Daily Business Report-March 28, 2018
The new paid parking plan at Westfield UTC will go into effect in the fall. (Credit: Westfield UTC)
Westfield UTC’s New Parking Plan Aims
to Get Rid of Parking Spot ‘Poachers’
Westfield UTC wants to get rid of parking spot “poachers” — individuals who take advantage of the free parking by leaving their vehicles on its parking lot for several hours at a time so they can go somewhere else in the vicinity.
Beginning this fall, the shopping center will implement a secured parking plan where the first two hours of parking will remain free of charge. Visitors will be charged $3 per hour after the first two hours of free parking.
After the initial two hours of free parking, guest will be charged $3 for visits lasting 2-3 hours, $6 for visits lasting 3-4 hours and $9 for visits lasting 4-5 hours. A $15 daily maximum is reached for visits lasting longer than 5 hours.
About 85 percent of shopping center visitors complete their visits in under two hours, according to the center, meaning their parking would remain free.
“As UTC has emerged as one of the few remaining free parking locations in the increasingly dense Golden Triangle business district, individuals not actually visiting the shopping center have been taking advantage of the neighborhood’s extremely limited parking,” the shopping center said in announcing the plan. “On a daily basis, hundreds of cars are parked on site for several hours – or even for the entire day – and UTC guests have reported being inconvenienced as a result.”
The issue is expected to increase even further with the planned addition of a new regional transit center and trolley station alongside the property —resulting in an influx of daily commuters who could use UTC as a place to park before proceeding elsewhere.
Patrons of UTC’s Arclight Cinemas, 24-Hour Fitness and others will be able to receive validations for additional hours of free parking, with the first $3-per- hour charge only coming into effect upon expiration of the extended validation.
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Supervisors Approve Tripling Spending
for Substance Abuse Treatment
Thousands more San Diegans will have access to substance abuse treatment thanks to a new delivery system approved Tuesday by the county Board of Supervisors. The decision will triple spending on substance use disorders from $54.6 million to $179.6 million over the next three years to address opioid and other substance abuse that often exacerbate homelessness, mental illness and criminal behavior.
The new and comprehensive Substance Use Disorders Treatment Delivery System was unveiled at a March 26 news conference with elected officials, treatment providers, health care experts and federal and local criminal justice leaders.
The enhanced system was specifically designed to serve low-income San Diegans and will address the systemic damage that substance abuse inflicts on people, families and communities. According to San Diego County Medical Examiner data, the number of unintentional drug and alcohol-related deaths more than doubled — they jumped from 268 to 544 — from 2000-2016.
The new system, known as the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System, will allow the county to tap into more federal Medicaid funds, significantly enhance services and expand the provider network to increase the number of clients served. California was the first state in the nation to create an organized delivery system for drug treatment services for people who receive Medi-Cal.
The new system will improve care, increase efficiency and reduce costs, and will ultimately address the collision of the homeless and substance abuse problems, county officials said
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Developers Plan 311-Acre Industrial Park
Adjacent to Future U.S.-Mexico Point of Entry
A partnership of Kearny Real Estate Company and PCCP LLC has broken ground on Phase 1 of its 311-acre Otay Crossings Commerce Park adjacent to a new U.S.-Mexico Point of Entry in Otay Mesa.
Kearny’s industrial development, one of the largest to be developed in San Diego County in nearly two decades, will be located along the final extension of California State Route SR-11, which will connect the existing 905 & 125 freeways to the border. The future POE is being designed to alleviate the extensive wait time at the existing POE, which is located one mile west. Otay Crossings Commerce Park will offer finished lots and buildings designed to accommodate a variety of warehouse, storage and distribution facilities.
Kearny plans to complete the $40 million first phase of on- and off-site infrastructure improvements and deliver finished lots by the summer of 2019 to coincide with the opening for the SR-11 extension to the border.
“The new border crossing will reduce delays and better accommodate the more than three million trucks expected to pass through the border by 2025 without sacrificing border safety and security,” said Jeffrey Givens, Kearny senior vice president.
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SDSU’s Tara Montgomery Named
Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar
San Diego State University senior rower Tara Montgomery has been named a 2018 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar team honoree, Diverse: Issues In Higher Education magazine announced. Montgomery receives the honor for a second consecutive year after being named the women’s rowing recipient in 2017.
Montgomery, one of 34 student-athletes included in this year’s special report, was chosen from more than 1,200 nominated minority student-athletes across the nation. The award recognizes student-athletes who have excelled in academics, in their sport and through involvement on campus and in the community.
During her time at SDSU, the senior has been a member of the rowing team’s first and second varsity eight crews as a starboard rower. Montgomery was named an American Athletic Conference All-Academic honoree for both the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
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San Diego Community College District Gets
$100,000 Grant to Fight Student Hunger
The San Diego Community College District has received nearly $100,000 in state grant money to further bolster emergency pantry services at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.
Colleges will use the funds to augment food pantries on campus, including a partnership with Feeding San Diego that provides fresh produce to students in need. City College is earmarking its entire amount of nearly $33,000 to buy non-perishable food. Mesa College will use its nearly $41,000 to bolster its partnership with Feeding San Diego. Miramar College will spend its more than $20,000 to expand the size of its pantry as well as purchase food for the hungry.
The Community College Equity Assessment Lab at San Diego State University found that 12 percent of community college students in California sometimes aren’t sure where they’ll get their next meal.
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Personnel Announcements
Dr. Phil Febbo Named Chief Medical Officer at Illumina
Illumina Inc. announced the appointment of Dr. Phil Febbo, a leading physician scientist, as chief medical officer. In his new role, Febbo will be responsible for developing and executing on the company’s medical strategy to drive genomic testing into health care practice.
For the past 25 years, Febbo has worked at leading institutions throughout the United States, most recently serving as CMO of Genomic Health. Prior to that, Febbo served as professor of medicine and urology at the University of California, San Francisco, where his laboratory focused on using genomics to understand the biology and clinical behavior of prostate cancer, and his clinical practice focused on genitourinary oncology.
While at UCSF, Febbo was the co-leader of the Prostate Cancer Program at the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Program Principal Investigator of the Translational Research Program for the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology.
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Girl Scouts to Name Cool Women of 2018
and Emerging Leader Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts San Diego will honor its Cool Women of 2018 and introduce “Emerging Leader” Girl Scouts during a luncheon and ceremony on Friday, April 13. The 18th annual event will be held at Coasterra on Harbor Island. Proceeds will support programs that help empower girls to use their voices, develop a strong sense of self, step outside their comfort zones, and build resilience.
Members of the Cool Women Class of 2018 were selected for the personal and professional achievements that make them consummate role models for girls. The honorees include:
Paola Avila, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce’s vice president for international business affairs, who serves on the boards of Civic San Diego, the Border Trade Alliance and The Foundation for the Children of the Californias, as well as the International Boundary and Water Commission Citizens Forum.
Jeannie Hilger, vice president of Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Communications business, who established the Adelante Engineering Academy at Northrop Grumman’s San Diego site to build a stronger STEM pipeline for Latinas and inspire students to pursue STEM careers by providing them with hands-on activities.
Dea Hurston, a playwright who is an advocate, patron, and past board member of Diversionary Theatre, Malashock Dance, The Old Globe, San Diego REP, Young Audiences and many other local arts organizations
Laura Shawver, Ph.D.; president/CEO/director of Synthorx Inc. and founder of The Clearity Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides genetic analysis for ovarian cancer patients to match them with the most effective drugs.
Caroline Winn, chief operating officer of San Diego Gas & Electric, who serves on the management council and board of directors of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the boards of the Western Energy Institute and the UC Davis Energy Efficient Center.
Each of the Cool Women of 2018 is a Girl Scout alumna. Hurston’s mother and daughter were also involved in Girl Scouting, and Avila volunteered with her daughter’s troop.
“Our organization provides girls with the world’s best girl leadership experience, in an inclusive, girl-led space that empowers them to take the lead,” said Girl Scouts San Diego CEO Carol M. Dedrich. “By shining a spotlight on these extraordinary Cool Women, we are inspiring today’s Girl Scouts to reach their own potential.”
Arlene Harris, who was a Cool Woman in 2013, is co-chairing the 18th annual event with Sue Major, a longtime Girl Scout volunteer who serves on the Girl Scouts of the USA Board of Directors. Wendy Urushima-Conn, a member of the Cool Women Class of 2017, will emcee the luncheon.
The day’s activities will also include a morning mentoring session for all 30 of the Emerging Leader Girl Scouts. They were selected for their potential and the outstanding achievements that are already making the world a better place. The teens will gain insights about careers, education pathways and overcoming challenges from some of San Diego’s most successful female executives and community leaders, including the Cool Women of 2018.
For tickets, visit www.sdgirlscouts.org/cw or call (619) 610-0807.
