Parks and Recreation— time for change?
As you may know, each of Seal Beach’s five districts elects its own councilperson, who’d be an outstanding leader clearly representing their own district as well as Seal Beach with knowledge and excellence.
If I’m correct, each councilperson will and within their term appoint one person (in their area) to represent the district on the current Recreation and Parks Commission.
This board (one appointed member from each district) will do its best to present and suggest improvements for all districts of the city’s Parks and Recreational needs.
It would be assumed they’d clearly represent all areas of the city, but maybe, just maybe, we could do it better with a slight and more inclusive adjustment.
I would suggest the following change; Have our five elected district councilpersons each appoint five willing and interested citizens (not just one) from their own district.
They as a group would represent that area alone and would search out the wants and needs of the citizens within their own district.
• The group would meet and agree on P&R projects within their area.
• They would report back to their councilperson with their ideas and plans.
• The area councilperson in turn, and if they agree, would present those needs and plans to the City Council for action.
What’s different today? Currently we have five individuals from five different Seal Beach areas making recommendations/ decisions for all Seal Beach districts. And at best, have limited knowledge, save their own, of all districts. Would it not be an improvement to have an up close and personal Parks and Recreation team representing their own district, reporting to their elected councilperson? Maybe the above should be part and parcel of the recent City Hall / Parks and Recreation call for assistance with the “help us plan for the future” post card we received on Dec. 27.
Arnold R. Wilkins
Seal Beach
