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Tim Baird’s July 23 guest editorial in the Ojai Valley News about the skate park not having a long term lease is in error. The City has a long term lease for the present location until 2023. I have been told Mr. Baird is the person from the Ojai Unified School District that signed the lease. A permanent park has been in discussion for this location long before the present temporary park was first installed. Now that a lot of dedicated citizens of Ojai have risen over $350,000 to build a more permanent park, it seems disingenuous for Mr. Baird to come up at the last minute and infer there is no long term lease and to assume the 400+ donors would be Ok with relocating the park elsewhere. I certainly would not. I can’t imagine Mr. Baird does not know that the donations made to the Skate Ojai are considered Restricted Funds and are to be used only for the purpose for which they were obtained. Any change from how the skate park was promoted would kill the project entirely and require all of the money to be returned.

As parents who have raised two great children here in Ojai, we know first hand how important it is to give our children the freedom they need but also keep a watchful eye. If the kids say they are going to go to the skate park, it is easy to drive by the present location without the children thinking they are being watched. Also, everything the kids do there is in plain sight of the community, as it should be. It’s that simple, and I would expect the superintendent of our Ojai Unified School District to understand how importance this is.

I realize the school district is in need of money, but that is no excuse for Mr. Baird to make misleading statements to the public in an attempt to get out of a binding lease the School District has had with the City for years.

Pat, I hope you will send the above comments to the Ojai Valley News. This is all the buzz around town...

Good point Suza. I sent this to OVN the day the article was published. Since that time, I discovered that Skate Ojai can not change ANYTHING from how it was promoted to the donors, so I included that information in my post this morning.

It appears the City is not aware of this important issue either, as I was told that the City sent out the request for quote (RFQ) for the engineering without including Skate Ojai in the process or asking Skate Ojai what they had promoted. The RFQ says “the consultant will provide a list of viable skate park options (i.e. in ground, above ground, hybrid)…” but Skate Ojai promoted only an in-ground skate park. It simply can’t be changed!

Since Skate Ojai has done all of the research on skate parks, have talked to the cities and builders, and have raised the money, it seems Skate Ojai should be taking the lead on the RFQ and selection of the engineer and that the City should be just the facilitator to make sure we are in compliance with all of the laws. If this is not done, I am afraid there will be a train wreck when this comes up for public comment, and we will end up with another battle between the citizens and the City, just as what happened with the chain store issue. When will our elected officials and paid city staff come to realize the City is the citizens. It is these things that prompted me to pull the papers to run for City Council.

Thank you, Pat, for your thoughtful, intelligent, well-researched reply!

I'm not up to speed on recent developments related to the Skate Park so cannot be sure of the accuracy of all the issues you mention, but it sounds right. Spoke briefly to one of the committee members... this is of special interest to me as many things related to the skate park were set in motion when Ellen Hall and I were on the council...

Thanks again!

It looks as though the New Vision folks are trying to muscle the Skate Ojai people out of the current location and that the City and the school district are more than happy to help.

If the New Vision people are successful, they will get a 500 seat "professional" theater along the lines of the
Fred Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. The productions that would happen there would undoubtedly be dazzling, but it takes a special set of blinders to think that it should be located in Ojai. Blinders that totally ignore the environmental implications that have long plagued this valley. It is possible that this pet project of certain people has the potential of adding as many as 1,000 new car trips on days that the theater has two performances. Does anyone seriously think that's a good idea, adding 1,000 new car trips through this valley? Not long ago suggesting that there should be 1,000 new car trips through Ojai would have been rightly viewed as insane. Just exactly who would this project serve?

The "New Vision" groups performance center is an interesting idea that needs discussion- especially by those outside the city council special interests. Most of the adversary comes from monied interests who
assume to speak for the majority of residents. The “ tyranny of the minority” are in fact the same citizens groups that have been cosistently weighing in for
a good while, as it should be, resulting in a community that intergrates into the decision making process. The threats and lawsuits have been filed by the city and are on public record- check the chain store and affordable housing inniated by citizens that were fist opposed by the city. It would seem that proposals of an over-scale art center with traffic issues “easily mitigated" which means ignored, is coming from a minority of proponents who would like to have their cake and eat it too. You cannot ignore traffic congestion the valley now sees during peak hours and resulting from the ill-conceived Bryant Street Industrial Plan. Peter Strauss and company can conceive large commercial projects and enjoy building them, and then escape back to their estates and quiet lanes to pretend the traffic and small town ambiance is not disappearing because of over-building, big buildout and special interest projects not supported by the majority community.The current “stagnant reactive stance” is the best grass-roots civic response citizens can muster. Would a new art center complex be replacing the Ojai Art Center? How about expanding or enhancing what already exists? More inclusive community dialogue please,like the FLOW water citizen meeting response to Golden State Water billing campaign.Keeping Ojai a small town tourist destination compared to a roadside attraction is wisest use of a finite valley. And incorporation of outlying areas into the city open them up to exponential growth further impacting limited natural resources.PL

Pete,
Do you a vision for Ojai? Could you share it?
JG

he doesn't even live here

I think the direction that "Comment #5 Posted by: Anonymous" is something we need to consider. The issue is much larger than just the skate park (which I support) and the potential for another business development in our downtown core (which I question). Even though it is all talk right now, we should be aware of the issues and be ready to have a community dialogue about such a critical piece of Ojai real estate.

No doubt a significant environmental impact study should be conducted before any type of new theater gets built in our core.

We are a small town after all and this type of decision and direction for the core of downtown should involve everyone in the Valley. As it is now, most of the power is with the Ojai Unified School District Board, an elected body that has the responsibility for governing district property. Their next meeting is August 19, 2008 and they have two board slots up for election this November.

Thank you, Kenley, for articulating the concerns that many Ojai residents have.

Kenley, if you have not done so already, would you consider sending a Letter to the OVN's with your comments?

14 years is not a long-term lease. It would be fiscally irresponsible to build something with public money for this short of time.

I keep asking why Sarzotti Park is not an appropriate location to place a skate park but no one seems to answer the question.

Isn't the goal to build our children a permanent skate park that can be enjoyed for many years?

thank you for the clarity about your position, Dr Baird...as well as for raising some intriguing new issues!

Dr. Baird - Is there any reason the school board cannot give the skate park a longer lease, or an option for one, so that there is no question the property is dedicated to the public?

It seems a little late in the day to start trying to relocate the long-planned skate park.

Also, it seems like it is an asset for the school district to have it on its property - and the school district doesn't even have to pay a penny to build it or maintain it. A pretty good deal all around. Seems like the school district should dedicate the land in fee to the skate park so this question of lease terms is not an issue.

What am I missing here?

Thanks.

This is my spontaneous off-the-top-of-my-head response to Tim Baird's question:

"I keep asking why Sarzotti Park is not an appropriate location to place a skate park but no one seems to answer the question."

Putting the history of the skate park aside for a moment, one of our aims should be to do everything possible to make our downtown core (arcade, Libbey Park, library area, etc., )safe and attractive for our young people. We need to ask ourselves, "Is it safe for my child to walk, bicycle or ride their skate board to the library or any other destination in our down town core?"

Keep in mind that the City banned riding a bicycle or skate board on the side walk without first providing a safe alternative lane on the street.

When I was a business owner on Signal street, long before the present skate park, I spent hours observing youngsters negotiating car traffic and pedestrians on their bicycles and skate boards. I watched and heard them using the Wells Fargo bank parking lot and surrounding areas as a "skate park."

I saw a world where most of our public space is dedicated to cars, not kids.

The present location has the advantage of being more centrally located than Sarzotti Park. Parents can do errands while their youngsters skate. Kids can combine time at the skate park with other downtown activities.

Th present location is convenient and visible.

The noise of a skate park is no small matter to people living close to Sarzotti Park. The back yard of my nephew and his family borders the base ball field/play ground area and on the whole we enjoy the sounds presently coming from the park.

I'm not saying that the present location is ideal, but these are some advantageous that come to mind.

Mr. Baird,

I think Pat McPherson did a pretty good job of explaining why moving the skate park location could jeopardize the whole project.

Let me ask you, why suddenly is the OUSD so interested in getting rid of the skate park? Is it because of the revenue enhancement that would come from moving the district offices and leasing the whole property to the New Vision project? Everyone is aware of the budgetary problems facing schools in general and the Ojai Unified School District in particular. It is understandable that the district may be looking for a better deal to help with those budgetary problems. However, if the Chaparral property is to be leased, why is it not going through the usual channels where the property would be listed as surplus? Is it because a surplus listing would trigger certain state laws that regulate to whom the property could be leased or sold? Laws that would probably preclude the type of development that the New Vision folks envision?

I understand the need for increased revenue streams to the faltering budget because of the actions of politicians in Sacramento and Washington DC, but I'm not sure throwing Skate Ojai under the New Vision bus is in the best interest of Ojai. That said, if it turns out that the skate park can be moved to a good location that satisfies everyone, would you be willing to add certain stipulations to the lease for the New Vision project? Would you be willing to stipulate that the property could be developed to put their professional theater and some "retail" shops, but that the property would have to adhere to all pertinent city ordinances so that the land's status as OUSD property couldn't be exploited to subvert the formula retail and restaurant ordinance? I think a lot of resistance to the potential of a skate park relocation and subsequent New Vision development could be neutralized if you assured everyone that chain stores/restaurants couldn't be located there.

Dear Anonymous,

One option could be revisiting the lease but the District would have to look carefully at any decision that would essentially give up one of the few District's resources for no gain to the District.

I don't really think this is late in the day at all to be discussing location. It is true that the District six years ago consented to considering hosting a permanent park. Since that time, we have tried to open the conversation about other location options. Just because no one else wants to have that conversation doesn't mean the issue is decided.

Thank you Suza for being one of the few to answer the question, "Why not Sarzotti?"

You mention the downtown location as being favorable because it is more central and parents can do errands while children skate. You also mention the annoyance that business owners had in the past when skateboarders were on their property instead of at a skate park. The downtown location continues to put skateboarders annoying businesses because many of our skateboarders ride their boards to the downtown skate park. This takes them through all of the areas you just listed. I'm not sure that your local businesses agree that the current location is ideal.

You also mention that this location is visible. Visible to whom? To observe the skate park, you need to do more than just drive by and look. Indeed, I would argue that the skate park is actually remote from most of the downtown activity. To check out what is happening there, you need to stop and make a specific effort to view the park. That is one of the main arguments that I have with the current location. Sometimes things happen here that shouldn't because no one is observing. Contrast that with Sarzotti Park. Parents are there with their children. Sports teams are playing there. Park and Recreation personnel are housed there and can supervise. Putting the skate park in a real park and not off by itself would eliminate most of the illegal and unsafe behaviors that now occur at the skate park.

Finally, I never understand the reasoning of people who move next to a park (or a school) and then complain about the sounds of children playing. Parks are designed for this. They are not just a place for someone to walk their dog. As I said in my OVN editorial, it's time to allow our children to come in from the parking lot and back to the park where they belong.

Dear Spk,

Let me clear up a few things. OUSD and the New Vision project are not working together on any project at this time. Like many groups in town, the New Vision group determined what they thought the best use of the District's property was before talking to us. They did present their plan to the school board (after presenting it to the City Council) but that is all that has taken place to date.

The District is going through a process to look at leasing out the downtown property. If the Board elects to move in this direction, they will have a very open process in place for a variety of plans to be considered. One common component that these plans must have to be considered will be viable funding. So far, New Visions haven't addressed this important element.

If the Board elects to move on this, we will work very closely with the City. Although District property does have some differences from regular commercial property, we are still bound by the formula retail ordinance. We are not looking to ruin our wonderful downtown.

A quick response to this:

"Finally, I never understand the reasoning of people who move next to a park (or a school) and then complain about the sounds of children playing. Parks are designed for this. They are not just a place for someone to walk their dog. As I said in my OVN editorial, it's time to allow our children to come in from the parking lot and back to the park where they belong."

I agree with that statement but I think it's fair to say that the noise from skate boarding is in a different catagory from other park sounds. I'll have to go down to the skate park and listen awhile to refresh my memory.

Skate boarding is a viable means of alternative transportation. Every kid walking their skateboard to the skate park is at least one less car trip.

Let us acknowledge how frustrating it must be not to be able to safely and legally skateboard to the skate park! No wonder our children live for the day they get their driver's license and they can finally toss their skate board in the back of their SUV!

I fully understand the merchants frustration and the dangers to pedestrians if kids skateboard through the arcade. But, as I've said for years, we need a paradigm shift in managing Ojai traffic.

This is a huge issue but the present situation where the entire street is devoted to moving and parking cars, thus forcing kids on the sidewalk and endangering pedestrians is unacceptable!

I can see valid points in your argument that the skate park belongs in a park. But the issue of how kids will safely and independently transport themselves this extra distance should be addressed.

Thank you so much for your willngness to have this dialogue here.

Mr. Baird, thank you for responding so quickly. I didn't think you were interested in ruining the downtown. I've met you before and I've had the pleasure of editing an interview of you for a documentary about arts in schools. Your views on funding for public schools today versus 30 years ago were enlightening.

From your comments above, I gather that the district is not seeking to get rid of Skate Ojai in order to gain a more lucrative lease. Since that is the case, I'm not clear on why the district is resistant to a permanent home for the skate park were it is now. It's in the corner of the property that is kind of wasted space anyway. It seems that the district could still lease the rest of the property and keep the skate park way over in the corner next to the culvert where it is. What are the major objections to having the skate park there?

This is directed to Tim Baird's comment regarding Sarzotti Park as well as the skatepark lease.

In response to your comment Mr. Baird, when this committee was first looking for places to have the skatepark back in 1997, Sarzotti Park was one of the places we considered. The surrounding neighbors were in an uproar and it was decided it was not a viable spot. The school board approved the present location for a temporary park which was to be there for only two years. It has been over 8 years now. In fact Mr. Baird in 2003 you yourself signed a lease for the present location on school property, which will expire in December of 2023. The lease is good for another 15 years and 5 months, not just 14 years. This is about the youth of Ojai, about their needs, a great location, and a place that has already been decided on. The present location is visable which enhances safety, easily accessable by trolley, bus, and the fact that the park and ride is right there. When working a booth for Ojai Day we had many mothers stop by and tell us they loved the fact that they could drop off their kids to skate and do a little shopping. This is the approved location by not only you Mr. Baird but also by the City Council. It's time we all move forward and start construction on this permanent park.

Ms. Moe,

I referenced 14 years not 15 because the earliest that the park could be built would be sometime next year. I'm sorry the neighbors didn't want the park but I fail to see why 11 years later that precludes the City from putting recreational equipment in a City park. I'm glad the mother was happy to have the park close by. Did her child have a helmet or safety equipment on since most of the current skate park users don't. Was she concerned about the eclectic mix of adults that hang around the park? The father that I spoke with last week had a different view. He only allows his son to skate when he is standing there because he is very concerned about activities around the current skate park.

I agree. Let's get moving and built our children a permanent skate park that is safe, supervised, and located in a place designed for children.

Dear Suza,

In response to:
"But the issue of how kids will safely and independently transport themselves this extra distance should be addressed."

I would argue that more young people live around Sarzotti Park than around the downtown. It would probably cut down on distances that must be travelled. For those that must travel, Sarzotti is on the trolley route and only an additional few minutes for parents driving in from the Mira Monte area.

Dear Spk,

I am not sure what the implications are for the use of the property if the skate park were located on the downtown property. I do know that it is easier to start without obstacles to design around.

The Board may not choose to lease the property anyway. My goal would be to leave options open. My bigger concerns are related to the fact that I strongly believe our current skate park is not a safe or healthy place for younger children. I believe that moving the park to a more family focused and supervised location would resolve this.

I've never met Tim Baird, but I'm pretty sure that he's either Dr. Baird or Tim, not Mr. Baird.

Just sayin'. Forgive me if I'm being a poot.

Thank you. There is much to ponder here. I look forward to a peaceful resolution and a permanent skate park (as permanent as anything in this impermanent world).

phalarope,

I think you're right.

To Tim Baird:
Re: Skate park
"My name is Inigo Montoya, you kill the skate park, prepare your resume." (apologies to "Princess Bride")

Dear neighbors.
As a parent of a 4 and 8 year old, this entire discussion is very pertinent to my life today and in the coming years. Here are a couple assumptions that I have coming to the conversation: I recognize that skating has historically received a bad rap (everywhere) and I would like to echo Suza's comments about the vehicle-centric nature of our community.

Though I can agree with Dr. Baird that a community park is a good place for recreation, even skating, I don't believe that it would necessarily be a better supervised environment. In fact, there are plenty of places in Sarazotti Park to participate in elicit activities, probably more so than the current skate park location. My point is that better supervision and enforcement of rules are important, but it can happen at the current location just as easily as Sarazotti (unless they have extra staff at Sarazotti to supervise a skate park).

I walk by the skate park often and, when I drive, look at the activities and conditions of the skate park. I regularly go by the skate park but have only been to Sarzotti a minimal number of times in comparison. There are some issues (helmets, trash, etc.) at the current location, but they are not insurmountable.

Despite the problems, the current location is a better location because:

* more heavily trafficked location
* easy vehicle supervision (i.e.- police)
* more centralized
* easy access to food and drinks
* good use of the space (it's a moderately used parking lot)
* discussions, presentations, and media coverage have occurred over a period of years with this location in mind
* it demonstrates to visitors that we care about the youth in Ojai

As I wrote a few days ago, the primary decision makers (in regards to the current location) are the Ojai Unified School District Board. They are an elected body that have the responsibility for governing district property and their next meeting is August 19.

The Santa Paula skate park works well, and it happens to be right next to the police dept.

This is becoming a most riveting conversation!

Kenley, will you be submitting your comments to the Ojai Unified School District Board members or attending the next meeting on August 19th?

And possibly writing an editorial/letter to the OVN's?

Your comments are very clear!

Suza is CORRECT. It is time for the Ojai Post to get out in the community. Enough with blogging in circles, we need to make our presence felt!!
I can only hope evan, spk or millennium will run for city council… You have my votes!!
Ay’uoo’’ delleox namaste…

As a potential city council candidate, I feel myself drawn into this very interesting conversation. As an aside, I am still undecided about being a candidate, as I've described in length on another thread.

My experience with the present skate park is this: I occasionally ride my bicycle in the skate park, up and down the slopes. It is great fun and takes only a few minutes. I remember once a kid came up to me in another location and said: "I know you. I saw you riding your bicycle in the skate park." It's a way for me to interact and observe an important part of our community. I also ride through the parking lot and see some interesting goings-on at times. I also ride the bus which I sometimes catch at that location.

So, I have to lean towards the present location as being better than Sarzotti. I very seldom get to Sarzotti. For me, it's way out of the way, but that's just me. For others, it may be more central. However, in terms of centrality, I think the present location is preferred insofar as we come to the downtown for central services, recreation or whatever.

Also, a thought that comes to me is that our kids should be central to our concerns since they are our future. My son who is 15 uses a skate board but as far as I know does not use the skate park. It would be an interesting statistic to know just what percentage of skaters actually use the present skate park, and what location do they prefer?

If I should come anywhere near a council seat, I would vote for the present location. Therefore, I would not be in favor of a building for the arts in that location.

If my son were to take up using the skate park, I would be better served by having it in the present location since I could bicycle there more easily to observe.

To tell the truth, I have a fondness for the wooden platforms in place now. Concrete forms such as the ones in Ventura are not as aesthetically pleasing to me nor would they have the kind of give that wood has should I ever fall on one of my bicycle runs up and down the grades. However, I can understand that wood has a shorter half-life. But then I would worry about the slivers. At any rate, I am not a skateboarder although as a kid I had roller skates that I tied around my shoes. I wasn't that good at roller skating but not that bad at ice skating. I lived in Wisconsin. I recall that the ice skating rink was part of the high school. I think they just flooded the baseball field in the winter but of course here that is out of the question unless we had a severe prolonged cold snap. Mostly, I roller skated in the basement of our house.

Sorry, you stirred up old memories of being a kid again. If I was a kid again, say my son's age, I think I'd prefer a downtown location. I mean, it seems like kids like to hang out near grown-ups, even though they like to do things to annoy them. It's safer. However, it's better to be farther away from them if you don't want to get caught doing something that they disapprove of so the park would be my choice under those circumstances.

I hear that the park is supervised. But what does that mean? Eyes on? Or just general availability in case there is trouble? Of course, nowadays with cell phones, help can be quickly obtained usually wherever you are.

Have a skatingly good day.

Re Kenley post 28 on July 31 –

I am in total agreement with all that you say except for your comment:

“As I wrote a few days ago, the primary decision makers (in regards to the current location) are the Ojai Unified School District Board.”

Unless you mean it is up to the Ojai Unified School District Board to decide if they want to default on their least to the City, then you are incorrect that it is in their hands.

If the Ojai Unified School District thinks it has financial problems today, wait until the 400+ donors start contributing money to take the board to court for default. It makes no sense to me why Dr. Baird would even suggest there is no lease when he knows better. He should be focusing on getting community support to Save Our Schools, not writing articles that will alienate the voters. I have been in business for many years. Unless I am totally missing something, a General Manager in private industry would be fired for such stupid behavior.

Pat McPherson

OK Suza, you've taken me to task twice now. ;-)

My life is over extended at the moment, but what I can do is submit a short letter to the OVN and attempt to submit written comments to the School board.

Response to my friend Pat.

Regardless of the current lease, the school board will decide what to do with the entire property, including what happens after the skate park lease expires. I was not suggesting they would default on the current lease. In fact, I don't think anyone is suggesting that (unless I missed it somewhere). As they consider other proposals for the property, it may negatively impact the opportunity for the skate park to extend its current lease.

Thank you for the clarification Kenley. Also, I would like to apologize for suggesting that Dr. Baird should be fired. I am sure he has good reasons for doing what he does. It just is not apparent to me.

Where I am having difficulty is there are discussions in the paper and on this thread about no long term lease, but there is one. And people keep suggesting alternate sites when Skate Ojai has said if they do not build the park where it was promoted to the donors, they will have to give back all the money and start over. There should be no discussion!

So….if the school board is truly not interested in re-locating the skate park and are willing to honor its present lease with the City, and New Visions is just sharing their ideas with the public, then why doesn’t everyone just BACK OFF in the name of community cooperation and embrace what Skate Ojai has done and table all discussions until the skate Park is built.

I much prefer to get the skate park built as planned by Skate Ojai, give support to Save Our Schools, and have an open dialog with New Visions. The way it‘s going however, everyone is suspicious and taking sides, and now one wins.

Come on Ojai, let’s get together and be a united community. We have much bigger fish to fry.

Pat McPherson

Mr. Baird you talk about re-visiting the lease that is currently held by the City for the present location at the skatepark. This is a lease that is good until 2023 and a moot point. Get off it and move on. I think the citizens of Ojai need to have dialoge with not only Parks & Rec, but a round table discussion with the City Council. He said she said is definitely not working. It's just like in politics, no one gets together so they can blame one another, waist time, so as nothing gets done, a simple stall tactic. I've gone to a few council meetings but you can't ask questions, they are there to only listen. This skate group needs to quit getting the run around and either build it or allow them to move forward legally. I've read that there are over 400 donars that have raised over the intended amount. Do you honestly think these people are just going to sit by and let this happen?I think not.

Ok folks now is the time to ban together. The council meeting for the skatepark is coming up and we really need to be together on this. Showing that we are not going to settle for less than we've collected our money for is urgent. We are not going away. Gather one and all for this important meeting on the 19th in council chambers.

If you attend the special Council meeting on August 19, maybe what we should be urging the Council to negotiate an extension of the lease on the current site until 2100. This would be an additional 75-years and be sufficient for a return on investment on building the permanent skate park.

Just my two-cents.

Let's keep this cooperative!
This is fantastic that there is so much interest in the skate park. I hope that it is due to our sincere interest in our youth and not just the real estate investment.But even so, if we make our town more family friendly, maybe our school enrollment will go up! :)

Some notes on the comments above:
1) Why now,after 6 months of VERY PUBLIC fundraising and MANY city council meetings is Tim Baird and the school board questioning the location of the skate park? Numerous invitations to attend city council meetings, a sea of informative newspaper articles and several visits by Skate Ojai to School Board meetings certainly informed the board that the city planned to indeed KEEP their EXISTING lease and exercise the included option to expand to 10,000 square feet.
2) I felt Dr. Baird's use of the OVN Letter to the Editor was a very unprofessional manner to communicate with both the city and Skate Ojai. It used our youth and the "charge" of the topic to move his points.
3) Since there is an existing lease and the funds have been raised specifically for an in-ground cement skatepark,(which by the way allows for much more visibility from the sides into the park) let's join forces, partner in a district wide cooperative program for skateboarding as a Physical Education option. Google Skateboarding and PE. You will see the hundreds of schools across the country who are seeing that skateboarding can be a wonderful way to get the individual teen exercising.

And lastly, let's stop teasing these kids. Let us adults show them how we respect them and how we can work together cooperatively to make this happen.
Who knows? Maybe one of those two boys who started skateboard lessons with Parks and Rec here in Ojai 7 years ago and competed this past Friday at X-Games will be millionaires in 15 years and buy the bleepin land from the school district!

Peace

Thanks Skater Mom!

As I've suggested to other writers here, please copy your comments and send them as a Letter to the Ojai Valley News.

Thanks again!

Better yet, let everyone know the conversation is happening here on the Post. For anyone that wants to get caught up on the issue, start at the Skate Park Resource Page, accessible in the upper left of every page.

A couple weeks ago I read Mr. Baird’s editorial in the Ojai News Press and entry to the Ojai Post so I wanted to write something right away but couldn’t find an extra moment to write. I finally did last Friday night and now found time to post it. Thanks for reading.

It's 6:30pm, Friday evening and I'm sitting in my fold-up camping chair at the Ojai skate park watching my nine year old son skateboard. It's a typical beautiful summer night out in Ojai, warm with a light breeze. I can see folks out for their evening walk through town and families eating across the street at Sea Fresh. I am watching seven kids and one adult skate the half pipe and pyramid at the skate park while I write this letter. I have to keep stopping when the kids come over to talk. One of the kids is telling me about his new summer job at the Fair, as another skates up to ask me if I know his mom. As it turns out, she helped us organize a donated hotel room for an earlier fundraising event. The room was for a well know photographer who flew all the way from Philadelphia to set up an art show that was being presented at the Village Jester. This 28th of June fundraiser was another great success for the skate park and was the night we reached out $350,000 goal. This is the skate park and these are the kids and their families that I know.

The skate park is one of the many places in Ojai where my family and I feel comfortable. My husband and I grew up skateboarding and we have heard all the stereotypes attributed to this sport. So when I read Mr. Baird's editorial about the skate park I was upset by his obvious intent to stir-up controversy, misleads the Ojai residents, and demeans the children who skate there.

My day began at the skate park and ended there too. This morning thirteen local Ojai residents and I met at the Park’ Ride to caravan/carpool to the fourteenth X-Games event in Los Angeles. We gathered to support Nordhoff High School student Zander Gabriel and Chaparral High School student J. T. Erickson as they competed in the National High School Skateboard Association Finals.

It was so exciting to watch our Ojai kids skate on the same ramps and rails that the pro skaters would use just a couple of hours later. Out of twenty-one Southern California High School teams, Ojai placed second this year. On this day, August 1, 2008, Zander and J.T. represented Ojai. Zander took home second place out of all the high school skate team competitors.

For over six months now my husband, children 19, 17, and 9, as well as myself have worked closely to support the non-profit group SKATE OJAI by volunteering hundreds of hours to make sure we as a community accomplished the $350,000.00 goal to build a permanent in-ground concrete skate park at the current location for the kids of Ojai. My co-workers and I joke that is my other full-time job now.

I have met with these folks once a week to plan and organize one event after another. I know with all my heart that SKATE OJAI is a group of dedicated, passionate, knowledgeable local residents who have made it their mission to see that the children of Ojai finally get the skate park they deserve after years of effort and waiting. I am 41 years old and I think I might be the one of the youngest people volunteering with this committee. These people understand and see the potential of the kids who frequent our skate park. They see the need for Ojai to have a safe place for our children to be active, to have a place to hang out and to support a progressive sport with true athletes.

Given that we only had six months to raise the $350K in this economy should out right show our City Council and the OUSD that this grassroots movement of our community embodies the absolute spirit of Ojai. It shows that we all believe in this effort for the children of Ojai. We didn't ask for donations for an in-ground skate park at Sarzotti Park because we have a current lease that Mr. Baird himself signed until the year 2023. The young adults I talk to who have grown up here in Ojai are absolutely fed up with this run around. They are also old enough to vote, just like me when the time comes. One of the most important things I have learned during these past six months is that I really need to stay on top of the politics in Ojai as well as the Ojai School Board. Sure I volunteer at the kid’s schools, but the major decisions are made at the school board meetings and the City Council meetings that only a dedicated few go to.

The property that encompasses the OUSD is roughly 8 acres. The skate park takes up about 17-20 parking spaces and with the words Mr. Baird wrote, I don't feel that he understands the importance of those 17-20 spaces. I do not know Mr. Baird and I also realize that he wants to raise money for the OUSD due to the declining enrollment BUT he signed a lease in 2003 guaranteeing the skate park had a place until 2023. Thank you Mr. Baird, we'll take the 17-20 parking spaces and I do go there with my 9 year old.

I know almost all of the kids at the skate park and honestly I'm offended by your slighted account of the actions going on at the skate park. Like every other park in the world, there is a mix of people, young, old, and making skaters all sound the same is wrong and ignorant, especially for a person that works with children in the Ojai Valley. Check the police records for Libbey park, Sarzotti park and Soule park. A lot’s going on over there.

Hiding the skate park behind the Ojai Parks and Recreation building isn't the answer. I would love to hear more about Jaden's passion for a skate park. As far as a 24 hour surveillance, you've got to be kidding. We employ a large number of very capable police who can drive by, walk in and observe the park as needed. Let me ask you, do we have 24 hour surveillance at any basketball courts, tennis courts, or the bike path, NO we do not.

My last comment would be about the attractive nuisance that Mr. Baird refers to regarding the present skate park. That attractive nuisance has helped two of your Chaparral and five of you Nordhoff students get second place out of 21 high schools on a national scale for Southern California. Mr. Baird have you ever taken more than five minutes to come inside the skate park and talk to these kids? It might be a grand idea to get to know them rather than pointing the finger at things you are not versed in. I really don’t think staff at Nordhoff call the new football field an attractive nuisance for the talented football players who attend that school.

So here are the answers to your two questions. No, we don't want to go to Sarzotti Park due to the fact that the current location has a lease until 2023 signed by yourself. This is called a calculated risk and we believe that it is worthy of 14 years of fun for the children of Ojai to enjoy. The risk portion would be that someone out there would have the audacity to think SKATE OJAI will sit by and simply let this lease fizzle out. This is not going to happen, rest assured.
We need to do what is best for children's. We also hope that those charged with the responsibility of making the final decisions will make the best choices for others, not just themselves.
Maybe Mr. Baird could start working on extending the lease for the skate park?

To Sunday,

You are describing what living in a small town is all about! I've raised two children in Ojai, a son and a daughter, and, as a mother (putting politics and property issues aside)I see the downtown skate park location the same way.

Are you making copies of what you wrote? You could email this to the City Council members or ask the City to distribute copies to the Council prior to the meeting on August 19th. And perhaps send it to the School Board and OVN's as well.

I must that Sunday's letter hit home with a whole bunch of people who still live and grew up in the Ojai Valley. People/elected officials get imported from other areas and don't realize what it means to the regular folk that need places for the children of our town. The bowling alley is closed, the supposedly public pool has such restricted hours, and why not a new skatepark. Every little town around us has one and it seems that Ojai is going backwards when it comes to giving to a site that is already inhabited. If your group has a solid lease it would seem the ball is in your court. Thank you for keeping the locals as well as everyone else informed. Me, my siblings, and parents have all donated money to this skatepark. When is the City going to wake up and get 'er done.

Okay, I've plowed through as much of this as is necessary and it seems that Mr. Baird's main point is that the current location is not safe for kids as referenced by the following:

"Was she concerned about the eclectic mix of adults that hang around the park? The father that I spoke with last week had a different view. He only allows his son to skate when he is standing there because he is very concerned about activities around the current skate park."

And this:

"I strongly believe our current skate park is not a safe or healthy place for younger children."

Mr Baird, am I to believe, then, that you are of the opinion that downtown Ojai is unsafe for children that are unsupervised by their parents or other qualified caregivers? Are you suggesting that the parents of children playing baseball will supervise the skate park if it is located in Sarazotti? Or, perhaps, that the limited (and shrinking staff) of the Parks Dept will be keeping a regular eye out?

Come on, let's be serious for a second, please. When the skate park was properly funded there were no helmet/safety issues as you reference. In addition, if you are so worried about the nefarious characters hanging around downtown, perhaps you would be so kind as to recommend that the police step out of their vehicles every now and then and actually patrol in order that my two girls would be safe. It would indeed be nice to know who is protecting us given that every metropolitan area in the developed world has come to the conclusion that community policing works. I guess that the trickle down theory doesn't work after all as it doesn't appear to have come to this little town with so many police units available who could become a vibrant part of the community.

As to your question " Why not Sarazotti?" I would answer "Why Sarazotti?". You have not come up, in my opinion with even one reasonable answer that can be defended. If 15 years is a short term lease then perhaps you should talk to my 15 year old who will, in all probability have a couple of kids by the time she is 30. Are you suggesting that within a 15 year time frame an additional lease (or other possibility) may not be acquired and therefore we shouldn't bother doing anything with that land. As a downtown business owner, perhaps I should talk to my landlord and explain that I need a thirty year lease instead of my current 10 + 5 because I feel insecure about the future. Or maybe, I should just get on with building my business and this community, which is what I am doing.

On a final note for now (because I am tired and have a business to run in the morning) I would note the following which, in my view, really betrays your thought process:

"it's time to allow our children to come in from the parking lot and back to the park where they belong."

Mr Baird, I am glad that you feel that all children belong in the park. It is precisely this type of blinkered thinking that pigeonholes people and limits them. This is exactly the attitude that kids fight against (remember?). Some kids like to smell the flowers, some want to be the flowers (some may even believe they are the flowers!). Either way, they are not all the same and they should not be treated as such. I am certainly not suggesting that society allow everyone to do what they want and run amok. However, we should be wary of throwing a blanket over every one of them and thinking that they will respond to the same treatment. You must know better!

While I'm on that, the following:

"...back to the park"

would indicate to me that you are worried that kids are abandoning the park...hmm, perhaps there is a reason...how often do you see kids whacking a baseball, dropping a couple of bags on the grass and using them for soccer goals, tossing a football, ...without an adult organzing it all. Not often, I would wager. Perhaps there is a greater societal issue involved here?

A downtown skate park affords the entire community an opportunity to impact our children in a positive way. To include them in this vibrant community...and to include the community in them.

15 years ago I had just become a dad for the first time. I wasn't the same man then. 15 years has changed me. In that time I have observed my daughter grow and I am very proud of who she has become. I cannot say who she will be in another 15 years. 15 years will change her, too (and me again). There is a downtown skate park now. There has been for 8 years, there can be for at least another 15 years. That would be 23 years in the same location. Tell me when you have done one thing for 23 years!

Please, give me just one good reason to move it given my points above (and I have many more as I am sure you have guessed!).

And, please tell me that there are no financial influences/imperatives with regard to the city or school district budget at work in the background.

Bravo Anon -

A meeting has been set to gather and learn more about building this in-ground park.

August 19th - 7:30
City Council Chambers

Please spread the word to all interested, skaters, investors, parents, any and all concerned about the health of our youth.

The City staff will present their findings on the designers and we will settle once and for all that we have raised enough money. A skate design company will present how the process works and show examples of parks in So Cal.

It is our opportunity to clearly state the message to the council members, the Planning Commission and the Parks and Rec Commission what the community wants.

This is a crucial meeting.

Please encourage Mr. Baird and the School Board members to also attend. We cordially invite you OUSD as a community cooperating to come and work together to quickly resolve this marathon issue of a permanent skate park in our community.

AUGUST 19th 7:30
City Hall - Council Chambers

Thank you!

I went by the OUSD office yesterday and did not see an agenada posted for the Aug 19 school board meeting that is scheduled for the same night as the special City meeting on the Skate Park.

Does anyone know if the Montgomery/Ojai Avendue OUSD property will be discussed at the OUSD meeting?

Is our Mayor Sue Horgan going to support the in-ground skate park at the present location as was promoted by the donors --- or will she withdraw her support because she wants a skate park that can be moved so the land can be developed? Could this be her Unfinished Business?

Keep an eye on slippery Sue as she is the same person that passionately asked the city Council to make her mayor in her last year in office, then changed her mind and is running again.

Let the mudslinging begin.

There can be no mud without DIRT.

"Does anyone know if the Montgomery/Ojai Avenue OUSD property will be discussed at the OUSD meeting?"

According to a phone call with the OUSD office, the property is not scheduled for discussion at the OUSD Board meeting on the 19th. This does not rule out public comment during their Unscheduled Items, of course, but the topic is not slated for discussion on the agenda.

There can be no mud without DIRT.

And apparently there can be neither mud nor dirt without anonymity.

Skater Mom wrote:

Please encourage Mr. Baird and the School Board members to also attend. We cordially invite you OUSD as a community cooperating to come and work together to quickly resolve this marathon issue of a permanent skate park in our community.

I couldn't agree more. It is crucial and critical that Dr. Baird and the School Board be present for this special City Council / Community meeting. It is very disappointing that City Staff chose to schedule this special meeting on the same night as the regularly scheduled School Board meeting.

Maybe they'll watch the video? Or, perhaps the School Board can cancel their meeting and just move it over to the City Council chambers. I'm going to write the Board president and urge them to do so, though it may be too late.

Here is the letter I sent to Steve Fields, Board President. I also copied Dr. Baird, City Manager, and all City Council members.

I am writing to you in your capacity as OUSD Board President. I'm not sure if you've been following the skate park discussion, I suspect you have, and the opinion of Dr. Baird. There has been a worthy discussion taking place on the Ojai Post and the City has scheduled a Special Meeting for the topic on the evening of August 19. In a recent post from a skater mom, she wrote:

Please encourage Mr. Baird and the School Board members to also attend. We cordially invite you OUSD as a community cooperating to come and work together to quickly resolve this marathon issue of a permanent skate park in our community.

I couldn't agree more. It is crucial and critical that Dr. Baird and the entire School Board be present for this special City Council / Community meeting. It is unfortunate that City Staff chose to schedule this meeting on the same night as your regularly scheduled School Board meeting. I believe that Dr. Baird has come down on the wrong side of the discussion and it is negatively impacting the public opinion of the OUSD. I think to move your meeting over to the City Council chambers that evening would send an important message to the community and demonstrate your commitment to the topic, regardless of the final solution.

A skate park resource page is available at http://www.ojaipost.com/ojai-skate-park.shtml

Thank you for reading. I look forward to seeing you soon.

If you'd like to send your own email, you can contact Steve by e-mail at stevefields1@sbcglobal.net (note: his email address was publicly posted on the OUSD web page).

It is so disrespectful of everyone's time to schedule the meetings on the same night! It stands to reason that the school board should listen to the citizen's comments to the city council.

Hasn't it become very obvious that the City Council and the Ojai Valley School board really don't care about what this group thinks? I'm sure they were very informed of each others meetings. This way it's another ploy to stall the process.

Damned right. Let's string 'em up. Git a rope.
(insert B&W video clip of villagers with pitchforks & torches here)

I'm not so sure the school board is as ambivalent toward the public's opinion as the city council has been in the past.

Hasn't it become very obvious that the City Council and the Ojai Valley School board really don't care about what this group thinks?

If, by "this group", you mean the anonymous and pseudonymous commenters who can demonstrate no constructive involvement in the issue at hand, and who instead seem only to want to polarize all of the players and set them at each other's throats, you're probably 100% correct.

Based on what I read in daily emails, what I've seen with my own eyes, and what I've heard from the principle players, citizen and elected officials alike, the day-to-day communication might be able to use a little translation and facilitation, but it's definitely there and it's definitely ongoing.

Attempting to exhort the mob mentality might serve someone's purposes, but not the purposes of those who are trying to build a skate park.

The OUSD has had a regular school board meeting scheduled on our agenda for August 19th since last December. This is our only scheduled board meeting for August.

Although the agenda is not finalized, the school board does not have the skate park on the agenda at this time. They do have many other issues that must be addressed, however, and cancelling the school board meeting to come to the special meeting of the Ojai city council is not an option for our board. I am sorry for the scheduling conflict because our district does have an interest in this discussion and we need to be included in the conversation. My recommendation would be to cancel the special meeting of the City and schedule it at a later time.

Hello (echo, echo- Wake up!) - Do you all realize that our kids are listening in? The word is out on the street that the Skate Thread on the Ojai Post is the place to watch the adults fling mud.
This conversation has deteriorated quite a bit and has become embarrassing!

Can we please show our youth how we resolve issues with both authenticity AND respect?
Our kids learn by example so let's try and work towards resolution and not break the communication down further.
Skate Ojai has worked very hard to build good relations with both the City Council and the School Board. There are clearly issues and areas of disagreement, but these comments are quickly unwinding any cooperative efforts. They are not helping at all. We have a 15 1/2 year lease to live out together and it would be best to keep it at least civil. Let's find ways to move forward.

It seems the schedule conflict for the meeting on the 19th cannot be resolved. It has taken heroic efforts to get the City Council, the Parks and Rec Dept, the Planning Commission and Skate Ojai to this special meeting on the 19th. This is the ONLY agenda item! It would be disastrous to cancel it.

It is clear an additional meeting needs to be scheduled or one of these two Ojai organizations need to cross the street and attend each other's formal meetings, and SOON.
(See the scheduled meetings planned by the Parks and Rec. Skate park timeline at the bottom of this email)

The purpose of the special city council meeting on Tuesday, August 19th is:
1) Parks and Rec. staff to inform the City Council and the public of the progress with the Skate Design and Build firms' RFQ/RFP process.
2) To confirm once and for all that the $361,000 raised is sufficient funds to build a stellar in-ground cement park.
3) Review the timeline set by Dale, the Director of the Parks and Rec. Dept. on the skate park construction.

Once the City Council is confident these areas are set, I am certain there will also be a direct calling for:

1) The City Council members to meet with the School Board.
2) The City Council to issue a formal letter exercising our option for the additional square footage for the planned park already designated in our existing lease.
3) Skate Ojai and the skaters to be involved in the Skate Park design and building process.

Here are the scheduled meetings set for the next few weeks:
Aug 18- Skate Design companies interviewed by Parks & Rec and Skate Ojai.
Aug 19- Special Skate Park City Council Meeting
Aug 26- Regularly scheduled City Council
Meeting.
Aug 26 - Skate Design firm hired.
Sept. 2-27th - Skate Design firm holds workshops to get input from community.
Oct. 1 - Parks and Rec. and Planning Comm. Meeting. Skate Park design firm presents two park concepts.
Oct 7th - OUSD School Board meeting - City staff presents formal request for approval of park design at current location.

I encourage you all to attend one or both of the meetings next Tuesday the 19th. (OUSD 7:00 and City Council 7:30) Make your voice heard, but please speak your truth with honor and respect for your neighbor.

Chances are good in Ojai, they will be next to you in line tomorrow at the bank! :)

One of many
Skater Moms

To Skater Mom #62: Though I don't who you are, I assume you speak with some authority since you have information that has been lacking here to date. If my assumption is correct, I thank you for the update and hope that it may help dispel some of the misconceptions and theories.

This Forum is one of our opportunities to share together as a community and it can be very beneficial to hear and understand different viewpoints. At this point, my desire would be to hear from leaders in Skate Ojai on how best we can proceed going into the Special Meeting. If members of the public are to stand up and talk, what is the message we want to send?

With thanks.

Skate Ojai Meeting wants to Go Forward with City Council Meeting

I attended the Skate Ojai meeting tonight. I am not speaking for Skate Ojai, but it was my impression:

1. They want to go forward with the Special City Council meeting and not delay the project.

2. They feel there is no reason to include the School District in the meeting because there is a valid 15 year lease on the property.

3. Skate Ojai’s expectations for the meeting is an up-or-down vote by the City Council on the skate park, in the ground, where it is located today with the additional lease option of approximately 3,000 sq. ft.

4. Skate Ojai would like an opportunity to speak more than the usual 3 min to give the public some background on the project, and to thank the citizens for the support.

There were good spirits at the meeting and they are looking forward to a unanimous vote at the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008.

Just to clarify Pat's item #2 re: including the School District in this special meeting.

Skate Ojai definitely wants to include the School District in discussions about the skate park and would be very happy if the School District could attend this meeting. There is much we could discuss; timeline, brainstorming how bike paths could go through the property, solar lighting for the skate park that could benefit the school, etc.

But the meeting was not called for the purpose of discussing the lease, as it is already in place as Pat mentioned. The meeting was called to inform ALL parties of the progress and to move the project forward.

So,given the conflict in schedules, the special meeting will still take place and anyone who misses it can watch it on the local channel or contact the City Council members or Chet Hilgers, president of Skate Ojai via the website with questions.

Thanks,
See you all there on the 19th!

Why hello fellow Ojains-

I just wanted to chime in with two little analogies that i believe may help non-skateboarding community members get a perspective on a couple of important issues involved in the new skatepark development.

#1- If a new public golf course was to be made, who would you rather have design and build it, seasoned golfers or someone who has never held a golf club in their hands? (This one is obviously regarding who is qualified to design and build our new skatepark- a skater owned and operated firm or some playground company.)

#2- If there was a public pool right in the middle of downtown Ojai, which would you rather swim in and for that matter look at everyday, an in ground pool or an above ground prefabricated jobber? (This one is supposed to make you want the in ground concrete park as opposed to a park with modular above ground obstacles.)

I hoped these comparisons aid in the understanding of the importance of these two issues. I also want to thank all the donors, the City Council members and Skate Ojai (especially Wendy Hilgers) for bringing this awesome and much needed skatepark come to fruition.

-Dave England, local skateboard rider

Thank you everyone for all your support! And a huge thank you to the City Council for officially noting the city's commitment to an in-ground cement skate park at the current location. This vote is a statement that will propel us forward beyond a proposed timeline and into actual ground breaking.
This was such an incredible example for our youth of civics in action and we should all be very proud of our town. We all, young and older (not old mind you :) have worked together to take this through the process.

I feel so blessed to live here in Ojai. I'm proud we have shown our kids that the commitment of individuals can make a difference, and then when paired with the cooperation of a community the results are GRAND!

Onward...

As newly registred member i only wanted to say hi to everybody, even though i know that nobody really gives a damn :-)

Damn glad to meet you! Welcome!

Is this gonna end someday??

Great News!

Site Design has been selected as our skate park designer. They presented last night at City Council and are signing the contract this morning.

You can check them out at www.sitedesign.com. They built the skate park in Tony Hawk's back yard, The Black Pearl Park in the Caymen Islands and a hundred others across the US.
They will be posting a schedule of the community meetings to get input on the park design and elements. We will post it here as well as on the Ojai Skate Park website. (www.ojaiskatepark.com).

The target completion date is by spring break '09.

Thanks!

Hi Skater Mom - thanks for the update - looks like we need a URL clarification, correct? I assume these are the guys (and gals)?
http://www.sitebuildgroup.com/index2.php

Thanks Tyler for the clarification.

It is actually http://www.sitedesigngroup.com.

Sorry for the error everyone.
Brian Moore is the gentleman who did the presentation at the City Council meeting and he is a Director with the firm.

They did indeed sign the contract today. Plans are to move forward.

Have fun this weekend,
SM

As I understand things from sources very close, the New Vision group wants the property and OUSD want them to have it. New Vision have apparently indicated to OUSD that they do not object to the skate park on that property. However, they have also indicated that if Skate Ojai were open to it, they would make available a suitable property around the corner on Montgomery St. for an inground skate park to be built. Does anyone have any further information about this?

Ojai Valley News Article August 29, 2008 Article “Council moves quickly on plans for skate park”

I just wanted to set the record straight about demolishing the skate park at the end of the lease in 2023.

According to Monte Widders Status report of October 12, 2007 that was made public at the August 19, 2008 special City Council meeting (The Agency referred to is the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Ojai that leases the property from OUSD):

“If the Agency continues the use of the Parking Facility and the Skating Facility until the end of the Second Extended Term (or any successive extended term), both the Parking Facility and the Skating Facility become the property of the District and the Agency is not required to remove the improvements thereon.”

The report goes on to say:

“CONCLUSION”
“The Lease is currently in full force and effect, not cancellable by either the Agency or the District prior to the expiration of its current Second Extended Term (December 31, 2023) unless either party violates some provision or obligation contained within the Lease's terms”.

As I brought up at the special City Council meeting, at the end of the lease in 2023, OUSD may prefer to extend the lease beyond 2023 rather than incur the cost to remove the park.

If anyone would like a PDF copy of the Monte’s report, drop me an e-mail at pat@riverchildren.net .