw were renderings of the facility. Receiving documents in a timely manner has been a problem for the UCPG and one that we have been working with Gary Halbert and the City Attorney's office to fix. The right of the people to have access to documents and facts is essential. Without them the UCPG cannot make good recommendations. I received this document on 12/16/05 because the wrong zip code was on the envelope. The UCPG meeting was on December 13th.
6. Many are concerned that this San Diego jewel that is owned by the people of San Diego is looking like it will be turned over to special interests, which already control much of the available golf time. Many are concerned that affordable greens fees will become a thing of the past and that senior citizen discounts will end. It appears from what I am hearing from many in the San Diego community that special interests, such as the golf brokers, Hilton and Sheraton Hotels, and Torrey Pines Lodge will have usurped a facility owned by the public if this project moves forward. It is my understanding that there are those who would profit handsomely from the proposed upgrades without having to pay for it and I'm not referring to the public. Is this true?
These are a few of the issues that I am now hearing about and these concern me greatly. On your website you say, "Our city government is broken, there's no other way to put it. The problems that plague San Diego weren't created overnight and they can't be fixed overnight either. What I will promise you is that every day I will drive forward my agenda of change. I intend to keep my promises of streamlining city operations, making government more accountable, making ethics and customer service the foundation of a new City Hall culture, and most of all, charting a new path for our amazing city. This new path will lead to financial stability, transparent decision-making, and a restoration of public trust in city government." As Chair of the UCPG it is my responsibility to ensure that the public review process is followed and that the community is truly noticed about projects in our community. Because of the many email and phone calls I have received from people who didn't even know that this project was coming before the UCPG I believe I need to bring this back to the UCPG and have them consider re-hearing this proposed project.
I appreciate you taking the time to read this email and I would further appreciate a response or a phone call. Receiving an email back that simply states that you've received this email is not going to facilitate my ability to bring the facts to the public and assist the UCPG with making thoughtful recommendations.
Thank you.
Regards,
Linda N. Colley
UCPG, Chair
858-453-0435