Belmont Heights Community Association

Investing in Our Beaches

 

July 22, 2011
Investing in our Beaches

Due to the high price of oil, the City’s Tidelands fund revenues will exceed our budgeted goals.  In accordance with City Council financial policy this additional revenue ($18 million so far this year) is available to be used for one-time capital projects.  Tidelands funds can only be used for specific purposes, and cannot be used for General Fund expenses such as Police, Fire, fixing streets and sidewalks, etc.

Some of the 3^rd District projects approved by the City Council several weeks ago are:

• Replacing the beach bathrooms at Bayshore, 62^nd Place and the Belmont Pier
• Repaving beach parking lots and upgrading parking meter technology
• Continue investing in recreational water quality improvement projects
• Designing a new Leeway Sailing Center
• Setting aside funding in a reserve to address future oil property remediation

Additionally, the City is anticipating additional oil revenue next year and following are some of the projects the City Council will be considering:

• Replacing additional beach bathrooms at Mother’s Beach south, Granada and Bayshore
• Convention Center improvements
• Expanding our bike path capacity on the beach to reduce overcrowding
• Continue investing in recreational water quality improvement projects
• Building a new Leeway Sailing Center
• Upgrading the Belmont Plaza Pool to address seismic problems
• Bluff Erosion Repair in Bluff Park
• Continue to set aside funding in a reserve to address future oil property remediation

While the City will continue to struggle with the General Fund for the foreseeable future, I believe we should invest in the future of our City whenever and wherever possible.

Gary DeLong
Councilmember