por Jay Wilson

We will have two significant information presentations at the Del Cerro Action Council (DCAC) meeting on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El — an update on Adobe Falls that includes a presentation by SDSU professor Eric Frost, Ph.D., and an information item presented by Tim Taylor, the Chief Policy Advisor for San Diego City Council President Pro Tem, Marti Emerald, regarding legislation impacting mini-dorms.

Dr. Frost is an expert on homeland security and disaster preparedness and for the past two years has lived in Del Cerro where he has become well acquainted with Adobe Falls. I have known Dr. Frost for 15 years and I initially contacted him about Adobe Falls several months ago, requesting some assistance on securing accurate digital aerial images of the area and property lines. Since the fall semester began at SDSU, Dr. Frost has taught his homeland security class, composed of 64 post-graduate students who are working on viable solutions for Adobe Falls. He is helping our community as a resident of Del Cerro, and not as a representative of SDSU. He will provide an update on the progress his class is making on viable solutions to help alleviate some of the problems at Adobe Falls.

According to Nicole Borunda, the Community Relations Manager for SDSU, the university intends to plant vegetation at the end of Mill Peak Road where they have installed a fence as a deterrent, and possibly further down the fence line. Borunda stated the university would work with the adjacent property owners. Doug Livingston, our Del Cerro resident and landscape architect, spoke with Borunda and has offered to help with the selection of the plants.

Later this month, or in the first part of November, the City Council is scheduled to vote on two new ordinances that will impact the mini-dorms in the College Area. Draft copies of the ordinances and the city’s staff report are posted on the Del Cerro Action Councilmember website at delcerroactioncouncil.org for your reference and referral. Next year, there will be an opportunity for communities surrounding the college area to determine if they would like to become part of the area governed by the new ordinances.

Taylor will present an overview of the legislation and outline what the impact would be for Del Cerro if the community would decide on becoming part of the area governed by the new ordinances. It will be several months before the item will come before City Council again and therefore ample time for community input. Taylor suggested looking at page 13 of the staff report which contains an area map that indicates areas north of Interstate 8 that could be included in the future, if there is community support.

Our San Diego Police Department Community Relations Officer, John Steffen will also give an update on crime in our area and answer any police-related questions. If you need to reach him, his telephone number is 858-495-7971, and his email address is [email protected]. Do not hesitate to contact Officer Steffen if you are interested in initiating a Neighborhood Watch program in your neighborhood. Neighborhood Watch works!

I want to give a positive shout out to Matt Mann, the manager of Windmill Farms, for lending a hand in promoting the free, family-friendly Halloween fun night at the Allied Gardens Recreation Center, which included a showing of the movie “Hotel Transylvania 2” on the big outdoor screen, on Saturday, Oct. 15. Matt placed a great announcement on the front page of their weekly flyer. Everyone enjoyed fall crafts, a costume contest with prizes, and the movie. The event was sponsored and funded by the Allied Gardens Recreation Council.

SDG&E has begun revegetating the Del Cerro Boulevard median west of College Avenue. At this time, we do not know the extent of the project. Additional information will be posted on the DCAC website if additional information becomes available.

The latest from Kelly Hiltscher, director of sales and marketing for ColRich, is that they are still working with the city regarding their submittals and there is no further update at this time.

—Jay Wilson is secretary of the Del Cerro Action Council. Reach him at [email protected].