2001
Money from a bond measure is allocated to Bernal Park improvements
2002
The City mails a survey to the community to solicit response on listed possible improvements.
Moving the south gate and eliminating existing parking is NOT included for consideration.
Three community meetings announced via mailings that many in the neighborhood never received, are held to discuss details of the Park plans.
- •Attendance at the first meeting is 80 people.
- •Attendance at the second meeting is 34 people.
- •Attendance at the third meeting is 12 people, at which the "community" endorses moving the gate and eliminating level parking.
2003
Plan goes dormant, presumably for lack of funds
2004
Money becomes available and preparation for implementing the Plan is resumed.
Dean Macris, then Acting Director of the Planning Department, writes a letter to the City that the Park plan is "categorically exempt" from environmental analysis. His assessment means that traffic, safety, and environmental/erosion studies will not be required to implement the plan.
2005
An ordinance is prepared by the City to "vacate" Bernal Heights Blvd. east of the south gate between Moultrie and Andover. "Vacation" is the term used for the jurisdiction change from the Department of Public Works to Park and Rec. Its significance is that it allows Park and Rec. to move the gate and proclaim the existing parking area illegal because it's on park land.
Barbara Moy, Manager of Streets and Sidewalks for DPW, claims the stretch of Bernal Heights Blvd. from Ellsworth has "no present or future public use." Her assessment is required by the State in order to vacate a street, but made utilizing inaccurate mapping of adjacent properties, and a mysteriously misinformed understanding of Bernal traffic - the stretch of street she claims to have no public value includes the block traveled by those turning off Anderson onto Bernal Heights Blvd., residents living off Bernal Heights Blvd. between Anderson and the gate, and 100's of visitors to the south entrance of the Park each day.
In late August, notices are posted announcing the 3rd of 3 Board of Supervisors hearings to approve the ordinance to "vacate." For many in the community, this is the first notice that a vacation is taking place which would cause the gate to be moved, eliminate parking, create traffic flow hazards, and compromise prompt emergency response to South Bernal near the Park.
On Sept. 13, 2005, the Board of Supervisors has its final hearing regarding the Ordinance.
- •12 community members testify in opposition
- • 3 community members speak in favor
- • Substantial additional written testimony is on record in opposition.
- • At the urging of Sup. Tom Ammiano, the Board approves the Ordinance.
On Sept. 30, 2005, the Ordinance is signed by Mayor Gavin Newsom to "vacate" the street, allowing the gate to be moved as part of the new Park plan.
Community members rally to get the City to understand the hazards of the Plan and the misinformation driving it.
- • 1,000's of emails, phone calls, letters, and presentations are made to public officials, but the reply remains stalwart: "The City has followed public process and it's too late to change anything."
- • A petition with over 1,100 signatures opposing the gate move is presented to City Hall, but to no avail.
- • The Bernal Heights Park Association is formed to address this issue and formalize stewardship of the Hill and the Bernal Heights community.
