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Upcoming Big Wave Event
President’s Message
May 2009
Dear Friends,
Since my last letter, our community, our state, and our country have suffered some extremely difficult economic times. We have seen many cuts, both real and proposed, that may hinder our special community’s ability to receive the help it needs. Instead of backing off, the Big Wave Team saw these unfortunate developments as an urgent wake-up call to put the Big Wave model in place. To compensate for dwindling government funded resources, we believe it is more important than ever to put into action a privately funded and financially sustainable community for our special citizens. With this renewed sense of urgency, our Big Wave team and Big Wave supporters have accomplished much over the past six months.
I want to thank everybody for your support. At the last County Big Wave scoping session, over 100 supporters attended the meeting to show and voice support for Big Wave. Several county officials informed me they have never seen such an overwhelming show of support for any project, anywhere. Recently we had a group of Big Wave supporters (Lisa Hutar, Holly Winnen, Terri Chatfield) who took time out of their busy schedules to attend a County Board of Supervisors meeting to request that the Board expedite the completion schedule for the Big Wave Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Although the Board did not publicly direct Planning to expedite the schedule, we have witnessed an unusual sense of urgency from Planning that runs contrary to experience. They have heard and heeded your voices.
We have reached the “final” Wellness Center design as it relates to the EIR. We have the potential for 70 units (50 for residents and 20 for on-site staff). The Community Center has a commercial kitchen, a dining room, a recreation room, a theater, numerous vocation rooms, approximately sixteen offices for staff and businesses for special needs professionals and a pool with exercise areas and locker rooms. We retained the onsite commercial building for revenue generation and to house businesses that will hire those with special needs. We retained the design for the neighboring Office Park. However, instead of allocating all of the space for offices, we have allocated space for R&D (research and development), as well as light manufacturing and assembly. This mixed business use will provide more options to local businesses.
We have initiated a committee process to research the needs of our community and to develop a structure to follow. Initially there are five people on this committee, which we will expand as the process proceeds. Kim Gainza, Kerrie DeMartini, Mary Lou Williams, Nicole DeMartini and Debby Lesser have already created the “Food Service” structure for the Big Wave community. This committee meets every week and they have done an outstanding job. I thank them all very much. The following are other project areas that our committees will be completing over the next five months:
- Social, Recreational, Educational
- Vocational, Employment, Life Skills
- Safety, Emergency, Medical
- Service Provision, Staff housing
- Residential
- Transportation
- Big Wave Culture and Community
- Business Development
- Farming
- Site Maintenance
- Wetland Restoration and Maintenance
- Financial Sustainability
- Construction and Design
Our staff has continued its tireless efforts to bring Big Wave to fruition. Scott Holmes, Nicole DeMartini, Madeleine Maguire, Kim Gainza—we all owe you a huge “thank you.” Without you, we would be nowhere near as close to success as we are today.
In closing, I promise you, because of your support, regardless of the condition of the economy, despite the difficulties and adversity we face, we will build the Big Wave community for our special people.
Best,
Jeff Peck
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