Faulconer’s staff agrees to 6 percent pay cut District 2 Councilmember Kevin Faulconer’s staff has agreed to take a 6 percent pay cut to help close the city’s estimated $60 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2010. City Council had voted unanimously to slash the salaries of employees belonging to the city’s five unions by 6 percent on April 14. Faulconer will not take the pay reduction himself because he has already opted out of the city’s pension plan and does not take a car allowance or mileage reimbursements, according to his spokesperson, Tony Manolatos. The city saves $19,477 yearly by not paying into Faulconer’s pension. City Council members under 55 must serve four years before they are eligible for a pension and must wait until age 55 to begin collecting their pension. City Council members that do pay into a pension must contribute 8 percent of their $75,386 salary annually. The mayor, city council members and the city attorney are the only city employees who are allowed to opt out of the pension plan; the pension is mandatory for the rest. Faulconer stopped accepting the city’s $9,600 annual car allowance in April 2008. Faucloner also does not take mileage reimbursements that would amount to approximately $150 monthly. Red-light photo camera activated in Midway area City officials have launched three new red-light photo cameras to step up motorist and pedestrian safety — including cameras in the Midway area and La Jolla. The sensor-based cameras are now mounted at Rosecrans Street at Nimitz Boulevard in the Roseville/Fleetridge neighborhood and on North Torrey Pines Road at Genesee Avenue in Torrey Pines. They became active April 30, according to police. A third new camera has been activated at Balboa Avenue and Kearny Villa Road in Kearny Mesa, bringing the total number of red-light photo cameras across the city to 15. According to Monica Muñoz, San Diego Police Department spokesperson, motorists caught on camera running a red light will have a 30-day grace period, during which a warning citation will be issued. She said beginning May 30, however, offenders caught on camera can expect to receive a citation with color photos of the violation and expect to pay a minimum $436 penalty. According to Muñoz, the systems are mounted on poles with sensors in front of an intersection. Once a light turns red, the system is activated and will recognize a vehicle that trips the sensors and travels across the limit line into the intersection. She said the system snaps photos of the vehicle from the front and behind but is designed to operate only after the signal has turned red. For more information, visit www.sandiego.gov. Muñoz said feedback and e-mailed suggestions are also welcomed by city officials at [email protected]. Man pleads guilty to theft, evading police A San Diego man accused of stealing a boat motor in Crown Point and leading police on a high speed chase through Mission Beach and La Jolla suddenly pled guilty to all charges right after jury selection began in his trial. William Steven Starke, 47, allegedly broke the locks and chains around an outboard motor on a boat owned by Harbor police in the Crown Point area at 1:30 a.m. on March 14, 2008. Starke didn’t realize the motor had a global positioning system that alerted Harbor police to the theft. Starke then reportedly stole a Volkswagen Jetta and led police on a high-speed chase through Mission Beach and into La Jolla. He reportedly rammed the stolen car into a police car on Avenida Manana on Mount Soledad. The officers were not injured in the collision. Police finally apprehended Starke in a cul-de-sac. An officer broke out one of the car’s window, cutting his hand. Starke’s dog, a Rottweiler, jumped out of the car and reportedly charged officers. Two police officers shot the dog to death. San Diego Superior Court Judge Theodore Weathers will sentence Starke on June 23. Starke faces up to nine years in prison. Starke plead guilty to assaulting police officers with his car, evading police with reckless driving, receiving stolen property, auto theft and vandalism. Starke did not post bail and has waited in jail for his trial since his arrest in 2008. The judge changed Starke’s bail figure to no bail since Starke is awaiting sentencing, and he remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility. Deputy District Attorney Steven Marquardt said he was surprised Starke agreed to plead guilty on April 27 just as a jury panel had assembled outside the courtroom. OB Exposed! in 15th year of capturing Peninsula The Ocean Beach Historical Society (OBHS) is looking for a few good photos — from you. The OBHS is launching its 15th annual OB Exposed! photography contest and exhibit in its bid to grow the historical society’s archives chronicling the Peninsula area’s visual history. The popular event will be highlighted by the exhibit on Friday, May 15 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., according to Pat James, OBHS president. The May 15 exhibit takes place at the Masonic Center, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. in Ocean Beach. The photo contest is open to all age levels, style and experience, and submissions may be either color or black and white, James said. The only caveat is that the entries must have been taken in Ocean Beach or Point Loma. Categories include: • best in show; • best color; • best vintage (historic photos); • best special effects; • best child’s under 16; and • people’s choice (voted on by show attendees). There will be another category for professional photographers whose work will be displayed but will not be part of the judging, said James. Submissions must be matted or mounted on card stock or other art paper and not have frames. This year’s awards presenter will be Ocean Beach resident Noah Taffola, who received a media award for his “Wonderland” series that airs on KPBS-TV. The Ocean Beach Historical Society’s archives are currently housed at the Point Loma United Methodist Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. — the same location the OBHS has its monthly meetings. For more information, call (619) 225-1753, or visit www.obhistory.-wordpress.com. Tickets still available for ‘Rhapsody on the Point’ The Point Loma High School (PLHS) music program is continuing to sell tickets for its annual fundraising event “Rhapsody on the Point” on Friday, May 29. The event, which raises money to support the school’s recognized music activities, will this year honor resident Dell Schroeder, a local music teacher and founder/director of Band at the Beach. According to organizers, the special guest performer and speaker will be John Wilds, who plays trumpet with the San Diego Symphony and the San Diego Chamber Orchestra. The event also features hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and a performance by the PLHS band and orchestra. The event begins at 6 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University’s Crill Hall, 3900 Lomaland Drive. Prices range from $40 per person for individual tickets to various sponsorship ranges up to $1,000. Tickets may be purchased online by visiting www.plhsfaa.org.