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NOTICE:
This month's meeting (July 10th at 7pm) will include a public hearing for the CACC's Recommendations Facilities Finaice Planning (FFP) and Capital Improvements Program (CIP).
Agenda & Meeting Time/Location
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FFP and CIP - Huh?!
Our July 10 meeting is a very important one for the College Area. The College Area Community Council (CACC) will kick off the process of updating the College Area Facilities Financing Plan (FFP), (which was last done twenty years ago in 1993), and hold a public hearing on our proposed 2014 - 15 Capital Improvements Program (CIP).
Facilities Financing Plan
The Facilities Financing Plan (FFP) determines which streets, intersections, sidewalks, storm drains, parks, recreational facilities, fire stations, or other public facilities need to be built or upgraded in the College Area over the next twenty years.
CACC prioritized the needed improvements in order of importance to the community, and look at how to pay for them. Improvements slated for the near term often change from year to year, depending on the City budget and what funding sources are available. Long term priorities, though, don't tend to change.
After the CACC identifies necessary improvements and determine their priority, City staff will calculate their estimated costs and then set the level of Development Impact Fees for new residential and commercial/industrial projects. Impact fees help mitigate the cost of the public facilities necessitated by new development in the community.
For example, the impact fee developers must pay for each new residential unit built in the College Area is currently $2,484. Considering that this rate was set in 1993, it's apparent that the College Area is long overdue for an update to its FFP.
Although the College Area Community Planning Board makes recommendations on funding priorities, City Council makes the final decision. In 1993, for example, the College Area selected 25 transportation projects, two parks/recreation projects, and construction of a new library as the main long term needs in the community.
Before approving the Plan, City Council changed the priorities of several of the CACCs recommended improvements, and added a facility that wasn't on the College Area's priority list - the Mission Valley East Light Rail Extension. When funding becomes available, the FFP determines which improvement gets built first. Of course, not all improvements qualify for all funding sources. For example, TransNet funds only apply to transportation projects. Development Impact Fees (DIF), however, can be used for any needed improvement.
To learn more about the FFP, and see which improvements were considered most important for the College Area in 1993, go to:
http://www.sandiego.gov/facilitiesfinancing/plans/college.shtml.
Capital Improvements Program
Closely related, but not identical, to the long term FFP is the City's Annual Capital Improvements Program (CIP). The CIP sets budget priorities for capital improvements during the upcoming year. Last year, for the first time, the City Council asked for suggestions from the City's communities as to which projects were most urgently needed. This year, the process has been further refined and formalized.
At the CACCs July 10 meeting, the first of two public hearings regarding improvements the College Area requests for the coming year. The second public hearing will be held on Wednesday, September 11, with final recommendations on the top five priorities due by October 1. The CACC strongly urge residents of the College Area community to attend one or both of these public hearings, and tell us which improvements you feel are most urgently needed in the College Area.
Last year, the projects recommended for funding were as follows:
- Sidewalks and a 2-way bike lane on Montezuma Road to improve bike and pedestrian safety, with special attention to the intersection of Fairmount and Montezuma.
- Install sidewalks on the east side of Reservoir Drive from Reservoir Lane to Alvarado Road; and sidewalks and street lights on the west side of 70th Avenue from Saranac to Alvarado Road to improve pedestrian safety.
- Construct a joint use park with natural turf at Tubman Charter School, 6880 Mohawk, in conjunction with the San Diego Unified School District, to improve recreational opportunities in the College Area, which has insufficient park space.
- Create a pocket park in the area between College Ave. and Collwood Blvd. to improve recreational opportunities in the College Area. (Location not identified.)
- Conduct a mobility study and implement recommended sidewalk improvements on the north side of El Cajon Blvd. from 54th to 73rd Street, to improve pedestrian safety and walkability.
- Build a pedestrian bridge over Montezuma Road at Hardy Elementary School (54th Street) to improve pedestrian and bike safety at that location.
Some of these improvements are already underway, or have been partially implemented. Others have yet to be funded. Please join the CACC on July 10 at 7 p.m. to help us guide future improvements in the College Area. Your voice matters.
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Boulevard BOO! Parade 2013
The Boulevard BOO! Parade is returning to the College Area. This free, family event is bigger and spookier than ever! More floats, more zombies, more music and more surprises. More of what makes the Boulevard BOO! Parade San Diego's only Halloween Parade.
The College Area Business District is thrilled to announce that it will be partnering with Upbeat Parade Productions for the 2013 parade. With twenty-five years of parade experience Upbeat introduces a new and exciting addition to the BOO! Parade.
With the economic challenges of the past few years the College Area Business District decided to eliminate the BOO! Carnival from the overall event. The new direction will be on the parade. "It was a difficult decision to make. But we are excited to be moving forward with Upbeat Parade Productions." says Executive Director, Jennifer Finnegan. A listing of College Area fall carnivals for families, produced by schools and other non-profits, is available on the BOO! Parade website home page: www.BooParade.com.
The College Area Business District, a non-profit corporation that manages the College Area Business Improvement District, focuses their efforts on helping small business owners in the commercial corridors in the College Area of San Diego, including El Cajon Blvd., College Ave., and Montezuma Rd. The Boulevard BOO! Parade brings thousands to the commercial district to enjoy the local restaurants and specialty shops. Sit patio side and enjoy something tasty and cool to drink while being entertained by the BOO!
For more information go to www.BooParade.com, or follow us on Facebook. Produced by the College Area Business District (619) 582-1093.
   
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CACC Meeting Report
The next meeting of the joint College Area Community Council and Community Planning Board will be Wednesday, July 10 at 7 pm in the Community Room of the College-Rolando Library, 6600 Montezuma Road.
At the June CACC meeting, we learned from the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) that construction of the Mid-City Rapid Bus Project begins this month. Mid-City Rapid will be a high-frequency, limited-stop service between San Diego State University and Downtown San Diego via El Cajon Blvd. and Park Blvd. Construction is expected to take approximately a year, and construction details will be posted as they become available: KeepSanDiegoMoving.com/MidCityRapid
According to SANDAG, rapid bus services achieve faster travel times by using measures such as transit signal priority, dedicated bus lanes, and limited station spacing. Mid-City Rapid is among the first of a new breed of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services that SANDAG is building in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS).
The project is part of a region wide strategy to create a BRT network, so residents have travel choices that are attractive alternatives to driving.
The project is 50% funded by the TransNet Extension Ordinance approved by voters in 2004, which imposed a regional half-cent sales tax for transportation. The other half of the funding comes from a federal grant. The budget for the project, including buying new "green" buses powered by gas or electric, is about $44 million.
It is hoped that the project will both benefit existing transit riders and attract new riders by transforming the existing MTS Route 15 into a Rapid service.
Specific goals include:
- Faster travel times, which will be achieved by consolidating transit stops, building transit-only lanes on Park Boulevard, synchronizing traffic signals on El Cajon Boulevard, extending green signal phases for buses, and low-floor boarding.
- More frequent service, with Rapid buses every 10 minutes in the peak period, and every 15 minutes in the off-peak.
- Improved customer experience through "next bus" digital arrival signs, the creation of transit stations with distinctive shelters branded for the Rapid service, and new articulated vehicles with a unique look. The project also will improve the pedestrian environment and safety in and around station areas through better crosswalks and hardscape / landscape enhancements.
Since the Mid-City Rapid route runs through several urban communities that are identified as smart growth areas in the Regional Comprehensive Plan, it is anticipated that new development will occur along the route, with an emphasis on residential in-fill and walkability.
El Cajon Boulevard has been enhanced with landscaped medians to improve its appeal, and the Mid-City Rapid project will continue this trend and support the revitalization of El Cajon Boulevard.
One area of controversy is the corner of 54th and El Cajon Boulevard, where the bus stop is being relocated from the southwest to the southeast corner. Neighborhood residents fear that this will create increased congestion for northbound cars turning left from 54th onto El Cajon.
An existing, highly trafficked shopping area already creates congestion at that corner, and the relocated bus stop may exacerbate that problem. SANDAG planners hope to ameliorate that situation by adjusting traffic signal timing.
Also at the CACC June meeting, the groundbreaking of the new College Area Community Garden was celebrated. The establishment of this garden was led by residents of the College View Estates area, with the help and cooperation of San Diego State University.
Adjacent to the SDSU Child Care Center, the garden will provide an opportunity for College Area residents and SDSU affiliates to learn about organic farming and grow their own food.
Children from nearby schools will be invited to participate. The garden will consist, in part, of small and medium size plots of land that will be available for organic farming by dues-paying 'member-gardeners'.
A work party was held on June 8, and about fifty College area residents and SDSU staff showed up to clear the land. Mayor Filner was there to help kick off the event. To find out more about this community garden, email:
CACG.SANDIEGO@GMAIL.COM.
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New to SDSU
-By Megan Collins, SDSU Director of Community Relations
"Greetings: I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the College Area community. My name is Megan Collins, and I am the new Director of Government and Community Relations for San Diego State University.
A little about me: I am a native San Diegan from East County. I was most recently employed at Point Loma Nazarene University as their Director of Public Affairs, and prior to that I was with the City of San Diego.
I am looking forward to getting to know the community. Should you have questions about SDSU, or have an issue that needs attention, please don't hesitate to contact me at 619-594-2522, or mcollins@mail.sdsu.edu."
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Aztec Summer
-By Megan Collins, SDSU Director of Community Relations
Summer is here and we at SDSU are getting excited about the start of Aztec football season. As an expression of SDSU's sincere appreciation of our neighbors, we would like to take this opportunity to offer our local community members complimentary tickets to the opening football game of the season on Saturday, August 31, featuring the 38th annual KGB SkyShow (while supplies last).
Because we have a limited amount of tickets available, we will be offering two tickets per family on a first come, first served basis. If you are interested in reserving two complimentary tickets, please e-mail mcollins@mail.sdsu.edu
and include your name, address and phone number.
Tickets must be reserved by Friday, August 23. Again, these tickets are available on a first come, first served basis, so reserve yours as soon as possible. SDSU faculty, staff and students are not eligible to receive complimentary tickets. Additional tickets in the same section may be purchased as supplies last. For a complete schedule and ticket information for Aztecs football season visit www.goaztecs.cstv.com.
Join us at this family friendly event and help us cheer on Coach Rocky Long and our Aztecs at the first game of the season. Go Aztecs!
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Retirement of
Chief John Browning
It is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of Chief John Browning. Chief Browning has served as the Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police for the last eight years.
Throughout his tenure at SDSU, Chief Browning has been dedicated to the safety and welfare of San Diego State University community around the clock.
Chief Browning has decided to retire after working for more than 40 years in law enforcement. He started his career with the California State Police and worked for the Gardena Police Department before coming to San Diego State University to serve as the Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police.
Chief Browning has often said that his work at SDSU has been his favorite part of his career and this love of SDSU and its campus community has always been apparent to those who work closely with him.
To ensure continuity of police services, Captain Lamine Secka will be named Interim Chief of Police, effective July 1, 2013.
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The CACC would like to thank Alvarado Hospital for being a CACC Business Member! Below is an excerpt from the Mission Times Courier:
"Alvarado Hospital, as part of Prime Healthcare Services, was recognized in April as being among the "Top 15 Top Health Systems" in the nation by Truven Health Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters) based on quality of care, efficiency and patient satisfaction. This is the third time in five years that Prime Healthcare has earned the national distinction and includes South Bay-based Paradise Valley Hospital.
Compared to its peers, Prime Healthcare hospitals saved more lives, caused fewer patient complications, followed industry-recommended standards of care more closely, made fewer patient safety errors, released patients half a day sooner and scored better on overall patient satisfaction. This annual, quantitative study uses objective, independent research and public data sources. Health systems do not apply, and winners do not pay to market their award."
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