First Small Step to Potential Mini Golf Course

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

The checklist to bring a new entertainment option to life in San Clemente received its first mark on Feb. 14, with a unanimous vote from the Beaches, Parks & Recreation Commission.

Apart from one recusal by Commissioner Rob Feuerstein, the commission determined that it would be appropriate to construct a 36-hole mini golf facility at a 1.18-acre parcel of undeveloped land at the Vista Hermosa Sports Park. Per the vote, staff will also enter in exclusive negotiations with Salty Turf,

LLC, which proposed the concept.

“I think this would feed right into, I’d like to say, more passive entertainment than some of the other things that we do to amuse ourselves and entertain ourselves,” Commissioner Susan Ambrose said of the project that would also include clubhouse and concession areas.

Salty Turf comprises San Clemente residents Jeff Moore, Andrew Streett, and Marcus Vanneman. The three were present for the proposal’s discussion on Feb. 14, with Streett leading the charge on behalf of the group.

Streett spoke to how the men have been active in the community as fathers and coaches of numerous youth sports teams and activities, and how they’ve seen the park develop around the untouched plot.

“We really want to be a part of that next stage of where (the park) gets developed,” he said. “For us, it’s a gem inside of San Clemente. We really enjoy the park, and we want to make it that much better.”

Moore added that the group has been working for more than a year on developing a plan for the courses—each 18 holes, one on the east side and one of the west side—as well as securing funding.

Vanneman said they aim to create a concept in step with the rest of San Clemente.

Those details include an Ole Hanson-style concession building and holes that reflect local landmarks, according to Streett.

“We’re looking at all the flora and fauna, all the plants, to be something local and something that we can look at for drought resistance,” Streett said.

He also pointed out that the facility would be the only one within 30 minutes of town, providing something unique to San Clemente.

Beaches, Parks & Recreation Department Director Samantha Wylie addressed questions about parking.

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Pandemic’s Impact on Staffing Forces Cancellation of 2023 Ocean Festival

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

Because of severe impacts initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic that have yet to be fully overcome, the San Clemente Ocean Festival will not be held in 2023, the nonprofit tasked with organizing the yearly event has announced.

“Like many nonprofits, ‘The Greatest Show on Surf’ was weakened by its cancellation during COVID, and its volunteer board is now struggling to continue its mission of promoting ocean safety, the environment, and the community by providing an athletic venue and enjoyable family event,” the Ocean Festival said in a media release.

The event was canceled for both 2020 and 2021 before coming back in 2022.

Peggy Vance, SCOF executive director, and SCOF official Maureen Henry spoke with the San Clemente Times on Tuesday, Feb. 21, to provide the details behind the organization’s decision.

“We left the 2019 event feeling good,”

Vance said. “We had some new people that joined the board, and we felt strong and ready for 2020.”

The pandemic shutdown left the 501 (c)(4) organization with expenses it couldn’t recover, especially as it was situated within the few categories of nonprofits that were ineligible for financial aid.

Heading into the preparation phase for last year’s event, Vance said they were already short-handed.

The combination of one board member dying from COVID-19 and multiple others stepping away from their positions forced the rest to take on several roles in order to put on the 2022 event.

Organizing each Ocean Festival requires people to handle the youth pavilion, athletic results from events, product sales, logistics and setup, and the awards, among other aspects.

Henry said that only a few weeks passed after the last Ocean Festival before the idea to shut down for 2023 was initially floated. The organization then spent time trying to ask other local organizations if they could participate in presenting any event to San Clemente, but the groups didn’t have the capacity to actively engage in the weeks leading up to a possible event.

Ocean Festival leadership knew it would be best not to host the two-day spectacle this year, but dragged their feet on making a final decision between September and January, according to Vance.

Henry provided her own assessment of what happened.

“All of us, I think, were on both sides,” she said. “We didn’t want the event to happen, but we didn’t want to see it go away.”

They’ll spend the next year or more recruiting and rebuilding the organization and theorizing on what other changes might need to be made before the next Ocean Festival in 2024.

In the media release announcing the decision, Henry wrote that the thought of the event not continuing well into the future “leaves a gaping hole at our core.”

“Unique events, engaged individuals, and a picturesque beach landscape are at the center of what creates community and makes a town special,” Ocean Fest said in the release.“If not you, then who? Hear the call of the ocean, grab a friend, and find out how you can make the beach come to life at the Ocean Festival next year.”

Visit oceanfestival.org, email pvscof@yahoo.com or call 949.440.6141 to learn more about volunteering with the organization.

Community Meetings

THURSDAY, FEB. 23

Zoning Administration

3-5 p.m. The city’s Zoning Administrator will conduct a regularly scheduled meeting at San Clemente City Hall, at 910 Calle Negocio. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

Community Workshop—House Element Implementation

Noon-6:30 a.m. The City of San Clemente invites you to participate in a community workshop to learn about the city’s efforts to implement the Housing Element Update. San Clemente City Hall, 910 Calle Negocio. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

TUESDAY, FEB. 28

Public Safety Committee

3-5:30 p.m. The city’s Public Safety Committee will conduct its regularly scheduled meeting at San Clemente City Hall, at 910 Calle Negocio. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

City Council: Long-Term Financial Plan

4 p.m. The City Council will meet for a discussion on the city’s Long-Term Financial Plan in the Council Chambers at San Clemente City Hall, located at 910 Calle Negocio. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

Because I Love You (BILY)

6:30-8:30 p.m. The organization Because I Love You (BILY) will continue conducting its weekly meetings on Tuesdays via Zoom. Email bilysanclemente@gmail.com for detailed instructions on how to participate.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1

VA Disabled Claims Clinic

2-4 p.m. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 9934 will sponsor a Veterans Affairs Disability Claims Clinic at the Dana Point Community Center the first and third Wednesday of each month. Veterans can walk in and meet with a VFW Service Officer and receive information on how to file a claim for service-related medical issues. Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point.

(Cont. from page 3)

“(Vista Hermosa), as a park, was designed to accommodate all of the anticipated future uses and development of that park site,” she said.“The parking you’re seeing now is actually more than enough parking for what’s currently there.” Events such as soccer tournaments and the Carnival Colossal, especially in the case of the latter, would be seen as special circumstances where entities outside of the mini golf facility would be responsible for getting people in and out of the park, Wylie added.

She reminded the commission that concerns about traffic and parking would all be addressed by the Design Review Subcommittee, the Planning Commission, and eventually the City Council.

Commissioner Errol Foremaster told the Salty Turf group that although he appreciated their enthusiasm and that the facility was a great idea, he was concerned about the venture’s overall success.

He mentioned that the courses would be somewhat tucked into the park space, making it harder to view and for people to know about, and that the group might need to add additional amenities to make a profit.

“I’m just concerned about you guys really doing your financial analysis and being sure that this is going to work for you,” Foremaster said. “I’d hate to see the city get in bed with you and you guys build this all out, and it doesn’t last for you. Then, all of a sudden, we’ve got the old miniature golf course sitting there that we have to figure out what we’re going to do with.”

Kiwanis Club of San Clemente

6 p.m. The Kiwanis Club of San Clemente is welcoming Ken Baum, widely known speaker, coach, and author, to make a presentation about his latest book, The Mental Edge for Teens. Fratello’s Italian Kitchen + Bar, 647 Camino de los Mares, San Clemente. Contact Dave Helman about making a reservation or learning more by calling 949.276.7354 or emailing dleftys@yahoo.com.