Busy Poway council agenda includes Gwynn monument, drones

A full agenda awaits members of the Poway City Council when they meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers.

Items to be discussed include how to proceed with the proposed Tony Gwynn memorial at Lake Poway Park, financial policies for the general fund reserve, whether to extend the city’s temporary ordinance forbidding drones and whether to allow churches in the business park.

The council will be asked to approve a contract with Rebecca Basford of Artful Living in Sabre Springs to coordinate and manage the process of selecting and implementing a design for a memorial near the Lake Poway ball field for Gwynn, a Baseball Hall of Fame player and longtime Poway resident. The “public art management” contract calls for budget not to exceed $29,529.

In July the council agreed to free up about $16.7 million in general fund reserves by declaring that the amount of reserves should total no more than 45 percent of the general fund. On Tuesday the council will review and possibly approve formal wording putting that decision into effect. The council has not started to discuss how best to spent the $16.7 million.

Members of the public are invited to comment on the city’s interim emergency ordinance prohibiting the launching or landing of drones throughout much of the city. The intent is to allow the city to ban drone use within two miles of a declared emergency zone, such as a wildfire. City Attorney Morgan Foley is proposing the ordinance, which expires on Oct. 15, be continued at least through Oct. 20, when “a more appropriate” ordinance may be presented for council approval.

At Mayor Steve Vaus’s request, the council will hold an informal (non-voting) workshop to discuss whether to permit religious institutions to be housed in the Poway Business Park. Such uses are currently not allowed. At least two churches have inquiring about the possibility.

The complete agenda and backup materials can be found at www.poway.org.