Daily Business Report — Dec. 19, 2012
County Supervisors to Break Ground
On New Registrar of Voters Office
Members of the county Board of Supervisors are scheduled to break ground today for a building that will house the San Diego County Registrar of Voters Office. The nearly 120,000-square-foot structure will replace an inefficient warehouse-style building that the registrar’s office has used since the 1970s. The building, set to open in one year, will be located across from the County Operations Center in Kearny Mesa. It will be designed specifically to handle election services, be more secure and be energy efficient. The building also will have a mail center to distribute letters to various departments, according to the county. (City News Service)
Filner Signs Ordinance Creating
Registry of Foreclosed Homes
Mayor Bob Filner on Tuesday signed into law an ordinance creating a registry of foreclosed homes, City News Service reports. The Property Value Protection Ordinance is designed to prompt owners of homes going through foreclosure to keep up their properties so they don’t become blighted. Title holders of such properties will have to provide contact information to code enforecement officers. They also will have to pay a fee to cover the expense of creating and maintaining the registration system and the cost of monitoring, inspecting and investigating the properties. Councilwoman Marti Emerald called it a proactive measure that will let code enforcement officers know who to contact when a property falls into blight. Filner said the ordinance was a significant step in implementing his campaign theme of putting neighborhoods first.
Law Library Foundation Receives
$5,000 Commitment from Law Firm
The law firm of Olins Riviere Coates and Bagula has become the first Gold Partner of the San Diego Law Library Foundation with a $5,000 commitment. The Law Library Partner Program was launched in the fall to help generate new revenue sources and offset recent cutbacks to the foundation’s operating budget. As a Gold Partner, the law firm can host up to three events during 2013 and participate in online, writing and social media benefits. The San Diego Law Library operates four law library branches throughout the county, including its Downtown facility that underwent a $5 million renovation.
Rancho Family YMCA Names Executive Director
Mark A. Thompson has been named the new executive director of the Rancho Family YMCA. Thompson has worked for the YMCA of San Diego County for 20 years, including 15 years of executive experience in a variety of positions. He began his career as an ocean lifeguard and YMCA camp counselor in 1993. Thompson’s career accomplishments to date include growing a small overnight program center into a year-round overnight camp serving 12,000 children and families each year – YMCA’s Camp Surf. He raised and implemented $2.1 million in capital improvements, leading the camp branch’s $200,000 annual campaign successfully for four years, and winning the program of excellence award from the YMCA of San Diego County for outstanding programs three different times.
ViaSat Awarded $12.8 Million Federal Contract
ViaSat in Carlsbad has been awarded a $12,770,380 federal contract by the U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, for multifunctional terminals to provide secure digital data and voice communications capability for Navy, Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army platforms.
Big Bay Balloon Parade Will Present
Some Obstacles for People Attending
Port of San Diego officials say a “world of wonder” awaits the Dec. 27 Big Bay Balloon Parade at the Downtown waterfront, but it could be a world of parking and congestion headaches if people planning to attend the 10 a.m. event don’t take avoidance measures. The parade begins in front of the County Administration Building on North Harbor Drive, but because of construction related to the North Embarcadero project, the route has been altered. Instead of proceeding straight down North Harbor Drive, it will take a left turn on Ash Street and then proceed south on Pacific Highway. It will end at Pacific Highway and E Street. Parking for the parade will be extremely limited. Port officials encourage carpooling or the use of public transportation. The San Diego Trolley has convenient stations with service to the Harbor Drive and Embarcadero areas with free and paid parking lots. These are located at the Fashion Valley, Old Town and America Plaza Stations. Street closures for the parade begin at 7:30 a.m. and include North Harbor Drive from Grape Street to Ash Street, Ash Street from North Harbor Drive to Pacific Highway, and Pacific Highway (one northbound lane will remain open) from Cedar Street to Harbor Drive.
The San Diego County Credit Union Big Bay Family Festival will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier.
The Daily Business Report is produced by SD METRO. Contact: Manny Cruz (619) 287-1865. manny@sandiegometro.com.
