14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 24-30, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com In the three decades since Fort Ord closed, the City of Marina—despite its government still operating out of mobile trailers since it was incorporated in 1975—has grown along with its population, adding educational facilities such as Marina High School, and more recently, the large-scale Dunes development in its southern end. “All these things other cities take for granted, Marina has lacked those amenities,” Mayor Bruce Delgado says. “Slowly but surely, we’re clawing back to modernity.” Near the Dunes, on Second Avenue and Ninth Street, are two former military buildings that were transferred to Marina after Fort Ord’s closure—an indoor pool and gym, the former of which has sat abandoned since 1994, the latter since 2020. Roughly 20 years after residents voiced their support in a survey for a recreation center in Marina, that facility is close to becoming a reality. Final designs are nearly complete for the Marina Aquatic and Sports Center, after the city council approved schematic designs for the project in March. On Saturday, April 26 at 1pm, city officials will open the doors of the vacant buildings to the public to gather feedback on what they want to see in the future complex. Delgado says city officials hope representatives of various sporting groups attend and share what type of space they need for events. These include the roller derby community, which used the gym space for years when it was known as Water City Roller Hockey. That business shuttered in 2020, and later the building was red-tagged due to various fire code and other violations. Once anticipated to cost $22 million, the project has ballooned to roughly $41.4 million as costs have increased and features added. Project amenities include adding a 25-yard competition pool, a 20-yard lap pool, a water play area and volleyball and basketball courts. A two-story building will connect the pool and gym, which will house office space, restrooms, a cafe and more. A combination of funding will go toward the project, including from the former Fort Ord Base Reuse Authority, impact fees from developers and an $11 million loan from the city’s general fund. The project could go out to bid this summer, with construction starting in late spring 2026. “It’s important that we build these first-class recreation centers for quality of life,” Delgado says. “It’s also important that we clean up Fort Ord. This is going to be an important step.” ly scheduled to begin in spring 2025. While the team has yet to be established—it is set to convene in November— its original focus included three whale stocks and five commercial fisheries in California, Oregon and Washington. Now, NOAA will scale back, narrowing its focus on two whale stocks and instead of five fisheries, it will focus on just one: sablefish. NOAA says this reduction is less about federal governmental changes and more about effectively meeting the terms of a legal settlement. They note the sablefish fishery is federally managed and already has an established bycatch estimation method, making it a logical starting point for developing a system that could later include more fisheries. “This [decision] was intentional to allow time for the development of the bycatch estimates for properly addressing the state-managed fisheries,” says Lauren Saez, the West Coast Take Reduction Team coordinator. “It also pushes back our timeline, which gives us a chance to see what unfolds over the next few months with all the executive orders.” Saez adds that while they are “holding their breath” to see what happens with the administration, the reduction was ultimately driven by science. But Geoff Shester, senior scientist with the nonprofit Oceana, says many had counted on the team to include all five fisheries as part of a proactive whale entanglement strategy. “I mean, this was due to the cuts—there’s no real way around it,” he says. “They were on track…Then we get a new administration. Now there’s no plan, no timeline.” In February, the administration cut at least seven personnel in local NOAA offices, with more cuts under consideration. Language in Project 2025 calls to “Break Up NOAA,” describing the agency—which includes the National Weather Service and NMFS—as a “colossal operation” driving “the climate change alarm industry” and calling for it to be downsized. As of press time, no additional layoffs have been confirmed, but tensions are high. Officials at NOAA’s headquarters in D.C. declined to comment. Officials at the local Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary office also declined to comment. All 12 Monterey-based employees there remain on staff, but one remote worker, the only archaeologist supporting sanctuaries from Washington to Southern California, was terminated. On Deck As a Marina sports center inches closer to construction, the public is invited on a tour. By Erik Chalhoub NEWS FAMILY FESTIVITIES North Monterey County Unified School District hosts a celebration in honor of Dia del Niño (Day of the Child). The event includes family-friendly activities, health services, entertainment and more. 1-5pm Sunday, April 27. North Monterey County Middle School, 10301 Seymour St., Castroville. Free. 7065396, nmcusd.org. SAFE ROUTES Help decide how to spend $1 million in North Monterey County on projects that make it safer for children to get to and from school. Online ballot is live April 27-May 10. Free. bit.ly/NorthCountyPB. ASK THE ELECTEDS Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church, Salinas Mayor Dennis Donohue and Salinas City Councilmember Aurelio Salazar host a town hall meeting. Residents are invited to ask questions about issues in North Salinas and Boronda. 5:30-7pm Wednesday, April 30. Everett Alvarez High School Library, 1900 Independence Blvd., Salinas. Free. 7555022, district2@countyofmonterey.gov. GOING EAST The City of Salinas is in the process of developing the East Area Specific Plan, which will provide a vision for development of a new neighborhood in the eastern portion of the city. The public is invited to a workshop to learn more. 6-8pm Wednesday, April 30. La Paz Middle School, 1300 North Sanborn Road, Salinas. Free. RSVP at bit.ly/ EASP430. visionsalinas.org/eastareaspecificplan. CLIMATE READY The City of Seaside released its Draft Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, providing a vision for addressing climate change. Public comment is accepted. Feedback accepted through April 30. 206-371-8458, ci.seaside.ca.us. WOMEN’S VOICES The Monterey County Commission on the Status of Women is conducting a survey to gather information on women in the county and the challenges they face. Survey available in English: forms. office.com/g/sJqAUeDyd7. In Spanish: forms.office.com/g/Xv2N1WJq9J. Free. co.monterey.ca.us/csw. WATER HABITS The Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency is conducting a survey to understand the water use needs of rural residents on private wells and small water systems. Survey is available online through June. 471-7519, svbgsa.org. A rendering shows the exterior design concept for the athletic center, renovating existing, empty buildings that the City of Marina maintains on the former Fort Ord. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “Slowly but surely, we’re clawing back to modernity.” COAR DESIGN GROUP WATERS continued from page 12
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