Daily Business Report — Dec. 3, 2014
Homes in Rancho Santa Fe, the third largest water users in California, according to the State Water Resources Control Board.
Rancho Santa Fe Residents No Longer
Biggest Water Users in California
But they still use three times the average
Of other communities in San Diego
Rancho Santa Fe residents lost the dubious distinction of being the biggest water users in California with new numbers released Tuesday by the State Water Resources Control Board.
The numbers show that in October the Rancho Santa Fe neighborhood in unincorporated San Diego County is now third on the list of biggest residential per capita water users, behind the Myoma Dunes Mutual Water Co. that serves Palm Springs and the Golden State Water Co. in Cowan Heights near Anaheim.
In September, Rancho Santa Fe was first on the list. Its residents’ water use made national news with a story in The New York Times on Saturday.
Rancho Santa Fe residents used on average 518 gallons of water a day in October, down from 584 gallons a day in September. But that’s still three times the average of other San Diego communities.
The city of San Diego was 326th out of 400 on the October list. Its residents used on average 76 gallons a day, down from 82 gallons in September.
Beginning Nov. 1, San Diego enacted mandatory water restrictions, including limits on when sprinklers can run and when plants can be watered. But the city has not yet hired staff to enforce its new rules.
Luis Generoso, the city’s water resources manager, said he hopes that he will be able to hire staff to proactively look for people violating water restrictions this month.
Rancho Santa Fe’s water supplier, the Santa Fe Irrigation District
enacted mandatory water restrictions on Sept. 5, including only watering lawns three days a week for no more than 10 minutes unless water-efficient sprinklers are used.
One Rancho Santa Fe resident told The New York Times that heavy water use isn’t the community’s fault.
“People have gardeners, and they just don’t pay attention,” Laura de Seroux said. “That’s the way it is here.”
— KPBS
Democrats Unveil Proposal to Eliminate
Tuition Hikes for In-State UC Students
SACRAMENTO — Senate Democrats unveiled a proposal Tuesday that would eliminate a planned tuition hike for in-state students at UC San Diego and other University of California campuses, but would sharply increase the amount out-of-state students pay.
The UC Board of Regents last month approved tuition hikes of 5 percent a year for five years, saying it wasn’t receiving enough money from the state to even cover inflation. The decision has sparked protests at UC campuses across the state.
Under the proposal announced by state Senate leader Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, out-of-state UC students would see a 17 percent increase in their tuition premium, while the state would also boost its general fund spending on higher education by $156 million in 2015-16. The proposal also calls for redirecting funds from a middle-class scholarship program.
The plan would also create a financial incentive program for California State University students to obtain their degrees in four years.
The overall proposal is aimed at boosting UC enrollment by 5,000 next year, while increasing CSU enrollment by 10,500. “Today, Senate Democrats stand united with California’s students on improving college access, affordability and helping students graduate,” de Leon said. “California’s economy depends on the vibrancy and quality of our higher education system, and the cornerstone is an affordable four-year program.”
UC President Janet Napolitano called the proposal a “promising first step.”
— City News Service
County Elected Officials Seek to Get Photo ID
Cards for Recently Released Offenders
County Supervisor Greg Cox joined with Sheriff Bill Gore and District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis Tuesday in an effort to help probationers and recently released offenders reintegrate into their communities.
The three officials asked county staff to work with state agencies to provide California photo identification cards to probationers and post-release offenders. People who lack proper photo ID cards are often prevented from getting health care and other services they need to make a successful return to their communities.
“We need to make sure that when the state gives offenders a ‘get out of jail’ card, we can give them a ‘stay out of jail’ card so they can become productive members of society,” said Supervisor Cox.
A recent SANDAG survey reported that nearly 20 percent of male and 40 percent of female arrestees lack government issued photo identification cards. The officials said that roviding probationers and ex-offenders with this crucial resource could prevent these individuals from winding up back in jail by allowing them to access basic services like employment, housing and medical coverage programs. Government-issued photo ID cards help ex-offenders and assist law enforcement as well. They ultimately make communities safer and save taxpayer dollars.
Cox, Gore and Dumanis asked the Board of Supervisors to study actions needed to provide ID cards to offenders, including figuring out how to deal with challenges in establishing a permanent address in order to mail them the cards. They also asked the board to approve staff working with the California State Association of Counties, the state Department of Motor Vehicles and other agencies to develop the cards. The Board of Supervisors approved the recommendations unanimously.
City Plans Year-Round Homeless Shelter
City officials announced plans Tuesday to set up a permanent shelter for up to 350 homeless individuals and veterans in a bid to “end the cycle of homelessness.”
“Every winter, the city struggles to find a place to shelter the homeless,” said Mayor Kevin Faulconer, who was joined by Council President Todd Gloria and Councilman David Alvarez at a news conference. He said the city needed to “move away from just providing a bed for a few months” during the winter.
“We’re trying to make a real difference by providing supportive services that help our fellow San Diegans get off the streets for good,” Faulconer said.
For this winter, the city will continue the operate temporary shelters in Barrio Logan and the Midway district.
The city is seeking immediate proposals from nonprofit social service organizations to operate the permanent shelter. He said $1.6 million annually that was used for temporary facilities would be allocated for operating a permanent facility.
The San Diego Housing Commission posted an official request for proposals on its website, and will accept applications through Jan. 13. The permanent shelter is expected to open by July 1.
The commission is looking for an existing structure, and all locations will be considered. “We’re doing an honest market search,” said Richard Gentry, president and CEO of the housing commission.
— Times of San Diego
Enterprise Rent-A-Car Offers
High-End Cars in San Diego
Enterprise Rent-A-Car has just made getting behind the wheel of a high-end vehicle like a Bentley, Maserati or BMW much easier for drivers in San Diego. That’s because the company has expanded its Exotic Car Collection to a branch near San Diego International Airport. It’s located at 1691 Hancock St., San Diego.
The Exotic Car Collection by Enterprise features one of the largest selections of vehicles from some of the world’s top luxury manufacturers, including Bentley, Mercedes, Maserati, Jaguar, and more. The company said expansion in San Diego is a result of local demand for premium vehicles for rent. Nationally, there are more than 20 Enterprise Exotic Car Collection locations across six states.
The company said available cares include the Corvette Stingray convertible, Cadillac Escalade, Bentley GT convertible, Mercedes-Benz GL450, Jaguar XJ, BMW528i, Ferrari California, GMC Yukon Denali XL, among others.
Rainfall Allows Residents to Shut Off
Sprinklers, Encourages Conservation
This week’s storm should allow residents to shut off their irrigation systems for as long as two weeks, aiding in water conservation efforts, the San Diego County Water Authority announced Tuesday.
“This week’s rain won’t end the drought, but it allows us to immediately reduce our water use by turning off sprinkler systems,” said Mark Weston, chairman of the Water Authority’s board of directors. “It’s important that we take advantage of every opportunity to decrease outdoor water consumption and prepare for the likelihood of reduced water supplies next year.”
The County Water Authority is asking that sprinklers not be turned on again until the top one to two inches of soil are dry. Lawns that lose their green luster will rejuvenate with the next rain, according to the agency.
On Monday, the initial 2015 allocation from the State Water Project — an important water source for the San Diego region — was set at 10 percent of requested supplies, according to the CWA. The figure may fluctuate up or down depending on precipitation over the next few months.
“Ten percent is a very low initial allocation, and it’s almost certain that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California — our region’s largest water supplier — will impose (lower) allocations in 2015 if conditions don’t improve quickly,” said Ken Weinberg, water resources director for the Water Authority.
— City News Service
Tony Garcia Receives Architect of Year Award
Tony Garcia, managing principal of A2 Studios, is the recipient of this year’s Young Architect of the Year Award from the San Diego chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
A native of Mexico, Garcia immigrated to the U.S. at a young age and was raised in Kansas. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in 1995
New Law Firm Launched: — Cara & Garland APLC
Adriana Cara and Meagan E. Garland announced the formation of their new law firm — Cara & Garland APLC, specializing in employment and business law.
The partners have practiced a collective 20 years in the areas of employment and business law at some of the largest law firms in the nation and the world, and have experience representing companies of all sizes, ranging from start-ups to large corporations.
Among Cara & Garland’s practice areas are workplace investigations, sexual harassment training, and employment and business litigation.
A San Diego native, Cara currently resides in Carlsbad, and likes to spend her free time baking, reading, and riding in the back of her husband’s Harley-Davidson. Garland, a resident of San Elijo Hills, enjoys quality family time with her husband, Voltaire, and her two-year old son, Jude August, and active involvement at her church.
The law firm is located at 3919 30th St. in North Park. Phone: (858) 454-2400. The website is www.caragarlandlaw.com.
Patrict Monroe Appointed
To State Bar Committee
Patrick E. Monroe, of counsel in the San Diego office of Best Best & Krieger LLP, has been appointed to the State Bar of California Business Law Section Corporations Committee for a four-year term. Monroe will work to educate members of the Bar on recent developments and current issues in all fields of corporate law.
Monroe’s legal practice focuses on providing corporate law-related legal services to privately owned businesses and nonprofits, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, corporate transactions and intra-company dispute resolution.
Monroe received his law degree from California Western School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University.
Personnel Moves
Law Firm Hires Former SDG&E General Counsel
Andrews, Lagasse, Branch & Bell, a San Diego-based law firm, has hired W. Davis Smith, former vice president and general counsel for San Diego Gas & Electric, as of counsel. Smith has more than 30 years of legal experience in the electric and gas utility industries, serving as general counsel for both SDG&E and SoCalGas, divisions of Sempra Energy.
Andrews Lagasse founding partner Jonathan Andrews and Smith have worked together for several years.
Smith, who has worked in Los Angeles and San Diego, has a range of experience with both state and federal electric and gas regulation, class actions, and complex commercial litigation. He has been responsible for and involved in major merger and acquisition activities both domestic and international.
Organics Unlimited Promotes and Adds Staff
Organics Unlimited Inc., a San Diego-based organic banana company, has promoted Dulce Mendoza to operations and logistics administrative assistant and hired Luz Bautista as billing administrator.
Mendoza started with Organics Unlimited in February. Her experience includes customer service, warehouse management and inventory control management. Mendoza continues to pursue her education in business management, while serving in her new role at the company.
Bautista is San Diego born and raised and has more than 10 years of experience in her field. She studied marketing at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.
