Vision 50
Marina: Vision 50
Planning for a Stronger and Safer Marina
In 2025 Marina will celebrate its 50th anniversary of becoming a city. As we look ahead to the next 50 years and plan for a stronger and safer future for local residents, your input is needed.
New Opportunities and New Challenges
Careful budgeting, state and federal grant funding, and revenue from new development has allowed Marina to open parks, upgrade playgrounds, and revitalize the downtown area. However, much of this funding is restricted, and leaves other critical needs unmet.
Aging Public Safety & City Facilities
Incorporated in 1975 with a population of around 10,000 residents, Marina has since grown to over 23,000. Despite this, the city still relies on 50 year old facilities built for a city half of Marina’s size, including fire stations, a police station, and aging portable city buildings that are dilapidated, unsafe, and structurally unsound.
Maintaining Rapid 9-1-1 Emergency Response
In the last 8 years, 9-1-1 calls to Marina Fire Department have risen by over 50%, mainly for medical emergencies needing quick paramedic response. Marina’s aging fire stations were built for a much smaller population and are not located near areas of population growth, resulting in longer response times. Marina can no longer meet the national standard of 5 minute emergency response times. Current 9-1-1 emergency response times of 8-10 minutes could be the difference between life and death in the event of a heart attack, stroke, accident or emergency.
Critical City Services Impacted
Deteriorating facilities currently house:
• Emergency planning, operations, disaster preparedness, law enforcement, and services for children, youth, and seniors may not withstand a natural disaster, such as a major earthquake.
• These aging buildings pose risks to city operations, potentially hindering employees from serving residents and conducting emergency operations safely and efficiently.
Deteriorating City Facilities
Thirty years ago, Marina acquired indoor recreation and swimming facilities from the closed Fort Ord Army Base. Currently unsafe and dilapidated, these facilities can be transformed into functional spaces for exciting recreational opportunities with significant renovations. Without
significant renovations, demolition of these city facilities is likely.
Planning for the Future
Plans are underway to sustain quick 9-1-1 response, keep city facilities operational, and provide quality programs. Upgrading aging facilities exceeds the current budget, prompting voters to consider a local ballot measure for crucial improvements, including:
• Provide safe, modern and up-to-date fire and police stations located close to key population centers to ensure rapid 9-1-1 response to emergencies
• Replace outdated and failing city facilities with earthquake safe facilities for emergency operations, disaster preparedness, and other city programs and operations
• Renovate existing unused city facilities to provide year-round recreation, swimming and other safe activities for children, teens, families and seniors
We Want to Hear From You!
Please click here to complete a short survey. Please share your ideas, priorities, and ask questions to help shape the future of Marina. Please contact Cyrah Caburian at vision50@cityofmarina.org or (831) 884-1211.