Peninsula Planners Confused Over Process for Nominating Officers

 Also: Opposition voiced to right-hand turn from Scott to Harbor into landscaping

By Tony de Garate / Special to the OB Rag

The normally routine annual process of selecting officers has become a befuddling mess at the Peninsula Community Planning Board (PCPB). This became evident at their latest meeting, held on April 16th.

Like the other 40-plus planning boards that are sanctioned by the San Diego City Council to make recommendations on land use and quality-of-life issues, the PCPB hosts an election every March in which members of the community vote for board members. These board members then select officers for one-year terms in April.

But confusion over how to nominate candidates convinced the board to take the unusual step of postponing the selection of at least one officer of the 2015-16 term to next month’s meeting, May 21 which will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Point Loma Branch Library.

The process was off to easy start when the first officer, incumbent Chairwoman Julia Quinn, breezed to re-election. Paul Webb made a motion to nominate, seconded by Jay Shumaker. Quinn then called the question without asking for other nominations, and was approved by a 13-0 vote.

But a dispute broke out when Quinn attempted to use the same procedure to guide the selection of vice chair. Patricia Clark made a motion to nominate David Dick, who was absent, followed by a second from Jarvis Ross. But when Nicole Burgess said, “I’ll nominate Jon Linney,” Quinn appeared to prefer an up-or-down vote on Dick before considering other nominations.

Quinn stated:

“OK, we have a motion and a second for David Dick, and he was interested in serving as vice chair.”

But Don Sevrens asked:

“You mean we can’t nominate more than one person?” 

Board members struggled to find a path forward but, after an extended discussion, voted to postpone.

The delay would also allow Dick and Linney to prepare candidate statements and respond to questions, Bruce Coons said.

Quinn appeared to be caught off guard by the emergence of multiple candidates.

“We typically don’t have more than one interested,” she said.

Apparently in their distraction, board members neglected to select anyone for the office of second vice chair. It’s actually the second year in a row for the oversight. Linney, the incumbent, didn’t assume the role until January of this year, when it was noticed the office had been inexplicably vacant for nine months.

Incumbents Clark, treasurer, and Sevrens, secretary, gained one-year terms to continue in their respective roles. Both were declared re-elected “by unanimous consent,” in Quinn’s words, after being nominated by a board member and, when asked by Quinn, confirming a willingness to continue. No actual votes were called for and there were no objections.

In other board news:

Citizen warns about eliminating right-turn lane on North Harbor Drive

A $3.9 million project to realign 1,600 feet of North Harbor Drive may create a traffic nightmare, a Point Loma citizen has warned. A right-hand turn lane from northbound Scott Street going east onto North Harbor Drive has been replaced with landscaping, Joseph Battaglia told the board.

The loss of the dedicated lane could create havoc for traffic leaving Shelter Island and force cars trailing boats onto already-jammed-to-the-hilt Rosecrans Street, he said.

“There are only two ways off Shelter Island: Rosecrans and Scott Street. They’re blocking off a major artery there.”

– said Battaglia, who keeps a boat on Shelter Island and worries that boat owners will find it difficult to negotiate a perpendicular right-hand turn now that gradual course provided by the turn lane has been eliminated. He added:

“I’m amazed. It would seem the people who plan these things are not familiar with the area.”

Conrad Wear, representative for District 2 San Diego City Councilmember Lorie Zapf, said he was surprised by the news and would reach out to the San Diego Unified Port District, which has jurisdiction. Said Wear:

“We were told that right-turn lane would stay in.”

The Port held a ground-breaking ceremony last December. According to the Port’s website, the project is designed to improve safety and involves upgrades to parking, bike lanes and driving lanes.

Mayor releases proposed $3.2 billion budget

Mayor Kevin Faulconer April 13 released his proposed $3.2 billion budget for fiscal 2016, and Wear outlined expenditures of special interest in the Peninsula:

• 15 additional hours of operation and more playground equipment for Ocean Beach Recreation Center;
• more playground equipment at NTC Park
• $100,000 for improvements to the Ocean Beach Fire Station;
• $6.2 million for park improvements to Mission Bay
• $1 million for drainage and vegetation improvements to Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

Wear also said Zapf will advocate for a park ranger at Sunset Cliffs during the May revise portion of the budget process.

The Peninsula Community Planning Board (PCPB) meets every third Thursday of the month and represents these neighborhoods: Ocean Beach Highlands, Point Loma Highlands, Loma Alta, Loma Palisades, Loma Portal, Fleetridge, Roseville, Sunset Cliffs, Wooded Area, La Playa and Liberty Station.

The PCPB’s next meeting is May 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Marla Haas Community Room of the Hervey/Point Loma Branch Library, 3701 Voltaire St.