‘Imagine Catalina’ sets course
In 2011, the Catalina Island Conservancy embarked on what officials call “one of the most ambitious projects in our 40-year history.”
‘Imagine Catalina’ sets course
In 2011, the Catalina Island Conservancy embarked on what officials call “one of the most ambitious projects in our 40-year history.”
“Imagine Catalina: A Vision for the Future,” is the organization’s 20-year master plan completed in November. The resulting planning document is described by President and CEO Ann Muscat as “an exciting vision and blue print of options for us to move forward to serve the Island and its residents and visitors for decades to come.”
With Imagine Catalina, the challenge was “to look into the future and create a plan of programs and infrastructure improvements that will enable us to realize our conservation, education and recreation mission over the long term,” Muscat said.
City keeps CKV open
The Avalon City Council decided by consensus to keep Catalina Kid Ventures open until the end of the fiscal year, according to City Clerk Denise Radde. The decision came during the council’s Dec. 20 meeting.
The decision would cost the General Fund $134,120, according to a staff report by Chief Administrative Officer Charlie Wagner.
The staff requested direction from the council at the last 2011 council meeting because the Kid Ventures program was expected to run a deficit. “Over the last prior two fiscal years other city funds have been required to contribute $371,141 to the CKV program in order to cover its costs,” Wagner wrote.
“When the current year’s budget (FY 2011-2012) was adopted, it was anticipated that the CKV program would have a shortfall of $34,000 based on a projected cost of $250,621,” Wagner said. “However, a recent analysis as the end of November projects the shortfall to be closer to $134,000.”
At the time he wrote the report, Wagner said the CKV program was expected to have a $134,700 deficit. The staff report offered the council three choices: end the program on Jan. 31 and allow families a month to make other plans; end the program on June 30 and absorb a loss from the General Fund or continue the program indefinitely with city subsidies.
Dr. Mellon new chief of staff
Catalina Island Medical Center’s medical staff elected Dr. Monte Mellon as their medical chief of staff early in 2012.
Mellon was recruited to begin working at the Medical Center in 2009 and was hired as a permanent staff physician in January 2010. Board certified in both family practice and emergency medicine, Dr. Mellon has more than 30 years of experience in high volume emergency departments. In his two years at CIMC, he has become widely respected by both co-workers and patients.
“The chief of staff interacts with the hospital administration and nursing to solve problems, promote patient care improvement and to oversee and conduct peer review,” Mellon said. “I am very much looking forward to serving in this role.”
