Hi Justin,
I hope you are doing well. I have been attending the few classes offered at the Belle Haven Community Campus for working adults like myself, and I have noticed that the ones accessible to working adults fill up quickly—even without much promotion. It took seven months for the Department of Library and Community Services to begin offering any classes that meet the needs of working adults like myself. To help prevent class cancellations due to low attendance or lack of awareness, I have been attending as many of these classes as possible and encouraging my family to join as well.
Some classes, such as martial arts, have had low participation, but that seems to be due to poor outreach—many residents simply did not know the classes were available. Several parents have also mentioned that Saturday adult classes overlap with children’s programs at the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center, forcing them to choose between their own well-being and their children’s activities.
Many Belle Haven residents still do not know what is happening in our neighborhood or in the city overall. City staff often rely on email as the primary method of communication, but this method does not work for everyone. Some residents are not comfortable with technology, while others feel overwhelmed by the number of messages they receive. For example, yesterday I could not find the email with information about the Juneteenth event. I had hoped to encourage Tim Sheeper to promote the pool during the event, but I was unable to locate the event hours. Events like this provide valuable opportunities not only to celebrate but also to promote City services and strengthen community connections.
This brings to mind Councilmember Cecilia Taylor’s question during the recent City Council meeting about how the marketing firm measures its success—especially when many community members remain unaware of programs and events.
I have also noticed a decline in the number of classes offered at BHCC this summer. When I asked staff, some mentioned that this was due to a lack of funding. I understand that they may not be the decision-makers, which is why I am reaching out to you.
It is concerning to see a forty-million-dollar facility not being fully utilized. What is the purpose of such a significant investment if it cannot deliver the robust programming our community has long needed? Belle Haven has always needed more classes and engagement—not just a new building. I am more than willing to help promote classes to increase participation and awareness.
At the same time, the City is encouraging residents to electrify their homes and prepare for potential changes to building codes. However, if residents do not feel a sense of belonging or benefit from City investments, it will be difficult to build trust and encourage participation—especially when there is no legal obligation to comply. With the State Assembly soon voting on Assembly Bill 306, which may limit the City’s ability to create its own building codes, community engagement will be more important than ever.
Thank you for your time. I look forward to learning how the City plans to address these concerns and better support the Belle Haven community.
Best regards,
Eduardo
