HomeMy WebLinkAbout091421 - Public Comment9.14.21 City Council Meeting Emailed Public Comments
From: Amoreena & Scott
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2021 12:15 PM
To: Susan Funk <sfunk@atascadero.org>; Heather Moreno <hmoreno@atascadero.org>; City Clerk
<cityclerk@atascadero.org>; Charles Bourbeau <cbourbeau@atascadero.org>; Mark Dariz
<mdariz@atascadero.org>; Heather Newsom <hnewsom@atascadero.org>
Subject: East Mall at Centennial Plaza
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
Hello City Council Members
I am writing regarding the agenda item to review the East Mall at Centennial Plaza. You have a
wonderful opportunity to craft an area that will be useful for residents and visitors alike. As our
restaurant and retail space expands downtown, this area would be a terrific place for a family-
friendly space to mingle while waiting on a table or to enjoy a scoop of ice cream after a movie.
In order to make this space suitable for these type of events, a public restroom and an
interactive play space would be ideal. This would allow visitors and residents alike to spend
more time downtown, and thus likely generate more revenue.
As Atascadero continues to grow, family-friendly public spaces are going to help set the tone
that will bring families to live and work in Atascadero.
Sincerely,
The Anker Family
On Sep 14, 2021, at 10:41, Liz Enriquez-Phillips wrote:
Esteem members of the City Council,
What a great opportunity to make the Centennial Plaza area in the Sunken Gardens more suitable for
our community as a whole and attractive for tourists and events.
A playground with a public bathroom and outside additional electricity access, like you see in other
successful urban parks in Paso Robles or San Diego, would be ideal and essential. It will bring more
visitors downtown, provide restroom facilities for families and events, and create a gathering area that
will increase attendance and revenue at local businesses.
A sculpture playground that not only looks good aestechically, but is educational and provides an area
for families to gather. Together with the public restroom with a family accommodation....families can
use this area more often and it will help keep the area clean and safe for all.
The sculpture playground could be spread out in three or four areas, like a trail and each location could
incorporate natural elements of our creek and oak forest community that makes Atascadero very
special. It would also tie into the mural at Bru Coffehouse. Helping to increase awareness of our unique
natural resources for our community and visitors.
Keeping this an outdoor spot for everyone to use would ensure that the common green spaces are
protected and is much needed to preserve the character of our town.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Enriquez-Phillips
On Sep 14, 2021, at 09:13, Laurie Ferguson, Psy.D. wrote:
Dear City Council,
It's an exciting opportunity to make the Centennial Plaza area in the Sunken Gardens a magnet for
families, travelers, and our community. A playground with public bathroom, similar to Paso Robles,
brings more people downtown, provides restroom facilities for events and the farmers' market, and
creates a gathering spot that will increase revenue in local businesses.
Increase community engagement by welcoming various ages and uses, with picnic benches to eat a
lunch purchased at one or our many nearby restaurants, big kid swings, electricity for events, a small
stage area that could be rented out to school groups and private parties (with rotating interactive art
exhibits at other times, like SLO Mission Plaza does during holidays, such as "selfie walls" of flowers
during Mother's Day), and ADA access to all areas.
Creating something unique, such as an unusual play sculpture to climb on or other features that no
other playground has in the county, would draw visitors to our town.
Keeping this an outdoor spot that is for everyone to use would also honor the original spot where
Colony Days Tent City was held.
Thank you!
Laurie Ferguson, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist PSY20842
Director, Spark Psychological Services
Laurie Ferguson, Psychologist, Inc.
Member and former Ethics Chair, Central Coast Psychological Association
Former Board Member, Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center
5975 Entrada Avenue
Atascadero, CA 93422
website: www.SparkPsych.com
follow me on Twitter @DrLFerguson
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
From: Museum <>
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2021 5:46 PM
To: Lara Christensen <lchristensen@atascadero.org>
Cc: Rachelle Rickard <rrickard@atascadero.org>; Phil Dunsmore <pdunsmore@atascadero.org>
Subject: City owned lot on East Mall
Good evening Lara,
I’d like to express my views on the two city owned lots on the east mall in front of the Colony Museum.
I think a parking lot would be best suited for that location, with an enhancement to the centennial Plaza,
possibly more seating or landscaping in the parking lot area.
A commercial structure would put an privately owned Business in between Centennial Plaza and the
current city-owned parking lot.
Restrooms even though they’re desperately needed downtown, Would only add a better draw to more
encampments to set up in the location where we already have issues.
Again I think a parking lot with enhancements to Centennial Plaza would give the city and the
community the best visual enhancement to that area.
Thanks for your time
Jim Wilkins
President
Atascadero historical society