Happy daylight savings, friends and neighbors! I don’t know about you, but I very much look forward to enjoying the extra hours of sun for the next seven months or so. By the time you read this column, the Foundation will have received feedback from our recently concluded community Town Hall Form, which I will share with you in the April issue of Avila Community News. The input will likely have an influence on the Foundation’s focus in the coming year(s), and I cannot wait to see what the people say.
Speaking of the “people”, I am pleased to announce the upcoming first of the Foundation’s series on the History and Heritage of Avila Beach. The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 26th at the Community Center. Each chapter of the series will feature specific topics of our area’s past – the one upcoming includes presentations about the Chumash, energy and fishing industries, and historic Avila families. This series comes to you because of earlier input the Foundation received when polling the locals on their interests. Yes, we do listen and very much appreciate your ideas. Seating will be quite limited, so be sure to visit our website to reserve your seats – www.avilabeachfoundation.org.
Further speaking of the “people”, an unexpected thing is happening with growing regularity. Though not one of my original goals of the Foundation column appearing each month in the Avila Community News, it has happened nevertheless. Readers are emailing me with personal stories about their family history in Avila, others simply say “thanks” for all the Foundation does, and more and more I’m hearing from individuals who seek our involvement in seeking resolve for specific Avila Beach-related matters. I would be the last person to claim much influence when it comes to Avila problem solving, but I have to say it has been rewarding to help address and/or forward to the appropriate sources various concerns and suggestions brought forth by the public. A few of the relevant examples of public driven action taken include the placement of a warning sign informing drivers of the sudden, traffic stopping left turn into the Avila Barn, along with the cutting back of roadside vegetation to improve visibility before arriving at the curve. The new bike racks installed at various positions near the beach gained SLO County Planning Department priority once the Foundation received a complaint about bikes parked along the beachfront railings. And our “Avila Alerts” service was the result of some residents suggesting it would be helpful for everyone to know when roadwork and special events that could impede daily routines are scheduled.
While I don’t consider the Foundation to be a “complaint department” when it comes to addressing issues out of our control, I am receptive to us being a conduit when possible. As such, there are a few more concerns presently being addressed thanks in part to reader inquiries. Before long you will see additional industrial strength trash bins along the beach front to help reduce litter found in those areas devoid of easy-access receptacles. And thanks to ideas shared by beach resident Kristi Yegge, a misplaced stoplight intersection driver warning sign has been moved to a better location by the County – and the Planning Department is looking into turning the loop along San Juan, Front and San Francisco streets into a one-way access. Plus, members of the Avila Business Association expressed dissatisfaction over the aforementioned stoplight/crosswalk timing cycle, which the County is also looking into. I am pleased that the Foundation can at times serve as a pipeline, and equally pleased that County personnel often take action when it’s in everyone’s best interest.
Keeping with the “people” theme, many of you are aware of the proposed Bob Jones Trail bridge over the 101 being championed by Cal Trans, in spite of strong opposition among Avila residents who believe a more user- friendly and less expense underpass is a better alternative. Our friends on AVAC have established a committee to deal with this issue, and assigned Julia Hartzell its chairperson. I offer the following summary as provided by Julia. “SLO County Parks and Recreation has been working on plans for the extension of the Bob Jones Bike Trail from the Octagon Barn on South Higuera to the Ontario Road staging lot at Hwy. 101. The County is in the process of developing the Environmental Impact Report to support a pedestrian overpass – the report is scheduled to be completed in the next few months. It is believed by most in our community that insufficient discussion and investigation has been done regarding the option of a freeway pedestrian underpass, which would avert the decimation of the Hwy 101 scenic corridor through Avila Valley while enhancing the pedestrian/biking experience. A Power Point presentation was given at the AVAC February meeting that included underpass methods employed by other cities, as well as some before and after, superimposed renderings of how this underpass could look and function. This will be posted for online viewing in the near future.” Julia encourages anyone with an interest in this project to contact her at Julhartz@aol.com. Once again I’ve come to the end of my space allocation, thus I sign off with my usual “see you at the beach.”
Speaking of the “people”, I am pleased to announce the upcoming first of the Foundation’s series on the History and Heritage of Avila Beach. The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 26th at the Community Center. Each chapter of the series will feature specific topics of our area’s past – the one upcoming includes presentations about the Chumash, energy and fishing industries, and historic Avila families. This series comes to you because of earlier input the Foundation received when polling the locals on their interests. Yes, we do listen and very much appreciate your ideas. Seating will be quite limited, so be sure to visit our website to reserve your seats – www.avilabeachfoundation.org.
Further speaking of the “people”, an unexpected thing is happening with growing regularity. Though not one of my original goals of the Foundation column appearing each month in the Avila Community News, it has happened nevertheless. Readers are emailing me with personal stories about their family history in Avila, others simply say “thanks” for all the Foundation does, and more and more I’m hearing from individuals who seek our involvement in seeking resolve for specific Avila Beach-related matters. I would be the last person to claim much influence when it comes to Avila problem solving, but I have to say it has been rewarding to help address and/or forward to the appropriate sources various concerns and suggestions brought forth by the public. A few of the relevant examples of public driven action taken include the placement of a warning sign informing drivers of the sudden, traffic stopping left turn into the Avila Barn, along with the cutting back of roadside vegetation to improve visibility before arriving at the curve. The new bike racks installed at various positions near the beach gained SLO County Planning Department priority once the Foundation received a complaint about bikes parked along the beachfront railings. And our “Avila Alerts” service was the result of some residents suggesting it would be helpful for everyone to know when roadwork and special events that could impede daily routines are scheduled.
While I don’t consider the Foundation to be a “complaint department” when it comes to addressing issues out of our control, I am receptive to us being a conduit when possible. As such, there are a few more concerns presently being addressed thanks in part to reader inquiries. Before long you will see additional industrial strength trash bins along the beach front to help reduce litter found in those areas devoid of easy-access receptacles. And thanks to ideas shared by beach resident Kristi Yegge, a misplaced stoplight intersection driver warning sign has been moved to a better location by the County – and the Planning Department is looking into turning the loop along San Juan, Front and San Francisco streets into a one-way access. Plus, members of the Avila Business Association expressed dissatisfaction over the aforementioned stoplight/crosswalk timing cycle, which the County is also looking into. I am pleased that the Foundation can at times serve as a pipeline, and equally pleased that County personnel often take action when it’s in everyone’s best interest.
Keeping with the “people” theme, many of you are aware of the proposed Bob Jones Trail bridge over the 101 being championed by Cal Trans, in spite of strong opposition among Avila residents who believe a more user- friendly and less expense underpass is a better alternative. Our friends on AVAC have established a committee to deal with this issue, and assigned Julia Hartzell its chairperson. I offer the following summary as provided by Julia. “SLO County Parks and Recreation has been working on plans for the extension of the Bob Jones Bike Trail from the Octagon Barn on South Higuera to the Ontario Road staging lot at Hwy. 101. The County is in the process of developing the Environmental Impact Report to support a pedestrian overpass – the report is scheduled to be completed in the next few months. It is believed by most in our community that insufficient discussion and investigation has been done regarding the option of a freeway pedestrian underpass, which would avert the decimation of the Hwy 101 scenic corridor through Avila Valley while enhancing the pedestrian/biking experience. A Power Point presentation was given at the AVAC February meeting that included underpass methods employed by other cities, as well as some before and after, superimposed renderings of how this underpass could look and function. This will be posted for online viewing in the near future.” Julia encourages anyone with an interest in this project to contact her at Julhartz@aol.com. Once again I’ve come to the end of my space allocation, thus I sign off with my usual “see you at the beach.”
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