Residents press council over dog‑run repairs and pavilion reservations at Mountain View Park

Donna Johnson, a resident, told the City Council that the small‑dog run at Mountain View Park (formerly Fourth Street Park) had not been fixed despite information circulated to neighbors saying it had been repaired. She said residents were upset and she asked staff to follow up.

Johnson also said residents reported people were roping off and leaving items at the park pavilion to reserve shade seating and that some non‑English speakers had posted signs and tablecloths; when residents removed unattended items some of that material was cut, she said. Johnson asked the city to clarify how the public could determine whether the pavilion had been reserved.

A staff speaker responded that the dog‑run fencing has not yet been fully installed because the city initially received only one roll of fencing; additional rolls were ordered and staff expected installation later in the week. On the pavilion reservations, staff said Calimesa had suspended formal park reservations after the COVID closure and never resumed the reservation process because of limited staffing and the additional overtime costs that weekend enforcement would require. Staff said the current reservation fee does not cover the administrative and enforcement costs and therefore reservations are not currently being actively processed or enforced.

Staff encouraged residents to continue documenting incidents and said staff would use the park’s enclosed bulletin box and other notice methods to provide clearer information about reservations and pavilion use. The council and staff said they will consider solutions, but no formal policy change or vote was taken at the meeting.