Northend meeting discusses concerns
BOMBAY BEACH — Roadway improvements, recreational opportunities, crime and blight were among the many topics discussed Monday evening at a packed a town hall meeting here.
The town hall meeting was organized by the Northend Action Council, a five-member body of volunteers that is scheduled to host monthly meetings throughout the Northend for the coming year.
The meeting attracted a variety of community members and business representatives, who shared their concerns and provided suggestions.
Many of those community members also expressed gratitude that the meeting was convened in an area that many said has long been overlooked and neglected.
“This is a great community, I want to see it grow,” said one longtime resident.
County officials were also on hand to discuss potential projects that would address shared concerns.
County Public Works Director John Gay said that funding opportunities have been identified that could help improve the vast majority of the town’s roadways.
Although Bombay Beach is not currently on any of the county’s list of Senate Bill 1 roadway improvement priorities, other funding options
are available, he said.
He indicated that about $2 million could be used to implement a large phased overlay that could potentially be completed in about 18 months.
“With that we should be able to blanket the entire community,” Gay said.
Community members were also asked to fill out a survey asking about their preferences for parks and recreation. County officials plan to use the survey to apply for competitive state grants in November.
“We have an obligation to hear and to describe what you say, and we have to act upon that,” Gay said.
As part of the process, the county is partnering with the Coachella Valley Unified School District and the Salton Sea Authority to try to establish parks in the region, officials said.
Monday’s meeting was the second one held by the Northend Action Council, which was created to engage community members.
The county’s Northend, defined as the region found north of Keystone Road, comprises about 50 percent of its total size yet contains only about 15 percent of its population.
The region also is characterized by unique issues and concerns not typically found in other Valley locales, said council member Brooks Hamby.
“Our ultimate goal is to get as much community engagement as possible,” Hamby said.
Similar volunteer-led bodies are being established in Heber, Ocotillo and were inspired by one in the West Shores community.
Other topics discussed during Monday’s meeting included longstanding mail delivery problems, tourism opportunities, illegal off-road activity, New River water quality concerns, illegal dumping and a prevalence of abandoned vehicles on vacant properties.
Community members questioned whether code or law enforcement officials could be deployed to address the abandoned vehicle concerns, which increase blight.
“We deserve to live in a place that looks nice too,” 17-year resident Mark Hagedorn said.
County Supervisor Ryan Kelley said that some resources are available to help address the issue.
The next Northend Action Council meeting is scheduled to take place Sept. 16, at Oakley School in Brawley’s northeast section.
Additional meetings are scheduled to take place on a rotating basis in Niland, Westmorland, Calipatria and Brawley’s southeast section.