The VC Parks & Rec. District Monday night presented a $11.4 million vision for its 9.5 acres on the corner of Lilac & VC Roads to the VC planning group.
The project is based on three elements: a Boys & Girls Club, a community center and a senior center. It has been created after several meetings with community members, the parks board and representatives of the Boys & Girls Club.
The group voted to create a subcommittee with planner David Montross as chairman to work with the parks district to further craft the proposal.
At one point during the discussion Parks District Pres. Eric Jockinsen, apparently taken aback by the group’s usual piece-by-piece dissection of the as yet undetailed project, without saying whether they liked it or not, exclaimed with exasperation, “We want you guys on board this project, because it’s your project. We’re not doing this for ourselves. It’s for you. It’s not a developer coming in and putting in a housing tract!”
Planners quickly reassured him that offering one criticism after another is not the same thing as not liking the proposal.
Jockinsen, who has worked with the parks district since 1992, and had been board president for a dozen years, noted that when the board bought the corner parcel it soon decided it would be a great place for a new community hall.
“You can see from this small group here [in the VC Community Hall] that we are really cramped for any large meeting,” he said.
He recounted how the board twice unsuccessfully (in 2002 ad 2006) asked voters to authorize a revenue stream for the district.
“We decided that we weren’t given the voters enough meat, that we were asking them to vote on faith.” This led the board to develop a feasibility study. It hired the engineering and planning firm of Masson & Associates, based in Escondido.
One advantage of the site, according to John Gerritsen of Masson, is that it is in the town’s geographic center.
The parks board knows it can’t build the expansion without a two-thirds vote of confidence from the voters. To help craft a winning proposal, it is also working with Best, Best & Kreiger a firm that knows the VC’s demographics and has successfully helped other governmental entities pass funding mechanisms.
The 9.5 acres is part of an overall parks site of 23 acres. VC Community Hall, which is the flagship of the parks network, was built in 1922. The adjacent fire station is part of the 23 acres and is owned by the district.
The west side of the parcel would be developed the most. This is currently being used by the contractor building the Valley Center Road widening.
In addition to the new community center, Boys and Girls club with a gym, and senior center, there will also be a trails staging area in the southeast portion of the site. The buildings are laid out in a “campus style,” which means they are separated and spread out. Existing oak trees will be preserved.
Gerritsen and Jockinsen emphasized repeatedly that they were presenting a feasibility study, not a final design.
“The ultimate feasibility will depend on the financing,” said Gerritsen.
“The goal is to meet the growing and changing needs of Valley Censer,” he added.
The Boys & Girls Club would be a “barn style” structure and would hold a gym, basketball court, lobby, office and storage. The club would participate in overall maintenance of the site.
The two-story community center would be from 10,000-15,000 square feet and include a large kitchen and office space.
The 9,500 sq. ft. senior center would include exercise facilities and places for social interaction.
The project would cost an estimated $11.382 million, including a 15% contingency reserve.
Gerritsen spoke about the need for a total of nearly 19 EDU (equivalent dwelling units) of sewer capacity for the center.
He had an embarrassing moment when he said that VC still operates under a sewer moratorium, only to be informed that the moratorium was lifted in 1999.
The parks district has purchased 10 EDUS and may need to acquire 8 to achieve full buildout as proposed.
They would be allocated:
2.4 EDUS for the Boys & Girls club
9.9 EDUS for the community hall
6.2 EDUs for the senior center
Overall total is 18.6 EDUs.
The Boys and Girls Club and community hall would be built together, eventually followed by the senior center.
During the discussion that followed planners suggested putting the buildings in different locations and trying to find room for a swimming pool.
Planner Keith said he thought they should conduct a poll on what the community would like for the center.
One member asked that in light of declining school enrollment if it wise to build a Boys & Girls Club.
Danny Sherlock, president and CEO of the Greater San Diego Boys & Girls Club, answered that the current club is in a trailer and that kids have no running water or toilet.
“Your kids deserve better,” said Sherlock. “We sense the future will be more kids in VC, not less.”
The first motion proposed by the group was to table action until the group has a chance to study the project.
A member of the audience said that this was insulting and that they ought to at least say that they approved of it in principle.
Eventually Jockinsen was asked what action he would like to see.
He asked them to name a subcommittee to work out the little details.
“The roads are going in, the sewer is going in, it’s all going to be available to us now, when it hasn’t been before,” he said.
In addition to Dan Montross as chairman, planner Nancy Layne was named to the subcommittee, along with several members of the parks board: Tom Bumgardner, Tom Litchfield Fran DeWilde and Eric Jockinsen.
Put on your best green attire and bring family and friends to the 14th annual Irish Stew Cook Off sponsored by the VC Chamber of Commerce this Thursday, March 13 at 5 to 6:30 pm at VC Community Hall.
The community is invited to come taste the stews, enjoy a little bit of Ireland and join in the fun and good-natured Irish mischief.
The cooks will have prepared Irish stew, decorated their tables and have all their bribes to tempt the judges.
Judging begins at 5 p.m. and when all the stews are judged the public will have an opportunity to taste any or all of the stews for $5 per adult or $3 for children. Included with the tasting fee will be refreshments and entertainment.
For more information call Kathleen Patton 497-7007.
It was a tearful evening as the Valley Center-Pauma School board Wednesday night voted to send “pink slips” to ten as yet unknown teachers telling them they are likely not to be rehired.
Although a timely state budget (itself an oxymoron) could save any and all of these positions, state law requires that the board send out the notices by the middle of March.
Ironically, one of Valley Center’s school board members, Wendy Zeugschmidt, herself the next day received a pink slip from the Escondido Union School District, where she teaches kindergarten (see her commentary Page A3).
Before the discussion began Supt. Lou Obermeyer described how difficult the process was, and how the board was forced to act “because of the state’s budget crises.”
She noted that under the least optimistic assessment, i.e. if the governor’s budget is accepted unchanged, that the district will lose $2 million this year. “It is truly the result of what is happening at the state level,” she said.
She added, “We have wonderful employees and it has been a very trying process to get to this point. We hope that none of these employees will be laid off. But the legality must be followed.”
She invited the public to visit the school district’s Web site: www.vcpusd.net, where templates for letters to various state officials are provided for those who wish to attempt to influence the debate in Sacramento.
“This is truly not a place where we wanted our district to be,” said Dr. Obermeyer. “When this budget process is done it is our goal and hope not to lay off any employee.”
Actual employees were not named in the resolution the board adopted. Rather types of services that could be dispensed with were named: counseling; classroom teaching, grades kindergarten–6; math, middle school and high school; Earth science, grades 9-12; high school AVID; Coordinator of Adult Education; categorically funded services.
The district has developed a seniority list. Teachers at the bottom of the list will be cross referenced to the services to be cut.
By March 15 the “pink slips” will be hand delivered. Employees selected can request a hearing and appeal to an administrative law judge. Final notices will be sent May 14.
Several teachers, most from Pauma School, spoke Wednesday night, asking the board to come up with some other solution.
They were Chris Burns, Tina Villalobos, Lisa Eaton, Vanessa Norris, Jane Anderson, Michall Saccuzzo, Jamie Shuford and Joel Vexler. Several had to leave immediately after speaking because of a school open house. Some spoke between sobs. One was barely able to continue, so overcome was she by emotion.
“I plead with you to find other ways to deal with this,” said Burns. “These young teachers have helped usher in a revolution in curriculum. You have done an outstanding job in recruitment. Please do what is necessary to retain them.”
Villalobos, a fourth grade teacher at VC-P for six years, said, “I ask that you will continue to look outside the box to save a teacher.”
Norris quoted H.G. Wells who said that “civilization is a race between catastrophe and education,” and asked, “Please help us to win the race.”
Anderson asked the board, “to see some alternatives to take if possible.”
Vexler, a high school teacher for many years, said that he is made a better teacher by interacting with young, new teachers. “They cause a ‘quickening,’” he said. A district without new teachers becomes stagnant, he implied.
Her voice breaking, board Pres. Lori Johnson said, “We have thought outside of the box. We have explored every option. This is not easy.”
Mrs. Zeugschmidt said, “I was trying to keep my emotion under control. What I want our teachers and employees to know is that we have exhausted everything we can think of. I wish the state legislature and governor could hear you.”
Trustee Doug Dechairo added, “It’s clear that this community cares for kids.” He said that this situation is not unique to Valley Center. “My dream is that by May 15 this will all be gone. There is a lot of activity at the state level to stop this from happening. To not put this on the backs of education but to put it on the backs of other issues.”
The vote to send the notices was 4–0, with trustee Don Martin absent.
Last week Bob Polito started cutting down Valencia orange trees on his property off Betsworth.
The VC water board director told The Roadrunner that he plans to cut down about 40% of his trees in Valley Center in order to be able to meet agricultural water cuts that are being imposed on growers in Southern California.
Polito is only cutting down trees in Valley Center. Pauma Valley, which doesn’t import most of its water, is not subject to the same cuts as areas that are supplied by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
He is cutting down Valencia orange trees, but sparing his specialty trees, such as blood oranges. Polito sells most of his produce to specialty farmers’ markets in Los Angeles county.
He thinks it is somewhat ironic that growers who serve a local market are being forced to cut back their production.
Although many of his fellow growers are holding out, waiting to see what will happen following the miraculous rains that began in December, Polito said he believes the shortages are long-term and may eventually go even higher.
He is not alone. Gary Arant, general manager of the VC Municipal Water District, says that some growers began cutting down trees last August.
Chet Dorman, a founding director of the VC Fire Protection District and for many years a leading citizen in VC, died last month in Oregon.
Chester Alan Dorman died on Feb. 25, 2008. He was born in San Diego on June 16, 1925. His father was born in San Diego in 1895. Mr. Dorman attended San Diego public schools and graduated from Hoover High in the class of 1943. He was then an aviation cadet in the US Navy until 1945 when he entered USC. He graduated in three years with a business degree from the School of Commerce. Mr. Dorman married Sterling Loftin in 1945, and they celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2007.
Mr. Dorman joined his father and cousin in the family tire business, Dorman’s Inc. He and Bud Houser eventually bought the business from their families and Mr. Dorman purchased Houser’s interest in 1968. He ran the company until 1972, when he sold it to Lucky Stores Inc. At the time of the sale, Dorman’s operated 21 stores in San Diego, Imperial Valley and Orange County. Following the acquisition, Mr. Dorman managed the automotive division of Lucky Stores with retail stores throughout the U.S.
In 1974, he and Sterling bought property in Valley Center and began a second career in farming. They grew avocados, kiwis and persimmons on the Lucky Sterling Ranch for 21 years. While living in Valley Center, Mr. Dorman was active in the community. He was the founding director of the Valley Center Fire District and served as its first president. He was active in organizations in San Diego and Valley Center, including Rotary Club in both communities. Mr. Dorman was president of the Metro San Diego County YMCA in the early 1970s and continued his interests and involvement in that organization throughout his life. He worked as a volunteer for Interfaith Community Services and was an active member of the Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church.
In 2003, he and Sterling moved to Oregon and have resided at Mary’s Woods in Lake Oswego since that time. Shortly after moving to Oregon, Mr. Dorman began volunteering with the Willamette Falls Hospice, the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Center, the Lake Oswego Adult Center, and the REACH Paint-a-Thon.
Mr. Dorman enjoyed the outdoors his entire live and the family has many special memories of skiing, camping, boating, horseback riding, golf and other experiences together.
He is survived by his wife Sterling; his son David and wife Gudrun; his son John and wife Leslie; his daughter Anne and her family Debra, Cindy and Linda; and his daughter Mary and husband Scott. Mr. Dorman was very proud of his six grandchildren: Sterling, Brooke, Michael, Katrina, Angela and Elizabeth.
A memorial service will be held at the Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church, 1010 Pomerado Road on April 4, 2008, at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to North County Interfaith Services, 550 West Washington Ave., Escondido, CA 92025.
Valley Center Optimists Ron Rayhawk and Bill Paulson christen the new service trailer prior to the Easter ham sales at Fat Ivor's. The "little yellow trailer" of the past is in the background.
The Valley Roadrunner
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