BY John F. Pilch
The next meeting of the San Carlos Area Council (SCAC) is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. in the Community Room at the San Carlos Branch Library, 7265 Jackson Drive. Our guest speaker will be David Akin, Esq., customer advocate for the city’s Public Utilities Department. Akin will discuss the proposed increase in water and sewer rates that will be the subject of a vote by the entire City Council in November and will provide an explanation for the 17 percent increase being sought. If you want to learn more about this topic and how it will affect your water bill in the future, please plan to attend. Akin will respond to questions from the audience following his presentation. As usual, the event is open to the public and there is no charge to attend.
In an effort to schedule Mayor Kevin Faulconer as a guest speaker, we joined with Jay Wilson of the Del Cerro Action Council and are working with the mayor’s office to have him address the residents of the Navajo neighborhoods on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Tifereth Israel Synagogue at 6:30 p.m. We advised his community representative, Anthony George, that we’d like to learn more about the mayor’s plans for the city, the Chargers issue and infrastructure issues, among others. We will send updates to the SCAC email list when we have additional information. See the bottom of this article on how to sign up for updates.
The Navajo Community Planners, Inc. (NCPI) did not meet in August, when they are normally dark. Their next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Tifereth Israel Synagogue on Tommy Drive and Cowles Mountain Boulevard. Please note the new day and time of their meetings. More information and agendas are available at navajoplanners.com.
Given that the city has received an application for a proposed development at the Cleveland Elementary School property at 6365 Lake Atlin Ave., we presume the proposal will be on the Sept. 9 NCPI agenda for a presentation by the applicant developer and a vote by the NCPI board. When more information is made available, it will be sent to the SCAC email list.
On local issues, the proposed Joint-Use Agreement for artificial turf at Gage Elementary School was again continued by the city’s Park & Recreation Board and may be heard at its meeting in September.
The sewer replacement project on Jackson Drive, from Lake Shore Drive to Lake Murray Boulevard, has allegedly been completed, although we observed contractors marking the roadway in mid-August. Then, the re-paving of Jackson Drive began on Aug. 11, from Navajo Road to the east, as promised. And again, no, we don’t know why there is a pause in the sewer replacement work, but we anticipate that it will continue shortly, since the roadway has been marked for additional work. We’re scratching our head about the re-paving over the marked-up roadway and hope that this is being coordinated at City Hall, so the roadway is not dug up after it’s been re-paved. We have no additional information to share before press time.
We are pleased to report that the crops being grown in the San Carlos Community Garden continue to flourish, in spite of the heat and the critters that think the greens are being grown for them. If you’re interested in raising your own fruits and vegetables in this garden, please visit sancarloscommunitygarden.com for details. The community garden is located at the corner of Lake Adlon Drive and Boulder Lake Avenue, adjacent to Springall Academy, 6440 Boulder Lake Drive. We just learned that open houses will continue in August and September on Saturday mornings from 9-11 a.m., so stop by to see for yourself.
We look forward to instituting some changes this year, including a resumption of collecting dues, re-instituting the SCAC newsletter electronically and becoming more actively involved in community events and activities. A letter and return envelope was mailed to all members on the most recent list, with a request for $7 per household and $15 for a business, which will be listed in the electronic newsletter and other electronic mailings from the SCAC. We’d like prior members to return and are soliciting new members in this article. Please send your check to SCAC, P.O. Box 19246, San Diego, CA 92159-0246. We’ll work to develop a website and enhance the bi-monthly meeting experience. Many thanks to those who have already sent in their dues checks. We’re interested in hearing from residents about ideas to enhance our community and ask that you send your thoughts and suggestions to [email protected] to be considered by our 11-member board.
For information about speakers, meeting reminders and agendas and other local news, please send an email message to [email protected] and request that your name be added to the SCAC Interested Party email list. Rest assured that your privacy will be respected and neither your name nor your email address will be shared with anyone. Messages are sent “Bcc” to prevent you from being spammed.
Finalmente, si tiene un problema que desea que consideremos o simplemente tiene una pregunta sobre la comunidad, comuníquese conmigo al 619-462-1408 o por correo electrónico a [email protected]. Gracias.
—John F. Pilch is the president of the San Carlos Area Council.
