1 Vernice Hankins
From: Heather Baroff <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2022 4:02 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis
Subject: Agenda Item 7.A
EXTERNAL
Thank you for your attention.
As a resident of Santa Monica, I object to any joint use agreement with Santa Monica College for the pickleball/tennis courts at Memorial Park. During the day, Santa Monica College occupies many of the courts for classes and tennis practice leaving minimal time for residents to play pickleball. Pickleball as you know has become the fastest growing sport, and Memorial Park is now a haven for folks to get out, have fun and get much needed exercise. There are very few courts with pickleball lines in Santa Monica. Joint agreement would impinge on accessibility - when throughout Santa Monica, most courts are tennis specific. We need more pickleball courts, not less.
I have no objection to a joint use agreement for the fields or other tennis courts in the city.
Thank you for your help and understanding.
Sincerely,
Heather Baroff
2618 Arizona Ave., #3
Santa Monica, CA 90404
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2 Vernice Hankins
From: Elizabeth Bocanegra <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2022 12:03 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; David White
Subject: AGENDA ITEM 7.A.
EXTERNAL
Hello ‐‐
As a Santa Monica resident, I object to a joint use agreement with SMC for the use of the pickleball/tennis courts. It is difficult enough as is to find space on the pickleball courts. A joint use agreement would only further make playing on the courts inaccessible. SMC already uses the courts for classes and tennis practice, leaving minimal time for residents to play pickleball.
Best,
Liz Bocanegra, M.A.
Doctoral Student in Clinical Psychology
University of California, Los Angeles
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3 Vernice Hankins
From: Benjamin Tillis <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2022 12:00 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre; [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: AGENDA ITEM 7.A.
EXTERNAL
To Whom It May Concer.
My name is Ben Tillis and I am a Santa Monica resident (2638 28th Street). One of the main reasons I moved from Silver Lake to Santa Monica was the proximity to Memorial Park, which has a lively, welcoming and fun pickleball community.
I am writing to say that I strongly object to a joint use agreement with SMC for the use of the pickleball/tennis courts because this would further restrict the times that the very active pickleball group could play. With open play, not reserved by the college, the courts can be used for many many people, being social and staying fit. It's great for the community. Closing the courts off for use by Santa Monica College would restrict that. It would take away a huge reason why I live in Santa Monica.
Thank you so much for your consideration.
Best,
Ben Tillis
[email protected]
720‐839‐6186
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4 Vernice Hankins
From: Lesley Bracker <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2022 11:54 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre; David White
Subject: AGENDA ITEM 7.A.
EXTERNAL
Regarding Agenda Item 7.A.:
As a 30 year Santa Monica resident, I object to a joint use agreement with SMC for the use of the pickleball/tennis courts at Memorial Park. SMC already uses the courts during what used to be public play time, which means no pickleball allowed on the only pickleball courts in the city, whereas there are plenty of other tennis courts. Memorial Park is the only pickleball court in all of Santa Monica.
I have no objection to a joint use agreement for the fields or other tennis courts in the city of Santa Monica. However, I object to a joint use agreement with SMC for the tennis/pickleball courts at Memorial Park.
Thank you,
Lesley Bracker
30 year resident of Santa Monica
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5 Vernice Hankins
From: Seth Prandini <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2022 11:42 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre; David White
Subject: AGENDA ITEM 7.A
EXTERNAL
As a Santa Monica resident, I'm writing to express my objection a joint use agreement with SMC for the pickleball/tennis courts at Memorial Park.
Pickleball at Memorial has completely transformed my physical and mental health. It is a thriving community and needs to be encouraged and supported by the city council. Anything that limits the public's use of Memorial Park tennis courts for pickleball is bad for the city and for its citizens.
Please vote NO on this joint use agreement.
Thank you,
Seth Prandini
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6 Vernice Hankins
From: Lynn Soodik <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2022 8:30 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre; David White
Subject: Agenda Item 7A September 27, 2022 and in particular joint use agreement with SMC and Memorial Park master plan
EXTERNAL
Hello, I am Lynn Soodik, a long-time resident of Santa Monica (over 30 years) and a board member of the nonprofit corporation known as the Santa Monica Pickleball Club, hereinafter “SMPC”. SMPC was formed in January of this year so the public could have use of public courts to play pickleball. We have 855 members as of September 21, 2022 and we are growing weekly. We currently pay in excess of $4,000 a month to the city to reserve courts to the public to play pickleball and we would pay more if we could reserve more courts. Players don’t have to be a member to use the courts that SMPC pays the city to grant us a permit to play. If we did not pay for permits we would not be able to have the time reserved for the public. It was the only way we could get use of these public courts. Still, we don’t have enough courts and Santa Monica College and Crossroads’ use of the courts has minimized the public’s use of the Courts.
We are requesting that:
1. The City consider pickleball in the Memorial Park master plan. While you do say you want to continue to have sixteen pickleball courts/tennis courts, that doesn’t address the important issue that the pickleball public should not always be treated as second class citizens, where SMC, Crossroads and City of Santa Monica Tennis Classes always have priority and pickleball players are only allowed what is left over after the others get their first choice. What is left over is not enough! If you are not aware of the situation, the public often has only four pickleball courts (one tennis court) available for pickleball in the entire city for a continuous block of time because of the extensive use of the Memorial courts by SMC, Crossroads and the City programs that allow tennis instructors to have priority to have classes which I believe is allowed because they share revenue with the city.
While we have over 800 pickleball members there are also player that are not members of our organization that want to play on those courts. Come out on a Monday or Wednesday morning and see how few SMC players are on all three courts and how many pickleball players are on the one court we are allowed to use. Come out on Monday and Wednesday evenings and see how people are waiting 20 or more minutes to play one game. The other nights are also busy.
2. The City acknowledge that pickleball is growing and that four tennis courts is not enough for the entire city of Santa Monica even if we had exclusive use of them. Currently we only have use of them when they are not reserved, as set forth above. We would ask that you direct your staff to look into this issue.
3. The City provide pickleball courts to the public when the four tennis courts at Memorial Park are shut down for the Memorial Park Redevelopment Project. We have nowhere else to play. Your agenda recommends that you direct staff to study possible temporary relocation sites for the PLD, please instruct them to study possible relocation sites for pickleball.
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7 4. The City should stop permitting out Memorial Park to Santa Monica College and Crossroads and move the Santa Monica City classes to a different location. If the City wants to permit out courts to SMC, choose a different location.
5. While there is no objection to the City forming a joint use agreement with Santa Monica College for the fields as required by Measure V, we request that they DO NOT enter into a joint use agreement for the current and future tennis/pickleball courts at Memorial Park. I read the agenda for September 27, 2022 and the language could give readers the wrong impression of Measure V and I want to be sure no one has the wrong impression. On page 7 under “Funding” the agenda states that “[t]he contributions of College and District funding were conditioned upon programmed joint uses of the completed Memorial Park facilities.” That is not what Measure V requires. If you look under “Community Joint Use Projects” in Measure V, the language specifically states that “[t]he College will provide up to $20 million in bond funds for the expansion of the City of Santa Monica’s Memorial Park to accommodate soccer and/or other field sports for use by College students and the general public. (emphasis added.)” Your agenda implies that there needs to be a joint use agreement for the tennis/pickleball courts too and Measure V does not require the same. One could read your agenda and be under the misunderstanding that the city must have a joint use agreement for the tennis/pickleball courts to obtain funds and that is not required under the measure. SMC can play on other city courts, or they could build courts. They shouldn’t have first right to use the public courts at the expense of the public. Pickleball can’t be played on many of the City courts because they are too close to residential areas. SMC could play tennis on those courts. SMC could play at Ocean View Park where they play their matches. Crossroads could play at Marine Park. Ocean View Park has six tennis courts. While Ocean View Park may be booked, the courts are used quite a lot by tennis instructors. Why shouldn’t instructors for profit be pushed out. They are tennis businesses that run classes at public parks because they don’t have their own courts. In fact, some of these private businesses advertise the public courts as their courts! Look at the Beach City Tennis Academy and Santa Monica Tennis Academy websites. I believe tennis instructors use one-half of the available courts in the city every day. If you go to the various locations, you can see their reservations which are posted.
6. The City must address the issue of pickleball. Memorial Park is the perfect place for Pickleball since no one needs to be concerned about the noise level. We are asking that the City make all four tennis courts into pickleball courts, or if the City decides to continue to use the four tennis courts for both pickleball and tennis the City should build a pickleball center at the Santa Monica airport on the land immediately north of the dog park which is just west of Bundy. Build it to accommodate the city’s growing need for space for pickleball and make it a tourist destination and a place for tournaments to be played, which could bring in substantial revenue to the city in terms of hotel occupancy, dining and shopping.
7. As mentioned above, the City must address where pickleball players will play during the redevelopment of Memorial Park. If they started building on the Santa Monica Airport area now perhaps the courts could be finished before the courts at Memorial Park are removed. Have a master plan for a pickleball center with restrooms, water bottle filling stations, perhaps a restaurant, even if you need to build it in phases. Build two stadium courts for tournaments. Put in lighting for night.
8. Consider building pickleball/tennis courts on top of one of SMC’s parking structures for use by SMC and Crossroads for classes and tennis team practice and games while making it available to the city for city run classes in the evenings.
9. Put Pickleball on your agenda for an upcoming meeting. Don’t ignore us.
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8 For your information, on Mondays and Wednesdays, SMC has the Memorial Park courts reserved from 9:30 – 11 and 12:30 – 2. Is the gap in between classes designed to give the coaches time to provide private lessons in between classes for their own profit? Their block of time chops up the time for the community, giving the public from 8-9:30 and 11-12:30 to use courts 1, 2 and 3 in the mornings on Mondays and Wednesdays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays SMC has three courts from 11-12:35 and two courts from 12:45 – 2:05. Move SMC to another court in the city, or if you won’t do that, at least give them one block of time at Memorial Park, which I would suggest being between 1:00 pm and 3:00 p.m. to give pickleball players the morning on all four courts. Also, why does Crossroads, an expensive private school, which does not allow the public to use their swimming pool, basketball court or fields, have the courts every day from 3-5? Why is the public treated so poorly? Why do they not have priority? Why do pickleball players pay taxes for courts that they can rarely use? Why is the City Council ignoring this issue? Players can sit on a court at Memorial Park for three hours and only play three 20-minute games because of the lack of courts and the use of the public courts by the college/private schools/ private instructors etc. This is not right, and we are asking you to address this issue.
You should come to the courts in the mornings on a Monday or Wednesday and see how few SMC students occupy three courts and how packed court four is with pickleball players, as that one court is the only court in the entire city open at that time for pickleball.
I understand that everyone is clamoring for the same courts, but why does SMC and Crossroads get to exclude the public? Of the 23 public tennis courts in the city, pickleball is only allowed to be played at four, and because of the City’s continual permitting of three of these four courts to Santa Monica College, Crossroads, camps and private instructors, the courts available to play pickleball to the growing number of players is minimal
We started the non-profit club to make the activity of pickleball available for recreational play for all levels of players and at no charge. We provide equipment, we pay for permits at peak hours on the weekend and evenings, we organize round robin tournaments, and we provide pickleball instruction, with some classes limited to Santa Monica residents. We have hosted Men of Color from Santa Monica College and given them free pickleball lessons. A member has taught pickleball classes at a local elementary school. We would do more of this, but why teach children a sport where they will have no court to play on? SMPC is trying to make this city better, but we need your help.
Please address these issues. Please let me know what our group should do to get more time. Do you want hundreds of letters from our members? Do you want a petition? What do we need to do to get this issue addressed?
For now, give us at a minimum two courts at Memorial Park during the week that you do not permit out to tennis. With all the other tennis courts in the city, we are not asking for much.
Allow our organization permission to purchase nets on wheels for those two courts to stay on the court all day. They could be moved to the side if necessary. Currently we have volunteers set up the nets every morning and take them down every afternoon. Then on Mondays and Wednesday evenings volunteers set up the nets again and take them down again. When we have round robins in the evenings, we again set up the nets and take them down. It is labor intensive. We aren’t even asking the city to purchase these nets but asking that we be able to purchase them for use by the public. Everyone gets to use the courts which we permit out and the equipment we purchase, even if they are not members of the club, but still our club is ever growing! This issue is not going away. Please solve the problem before it becomes a crisis.
The language from Measure V that I have referred to is:
“Community Joint Use Projects
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9 Providing for a Joint Use Project with the City of Santa Monica. The College will provide up to $20 million in bond funds for the expansion of the City of Santa Monica’s Memorial Park to accommodate soccer and/or other field sports for use by College students and the general public. (Emphasis added)” Very truly yours,
Lynn Soodik
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From: Jessica Sklar <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2022 4:54 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre; David White
Subject: AGENDA ITEM 7.A.
EXTERNAL
To whom it may concern ‐ re: AGENDA ITEM 7.A.
Memorial Park is one of the few places in Santa Monica to play pickleball‐ and we share the courts with tennis that get priority already. I object to a joint use agreement with SMC for the use of the pickleball/tennis courts ‐ we need this space for our pickleball club (Santa Monica Pickleball Club) ‐ which allows residents of all ages, from children to elderly to enjoy a healthy, fun, community driven sport. Each tennis court has room for 4 pickleball courts, or 16 players, making the most use out of this space, with many more players on the courts, cheering and waiting. If you come to any open play time you’ll see literally over 100+ people lined up and ready to play, be healthy, socialize and enjoy our Santa Monica park space. Sharing this space with yet another organization when we have limited hours and courts already does not make sense.
Thank you for your consideration,
Jessica Sklar
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From: Helen Ario <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2022 10:38 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Letting down the older citizens of santa monica
EXTERNAL
Im surprised with the councils regard to the tennis courts at memorial park.
The 1 court is packed with over 60 players per each morning playing pickleball. The other courts are occupied with smc students learning tennis. Possibly a max of 10 players.
The many courts available around santa monica including courts at john adams school available to smc is shameful that with so many pickleball players the city refuses to give over the memorial park courts to pickleball.
Getting the older generation to get out and excercise along with allowing them social activity should be a prime consideration of the council.
Other cities and states have created exclusive pickleball courts for its residence. Considering that Santa Monica is considered forward thinking looking to create housing for homeless and sports fields for children. The fact that the residence who are paying taxes and have been for decades are limited to borrowing 1 court to play a sport that keeps them active and social is a shameful attitide.
I look forward to rhe. COUNCIL looking closely at this issue and decide to create an exclusive center for its pickleball residences.
Regards
Helen Argyriou
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From: Barbara Eskowitz <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2022 10:19 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre; David White
Subject: AGENDA ITEM 7.A.
EXTERNAL
To The Santa Monica City Council,
I object to any joint use agreement with Santa Monica College for the Pickleball / tennis courts at Memorial Park. However, I do not object to the joint use agreements regarding the fields.
I have been a resident of Santa Monica for 15 years. I began playing Pickleball 14 months ago and it has become increasingly difficult for me and other Santa Monica residents to get a court to play in Santa Monica due to the use of these courts by Santa Monica College. While the sport is becoming increasingly popular in every city and every community nationwide, as a Santa Monica taxpayer, I am finding myself having to go to other areas of Los Angeles to play because of the Santa Monica College tennis players using the Memorial Park courts. While there are many other tennis courts in Santa Monica, this is not the case for Pickleball courts. Memorial Park is the only place where Pickleball players who are Santa Monica residents can play.
Once again, I do not object to the joint use agreements of the fields, but I do object to any joint use agreement with Santa Monica College for the Pickleball / tennis courts at Memorial Park.
Sincerely,
Barbara Eskowitz
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From: Mara Berke <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2022 4:20 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Gleam Davis '[email protected]'; 'Phil Brock' <[email protected]>; 'Christine Parra' <[email protected]>; 'Lana Negrete' <[email protected]>; 'Sue Himmelrich' <[email protected]>; 'Kristin McCowan' <[email protected]>; 'Oscar de la Torre' ; 'David White' '[email protected]'; Oscar de la Torre Subject: Agenda Item 7A
EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members:
My name is Mara Berke. I am a Santa Monica resident. I was a former tennis player and now an avid pickleball player.
Please do not enter into a joint use agreement with SMC for the Memorial Courts. They are the only courts where we can play pickleball during the week. It is unfair to residents that SMC reserves two or three of the four courts on most weekdays for a few students while pickleball players are crowded into one court where we need to wait to play. SMC also does not have contiguous time leaving very small blocks of time for the public. Then they take courts again in the afternoon for their tennis team. I assume they could build their own courts or move to tennis courts where pickleball is prohibited. Please make these four courts permanent pickleball courts and keep the college off those courts. In the evenings and weekends the court is full of players of all ages. The courts in the mornings have many 50 plus players. You need to have a place for us. Also, where are we to play when you start the Memorial Park renovations? Please make pickleball a priority.
Thank you.
Mara Berke
Mara Berke
Berke Family Law
Sent from my iPhone
Please excuse any typos.
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From: Meehna Goldsmith <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2022 1:48 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre; [email protected]
Subject: AGENDA ITEM 7.A.
EXTERNAL
As a resident of Santa Monica and an avid pickleball player, I object to a joint use agreement with SMC for the use of the pickleball/tennis courts, but don’t have an issue with the going use agreements regarding the fields.
As it is, it’s hard enough to get on the courts with all the people who live here in addition to the city tennis clinics and weekday practice hours that take up 3/4 courts five days a week.
Please, do the right thing and do not allow joint use with Santa Monica College.
Best wishes,
m
Meehna Goldsmith
Mobile: 310 210 8226
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From: Jasmyne Boswell <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2022 7:01 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: AGENDA ITEM 7.A.
EXTERNAL
The Santa Monica Pickleball Club doesn’t object to joint use agreements regarding the fields, but we do object to a joint use agreement with SMC for the tennis/pickleball courts at Memorial Park..
Jasmyne Boswell
1347 Oak St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
808‐268‐5807
]
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From: Stephan H. Wasserman, CPA/ABV/CFF <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2022 10:17 PM
To: '[email protected]'
Cc: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; 'Lana Negrete'; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre; 'David White'
Subject: AGENDA ITEM 7.A
EXTERNAL
Hello‐
I have been a resident and homeowner in Santa Monica for over 25 years. I believe this is my first complaint to the city. You need to acknowledge the growing number of pickleball players, both young and old, both fit and not so fit who love the sport. In Santa Monica, Memorial Park is the only place we can play. I know that is in large part due to the noise of the game. It doesn’t make sense why you permit out the space to Santa Monica College, Crossroads and private tennis instructors who teach tennis classes? I object to any joint use agreement with SMC or anyone else. If you must share courts with SMC why not choose a location where it is not crowded with pickleball players? Why can’t they play on the courts where they play their matches? Why do you let tennis instructors rent courts in the city when you can move Crossroads or SMC to those courts? It makes sense to turn Memorial Park into a pickleball only venue or build pickleball courts at the Santa Monica airport or somewhere else. You should not put SMC before the public but if you go to the courts on a weekday morning it is clear you do. I also object to a plan to redo Memorial Park unless you have a plan for where pickleball will be played during the construction. Please note Pickleball is the fast growing sport in the country. When you look at allocation of public resources, Pickleball is a no brainer compared to Tennis. Each tennis court typically services 2 players at a time. Whereas one tennis court can be used for 4 pickleball courts where a total of 16 players can be playing. It is time to recognize the Santa Monica residents are demanding access to Pickleball courts and to address the issue.
Thanks
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5 Stephan Wasserman
Stephan H. Wasserman, CPA/ABV/CFF | Managing Partner
Litigation Services
GURSEY | SCHNEIDER LLP
1888 Century Park East, Suite 900
Los Angeles, CA 90067
P: 310.552.0960 | F: 310.557.3468 | www.gursey.com
An Independent Member of DFK International
This message (and any associated files) is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, subject to copyright, or constitutes a trade secret. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use or dissemination of this message, or attachments, is strictly prohibited. Any tax advice expressed in this communication by Gursey | Schneider LLP should not be construed as a formal tax opinion unless expressly stated. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it.
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From: Sharon Hearn <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2022 11:05 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre Subject: AGENDA ITEM 7.A.
EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council members
I am a longtime resident and homeowner in Santa Monica and would like to express my objection to a joint use agreement with SMC for the use of the pickleball/tennis courts at Memorial Park.
Pickleball is a wonderful sport, easy to play and appealing to all age groups, with physical and emotional health benefits for the community. Pickleball is an aerobic sport; since I started playing pickleball in January of 2022 I have lost weight and my A1C (diabetes blood sugar indicator) level has come down significantly.
As pickleball continues to grow rapidly in popularity, availability of the courts at Memorial Park is extremely important in keeping pickleball accessible to all.
Sincerely,
Sharon Hearn
Homeowner
1323 Maple St., Santa Monica 90405
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From: Nick Bicanic <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2022 6:22 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Phil Brock; Christine Parra; [email protected]; Sue Himmelrich; Gleam Davis Subject: AGENDA ITEM 7.A.
EXTERNAL
As a Santa Monica resident, I object to a joint use agreement with SMC for the use of the pickleball/tennis courts because there are no dedicated pickleball facilities in Santa Monica and there more people wanting to play than there are courts available every single day. It's the fastest growing sport in the US for the fifth year running.
By all means come to Memorial Park on any given weekday and see all the people that live locally lining up to play pickleball. On most days well over 100 people are waiting.
Compare that to tennis on any given day and I challenge you find any court where there are more than 4 people on average per court.
In actuality there should be some tennis courts converted to permanent pickleball use - but if we're not gonna do that - then absolutely there should be NO JOINT USE agreement.
Not to mention that there is nowhere for people to play while Memorial Park is being renovated.
Last (but not least) the lights should be fixed.
Nick Bicanic
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From: Grace Benn <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2022 8:12 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre
Subject: Agenda Item 7A Sept 27 2022 Joint Use Agreement with SMC and Memorial Park Master Plan
EXTERNAL
My name is Grace Benn and I’m the Vice President of the Santa Monica Pickleball Club (SMPC) a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and growing the inclusive community of pickleball players in Santa Monica.
We are requesting that the city of Santa Monica not form a joint use agreement for the current and future use of Memorial Park tennis courts. People want to be playing pickleball in Santa Monica. We desperately need more court space and the joint use agreement unfairly prioritizes tennis over pickleball at Memorial Park.
SMPC formed in January of this year and quickly grew to over 850 members of all ages, ethnicities, and income. Our numbers increase weekly which tracks with the current trend of pickleball being declared the fastest growing sport in America.
The good news is that so many Santa Monica residents are taking up the sport and engaging in this healthy, social, outdoor activity. The unfortunate news is the lack of court space. Currently, pickleball is only allowed to be played at Memorial Park and we are unable to accommodate all the players due to courts being reserved by SMC, Crossroads, and City of Santa Monica Tennis Camps/Classes. As a non-profit, we are able to reserve courts at a cost and currently pay over $4000/month. We’d love to reserve many more hours, but unfortunately priority is given to those other non-paying entities.
Santa Monica only allows pickleball at Memorial Park, yet we are unable to play on those courts for much of the day due to unfair reservation policies which favor those entities. One tennis court fits four pickleball courts.
Typically, our courts are all doubles games. So one tennis court easily accommodates 32 players; 16 playing, 16 waiting. Currently due to the lack of courts, we often have 48-64 players per tennis court vying for play time.
The number of pickleball playing adults displaced from utilizing the courts at Memorial Park grossly outweighs the number of SMC students, Crossroads students, city tennis camp or private class participants. Please help us address this inequality.
SMPC provides free Open Play for anyone. We provided paddles and balls if needed. None of these other entities do that. Pickleball can be played by people of all ages; multi generations can play together. SMPC is open to everyone; are these other groups providing the same reach of age, ethnicity, income etc? SMPC is inclusive and welcoming to all players of all levels. Isn’t this what Santa Monica is all about? Inclusive, welcoming, and healthy? Santa Monica has a unique opportunity to be the SoCal destination for pickleball players, but we need to act. We need dedicated courts.
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2 Additionally, we are requesting Santa Monica act now to proactively determine where pickleball will be played during the redevelopment of Memorial Park. We recommend building pickleball specific courts at the Airport Park facility in the current parking lot north of the dog park.
Thank you very much for considering our requests. We invite all council members to join our Open Play sessions. We provided paddles, balls, and instruction; come see what’s taking America by storm! Regards,
Grace Benn
Vice President SMPC
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1 Vernice Hankins
From: Robert Elbinger <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2022 2:24 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; [email protected]; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre; David White
Subject: AGENDA ITEM 7.A / Don't reduce Pickleball
EXTERNAL
To the Santa Monica City Council:
The City has a shortage of places/times to play Pickleball.
I am informed that at the upcoming City Council meeting there will be a recommendation to provide direction to staff to re-engage Santa Monica City College in negotiations regarding joint use of the pickleball/tennis courts at Memorial Park.
As you may know, during the day, Santa Monica College occupies many of the courts for classes and tennis practice, leaving minimal time for residents to play pickleball.
Please don't take any action that could reduce Santa Monica residents access to pickleball/tennis courts at Memorial Park.
Respectfully,
Robert Elbinger
By Robert Elbinger
2628 Kansas Ave. Unit 1
Santa Monica, CA 90404
cell phone (310) 279-2109
fax (310) 453-7032
e-mail [email protected]
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From: Theresa Abrook <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2022 10:59 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Sue Himmelrich; [email protected]; Kristin McCowan; [email protected]; David White
Subject: Agenda item 7. A
EXTERNAL
To all it may concern:
I am a long time Santa Monica resident and enthusiastic Pickleball player. I strongly object to the joint use of the Pickelball/tennis courts with SMC.
These courts are really the only location currently used in Santa Monica for Pickle players of all ages, gender and socio‐ economic backgrounds.
I know of many other tennis courts within close proximity to SMC…Ocean View Park, Clover , Marine and Reed to name just a few, none of which are painted/marked for Pickleball. Surely there must be an equitable solution for us all. The growth of Pickleball has been well documented, as a strong sports and health minded community let’s not get left behind!
Thank you for your consideration.
Theresa Abrook
Sent from my iPad
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From: Ben Kiel <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2022 11:08 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Phil Brock; Christine Parra; 'Lana Negrete'; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; David White
Subject: AGENDA ITEM 7.A.
EXTERNAL
Hello, folks,
First time reaching out, but going on year eight as a resident of Santa Monica, and wanted to weigh in on the pressing and momentous issue of. . . pickleball.
I started playing at Memorial Park a little over a year ago - it's very convenient to where I live on Cloverfield and Pico. In that time, I've seen the community grow exponentially. The lines to play games have consistently gotten longer and longer, and people are arriving earlier, staying later, and playing all days of the week. And this is a special community. Unlike most sports, pickleball is great exercise and community for all types of ages, classes, and social groups.
For example, the youngest person with whom I've played games was 10, and the oldest was a couple aged 89 and 92. Additionally, the group of volunteers who supports the open play with set up, take down, beginner lessons, etc., continues to grow, and the Santa Monica Pickleball Facebook group, which had around 1,000 members when I started last year, is up to almost 3,500 as of today.
It's an incredible phenomenon, and one that the city should do everything it can to support, maintain, and expand.
It is for these reasons that I write to request that the city reject any joint-use agreements with SMC or other organizations for use of the tennis courts at Memorial Park.
Additionally, I feel like I read a few years ago that there would be a Memorial Park renovation - is it possible to include pickleball courts as part of the renovation? Also, what are the plans to provide pickleball courts for use during the renovation?
Thanks!
Ben
2207 Cloverfield Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
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From: Lynn Bowers <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2022 1:12 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; David White; Oscar de la Torre; [email protected]
Subject: Agenda item 7.A
EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council members‐ As a long time Santa Monica resident and member/supporter of the Santa Monica Pickleball Club, I strongly object to to any joint use agreement with Santa Monica College for the pickleball/tennis courts at Memorial Park (Agenda item 7.A) Santa Monica College occupies many of the courts for classes and tennis practice, leaving minimal time for residents to play pickleball.
I, and I understand the board of the Santa Monica Pickleball Club, has no objection to a joint use agreement for the fields or other tennis courts in the city.
Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America, encompassing a wide spectrum of age groups. It is affordable, easy to learn and easy to play, attracting a variety of people. It brings together and is a common bond for community members, which in this time of some division in our communities and in our country, I think can be seen as a good thing.
Memorial Park is a wonderful place to play Pickleball and Santa Monica residents who play should be able to count on regular hours and multiple courts for Pickleball. A joint use agreement with Santa Monica College will greatly affect the hours and number of courts where Santa Monica residents can play Pickleball.
Thank you for your consideration.
Lynn Bowers
240 34th St.
Santa Monica, 90405
Sent from my iPhone
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From: Sharon Friedman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2022 2:37 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; David White
Subject: AGENDA ITEM 7.A - Santa Monica Resident
EXTERNAL
Hello City Council,
As a Santa Monica resident of 3 years, I object to a joint use agreement with SMC for the use of the pickleball/tennis courts. As a resident of the neighborhood, I'd like to have more time available to play at our courts. The courts today are crowded today as they are and residents should be able to play at their courts. I don't object to joint use agreements for the fields, but do object to this for the pickleball/tennis courts.
Thank you,
Sharon Friedman
1247 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
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From: Karen Chen <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2022 2:56 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre; '[email protected]; Gleam Davis
Subject: AGENDA ITEM 7.A.
EXTERNAL
Hi City Council,
As a Santa Monica resident, I object to a joint use agreement with Santa Monica College for the use of the pickleball/tennis courts at Memorial Park because Santa Monica College occupies many of the courts for classes and tennis practice, leaving minimal time for residents to play pickleball.
I have no objection to a joint use agreement for the fields or other tennis courts in the city.
Thanks,
Karen Chen
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From: Alicia Cortrite <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2022 5:08 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; David White
Subject: Agenda Item 7.A.
EXTERNAL
I have lived in Santa Monica for 35 years and my husband has lived here for over 50 years. We raised our children here in Santa Monica schools, both worked for the city for a total of 62 Years, and have been very active in the community. It absolutely baffles me that, of all cities, our progressive city of Santa Monica can't see the importance of the sport of pickleball. As many, many people have told you over the past few years, it is a game that is far more inclusive than tennis and a far better use of space. Tennis players have courts all over the city. Pickleball players have a single location to play and, increasingly, the City is renting out these courts to SMC and Crossroads School. They have the money to build their own courts. So let them. And now taking these courts away for a number of years to build a parking structure for still‐shared courts on the roof? This simply isn't good planning. Would you take all of the tennis courts in the city away from tennis players? All of the soccer fields away from soccer players? All of the basketball courts away from basketball players? How possibly can this make sense?
Pickleball is becoming so popular for a reason...and that's what so many other cities are seeing. With the demographics that Santa Monica holds, it's simply a matter of time before you all realize that the city needs designated pickleball courts. It is a perfect sport for all ages but it holds for each age group certain unique benefits. For kids and older adults alike, it is a sport that can be played successfully by an ace athlete, a non‐athletic type or an aging body. Kids need to feel successful and not be the one left as the "last one picked." Older adults need to socialize and, if you have never been down to Memorial Park on a weekend, I beg you to come see what this community socializing looks like. It has huge health benefits, not just because of the exercise but because of the community and camaraderie it holds. For older adults living alone, it is a new lease on life. Everyone is always welcome.
Please take a moment to realize that it's time for Santa Monica to embrace pickleball rather than ignoring it. Its popularity isn't going to go away and I would hate for my city, the city my family loves, to miss the boat. Thank you all for the time that you put into this work. I know you've all been invited before but I'll say it again: Come join us any day of the week to see what all of the buzz is about!
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From: Julie Roback <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2022 11:36 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Memorial
EXTERNAL
I am a long time Santa Monica resident (28 years) and a tennis player and Pickleball player. I have fallen in love with pickleball and love going to open play at memorial! My dream would be that Santa Monica had a fully dedicated pickle area that would be an amAxing way to bring more tourists to our city! Th recent news that memorial is considering providing smc more time and the rest of us residents get left with having to leave the city to enjoy the sport. Make memorial exclusively for pickle and not for the college to usurp!!! Please!!! Or put some lights at ocean view courts! Begging you not to take our pickle courts away at memorial!!!! Sent from my iPhone
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From: Steve C <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2022 7:40 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Memorial park
EXTERNAL
I write to address the proposal to restart the expansion of Memorial Park.
I am a member of the Santa Monica Pickleball Club, which consists of over 2000 dedicated and passionate members who regularly meet to engage in the type of friendly and engaged communion that many thought impossible amongst strangers in this day and age. The tear down of the courts, which could leave the club with no courts for years, is of substantial concern. It would destroy the community and break apart something that is truly unique and special in Santa Monica and even Los Angeles.
The plan to create shared courts on a rooftop is, while I am sure well intended, a measure that will neither avoid the dissolution of a robust community but also present its own problems in terms of play. Players need more space than the rooftop will provide between the service line and the wall and your plans will potentially lead to injuries and collisions.
I implore you to rethink the restart of expansion plans. I know they are well intended but at what cost will these improvements be made? For the thousands of members of the club, yeas of lost opportunity for strangers to get to know one another, for seniors to have an outlet to exercise and socialize, for old and young to engage in friendly competition with one another…it is a loss that is truly difficult to measure especially without seeing what the community has done for people’s lives.
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From: Sam <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2022 10:17 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Concerning Memorial Park Community and Pending Park Construction
EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
I am a Santa Monica resident, parent of two kids at SaMoHi, and a frequent user of Memorial Park. It has been a blessing over the last few years of Covid to have recreation and community at this park.
In this time an amazing, supportive, diverse, and very large community has formed at Memorial Park and I fear that the outdated construction plans for this park does not take into account the sizable negative impact that this pre‐covid way of thinking will have on this thriving park community.
First, I am at this park frequently and the baseball fields are often empty. They are not at full capacity by any means, and yet additional baseball capacity is what the plan is for this park. How does this, and the multiple additional soccer fields planned for the airport, remotely close to considering a balanced recreational opportunity for all SaMo residents using SaMo tax money? The answer, It is not!
Yes, I am a Pickleball player. When I first moved to Santa Monica I was told by many friends in the area about the "cult" that meets at Memorial Park on Saturday mornings. Fanatics who spend hours hitting a wiffle ball. After some hesitation I gave it a try, and instantly understood the love. Stand up pingpong, that I can play using my retired racquetball skills, against division 1 tennis player half my age. Not a cult! Total fun! After 20 years of being a couch potato and dad of two, I became an athlete again. I am more fit now at the age of 49 than I have ever been in my life to this point thanks to Memorial Park and the "Pickleball cult".
But if you are on the outside to Pickleball then you probably don't understand the scale of this "new" sport. Here are some local facts and figures for you to consider in order to gain some respect for the state of Pickleball today.
According to pickleballtournaments.com, the keeper of all things related to Pickleball events, over the last 12 months ending on 9/26/22.....
1090‐ Total number of tournaments in the USA
138‐ total number of tournaments in California
51‐ Total number of tournaments in the LA extended metro area (Santa Barbara to Oceanside, east to Morongo Valley)
10,755‐ number of individual registrations to the LA regional tournaments $478,000‐ total amount of professional prize money offered at LA regional tournaments. $738,150‐ Total amateur tournament registration fees collected at LA regional tournaments. (this is the minimum, not all events reported final player numbers)
Community facts:
1st Primetime CBS Pickleball broadcast was from Riviera Country Club on 8/12/22 3400‐ Number of members of the Santa Monica Pickleball Facebook group. 859‐ Current number of Santa Monica Pickleball Club members (is this the largest sports community in SaMo??) Item 7.A
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2 And a few focused data points about Newport Beach Tennis & Pickleball club, one of the few local LA venues that has fully embraced Pickleball regionally.
9‐ Total number of tournaments hosted in last 12 months 4492‐ number of individual registrations to these events $175,000‐ total amount of professional prize money offered at their events $394,220‐ Total amateur tournament registration fees collected at Newport Pickleball events. (this is registration fees only, events have additional bracket fees on top of this) 31‐ Total number of Pickleball Courts at this club
$12,717‐ Per court tournament registration fees collected over last 12 months.
Backup data can be found here: Google Sheets
Do we really need to "sell" Pickleball to Santa Monica at this point? With sizable revenue numbers, explosive regional growth, and a massive local community size shouldn't the city be asking us how to get into the game and not the other way around? Do we really need to "save" Pickleball in Santa Monica in this day and age? I ask the City Council to please fully consider the impact that the outdated Memorial Park renovation plan will have on the current thriving Memorial Park community when deciding if and how to move forward with this park's renovation. It is also time for Santa Monica City Council and Santa Monica Parks to show the love and support to the local Pickleball community that it deserves by fully embracing the opportunities that are Pickleball instead of treating it like a second class citizen to be tolerated and pushed to the side.
Show some love and we will give back in multiples!
Sam McAfee
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From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2022 11:57 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: City Council 9/27/22 agenda item 7-A - concern over where to relocate the Public Landscape Division
EXTERNAL
Agenda item 7-A -- Memorial Park
1) In looking at the last alternative for relocating the Public Landscape Division, 2950 25th Street, please be aware that this location is right across a very narrow street from Homes in Sunset Park on the west, and right next to the Clover Park below-grade ball fields on the east.
2) In looking at all the alternatives on the Airport campus, don't understand why the City has to "lease" City-owned land.
Zina Josephs
"Existing Option (2950 25th Street- Airport Maintenance Hangar/ Parking Lot/Clover Park Trailer) This scenario provides a spit operation in the area formerly occupied by Airport Maintenance and SMPD SWAT and the Clover Park PLD/CCS office modular trailer. The PLD/CCS Modular Trailer would accommodate PLD supervisors. The Airport Maintenance Hangar would accommodate the muster area, gender neutral locker/shower/toilet/changing rooms, hand tool storage, and equipment repair; PLD Vehicles, personal vehicles and three conex boxes to be placed in the parking lot around the Hangar open to the sky. The actual project cost was $1,236,317 for construction and $406,629 lease per year. The timeline for this project was 12 months and is complete and could be occupied immediately." Item 7.A
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