This summer, Rancho San Diego will make an important decision as a local ballot hits our mailboxes. Just as homeowners and businesses make daily decisions on maintenance for their homes and commercial buildings, we will be making a decision together from late-May through July for a cherished community resource, our parks.
But to understand the ballot decision, it is important to know the history of the plan for developing and maintaining our parks. The county service area (No. 26) for Rancho San Diego area was formed in 1991 by the supervisors to provide a source of funds.
The money from this district maintains eight of our Rancho San Diego community parks: Cottonwood, Damon Lane, Del Parque, Hillsdale, Hilton Head, Lonnie Brewer, Steele Canyon and Woodhaven. The community pays an annual fee of $36 per dwelling unit for what began as just two developed parks. Today, six parks are developed and two more contain trails and other amenities.
More developed parks mean that more money is needed for increased maintenance. Yet,, the annual maintenance fee has not changed since 1995. But the costs of water, labor, fuel and maintenance materials have risen sharply. Our local leaders have worked diligently to keep costs low through water conservation and careful budgeting.
The ballot measure going to residents proposes supplemental funding to maintain the park. (For legal reasons, Landscape Maintenance District Zone No. 1 would be created.) The new fee would be $28 a year for single-family units with a maximum inflation adjustment of 3 percent a year. This is a vital investment to protect our community's cherished parks.
While the county, with state and developer assistance, has provided millions of dollars to develop and expand our parks, the community must fund the maintenance. The community is responsible for the costs of watering the grass; maintaining landscaping, walkways, bathrooms and playground equipment, and monitoring of the parks by county staff to keep them clean, safe and visually attractive. Currently, service and maintenance levels have dropped due to lack of funds. It is important that we increase our maintenance budget to a healthy level.
Investing in our parks provides a wonderful resource to enjoy. It also helps maintain property values because the community has pleasant surroundings and appealing facilities.
Reducing watering of grass to an inadequate level can prove costly if the result is a need for reseeding or sod replacement. Further, without sufficient maintenance funds, we risk forfeiting a $1.2 million state grant that has been allocated for phase two construction at Hilton Head Park. This investment is on hold currently.
Imagine buying a new car, but not having money set aside for oil changes and periodic servicing. Similarly, we now have our parks to enjoy, but without watering and maintaining this asset, it will only deteriorate with time. Let's not let that happen – let's not jeopardize millions of dollars invested in our community over the years and the additional state grant that can continue to build the value and quality of Rancho San Diego. Please return your mail ballot and help secure maintenance for this important community resource.
Open house
Informational open houses about a mail ballot to maintain parks in Rancho San Diego Open Houses will be at 6 p.m. June 1 and July 6 in the Rancho San Diego Library, 11555 Via Rancho San Diego. In addition, residents can visit www.sdparks.org or call (858) 694-3030 for more information.
Collins is president of the advisory board for San Diego County Service Area 26, which corresponds roughly to Rancho San Diego.
