Residents urge council to prioritize full-size Mira Mesa recreation center; council signals support

Residents of Mira Mesa told the City Council on Oct. 29 they want the next recreation center to be built at Mira Mesa Community Park and demanded the city honor the community's 2005 General Development Plan. Public commenters said they had submitted petitions signed by 500–600 residents and requested the council prioritize a 15,000-square-foot, full-size recreation center in Mira Mesa rather than directing funds to other projects.

One commenter said, "We are here on behalf of the 500 plus Mira Mesa community members who signed a petition requesting that you honor the 2005 general development plan and build a full size rec center at Mira Mesa Community Park." Another speaker asked the council to allocate funding ‘‘before directing city funds to projects like the Carroll Canyon Road extension.''

Councilmember Von Wilpert thanked residents for their advocacy, noted the project's long-standing community support, and said he would support the consent agenda item while asking staff how to prevent future use of expired contracts on similar projects. Deputy director Jason Grine of Engineering Capital Projects explained the expired-contract situation: the department had rebid the contract and temporarily stopped work until scope and alternates were negotiated. Von Wilpert said he would support the item despite the contract timing issue and urged additional staffing and process improvements.

The consent agenda containing item 52 was approved by council vote.