Annual Review of the College Area Community

2013 has been an eventful year for the College Area Community Council and College Area Community Planning Board.  Below is a listing of a few of the highlights:  More detailed information on any of the projects mention below can be found on our web site:  CollegeArea.org

January: Approved construction of the three story Theta Chi Fraternity House at 5500 Lindo Paseo.

February: At the request of local businesses, the CACC recommended imposition of a one hour time limit for parking on the north side of El Cajon Blvd. between 71st and 72nd Streets.

March:  We bid a fond farewell to our long-time President and Chair, Doug Case, who had served on the CACC board for a total of 27 years.  We miss his able leadership and historical perspective on events in the College Area.

Also in March, we approved construction of the Melvin Garb Hillel Center on the 5700 block of Lindo Paseo, and heard an interim report from City staff on the Montezuma Road Bicycle Facility Assessment study.  This study had been requested as a result of the tragic death of cyclist Charles Raymond Gilbreth when struck by a vehicle on Montezuma in 2012. The study resulted in the widening of bike lanes on Montezuma Road beginning in January 2014.

April: At the neighborhood's request, we recommended a stop sign for a dangerous intersection in College View Estates.  The recommendation was ultimately approved by the City. 

May: Working with CalTrans and City staff, we requested that the City assume maintenance of the landscaped median in the vicinity of I-8, Fairmount and 54th.   The City has now assumed responsibility for the maintenance, although to-date, the results have been disappointing.

We also set-up a small fund for donations to non-profit community organizations in the College Area, and approved the formation of an ad-hoc committee to explore possible uses of the Dollar per Ticket Fund, which is jointly administered by SDSU, the City of San Diego, and CACC.  The fund, initiated at the time of construction of SDSU's (Cox/Viejas) Arena, is set to expire in 2017 if the money is not used for improvements to the College Area.  The purpose of the fund was to reduce impacts from the construction of the Arena.

Also in May, we opted to participate in the City's newly reinstated Code Enforcement Volunteer Program, whereby community residents assist the City's Code Enforcement Services division by documenting College Area code violations visible from the street.

June: We heard a presentation on the kick-off of the Mid City Rapid Bus Project, which will implement rapid bus service and coordinate traffic signals on El Cajon Blvd. from Park Blvd. to College Avenue.  Also, we celebrated the kick-off of the College Area Community Garden, led by the College View Estates Community Garden committee. The garden will be located adjacent to the SDSU Child Care Center, and will provide opportunities for organic gardening, and education on gardening to community residents.

July:  Working with City staff, we initiated a re-evaluation of the College Area Public Facilities Financing Plan (commonly called developers fees), which prioritizes College Area public projects for implementation by the City, and sets the rate at which new development will contribute to a fund for these improvements.

We also held the first of two public hearings to solicit community input on College Area priorities for the City's fiscal year 2015 Capital Improvements budget.  In addition, we voted to request that the City designate a portion of Montezuma Road, east-bound from Fairmount to Collwood, in memory of Charles Raymond Gilbreath, the cyclist who was killed by a motor vehicle on that portion of the road.

August: No meeting

September: We held the second of two public hearings for CIP priorities in the City's FY 2015 budget, and selected six projects for prioritization.

October: We were honored to welcome Interim Mayor Todd Gloria to our October meeting.  Mayor Gloria gave a brief presentation regarding the City's activities during this interim period after the resignation of Mayor Bob Filner, and prior to a new election.  He then took questions from the audience.  In response to queries, the Mayor committed to work with College Area residents to implement an update to the Rooming House Ordinance, and approve evaluation measures by which violations can be identified. He also committed to work with neighborhood groups to find ways to avoid the types of failures by planning staff to solicit community input that lead to the controversial BLVD63 project.

We also heard a presentation on creating Livable Communities in the College Area.  This inspiring presentation has lead to the creation of an inter-community working group which will find ways to improve the El Cajon Boulevard Corridor in our area. 

Finally, we appointed representatives to the new College Area Public Safety group, which will meet monthly to address public safety issues in the College Area.  This group will allow College Area residents to interact with City and SDSU Police Department officials on a one-to-one basis, to discuss specific problems in their neighborhoods. 

The College Area is the only community in the Eastern Division of the SDPC that has been selected for this unique opportunity, and we are grateful for the attention.  The group meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the College Area Baptist Church and all residents who are served by the Eastern Area Division Police Departments are encouraged to go there and discuss issues.  SDSU police department will also be in attendance.  You don't need to feel obligated to stay for the whole meeting.  You can just bring your issue up and leave.  You don't have to stay for the whole meeting.

November: We allocated $2,000 to purchase a special police-equipped bicycle for the C Squad of the SDPD Eastern Division, which primarily patrols the College Area.  This will be one of five C Squad bicycles which will allow the police to explore the nooks and crannies of the College Area to root out criminal activity. Citizens are encouraged to make personal donations for these bikes.  Any amount is welcome.

We also voted to support the Rolando Community Council's efforts to extract changes from the City to the approval process for large developments, in the wake of the BLVD63 approval without community input.

December: No meeting

Committee Activity: Most of the activity of the College Area Community Council and Planning Board goes on behind the scenes, in the committees that do the real work for our community. Most notably, this year:

The Beautification Committee has shepherded the planning process for Harriet Tubman Joint Use Park through innumerable meetings and committees.  Working with the City and School District, the group has gotten the planned park expanded from 1.3 to 1.72 acres, including a field, a tot lot, sitting areas, and a peripheral jogging lane,  and has insured that the park will have trees and natural grass rather than artificial turf.  The Beautification Committee also presented an innovative design for a combined bike lane and walking path on Montezuma Road, with landscaping and artwork, dubbed Montezuma Trail.

The Code Enforcement and Nuisance Rental Property Committee has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life in the College Area by helping set up the Volunteer Code Enforcement Program, working to update the Rooming House Ordinance and document infractions to the Residential High Occupancy Permit Ordinance, obtain enforcement to prevent people from parking on lawns, and monitor the Community Assisted Party Plan and Administrative Citation programs that have been so successful in quieting our neighborhoods.

The Outreach Committee has developed a dynamic team to offer you the monthly newsletter and keep you up to date on important news in the College Area. In 2014, the committee will work to broaden its outreach to the College Area business community.

The Project Review Committee has reviewed proposed development in the College Area to insure that it conforms to our Community Plan and has a positive impact on the surrounding neighborhood.

The Dollar per Ticket Ad Hoc Committee has reviewed proposals for use of that fund, and formulated recommendations which will be considered in January 2014.

The Public Facilities Financing Plan Ad Hoc Committee has worked with City staff to update the College Area PFFP, and formulated recommendations for an update which will be considered in January 2014.