Proposition 1B and Congestion Relief

Mayor Sanders and I are traveling to Sacramento Tuesday February 20, 2007 to testify before the California Transportation Commission (CTC).  As chair of SANDAG's Transportation Committee, I will be pushing San Diego's case for nearly $1.5 billion in Proposition 1B transportation funds for a variety of congestion relief projects within our county.  These projects include the widening of Interstate 5 from Genesee North through Oceanside as well as additional projects along 805 and other heavily congested freeways within our region.  The voters approved Prop 1B and we are doing our best to bring dollars back to the region for congestion relief now. 
 

It’s important that Sacramento keeps faith with the voters – the list of recommended projects released by the State on Friday February 16, 2007 for the San Diego region amounts to only about $300 million when we requested and are ready to build $1.5 billion in congestion relief projects.  With only $4.5 billion available for the entire state, we don’t expect to get all of our $1.5 billion in request, but I’m not pleased with the CTC’s recommendation for our region of only $300 million.  The voters passed Prop 1B expecting congestion relief now and our region is ready to roll if they simply give us the funding.  If you'd like to read the CTC report, click here.
 

San Diego's Pension Issue - Getting All the Facts

The City of San Diego continues to work on fixing problems due to the past practice of under-funding the San Diego City Employees’ Retirement System (SDCERS).  It is a challenging issue to follow and made all the more complicated when different facts and presentations are reported in the media. You get a different picture depending on what information and amount of detail is presented.  Today I want to provide you with some additional information that you may not have not seen. 

I plan to dedicate a future eNewsletter to give you an update on San Diego's pension and other fiscal issues but for now, please click here to read this enlightening letter from the administrator of the San Diego’s Employee Retirement system to one of the editorial writers at the San Diego Union-Tribune.  

The Mayor's Plan for Business Process
Re-engineering the City of San Diego

A few weeks ago, the City Council’s Independent Budget Analyst introduced an ordinance designed to clarify the role of the Mayor and City Council when it comes to budgetary decisions.  The Mayor was opposed to the ordinance and I supported it.  Some interpreted my vote as one opposing the Mayor's efforts to streamline city government. Truth be known, I am in complete support of the Mayor's efforts for Business Process Re-engineering and his efforts to right-size our city.  In fact, many of the very programs and practices that the Mayor and his staff led by Ronne Froman and Rick Reynolds have introduced are some of the very things that I championed for many years only to be shot down by City Managers and an unmovable bureaucracy.  The Mayor's goal for Business Process Re-engineering is an effort long overdue and our city and I believe deliver far greater efficiencies than we currently have. Furthermore, it's important for you to note that I have either made the motion and have certainly supported every department that has come forward under the Mayor's BPR program to date.  I believe the media spin on this issue attempted to turn this matter more into a Council versus Mayor debate than what it really was or is. 

Further, contrary to popular spin doctors, Mayor Sanders and I have an outstanding relationship and we communicate regularly.  The Mayor understands clearly where I was coming from in not supporting the initial ordinance.  As your City Council representative, it's extremely important for me to be responsive to community concerns when issues arise.  We also must recognize that our governmental system operates through a series of checks and balances.  My concern over the ordinance that was introduced last week is that it did not provide for sufficient checks and balances.  As City Councilmember, I cannot operate in a vacuum only looking at things from a micro perspective. 


While Jerry Sanders may be an outstanding Mayor, I have to consider that he will not always be Mayor and I have to look at any ordinance we pass from a big picture perspective.  The City Council, just like Congress should never turn over to the President or the Mayor complete unbridled control of the government.   Taxpayers and citizens should have the right to challenge decisions that might be made from the Mayor's office including a public participation process to debate those issues especially when they come to budget matters which under the Charter, is solely within the purview of the City Council.  This could be as simple as a decision to close a community library to the point where it only operates three days a week or for that matter a neighborhood swimming pool.  I can only imagine the hue and cry that would come to my office if a Mayor were to decide to unilaterally to close a community recreation center but all for six hours a day, five days a week.  My phone would ring off the hook and under the ordinance as introduced by the Mayor there would be nothing that neither you nor I could do about it.  That is not true representative government. 

The Mayor’s staff and my office along with Council President Scott Peters have been working on a possible compromise ordinance that will incorporate many of the tenets of what the Mayor is trying to accomplish with business process Re-engineering while maintaining my ability as your City Council representative to respond to concerns that may come up from the community.  You can be assured that my vote on February 5 was not a vote against Mayor Sanders but instead a vote to force additional dialogue.  That dialogue is now occurring and I'm confident that once a new ordinance is introduced, it will give greater due process to our neighbors, the residents of our City all with a goal to bring the greatest degree of efficiency possible.

City Lakes
 

At a recent City Council meeting I spoke against the plan to transfer responsibility for recreational programs at City lakes from the Water Department to the Park and Recreation Department.  The City owns nine lakes and three of them, including Lake Murray in Mission Trails Regional Park, are located within the city limits.  Since Water Department employees are already on site and working at our lakes, the general fund, not water ratepayers should pay for any of their services that relate toward recreation.  It certainly does not make sense to send an additional Department out to those lakes where recreation programs take place. 

In addition to the common sense fiscal reality, there are a number of other reasons why I oppose using the Park and Recreation Department to provide services at our city lakes:  1) it was tried and failed miserably in the past; 2) the Park and Recreation Department has a spotty record with city lakes; 3) the entire park and recreation department is being re-engineered with top management recently changed and some functions being moved to other departments and; 4) the Water Department staff has proven to be quite capable of managing Lake Murray. 

A grand jury report titled “Service Legal Agreements Equal Back Door Funding” dated April 25, 2006 said the City should not spend Water Department enterprise funds on operating non-use related items such as recreational uses of City lakes.  I could not agree more.  In other words, water ratepayers should not foot the bill for recreational programs like boating, fishing and other activities.  At the same time, it does not make sense to create more of a bureaucracy at the city if it can be avoided. 

This is a big issue and I along with Lake Murray users are anxious to see a detailed proposal.  In the meantime, residents have asked why the Water Department can’t continue to manage recreational programs at City lakes and just have the Park and Recreation Department reimburse the Water Department.  Mayor Sanders and I discussed this recently at one of our regular meetings and I believe he will support going in this direction.  Stay tuned on this one as I'm sure I'll have more to say in a future eNewsletter.

There are several reference documents you ay be interested in reading about our City Lakes for more information.  They include:

A Historical Overview of our City’s Lakes by longtime Lakes Manager Jim Brown

The City Council’s Independent Budget Analyst’s report about reimbursing past water department funds

Mayor’s staff memo about changes to Lakes program

Jim Brown reacts to Mayor’s plan

Councilmember Madaffer’s memo to Mayor expressing concern over proposed changes at Lake Murray.

Keeping Our Police From Leaving
 

I applaud Mayor Sanders for releasing the expected report in late December 2006 regarding police pay and benefits (click here to see the report). Unfortunately, as I mentioned in previous eNewsletters, the conclusion came as no surprise.  The report is concrete information supporting what I and others have been saying all along: pay and benefits for the San Diego Police Department are lower than elsewhere and we’re losing officers because of it.

This report emphasizes that we need to be more competitive in order to keep officers.  It’s a wake up call to realize that members of our police force, who risk their lives daily to keep us safe, deserve our full support.  Despite the fiscal constraints the City faces, public safety is the first and foremost service we provide citizens and must always remain the top priority.

I will continue fighting for more competitive salaries and benefits for our police department.  Solutions to our ongoing problems within the police department must be addressed as part of our annual mid-year budget review.  Along with my City Council colleague Tony Young, I have previously suggested a number of ideas including the creation of a retention bonus program and the ability to work off-hours in their police uniform as happens in other major Cities.  There are many other good ideas and this issue needs to be resolved quickly.  We already know the facts: taxpayers invest over $550,000 in a tenured five-year police officer with the City of San Diego.  We cannot let this taxpayer investment go to waste as police officers leave for better paying jobs in other cities.

Last May I requested that a police officer retention plan be brought to the City Council in order to stem the tide of officers leaving the San Diego Police Department. Hopefully this report will now accelerate discussion of the many options before us.  As policy makers, the Council must focus on ways to retain the officers we have, recruit additional officers, and use our public safety resources in the best interests of our residents and taxpayers. 

And Speaking of Cops, Here's a Disgraceful Story

While working on this eNewsletter at home over the Presidents' Day weekend, I received an e-mail late Saturday evening from a veteran San Diego police officer, Sergeant Dale Shockley.  I know Dale personally as he lives in San Carlos and has served our neighborhoods and our city admirably.  It pains and saddens me to no end when I read how the city's bureaucracy is treating America's finest.  No wonder why our police officers are leaving.  No wonder the city of San Diego has a police retention problem.  Am I angry?  You better believe I am. 

I plan to deal with this issue Tuesday morning and demand fairness for our Police officers.  This is no way to treat anyone, let alone a 30-year veteran of our Police Department.  Dale is a proud cop and it must been very painful for him to send this letter.  Click here to read Sergeant Shockley's e-mail and the letter he sent to the city's benefits people. 

Presidents Day

Please remember that this Monday, February 19th is a holiday and City of San Diego offices will be closed.  There will be no trash or recyclables collection on Monday but will instead be picked up on Tuesday, February 20th.  Trash and recyclables will be picked up one day later this week and return to the normal schedule on Monday, February 26th. 





 

City Services

Whether you call in by phone, or fill out a convenient form on the city's website, it's easier than ever to get a pothole filled or to have a streetlight fixed. As you can imagine, with a city the size of San Diego it would be far too expensive to have staff simply driving around looking for potholes are burned-out streetlights.  Most repairs are generated based on citizen input. 

For residents who aren’t sure how to find help in reporting a pothole or burnt out street light, the following guidelines will be helpful:

To submit a request for a street repair or a street light repair, or to follow up on a request or for emergency contact information, please click here:  http://apps.sandiego.gov/streetdiv/.  You can also call the Streets Division at (619) 527-7500.  The website reporting form is actually better, however, as the system will take your e-mail address and keep you apprised of progress on the item you have reported.  You'll receive an e-mail to acknowledge your submission and you'll also receive an e-mail to let you know when the item has been corrected or repaired. (By the way, the photo of the sinking car is just a joke - but it sure feels that way sometimes).

Here are some additional helpful links:

To report pollution entering the City’s storm drain collection system, please click here: http://www.sandiego.gov/thinkblue/ or call (619) 235-1000.

To submit a request for trash, litter and recycling service, to see collection and to view collection schedules for your address, please click here: http://apps.sandiego.gov/econtainer/ or call (858) 694-7000.

 For more information regarding your water bill, reading your sewer bill, or paying your water bill on line, please click here: http://www.sandiego.gov/water/rates/index.shtml or call a customer service representative at (619) 515-3500 .

To report a sewer spill or bad odor from a sewer, please call (619) 515-3525  immediately. For more information about sewer spills and habitat restoration, please click here: http://www.sandiego.gov/mwwd/sewerspill/index.shtml.

More on Mini Dorms

We’re moving forward on the issue of mini dorms - an informal term to describe single family homes in single family neighborhoods that have multiple tenants (typically students) and have become nuisance rental properties.  We are really working hard to keep the situation from turning into the photo above.

As I’ve said before, I recognize the right of homeowners to lawfully sell or rent their properties and I recognize the need students have for housing they can afford.  The problem occurs when factors arising from mini dorm conditions have a negative impact on the communities and the quality of life is diminished.  Let me stress that the impact of this issue is citywide, not just in my district.

Here is what has transpired so far:  I held a community meeting on September 19th and that resulted in bringing this issue to the City Council’s Land Use & Housing Committee on November 29, 2006.  My colleagues, Councilmember Ben Hueso and Councilmember Kevin Faulconer, made a motion for city staff to prepare a draft ordinance that would tighten enforcement against mini dorms.  This draft ordinance will include recommendations such as to:

1) Amend the Campus Impact Overlay Zone and the Land Development Code to include items such as reducing the campus impact parking threshold to four bedrooms in order to restrict bedroom additions to existing structures and requiring a minimum of two enclosed parking spaces

2) Further restrict parking in Residential Parking Permit District by reducing the number of permits allowed per home in Parking Permit Area B

3) Enforce the CAPP (College Area Party Plan) program

4) Identify funding or create a cost recovery system to hire two additional staff positions in order to fully enforce existing codes

5) Require owners of rental properties within the Campus Impact Overlay Zone to register their properties and provide responsible party information for each change in a lease

Communication is key and I would encourage the community to meet with other key partners on a monthly basis.  In the case of my district, that would mean groups such as the College Area Community Council, the San Diego Police Department and San Diego State University.

The mini dorm issue will return to the Land Use & Housing Committee on March 7, 2007.  For this meeting, members of the LU&H Committee requested that the Mayor and City Attorney provide specific information about the nine current vacancies in the Neighborhood Code Compliance Department and confirmation that the vacancies were not targeted for absorption by the NCC Department, thus eliminating additional field positions from future NCC budgets. 

We also asked for San Diego State University to provide more information about the number of police officers on their staff, what the adjusted staff levels are for weekend nights and if SDSU plans to increase the number of campus police officers.

Additionally, we asked for data on how much revenue the CAPP Program generates, how much revenue the Second Response Ordinance generates through fines collected and how many students have been disciplined as part of SDSU’s Student Code of Conduct requirements?

I applaud Council President Scott Peters for the December 11, 2006 memo he wrote about this issue.  He too understands the significance of the mini dorm issue and that steps to curb the issue needs to be applied citywide and not exclusively to one neighborhood.  To see a copy of his memo, click here. 

New Condos in Fox Canyon

At the December 5, 2006 City Council meeting, the Council voted unanimously in support of converting an old rundown apartment building on Auburn Drive into new condominiums that will provide for homeownership in an area that desperately needs it.  

By going above and beyond the minimum requirements, the project will transform this ugly old boxy apartment building inside and out and will help to bring pride of ownership to this older urban neighborhood.

The Fox Canyon community is certainly deserving of more redevelopment projects like this.  The developer will make total improvements such as new roofing, plumbing, electrical, insulation, windows, doors, drywall, stucco, flooring, kitchens, bathrooms and appliances.

I’ve included some drawings of the project and you may click here to see the PowerPoint presentation about the 5014 Auburn Drive project (the file is 9mb so it may a little time downloading).

Years ago, when I initiated the creation of the Crossroads Redevelopment Area, we included the Fox Canyon neighborhood in hopes that future developers would see the incredible potential for affordable housing, market-rate housing and urban renewal.  The domino affect has obviously started for this area and we know more improvements will continue for this area.

I remain committed to building a system of parks for the Fox Canyon neighborhood despite some incredible challenges. The residents of this area want, need and deserve parks.

Update on Pershing Field Vandalism

Shortly before Christmas, a mean-spirited act of vandalism took place at Pershing Middle School in which someone set fire to the artificial turf on the ball fields. These are the very same fields that the community raised funds and turned out in force for the dedication in July of 2004.  The fields have been in near continuous use ever since. 

First, I want to commend Park and Recreation staffer Ron Richard who discovered the smoldering turf and reacted quickly. Typically, Ron would not have been at Pershing Middle School that day but circumstances were such that he was at the right place at the right time. Second, I want to thank the Park & Recreation Department for quickly obtaining an estimate and scheduling the repair work to be done. It cost $9,700 to fix the damage.  

What a senseless waste all the way around and it is so troubling to know that our youth suffer the most since this has impacted the use of the field.  The school police are continuing their investigation and I’ll keep you posted as more details become available.

Mission Trails Regional Park

Hiking Cowles Mountain in Mission Trails Regional Park is a very popular activity for many San Diegans including me.  On any given day you will see lots of people enjoying a leisurely hike or a strenuous run up the mountain. The regulars probably already know this, but hikers and park patrons need to know that the trail will be closed on Saturday, February 24 so that repairs can be made to the trail. The trail will re-open either late Saturday or Sunday morning February 25th.  

He's Exceptional 

I’m very proud that the recipient of the Urban Corp’s 2006 Thurgood Marshall Good Government Award is none other than Don Mullen --- who also happens to be Chief of Policy for my office. He’s an exceptional guy and obviously the Urban Corps recognizes that because they made an exception and presented him with an award traditionally given to elected officials.

Don was honored by Michael Sterns, President of the Urban Corps of San Diego, at their Holiday Celebration and Recognition Luncheon on December 15th.  Around 300 guests attended the luncheon at Shelter Point Hotel.   Don received the award for his longstanding support of Urban Corps programs and corps members at the community level, for facilitating good government practices and for assisting the Urban Corps in their outreach for grant funding statewide. 

In my office he is the policy guru who tracks important issues and analyzes and makes policy recommendations about matters coming to City Council.  Don is also my representative for the communities of Rolando, Oak Park and El Cerrito as well as the Crossroads Redevelopment Area.

Congratulations, Don.  The staff and I are very proud of you. 

Pro-Active for Pro Kids 

Pro Kids Golf Academy is a wonderful organization that provides lifelong lessons for good citizenship as well as golf lessons. Part of their mission is to provide an environment that empowers kids to dream, establish goals, build self-esteem, enhance family relationships, create a sense of community, and strengthen values.  They provide important scholarships as well.
 

On a recent visit I met two young members. At the young age of 10 and 13 they are already excellent golfers who are enthusiastic about practicing just as much as they can. I was impressed with their knowledge, focus and courteousness.  They said if it weren’t for Pro-Kids, they would never have had the opportunity to learn the game of golf and would instead just be hanging out after school.  I can’t think of a better testimonial than these two fine boys.

Just one visit and you’ll see what an impact Pro Kids has on young people.  I encourage you to stop by and also visit their web site by clicking here.

 

From the In Box

From time to time in my eNewsletter, I enjoy sharing with you various e-mails I have received at City Hall.  Here's an e-mail from a constituent in Tierrasanta writing in about his recent experience with the City's Streets Division:
 

Jim,

It has been a while since we last spoke.
 
I want to let you know that a couple of weeks ago, I tried to report that there were many lights out in the parking lots at the Tierrasanta Rec Center.
When I tried to report it, there was a problem with the Street Division Web site map reporting method where it did not recognize the Rec Center as a valid address. Because of this, my request was bounced back by the automated system. I reported the Web site problem via the “contact-us” tab on the site.
 
Fay Faulkner replied back via email and within a day, the lights were repaired. There was also a message from Dave of the street division (sorry, no last name) on my answering machine giving me feedback about the light repairs. Fay also followed up a few days later and let me know the web site problem was repaired and it now recognized the Tierrasanta Rec Center as a valid address.
 
I feel it is a citizen's job to report problems to the appropriate (City, County, State) government agency. Once in awhile the (computer) system becomes unforgiving and when this happens it is very nice to have a “contact-us” tab available and the personnel willing to follow this up. In this case, they all did a fantastic job expediting and then following up on the repairs. Their response exceeded my expectations. You have a good crew in the Streets Division. It is important to public safety to keep street and signal lights working, and to repair potholes. In this case, as you are aware, hundreds of children and families use the Rec each day for basketball games, the swimming pools, tennis and baseball. Street and Parking lot lighting is a matter of public safety and they took this seriously.
 
With the negative comments that sometimes surround the City and the City services; I wanted to forward you a positive comment about a City Division.
 
Please convey my thanks to the appropriate department for a job well done by Fay, Dave and the entire crew in the Streets Division.
 
Bill D.

Happenings in the District

From time to time I include a few community events taking place throughout the District. Here are a few you may be interested in:

February 21 – SDSU will host a public meeting titled an EIR Scooping Meeting about the 2007 Master Plan revision.  The meeting takes place from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. in the Aztec Athletic Center Auditorium located at 55th Street and Hardy Avenue.  For more information visit their web site at http://advancement.sdsu.edu/masterplan/

February 24 – The Environmental Services Department will hold a free oil and auto waste recycling collection event from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  It will take place at Mission Bay at Sea Word Drive at South Shores in the East Parking Lot of Sea World.  For more information call (858) 694-7000 .

February 24 – The hiking trail on Cowles Mountain will be closed on this day (see story above). A regularly scheduled guided nature walk will take place at Mission Trails Regional Park on Saturday, February 24th. The walk begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Kumeyaay Lake Campground and lasts for up to 1-1/2 hours.  It is open to the public and no reservations are necessary.  Wear sturdy shoes and bring water. A hat and sunscreen are also recommended. For more information visit the park’s web site at www. mtrp.org.

March 7 – The Mid-City Police Advisory Board Community Meeting takes place from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. at Rolando United Methodist Church located at 4855 Seminole Drive.  In an effort to outreach and fight crime in the Mid-City area, the San Diego Police Department will be holding community meetings on the first Wednesday of every other month (at this location) for District 7 communities including College View Estate, College East, Rolando, Rolando Park, El Cerrito, Darnall, Oak Park, Fox Canyon, Islenair and Colina del Sol.   For more information call (619) 515-2733 . 

March 24-25 – Get in shape now for the “24 Hour Kroc-A-Thon For Healthy Kids”. It begins at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and ends 24 hours later.  The participation fee is $30 an hour. The goal is to raise $50,000 for the Kroc Center Scholarship Fund.  For more information contact Chris Marek, Development Director of The Salvation Army Kroc Center at (619) 269-1408or email to Chris.Marek@usw.sarmy.org

March 25 – The 11th annual Rolando Street Fair takes place from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the intersection of Rolando Boulevard at El Cajon Boulevard. This community celebration features refreshments, crafts, rides and live music.