Daily Business Report-April 28, 2016
The 14th Street Promenade Streetscape Proposal
Civic San Diego Schedules Workshop
For 14th Street Promenade Master Plan
Civic San Diego will hold a community workshop on May 12 to get public comment on the 14th Street Promenade Master Plan for Downtown San Diego.
According to Civic San Diego, the 14th Street Promenade will be an urban trail that accommodates a variety of activities through East Village, “helping meet the social and recreation needs of this growing community.”
A comprehensive and sustainable streetscape design will include a range of activities and features, including walking, children’s areas, local art displays, sensory play areas, historical artifacts and other design elements.
The workshop will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Civic San Diego Board Room, 401 B St., Suite 400, San Diego.
Visit 511sd.com for transportation options to the workshop.
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San Diego Chamber Launches
Regional Jobs Strategy
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Wednesday announced an initiative to spur economic growth and create jobs for the entire California-Baja region.
Called the “Regional Jobs Strategy,” the initiative includes more than 40 of the region’s business organizations, providing a diverse range of industry and geographical perspectives. The coalition will work to match proven solutions to shared challenges, as well as align and leverage existing job creation efforts.
“We are fortunate to have so many partners with successful initiatives participating in this coalition,” said Jerry Sanders, president and CEO of the chamber. “Through the collaboration we will identify and share ways we can build a stronger, more resilient regional economy. This is just the beginning and we look forward to this effort growing over the next year and adding the insight and perspectives of even more business community partners.”
While most job creation efforts tend to be designed around municipal or other political borders, regional economies are defined by monetary transactions, commute patterns and relationships. This effort will take a broad and inclusive view of job creation to create the most benefit for the region as a whole.
In its first meeting held Wednesday, the coalition, which includes the county of San Diego, the city of San Diego and the San Diego Association of Governments, focused on determining San Diego’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities with respect to job creation.
The data-based initiative will progress over the next year to identify opportunities for collaboration and best practices for job creation. The partners will aim to issue a Regional Jobs Strategy final report early next year that truly represents a unified vision for job creation. The report will contain a clear and direct strategy for leveraging the region’s resources and aligning initiatives
Rancho Vista Covenant Church
Buys Chula Vista Office Property
Rancho Vista Covenant Church has purchased a 6,919-square-foot office building in Chula Vista for $1.21 million. The seller was Pathfinder Otay Holdings LLC, an affiliate of Pathway Partners LLC.
The property is located at 2088 Otay Lakes Road, No. 101 and 201.
The church will use the property for its church facilities. Voit Real Estate Services and Otay Real Estate were the brokers.
Committee OKs Restrictions
On Oversized Vehicles Parking
By City News Service
Restrictions on parking of oversized vehicles along San Diego streets would become permanent under a proposal passed Wednesday by the City Council’s Smart Growth and Land Use Committee.
The regulations went into effect in August 2014 and require owners of vehicles, boats and trailers more than 27 feet long and 7 feet high to obtain a permit before parking them overnight. Such vehicles are also not allowed to be parked within 50 feet of an intersection at any time.
The ordinance was enacted as a two-year experiment after mostly beach- area residents complained about blocked views and safety hazards.
In the year and a half or so since the law was enacted, around 12,000 permits have been given out by the city and nearly 3,200 citations issued, according to staff. The great majority of the tickets were for parking too close to an intersection.
“I’ve just heard of nothing but overwhelming, broad support” for the regulations, said committee Chairwoman Lorie Zapf, who represents Pacific Beach and nearby communities.
On a 3-0 vote, committee members agreed to remove a sunset provision and make the regulations permanent, and add amendments that clarify some of the language. The item will now go to the full City Council for final approval.
The permits, which can be purchased online, allow RV owners to park up to three nights in a row on city streets to allow for loading, unloading and cleaning.
‘Citizen Plan’ Backers Submit
Signatures to Qualify Ballot Measure
By City News Service
Backers of a proposed ballot measure that would direct the future of the tourism industry in San Diego turned in more than 100,000 signatures to the county Registrar of Voters Office Wednesday.
The Citizens Plan for San Diego would raise hotel room taxes by 5 percent to 15.5 percent, prohibit a waterfront expansion of the San Diego Convention Center and encourage an expansion of San Diego State University and UC San Diego onto the Qualcomm Stadium site.
The proposed initiative also would require voter approval of any public funds that would be spent on building a downtown stadium for the Chargers, and support the creation of parkland along the San Diego River.
In a scathing opinion released about two weeks ago, City Attorney Jan Goldsmith said the Citizens Plan would bring “significant risk” to the city.
Among other things, Goldsmith pointed to what he called a “poison pill” provision that says if a section is ruled invalid in court and appeals are exhausted, the rest of the initiative will be invalid. He said a poison pill was unusual and could bring financial risk to the city in the event of litigation.
Community College District
Hires Title IX Coordinator
Christopher May has been hired as the Title IX coordinator for the San Diego Community College District, a position responsible for managing compliance with the federal law that protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs that receive federal financial assistance.
Traditionally, the law has been associated with equity in sports programs. More recently, however, the emphasis has been on sexual violence and harassment.
“Chris is a wonderful addition to the district team,” said Lynn Neault, vice chancellor of student services. “He brings legal expertise to this emerging area, and is passionate about the students we serve. We are so fortunate to have such a committed, knowledgeable, and talented individual to develop and provide leadership to this new, important function in the district.”
May holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Emory University in Atlanta and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
May landed an internship doing regulatory work for a Washington, D.C., law firm that represented higher education institutions, and the firm, Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville, hired him after he earned his law degree.
