Southwest Chula Vista Civic Association

(A BRIGHTER FUTURE THROUGH COMMUNITY ACTION)

PO Box 6064, Chula Vista, CA 91909, (619) 425-5771

This month’s meeting will be held on Monday October 24 at 6:00PM at the South Library on Orange and Fourth in room B which you can enter from the 4th Ave. parking lot.

Should the SWCVCA support allowing the voters to decide whether the city council will form District’s for Council elections? We will vote on this issue. Please send in ballot by 10/31 if you cannot attend. We will have two speakers from SUHSD to explain the Voting Rights Act and how SUHSD has been working on this issue. They voted Monday on criteria. Legal criteria they adopted is that no two existing trustees can live in the same District. Our council likely would adopt the same criteria. This insures no one will lose office as a result of districts. THE MAIN ADVANTAGE IN THE CASE OF CITY ELECTIONS IS IT WOULD BRING THE PRICE OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE-NOW APPROACHING $300,000-DOWN, because candidates will need to canvas and send fliers to a smaller number of voters. This will eliminate the influence of big contributors and make candidates more beholding to the citizens. Now while each individual can only contribute $300 per election, political groups, PACs, companies with many employees and/or family members can contribute much more. This will also make it easier for ordinary citizens to be able to run for office.

The cons expressed at our last meeting ignore the fact that the existing office holders will decide the criteria by which the Districts are drawn. Cost for allowing the people to vote on the issue and for the demographer to draw up the even Districts based on minority representation (One district must have a super-majority of minority voters.) and population. This money has already been set aside in the Council’s budget. School District’s are doing this to avoid being sued. It is unclear at the moment if there is a potential for the city to be sued over The Voting Rights Act.

What will happen?

1. WED. Oct. 26 6-8 Jacob’s Center 404 Euclid, corner of Market Discuss Health Care situation with Assemblyman Hueso 619 409-7979

2. Sat. Oct. 22 Harborside Park, Beautify Chula Vista Day 8AM-noon

3. Sat. Oct 22 South Library on Orange How to become a volunteer tax preparer training Senator Vargas info. 585-5755

4. Oct 29 9AM City Hall what can be done to prevent so much euthanasia by the Animal Shelter?

5. Wed. 10/26 3-5PM at Seniors on Broadway 845 Broadway, what can be done to make the streets safer for pedestrians and people in wheelchairs?

6. Sat. Oct 29 10-2 City Hall, Homeownership workshop How you can buy a home or not lose the one you have

Ongoing:

Mondays Farmers Market at Swiss Park on Main St west of I-5 4-8; Thursdays 3-7 PMFARMERS MARKET in the Village Center Street at Third.

Tuesdays, THURSDAYs and Saturdays, Noon - 4 PM HERITAGE MUSEUM’S NEW EXHIBIT “Glimpses of History: Chula Vista’s Centennial” 360 Third Avenue

Text Box: BALLOT; Please return by 10/31 I want SWCVCA to actively support the council putting on the ballot the question: Should the city be divided into Council Districts according to criteria permitted in the Voter Right’s Act? So that the voters in Chula Vista can decide this issue. YES NO SWCVCA MINUTES OF GENERAL MEETING       September 26, Attendance: 14

Call to order at 6:22

1. Our guest this month was Anne Bessinger from Sullivan Solar to explain the  topics regarding rooftop solar systems and the Chula Vista Solar Program opportunities and incentives.

2. The presentation in PowerPoint format included:

a. Nationwide solar energy generation is 1% of total

b. Adding solar collectors does not increase the assessed value of your home with regard to property taxes.

c. In the beginning solar panels were only 6% efficient but that has increased to 20% currently.

d. Solar collectors provide DC (direct current) which must then be converted to AC (alternating current) for common usage.

e. Since SDGE requires automatic shut down in the event of a power outage to protect their workers having solar collectors does not prevent power failures even in the daytime.

f. It is possible to build a baseline system just large enough to keep usage within the tier 1 SDG&E pricing category (the cheapest)

g. Average cost after rebate for a complete system is $29,000 but there is the possibility of a solar lease for less than current electric bill also.

Adjourn at 7:00 P.M.