From: Smith, John
To: Lemos, June
Subject: FW: Please make more tennis courts in the City Date: Monday, October 24, 2022 8:32:51 AM
John Smith
Director of Public Works
City of Fort Bragg
(707) 961-2823 ex. 136
From: Debra Bieber <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2022 5:55 PM
To: Smith, John <[email protected]>
Subject: Please make more tennis courts in the City
Dear Mr. Smith, City Council and Mayor;
I recently read the staff report/agenda item for the 8B for the October 24 Council Meeting. The title being, Receive report and provide direction to Staff regarding options for Pickleball and Tennis Players at Bainbridge Park.
First this is a misleading title, there are no options for Tennis players included in this report, there are only less options to play tennis as there is a suggestion of adding permanent pickleball nets which limits tennis at the park by 50%.
Second by the report analysis, the maximum number of tennis players who can use the courts at one time is 8, but the number of "boisterous" pickleball players who could use the courts at one time is 32. The environmental impact, especially noise, traffic, sanitary facilities (bathrooms and water), and parking caused by quadrupling the number of players who could use the courts at one time should be studied and considered by council before making this irreversible change.
Third, tennis requires a unique facility with high fences and permanent nets, such as currently exists at Bainbridge park. Pickleball does not require permanent nets or high fences. Degrading a unique asset to accommodate a lower investment facility makes no sense.
Finally, there appears to be an empty field between the C.V. Starr Center and a shed just west of the handicap parking. I think with the monies proposed here certainly this area, which is protected from the wind, could be paved and permanently striped for pickleball. Even the limited activities (such as craft fairs) that currently occur here would benefit from paving this area. A 4" base would 2" asphalt overlay would certainly be sufficient to create an ideal Pickleball surface and within the allocated budget. There are more bathrooms at C.V. Starr
Tennis is a sport that can be enjoyed by active seniors as well as a High School sport. The current courts are used by aspiring high school players as well as many senior citizens. Taking away a unique facility to create a facility with much less expensive requirements would be a huge mistake.
The tennis community has been lobbying for more courts for some time and had meetings and discussions with the school board and superintendent. The agenda item itself is misleading as there are no options presented for tennis players or mention of the tennis players request for additional facilities in this report. The item itself seems to have neglected the needs of Tennis Players.
Sincerely Yours,
Debra Bieber, PE
From: Smith, John
To: Lemos, June
Subject: FW: Agenda Item 8B
Date: Monday, October 24, 2022 8:32:21 AM
John Smith
Director of Public Works
City of Fort Bragg
(707) 961-2823 ex. 136
From: Karin Uphoff <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2022 9:40 PM
To: Smith, John <[email protected]>
Subject: Agenda Item 8B
Dear Mr. Smith, City Council and Mayor;
In regards to staff report/agenda item 8B for the October 24 Council Meeting.
The title being,
Receive report and provide direction to Staff regarding options for Pickleball and Tennis Players at
Bainbridge Park.
There are no options for Tennis players included in this report, there are only less options to play tennis as there is a suggestion of adding permanent pickleball nets which limits tennis
at the park by 50%.
According by the report analysis, the maximum number of tennis players who can use the courtsat one time is 8, but the number of pickleball players who could use the courts at one time is
32. The environmental impact of quadrupling the number of players who could use the courts at one time should be
studied and considered by council before making this irreversible change.
Tennis requires a unique facility with high fences and permanent nets, such as currently exists at Bainbridge park. Pickleball does not require permanent nets or high fences. Degrading a unique asset to
accommodate a lower investment facility makes no sense.
Finally, there appears to be an empty field between the C.V. Starr Center and a shed just west of the handicap parking. This area, which is protected from the wind, could be paved and permanently striped for pickleball. Even the limited activities (such as craft
fairs) that currently occur here would benefit from paving this area. A 4" base would 2" asphalt overlay would certainly be sufficient to create an ideal Pickleball surface and within the allocated budget. There are also more bathrooms at C.V.
Starr Center for the number of anticipated players.
Tennis is a sport that can be enjoyed by active seniors as well as a High School sport. The current courts are used by aspiring high school players as well as many senior citizens. Taking away a unique facility to create a facility with much less expensive requirements would be a huge mistake.
The tennis community has been lobbying for more courts for some time and had meetings and discussions with the school board and superintendent. The agenda item itself is misleading as there are
no options presented for tennis players or mention of the tennis players request for additional facilities in this report. The item itself seems to have neglected the needs of Tennis Players.
Karin Uphoff
--
Karin C. Uphoff
author of Botanical Body Care
www.karinuphoff.com
October 22, 2022
Re: Agenda item 8B for the October 24 Council Meeting
Dear Mr. Smith, City Council and Mayor,
In reviewing the report I was very surprised to read the options presented for pickle ball and tennis players. As a member of the tennis community, I am not aware of any tennis players being consulted for input on possible solutions. This issue has been going on for months. Fairness and due diligence would have required staff to consult with both sets of players in preparing this agenda item; there was no attempt at collaborative problem solving. I know that the tennis community has written letters in the past and attended meetings. I am very concerned about the report preparation process that has led to a very one-sided set of solutions.
There are only two public tennis courts on the coast which has had a long tradition of tennis as part of its recreational culture. And many of us in our 70’s and 80’s are still playing. We do not want to be placed in such a competitive resource situation with other community members. We all want the same thing-to enjoy the outdoors; and yes we tennis players also engage in a “relaxed fun sport” and do not discriminate playing with each other based on age.
Even if we can’t reach consensus on how to solve the problem, the City can act as a mediator working with both sides, trying to reach a compromise. A compromise that satisfies needs of both the pickle ball players and the tennis players.
Thank you,
windflower
From: Smith, John
To: Lemos, June
Subject: FW: more tennis courts
Date: Monday, October 24, 2022 8:31:50 AM
John Smith
Director of Public Works
City of Fort Bragg
(707) 961-2823 ex. 136
-----Original Message-----
From: Marsha Jeffries <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2022 12:33 PM
To: Smith, John <[email protected]>
Subject: more tennis courts
Dear Mr. Smith,
The tennis community wants more tennis courts and that fact was not included in the agenda item and no tennis players seem to have been consulted.
I emailed Moneque Wooden at CVS, to inquire about Pickle Ball courts being made on the north side of the Center.
It is a flat graveled area, also there might be space on the south side, but more prep would need to be done.
Hopefully utilizing the Rec Center's property would be a good choice.
It was great to hear that the Middle School courts may get refinished.
It looked like you were giving all courts to Pickle Ball. If that is so would the Bainbridge Courts be re painted to be tennis only. These are the only to courts available to the tennis community.
Thank you,
Marsha Jeffries, tennis player
--
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. www.avast.com
From: Smith, John
To: Lemos, June
Subject: FW: City Council mtg 10-24-22 Agenda Item 8B /Bainbridge Parks Courts Date: Monday, October 24, 2022 8:31:19 AM
John Smith
Director of Public Works
City of Fort Bragg
(707) 961-2823 ex. 136
From: RUTH ANN CONNER <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2022 6:45 PM
To: Smith, John <[email protected]>; [email protected]; Ducey, Peggy <[email protected]>
Subject: City Council mtg 10-24-22 Agenda Item 8B /Bainbridge Parks Courts
1. Restriping: They can restripe it. It's already not a good tennis court with just 2 courts striped. 4 courts striped would make so many lines it would be impossible to play a good game of tennis. The netting and gate would help.
2. Pickleball players being allowed to put tape on the 1 good tennis court would not work.
They have enough players to always have someone who could hold the court until their next 2 hr. game. There is no way to enforce a 2 hr. time frame or put a limit on what sport is being played. If they are getting 4 courts, can we at least still have one designated court for tennis!! They should NOT have the permission to tape the tennis court on the west side.
3. They should Not have permission to put their tape on the basketball court. Random players are always just dropping in to shoot a few baskets. All ages use the basketball courts. They are used very often. There is no way that the pickleball players should be able to interfere with this drop in policy. There is no way to enforce any regulations or time frames.
4. Yes, to improving the courts at the Middle School. This would be very good to have 2 more tennis courts available. However, they will not be usable to the public during school hours.
That leaves the 1 court at Bainbridge available for tennis players. Please do not let the pickleball players mess it up.
Thank you for your consideration of these matters. Ann Conner/tennis player From: William Grace Frost
To: Lemos, June
Cc: Debra Wagner
Subject: Pickleball proposal for city council meeting
Date: Friday, October 21, 2022 2:19:03 PM
Dear June and City Council,
I am writing in favor of the proposal to increase the number of Pickleball courts in Ft. Bragg. I am 70 years old and an avid player, even though I have only been at it for a few months.
It's evident that more courts are in dire need as evidenced just this morning (Friday) when there were 14 Pickleball players in attendance, all trying to get a turn on just two courts! By cmparision, for the 3 1/2 hours I was there, there were just 4 tennis players present for about one hour, and the rest of the time the tennis court was empty.
As the fastest growing sport in America, the need for
Pickleball courts is only going to get more dire. I was just reading that a number of cities are now creating complexes of 32 - 40 courts!! Please do all you can to increase the courts on which we can play. Thank you.
In respect and gratitude,
William
William Grace Frost
Executive Coach, Creative Team Facilitator & Sacred Earth Artist 707-318-9565
"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it." RUMI
From: Alis Valencia
To: Lemos, June
Subject: City Council mtg 11/24 Pickleball agenda item
Date: Thursday, October 20, 2022 7:56:11 PM
To Members of the Fort Bragg City Council:
I would like to offer the following comments on Item 8B. Receive Report and Provide Direction to Staff Regarding Options for Pickelball …:
I am a pickleball player who advocates the creation of additional court space to play the game.
I am, however, concerned by the lack of fairness reflected in the proposal to allocate one of the tennis courts at Bainbridge Park just to pickleball players. We double our opportunity to play games; the tennis players lose one-half of their opportunity. For the time being, the compromise solution—not the first choice of anyone, but equally fair in its inconvenience—is to stripe the west tennis court for pickleball use also.
Plans for turning two of the four tennis courts at the middle school into pickleball courts are great, but please note that non-students will only be able to play outside school hours, mainly on the weekends. This is not sufficient to meet the needs of a growing pickleball player contingent that plays mostly on weekdays.
My suggestion is that the City (with the help of players) explore building new pickleball courts in the space just to the south of the CV Starr Center. Having a dedicated space will help meet needs and also provide the foundation for the City to be a host of pickleball tournaments.
A zealous campaign of fundraising and grant applications could turn this into a reality within a relatively short time (3-4 years?).
Thank you,
Alis Valencia
Alis Valencia
18875 Trillium Lane
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
707.964.7964 tel
707.461.6194 fax
From: K Silva
To: Norvell, Bernie; Morsell-Haye, Jessica; Peters, Lindy; Albin-Smith, Tess; Rafanan, Marcia Cc: Lemos, June; Smith, John
Subject: Public Comment - Agenda Item 8B - 24 October 2022 City Council Meeting Date: Monday, October 24, 2022 3:04:49 PM
Dear Mayor Norvell and Fort Bragg City Councilmembers~
I was surprised to learn that plans are being proposed to expand pickleball playing at the Bainbridge Park tennis courts with no notice or reaching out to the tennis players or the homeowners in the area to garner their input. Both will be greatly affected by these plan options. The report is titled “Receive Report and Provide Direction to Staff Regarding Options for Pickleball and Tennis Players at Bainbridge Park” but the only options for tennis players at Bainbridge Park are to have their opportunities to play there curtailed and/or the quality of their time there lessened due to the startling clacks of pickleball being played at close range unless new pickleball courts are created elsewhere.
With a bit of patience and effort, including fund-raising if necessary, on the part of the pickleball group as a whole, they could help create 8 dedicated pickleball courts of their own at the Middle School, as mentioned in Option 4 or, as was suggested by a pickleball player at a Public Works meeting, at the CV Starr Center. Neither of those options would push the tennis or basketball players off of their courts.
Pickleball may be growing in popularity but tennis certainly isn’t waning here. A lot of young people were inspired by the Williams sisters to learn to play tennis yet there is no information about tennis in the report. Generally, if a new activity is proposed then a new place is created for it. To steamroll over the tennis players just because another group comes along and wants to take their space does not expand opportunities for everyone. Who is going to explain to the three different groups of children I saw playing tennis on the courts on Saturday that they can’t do that anymore? Or the family who plays tennis on both courts, with the mother on one and the father on the other while teaching their kids? Or tell the persons with developmental disabilities who play basketball that they can’t play because pickleball players have decided to use their court that day? Why create a situation where tennis or basketball players can no longer play on what is a dedicated court as they do now? Where is the consideration for everyone in the first 3 options? As they can set up anywhere, pickleball players already have more opportunities to play than either of the other sports. While understanding that pickleball can’t be played at the Middle School while school is in session, Option 4 seems to be the only fair and considerate option if the CV Starr Center is off the table.
Usually, if expanded use of an area is proposed then parking availability comes into the planning. Nothing about parking is included in the report. There is no off-street parking in the area. We have not had constant parking problems until pickleball.
Four courts means at least 16 players and at least 16 additional cars parked on our block as they like to play together and stay to visit or rotate on and off the courts.
Currently, the players’ cars are parked for hours and it’s rare to find a place to park on our street when they’re here. Expansion will reduce parking availability for the residents even more, in addition to users of Wiggly Giggly, the tennis and basketball courts, the park for parties, the library, the Veterans Hall and the upcoming soccer courts.
There is a large parking lot at the Middle School that could accommodate the cars should the group be willing to do what will be needed to make that option happen.
The CV Starr Center was created as a space specifically for active recreation.
Although that location was suggested by the pickleball group at Public Works meetings but not mentioned in today’s report, creating courts there would not create parking problems for nearby residents either. It is more in keeping with planned, active recreation. The CV Starr Center is always trying to expand membership to keep afloat and pickleball courts there could be a way to draw more attention to the center.
Sound remediation is not addressed in the report. Bainbridge Park is intended to have both active and passive recreation and pickleball is not compatible with a pleasant passive recreation experience. Kids in the playground, tennis and basketball, parties and events all make noise. I enjoy the sounds of people, especially the children, having fun in the park. But the sound of the pickleball is sharp, loud and startling and distracting. I can’t imagine a small gathering in the park, the Veterans Hall holding a ceremony, or the library having an activity there with the sound of 16 people clacking 4 pickleballs in the background.
Community-minded developers who create pickleball courts in areas won’t do so within 100 feet of residential areas. Our house and our neighbors’ house are 78’ away from the tennis court fence. The house to the south of the tennis courts is a mere 10’ away. It is recommended that developers erect sound barriers and require the quieter rackets if approaching down to a 100’ distance. Some also require the quieter ball style. The constant clack can even be clearly heard inside our upstairs rental over the garage at about 200’ away. And that’s with all of the windows closed. There is good reason that sound issues with pickleball are so common.
Regardless of where the courts are located, sound barriers and quieter rackets and balls should be required in consideration for the neighborhood and activities nearby.
I urge you to plan this with consideration for every member of the community in mind. Collaboration between the City, the School District, the Recreation & Park District and the well-organized pickleball group can readily create 8 dedicated pickleball courts for their play at the unused courts at the Middle School and/or create new courts at the CV Starr Center with the intention of expanding membership. The courts don’t need the high fencing that tennis needs to keep the balls in the court. It will be great for the pickleball players to have dedicated courts and for the tennis players to continue to enjoy their more highly focused game without disruptive noise distraction. Either of these options give everyone fair chance to play their chosen sport on their courts while allowing Bainbridge Park to remain a popular place for both active and passive recreation as intended.
Sincerely~
Kathy Silva
From: Smith, John
To: Lemos, June
Subject: FW: Pickleball courts (on the city council agenda for Oct 24 meeting) Date: Monday, October 24, 2022 2:58:19 PM
John Smith
Director of Public Works
City of Fort Bragg
(707) 961-2823 ex. 136
From: Bill Casalegno <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 2:45 PM
To: Smith, John <[email protected]>
Subject: Pickleball courts (on the city council agenda for Oct 24 meeting) I live across from the tennis courts at Bainbridge Park. Discussion topic #4, improving the Middle School tennis courts for public use, is something that can really help provide access to the public for tennis and pickleball. As it currently stands the courts are used a lot and more courts in the community at the middle school would help provide better access and alleviate some of the parking problems that currently exist.
Bill Casalegno
From: [email protected]
To: Lemos, June; Smith, John; City Council; Ducey, Peggy Subject: Agenda Item8B for oct24 city council meeting
Date: Monday, October 24, 2022 5:18:51 PM
Mr. Smith, City Council and Mayor,
I too have read the staff report in relation to agenda item 8B, and I also am surprised and irritated that tennis players, new and longstanding, in this community have not been included in the fact-finding or research done in preparation of this report.
In fact I feel this is a disingenuous attempt at one sided self promotion by the pro-pickleball community to steal the access to the already poor public tennis facilitation in this coastal community. I don’t say this lightly because I know that was an aspect of the plan.
As a nine year high school tennis coach on the coast, I think that we need to expand access to tennis courts, not detract from existing access. Tennis is a refined historical game, and as such, deserves to be supported and fostered for healthy outdoor participation of future generations of all ages. Pickle ball is a new sport and also a fine outdoor activity, enjoyable by all ages, and should be well, if not equally represented, by facility access.
For that reason I support finding an offsite location for Pickelball specific courts so that the chance for court time and verbal or personal altercation can be prevented. Fort Bragg middle school courts or new courts at CV star would be great for this.
As an architect, I know through previous discussions with the city about the existing Bainbridge courts and the potential for improvement, that the existing courts do not meet standard specification requirements for safety space between the courts and the surrounding fences and between the two courts themselves. If the safety requirements are disregarded or made less safe by providing less space between active courts or adding an impediment like a screen between courts, the ensuing liability would be a severe burden for the city. For that reason I cannot support the expansion of the east court to four Pickleball courts.
Furthermore, as an avid tennis player, I feel that making permanent Pickleball nets with stanchions would deprive tennis players of use of that court which would negatively impact local and visiting tennis players by reducing the already limited court access by 50%.
Last Thursday afternoon, as we played tennis, we were approached by a neighbor who had printed and was handing out copies of the agenda and the proposal and wanted us all to be aware of the neighboorhood perspective. He was neither a pickleballer or tennis player, but wanted us to know that he supported the tennis use and was disappointed with the raucousness of the overloaded pickle ball courts, and the somewhat loud and irritating particular sound that that hard plastic pickle ball makes when met with a plywood racket. That noise is unfortunately endemic to the sport. This is one neighbor’s point of view but should be taken into consideration, both at Bainbridge in the middle of a residential area, as well as potential future court locations.
I do support one item listed in the proposal. That is item 1B of the discussion which suggests the addition of an additional gate on the east side, (suggest north east corner off the path not the sidewalk)as I feel that would go along way in mitigating part of the issue between Pickleballer’s and tennis players which is walking behind the game on the court during play.
Let’s just all do what it takes to get along…
Thank you for listening, and I hope more research and canvassing will take place before any changes are made.
Daniel Dickson, Architect
Sent from my iPhone
From: John Birchard
To: Lemos, June
Subject: More Pickleball courts please!
Date: Monday, October 24, 2022 6:41:43 PM
Dear Fort Bragg City Council members,
I have been playing pickleball on the very nice Bainbridge Park courts for several years. In the last year we have had a very rapid increase in new players. We now have significant wait times to play, and could definitely use more courts. I believe that Debra Wagner’s proposal to divide the two tennis courts with a fence, and to turn the current two picklyball courts into four is the best and cheapest way to accomplish this goal. I urge you to implement her proposal.
I would also like to point out that this sport is rapidly becoming the most popular new sport in the country. It is played people of all ages and skill levels. I feel that the creation of a dedicated pickleball venue in Fort Bragg could be a real draw for visitors from other parts of the country where it is often too hot to play during the summer months. It is already common for out of town visitors to choose vacation destinations where they can play pickleball, to seek out pickleball games in Fort Bragg, and join us for play.
Thanks for your time and interest.
Best,
John Birchard
707-357-4809