BSPA Accomplishments History
Mayor Patterson provided a copy of an e-mail highlighting some issues and questions that need to be addressed with respect to the BSRA. Click on the following link to view the e-mail.
In the view of the State Department of Recreation, a closed park would be an abandoned park. Any measures taken to keep the BSRA accessible and serviced are steps toward keeping the recreation area from being abandoned. Although in legal terms, the state cannot walk away completely from the BSRA, keeping the BSRA in a limited care and service condition is preferable to abandonment. The MOU of service and accessibility is only the first step taken by the City of Benicia. The Benicia State Park Association will stay the course and support the efforts at the BSRA and those of the City of Benicia.
Click to see the Security and Safety presentation from the July 11 Stakeholder group meeting
7-9-2012 Update
Benicia State Recreation Area News
On the June 27, 2012 issue, the Benicia Herald featured a front page news item “Already, state park is victim of taggers.” We hope that this kind of activity is not the tip of the iceberg, but is an isolated incident that will fade as time marches on. However, we think that we should depend on more than hope. Whether the park stays open, or closes, there will be reduced staff at the park, and we expect to make up for the reduction by fostering participation of the users of the park, citizens like you and me. On July 11, 2012, we will hold a stakeholders meeting to present our ideas and to solicit any that you have. This meeting is open to the public, please join us at 7:00 pm, 370 East L Street, Benicia, CA, Room 2.
In response to the above mentioned article, Mayor Patterson sent an E-Alert with the subject “Latest news about State Recreation Area. In the email, the mayor speaks to alleged “city’s ‘lack of action and preparation’ for the state closure of the State Recreation Area.” Click on the link below to view of copy of the E-Alert. The E-blast provides an overview of actions taken and preparations in the works as well as why an agreement is not yet a done deal. The most significant issue is that of State covering liability. As City of Benicia taxpayers, we understand that it is not reasonable for the City to assume the responsibility for liability of land that the State owns. Negotiations are ongoing, the ship is not yet sunk.
Click to see the Mayor Pattersons E-Alert
A significant comment on mayor Pattersons’s E-blast, “the powerful testimony and advocacy by the community at the last City Council meeting netted a majority of council members who now support covering the in-kind services…” demonstrates the power of the voices citizens like you and me. Let the officials at the State level as well as the City level know your opinion; write, email, call and do whatever to communicate your thoughts so that your voices will be counted.
July 1st passed, SRA still open
A June 28, 2012 email from the California State Parks Foundation provided news regarding the Calif FY 2012-13 Budget that was signed by Governor Brown. The bottom line, $10 million in funds was approved to help temporarily relieve some of the strain on the state park system. This funding has postponed the closure of the BSRA, so July 1st passed without initiation of “closure.”
Click to see a copy of the California State Parks Foundation email
6/23/2012 Update
Great News
The Benicia State Parks Association has been awarded a Volunteer Program Grant in the amount of $6,000. The grant award notification was sent via e mail to the BSPA President, Carol Berman late in the day, on June 20th. The exciting news was transmitted by Nancy Shillis, Institutional Gifts Manager for the California State Parks Foundation. This is the first of two grant applications made to the California State Parks Foundation. Notice of the second grant application is pending until later this month or early next month. This successful Volunteer Program Grant award was accomplished with cooperative team work. The primary grant creators consisted of BSPA/Stakeholders Committee members. The key designers and writers of this California State Parks Foundation Volunteer Program Grant were Lance Sandvik and Jim Lee, Chair of the Security/Safety BSPA/ Stakeholders Group. Roy Stutzman, BSPA Finance Director and Norma Deaner, BSPA/Stakeholder Volunteer Chair/Forrest Deaner Native Plant Botanic Garden Director both acted as support consultants for the grant that was awarded.
6/6/2012 Update
As the July 1st, 2012 deadline approaches for the closure of 70 California State Parks, the level of concern is becoming palpable. What can be done to keep the Benicia State Parks open? In Benicia, the Benicia State Parks Association, (a charitable 503 [c] [3] non-profit organization) along with the City of Benicia have stepped up to provide remedies for this unprecedented situation.
On June 6, 2012, the Benicia State Parks Association held a meeting to provide a update on the status of , the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park (BCSHP) and the Benicia State Recreation Area. Carol Berman, President of the Benicia State Parks Association (BSPA), opened the meeting with an overview and introductions of the many people who are working to keep the two Benicia State Parks open. There was good news. On June 6, the California Department of Parks and Recreation (CDPR) notified the BSPA that it had accepted the BSPA operating agreement proposal for the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park. This approval clears the way for the BSPA to negotiate a two (2) year Operating Agreement with CDPR. The Agreement would provide for operation of the old State Capitol and the Fischer Hanlon House and Garden next door and to provide the interpretive and educational programs for the historic park. It is expected that this process can proceed rather quickly.
Click to see the operating agreement
The City of Benicia has signed a separate agreement with the State Department of Parks and Recreation to maintain the grounds surrounding the old Capitol building and the exterior restroom facility on the grounds.
This grounds maintenance agreement became effective on May 1, 2012. Adding to the good news was the announcement of two grant applications totaling approximately $86,000 submitted by the BSPA to the California State Parks Foundation. These funds, if granted, will assist in providing operating funding to supplement funds to be raised locally for the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park which includes the old State Capitol building, Fischer Hanlon house and surrounding historic gardens. The second grant application would partially the BSPA Docent/volunteer efforts at both the BSRA as well as the BSHP.
Click to see the grant proposal one
Click to see the grant proposal two
Public officials speaking at the June 6 meeting were Mike Dotson, Director, City of Benicia Department of Parks and Community Services City of Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson and Belinda Smith,representative of Solano County Supervisor Linda Seifert . For the long term operations of the two Benicia State Parks, Mayor Patterson and Ms. Smith spoke about state legislative efforts to arrive at a sustainable solution to the funding for the California State Park Systemwith the intent of avoiding future closures and to potentially provide funding at some point in the future to support the Parks currently on the closure list. . There are a number of legislative bills being circulated in Sacramento that give reason to hope for a long term solution to assure that California State Parks remain accessible and safe. The legislation has the potential over the long term to benefit the Benicia State Parks, the only two State Parks in Solano County. There are no good short term solutions being proposed in Sacramento. It will remain the responsibility of local organizations like the Benicia State Parks Association and the City of Benicia to assure that the two local State Parks remain open, accessible and safe.
For the Benicia State parks, approval of two of the three proposals submitted to CDPR , protects the fate of the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park, pending a fully executed Operating Agreement between the BSPA and the CDPR. However, there is still a third agreement with respect to the Benicia State Recreation Area. The City of Benicia proposal requested full funding from the State Department of Parks and Recreation to reimburse the city for BSRA maintenance costs. In addition, concessions from the state of California concerning substantial liability issues associated with assumption of responsibility for the BSRA would be required. The odds are not good that the CDPR will accept any proposal that requires the State to provide actual operations funding for the BSRA. An alternative plan needs to be developed if the CDPR formally rejects the city’s proposal for the BSRA. The City of Benicia and the Benicia State Parks Association will be cooperating on creating alternative approaches for a plan operation for the BSRA.
Dependent upon the status of the BSRA and the terms of public access after July 1, 2012 and Independent of the original City of Beniciaís initial or subsequent proposals, , the BSPA ìProtect the Parksî Stakeholders group has long recognized the need for volunteer patrol support for safety and security within the Benicia State Recreation Area. With this recognition, the Safety and Security committee of the BSPA/Stakeholders group is stepping up the effort to develop a plan, recruit volunteers and to put a system in place to assist in providinga safe and secure environment in the BSRA; Not to substitute for law enforcement, but to supplement the efforts of those law enforcement agencies whose jurisdiction is the BSRA.
The implementation of any plan, of course, will be dependent upon final resolution of access and operational issues after July 1, 2012.
Roy Stutzman, BSPA Board member and Chair of the Finance Committee, provided more detailed information regarding the Financial elements of the Benicia State Capitol Historic Park (BCSHP) Operating Agreement Proposal submitted by the BSPA to the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Mr. Stutzman outlined the budget requirements to operate the BCSHP for 2012/13 and 2013/14, the two (2) year term of the proposed agreement. In order to fund start up and operational costs in 2012/13, the BSPA is projecting expenditures of $102,997. This would be funded from the following sources: Entrance Fees and Merchandise sales $20,110,; Benicia State Parks Association $47,787; State In-Kind Contributions to fund access to State Parks Curator and State Parks Historian $9,600 and City of Benicia $25,500 to fund Capitol Grounds and exterior rest room Maintenance.
2013/14 costs are estimated to be $115,581. Funding would be provided as follows: Entrance Fees and Merchandise sales $21,448; Benicia State Parks Association $59,033; State In-Kind contributions to fund State Parks Curator and State Parks Historian $9,600 and City of Benicia $25,500 to fund Capitol Grounds and exterior rest room maintenance.
Mr. Stutzman pointed out that the two (2) year commitment from the BSPA for operation of the BCSHP is $106,581. Approximately $30,000 has been raised to date for the ìProtect the Parksî effort. This has been done without benefit of a well developed fund raising strategy. The BSPA is working with a consultant now who has been employed by the California State Parks Foundation to assist local associations with their fund raising and operations issues moving forward. There is much to be done to secure the local funds required to operate the BCSHP. Through acceptance of the BSPA Operating Agreement Proposal, the California Department of Parks and Recreation believes the budget is realistic and revenue projections are achievable
Grant funding is also being pursued to fund portions of the operating costs over the two (2) year period of the Proposed Agreement. BSPA has applied for an operating grant in the amount of approximately $80,000 from the California State Parks Foundation. The grant application was submitted on June 6, 2012. Results of this important application should be known in six (6) weeks. The $80,000 would offset a portion of the required BSPA contribution and provide for limited park improvements.
Click to volunteer
Previous updates
Operating Proposal Update
The Benicia State Parks Operating Proposal for the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park was sent in on April 16, 2012 and negotiations for a final Operating Contract for the historic park continues with the California Department of Parks. This Operating Contract is for the operation and care of the Benicia Capitol building, the Fischer Hanlon house and the historic Fischer Hanlon house gardens.
BSPA/Stakeholders Public Meeting
The City of Benicia’s proposal agreement to assume grounds and bathroom upkeep for the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park was discussed at the recent meeting. Both the historic park and the Benicia State Recreation Area, are slated for closure by the State this July 1, 2012. In addition, the BSPA reflected on the progress made over the past quarter year with regard to its BSPA Friends membership drive. Friends of BSPA membership numbers have increased several hundred percent since the beginning of this calendar year.
The meeting began with a celebration recognizing Pacific Rim Recycling. As well as being a current financial donor to BSPA efforts, this local business has now helped the BSPA break the 300 BSPA Friends member mark.
Several exciting events for members and interested members of the public were previewed, including: Earth Day at the State Recreation Area on April 21; a BSPA fundraiser at Mike and Gayleís Neighborhood CafÈ, on Wednesday, May 2, from 7am to 9pm; the Benicia Historical Society Garden and House Tour on May 12 from 11am to 4pm, which will include tours of the historic Fischer Hanlon house garden along with tea and cookies served by docents in period attire; plus the free Appreciate Your Parks Day at the Historic Park with Vintage games, refreshments, entertainment, music and speakers on May 20 from 1 to 4pm. Local sponsors have contributed to all of these events including, the Camellia Tea Room, the Benicia Historical Society, the Rellik, Mike and Gayle’s, Starbucks, Sandoval’s and First St. Café.
Mike Dotson, Benicia Parks and Recreation Department, spoke about the City’s proposal for the upkeep of the grounds and bathroom at the historic Benicia Capitol park Prior to submittal to the State, this first of two City agreement proposals with the State Department of Parks and Recreation will go before the City Council on April 3. A proposal agreement for upkeep of the grounds and one bathroom at the State Recreation Area is being worked on by the City.
Roy Stutzman, chair of the Benicia State Parks Stakeholders Committee Finance Group, summarized a presentation he and BSPA President, Carol Berman, gave to the Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee. An overview of the BSPA proposal for the historic buildings at the Benicia Capitol State Historic Parks was given. Information regarding the funding for the historic park was presented.
The next public meeting on the Benicia State Parks is Wednesday, May 23 at the Community Center Multi Purpose room. Showing of the film, The First 70, on the threatened closure of California State Parks, and the book presentation of The Dismantling of America’s History”, by author Dr. Catherine Millard.