By John F. Pilch

The next meeting of the San Carlos Area Council (SCAC) is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1 at 6 p.m. in the community room of the San Carlos Branch Library (7265 Jackson Drive). We are working to schedule Mayor Kevin Faulconer as our guest speaker. Updates on that topic will be sent to the SCAC email list when we have more information. (See the end of this article for details on how to sign up for email updates.) As usual, the event will be open to the public and there is no charge to attend.

At the May 6 meeting, the SCAC held its annual election of directors and officers. John Pilch is the incoming president, Mark Schulze is the new vice president and April Boling remains treasurer. New directors include Maxine Farber, Patricia Mooney and Mark Schulze. Re-elected directors are Rita Hartman, Dan Northcutt, John Pilch and Mickey Zeichick.

We look forward to instituting some changes this year, including a resumption of collecting dues, re-instituting the SCAC newsletter and becoming more actively involved in community events and activities. A letter and return envelope are being mailed to all members on the most recent list, with a request for $7 per household and $15 for a business. We’d like prior members to return and are soliciting new members in this article. The funds will be used to make donations to the library (where we meet), Mission Trails Regional Park (on whose Citizens Advisory Committee we have a vote), the San Diego River Coalition (where we have a voting membership) and other deserving entities. We’ll also work to develop a website and enhance the bi-monthly meeting experience. We’re also interested in hearing from residents about ideas to enhance our community. Someone recently suggested that we attempt to have a food truck gathering in San Carlos; we’ll look into that. Please send your thoughts and suggestions to [email protected] to be considered by our board.

Also at the May 6 meeting, the directors heard a report on the proposed joint-use artificial turf field at Gage Elementary School and voted to recommend approval by the Navajo Community Planners. This is a joint effort between San Diego Unified School District and the city’s Park and Recreation Department. Another public community meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, at the San Carlos/Lake Murray Recreation Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the San Carlos Recreation Center, 6445 Lake Badin Ave. Your input is being sought. Currently, it’s been agreed to not have lights at the site and have it kept open after school hours until dark for community use. A walking track around the perimeter of the turf field is also proposed. Weekend use will be for the community, just as fields at Pershing Middle School are currently used. We have a shortage of playing fields and park area in San Carlos and the Navajo Area, and this playing field will be a big help to spread out the use of fields.

SCAC directors also heard presentations about a proposed charter school — in the building that once housed Blockbuster Video at 8776 Lake Murray Blvd. — and a proposed residential development of single-family homes at the former Cleveland Elementary School site once the lease for Magnolia Science Academy expires in June 2016. Updates will be provided to the SCAC email list when they are received. Sign up info is at the end of this article.

The sewer replacement project on Jackson Drive, from Lake Shore Drive to Lake Murray Boulevard, is in the preliminary stage, with work to begin in July. The entire roadway will be re-paved at the end of the project in September, according to Ryley Webb of Councilmember Scott Sherman’s office. Ryley is moving to a new position as the Audit Committee consultant for Sherman; Cassie Weinlein will replace him as our community representative from the City Council District 7 office. We thank Ryley for all the help and info he has provided as the representative to San Carlos.

The Navajo Community Planners now meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Tifereth Israel Synagogue on Tommy Drive and Cowles Mountain Boulevard. Please note the new date and time of their meetings. They and we would appreciate having more residents attend the meetings, to provide input on land-use issues in the four Navajo Area communities (Allied Gardens, Del Cerro, Grantville and San Carlos) that are heard by the board. For more information about the planning group and to sign up for email notifications, visit navajoplanners.org.

A “Celebrate the Gate” ceremony is planned for Friday, May 15 at the end of Cowles Mountain Boulevard to celebrate the fence that has been installed across the roadway to prevent trash dumping and other illicit activities from continuing at the terminus of the roadway. The public is invited to watch Councilmember Sherman cut the ribbon to commemorate the installation.

We are pleased to report that the crops being grown in the San Carlos Community Garden are flourishing, as seen at the Anniversary Garden Party in late April. If you’re interested in raising your own fruits and vegetables in this garden, please visit sancarloscommunitygarden.com for details. The community garden is located at the corner of Lake Adlon Drive and Boulder Lake Avenue, adjacent to Springall Academy (6440 Boulder Lake Dr.) They’re always looking for help with the garden on Saturday mornings, so stop by to look it over and lend a hand if you wish. The San Carlos Community Garden has come a long way in three years and the volunteers are to be congratulated for their efforts.

For information about speakers, meeting reminders, agendas and other local news, please send an email message to [email protected] and request that your name be added to the SCAC Interested Party email list. Rest assured that your privacy will be respected and neither your name nor your email address will be shared with anyone. Messages are sent “BCC” to prevent you from being spammed.

Finally, if you have an issue you wish us to consider or just have a question about the community, please contact me at 619-462-1408 or by email at [email protected].

—John F. Pilch is president of the San Carlos Area Council. If you have an issue you would like the council to consider, or if you just have questions about the community, contact him by phone at 619-462-1408 or by email at [email protected].