Upcoming Neighborhood Events
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Don't Forget!
College Area
Farmers Market
College Ave. Baptist Church
4747 College Ave
Every Wednesday!
2 pm - 6 pm
College Area Community Planning Board
PROJECT REVIEW Committee
College-Rolando Library
6600 Montezuma Road
Wednesday, February 4
7 p.m.
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College Area
Community Garden
WORK PARTY
Saturday, February 7
for information go to
www.collegeareagarden.org
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College Area
Community Council &
Planning Board Meeting
College-Rolando Library
6600 Montezuma Road
Wednesday, February 11
7 p.m.
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College Area Public Safety Meeting (CARPUS)
Tuesday, February 17
6:30 pm-8:00 pm
College Ave. Baptist Church
4747 College Ave
CEC Bldg. Rm. 302
Do you have an event that you'd like to publicize?
Email:
info@collegearea.org
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Community Liaison Directory:
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How Low Can You Go?
How low can you go to reduce water use this winter?
Rain and snow in December improved water supplies statewide, but they didn't make up for three dry years. With drought conditions continuing into 2015, it's time for everyone in the region to take another look at how to "go low."
There are many ways to conserve water:
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Use a bucket to capture shower water while it warms up, and reuse it to irrigate plants.
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Wash only full loads of clothes and dishes.
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Turn off your sprinklers for weeks at a time, especially after a good rain.
More information about drought, along with links to conservation tips, rebates and other resources, are at www.whenindrought.org.
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OSHER
LIFE LONG LEARNING INSTITUTE
SDSU  The spring classes are open for adults over 50, registration. University quality courses taught by faculty on everything from art history to political science. No tests, no grades, no expensive fees, just intellectual stimulation.
619-594 2863
visit their site at;
neverstoplearning.net/osher
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GRAFFITI A PROBLEM?
Call this number and leave the address of the problem, and if it seems to be on public or private property. They also request your name and number in case they need to get back to you. It is usually removed within a day or so.
1800 829 6884 |
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NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR THE COLLEGE AREA COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD (CACPB)
Six seats on the CACPB are up for election at the March 11 meeting. Those elected serve concurrently as Executive Board members of the College Area Community Council (CACC). The seats are for 3-year terms.
Any community member who is a registered member of CACC/CACPB, and has attended at least two CACPB/CACC meetings between February 2014 and February 2015, is eligible to run. CACC members must reside, own property in, or own a business in the College Area. All CACC members are eligible to vote in the March 11 election, provided they registered as a CACC member by February 11, 2015.
Board members are required to attend monthly joint meetings of the CACC/CACPB held on the second Wednesday of the month, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, at the College-Rolando Library. Additionally each board member is expected to serve on at least one committee. Some committees meet monthly, others meet as needed. There are a total of 20 board members, 18 elected (with staggered 3-year terms), one appointed by San Diego State University, and one appointed by SDSU Associated Students.
If you are interested, please contact Rhea Kuhlman for a form at 619-491-0664 or you can visit our web site and download the form from the second article on the first page. Forms must be received by February 11 so you can be included on the ballot. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor on the night of the elections, provided the nominee meets the eligibility criteria.
IT'S TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP!
THANK YOU to all of you who have renewed your membership. If you haven't yet done so, you can renew online by going to: http://collegearea.org/cacc/forms/membership/ and paying your dues through PayPal, or print and mail the form with your dues to: College Area Community Council PO Box 15723 San Diego, CA 92175-5723 _____________________________________________ |
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REPORT FROM THE CACC/CACPB JANUARY 2015 MEETING
At the January 14 CACC/CACPB meeting, we heard from Brian Klevin, CFO of Alvarado Hospital, about plans to expand the Emergency Room facilities from 12 to 33 beds by building a two story addition to the Emergency Room on the eastern-most portion of the existing lot. It is anticipated that the expansion will allow Alvarado to double its service capacity, from approximately 12,000 to 24,000 emergency visits annually. There are also plans to set up a geriatric psychiatric care unit west of the main buildings. Klevin explained that there is a large population of elderly San Diegans with both physical and mental health problems, including dementia, and this population is currently underserved by existing facilities. The expansion will be financed through a loan
program administered by Civic San Diego.
We heard from Michael Lengyel of Civic San Diego about the major goals of that organization: to complete projects left unfinished when the California redevelopment program ended; to encourage public-private partnerships through programs like the New Market Tax Credit Program being utilized for Alvarado H
ospital's expansion, which are meant to finance development in underserved areas throughout the City; and to focus on continued revitalization of Center City, City Heights, and Encanto. Tracy Reed was also present to update us on the sidewalk repair project pending with Civic San Diego, which was left unfinished when redevelopment ended. It is anticipated that design will initiated by the end of 2015, with work on the project in 2016. The project, expected to cost about$1.1 million, will repair sidewalks on El Cajon Boulevard from 54th/Collwood to the La Mesa border at 73rd
. The hope was expressed that Civic San Diego would consult community members prior to embarking on projects, to make sure that each project provides true benefits to the targeted community.
Associated Students of SDSU has come up with a new program, the Campus Community Commission, and Commissioner Jennifer Reyes filled us in on the CCC's goals. These included establishing guidelines for the CCC, encouraging student involvement with the community through activities such as clean-ups, and providing education and training for student interactions with the community through the Good
Neighbor Program. The CCC has updated the Good Neighbor brochure and will distribute it in February. Their last clean-up brought out over 200 students, and more are set for 2015. To promote community events, contact Jennifer at
ascampuscomm@mail.sdsu.edu . The SDSU advisor to the group is Caroline Gillen, cgillen@mail.sdsu.edu
We also heard from Denise Armijo, a member of the board of the Eastern Area Communities Planning Group (EACPG is the counterpart to CACPB, south of El Cajon Blvd.) As a result of the construction of Boulevard 63 in the Rolando community without any community input, EACPG has been working on a set of proposed changes to City code to insure that, in the future, the City will allow community participation when high density housing projects are proposed for neighborhoods, and to identify student housing as a separate product, distinct from regular apartment complexes, with its own set of needs. The proposed changes have not been finalized, but the EACPG will be asking for the endorsement of other Community Planning Groups, such as CACPB, when the they are completed.
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NEWS
from the
COLLEGE AREA
COMMUNITY GARDEN
WHAT: (2) VOLUNTEER
WORK PARTIES
WHEN: Sat., February 7, 2015
and
Sat. March 14, 2015
WHERE: Next to S.D.S.U.
Children's Center
WHY: We need volunteers to help
distribute planter box soil/materials,
weed, rake debris, etc.
FIRST: Please download the "Liability Release and
Waiver" form from website
www.collegeareagarden.org ("Forms/Documents"
page). Complete it, sign it and bring it with you.
SECOND: Please email us at the address below to
let us know you are coming, and how many total will
be coming with you if a group.
Please RSVP by Email today:
MAP: go to "contact/map" tab at
www.collegeareagarden.org
PARKING: Registered CACG Work Party
volunteers may park at no cost to them, but only in
SDSU parking spaces in Lower Lot "E", and ONLY
during this event. Valid SDSU student, faculty or
staff parking permits may also be used.
Carpooling is strongly encouraged!
BRING
Work gloves, sunscreen, dark
glasses, a wide brim hat, sturdy
closed shoes. Wear a long sleeved
shirt. We suggest that you do not
wear shorts. If you want to listen to
tunes, please bring your earbuds.
If you bring any tools, make sure
your contact info is on all your
personal belongings. We furnish
fresh drinking water.
BENEFITING
The College Area Community
Garden (CACG)
The CACG is a not-for-profit community
association. We are under the Fiscal
Sponsorship of the "College
Neighborhoods Foundation" (CNF), a
registered IRS 501(c)3 We encourage
and accept donations which may be
completely tax deductible; check with
your tax advisor.
LEGAL STUFF
All volunteers are required to sign a
release form before entering the
Garden. You must be at least 16 to
volunteer. Parents or legal guardians
must sign for those who are at least 16,
but have not reached their 18th birthday.
Please download, then print out the
Liability Waiver form available from
our website (see below). Complete
and sign it, then bring it with you.
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The garden is dedicated to
healthy living. Smoking/vaping
is NOT allowed in the garden at
any time. Please adhere to the
rules contained in the Waiver
you sign in order to become a
volunteer. Thank you.
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Please check out our sites:
www.collegeareagarden.org
www. facebook.com/collegeareagarden
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 COMING UP IN FEBRUARY AT THE CACC/CACPB MEETINGS
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The next meeting of the CACC/CACPB will be Wednesday, February 11 at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the College-Rolando Library, 6600 Montezuma Rd.
We'll have a demonstration of San Diego State University Police Department's new K-9 Unit at the February meeting. Come meet Logan, an American black lab, and his handler, Officer Josh Brasel.
Assuming there is a recommendation from the Project Review Committee, we will also discuss and vote on the student housing project proposed for 5030 College Avenue. In preparation for that vote, there will be a meeting of the Project Review Committee on Wednesday, February 4 at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Library.
The proposed student housing was discussed at a January 7 Project Review meeting. This project, called College Ave. Apartments, is offered by Capstone Development, a national corporation which specializes in high density short term lodging, such as hotels and student housing. The project has undergone considerable revision since it was originally proposed in February2014.
As presently configured the project would consist of three connected four-story structures with two stories of underground parking, comprised of 95 units housing at least 367 residents. Most of the units are three or four bedroom apartments, each housing at least four students. The parking structure would provide 235 parking spaces, about two thirds of which are tandem spaces.
Surrounding residents have raised a number of concerns about this project at previous meetings, including concerns about noise, parking, traffic, and the fact that the bulk and scale of the building is out of proportion with the adjacent single family homes. The general feeling is that the proposed number of residents is too high for the size of the lot. (For a complete list of previously voiced concerns, check our homepage at www.collegearea.org) . In addition to those previously voiced concerns, some of the issues brought up at the January 7 meeting were: insufficient landscaping, insufficient open space, and inadequate parking for the number and types of residents, with very high fees attached (The developers expect to charge $60 - $90 per month per space, in addition to monthly rent.) The concern is that residents will resort to parking on surrounding streets, taking up on-street parking spots in the surrounding single family neighborhoods.
Of particular concern at the January meeting was a proposal by the developer to re-stripe College Avenue from Pontiac to the entrance of the complex to allow for left turns into the project from northbound College Avenue. Residents familiar with traffic on the street pointed out that the new middle lane would allow southbound traffic to turn left as well, increasing the danger of collisions as people attempted to make left turns in both directions from the middle lane. It was generally felt that it would be safer to have northbound traffic go up to Montezuma Road to make a u-turn rather than re-stripe College in the manner proposed.
No vote was taken on the project at the January meeting, since the City has not yet issued the Cycle Review report, which may identify unresolved issues regarding the project. Assuming the Cycle Review is issued in January, and assuming there are no serious unresolved issues remaining, a vote will be taken at the February 4 Project Review meeting, and the recommendation forwarded to the full CACPB for discussion and a vote at the February 11 meeting.
The Wednesday February 11 meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the College-Rolando Library, 6600 Montezuma Road.
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College Area Community Council and College Area Community Planning Board
Meeting
7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 11, 2015
College/Rolando Branch Library, 6600 Montezuma Road, San Diego, CA 92115
Committee
Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance
Approval of Agenda
Approval of Minutes
Adoption and Approval of Consent Agenda (none)
Public Comments on Non Agenda Items
Treasurer's Report
City Council and Law Enforcement Reports
New Business;
SDSU K-9 unit demonstration
Review of Proposal for Student Housing Complex at 5030 College Ave. (Possible action item.
Appointment o Ad Hoc Bylaws Committee (action item)
Committee Reports
Project Review Committee
Dollar per Ticket Committee
Code Enforcement and Nuisance Rental Committee
Beautification and Projects Committee
Community Outreach Committee
Delegate Reports
Community Planners Committee
College Area Public Safety (CARPUS)
El Cajon Mobility Working Group
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College Area Community Planning Board
Project Review Meeting
7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 4, 2015
College/Rolando Branch Library, 6600 Montezuma Road, San Diego, CA 92115
*Review of Proposal for Student Housing Multi-family Complex at 5030 College Avenue (Possible Action Item)
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2014 Year-End Review _______ CODE ENFORCEMENT AND NUISANCE RENTAL PROPERTIES SUB-COMMITTEE (CENRP) Code Enforcement: The City Council approved a new zoning investigator position dedicated to rental property issues. The position, filled in December, is in addition to regular staffing. CENRP continues to request that City Code Enforcement (CE) process RHOP violations in a more timely manner. In some cases, by the time that CE investigates a house in potential violation for the RHOP, the tenants have moved out because of the semester ending. The revised Rooming House Ordinance was presented at the City Council's PSLN (Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods) Committee. It was approved and will be forwarded to City Council. Public Safety: The Eastern Division of the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) now has 5 bicycles for use by their C Squad, which is specifically assigned to party disturbances from Thursday nights through Sunday nights. This is a big help to enforcement. SDPD (not parking enforcement) will respond to calls about parking on lawns, though a low priority. In 2013, SDPD created a monthly College Area Public Safety meeting (CARPUS) to address individual College Area residents' complaints that fall under SDPD enforcement, mainly nuisance parties. The meetings continue to address these issues. Environmental Services (Trash containers): Environmental Services has been doing a good job of tagging trash containers left on the street after collection. Area B Permit Parking: The City has been informed that the College Area does not want Area B parking extended to apartments, which will keep these tenant vehicles from taking up needed spaces in single-family neighborhoods.  |
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BEAUTIFICATION SUB-COMMITTEE UPDATE
The Beautification Committee is dedicated to developing and implementing projects that improve the appearance of our community. Many of you are familiar with the Montezuma Trail, whose goals are to improve the safety of both pedestrians and bicyclists and promote public transportation while improving the Montezuma corridor aesthetically. The initial focus is the stretch of Montezuma Rd. from Fairmount to about 54th Street but the greater goal is to adapt the concepts developed there along the entire length of Montezuma, to El Cajon Blvd., and hopefully along El Cajon as well.  Another spot that has been a prime target of our vision is the gunnite slope along the south side of Montezuma Rd. between 54th and 55th Streets. A concerned neighbor, Ian Stenehjem, approached the committee and took on the lead in moving this project forward. He approached the art department at San Diego State and the idea became a project for a senior-level art class. Eight concepts were developed and presented to the beautification committee. After much deliberation, one of the concepts was selected for implementation. However, the ideas in some of the others were so impressive that discussions regarding using elements of some of those, as well, are underway, since it is such a large space. Unfortunately, at press time, we do not have the necessary permissions to share the winning concept with the public but it will be released soon, as we begin to explore possible funding sources and formalizing the initial approvals given by the affected property owners. We can share the title of the concept-"Unified Pieces of the Community", which depicts symbols of our College Area communities, using both ceramic tiles and paint. We look forward to sharing the concept with the public and wish to express our gratitude to our neighbors at San Diego State for sharing the talent of their students with the greater community. _____________________________________________
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COLLEGE-ROLANDO LIBRARY NEWS
Check out events at your College-Rolando branch library:
Arts and Crafts: Saturdays at Noon
Kid's Yoga: 1st and 3rd Fridays at 11 AM
Family Story Time every Friday at 10:30 AM
Lego Play Lab Tuesdays 3:30 PM.
Children & Nature with hands-on activities, for children ages 4 & up is February 18 with Backyard Bandits! at1:30 PM.
Zumba Fitness 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 6:30 PM; Zumba Gold: 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 9:45 AM.
Aryn's Family Yoga 2nd and 4th Saturdays at 9:30 AM.
Book Club meets second Saturday at 10 AM with "Ramona" by Helen Hunt as the February selection.
Oasis Class: "Maximizing Your Brain" March 6 at 2 PM.
Browse the C-R Friends of the Library Book Sale carts just inside the east entrance. They also offer DVD movie rentals of current popular films for 75 cents/day. The Friends are looking for book room volunteers. Visit http://collegerolandolibrary.org for more information.
Essay Contest: Friends of the College-Rolando Branch Library volunteers are now evaluating essays written by fourth, eighth, and tenth grade area students for the Friends of the Library annual essay contest. Students had three topics to choose from: Research on Balboa Park and the 100th Anniversary of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition; which one book would you save if all the books in the world were about to disappear and why; and a personal evaluation and recommendation of this year's One Book, One San Diego program, Monstress: Stories by Lysley Tenario.
Essays from the local branch libraries will be judged by a city-wide committee and winners will be announced at the Grand Prize ceremony at the Balboa Park Club on May 3, 2015.
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