City Council Approves Additional Funding for Arbolitos Project

The City Council approved a resolution to allocate more funding for the lights project after months of hurdles.

The resolution, which was approved by a 3-0 vote, will allocate enough money to cover the $781,645.50 cost of the project.

"This is a great compromise," said Councilman Jim Cunningham who noted the debate on the project. "This is money well-spent and time well-spent."

The approved resolution grants the city the ability to spend $250,000 from the Park Development Fund and $60,000 from the General Fund, though the $60,000 is being offset by donations from the Poway Youth Soccer League on the project initially approved in last year. The bid is being granted to , which offered to do the project at the lowest rate.

An additional $110,000 from the General Fund was appropriated for the cost of a legal battle with a Poway resident who claimed the installation of lights could impact gnatcatchers, a threatened California species. A San Diego Superior Court . The city's legal fees totaled $360,000.

Three public comments were offered at the meeting, including those of community leader Joe St. Lucas and Peter De Hoff, who led the lawsuit against the city.

Both raised questions about the timing of the lights and the intensity of the light to the surrounding animals.

In response to their concerns, Development Services Director Bob Manis said the city staff determined the times and placement of the lights after working with a lighting consultant and biologist.

Lucas also said he was concerned with the cost of the project—a significant increase in the October estimate that set the project at about $700,000.

Councilman John Mullin also raised the same concern and asked that staff "identify the areas" in the estimate that caused the miscalculation so that similar projects wouldn't have the same problem.

Council members Merrilee Boyack and Dave Grosch abstained from the vote because their properties are near the park.

In other council business:

• Council members adopted a resolution waiving the parking fee at Lake Poway for active-duty service members. The estimated revenue lost from the measure is $4,000 to $5,000 annually, which Cunningham said is money "well-spent" in honor of service members. 
• Council members adopted a resolution establishing the amount of special tax within the Community Facilities District.
• Council members adopted a resolution to renew the taxes, fees and assessments for the current fiscal year.
• Council members approved a Minor Development Review Application to construct a 6,704-square-foot home with a 1,144-square-foot detached garage and a 502-square-foot detached guest house on Sunset Ridge Court.
• A public hearing regarding the temporary prohibition of the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries, collectives and cooperatives was rescheduled to a . Grosch expressed concern about the time of the meeting, saying it was "not the best time for the public."