Minutes for Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Normal Heights Community Center/Zoom
4649 Hawley Avenue
Attendees:
X = in attendance
| X | Paul Coogan © | X | Jim Baross | X | Scott Kessler (AABA) |
| X | Allan Harjala (VC) | X | Dan Soderberg | X | Emily Kaman |
| X | Brian Schrader (S) | X | Greg Stone | X | Sami Burrows |
| X | Frances Prichett (T) | X | Nancy Lawler |
Non-Agenda Public Comment
- Alex Wong: Discusses the Airport Trolley vs. People Mover and advocates for the People Mover. “Airport People Mover is a train”. They are used in a variety of cities and can be expanded outside the airport uses. “Less wait time”. RideSD. Will do a longer presentation on the topic next month.
- John Savinsky: Conducted anecdotal neighborhood survey on the public knowledge of ADU laws in the city of San Diego.
- Gary (Weber?): Noticed a change in the plan for the ramps off the 15. Throughway traffic might be implemented. Suggests neighborhood implications for the proposed plan change.
- Jim Barros: Cookies and coffee announcement.
- Paul Jameson: Comment on the ADU policy from earlier. Discusses State RHNA numbers for housing goals and mandates that aim to address housing costs & affordability. “Use every tool”.
- [Unnamed]: Discuss email exchange with City Council regarding street sweeping. Ecosystem concerns regarding trash and runoff. Health hazards from city living and suggestions for improvements.
- Paul Coogan: Discusses email sent to the board with concerns about a resident who faced eviction after property was sold. 4515 Felton St.
Action/Decision Items
· Presentation on permit search map – Paul Coogan
o This solves the “what is that being build down the street?”
· Questions regarding transit and housing zoning regulations & discussion regarding parking requirements and minimums.
· Update on construction project at 35th and Adams – Paul Coogan
o Project on hold until city revisits permits. Cannot break ground until then. Hope to break ground next year.
· Q&A with Council President D9 – Sean Elo-Rivera (unconfirmed but reserved spot)
o Councilmember was not able to make it.
Reports/Updates
· City, County, and State government agency representatives, if present.
o District 9 Councilmember Elo-Rivera – Sara Al-Agha
§ City is accepting applications for serving on the committee of police practices. Deadline is Wed Dec 13th.
§ Mayor’s Housing Action Package 2.0 will be coming back to the Council for a vote.
· Allows for more housing
· Expands Complete Communities
· Anti-Displacement Measure
· Question regarding building affordable housing offsite. Will it make it into the bill.
· Discussion about the affordable housing question, and some demographics.
· Question regarding the plan for the needed infrastructure that additional housing incurs without charging DIFs.
· Question regarding vacant lots in Normal Heights. Are there any plans to address these lots and build there?
· Question regarding the number of parking spaces and buildup of transit to cross Mission Valley.
· Discussion of the cable car/gondola to the trolley from Trolley Barn Park.
· Question to ask about transit route recommendation questions.
o Assembly Member Ward – Christopher Gris not Present
o Mayor’s Office – Lucero Maganda not Present
o State Senator Atkins –Andi McNew not Present
o Congressmember Sara Jacobs Office
§ Introduced package of legislation regarding Higher Education costs and tax deductions for loan interest replacements.
§ Attended tree lighting, Attended Spirit Stroll, Attended Mama’s Tree of Life Ceremony
· Chair report
o Community Planners Committee
§ Ad hoc subcommittee opinion letter on Grand Jury Report on DIF
· Letter has been drafted and sent off to the Judge, Mayor, City Council.
· Meeting again in January to request City Planning Dept information. Contents TBD.
§ Presentation on Mobility Department – Mobility Plan
· Period of input and do projections for the Master Plan.
§ Presentation for San Diego Engagement
· Gather input from communities (broader than CPG) to get a broader view of the population’s needs for the General Plan
o Board Seat tenure info
§ Sami will take Emily Kamen’s appointed seat until April 2024.
§ Add standing agenda item for appointing new members.
· Community Group updates when present
o Adams Avenue Business Association – Scott Kessler
§ Spirit Stroll sold out. Promotes small business on Small Business Saturday.
§ “It’s working”
§ Tree Lighting
§ Dec 10th Snow Day Event – 9 tons of Snow + Santa. Hot Chocolate.
§ New Street Banners on Lamp Posts in January.
§ Replace 70 street trees in Kensington suffering from blight.
§ Annual Breakfast Meeting, Feb 7th @ The Vibe, 8AM. $10 Breakfast Bar. Election of Board of Directors. Open to the Public.
o El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association – Gary Weber
§ Bridge Lighting
o NH Community Association and NH Urban Arts – Greg Stone/Norma Stafford
§ The mosaic mural is on track to be installed in Feb. 8 of 11 panels complete. 18ft long.
o Adams “Community Recreation Advisory Group” – Nancy Lawler
§ OWL recording device loan is appreciated.
§ Discussion of the expansion and redevelopment of Ward Canyon Park. Heard in October that CalTrans had changed the reconfiguration of the On-Ramp and the Park space would be reduced. The community has pushed back on the decision on what/how things get changed. Email sent to Park & Rec.
§ Appreciate Planning Group Complaint once things are made more known.
§ MOC building is being demolished and park space will be expanded to the corner. However information has now arisen about new buildings which are not in the current plan.
§ Discussion of policing of Homeless Encampments in the area.
§ Discussion of CalTrans direction and turmoil internally.
§ Discussion of the Park & Rec and the issue of the homeless question.
o NH for Smart Growth – Paul Coogan
§ Put out newsletter with link to a poll for a vision of the community.
§ Working on getting the results of the poll into Engagement San Diego.
§ Question on whether a list exists about who the developers are that have worked on projects in San Diego in the previous year.
Standing Committees
- Joint Mid-City Communities Plan Update Committee – Greg Stone
- Next meeting is Wed Dec 13th.
- Historical Property Review Report – Dan
- Nothing to report
Advisory Committees
- Nominating Committee – Greg Stone, Jim Baross
- Utility Undergrounding & Street Lighting MAD – Emilie Colwell & Francis Prichett
- Caltrans Grant Submission – Paul Coogan
- DEI Program – Paul Coogan, Scott Kessler, Jim Baross
- Board agreed to discontinue the committee as policies are adopted.
- Tree Replacements – Greg Stone, Emilie Colwell, Gerald Schoelen
- Traffic Issue Taskforce (Report on Vision Zero) – Allan Harjala
- Update on unfunded needs
- Community Engagement Poll – Paul Coogan
- In progress
Adjournment