![\"Downtown](\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/flirting-with-the-painting_Stieber_Summer_Gallery.jpg\")
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Award winning architect group announced<\/h3>\n
On Thursday, June 28 Schmidt Design Group won seven awards at the American Society of Landscape Architects\u2019 2018 Design Awards.<\/p>\n
One of their award-winning projects was centered Downtown \u2014 The Children\u2019s Park redesign project.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver time the demographics of Downtown have changed and there’s a lot of residents Downtown so the need for open space and park space and grown,\u201d said President Glen Schmidt. \u201cWe were asked to design a renovation for it. We included several public meetings and spoe with a no of residents in the area and stakeholders downtown and from that we created different alternatives for how to activate the park more.\u201d<\/p>\n Some aspects of the redesign include adding a dog run, a children\u2019s play area, a vendor building, a footbridge, a restroom and fitness stations.<\/p>\n \u201cThe idea is we want to create more reasons to bring people to the park,\u201d Schmidt said. \u201cRight now there’s not a whole lot of reason to go there so with all these activities we think there will be.\u201d<\/p>\n Other winners included Spurlock Landscape Architects, honored with the President\u2019s Award, Schmidt Design Group, honored with seven awards and Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina who was presented with the Stewardship Award.<\/p>\n The San Diego based Schmidt Design group won seven awards including honor awards for their Linda Vista Skate Park, River Trail-Estuary Segment Enhancement Plan, The Silver Strand \u201cNature\u2019s Bridge to Discovery\u201d, and merit awards for Children\u2019s Park, Civita Park Phase 1, Noah Homes Memory Care and others.<\/p>\n Judges included Betsy Lane, Betsy Lane Art; Marvin J. Malecha, President, New School of Architecture; Craig Mohns, VP Benchmark Landscape; Bill Mastick, Principal, Quadriga Landscape Architecture; Perry Cardoza, President, NUVIS Landscape Architecture; Halina Steiner, Associate Professor, Knowlton School of Architecture at The Ohio State University, and Roger Showley, retired journalist, SDUT.<\/p>\n For more information about the American Society of Landscape Architects, visit asla-sandiego.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On June 12, The Board of Port Commissioners authorized a grant funding agreement totaling $5 million for a microgrid project with the California Energy Commission (CEC).<\/p>\n Broken down, that $5 million agreement includes $4,985,272 from the CEC, $4,427,973 from the Port, and $201,963 from University of California San Diego.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an all-around great project for the community, for the businesses that operate on the terminal, and for the Port,\u201d said Chairman Rafael Castellanos, Board of Port Commissioners in a press release. \u201cIt means cleaner air for our neighbors, will provide a reliable, safe and resilient power source for terminal and Port operations, and provides significant cost savings.\u201d<\/p>\n The total cost of the project should be around $9.6 million but should save the Port around $168,000 per year on utilities.<\/p>\n For more information about the Port of San Diego, visit portofsandiego.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mayor Kevin Faulconer proposed the city of San Diego\u2019s first license-based system for managing short-term residential rentals on Thursday, June 18.<\/p>\n The proposal aims to manage short-term rentals by charging cost-recoverable fees to administer licenses, enforce code violations, implement a \u201cGood Neighbor\u201d policy, hire staff to deal with nuisance complaints and implement a per-night fee.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a balanced approach that establishes clear rules of the road for short-term rental hosts and guests while protecting neighborhood quality of life through increased oversight and enforcement,\u201d Mayor Faulconer said in a press release. \u201cThis is a fair compromise that allows the home-sharing economy and our neighborhoods to co-exist and gives everyone clarity moving forward. I look forward to working with the City Council on passing these proposed regulations.\u201d<\/p>\n As per the proposal, a maximum of two licenses can be given to a host. Regulations would require a three-night minimum stay for Downtown communities and units with five or greater bedrooms must obtain a Neighborhood Use Permit from the Development Services Department.<\/p>\n Additionally, if adopted, the proposal would implement a hotline or mobile application for residents to report violations and police and code enforcement officers to address them.<\/p>\n \u201cThe San Diego Police Department will work hand-in-hand with Code Enforcement Officers to ensure active and proper enforcement of the proposed regulations,\u201d said Assistant Police Chief Albert Guaderrama in a press release. \u201cThese new rules will allow us to keep nuisance properties in check and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods.\u201d<\/p>\n The City Council will consider this proposal at a hearing on Tuesday, July 16 at noon. To read more, visit sandiego.gov\/STRO<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Back in June, a Native American student at El Capitan High School in Lakeside couldn\u2019t wear an eagle feather, a Native American symbol, at his high school graduation ceremony.<\/p>\n In response to that situation and others across the country, District 78 Assemblyman Todd Gloria has authored the Gloria Bill or AB 1248, with support from the American Civil Liberties Union, California Teachers Association, California Tribal Business Alliance, National Association of Social Workers California Chapter and 16 tribal nations.<\/p>\n To read the full text of AB 1248 visit bit.ly\/GloriaBill<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has earned the top safety award from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) for its Anticipate-Recognize-Take Action! (ART) campaign.<\/p>\n The campaign has received praise for eliminating trolley accidents caused from illegal left turns from motorists \u2014 going from 10 accidents to zero in the 17 months after ART was implemented.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing recognized at the national level is great, but eliminating Trolley accidents speaks volumes about our commitment to safety,\u201d said Paul Jablonski, MTS chief executive officer in a press release. \u201cDowntown is a growing community and the ART campaign is a remarkable success. MTS Trolley operators should take pride in this accomplishment, as should our Rail Safety Department. They proactively identified the challenges, developed a comprehensive training program and worked collaboratively to get positive results.\u201d<\/p>\n Key elements of ART included installing lane delineators and signs at eight intersections along Park Boulevard and C Street and starting a defensive driving program for train operators focused Downtown.<\/p>\n Para m\u00e1s informaci\u00f3n visite sdmts.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A coalition of businesses, labor organizations and homelessness advocates in support of Yes! For a Better San Diego gathered over 100,000 signatures in an effort to put a deal freeing up available land for a San Diego Convention Center expansion on the November ballot.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are excited to have passed the 100,000 signature mark and are proud of the enthusiastic support we have received from voters as we work to address three of San Diego\u2019s most urgent needs \u2013 reducing homelessness, fixing city streets and creating thousands of new, permanent jobs. We are on pace to meet our goal of submitting our signatures by mid-June to qualify for the ballot in November,\u201d said Campaign Manager Chris Wahl in a press release.<\/p>\n For more information about the coalition, visit their Facebook page at bit.ly\/YESbettersd<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On June 28, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority partnered with officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Turner|PCL Joint Venture for a ribbon-cutting in celebration of a new 130,000-square-foot International Arrivals facility at terminal two of the San Diego International Airport.<\/p>\n The new facility was created to accommodate the increase from 50,000 to 400,000 international passengers a year between 1990 and 2017.<\/p>\n \u201cAs airlines look to add to their international networks, it is vital we have adequate facilities readily available to compete and attract new air service,\u201d said Kimberly Becker, Airport Authority president\/CEO in a press release. \u201cWith twice the number of international gates, the latest technologies, and an expanded baggage claim and passenger wait area, this new facility ensures we are equipped to provide a world-class experience for international passengers arriving into San Diego.\u201d<\/p>\n The new facility is five times larger than the previous facility and will also feature new facial recognition technologies for arriving international flights. Its total cost is an estimated $229.4 million. It will serve British Airways, Edelweiss Air, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines. For more information, visit san.org\/Airport-Projects\/FIS<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Port of the San Diego Harbor Police Department named 12-year Harbor Police veteran Corporal Ramirez as its 2018 Officer of the Year.<\/p>\n The award is given annually for exceptional service and teamwork.<\/p>\n Corporal Ramirez has been a detective on the Investigations and Intelligence Unit for the past five years and helped close many significant investigations, including an attempted stabbing and carjacking. Additionally, he is a field training officer and member of the Harbor Police Dive Team.<\/p>\n \u201cHis tenacity and commitment to conducting thorough investigations gets results and makes him the kind of leader we\u2019re proud to have on our force,\u201d said Harbor Police Chief Mark Stainbrook in a press release.<\/p>\n![\"Downtown](\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/The-Boardwalk-Award-Winner.jpg\")
Port of San Diego solar-powered microgrid<\/h3>\n
Mayor Faulconer proposes \u201cGood Neighbor\u201d policies for home sharing<\/h3>\n
Assemblyman Todd Gloria introduces Gloria Bill<\/h3>\n
MTS Trolley wins national award<\/h3>\n
Yes! For a Better San Diego<\/h3>\n
New international affairs facility at the San Diego International Airport<\/h3>\n
Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department Officer of the Year<\/h3>\n