Monday, November 3, 2008

Bocce controversy rolling again in Clayton

CLAYTON — People living in a residential enclave near City Hall found themselves fairly riled up three years ago when the city approved bocce courts near their houses.

The fiercely popular Italian sport of tossing small, hard balls within manicured outdoor courts would lead to loud, cheering crowds and parking problems, they argued.

The City Council approved plans for seven courts despite the grumblings. But try as they might, and with the economy deteriorating, members of the Clayton Bocce Federation couldn't raise the money in the meantime to build them.

Now, three years later, the federation is asking that Clayton's redevelopment agency kick in money for the project, which will cost somewhere between $580,000 and $1.5 million.

And the fight is starting all over again.

"It has a lighting system and a sound system," said resident Barbara Dwyer, who lives close to the vacant lot behind City Hall, where the courts will go. "I've been over at Newhall (park) when they're playing over there. Between all the people and the cars, you can't even walk. This will be bigger and noisier — who knows how much?"

She also argues that it's not a proper use of redevelopment money, especially in light of the strides the small city is trying to make with its downtown revitalization. Whether the general public could use the courts hasn't been settled.

"We don't know yet how much it'll cost to maintain the courts — Advertisementthat's not even a thought yet. They're asking residents of Clayton to pay for their private use, and I just don't think that's right."

The bocce project would include seven courts, a 1,200 square-foot storage building, restrooms, lights, a sound wall, a sound system and seating.

Bocce proponent Ed Hartley said the 280-member Clayton Bocce League is a thriving organization.

"We need to gauge whether it would be appropriate for the redevelopment agency to consider funding part of the construction," Hartley said. "We're just requesting to engage in a discussion. At the end of the day, the answer may be that it's appropriate and there's the limit to it, or that it's not an appropriate thing to do."

The council discussed bocce at its Oct. 21 meeting, but with two of three incumbents declining to run for re-election, the council will have a very different make-up after Tuesday's voting. Mayor Gregg Manning, who is leaving the council, has been adamantly pro-bocce, for example. But whomever replaces him may not feel that way, said City Manager Gary Napper.

"It just made sense to wait and take the issue up again after the election and after the holidays," he said. He said bocce will be on the Jan. 20 City Council agenda.

"One of the things we'll be talking about is, do the bocce courts really meet the redevelopment requirement of curbing blight and creating economic development," he said.

Ken Dothee, a Martinez resident and past U.S. Bocce Federation president who became involved in the Clayton issue in 2005, said the sport adds a family-oriented, social element to communities.

"It truly is a game that can be played by anyone," he said. "We've had teams with four generations of people — great grandchildren playing with their grandparents. It's just a wonderful melting pot.

"What happens in Martinez," where bocce is hugely popular, he said, "is you get people bringing their barbecues and wine and they chitchat with their friends."

Dwyer says she has no problem with bocce has a sport.

"If it's paid for with public money, it should be something we can all use," she said. "That property could serve as a park or a town pool or be a large piece of income for the city if it chooses to sell it."

She noted that there are church uses downtown on Sundays, and worries about people competing for parking spaces.

"You know people will end up parking in the surrounding neighborhoods. But mostly, I just think the fact that this is a private club makes this absurd. I wouldn't go to the town and ask them to put a pool in my backyard."

Dothee said many bocce courts in the East Bay were paid for with private money. "The goal in Martinez was that the city wouldn't have to spend a dime," he said.



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