CACC New Logo
College Area Communique
September 2013
In This Issue
Public Hearing - Infrastructure Needs
Unfunded Needs
Home Energy Savings
Deco Bike Station Recommendations
BOO! Parade Grand Marshal Announced
Resources
Upcoming Neighborhood Events

 

 

September CACC Meeting

Public Hearing

Infrastructure Needs

Wednesday, September 11, 2012

7pm College Rolando Library

 

 

College Area Fall Business Mixer

Next Door Wine Pub

Monday, September 16, 2013

6pm-8pm

CollegeAreaBID.com

 

 

El Cerrito Community Council Presents:
Pollution Control

Speaker: Andy Hamilton

County of San Diego

Thursday, September 19

Blessed Sacrament Parish Hall

7pm

 

 

Do you have a community event you'd like us to include in the newsletter? Email event information to  Info@CollegeArea.org.

 

Public Hearing Infrastructure Needs  

September 11th; 7pm  

 

The College Area Community Council and Community Planning Board did not meet in August. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, September 11 at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the College-Rolando Library, 6600 Montezuma Road.

 

At this meeting, the second of two public hearings will take place to gather input from the College Area community as to which public infrastructure needs they would like to see funded in the City's Fiscal Year 2015 Budget.

As mentioned last month, several proposals have been submitted, including some that were requested last year.

Briefly, the proposed projects so far are:

  •  Pedestrian and bike paths on Montezuma Road;
  •  Sidewalks on portions of Reservoir Drive and 70th Avenue;
  •  Completion of Tubman joint use park at 68th and Mohawk;
  •  Development of an additional park in the College Area in a location yet to be determined;
  •  A mobility study and sidewalk improvements on portions of El Cajon Blvd.;
  •  A pedestrian bridge over Montezuma Road at 54th;
  •  Planting of additional trees in the College Area.

In addition, past CACC boards have identified a number of needs in the College Area for which funding still has not been allocated. Among other things, these include:

  •  Intersection improvements on College Avenue at Montezuma Road and Lindo Paseo, where traffic congestion is frequently a problem;
  •  Intersection improvements on El Cajon Blvd, both at College Avenue and at 70th;
  •  Intersection improvements on Montezuma Road at Collwood.

If you would like to support any of these projects or suggest others, please plan to attend the September meeting. As a board, we're here to support the community, and for that we need your input.

 

Also at our September meeting, we'll consider a proposal to demolish the Wesley Student Center and construct a four-story 17-unit apartment building, and a proposal to ask the City to designate the eastbound segment of Montezuma Road from Fairmount to Collwood in memory of Charles Raymond Gilbreth. Mr. Gilbreth was the tragically killed by a vehicle while cycling on Montezuma Rd. in the bike lane in April of 2012. Again, we welcome your thoughts.

 

Although we didn't meet in August, board members of the CACC/CACPD have not been idle.   Steve Barlow, Chair of our Beautification Committee, reports that the Colina del Sol Recreation Council reviewed the latest concept plan for a joint use park at the Harriet Tubman Charter School at its last meeting on July 17.  Thanks to the help of the Tubman school principal, some additional acreage has been added to the park.   

 

The new park design now covers 1.72 acres, with 1.3 acres dedicated to a field, and the rest to a tot lot, several sitting areas, trees and a peripheral jogging lane.  Whereas the original proposal described a sparse, angular track and field, the new proposal softens the design by incorporating an undulating running track, with more space for trees, benches and seating areas. One of the seating areas is oriented to take advantage of the views of Cowles Mountain in the distance, and the children's playground closer in.  

 

The design was approved with the requirement that the field be a grass field rather than artificial turf. Building the park with a field of natural turf ($2.34 million) is significantly less money than a park with a field of plastic turf ($2.86 million), although the annual maintenance costs for natural grass may be higher.  

 

This proposal will undergo additional scrutiny and approval by several more committees, who may accept the Colina del Sol Council's recommendation, or make changes to it. These subsequent meetings are all open to the public, and residents are urged to let the City staff know if they prefer the natural grass vs. plastic turf. Additional information, including the approved design and future committee meeting dates, can be found at http://www.sandiego.gov/cip/projectinfo/featuredprojects/tubman.shtml.

 

For more information about the College Area, please visit our website at www.CollegeArea.org. 

List of Unfunded Needs in the College Area

 

From City of San Diego Website

 

*Indicates planned funding included Redevelopment Funds

   

 

Bicycle Facilities

 

Fairmount and Montezuma Road Improvements: This project will improve the existing bike lanes and improve the safety for Bicyclists.

 

El Cajon Blvd Bikeway: Install Class II (bike lanes) between Utah St to Montezuma Road New Roads, Roadway Widening and Road Reconfigurations

 

*College Ave at Canyon Crest Dr/Alvarado Rd - Intersection Improvements and Street Realignment:     This project will provide for the improvement of the College Ave/Canyon Crest/Alvarado Rd intersection. The realignment of Alvarado Rd for approximately 1,600 feet east of College Ave is included in this project. This project also provides Class II bike lanes on College Ave/Canyon Crest D

 

*College Ave at Montezuma Rd and at Lindo Paseo - Intersection Improvements: Improvements include right-of-way acquisition, removal of existing structures/buildings, traffic signal modifications, and relocating raised center median. These improvements will provide 3 through lanes, separate right turn lanes on the north and south legs of College Ave at both intersections. It also provides Class II bike lanes.

 

Cajon Boulevard - 54th Street to 58th Street-Widen to a modified 4-lane major (74/80): The improvements are for widening of El Cajon Blvd. to a modified 4 lane major (74/80) from 54th to 58th.

 

*College Avenue- Lindo Paseo to Canyon Crest Drive-widen to 6-lane major: Widen to a modified 6-lane major.

 

*College Avenue over I-8 Bridge and Approaches-Widen to 6-lanes:Widen bridge and approaches to six lanes

 

*College Avenue at El Cajon Boulevard- Widen Intersection and install class 2 Bike lane: Improvements provide for three thru lanes, dual left turn and separate right turn lanes on the north and south legs and two thru lanes, dual left turn and separate right turn lane on the east and west legs. Class 2 bike lane included

 

El Cajon Boulevard at 70th Street- Intersection Improvements: Improvements include right of way, relocating raised median, separate right turn lane on the west and east leg, dual left turn lanes on the west leg and a single left turn on the east leg. Class 2 bike lane included

 

Montezuma Road at Collwood Boulevard- dual WB to SB LT: Improvements include relocating raised median to provide dual left turn lanes from westbound Montezuma Rd. to southbound Collwood Blvd. Bike lane included with restrictive parking retained

 

 

Pedestrian Facilities Including Sidewalks  

but not Curb Ramps

 

70th St. from Alvarado to Saranac (West Side): Install New Sidewalk - This project will provide approximately 441 linear feet of sidewalk and 200 feet of drainage channel modification.

 

Alvarado Rd. From 70th St. to 750' West, (South Side): Install New Sidewalk-This project will provide approximately 731 linear feet of sidewalk and 319 linear feet of retaining wall.

 

Catoctin St. from Montezuma Rd. to N/O Catoctin St. (North Side): Install New Sidewalk-This project will install PCC sidewalk on the north side of Catoctin Street

Traffic Calming, Flashing Beacons and Other Speed  

 

 

Abatement Work

 

60th St and Estelle St/ Vale Way - Traffic Circle: This project will provide a 40' diameter traffic circle within the project limits. It will require pavement removal, excavation, and striping removal. It will include a new traffic circle with stamped concrete and Type B-2 median curb, and a new traffic striping. It will also include two street lights.

 

Montezuma Rd. between Yerba Santa Dr. and 54th St: Electronic V-Calm sign (1) - This project will install an Electronic V-Calm Sign on Montezuma Road between Yerba Santa Drive and 54th Street.

 

 

Traffic Signal upgrades and modifications

 

54th St & Montezuma Rd Traffic Signal Upgrade: Install signal mast arms and poles

 

63rd Street & El Cajon Boulevard Traffic Signal Upgrade: Install signal mast arms; upgrade heads to 12"

 

54th St & El Cajon Blvd. Traffic Signal Upgrade: Replace PPB with new ADA PPB

 

Collwood Bl & Monroe Av Traffic Signal Upgrade: Install ADA PPBs

 

55th St & Hardy Av Traffic Signal Upgrade: Remove crosswalk and pedestrian signals on south leg of intersection.

Home Energy Savings
Start Here

 

   

Will Your Home Energy Bill Rise in September?

Beginning in September 2013, about a quarter of SDG&E's customers will see a noticeable increase in their home energy bills. 

 

How Much Will This Affect Your bill? 

Click on the link:

http://www.sdge.com/residential/2013-rates to find your climate zone and an estimate of how the increases will impact your bill.  The new rates will go into effect on September 1, 2013.

 

Who Will Be Affected

About 25 percent of SDG&E's customers ─ those in Tiers 3 and 4 ─ will see their rates increase.  SDG&E's rates are divided into four "tiers" (or cost levels) based on usage.   Generally speaking, a typical SDG&E residential customer uses about 500 kWh/month.  If you use less electricity, you're probably a Tier 1 or Tier 2 customer, and you won't see a bill impact. The more you use, the greater the bill impact because the cost-per-kWh is much higher in Tiers 3 and 4.

 

Rate Information

About half of what you pay is for electricity itself. Most of the remaining half is for delivery of energy - the power lines and other infrastructure that gets energy to your home and business safely and reliably. A small piece of rates is the costs of low-income programs, energy-efficiency and the California Solar Initiative. An even smaller sliver - "other" in the graph - includes things like the Nuclear Decommissioning Costs.

 

Energy Costs

Energy costs are going up now due to environmental costs and enhancements to the electric system.  Also the recent General Rate Case decision from the California Public Utilities Commission was delayed, so rates need to be adjusted for that as well.

 

Environmental Costs

Clean energy has many benefits, but it is also currently more expensive.  SDG&E is working to meet stricter environmental laws to reduce GHG emissions, and our environmental footprint. 

 

Today, more than 20 percent of energy delivered is from green resources.

By 2020, 33 percent of energy will be from renewable resources.

 

Electrical System Enhancements

Investments in technology and infrastructure to help make the region's electrical system more reliable, safer and more secure. Smart switches to re-route power automatically after an outage.

 

Support for growing electric vehicle demand. 144 weather stations to monitor winds in high fire risk areas.

Technology and backup power to manage intermittent solar and wind energy.

Need More Information?

 

To speak to someone about the impact on your bill and find our more ways to save energy, please contact SDG&E's Customer Service at 1-800-411-7343 or go online to:

 

 

Deco Bike Station Recommendation 

 

At its meeting on August 19th, 2013, the Outreach Committee recommended that the CACC request the following sites as possible BikeSharing staions in the College Area:

  •  Transit hub - SDSU
  •  Montezuma & El Cajon Blvd - north east corner by Ralphs Grocercy
  •  54th & El Cajon Blvd - south west corner (shopping center)
  •  College & El Cajon Blvd - north east corner by Chase Bank
  •  Alvarado/Reservoir transit station
  •  70th & El Cajon Blvd - north east corner

To view an online map showing other recommended locations, visit the Deco Bike website.

 http://www.decobikesandiego.com/ 

BOO! Parade Grand Marshal Announced

  

RJ Kroc

 

The Salvation Army Kroc Center's mascot, RJ Kroc, is out looking for the perfect costume for his honorary duty as the Grand Marshal for the 2013 Boulevard BOO! Parade on Saturday, October 26th.   

 

"The BOO! Parade is truly part of the fabric of this community and the Kroc Center is thrilled about this honor," said Maria Todaro, Kroc Center Communications Director, "We are so grateful for the honor of RJ Kroc being chosen to lead the BOO! Parade this year. This historic event brings the community together in celebration--right in the very neighborhood we love and serve--and we are thrilled to be a part of it!"  

 

Founder Joan Kroc, wife of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, said that she took a tour of San Diego and it was then that she recognized a community that was in desperate need of a safe gathering place, a place with facilities and trained professionals to nurture children's social skills, arts appreciation and athletic potential. She created the Salvation Army Kroc Center in 2002 and saw it as a beacon of light and hope in the community.

 

 The BOO! Parade is pleased to partner with the Salvation Army Kroc Center as they encourage bridging the gap between potential and opportunity for children and adults, strengthen individuals and families, and enrich the lives of seniors.

 

You'll also see the Kroc Center in the parade procession this year. Right after the BOO! Parade, guests are encourage to attend the annual BOO Bash, a community carnival at the Kroc Center (6845 University Ave., 92115) from 1pm-4pm on October 26th.  

 

Guests of all ages can enjoy trick or treating, games, bounce houses, a costume parade, and more on the Kroc Center's recreation field: KrocCenter.org.