The July 24, 2000 meeting of the LVCPC was called to order by Chair Beckham at 7:05pm.
Pledge of Allegiance was performed by dual Cub Scout Packs.
Attendance of Members:
Don Armitage, Don Ballantyne, Wayne Bamford, Doug Beckham, Pat Buckmaster, Gail Cole, Ed Cramer,
Grover Diemert, Greg Edwards, Jim Horsley, Bob Hursh, Alfrieda Jackson, Mel McKay,
Eric Myers, Mike O’Brien, Rob Spahitz, Ron Tomcek
Absent: Liliani Stiffler
Joe Ross, District 5 Rep, gave an update on the status of the vacant Gas Station at Linda Vista Road and Comstock Street. It closed escrow, and suggestions were being taken on what the community would like to see there. Several people suggested that this space be used as some sort of community center.
The mini-park presentation (development of the site across from the YMCA on Friars Road) was delayed until the August meeting.
Marilyn Mirrasoul, District 6 Rep for Valerie Stallings, reported on:
The Tecolote Canyon Nature Center getting funding for its expansion;
The CitiLink project on the Morena Trolley lot required some minor redesign because the corner at Linda Vista Road and Napa Street is now reserved for the proposed RoundAbout at that location; since land will be taken from this corner, a corresponding amount is being made available in another portion of the lot.
The North Bay Redevelopment project is getting funding assistance for the Morena landscape project (at Morena and West Morena Blvds.), the previously mentioned roundabout, and the Bay View Plaza project.
The Animal shelter project on Gaines Street near the trolley is moving forward with an art project. Artists TJ Dixon and Ken Goldman were available for discussion on suggestions such as adding fencing, murals and sculptures. Michael O'Brien volunteered to chair a subcommittee to assist in this effort.
Pam Gray of USD indicated that the USD Master Plan amendments are to be reviewed by a subcommittee.
JoAnn Carini presented Linda Vista's first Orchid Awards, for excellence in community landscaping, to Robert Gullotta and Craig Johnson of the Chesterton Military Housing, and Eileen Hill and Mark Johnson of the Saint Francis Apartments on Tait Street.
Honorable Court Judge Dick Murphy, Mayoral Candidate for the City of San Diego, discussed his past accomplishments while on the City Council (1981-1985), including development of the East Trolley line, Horton Plaza, and Mission Trails Park. In 1985 he became a Municipal Court Judge, and became a Superior Court Judge in 1989.
After indicating that he arrived early at our meeting to get a better feel of how our community operates, he described his 20/20 vision of long term improvements for San Diego, including:
1) Freeways are overpacked; we need new freeways and more mass transit including double-tracking the Coaster; better manage rush hour demand by encouraging carpools and staggered work hours; control growth and development
2) Beaches and Bays must be cleaned, and year-round water monitoring should be established to better identify storm and sewer runoff.
3) Neighborhoods should be better addressed by city representatives to make them a place to be proud of.
He also answered several questions, including his non-support for charter changes to give more power to the mayor, spending more time going to monthly community meetings, the need for a trolley extension to the beaches (such as Belmont Park) to alleviate traffic problems, and how he is not getting development money and can therefore fairly handle development sprawl; sometimes the city must "beg" for money from Federal sources since it will rarely be volunteered.
Tom Simpson and Ana Carvalho presented a copy of a mural which is being proposed at the Linda Vista Rec Center handball courts. Its life expectancy is several years. There were some concerns over the exaggerated figures and how they may be misinterpreted as racist, but we were informed that the mural was designed by a local student and could be a good representation of the community as teens view it.
Subcommittee reports:
Ron Tomcek, of Bylaws, gave a Rules interpretation on the decision to replace Pat Jenni. Wayne Bamford, elections committee, reiterated last month's nomination of JoAnn Carini to finish Ms. Jenni's term (ending in March 2001). The nomination was unanimously accepted.
Motion (Hursh/Myers): Approve minutes with minor corrections. Passes 14-0-2 (Buckmaster had departed.)
COMPACT report - homeless in the riverbeds are being addressed.
Motion (O'Brien/Cole): Chair shouldn't send letters without approval from the committee. (Diemert departs)
Discussion ensued including why this was brought up (chair sent a letter on behalf of the committee because of limited time.) Pro discussion included: the board was elected to act as a whole and the chair should not circumvent that; Con discussion included: sometimes the chair must act quickly and cannot wait for a meeting to reply, and he is the board's selected representative.
Motion to table (Myers/O'Brien), no vote taken at this time.
Adjournment: 9:20pm
Submitted by,
Rob Spahitz, LVCPC Secretary 2000-2001