Daily Business Report-June 15, 2016
San Diego High School (Wickipedia)
City Council Moves to Save
San Diego High School
By City News Service
The San Diego City Council on Tuesday directed the city attorney’s office to draft ballot measure language that would allow San Diego High School to continue operating at the current Park Boulevard location after its lease runs out in 2024.
The question will have to go to voters because it would require a revision of a section of the City Charter — San Diego’s primary governing document — that specifies that park lands be for park uses. San Diego High School, which opened as the Russ School in 1882, sits on the southwest corner of Balboa Park but is nearing the end of its 50-year lease.
That lease states that the 34-acre campus would return to dedicated parkland when it expires.
“It might seem like a long time until 2024, but if you have a child entering first grade and we do nothing to continue the operations of the school, then that child will not be able to enter (San Diego) High School by that year,” said Councilman David Alvarez, who represents an area that sends numerous students to the school.
The direction came on a 7-1 vote, with council President Sherri Lightner opposed, saying it would create a “loophole” that would jeopardize the protection of parkland from development.
“(The) San Diego Unified School District entered into a lease with the city in 1974 which recognized that the school is illegally operating on city park property,” Lightner said. “The intent of that lease was to give the San Diego Unified School District 50 years to come up with a new location for the school.”
She, and even some council members who voted in favor, noted that the district has wasted most of that time.
Lightner reiterated that she also supported San Diego High remaining where it is, but “strongly” opposed changing the City Charter. She suggested other remedies were possible, including a ballot measure calling for a simple lease extension.
District Trustee Richard Barrera said that if the issue does reach the ballot, the district will share in the cost.
David Lundin, president of the Balboa Park Heritage Association, said he would go to court if necessary to stop a charter amendment from being placed on the ballot.
Pacific Partnership Faceoff
Seaman Breanna Stubbs, a native of San Diego attached to San Diego-based USNS Mercy, paints the face of a local Timorese child during a community relations event at Christo Rei Park in Timor Leste.
Timor Leste is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia.
The day long event, which is part of Pacific Partnership 2016, had many activities to include: face painting, soccer, volleyball and various other sports. Pacific Partnership 2016 marks the sixth time the mission has visited Timor Leste since its first visit in 2006. Medical, engineering and various other personnel embarked aboard Mercy are working side-by-side with partner nation counterparts, exchanging ideas, building best practices and relationships to ensure preparedness should disaster strike. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class William Cousins)
General Atomics Conducts Flight
Test of Predator With Infrared Sensor
General Atomics’ aeronautical systems business has flown its Predator C Avenger remotely piloted aircraft with a United Technologies-built MS-177 electro-optical/infrared sensor.
Seven test flights occurred at the Naval Air Weapons Station in China Lake, California that had the Avenger gather land-based and littoral objects imagery through the MS-177 sensor at more than 37,000 feet Mean Sea Level altitudes, General Atomics said Monday.
MS-177 is a 7-band multi-spectral system that works to aid target detection for maritime applications, General Atomics noted.
GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue said an Avenger equipped with MS-177 works to provide imagery and situational awareness for warfighters’ intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance needs.
The government-funded tests occurred between January to February 2016.
GA-ASI aims to begin flight tests of an updated Avenger that will feature a 76-feet wingspan and 20-hour endurance in October 2016, General Atomics added.
The company further said the “Improved Avenger” will be designed to support various sensors and weapons payloads for ISR and ground support missions.
Council Approves $25.5M Loan Plan
To Replace Convention Center Sails
By City News Service
The City Council unanimously approved a plan Tuesday to take out a state loan of up to $25.5 million to pay for replacement of the iconic but aging sails at the San Diego Convention Center.
The California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank will provide the funding to the San Diego Convention Center Corp., which would be chiefly responsible for repayment. Debt service is expected to be $1.6 million annually through 2042, according to staff.
City officials have been working for several years on a plan to replace the fabric sail structure. The project would include modernizing escalators, replacing a cooling tower and improving fire safety systems.
The city of San Diego would act as a co-signer of sorts, responsible for making up the difference in repayments in case the convention center falls short in a given year. Chief Financial Officer Mary Lewis said the city could earmark the amount in its annual appropriation to the center, depending on the outcome of continuing negotiations with state bank officials.
“We did take a look at other options — we have to have a roof there at some level — so we did take a look at just putting a flat roof, putting a basic roof, even looking so far as a roof with a park on top,” said Gil Cabrera, chairman of the San Diego Convention Center Corp. Board of Directors. “The expense of doing that is equal to or greater than the sails pavilion replacement and it would also shut down a big portion of our building to do that change.”
The convention center board and Port of San Diego Board of Commissioners are scheduled to consider the plan at meetings on Wednesday. On June 28, the City Council will have a second reading and the state agency’s board will consider the loan.
If all the necessary approvals are made, work on the project could begin by the end of this year, Cabrera said. He said the new sails would have a life expectancy of 30-35 years.
SDSU Offers Online Certificate
Program on Construction Skills
The Associated General Contractors of America reports that construction employment was at 6.67 million in April 2016, the highest level since December 2008, and has increased 4.1 percent in the past year. The AGC notes that many firms are having a hard time finding qualified workers to hire as demand for construction continues to expand.
Helping meet this increasing demand are SDSU College of Extended Studies online certificate programs in Civil Sitework, Construction Estimating, Construction Practices, Construction Project Management, and Construction Supervision. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the industry, these programs help you write your own ticket for a successful career in construction.
The next online courses begin June 20; the last day to register is June 27. All programs are authorized by SDSU’s College of Engineering.
“I’ve been putting much of what I learned in the online courses to good use,” said program graduate Mark Gonzalez, now an assistant construction superintendent for Pardee Homes San Diego. “Coupled with my internship experiences throughout the last few years, I’m certain the Construction Supervision certificate I received played a big part in securing my new job.”
Each course meets online for 10 weeks. Students should budget five to seven hours per week for each class.
Financial aid may be available to students through programs like the federal Workforce Investment Act and MyCAA for military spouses.
New Provosts Take Helm at Thurgood
Marshall and Earl Warren Colleges
Leslie Carver, professor of psychology, will be Thurgood Marshall College’ s next provost and Emily Roxworthy, professor of theater, will serve as the new provost of Earl Warren College. Both appointments are effective July 1.
Carver, a scholar and educator, has a strong record of service and commitment to undergraduate and graduate education, equity and diversity. She joined UC San Diego’s faculty in 2001, working in the area of infant memory, social referencing, and face processing and social development in children with autism. As director of the Developmental Cognitive and Social Neuroscience Lab for 14 years, she has mentored and managed numerous graduate students and lab managers, and more than 200 undergraduate research assistants.
Roxworthy also served on various departmental, college, campus-wide, and system-wide committees. Her scholarly work focuses on the intersection of theater history and performance studies. Her particular interests are in interculturalism, Asian/Asian American theatre, digital media and role playing. She served as acting provost of Thurgood Marshall College in fall 2015, following two years of lecturing for Marshall’s “Dimensions of Culture” course.
Public Meeting June 22 to Discuss
San Onofre Spent Nuclear Fuel
By City News Service
A variety of experts will convene a public meeting next week to inform residents on how used nuclear fuel from the shuttered San Onofre plant will be stored, Southern California Edison officials announced Tuesday.
The guest speakers will comment on a range of issues from transportation of the used fuel to where to store it.
Speakers at the June 22 meeting will include Allison M. Macfarlane, a former Nuclear Regulatory Commission chairwoman, John Kotek of the U.S. Department of Energy, and Jack Edlow, president of Edlow International, a company that transports used nuclear fuel.
“We recognize there is strong community interest in storage of San Onofre’s used nuclear fuel and believe the upcoming (Community Engagement Panel) meeting will provide a robust forum for our neighbors to learn more and ask questions about this important topic,” said Tom Palmisano, Southern California Edison’s chief nuclear officer and vice president of decommissioning. Palmisano also will provide an update on how the utility is preparing to decommission the San Onofre plant.
The meeting will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center, 25925 Camino del Avion.
Fleet Week Sea & Air Parade Returns to San Diego
The Fleet Week Sea & Air Parade returns to San Diego on Sept. 10 in a display of the Navy’s sea service.
The parade will run the length of San Diego Bay, beginning in Shelter Island with viewing areas all along the bayfront, from noon until 2 p.m.
For the first time since 2008, amphibious ships, destroyers, Marine counter measure ships, submarines and ships from the Coast Guard as well as the Canadian Navy will participate. In addition there will be amphibious landing craft and demonstrations of SEAL capabilities, Coast Guard Search and Rescue, and a fly-over of Navy aircraft.
“Your Navy in San Diego is proud to invite you to the Fleet Week Sea & Air Parade,” said Rear Adm. Mark Rich, commander of Navy Region Southwest. “This is the first one in eight years, so it’s an event you won’t want to miss.”
Many more activities are scheduled to accompany the Sea & Air Parade. On Sept. 10 and 11, Broadway Pier will host a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fair, ship tours, live music, food, static displays and more from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ship tours will be open from Sept. 10-14, also from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Broadway Pier and the B Street Pier.
