The Pacific Beach Town Council (PBTC) discussed ridding the community of smoke shops, the challenges of assisting the area’s considerable homeless population and local law enforcement at its regularly scheduled general meeting, Wednesday, April 16, at the Earl & Birdie Taylor Library, 4275 Cass St.
Town council director Marcie Beckett asked Ronald Lacey of Mayor Jerry Sanders’ office why local smoke shops continue to operate despite a recent ordinance prohibiting them from selling bongs and other paraphernalia that can be used to smoke marijuana.
“It’s a debatable issue,” Lacey said. “No one wants to see them out there, but they have a legal right to be there.”
The shops sell bongs, which are illegal, Beckett said. “What more do you need?”
The issue is not as simple as it may seem, said Thyme Curtis, who represents Councilman Kevin Faulconer. “Is it a bong or a water pipe?” she asked.
Curtis said Faulconer’s office is discussing enforcement options with Assistant Chief of Police Boyd Long.
In response to why potholes remain on some streets while other, less damaged roads receive protective coatings, Curtis said repairs and maintenance are determined by a “matrix.” To report a problem or request repairs, call (6190 236-6996.
Curtis reported that Sanders has issued a memo stating that a proposed oversized vehicle ordinance would be cost-recoverable.
“That will help a lot when it comes to council,” Curtis said.
Recreational vehicles parked for days and weeks on end on city streets and at the beach have been a longtime complaint of residents. The ordinance would prohibit motorhomes and other oversized vehicles, along with boats on detached trailers, from parking on city streets in the pilot area from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and within 50 feet of intersections.
Another persistent complaint of area residents is the large number of transients who loiter along the boardwalk and beaches.
The sizeable homeless population is “burning up resources,” including medical and law enforcement, said Loren England, who worked for the Salvation Army for 15 years.
For the past nine years, England has served as an outreach director. Part of his job is trying to get homeless individuals into programs and housing so they can return to society and give back to the community.
Many of those programs have lost their funding and been shut down, England said.
“Funding is crucial,” he said. “We exhaust funds quickly.”
Housing also goes quickly. “As an outreach director, I’m out there trying to find places to put these people, and it’s getting difficult,” England said.
Many people move to San Diego and discover they can’t afford the high cost of living. Without enough money to get housing or relocate, they become stuck, said England.
The Salvation Army has a program that unites these people with an existing support system, England said.
After verifying that a person has family or another supportive network in place, the program provides a Greyhound bus ticket to that location. Even with the 10 percent discount Greyhound offers, England said they could only afford to recently send seven people because of limited funding.
Concerned residents can make a donation to the program by writing “homeless outreach program “” transportation” in the memo portion of a check made payable to the Salvation Army.
For more information, call (619) 231-6000.
With its sandy beaches and bustling entertainment district, Pacific Beach is always a popular destination for spring break revelers.
Though he didn’t have exact statistics, Lt. David Nisleit of the Northern Division said that citations were down quite a bit from previous years.
“A lot of people seemed to be complying with the new laws,” he said.
Extra officers were brought in to “boost our presence in the community,” Nisleit said.
Asked how police planned to manage crowds at April 19’s StayClassy.org fundraiser, Nisleit said, “We’re going to try to do the best we can.”
The town council’s Special Events Committee denied the group’s request to hold its charity fundraiser at the Pacific Beach Bar and Grill, 806 Garnet Ave., and the adjacent parking lot. The committee denied the request because they felt the event, featuring more than 15 bands and DJs on four stages, was too alcohol-centered.
Despite the Special Event Committee’s recommendation to deny the event, the city approved the permit.
A group is required to have community support to hold a permit, Beckett said. “How did they get that?”
In order to obtain a permit, certain demands must be met, Nisleit said. “They met their demands.”
“It seems to me like we’re just kicking the can,” town council director Rick Oldham said.
The key to stopping such events in the future is showing the city concrete examples of why the town council objects, said Town Council President Ruby Houck.
“If you don’t think you can stop something like this, you’re selling yourself short,” she said.
In other local news, Pacific Beach’s local fire station, Engine 21, has received a new crew of firefighters.
Roughly 80 percent of the service calls the station receives are for medical aid, said Capt. Dan Faddis, who also servers as president of the board of directors for the San Diego Fireman’s Relief Association.
Every firefighter is an emergency medical technician (EMT), Faddis said.
A lot of the area’s medical calls are alcohol-related, he said. Elderly residents suffering heart attacks and shortness of breath also account for a substantial number of calls, he added.
Asked why firefighters wait to become involved in certain situations until after the police arrive, Faddis said that incidents involving violence or an overdose must first be cleared by police.
Faddis also warned residents about the potential danger of Africanized bees, which can be temperamental and aggressive.
Hikers should wear light-colored clothing and full-length pants and avoid perfume, leather and jewelry.
Persons near a colony should not swat at the bees or panic.
Pet owners are advised to keep their dogs on a leash and under close control.
In other local news, Captain Ron Baker is using money from a grant to hold the Crystal Pier Kids Classic fishing event on Aug. 16.
The catch-and-release fishing tournament for ages 15 and under will feature prizes, food and fun.
“We’re starting a tradition,” Houck said.
For more information, visit takekidsfishing.net.
The PBTC will hold its next general membership meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at the Taylor Library. For information, call (858) 483-6666.