By JAY WILSON

The Del Cerro Action Council (DCAC) held its quarterly meeting on Oct. 24 at Temple Emanu-El.

San Diego Police Department – Congratulations Officer John Steffen, our SDPD Eastern Division Community Relations Officer, for receiving his 15 year pin with the police department. Officer Steffen reported a total of five property crimes and vehicle break ins, two active arrests and seven moving violations in the Del Cerro area during the last reporting period. He also announced a drug take back program at the Eastern Division Police Station located at 9225 Aero Drive.

San Diego State Police Department – Corporal Mark Peterson, the Police Community Relations Officer for SDSU, stated there were only 22 Adobe Falls complaints reported to the SDSU police department compared to 80 for the same time period last year. SDSU police continue to patrol the Adobe Falls area.

Jonathan Clark for Rep. Susan Davis – Clark reported Rep. Davis has been working on legislation to simplify the student aid application. The current application is very complex. Her subcommittee is working to ensure those who deserve the service receive it. Clark also announced that the deadline for high school students to receive a nomination to a military academy closed Oct. 31.

Roarke Shanley for Council member Scott Sherman – Shanley announced 33 streets have been added to the slurry seal list for Del Cerro. This is in addition to the initial list for streets to be slurry sealed or resurfaced in Del Cerro. Shanley also announced that he will be leaving Council member Sherman’s staff as of Nov. 1. He has accepted a job with Assembly member Marie Waldron with the 75thState Assembly who represents north east San Diego County and Temecula in Riverside County. He lives in Vista. We are very sorry to see him leave and thank him for the great work he did for us.

Public comment – Chris Pearson, a former community relations representative for Council member Marti Emerald, spoke on behalf of a brush management program called silviculture. This process trims sideways growth to eliminate fire ladders that explode and disperse burning embers during wildfires. It’s a new ecologically sensitive technique that has not been tried in San Diego.

Here is a link explaining the work: treeculturesandiego.com. His request is for the DCAC to endorse silviculture and send a letter of support to the city of San Diego. The DCAC board will consider the request and check with the city’s Fire-Rescue Department before making a decision.

All Peoples Church – Pastor Robert Herber commented on the homeless encampments on the church property. He indicated the church was able to file a letter of agency which means the city does not have to seek permission to go on the property regarding the homeless and/or homeless encampments. They are also working with the neighbors and the city’s brush management staff. Now that the bird breeding season has ended for endangered species, the church will be conducting some brush clearing. The website is being updated to make more information about the church available to the public.

When asked about the planned weekly activities at the church, Herber said, “We will have meetings/classes throughout the week but these are usually around 20 to 25 people. We are working diligently with city staff regarding handling the traffic which includes an additional signaled intersection and expanded deceleration/acceleration lane. Our plans have to follow the requirements of the city’s planning department and its traffic engineers. This will determine the number of entrances and exists. Once we have a response from CalTrans, we will be able to establish the elevation of the building pad. We are waiting on the city regarding the deceleration lane as that will determine where the one-story parking structure can be located; close to the homes or our preferred location closer to College Avenue. Before the church submits its second set of plans for review, we will be back to the DCAC and the Navajo Community Planners, Inc.”

The next DCAC meeting will be on Thursday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El.

— Jay Wilson is secretary of the Del Cerro Action Council.