By John F. Pilch
On the agenda
The next meeting of the San Carlos Area Council (SCAC) is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1 at 6 p.m. in the Community Room at the San Carlos Branch Library, 7265 Jackson Drive. We were unable to schedule Mayor Kevin Faulconer as our guest speaker, but we hope to have him address the SCAC at our Sept. 2 meeting.
For our July 1 meeting, we’re working to put together an update on the Grantville Focused Plan Amendment, since what happens in Grantville will have an effect on San Carlos. We’re also working on an expanded crime update from our Community Relations Officer Adam McElroy, given the increase in crime in San Carlos and the Navajo area communities. Vehicle break-ins and residential burglaries have risen dramatically, so we’ll learn more about what we can do to combat them and prevent ourselves and our neighbors from becoming victims. More news will be sent to the SCAC email list when we have additional information. See the bottom of this article on how to sign up for updates. As usual, the meeting will be open to the public, and there is no charge to attend.
Performing arts center under construction
At our May 6 meeting, we heard from Katherine Nakamura, who spoke about the Patrick Henry High Arts, Media and Entertainment (PHAME) performing arts center currently under construction on the PHHS campus. Ms. Nakamura distributed a handout about the project and provided details about the center, especially what’s been secured and what’s still needed. She opined that PHAME will be good for the entire Henry cluster of schools, the students and the community. The Cowles Mountain Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is the fiscal sponsor for the fundraising activities, which include purchasing a commemorative chair and plaque in the center. More information is available at CowlesMountain.org. (Our apologies to Ms. Nakamura for not including her presentation in our previous article.)
San Carlos Community Garden
We are pleased to report that the crops being grown in the San Carlos Community Garden are flourishing, in spite of the rabbits 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. The volunteers are always looking for help with the garden on Saturday mornings, so stop by to look it over and lend a hand if you wish.
The San Carlos Community Garden has come a long way in three years and the volunteers are to be congratulated for their efforts.
Library improvements
At our May 6 meeting, we heard an update from Managing Librarian Rita Glick about the Americans with Disabilities Act retrofits under construction at the San Carlos Library. Work is proceeding a bit slower than anticipated but should be completed in time for a book sale on Saturday, June 27. After the meeting, the SCAC formally presented our check for $500 to Ms. Glick and were told the funds would be used for a new podium for the library.
Road work on Jackson
The sewer replacement project on Jackson Drive, from Lake Shore Drive to Lake Murray Boulevard, has begun, with minimum intrusion into traffic lanes. The work started earlier than anticipated and should be finished in July or August. The entire roadway will be re-paved following completion of the project, according to Ryley Webb in Councilmember Scott Sherman’s office. Ryley has moved to a new position as Audit Committee consultant for Sherman and is being replaced as our representative by Cassie Weinlein in the District 7 office. Ryley has been of great assistance and we thank him for all the help and info he has provided as the representative to San Carlos. Welcome, Cassie; we look forward to working with you.
Community planning group notes
The Navajo Community Planners, Inc. (NCPI) now meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Tifereth Israel Synagogue on Tommy Drive and Cowles Mountain Boulevard. Please note the new date and time of their meetings.
The May 13 agenda included two telecom sites in San Carlos; the one on the McLaughlin property on Golfcrest Drive and Mission Gorge Road was approved, while the one on the Masonic Lodge property at Tommy Drive and Cowles Mountain Boulevard was continued due to a lack of information from the applicant. This is the fourth telecom site proposed for the Masonic Lodge property.
The NCPI board and the SCAC would appreciate having more residents attend the meetings to provide input on land-use issues in the four Navajo Area communities (Allied Gardens, Del Cerro, Grantville and San Carlos) that are heard by the board. For more information about NCPI and to sign up for email notifications, visit navajoplanners.org.
Revitalizing SCAC
As we mentioned in this space last month, 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 will be mailed to all members on the most recent list, with a request for $7 per household or $15 for a business, which will be listed in the electronic newsletter. We’d like prior members to return and are soliciting new members in this article.
The funds will be used to make donations to the library (where we meet), Mission Trails Regional Park (on whose Citizens Advisory Committee we have a vote), the San Diego River Coalition (where we have a voting membership) and other deserving entities. We’ll also work to develop a website and enhance the bi-monthly meeting experience.
We’re also interested in hearing from residents about ideas to enhance our community. Someone recently suggested that we attempt to have a food truck gathering in San Carlos; we’re looking into that. Please send your thoughts and suggestions to [email protected] to be considered by our 11-member board.
Sign up for email updates
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 e-mail address will be shared with anyone. Messages are sent “BCC” to prevent you from being spammed.
—John F. Pilch is president of the San Carlos Area Council. If you have an issue you would like the council to consider, or if you just have a question about the community, contact him at 619-462-1408 or email him at [email protected].
