Now that we’ve turned the corner on a new year, community leaders in Mission and Pacific beaches are weighing in on what they expect lies ahead in 2017. MAD
Mission Beach entrepreneur John Vallas, who’s been lobbying for a proposed maintenance assessment district to pay for more trash pickup and other public services, said he has “a tremendous amount of anxiety regarding the future of Mission Beach” this year. “There is a lot of misinformation floating around about how Mission Beach is going to create a permanent solution for the annual summer fly infestation, as well as how the community will be able to take care of its unique needs as the City continues to look for ways to cull the special services it provides to small pockets of communities, in the midst of another looming budget deficit,” Vallas said. “If the community doesn’t come together and work to provide solutions instead of attacking each other – I’m anxious that no solution to the summer flies, overwhelming trash, broken sidewalks and dirty alleys will be created in 2017.” Homeless
Henish Pulickal, a Pacific Beach Planning Group member speaking on his own behalf, cited one particularly vexing issue.
“The homeless are a huge problem,” Pulickal said. “This issue is past it’s boiling point, and we need to reduce our tolerance towards aggressive transients and those organizations that support them only by feeding them, and not providing other services to create long-term solutions.” PB EcoDistrict
PBPG chair Brian J. Curry concurred that there will be no shortage of problems and issues to tackle in 2017. “We are looking forward to finalizing conceptual development plans for De Anza Cove, Pacific Beach Parks (between Pacific Beach Drive and the pier) as well as the Balboa Transit Special Study Area on the west side of Interstate 5,” said Curry. “We also hope to further explore the best possible method for efficient public transit between the beach and future trolley station. We will continue to promote the Pacific Beach EcoDistrict and coordinate planning efforts to implement the EcoDistrict goals and principals. Immediate plans are to improve and expand the PB Pathways project.”
Curry added, “We will continue to oppose the City’s plan to expand the DecoBike bike share kiosk locations that directly compete with our local business owners, as well as the two existing locations on the boardwalk. We have, and will continue to oppose, whole-house, short-term vacation rentals in our community. Finally, we will continue to pressure our mayor to respond to the extremely high crime rate in and around our business district.” Farmers Market
Long-time PB community planner Chris Olson had a less fanciful take on the new year.
“I wish for collaboration between community organizations and the City of San Diego on two priority areas,” Olson said. “Revitalize the business district and connect it with the community by expanding the Tuesday Farmers Market and moving it to Garnet Avenue. Also, we must continue to improve safety, access and connectivity on PB Pathways and other roadways for motorists, bicyclists, skaters and pedestrians. Signage and road paint is just the beginning. We need to find a source of funding for infrastructure improvements.” Marijuana Community activist and PBPG member Scott Chipman had a different focus.
“Looking forward to seeing more young families in PB,” Chipman said. “I’ve seen more couples with strollers in the last few years than in the previous 10 years. Not looking forward to more of our teens using and becoming addicted to pot (average age of introduction to pot is 12 years, 4 months) and more marijuana-impaired drivers as a result of legalization.” Discover PB Of 2017, Discover PB executive director Sara Berns noted, “As we closed out 2016 and headed into the new year, our theme would be ‘under construction,’ and construction means business. If you drive around PB these days, you can’t help but notice a lot of construction equipment and work being done. While a nuisance for now, we know all this construction is serious business … growing business to be exact.”
Berns added this year “Promises results, new budding businesses and stability for those who have shown they are here to stay. From large public projects like the Mid Coast Trolley Extension to private development like the new Oakmont project on Grand Avenue, PB is on its way to welcome exciting new changes to accommodate our growing community and the future of transportation.
“Here at Discover Pacific Beach our goals are similar; to continue to assist our small-business community as changes occur in how people travel, shop and play, and protect the integrity of the locally owned businesses.”
Early in the new year, Berns said Discover PB will “Be looking at expanding our Clean and Safe program and launching our new street banners. Throughout 2017, the organization hopes to start working with local commercial brokers to help future small business owners make smart decisions when investing in Pacific Beach, to be a voice for the commercial corridors in planning projects such as the trolley extension, and improving safety for pedestrians and bicyclists along Garnet Avenue and connecting streets.”
Berns added the bid will begin the process of developing a five-year strategic plan for the organization as they enter a new stage of opportunity in economic development and placemaking.
“Of course, we will be continuing all our local events to promote and keep our community vibrant,” she said. “In 2017, I would like to see the leaders of Pacific Beach continue to work collaboratively to bring visions that have been long in discussion closer to reality.” Alcohol licenses
PB Neighborhood Watch coordinator Marcella Teran had numerous concerns heading into 2017.
“We need more police for our community,” Teran said. “We need the ‘strong mayor’ to protect our neighborhoods and allow for more hiring of police.
“We need a moratorium on additional alcohol licenses, and a conditional use permit (for them),” Teran continued. “The high number of alcohol licenses are directly related to the number of police calls for fights and other crimes on Garnet they receive daily. Their efforts are taken away from our neighborhoods, where we are experiencing car break-ins, and other property crimes. “We need the City to enforce the city code about short term vacation rentals, in single-family neighborhoods. They are ‘visitor accommodations,’ and are eroding the community fabric of our neighborhood.” SDPD
Gary Wonacott of Mission Beach Town Council had his own “wish list” for 2017. “Our mayor needs to take whatever action is necessary to make the SDPD more competitive so we can keep our well-trained officers,” Wonacott said. “I was walking around Santa Barbara and overheard a conversation about Santa Barbara getting a new police chief from San Diego, Lori Luhnow, who left SDPD as a captain in investigations to be the chief at Santa Barbara.” Rose Creek
PB resident Jeffrey S. Rosan, who lobbied to have the speed limit changed on Foothills Boulevard to reduce speeding and accidents, had his own laundry list of “to dos” in 2017.
“Rose Creek serves as a gateway to this community. To see a graffiti lined cement channel as a big hello is really a downer. Rose Creek needs to be adopted as an open space park by the city, and in so doing, create a proactive role for the city in its maintenance and conservation.
“It is simply ridiculous to have all of these acres noted as open space in the community plan for the last 25 years, and for the city to be allowed to feign ignorance of its responsibility to enhance this resource.” Rosan noted traffic enforcement in PB “is woefully lacking,” adding “greater presence of SDPD throughout PB, or greater efforts to ameliorate, calm traffic should be pursued by the city.”
The tax specialist believes “non-owner occupied short-term rental issue needs to be resolved yesterday.” Ode To Pacific Beach (PB resident Micaela Shafer Porte waxed poetic in her take on what lies ahead in 2017.)
“Cruise the friendly streets of old Pacific Beach
At the end of every street is the ocean, bay or creek
Leave the car at home, all the better for to roam
Run or walk or roll or skate or bicycle
Or solar power your electric vehicle Cruising round the streets of old Pacific Beach
Boardwalk, boulevard, avenues and alleys
With a cool coastal breeze, under shady trees
To the anthem of the waves, with the night and morning haze
And so many many ways to boat around the bays Learned to bike no-handed on the streets of old PB
Learned to catch a wave when I was only three
Learned to play with fire at beach bonfire parties
Learned to handle brain-freeze eating cones at Mr. Frosties Cruising round the streets of friendly old PB
Hanging out with friends on the beach at Diamond Street
Parties at somebody’s house some court in Mission Beach
Can’t make it, surf’s up, off to Baja for a week Pelican squadrons cruise the shore
Dolphins patrol from south to north
Sand dollars and real estate dollars wash with the timelines From Crown Point Shores to Tourmaline Canyon Botanical wonders on every neighborhood block From Crystal Pier to Rose Creek dock
Pioneer in horticulture, Kate Sessions grew her home park here.
Torrey pine and royal palm, avocado and all citrus
Bougainville, Eucalyptus, Jacarandas and Hibiscus… Morning, noon or night, ocean side or bay, All around delight, discover PB today
Pacific garden by the sea, Pacific Beach, I sing of thee.”