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Residents and council press OCTA on Margie Rice Park repairs; council adds OCTA audit update to future agenda
Summary
Public commenters and council members said Margie Rice Park remains damaged after OCTA work; the council voted 5–0 to add an OCTA audit update to a future agenda and pressed staff to pursue contractor remedies.
Public comments and council discussion on Feb. 26 focused heavily on Margie Rice Park, where speakers said work tied to the OCTA 405 project left the park eroded, with ground‑squirrel tunnels, failing ground cover and damaged irrigation.
Resident Tim Hogan told the council OCTA’s contractor reneged on a promised rock blanket for a hillside, instead leaving ground cover that died and failed to be watered. “They dug tunnels and opened holes all over the grass, destroyed the integrity of the new playground mat, and threatened the health and safety of the young children who played,” Hogan said. He urged OCTA to install the rock blanket originally promised, regrade the hill, and restore sod and playground mats.
Resident Debbie Johnson said ground‑squirrel burrows, unsafe playing surfaces and a persistent homeless encampment had limited safe park use and urged the city to prioritize repairs, noting safety concerns for children.
Council discussion acknowledged long-standing problems. Assistant City Manager Adolfo said the city has met with OCTA representatives and their contractor and is pressing for corrective action; he said negotiations could include compensation or contractor replacement. He noted Caltrans and OCTA also have interests because Caltrans cannot resume freeway control until punch-list items across jurisdictions are closed out.
Vice Mayor Manzo and other council members expressed frustration at the project’s pace and urged staff to bring a focused update. The council then voted 5–0 to add an “OCTA audit update” to an upcoming agenda so the issue can be addressed in more detail.
Ending: Council asked staff to continue pressing OCTA and the contractor to finish promised work and agreed to schedule a formal OCTA audit update for a future meeting.
