Cuesta-love Cuesta-love (May 20, 2005)

Members rally to preserve status quo at tennis center

By Jon Wiener

With Mountain View facing yet another shortfall as it enters this year's budget discussions, city leaders are looking for creative ways to cut costs and boost revenues.

But the members of Mountain View Tennis Club have a message for City Hall: Keep your hands off Cuesta Tennis Center.

The council is set to debate the future of the 12-court complex Tuesday, and local tennis players are waiting eagerly for their decision.

"Cuesta is by far the best public facility in the entire country and probably the entire world," said Dennis Olson, who was among the 90 residents who packed a Parks and Recreation Commission meeting earlier this month to encourage the city to keep the current system. (His comment drew a round of applause.) Supporters cited the easy accessibility of the courts and the sense of community ownership and inclusion that comes, in part, from low rates for lessons and other programs.

Controversy has surrounded the complex ever since February, when city staff called off a flawed and contentious bidding process just as the council was getting set to renew the contract with the current operator, Tim Foley.

City recreation staff spends nearly $30,000 per year taking care of the courts at Cuesta Park, more if you count the regular maintenance and facility upgrades undertaken every few years. The city recovers half of that through its lease with Foley, but some potential operators suggested they could turn a handsome profit of up to $100,000.

Dave Muela, community services manager for the city, said three of the five applicants, after they found out staff planned to renew Foley's contract, complained that the application process was unclear.

"One of the questions that came out was, "What should the operating philosophy of the Cuesta Tennis Center be?'" Muela said. "Hindsight being 20/20, it would have made the process a little bit clearer if we had been able to articulate (that) in better terms."

The city council will decide next week whether to continue subsidizing the center or try to maximize revenues. The parks and recreation commission voted unanimously for the current model, though not necessarily the current operator.

The council raised green fees at Shoreline Golf Course last year but refused to do the same with any other recreation programs. And while the mission of the golf course continues to come up during council meetings, several members have said they believe that a $15,000 tennis subsidy is a small amount to pay for something that promotes physical activity and health.
E-mail Jon Wiener at jwiener@mv-voice.com

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