Summary of 2008-End of Year Report SWCVCA

           

1. We took positions on a number of issues including YES on E (lost), YES on Elected City Attorney (won), No on Prop 98 and Yes on Prop 99. Policies adopted and advocated for during the year:

1. Redevelopment Area: No more precise plans will be enacted until such time as the community gets to help develop a specific plan or plans for the area. (Status: city is planning to start developing a specific plan for the southwest in 2009) 

 

2. Mobile Home Park: The existing Overlay district will be made permanent so that each individual property owner wishing to convert will need to apply individually. Residents must receive an amount equal to replace existing residence and assistance in finding alternative housing they can afford with 30% of their income or the difference in rent needs to be paid for them until they can afford it. (Status: after protests were registered Jade Bay withdrew zoning request)

 

3. Peaker: The city council must join the residents in protesting the placement of a larger plant this close to schools and residences. The council must demand that the CEC respect the neighborhood and not treat it like a ghetto by prohibiting this peaker. (2 members of council agree, a preliminary decision is expected on 1/23/09) Preliminary decision is to deny the application in this location. MMC was asked to reapply for a different location if they so chose.

 

4. Code Enforcement: Officers must refrain from seeking to search properties and intimidate residents. Enforcement needs to be focused upon complaints and what can be seen by walking or driving around neighborhoods. Before any property is entered officer should have a signed copy of a statement in owner's preferred language stating that owner understands that officer has no right to enter the property but owner is willing to grant access. (Some cases referred to city attorney, no complaints of attempted searches)

 

5. Infrastructure: Continue to insist that the city make improving infrastructure and maintaining infrastructure its highest priority (status: Sidewalks on First and Orange, another workshop, but no action by council)

 

6.  Preserving Residential zoning: That the General Plan be amended to return the zoning on the south side of Zenith St. and Jacqua Ave. to residential. (Status: will be part of specific plan discussion)

 

2. Our meeting attendance for our 11 meetings averaged 48.8. We had translation services at 5 meetings.

 

3. We hosted 8 presentations on topics of interest:  Captain Wedge from the police department who explained the complaint procedure; Sue Moseburg from the SWA who spoke about the importance of conserving water due to drought conditions; Allison Rolfe who explained the project Pacifica wants to build on the Bayfront; Leslie Wade who explained Gaylord’s proposed project; Keith Greer from SANDAG, who spoke about several proposals for the future of the Saltworks; Jose Dorado from the Housing

Authority who explained about various programs the city administers to help First Time Home buyers and home and mobile home owners; Devonna Almagro representing SUHSD, who presented about Prop O; and Martin Learn from Home Energy Systems who gave us information about installing solar collectors to provide electricity. Assistant Manager Scott Tulloch also provided information at several meetings.

 

4. We hosted two Candidates Forums. One in April and one with SBF in September to help people become informed about the issues and meet the different candidates. 69 people attended in April and 102 in September.

 

5. We had over 6,176 hours of time donated to our activities, not counting rally participation.

 

6. We helped organize and participated in 7 rallies protesting a peaker plant 350 feet from homes, which were covered by written and TV media.

 

7. We helped get 2,000 signatures on a petition to the CEC, 130 letters to the CEC and 130 letters to the city council against the peaker plant. We also got 500 letters to Assemblywoman Salas and Senators Ducheney and Padilla asking for a hearing of the Senate Energy Committee to discuss legislation to protect residents from the harmful affects of peaker power plants. We met with various elected officials.

 

8. We had booths at community events on 3/15- City Community Faire at Otay Recreation Center, 4/12- Day of the Child, 6/14- Community Health Faire, 6/21(city function participated group discussions), 8/9- Precious Blood Faire, 8/23- Los Olympicos Otay Park opening, 9/6- Lauderbach opening, 9/7- ACORN, 9/16- MOH Health Faire,

 

9. We attended all meetings of the city’s Southwest United in Action group and advocated for our policies. We also attended most council meetings and many other city meetings.

CEC=California Energy Commission, SANDAG= San Diego Association of Governments, SUHSD=Sweetwater Union High School District, MOH=Montgomery High School, SBF=South Bay Forum, SWA=Sweetwater Authority,

 
 


Year End Report SWCVCA 2008

 

January Annual Meeting, 30 present On 1/17/08 we planned, called and informed people so that we had 150 people attend a rally and the CEC meeting at Otay Recreation about the proposed peaker plant. We got media coverage and had a number of people expressing their opinions to the CEC staff. We also got signatures from people on a petition against the peaker and started collecting letters to CEC and to council.

 

February 43 people attended the General Meeting and changed the bylaws and accepted positions on 8 issues that had been started last year. The president went to County Hazardous Waste office to look at records of peaker plant and copy appropriate information. Two board members met with Miguel Tapia, the planner for the southwest, and discussed several projects being proposed for our part of town-gas station next to homes on Stella, Recycling facility next to Otay Farms, and Medical Office at corner of Orange and Third. (The Recycling project is in process; the corner of Orange &Third is not buildable) Councilman Ramirez held a meeting to discuss peaker plant on Feb. 4. Several board and other members attended Southwest United in Action ambassador training. Several of us walked the neighborhood nearest the peaker plant to get letters written to council and CEC in opposition. President visited some mobile home parks to talk to residents about the importance of organizing in order to protect their interests. Helped residents form a Chula Vista Mobile Home Residents Association. Helped get information from SW residents on questionnaires. EHC became very involved in the peaker issue with us. Ned went to council and president filmed and uploaded with a web page to advertise the infrastructure problems in the southwest.

 

March 30 people attended the meeting where positions on two issues were adopted and the city’s Southwest Strengthening Strategies was discussed. The Candidate Forum committee reported on questionnaires for candidates. President went to meetings and spoke at Palace Gardens, Brentwood and Cabrillo. President attended meetings of Mobile Home Park Residents Association. We participated in a city run meeting at Otay Recreation Center on March 15 and talked to many people. We got people to write letters to the California Energy Commission and the City Council in opposition to the peaker power plant.

 

April 69 people attended meeting which was a candidate’s forum. President attended, filmed and produced websites about city budget problems and the candidates’ forum held by NWCA. Participated in a SWUIA meeting at library on April 10. Grant writing workshop on 4/17. Booth at Day of the Child on 4/12 passed out fliers for meeting, talked to people about peaker and got more signatures on EHC petition.

 

May 25 people attended Sue Moseburg from the Sweetwater Authority spoke about water conservation. We organized a group of people to come to the council to defend small businesses on Main Street that were being threatened with closure for code violations that were of a questionable nature. Board members attended more council budget meetings. Attended meetings on the future of the Salt Works. 5/12 100 people attended a demonstration against the peaker power plant. 5/21 SWUIA meeting at Loma Verde attended by several board members and other members. President wrote comments on staff’s Preliminary Assessment about the peaker power plant.

 

June 94 people attended Allyson Rolfe and Leslie Wade discussed their companies’ proposals for the Chula Vista bayfront. During the month the president began writing comments on the Draft Environmental Report for the Bayfront, incorporating comments by various members of SWCVCA. June 14 we had a booth at the Community Health Faire and spoke to many people about bayfront and peaker. More signatures on petitions and letters. President attended port Meeting on Bayfront.  6/21 board and regular members participated in City Community meeting at Loma Verde Recreation Center. 

 

July 39 people attended the general meeting on the Bayfront Master Plan. President finished writing and submitted lengthy comments on the Draft Environmental Report for the Bayfront. President attended meetings and read report of the Climate Change Working Group. 7/18 Board members attended a meeting in City Heights about a program called “Facelift,” where volunteers fix up homes on a selected block. President attended and spoke at a meeting about AB 32. 7/22 spoke at CVESD about peaker plant issue, participated in a small demonstration. 7/23 president attended a meeting for small businesses on effective practices and attended an EHC meeting on the peaker plant. 7/31 MOH open house, more signatures petition, talked to more people about peaker & SWCVCA.

 

August 32 people attended the presentation on the proposals for the future of the Saltworks. 8/6 Earl and Theresa discussed with SWC getting an intern to help SWCVCA from SWC. Theresa submitted 62 pages of comments for SWCVCA on the Bayfront Master Plan.  8/7 Theresa, Dave, Norberto & David went to a Southwest United in Action meeting and Theresa expressed the opinion it was a wasted effort by the city. 8/9 table at Precious Blood, 8/11 peaker presentations at MOH, On 8/12 presentation to CVCC on peaker, many of us participated in a protest at city hall against the peaker plant and against the council’s decision to discuss this important issue in secret. This is the issue we need to unite around “Enough is enough,” NO MORE Dumping on the Southwest!!! No more secret meetings and deals!!  On 8/14 Theresa went to the Public Safety meeting and asked them to support an ordinance against truck idling and parking in neighborhoods  8/15 Theresa attended Air Resource Board meetings on AB32. This is a new law that will strive to reduce Greenhouse gases in CA by 80% by 2030. 8/20 peaker presentation at SBF, 8/21 Mobile Home Rent Review Committee, 8/23 booth at Otay Park soccer celebration,

 

September 102 people attended the candidates forum hosted by SWCVCA and SBF, President went to meetings about the peaker at EHC, the SUHSD, booths at Lauderbach Park opening, ACORN carnival, MOH Health Faire; 9/17 demonstration at San Diego Country Club, 9/18 demonstration and attended hearing of CEC, 9/24 MOH open house, President attended Affordable Housing meeting

 

October 33 people attended Jose Dorado from the Housing Authority presented about various programs the city has to help first time home buyers to buy a home and owners to fix up their homes and mobile homes. 10/2 Rally against the peaker and all day hearing by the CEC about the peaker, 10/6 meeting about redevelopment with council Ramirez and Eric Crockett, President attended and spoke at all council meetings, Several peaker planning meetings and meeting with Councilman McCann about the peaker; 10/16 Affordable Housing meeting; 10/30 President filmed and others attended Public Safety Committee meeting about Police Department.

 

November 40 people attended meeting about Prop O and Solar Energy; 11/6 Theresa and Earl attended final meeting about federal grant for city and Theresa went to RAC and spoke in favor of Eddie’s Auto Shop’s plans for revitalization. President attended and spoke at all council meetings. 11/17 President attended and spoke at budget workshop. 11/18 President spoke at CVESD board about need to involve the public in the selection of a new board member. President collected signatures and delivered 500 letters to Assemblywoman Salas, and Senators Ducheney and Kehoe asking for help with peaker plant issue. Theresa and David delivered 100 fliers to Broadway businesses about Councilman Ramirez’s meeting for businesses.

 

December no meeting, President attended and spoke at all meetings and workshops of the council. President went to Planning Commission to express SWCVCA view about proposed zone change near landfill, meeting continued. President went to CVRC and complained about 3year delay in getting permits for business on 27th street.