MIssion Beach Town Council
Board Meeting Minutes
Mission Beach Women’s Club
840 Santa Clara Pl.
September 16, 2015
Call to Order: President Fred Day called the meeting to order at 5:02
Fred Day , President Present
Jill Lester, Vice- President Present
Gary Wonacott, Vice- President Present
Klaus Mendenhall, Membership Present
Abby Murray, SecretaryPresent
Jo Unger, TreasurerPresent
Scott Morrison, Past President Present
Area1 RepEd Thile Present
Area 2 Rep Alan Murray Present
Area 3 RepIzzy UngerPresent
Area 4 Rep Andy ChotinerPresent
Area 5 RepDan PIck Absent
Area 6 Rep Matt Gardner Present
Area 7 Rep Steve KovalcheckPresent
Area 8 Rep Dukes Wooters Absent
Area 9 Rep Kimberly Wise Absent
Items Discussed:
Aquatic Safety and Junior Lifeguard Center - Presenters: Corey McClelland ( President/ CEO of the San Diego Junior Lifeguard Foundation) , Byron Wear (Project Manager) and Chief Rick Wurts,( San Diego Lifeguard). Corey said that the foundation was created to fund and construct a new Aquatic Safety and Junior lifeguard center in Mission Beach. The proposed site is the grass area south of the comfort station and just east of the Boardwalk. Their current headquarters is located at the Santa Clara Rec. Center on Santa Clara Pt. The proposed facility is planned to be 2 stories and have a 9,000 square foot footprint. Planned uses for the aquatic facility: Junior Lifeguard Program, Aquatic Safety and Recreational Programs, kitchen and first aid room, Junior Lifeguard restrooms and lockers, instructor restroom and lockers, office space, storage, meeting facilities, location for cultural and historic displays and a public coastal observation tower. The Junior lifeguard program currently has 1400 participants and they are looking to expand the program to approximately 2,000 participants. They will be reaching out to underserved youth through “Waterproofing San Diego”whose goal is to provide aquatic education and drowning prevention. They have met with Council Member Lorie Zapf and staff, and the Mission Beach Precise Planning Group. They have already raised some funds and are currently planning fundraisers. There will be an EIR which will include a parking and traffic study. The project would go through the San Diego Planning Commission, the San Diego City Council, California Coastal Commission and submission to the city for plan check and final approval before construction. The presenters stated that they have no definitive plans but are in the listening mode with regard to the project. Because it is on public land it would be owned and operated by the city but the foundation would continue to provide ongoing fundraising and support for the Junior Lifeguard Program. Discussion followed. Concerns expressed: the proposed location was an inappropriate place because of traffic congestion that is currently a concern in the area and potential safety hazard during the process of dropping -off and picking -up participants in the parking lot, the blocking of view corridors, the taking away of the grass area heavily used by the public for the building site, coupled with the congestion of the new housing development near Santa Barbara Pl. the traffic in and out of the beach during heavily used times is going to be a “nightmare”, do we need another community room and viewing point?, Suggestions made - renovate the Santa Clara Rec Center which is in badly need of repair with the money that they will be fundraising, move the building site to West Bonita Cove where there is better access, investigate other areas like La Jolla, Ocean Beach etc., shuttle kids in to the beach area to lessen traffic congestion.The goal of the presentation was to present an initial briefing on the project to the MBTC Board..
Community Benefit District (CBD) - presenters John Vallas ( Beautiful MB), and Marco Mandri (New City America) A new group of residents, property owners and businesses have come together to investigate the support for a Mission Beach Community Benefit District. This would be a property based assessment district whose function would be to fund special services in the community over and above the General Services provided by the city. One of the best examples where a CBD has created great results is in the Little Italy neighborhood of San Diego. A Mission Beach CBD could fund the following issues: increase frequency of trash pick-ups from Memorial Day to Labor Day, regular sidewalk and gutter sweeping, pressure washing sidewalks throughout the district, managed parking and a community valet service, deal with homeless issues, supporting existing stores and attract high quality retail and restaurants to the community, plant trees and other landscaping, removing graffiti, advocating on behalf of Mission Beach to public agencies etc.. Since Beautiful MB is a 501C3 it is eligible for grants from the city. The Steering Committee met a few weeks ago to discuss forming a CBD and decided to hire Marco Mandri who was instrumental with the formation of Little Italy’s CBD (one of 77 he has helped form nation wide so far). The first step in the formation of a CBD is to take a survey online. Postcards regarding the online survey will be sent out to all property owners and they will be encouraged to complete the survey online click on “New Districts”and take the survey or you can call (619) 233-5009 and request a copy be emailed, faxed or mailed. Deadline for the survey is October 30. There are approximately 2,361parcels in the study area not including the Catamaran , Bahia, Belmont Park etc.. The Mission Beach CBD investigation and formation process allows property owners to create the CBD plan and decide the resulting costs to each parcel. The property owners would petition City Council Member Lorie Zapf and the Mayor’s Office to consider adopting the CBD for Mission Beach who then would authorize a ballot procedure according to State law. Final approval requires a majority vote of the “weighted”(which refers to the proportion of the assessment paid into the district by each owner) property owners. According to State law all property owners whether public, ecumenical, nonprofit/tax exempt or residential must pay into the district if they are receiving benefit. People from the community can be employed as workers in the CBD. The key to a successful CBD is good management. Without good management the CBD falls apart.
Members of the Steering committee: John Gleason of Catamaran and Bahia Hotel, Fred Day (MBTC president), Debbie Watkins (chair of the MBPPB), John Vallas (Swell Cafe), Jeff Johnson (McCleary/McGowan), Klaus Mendenhall ( Membership MBTC) ) Mary Saska (President of the Steering Committee Meeting), Gina Champion Cain (Luv Surf, multiple properties in Mission Beach) and Wendy Crain ( Belmont Park). In order to help members of the community make informed decisions regarding the CBD, information about the CBD will be posted on the MBTC website, Facebook and Next-door. Discussion followed: Everyone was encouraged to get the word out about the CBD, what it is, what it can do for MB, and the importance of completing the survey in order to get some consensus in the community. The Board felt that it is important to get as many people to complete the survey as possible. Once the results are in the MBTC can act further to pass motions or throw support behind it or not depending on the survey’s outcome. MBTC want to know what the community thinks and is not at this time showing support one way or another. Education is crucial.Marco was going to send Fred Little Italy’s Report in PDF format that Mary Saska found very informative. Jill can post it in PDF format on the website. It was proposed that Marco be put on October’s MBTC agenda. It was reported that it was Lorie’s recommendation that Mission Beach form a CBD.
Extending Surf Camp Hours - LT Rich Stropky reported that lifeguards have partnered with some of the legal surf camps. The surf camps have asked to have their hours extended by “1 1/2 hours in order to conduct evening lessons”. As it stands all water activity conducted by surf camps has to stop all water activity by 4:00 P.M. and they need to be off the beach by 5:00 P.M. This proposal would allow them to extend the “water activities”until 5:30 PM and be off the beach by 6:00 P.M. when the lifeguards go off duty. During the extended hour and a half each surf camp would be limited in size to no more that 5 participants per camp. They are requesting a 60 day trial period. Once established if the community was in agreement with it the extension of the hours would be year round. La Jolla has already extended their hours and report that there has been no impact on the community from the lifeguard side. The city gets 10% of the take and the money goes back into the General Fund. There are approximately 7 legal surf camps between the South Mission Beach jetty through Pacific Beach (with 3 confirmed in Mission Beach). Discussion followed: there was concern about the surf camps creating a overcrowding in the surf zones, concern regarding private enterprises conducting business on public land, concern that due to the time change in November it will be dark at 5:00 (Lt. Stropky stated that during the winter the hours would only be extended to 5:00P.M. which is during lifeguard operational hours). The trial period for the extended hours would start as soon as the community voted and gave the go ahead The lifeguards would give the go ahead to all of the legal surf camp concessioners and the 60 day period would start. There was concern about the rampant problem on our beaches of all of the illegal businesses that have popped up. Response: if a business is clearly charging and they do not have a solicitor’s permit or a Park Use Permit the lifeguards build a case and present it to the vice - licensing department of the SDPD. They are the ones who follow up but their resources are minimal. Donation based activities are legal. The Lt was going to give Fred a copy of the RFP contract which has a three more years before it expires. It contains all the rules and regulations and when permits expire so that at that time the public can give input as to whether to renew or not, amend etc. the permit. This request to extend hours will be presented at the general meeting of the MBTC in October.
Nomination Committee (By-Law Requirement) Scott Morrison and Andy Chotiner volunteered to be on the Nomination Committee. They will have a slate ready for October’s meeting. The slate will be posted 10 days before the November’s meeting to be voted on by the members. It was recommended that some of the Area Reps do not participate and therefore should be removed from the Board. Fred said that the removal process needs a 2/3 vote of the entire Board, notification has to be given in advance for the removal process. Scott said to email him and tell him if you are going to serve on the board again.
By-Law Change - It was proposed that in addition to the Agenda being posted on the website, that the agenda in the future be sent via email, however Klaus said that he does not have email addresses for all of the members. Changes to the by-laws need to be presented and voted on by the Board. It was discussed that the by-laws need to be revised in some areas.
Website Up-date - John Greenhalgh is still listed as an Area Rep on the website. Jill will make the correction.
Fly Issue - Bruce Williams Proposal: Mission Beach was asked to be part of a pilot program for trash and flies. A subcommittee was formed to define the proposed pilot program. The members are Sarah Mattinson, Mary Swenson, Scott Morrison, and Klaus Mendenhall. The pilot program has not yet been defined.
On another note Sarah called the Mayor’s office and asked what else she could do regarding the fly problem (that caused her business to be almost shut down) in lieu of litigation. John Ly returned her call and said that the Mayor’s office will direct Environmental Services Department to start enforcing the Municipal Code that requires trash cans to be out of the public right of way other than the 24 hours that surround trash pick-up day. He requested that residents supply him with areas/addresses by Friday where the offenses are most egregious. Warnings will begin next week followed by fines in the event of non compliance. Discussion followed: Gary Wonacott mention that he sent a letter regarding the fly issue problem to Ron Roberts (Board of Supervisors) to help us find a solution to the fly problem specifically to get the Vector Control Office to declare the fly issue a nuisance and a health issue and hopefully motivate the city to take action.
John Ly pointed out to Sarah the areas of the “Draft of Short Term Vacation Rental And Home Sharing Ordinance Framework” that pertained to Mission Beach. He told her what would really help regarding trash pick-up and the fly problem would be to have Lorie Zapf include the specific language of the rules for trash and recycling containment and disposal as they pertain to short term rentals including that the STVRs would have to pay for their own trash pick-up or get more frequent pick-ups - in that section of the draft. Sort term rentals have to be responsible for their own trash pick-up.
Regarding the STVRs Fred said that we need to find out the overall consensus of the community. Debbie Watkins is wanting to have a joint meeting with the town council to see what the consensus is.
Funding For Centennial Website (292.70 for 10 years) - Cordelia Mendoza co-chair of the Centennial Committee asked the MBTC if they would cover the cost of funding the domain for the MB Centennial site. Motion to approve covering the costs was made, seconded and passed by the Board.
Student Housing/Noise: Gary called Dr. Harris’ Office, (President of USD) and requested a meeting with the President and Tom Cleary. First available date was December 10. As a community we need to put pressure on USD students to abide by community rules and regulations. Tom Cleary said that Katie Coutermarsh (AS President) is organizing a “mixer” to be held on Sept 29. Location and participants are unknown as of yet but Gary would like to have a meeting with the student leaders, SDPD MB residents and USD Administrators before the mixer happens.
Former School Site - It was reported that at the last MBPPB meeting there were people present both in opposition and in favor of the site plan. The community is very strong regarding some aspects of the project. The project needs to stay within the PDO lot sizes. It was said that the contractor confuses the PDO (Planned District Ordinance) and the Precise Plan (describe as the ”wish list”). Debbie Watkins ( Chair of the MBPPB) would like a meeting with Lorie, Bruce and MBTC Reps. It is said that the City Attorney is giving Lorie and Bruce camouflage to avoid the question. There are 3 major deviations to the Mission Beach PDO that the developers are proposing: 1. lot sizes 93x88 2. increase in square footage 3- 400 square feet 3. exceeding height limit - 1 foot higher—all of which the MBPPB denied at their regularly scheduled meeting September 15, 2015.
Undergrounding - Delayed. Scheduled to start January 2016
Voting Cards - Members need to be checked in and given voting cards when there are voting items on the agenda.
Paul Wilson /Shawna/ Maruta- Graffiti. Paul Wilson has been reporting that the instructor of the yoga classes held near Niantic Ct. and Pismo Ct. has been advertising her classes on the Boardwalk. Maruta has been involved removing the signage. Shawna (yoga instructor) has been given citations regarding her chalk postings. The city also had to power wash the boardwalk after she posted her advertising in a medium other than chalk. The city will not prosecute for chalk ads.
Jo Unger’s Declaration and Ken Giavara’s Demand - After discussion there was consensus of the Board that supported Jo remaining on the Board as MBTC Treasurer with no censor.
Side Note
Steve Kovalcheck reported that there is a plethora of signs up and down the Mission Blvd. median advertising businesses. Are they illegal? Yes they are illegal. Fred will contact someone in Code Enforcement.
Deco Bikes - So far the city does not have plans to allow Deco Bikes to place any bikes in the Mission Beach area. However, what happens next year is unclear. As a community we must continue to relay our concerns about Deco Bikes to Lorie Zapf. Fred said looking at the map of the planned sites where Deco has or wants to install their bikes; it is obvious that the locations are heavily concentrated in areas along the coast where they are in direct competition with existing rental businesses for the tourist trade and very few are installed in inland areas.
Respectfully submitted,
Abby Murray, Secretary