As residents, we want basic services like landscaping, sidewalks, etc. to be given the same level of attention as new development projects like Watson Ranch or Oat Hill. So far, from our perspective, it seems like the City Manager is more engaged in growing the city than maintaining it.
We ask the Mayor and City Council to please direct the City Manager to
1) Take responsibility for the Wetlands Linear path landscaping
2) Develop a strategy for rejuvenating the landscape along the Wetlands linear path; this includes holding PG&E accountable for replacing the landscaping destroyed for their recent project along Wetlands Edge Road
3) Review the strategy with stakeholders and communicate a timeline for implementing this plan. Stakeholders include the residents of the neighboring area, city residents and users of this popular recreation area.
Thank you for listening to our concerns. We would like a response during discussion of the item at the Council meeting, or an opportunity to meet with you individually outside of the meeting.
Sincerely,
Andrea Maniscalco - Wetlands Edge Road
Arianna Maniscalco - Wetlands Edge Road
Catherine Mendoza - Wetlands Edge Road
Chris James - Wetlands Edge Road
Eli Potter - Wetlands Edge Road
Gene Sullivan - Bluebell Ct
Helen Moody - Wetlands Edge Road
Jamie Potter - Wetlands Edge Road
Marion Sullivan - Bluebell Ct
Mike McCamish - Wetlands Edge Road
Nicole McCamish - Wetlands Edge Road
Ofelia Hernandez - Bluebell Ct
Tammy Wong - Wetlands Edge Road
Given that this agenda item (#9 City Manager Employment Agreement) is to approve the updated salary schedule which revises the City Manager pay rate from $215,000 to $230,000, we are taken aback since the City Manager is not even managing basic services like park landscaping adequately.
City staff reports have cited how our property taxes, based on high property values, kept this city afloat during the last couple of years, as well as the million dollar views of the Wetlands area. Yet, none of these reports mention the landscaping along the Wetlands linear path. In too many places it is bare dirt, weeds the size of bushes, or dead bushes that need to be removed. It's essentially an eyesore the length of the city.
We are disappointed that the City Manager has let the landscaping deteriorate to this extent with the substandard hack, blow, and dead stump maintenance contract.
We would like to see the landscape along the linear path, on both sides of the trail, rejuvenated. We would like all the dead shrubbery and large weeds removed. We would like the bare dirt covered with mulch, at a minimum. Ideally, there should be a strategy to replace plants as they reach the end of their natural lifespan. And, most definitely, only native plants specific to our region and a wetlands area should be used, keeping in mind the height and visibility requirements for the specific location.
In case you have not recently used the Wetlands linear path, please review the photos of the 500-block of Wetlands Edge Road taken this morning. They are representative of the landscaping along the Wetlands Linear path.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RfpigQMC1uoqGxFT8
[[TO BE CONTINUED IN A SECOND COMMENT DUE TO INPUT RESTRAINTS]]
[[comment continued from previous]]
As residents, we want basic services like landscaping, sidewalks, etc. to be given the same level of attention as new development projects like Watson Ranch or Oat Hill. So far, from our perspective, it seems like the City Manager is more engaged in growing the city than maintaining it.
We ask the Mayor and City Council to please direct the City Manager to
1) Take responsibility for the Wetlands Linear path landscaping
2) Develop a strategy for rejuvenating the landscape along the Wetlands linear path; this includes holding PG&E accountable for replacing the landscaping destroyed for their recent project along Wetlands Edge Road
3) Review the strategy with stakeholders and communicate a timeline for implementing this plan. Stakeholders include the residents of the neighboring area, city residents and users of this popular recreation area.
Thank you for listening to our concerns. We would like a response during discussion of the item at the Council meeting, or an opportunity to meet with you individually outside of the meeting.
Sincerely,
Andrea Maniscalco - Wetlands Edge Road
Arianna Maniscalco - Wetlands Edge Road
Catherine Mendoza - Wetlands Edge Road
Chris James - Wetlands Edge Road
Eli Potter - Wetlands Edge Road
Gene Sullivan - Bluebell Ct
Helen Moody - Wetlands Edge Road
Jamie Potter - Wetlands Edge Road
Marion Sullivan - Bluebell Ct
Mike McCamish - Wetlands Edge Road
Nicole McCamish - Wetlands Edge Road
Ofelia Hernandez - Bluebell Ct
Tammy Wong - Wetlands Edge Road
Given that this agenda item (#9 City Manager Employment Agreement) is to approve the updated salary schedule which revises the City Manager pay rate from $215,000 to $230,000, we are taken aback since the City Manager is not even managing basic services like park landscaping adequately.
City staff reports have cited how our property taxes, based on high property values, kept this city afloat during the last couple of years, as well as the million dollar views of the Wetlands area. Yet, none of these reports mention the landscaping along the Wetlands linear path. In too many places it is bare dirt, weeds the size of bushes, or dead bushes that need to be removed. It's essentially an eyesore the length of the city.
We are disappointed that the City Manager has let the landscaping deteriorate to this extent with the substandard hack, blow, and dead stump maintenance contract.
We would like to see the landscape along the linear path, on both sides of the trail, rejuvenated. We would like all the dead shrubbery and large weeds removed. We would like the bare dirt covered with mulch, at a minimum. Ideally, there should be a strategy to replace plants as they reach the end of their natural lifespan. And, most definitely, only native plants specific to our region and a wetlands area should be used, keeping in mind the height and visibility requirements for the specific location.
In case you have not recently used the Wetlands linear path, please review the photos of the 500-block of Wetlands Edge Road taken this morning. They are representative of the landscaping along the Wetlands Linear path.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RfpigQMC1uoqGxFT8
[[TO BE CONTINUED IN A SECOND COMMENT DUE TO INPUT RESTRAINTS]]