San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
COUNTY SUPERVISORS CONSIDER OPENING PARKS TO WORKOUTS, WORSHIP SERVICES
The county Board of Supervisors is set to consider a proposal early next month that could make it cheaper and easier for places of worship and fitness-oriented businesses to operate in county parks.
If the board approves the proposal during its Aug. 5 meeting, permits to use reservable public areas in parks would have streamlined applications and waived fees for applicable businesses approved by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Under the proposal, the county department would also be tasked with ensuring that the businesses won’t interfere with the park’s activities, infrastructure, environment or rules.
“In order to balance public safety and keep our businesses afloat, the County must be creative and f lexible in our approach,” wrote Supervisor Dianne Jacob, in a board letter introducing the proposal.
Jacob’s proposal will likely come as welcome relief to houses of worship, gyms and other fitness-oriented businesses who have seen their financial stakes plummet during the COVID-19 pandemic.
San Diego County’s gyms, churches, salons and malls, which had weathered months of closure, enjoyed a short reprieve earlier this month when the restrictions were brief ly eased. Less than two weeks ago, they found themselves once again forced to shutter indoor operations at the direction of Gov. Gavin Newsom and local public health officials.
That direction came only six days after local restaurants, bars and family entertainment businesses, including movie theaters, were given similar restrictions in an attempt to combat a rise in novel coronavirus rates in the county, state and around the nation.
Although county officials have taken steps to assist some of the impacted businesses, not as much focus has been directed to churches, gyms and other fitness facilities.
The county recently opted to adopt Zoning Ordinance Enforcement Flexibility, allowing businesses to carry out some activities — including outdoor dining — in some outdoor spaces like parking lots.
In her board letter, Jacob noted her proposal would expand on those actions, even as the financial impact for the county itself is not yet clear.
Currently, the Parks and Recreation Department receives about $80,000 in annual revenue from places of worship and fitness-oriented businesses using park space. That revenue would presumably be reduced with fees being waived; however Jacob states in the letter that businesses that relocate to park spaces still are required to pay for day-use parking and equipment rentals.
The proposal also states that the Parks and Recreation Department would examine and report to the board the fiscal impact of waiving the fees associated with obtaining a permit within 90 days, as well as monitor and pursue federal CARES Act funding where applicable. San Diego County previously received $334 million in federal aid as part of March’s CARES Act COVID relief bill.