Daily Business Report-Dec. 18, 2018
Rendering of proposed Aztec Stadium (Credit: Carrier Johnson + Culture)
Panelist Says:
SDSU to start land purchase negotiations
with city early next year for Mission
Valley stadium site; play football in 2022
San Diego State University aims to start land purchase negotiations with the city of San Diego for the Mission Valley stadium site in the first quarter of next year and play its first football game in a new stadium in 2022. This is according to Gina Jacobs, assistant VP of divisional communications and strategy for SDSU and a panelist at a recent Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 (C-3) and League of Women Voters panel discussion about the future of the stadium site.
Also included on the panel, which was moderated by C-3 board member Cary Lowe, were San Diego Councilmembers Barbara Bry and Scott Sherman, as well as President and CEO of JMI Realty John Kratzer, who serves as SDSU’s site plan consultant.
Audience members and the city council members expressed concern that once SDSU purchases the land, the city loses direct land use approval and its ability to enforce the community plan, ceding oversight to the state of California and the SDSU board of trustees.
“At the end of the day, the only thing we have in our control is the sale,” said Councilmember Sherman. “I’m looking forward to the negotiations, so we can get the best value for the city.”
Councilmember Bry suggested that the city can build land use terms into the sale agreement to exert some control, including stipulations about affordable and low-income housing. “I’m also interested in whether some of the land can be leased,” she said. “How can this benefit taxpayers in the long run? Will the city be able to participate down the road? Ultimately, we want to hear from the people and what they want.”
Jacobs said SDSU has made more than 100 presentations to planning groups, special interest groups, environmental groups and others about its stadium site proposal. “We are very proud of our outreach thus far,” she added. “We are open to talking about more community input.”
While the majority of the 166-acre site will be sold to SDSU, as agreed under Proposition G, which San Diego voters approved in November, 34 acres of the River Park will remain under the city’s control.
C-3 plans to lead an organized effort to engage the public in both the sale agreement negotiations and SDSU’s design effort, with a kick-off meeting on a date to be determined in January, 2019. C-3 also supports calls to form a Public Advisory Committee, considering this project presents a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on all of Mission Valley.
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SDSU Analysis
Navy-Notre Dame football game yielded
regional economic impact of over $25 million
The Oct. 27 Navy versus Notre Dame football game at SDCCU Stadium generated an economic benefit exceeding more than $25 million for the San Diego region. The preliminary finding was the result of an analysis performed by San Diego State University’s Center for Tourism and Hospitality Research. The final report is expected to reflect an even higher impact figure as incremental room nights and spending are still being tabulated.
The game was produced and brought to San Diego by the nonprofit San Diego Bowl Game Association, the group that produces the annual SDCCU Holiday Bowl and festival of events.
The bowl contracted with the United States Naval Academy two years ago to bring the game to San Diego. Since 1978, the local bowl game effort has generated more than $825 million in economic benefit for San Diego, according to officials.
Next up for the San Diego Bowl Game Association is the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl. The 22nd-ranked Northwestern Wildcats will face the 17th-ranked Utah Utes Monday, Dec. 31 at SDCCU Stadium. Kickoff is at 4 p.m.
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Academy of Our Lady of Peace
to host sixth Architects of Change
The Academy of Our Lady of Peace (OLP), the oldest high school in San Diego and the only all girls’ school in the county, will host its sixth Architects of Change Live speaking engagement featuring keynote speaker Mike Fasulo, president and COO of Sony Electronics. It will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019 at 11 a.m. at OLP’s campus in Normal Heights.
Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in intimate conversation with Fasulo while he shares his professional journey and thoughts on everything from diversity, equity, inclusion, and more. The event will also feature a moderated discussion and Q&A that is open to the audience.
Fasulo oversees Sony Electronics’ multi-billion-dollar business in Canada and the United States. With unwavering managerial courage and a proven track record of performing under pressure, he has a steadfast passion for delivering positive financial results, while building great teams.
Architects of Change Live is OLP’s conversation series with a mission. It celebrates and shares stories of inspiration from individuals who challenge what is, imagine what can be, and who move humanity forward. The goal is to inspire those listening to do the same in their own communities.
The school has been in partnership with Maria Shriver since November 2016 as the first school to bring her Architects of Change program to the scholastic level. Since that time, the school has hosted bi-yearly Live Conversations on campus, as well as monthly features in their digital forums of named Architects of Change “highlights” whose story and forward motion provides compelling inspiration to others.
The special event is free and open to the public, although tickets are required. Register for tickets by Jan. 29, 2019 at: www.aolp.org.
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Barry Price elected president
of Hemlock Society of San Diego
Barry Price has been elected president of the Hemlock Society of San Diego, succeeding Faye Girsh, founder of the Society and its president since 1996.
As president, Price hopes to expand people’s thinking about how to leave this world in a more gentle, painless and dignified way than is presently the case for most Americans. He also hopes to be an advocate for pushing publicly funded hospitals and other care facilities to be more transparent with terminally ill patients about what their options are for leaving this world.
Price holds a Ph.D. in political science from Indiana University and a master’s in political science from San Diego State University. After graduating, he served as a Peace Corp volunteer in Venezuela.
Price’s teaching career includes 35 years teaching at three Texas universities. He earned two Fulbright Fellowships to teach and consult on public administration in Argentina and Uruguay and to teach and research in Nicaragua.
From 1970 to 1972 he was director of the Program Planning Department at San Diego County’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Price is a current member of the Allied Gardens Grantville Community Council.
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Ligand acquires royalty rights
to skin disorder formula
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. announces the acquisition of economic rights to PTX-022 from Palvella Therapeutics. PTX-022 is a novel, topical formulation of rapamycin currently in Phase 2/3 development for the treatment of pachyonychia congenita, a rare skin disorder for which no FDA-approved treatment exists. Ligand will pay $10 million to Palvella Therapeutics and in return will receive a tiered royalty on net sales in the mid-to-upper single digits, as well as regulatory and financing milestones. Ligand will not incur any expenses to develop or commercialize PTX-022.
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XYo Network officially
opens XY Labs in Carlsbad
The XYo Network announced it has officially opened XY Labs, a Carlsbad-based center of innovation. The new office and debut of the Innovation Lab is the latest in the company’s strong growth and physical expansion over the past year. Since January, the company has grown from 17 employees to the current 76, with teams based at the San Diego headquarters, a Northern California team based in Sacramento, and now, a third innovation-focused team in Carlsbad. The rapid employee growth across departments including Engineering and Development, Operations and Marketing, supports the company’s aggressive approach and business roadmap.
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Gubernatorial Appointments
Former Sempra Energy CEO named to California Horse Racing Board
Debra Reed, 62, of San Diego, former president and CEO of Sempra Energy, has been appointed to the California Horse Racing Board of Directors by Gov. Jerry Brown. Reed held several positions at Sempra Energy from 2010 to 2018, including executive chairman, chairman, president and chief executive officer and executive vice president. She held several positions at San Diego Gas and Electric and Southern California Gas Company from 2000 to 2010, including president and chief executive officer, president and chief operating officer and president and chief financial officer.
Reed is a member of several boards, including those for the Rady Children Hospital Health Center, Caterpillar Inc., Chevron Corporation, and State Farm Mutual. She is also a member of the Business Council, University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering Board of Councilors and the International Women’s Forum. The position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Reed is registered without party preference.
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Mary Harb Sheets appointed to California Board of Psychology
Mary Harb Sheets, 65, of San Diego, has been appointed to the California Board of Psychology. Harb Sheets has been a clinical psychologist in private practice since 1994 and a senior consultant and staff psychologist at Workplace Guardians Inc. since 2000. She was adjunct faculty in advanced law and ethics at Alliant International University from 2012 to 2018, student services professional and counseling psychologist at San Diego State University from 1990 to 1998 and a registered psychological assistant to Gary De Voss, Ph.D. from 1992 to 1994.
Harb Sheets is a member of the California Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, San Diego Psychological Association, National Register of Health Services Psychologists and the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association: Task Force on Psychological Issues. The position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Harb Sheets is registered without party preference.
