Daily Business Report-Aug. 29, 2013

Council Schedules Nov. 19 Special Election to Replace Bob Filner

The City Council has scheduled a Nov. 19 special election to replace outgoing San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, City News Service reports. City Clerk Elizabeth Maland said the latest estimate from the county Registrar of Voters was that it could cost as much as $6.2 million to hold the election to replace Filner, whose resignation becomes official at 5 p.m. Friday. The Registrar of Voters office can provide election services to the city on that date, and it allows for a full two-week nomination period, Maland said. In the election, if one candidate wins more than 50 percent of the votes, that person would assume office Dec. 17, according to Maland. If not, a runoff election would be held, which would add to the city’s expense, she said. She also told the council members that it could be difficult to schedule a runoff within the 49-day period called for by the City Charter.

Although City Council President Todd Gloria has been mentioned as a possible candidate in the special election, this is what his office said Wednesday:

“He’s taking the appropriate amount of time to consider the best way he can help the City.” — Katie Keach, deputy chief of staff.

San Diego County Economic Index Rises

The USD Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate’s Index of Leading Economic Indicators for San Diego County rose 0.7 percent in July. The rise was fueled by sharp gains in building permits, consumer confidence, and the outlook for the national economy, along with smaller moves in local stock prices and help wanted advertising. The only negative component was initial claims for unemployment insurance, and that was not enough to prevent the USD Index from recording its 11th consecutive increase and 19th in 20 months.

With July’s gain, the outlook for the San Diego economy remains unchanged from what has been reported in recent months: a positive year ahead with solid growth in the local economy. Year-over-year job growth has slowed in recent months compared with earlier in the year.  For July, wage and salary employment was up only 19,900 compared to the same month in 2012. At the beginning of 2013, year-over-year gains regularly topped 30,000. The expiration of the payroll tax cut and the sequester are a couple of factors that could be responsible for the slowing growth, according to the center report.  Also, the fact that much of the job growth both locally and nationally are in part-time and low wage jobs is also having a negative impact.

Municipal Code Amended on Recall Elections

The City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to amend the municipal code on recall elections to bring it into alignment with current state law. A state provision that a vote on a replacement candidate would not be counted unless the voter also answered whether an officeholder should be recalled was struck down as unconstitutional by a federal judge 10 years ago. San Diego’s section on recalls includes similar language and was never updated.

Google Pins Carlsbad with E-Commerce Award

Google has named Carlsbad the most Internet-savvy business community in California. A Google official presented the award to Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall during Hall’s annual State of the City speech, in which the mayor highlighted the city’s sound finances, strong job growth and blossoming tourism industry.

*****

 

Conrad Prebys and Molli and Arthur Wagner to Receive UC San Diego Chancellor’s Medal

Three philanthropists and patrons of the arts — Conrad Prebys and Molli and Arthur Wagner, have been chosen to receive the 2013 Chancellor’s Medal from UC San Diego, one of the highest honors given by the campus.

It recognizes exceptional service in support of the university. The awards will be given on Nov. 16 as part of UC San Diego’s annual Founders Celebration.

Conrad Prebys made a successful career as a real estate developer and property manager in San Diego for the past 40 years. He gave $6 million to build the Conrad Prebys Music Center, then gave an additional $3 million endowment for graduate student fellowships and to maintain the infrastructure of the Conrad Prebys Concert Hall. He has also given to UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, The Preuss School UCSD, San Diego Zoo, Scripps Health, the Old Globe Theatre, the Boys and Girls Club, KPBS, San Diego Opera and others.

Molli and Arthur Wagner arrived at UC San Diego in 1972, when Arthur was appointed the founding chair of the department of drama, now the department of theatre and dance. They have provided funding for the Molli and Arthur Wagner Dance Building, the Arthur Wagner Theatre, the Wagner Endowed Graduate Acting Fellowship, the Arthur and Molli Wagner Endowed Chair in Acting (the only one of its kind in the nation) and have made the lead gift to the Student Production Fund Endowment, for which they are also serving as co-chairs.

*****

Vista Manufacturing Company Expanding Operations

American Peptide Co. is expanding its large scale cyclic guanosine monophosphate peptide, or cGMP, synthesis capabilities at its 35,000-square-foot Vista production facility, with the addition of a 300-liter solid phase synthesis reactor and a 294-liter tray lyophilizer. The 300-liter solid phase synthesis reactor is one of the largest in the U.S. peptide contract manufacturing industry.

Governor Signs Bill to Waive Tuition for CSU Student Trustees

California State University student trustees will have their tuition waived under a measure signed by Gov. Jerry Brown. SB 325, authored by Sen. Marty Block (SD-39) and sponsored by the California State Student Association, would also permit sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students to represent their peers on the university system’s board of trustees. Block’s bill takes effect Jan. 1, 2014.  “This bill allows about 100,000 more students a greater opportunity to serve in a trustee position,” Block said. (Scoop San Diego report)

Wine, Food & Brew Festival in San Marcos

The College of Business Administration at California State University San Marcos will host its fourth annual CoBA Wine, Food & Brew Festival on Saturday, Sept. 7, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Markstein Plaza on campus.

Panel to Discuss ‘Social Media for Realtors’

The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors will host “Social Media for Realtors,” a panel discussion on how Realtors can benefit from social media, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on two consecutive Fridays, Sept. 6 and 13. The discussion on Friday, Sept. 6, will be held at the PSAR East County Service Center, 1150 Broadway, El Cajon, while the discussion on Friday, Sept. 13 will be held at the PSAR South County Service Center, 880 Canarios Court, Chula Vista. Panel members at both venues will include PSAR members Richard D’Ascoli, Gerry Carrillo, Miguel Contreras, Brady Lake and Mike White. Speakers will discuss different ways social media marketing can help Realtors increase the visibility of their real estate practice for very little cost. Cost to attend is $10 per person. For more information and online registration, visit www.psar.org.