Encinitas will work with the owners of the Bobby Riggs Racket & Paddle Club to try to keep the business open, despite noise and permit issues, city officials promised its many ers last week.
“We will be working on solutions,” Acting City Manager Jennifer Campbell told the crowd who packed City Hall at the start of Wednesday’s City Council meeting.
Among the nearly 30 people who spoke to the council on items not on that night’s meeting agenda were many frequent pickleball players, as well as some coaches, volunteers and nonprofit organization who’ve benefited from the company’s donations.
Kevin Niems, a professional player who gives lessons at Bobby Riggs, told the council that the club is a “total inclusion place” with a true sense of community and it’s an economic “windfall for the city of Encinitas.” Others praised the owners’ philanthropic of local causes, including a pet spay and neuter program.
While most of the pickleball-related speakers were club ers, several neighbors told the council that the noise from the courts was “unbelievable” and customer parking was impacting their roadways.
“I understand the frustration … with what the pickleball players are going through (due to the current permit situation), but please consider us,” neighbor Roberta Miller told the council.
The current conflict began after the city started receiving noise complaints months ago from neighbors. An Encinitas code compliance officer then visited the property, which is located on Santa Fe Drive, and determined that it was violating the city’s noise ordinance, Campbell said.
Additional investigation found that it’s also not in compliance with its permits, which date from the days when the place was solely a tennis facility and had 7 courts, not the 22 that it has today, she added. City records indicate the club received its first operating permit in 1975 and gained an updated permit in 1995, Campbell said.
The club is named for and was initially founded by a former world-ranking tennis player, Bobby Riggs. An onsite museum contains his trophies, awards, metals, “and even the outfits worn by the legendary Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in their infamous Battle of the Sexes match,” the club web site states.
In a posting to a club-related Facebook page on Thursday, club owner Steve Dawson thanked the pickleball ers for turning up at Wednesday’s council meeting and said he was taking steps to reduce noise issues at the facility.
“I ordered 96 quiet play paddles, which I will give out, for free, to anyone who wishes to use one at Riggs until I get the sound barriers in place,” he wrote. “Do not buy one, use mine as provided. They will begin to arrive very soon.”
He also wrote that he expects to receive contractor bids for the sound barrier project within the next 30 days and plans to start construction within 90 days.
“Once sound barriers are in place, full compliance should allow any paddle you choose to play with,” he added. “Until then, please consider helping me out by using a quiet play paddle. I am not mandating quiet play paddles at this time, just suggesting that they will help me out.”
