How can the community’s children get access to the school grounds on the weekends so they can have a place to play? 

 

What can be to done to install sidewalks in the neighborhood around Stefani Elementary School? What can citizens do to get broken street lights replaced?

 

These were some of the citizens’ questions addressed at the April 9^th Franklin-Beachwood Town Hall Meeting at Joe Stefani Elementary School located at 2768 Ranchero Lane in Merced.

 

Mike Nelson, Merced County Supervisor for District 3, organized this meeting, which is one of a series being held throughout District 3. The purpose is to let citizens voice their concerns about their community, and make them aware of how their government representatives can help them. 

 

Supervisor Nelson welcomed community members to the meeting, saying, “Thank you for being here and taking an interest in your community.”

 

Describing the format for the meeting, he said, “We have various departments in the county and other agencies such as CHP here tonight. They’re going to talk about what they do, and then I’m going to open it up for questions.”

 

Before introducing the speakers, Supervisor Nelson commented on an issue pertinent to the Franklin-Beachwood area, groundwater contamination which is the subject of a current lawsuit. He said, “This is not a meeting to discuss the BAC (Baltimore Aircoil Company) contamination issue or flooding issue. Since the County was named in the lawsuit, we can’t bring it up here. However, on April 29^th at 7:00 p.m., the State of California Water Resources Board will be here in this very room to talk about BAC.”

 

During the introduction of the speakers, who were typically department managers or their assistants, guests learned interesting facts about the agencies in attendance, one of which was the District Attorney’s office. According to the Chief Deputy D.A., the office filed 13,000 criminal cases in Merced County last year, and there are currently 26 open homicide cases, signaling a significant homicide issue in Merced County. 

 

According to Sgt. James Buttry, the Sheriff’s Department representative, that department responded to 50,000 calls for service in 2008. The department operates three stations in Merced County, located in Merced, Delhi and Los Banos. The department’s resources include 16 detectives, a communications center, gang unit, SWAT team, dive team, canine division, and aircraft division.

 

Some of the other county departments represented were Public Works, Fire Department, Environmental Health, Public Health, Probation, and Planning and Community Development. Some of the agencies represented were CHP, MCAG, Human Services Agency, MAP, Animal Control Services, and Child Support Services. Workforce Investment and Commerce, Aviation & Economic Development, and the offices of Congressman Dennis Cardoza, State Senator Jeff Denham, and Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani were also represented.

 

It was announced that citizens could feel free to contact Congressman Cardoza’s office at (209) 383-4455 to discuss any concerns they wanted addressed, or legislation they believed should be initiated.

 

When the meeting was opened up for public discussion, some of the concerns expressed were about student safety, since the neighborhood around Stefani Elementary School lacks sidewalks and speed bumps.

 

Supervisor Nelson addressed this problem, saying, “When subdivisions get built, one of the requirements is the developer has to put in curbs, gutters and sidewalks. But for the properties that are rural in nature, there are no sidewalks. Coming down Lobo, there’s a section that has pasture and it’s a farm site, and the sidewalk ends at the property line. Why should they be required to put in a sidewalk? So the sidewalk dead ends, and the kids have to walk out along Lobo, and when it’s raining they have to walk out in the street to get around the corner to Ranchero Lane.”

 

He continued, “On the other side where Dan Ward leads to Beachwood, there is a sidewalk, and then no sidewalk, and also the other way on Dan Ward toward Franklin, there’s a sidewalk and then no sidewalk.”

 

He said, sadly, “It’s a complicated situation. Schools don’t have to coordinate with local government to mitigate their impacts. This is kind of a hybrid area, because the areas in the subdivisions have streets and sidewalks and then you have the half-acre lots, and in those areas they don’t have curbs and gutters because that’s the nature of the rural area. It is an example of how not to build a community. Once you get houses built, it’s hard to go back afterwards and change things.”

 

He explained, “As far as how to get the sidewalks built from the school to Lobo, it’s not going to happen any time soon unless we can get a Safe Route to Schools grant from the state. We need money. It takes money to get anything done, and that’s a commodity that’s in short supply these days. It’s frustrating. I like to have answers and solve problems if I can, but there’s a lot of things that need fixing and there’s no easy answer out there. The answer is it requires better coordination between school districts and local government, and that’s an answer that applies statewide.”

 

About the situation, Supervisor Nelson concluded, “What the school district could have done is admit their school site would have impacts on the local neighborhood and that they need to provide a safe route for the children they serve. But they were in a financial crunch as well and they had to decide how to spend their dollars.”

 

Another student safety issue addressed was speeding on Ranchero Lane.

 

About the lack of speed bumps, Supervisor Nelson said, grimly, “Speed bumps have to be put in where there is a gutter and curb. There is one on Fern.”

 

A citizen exclaimed, “That’s a speed pimple! Drivers go over it at 40 miles an hour.”

 

The last student safety issue mentioned was about children crossing the street at Franklin and Dan Ward to get to and from school. About the lack of a crosswalk there, Supervisor Nelson said, “That is a good intersection to apply for funding through Safe Routes to School.”

 

A citizen asked how the children in the neighborhood could acquire access to the school grounds on the weekends to play, and the response was this issue was being noted and would be worked on.

 

The next issue addressed about the neighborhood around Stefani School was a stray dog problem. A citizen complained about four or five stray dogs running in a group, and explained that when he phoned Animal Control, there was no answer. The Animal Control representative said the department just moved to Castle Commerce Center and perhaps that was why the telephone wasn’t working, and promised that he would look into the problem.

 

The last issue addressed about the neighborhood around Stefani Elementary School was about an ice cream truck which drives on Fern at 8:30 or 9:00 p.m. A citizen complained, “It plays ‘Turkey in the Straw’ and there is a fire bell. Children shouldn’t be outside running around in the dark!” The citizen had recorded the ice cream truck’s tune and the sound of the bell and played the recording for the attendees.

 

In response, Sgt. Buttry of the Sheriff’s Department said that he would check the business owner’s permit and license, and if he didn’t have those, he would be shut down, and otherwise, he would talk to him about the residents’ concerns. Sgt. Buttry reassured the citizens that there are new noise control ordinances that apply any time citizens feel their peace is being disturbed.

 

A citizen complained about a broken street light on her block. The response was that she should call the Merced County Public Works Department and report it.

 

A citizen complained that when only one car is stopped at the intersection of Beachwood and Santa Fe, the signal remains red for too long, and needs to be adjusted. He said, “It doesn’t change with one car.”

 

One citizen complained about the dilapidated dorms at Castle Commerce Center. The response was that the buildings near Big Creek Lumber have asbestos, mold and lead-based paint and need to be demolished. It is hoped that Federal money will be acquired to take down the eyesores, and that something new can be built.

 

A citizen complained that she doesn’t feel comfortable taking walks around Black Rascal Creek because of the tent city and dogs. The response was that the city of Merced halted their procedure to enforce the ordinance removing homeless camps, and that the CHP cannot take any action against unless the homeless people are on private property. However, the trees on Old Santa Fe have been cut down, which reduces places where the homeless camp. It was announced that the Human Services Agency can find housing for children that are homeless.

 

One citizen commended Supervisor Nelson, the Sheriff’s Department and the CHP on their roles in assembling the anti-gang task force during the last several years. He said, “The criminals were breaking down our doors, but the last couple years, the criminals have been subdued, arrested and prosecuted, and you got them off our streets.”

 

A citizen who used to live in Arizona explained that when she lived in that state, there was a respite care center where she could drop off her child who has ADHD, for a few hours. She asked if there was a respite care center in Merced for a teen with ADHD, who is bipolar. The response was there is a Wellness Center for teens in Merced.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Supervisor Nelson announced that the county has a new website where citizens can report issues in their neighborhoods, such as potholes or graffiti. The website’s address is www.co.merced.ca.us. 

The next Town Hall meeting will be held on May 7^th at 7:00 p.m. at Rivera Middle School in Merced.