The battle to finish the Santiago creek bike trail that currently ends under a bridge, just south of the Main Place Mall and Memory Lane, in north Santa Ana, took an interesting turn today as various letters and emails that were requested by the bike trail proponents were emailed by Santa Ana City Clerk Mary Huizar to an email list of media, bloggers and trail supporters. I loaded the documents into Google Documents and you can see them for yourself at this link.
What this all boils down to is a belief by the handful of residents who don’t want the bike trail that they would be better off by denying public access to the trail, with a fence. There demands are a bit tough to make out by pay special attention to the letter sent to the City of Santa Ana by their attorney, Mark Rosen. You remember him, he was an elected member of the Garden Grove City Council and he is Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido’s lawyer, which strikes me as a bit of a conflict of interest. But there he is now representing the NIMBY neighbors.
If I understand their argument correctly, they don’t want a paved bike path to run by the creek behind their homes as paving the current unsafe dirt path would result in some brush and trees being cleared. That might be true but as I understand it the trail proponents would be okay with a dirt trail. That said, the current trail is almost impossible to navigate, in the 1.5 mile stretch behind the Fisher Park homes. It is strewn with rocks, too narrow and partially blocked by the aforementioned brush and trees, and Edison equipment.
The NIMBYs have made it clear that they will not negotiate. They don’t want the public to safely access the trail, period. Rosen does not mince his words in his letter – he even calls out State Senator Lou Correa for supporting the completion of the trail.
Mark McLoughlin
Rosen also mentions one of his clients, Janelle McLoughlin, who is married to Rancho Santiago Community College District Trustee Mark McLoughlin. He ended up on the RSCCD Board after Al Amezcua was compelled to resign, when Amezcua allegedly got caught living out of the Area he was representing. He had registered to vote at his law office instead of at his home in Morrison Park.
The McLoughlins actually teamed up with Amezcua when they worked to recall former SAUSD Trustee Nativo Lopez. The same folks riled up about the bike trail were angry because Lopez wanted to open a public school in their area. While the recall focused on ESL, it was really about stopping the building of that school. Now the same coalition wants to stop the bike trail.
McLoughlin is in a bind here as he is a friend of Mayor Pulido and I suspect Pulido is going to end up supporting the trail completion. For McLoughlin his NIMBY position is a big time risk – it makes him look like an elitist and that won’t help matters when he runs for reelection.
Attorney Mark Rosen
Rosen’s letter also mentions the danger posed by fires in the creek – that allegedly are set by homeless men. He also mentions men having sex in the creek and alleges that this activity is spilling over from nearby Santiago Park. The problem is that our police and fire men cannot safely access the Fisher Park creek area – because the dirt path is subpar and unsafe.
I don’t understand why these people are so against bike trails. Or why they rather shut out law abiding residents and their families. But at least the NIMBYs are offering to pay for the fence they want installed. Of course they should. If the land is private then they should do what they want – but if the City can negotiate a clear path that would be better for all of us.
From what I understand, Correa says there is funding in place to finish the trail. So let’s finish it already! Click here to sigh a petition to finish the trail.
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Hi Folks,
1. As stated before, we are asking the City for a "Trail" that provides "safe" travel for users such as those who walk, mothers with strollers, joggers, and bicyclists and is sustainable. "I" and many others would appreciate one that satisfies this local and regional need. Regardless of the material used, other factors such as width and routing to be safe and environmentally friendly are important.
2. It is up to the City to figure out the best design to accomplish this for all key stakeholders. First though the City has to approve it as part of their Bikeways Plan. The details of the planning comes later. There are many options (shades of grey) in trail design and construction. The solution does not need to be at either extreme but could be somewhere in-between. Go out and visit/travel the trails along creeks and in city, county, and state parks.
3. Much to their own discredit, there is misinformation being spread that this section of the creek will be made like the portion immediatly east of Tustin Ave. This short section had very few trees or plants in it before the trail. It had already been that way for decades. The new trail did not make it this way but now the public has access to improve it. Look at rest of the sections of the trail and you will see various plants that have been there for many years and many are also relatively new. We like "green" but it needs to be accessable.
4. We hope/plan to place more plants along the official trail with help (we always could use more volunteers). Orange has been supportive of volunteer groups in improving the community. I think Santa Ana wants to do the same (the City staff and other homeowners). I encourge you to put your energies to this as compared to erecting fences to keep people out.
5. Lastly, you should not be concerned that there will be more people who can enjoy this section of the creek and the areas it connects. A majority of the users will be from your own and immediate adjoinig neighboorhoods. The minority will be from other areas and they have a right to enjoy it also. We do not ask folks in Santa Ana to stay out of Orange or vice versa or say it to cities in North or South OC. The vast majority of people in Orange County are nice. Spend part of a day observing families enjoying the new creek trail in Orange and the existing one in Santigo Park in Santa Ana.
Mark- Thanks for telling me what I should be concerned with...I think that I will probably take my own advice and be concerned. The majority of people riding their bikes from the Creek Trail to the SA bike highway will not be from our neighborhoods, otherwise they would not be coming from the trail to the SA river. Just as I probably should not be concerned with out of neighborhood commuters who zoom by. I see it is a similiar issue- you don't put any validity to that which is your right, I just disagree I guess as do others.
Unfortunately, it does not seem that you can answer the paved vs dirt pathway even presuming it would be safe. A simple yes would suffice and help those who have questions instead of providing the politically correct answer of letting someone else decide that. I have a hunch that a lot of the non-immediate neighbors (i.e. those outside of Floral/W Floral Park and Morrison) are probably more in favor for it to get their road bikes from one neighborhood (their own) to the SA bike highway and not so much for the families walking around it. Our neighborhood will just be another pass through- this time for bikes instead of cars. Those of us who already enjoy the Park and the surrounding areas will get some benefit from the improved trail, but I am struggling of finding the benefits to allowing more pass through traffic.
I am not in favor of fencing people out of public space. I have not put any energy into erecting fences.
Next meeting
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Santa Ana Senior Center
Policy 1.10 Provide barrier-free accessibility throughout the circulation system.
Policy 1.11 Minimize travel impediments on bicycle and pedestrian paths.
Policy 3.6 Maximize the use of public rights-of-way for pedestrian and bicycle paths.
Policy 3.7 Support system enhancements and bikeway support facilities that encourage bicycle usage.
Policy 3.8 Develop bicycle paths that maximize access to major activity centers, neighboring jurisdictions, and regional bicycle paths.
Class I Bikeway. Provides for bicycle travel on a right-of-way completely separated from the street.
Class II Bikeway. Provides for a striped lane for one-way travel within the street right-of-way.
An existing Class I bikeway runs along the banks of the Santa Ana River, the Southern Pacific railroad tracks to the south, the Santa Ana Gardens Channel, Flower Street, and along Maple Street.
Proposed Class I bikeways are planned along Santiago Creek.
A linkage to connect the Maple Street trail to the Alton
Street trails is also planned.
Bikeway Master Plan. The City will continue to develop its bikeway system as outlined in this Circulation Element. The system of bikeways will include
both the Class I and Class II facilities described herein.
A proposed Class I bikeway is planned along Santiago Creek.
Class II bikeways proposed in this Plan include extension of the existing bikeway along Santa Ana Boulevard from the Civic Center to the Santa Ana Transportation Center.
(This is not secret information kept from the public, but has been part of the public records for years, as can seen in the date of adoption and subsequent updates.)
Adopted
February 2, 1998
(Reformatted January 2010)
This document includes revisions to the Circulation Element adopted by Santa Ana City Council March 21, 2011 (GPA 2011-01), July 6, 2004 (GPA 2004-06) and as passed by the voters of Santa Ana April 5, 2005 (GPA 2004-01).
OK, sorry for the back to back post...I just went running up the creek bed and the trail actually seems to be a pretty good nature trail. It seems in pretty good shape with solid footing. A good trail for being in the city. Definitely some low hanging trees which unless you are running with your eyes closed are pretty easily avoided. Would be difficult to ride a bike under them though. Some graffiti on the trees. Really not much garbage at all but it was dark and I just had my head lamp on so easily could have missed some otherwise visible garbage. The only area that seems to be really a hazard is all of the rocks/small boulders toward the end where the paved path ends...it seems that if they were just to even out the boulders and do some easy trimming, the trail seems to be in good shape. Definitely probably not for someone wanting to ride a bike fast or for someone just beginning to ride (i.e. small kids), but it certainly seems like a nature trail to me.
Mark,
You and the others who support this bike road, keep saying it could be a dirt path, it could wind around the trees, we could keep it natural, too bad that's not the truth.
Look what cook posted;
A proposed Class I bikeway is planned along Santiago Creek.
A Class 1 bike trail HAS to be a MINIMUM of 8 ft wide and PAVED.
A Class 1 bike trail means the total destruction of the creek bed as it is now. You can pretend that it won't in order to "sell" your plan, but the hard reality is that this portion of the creek in order to accommodate a flat 8 ft wide, paved bike road would need to be graded and built up. That means the trees have to be cut down.
There is NO other way to achieve that level of bike trail with out tons of construction.
I challenge everyone to walk the dirt path (that has been open to EVERYONE for years and years) and see for yourself the 45 degree angle of the embankment, in order for this path to be safe enough for multiple bike riders it HAS to be wide and flat. It will also REQUIRE the taking of peoples' land through EMINENT DOMAIN.
Why not tell the truth, Mark. If you want people to support your bike trail don't you think they need to KNOW the details?
Of course everyone would want to have a nice flat bike trail back there, winding through the trees, unfortunately WE CAN'T HAVE BOTH.
Let people decide on the facts;
Bike Road or trees and private property rights?
That's the question.
Hi Anonster,
I have been true in my positions that I want a trail that all types of users can enjoy. What Cook posted is what the City thinks is required to support that. I am not one to tell the City that they should exclude people from the creek as I beleave in "Leading in an Inclusive environment supporting the diverity of needs" as compared to Leading in an exclusive enviroment catering to the desires of a few without regards to the needs of the many"
If the City "thinks" that some type of a Class 1 trail may need to be placed here to achieve it, then attend the meeting and provide input. The City also has been "thinking" how to permanently fence off this creek so only the creek homeowners can use it". Thus, they are exploring options. I hope that we can all pull together and create a win-win. Personally, I do not have a strong passion for what material or width it is. I just want it to be safe,effective, sustainable, that people (families) can enjoy.
Once again, the City has the Subject Matter Experts that can best determine a Trail that will meet the needs of the community. Please stop misinforming people that it will be 15 ft wide as if you look at rest of the creek trails you will notice that is not the case. There are shades of grey even within classes of trails.
Thanks Cook for posting the info on the upcoming meeting and the agenda. It is news to me and I am glad the City is going forward to discuss this and to allow input from the citizens. This is what needs to be done.
Mark
Still NOT being truthful Mark, a Class 1 bike trail is a minimum 8 ft wide and paved.
If the bike road proponents thought their actual plan would be popular, they would tell you the truth.
Instead they are pushing for a Class 1 bike trail and pretending that they don't know what that means.
A Class 1 bike trail means CHAINSAWS, BULLDOZERS, DUMPTRUCKS and EMINENT DOMAIN.
In short, the destruction of the creek bed as it is now.
Hi Anonster,
I am being truefull. Interesting you are now stating min 8 ft wide as your earlier posts of 15 ft.
The Cities, County, and State has constructed thousands of miles of recreational trails througout the state of California. Some look great. Some do not. There are enough "concerned" citizens who love Orange, Santa Ana and especially this creek that together we can make sure it is a trail that still provides a beautiful creek.
I apologise for the wording to everyone in my earlier posting when I said "folks should not be concerned". I meant to say that you should not be "overly" concerned. By all means share your concerns but try to evaluate them based on their relative (level) of importance to the community.
We all want a better tommorrow for all to enjoy.
Remember that is 8 ft MINIMUM, a Class 1 bike trail is ideally at least 10 ft wide with at least 2.5 ft of clearance on either side, thus the 15 ft.
And FYI, I've been getting my info. from you bike road proponents, but that's like pulling teeth.
You guys are bobbing and weaving to AVOID being pinned down and revealing the ugly details of your plan, perhaps if you were more forthcoming with the truth ... crickets ... this would be a lot easier to figure out.
We ALL want a "better tomorrow", mine just happens to include nature.
Seeing the recreational bike riders in my Floral Park neighborhood makes me feel safer, just like seeing the civic center police officiers and judges jogging over the noon hour. Unlike South County cities, in Santa Ana we don't see people out and about exercising as often. I'd hate to have them all ride on a bike trail in the creek and not using streets like Riverside Drive and Riviera. Makes me feel better knowing others feel it's safe to jog and ride our in our neighborhood. It's a nice quiet ride with very little traffic so I can't imagine why they would prefer to ride in the dry creek bed.