Daily Business Report — Dec. 1, 2011
Property Tax Payments Deadline Extended to Dec. 12
County taxpayers have until Dec. 12 to pay the first installment on their 2011-2012 property taxes. Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McCallister said the deadline was extended two extra days because the normal deadline of Dec. 10 falls on a Saturday. “We are encouraging our taxpayers to pay online, by phone or by mail to avoid the rush and the long lines if they pay in person,” said McCallister. Some 978,629 property tax bills were mailed to property owners in September. As of Nov. 23, the county had received 40 percent of the first property tax installments. Property tax bill payments are due in two equal installments. The first installment was due Nov. 1 and delinquent if paid after Dec. 1. The second installment is due Feb. 1 and delinquent if paid after April. Late payments are automatically assessed a 10 percent penalty plus a $10 cost on the second installment. Payments can be made by calling (855) 829-3773, online at sdtreastax.com. or in person at any of the offices in the county: 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 162 in San Diego; 590 Third Ave. in Chula Vista; 200 South Magnolia Ave. in El Cajon; 9225 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. in Kearny Mesa; and 141 E. Carmel Street in San Marcos.
Plaza de Panama Project Shown in Video
The Plaza de Panama Committee has released a video that provides the public with a detailed visualization of what the completed Plaza de Panama project will look like in 2015. Using computer modeling and animation, the video walks the viewer through a car-free Plaza de Panama, Plaza de California, West El Prado and Esplanade. To view it, visit the Plaza de Panama project Website at plazadepanama.org. “We created this video to show the public how remarkable the experience in Balboa Park will be without traffic,” said Irwin Jacobs, chair of the Plaza de Panama Committee. “The video also demonstrates how the Centennial Bridge and Road effectively separate cars from most pedestrians in the park.” The committee expects to complete the project in time for the 2015 centennial celebration in Balboa Park. Image shows the proposed Centennial Bridge.
Superior Court Seeks County Grand Jury Applicants
San Diego Superior Court is seeking individuals from throughout the county to serve on the 2012/2013 San Diego County Grand Jury. The grand jury investigates citizen complaints and performs its traditional function as a “watchdog” over government agencies. It does not conduct criminal investigations. Applications are now available. They can be requested by phone at (619) 450-7272, or in person at the San Diego Superior Court in the Jury Services Office at the Central (Downtown) Division, and the Jury Lounges at the North, South and East Divisions of the court. Applications may also be downloaded from the San Diego Superior Court’s Website at sdcourts.ca.gov or the grand jury’s Website at sdcounty.ca.gov/grand jury. The 19-member body will work four days a week, aboutsix hours a day, from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 at the Hall of Justice in Downtown San Diego. A small stipend per day, plus mileage, and Downtown parking are provided. All application forms must be received by Jan. 13. Qualified candidates will be nominated for a random drawing tentatively scheduled for June 1, 2012. The random drawing gives each supervisorial district equal representation by population. Candidates must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old, have sufficient knowledge of the English language and have lived in the county for one year prior to selection. All candidates will be required to pass a criminal background check.
SDSU Hires Stephen Welter as VP of Research
Stephen Welter has returned to San Diego State as vice president for research and dean of the Graduate Division. The entomologist began his career as a faculty member of SDSU’s zoology department – now the Department of Biology – before going to UC Berkeley where he spent more than 25 years, most recently serving as associate dean of instruction and student affairs in the College of Natural Resources. Welter said his focus will be to enhance resources for research including facilitating grants, raising the prominence of research through the university’s fundraising campaign and catalyzing the faculty’s vision to create more collaboration across disciplines. Welter is not the only member of his family on the San Diego State campus. His son is a sophomore studying biology. Welter’s daughter also studies biology at UCSD.
Chief Medical Physicist Chosen for Proton Therapy Center
Lei Dong, a medical physicist who has spent most of his career at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, will join Scripps Health as chief medical physicist of the Scripps Proton Therapy Center. Dong has held a variety of clinical, research and teaching roles. He is considered an internationally renowned expert in image guided radiation therapy. Dong will be responsible for key aspects of the facility’s technical and clinical operations. He is expected to start in his new role with Scripps in February 2012.
Massage Envy Franchises Expand to 21
The Massage Envy franchise has grown to 21 locations in San Diego County since the first was opened in 2006. Most recently, the original Carlsbad Massage Envy relocated to Oceanside/Carlsbad at 2455 C Vista Way, Oceanside. A second North County location recently opened in Vista at 20 Main St. and leases are signed for the development of Poway and Pacific Beach locations, which will open in early 2012. Clinics in San Diego provide about 50,000 massages per month and employ 600 massage therapists.
Construction Starts on Del Lago Academy
Echo Pacific Construction Inc. has started building the Del Lago Academy Campus of Applied Science in Escondido. Construction of the new high school is part of the Escondido Union High School District’s $98 million general obligation bond measure, Proposition T, approved by voters in 2008. for capital improvements and new construction at three high schools and the construction of the new “bio-tech” high school. It is the second lease-lease back project between the school district and Echo Pacific. The Del Lago Academy is a small campus design (400-600 students) and is open to all students in the district. Biotechnology and medical sciences will be the academic foundation and will provide specialized career educational opportunities for students. The school is scheduled to open for the 2013/2014 school year. The construction team consists of district project manager Mike Wise; BakerNowicki Design Studio; and Echo Pacific field personnel Tommy Ruiz and Andrew Rummerfield.
Small Business Workshops
SCORE San Diego continues its series of small business workshops. For more information, call (619) 557-7272 or visit score-sandiego.org.
Upcoming SCORE San Diego Workshops:
• Dec. 2 – Business Basics 101 – 9 a.m. to noon at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; No charge – please preregister to confirm space).
• Dec. 2 – Business Plan 101: How to Develop Your Best Competitive Advantage – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $79, $89 at the door).
• Dec. 5 – Financing Your Business – 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
• Dec. 6 – Internet Marketing 201: Building Your Business Through Search Engine Optimization – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• Dec. 7 – Hiring and Managing Employees – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
The Daily Business Report is produced by REP Publishing Inc., publisher of SD METRO, the North Park News and the West Coast Craftsman. Contact: Manny Cruz (619) 287-1865.
