By City Councilman Steven Swartz
The new year of 2017 looks to be a busy year for San Clemente. With the 2016 election cycle fresh behind us, we turn to focus on city business in the works and coming down the pike. Our first City Council meeting of the new year included everything from presenting a commendation to the San Clemente High School Tritons Football Team for winning the CIF Division A-1 State Championship to a review of the City’s Code of Ethics policies.
In our only January meeting for this year, we signed off on the completion of the Ole Hanson Beach Club contract, reviewed the first Matrix study for Code Compliance, Development Engineering, Planning Division and business license functional areas, and were presented with the design work for our new San Clemente Trolley, which received approval by City Council.
The trolley has been an idea that our city has had for decades, and now, thanks to a grant from the Orange County Transportation Authority, we are looking to have this free-to-ride transport rolling on our streets during the summer and holidays starting Memorial Day weekend. It will run from the Metro Station at North Beach south and connect many of our venues and businesses. The current stops include the Outlets at San Clemente, various spots on El Camino Real and Del Mar and the Pier.
We can also look forward in 2017 to a final solution to the Miramar/Bowling Alley redevelopment. The plans should be near finalization soon and will be addressed by City Council for review. The proposed revitalization of our northern entrance maintains the historic nature of North Beach and provides a great location for public events, entertainment and places to eat. Many people are looking forward to breaking ground in the near future.
As the newest member of San Clemente’s City Council, I am looking forward to working with the rest of our City Council and staff on all the issues I mentioned and the many additional issues and challenges that need to be addressed. San Clemente has a rich heritage that is essential to be preserved while we support the needs of all our residents and businesses. We should all be proud of this jewel of a city that we call home.
I welcome your comments and questions at swartzs@san-clemente.org.
Steven Swartz was elected to City Council in 2016. This is his first term on City Council. Prior to City Council, Swartz was the chairman of the Beaches, Parks & Recreation Commission in 2004.
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