■ State ‘optimistic’ on Deaner garden access

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Benicia’s Economic Development Board on Wednesday will hear a status update on the State Recreation Area, said Mario Giuliani, acting Economic Development manager.

Giuliani said the EDB will review a staff report that was to be presented to the City Council on Tuesday. The staff will review recent efforts between the city and the state to maintain services at the Benicia State Recreation Area.

“When I talk to people, I make a point of saying the park is not closing,” Giuliani said. “Because when you think of ‘closed,’ you think you can’t access it, you can’t get in. I’ve said that what is going to happen at the SRA is an elimination of services.”

There will also be a strict limitation on vehicle access, he said, and the restrooms will be closed. Giuliani said the city is still trying to reach an arrangement on the Forrest Deaner Native Plant Garden, which is inside the SRA.

The garden was established by the California Native Plant Society in 2000; it is the second-largest such garden in the Bay Area.

“What we continue to work on with the state is to try to reach an arrangement so that water goes to the Forrest Deaner garden, and that (volunteers) have some type of vehicle access to drop off supplies,” Giuliani said.

He said state parks representatives were “optimistic” about finding a workable solution.

“A lot of time and money … have gone into installing the garden. It’s really a central issue for a key stakeholder group for the park, because the California Native Plant Society has invested a lot, and their membership really cares about sustaining that garden.”

In other business, the EDB will hear a review of city sales tax receipts and Transient Occupancy (hotel) Tax receipts for the fourth quarter of 2011, as well as a roll call of new and renewed businesses, including American Pacific Mortgage Corp. and Baskin-Robbins.

If You Go
The EDB will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the City Hall Commission Room, 250 East L St.

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