Ocean Beach Town Council Hears ‘What’s Happening’ Around Town : Target Moving In Soon, OB Plaza about Rented Out, OB Bike Day Coming

OBTC Board of Directors, March 28, 2018

At their monthly public meeting last night – Wed., August 22 –  the Ocean Beach Town Council opened up the floor for presentations from a handful of local groups as part of the board’s “What’s Happening Around Town” forum.

Over fifty souls sat in the sweltering Masonic Center downstairs hall as presentations were given by Denny Knox of the OB Mainstreet Association, by Andrea Schlageter of the OB Planning Board, and by a member of San Diego Bicycle Coalition on an upcoming “CiclOBias” in Ocean Beach. And of course, there were the usual reports from government or politico reps and Board members.

A number of Board members mentioned during the meeting this year was the 50th anniversary of the OBTC – and the Board is hosting a ‘members-only’ party this weekend to celebrate.

OBMA Celebrates 40th Anniversary, Target Moving in soon, OB Plaza about rented out

Denny Knox, CEO of the Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association, gave the crowd an updated version of what the OBMA is doing these days, as well as a brief run-down of their programs.

Knox also announced the OBMA is celebrating their 40th anniversary, having formed in 1978 as the OB Merchants Association (which is still their legal name). They are having an upcoming pictorial and graphic display of their history of the anniversary at Culture Brewing Co.

In addition, Denny spoke about a partnership the OBMA has formed with the San Diego CDC Small Business Finance in an effort to have low-interest loans for businesses to improve their storefronts. There is also city money, she said, to assist businesses with their storefronts.

One of their programs is the Public Safety Program, which has been “very successful” Knox added. The private security officers are now patrolling “from one end of town to the other,” she said. One change coming is a name-change, inspired by Nicole Ueno, Denny said, and the program will now be called the OB Clean and Safe Program.

The OBMA is working on this year’s Oktoberfest, coming October 12-13, Knox announced, as well as doing some legwork on the annual OB Restaurant Walk.

In responses to questions, Knox said the Target store was delayed as the corporation was opening another site in North Park. Their moving into the former antique mall on Newport Avenue, she said, “should be right around the corner.”

And regarding the OB Plaza on Santa Monica – which is looking nearly finished – Knox confirmed the business Dirty Birds is going to take over the main front space of the building, and that Moto Pizza is also moving in. Denny added she had heard most of the spaces had been rented out.

OBceans Joining OB Planning Board Promoted

Andrea Schlageter – interim chair of the OB planning panel – explained the general purpose of the board; it’s an official advisory board for the city. They have worked with the OBTC and the councilmember’s office on numerous issues, such as short term vacation rentals. One of the current focuses of the OBPB is transportation – with the hopes of creating more bike lanes in OB.

She urged folks to attend the next meeting, Wed., September 5th. During her talk –  and earlier, several people in the audience made it known they are running for seats on the planning board. This is good news, as the board has too many vacancies (6 out of total of 14 seats).

After Andrea spoke, several from the audience – including this reporter – stood and advocated for OBceans to consider getting on the OB Planning Board.

OB Bike Day Coming “CirlOBias”

The executive director of the San Diego Bicycle Coalition (I apologize – I didn’t get his name) made a presentation, essentially about “CirlOBias” – a shoot-off from “CiclosDias” – coming to Ocean Beach on Sunday, October 21.

It will be a “car-free” event and cover about 2 and half miles on OB streets between and around Voltaire and Newport. It will be open from 10am to 3pm and available for any non-motorized vehicles, bikes, skates – plus pedestrians, of course.

The coalition has done similar events in PB, North Park, Barrio Logan, and downtown, and booths will be available for local businesses only.

Other News / Announcements

In other news and announcements from the Board, president Marcus Turner reminded OBTC members about the 50th anniversary party, Saturday, August 25, from 5 to 9pm at Newbreak Church; there’ll be pizza, music, beer on the patio.

OB Pier Pancake Breakfast is coming up – and it’s the 20th annual event – on September 22, Saturday 7:30am to Noon. . The board needs volunteers plus there’ sponsorships for tables available.

Bank: The OBTC has $32,000 in the bank – and most of that will go towards the board’s programs, especially the Food & Toy drive later in the year.

Beach clean-ups: it was announced there are 2 beach clean-ups approaching. One on Sept 15 by I Love a Clean San Diego, and the other on Sept 29 by Gregg Crowley’s CSI-OB with Raglan.

Not too many politico or government reps were on hand – it was hot, end of summer, many are out of session …. however Chevelle Tate from California Senate President pro tem Toni Atkins was there and presented the OBTC with an official proclamation from the Senate in honor of their 50th anniversary.

Police Report – When and when not to Dial 9-1-1

As usual, community relations officer David Surwilo was on hand and gave his update, with a few humorous anecdotes interspersed. The beach team will be cut in half, as it’s time to send officers back to their regular beats, he said. Also they’re gearing up for the upcoming Labor Day weekend.

After some questioning, Surwilo spent some time explaining to the crowd when and when not to call 911. He outlined the differences between “crime in progress” versus “life-threatening emergency”. Call when there’s an emergency that’s life-threatening. Don’t use 911, he said, to call about graffiti or about someone looking suspicious or about frivolous activities (my words). If someone is breaking into your car, or juggling the door knobs – those are potentially 911 calls.

Some of the non-emergency calls are therefore holding up real emergencies. Some people, Surwilo said, have placed incorrect phone numbers for the police on Nextdoor. They’re trying to get around the non-emergency numbers; “there is no backdoor” he said. The non-emergency number is 619-531-2000.  The city is trying to find the money, he said, to hire more dispatchers.

Also, David told the audience, if someone is having a mental break-down, an ordinary officer can handle the situation. You don’t need a PERT or homeless outreach team. The majority of calls to police, he said, are about homeless, mental problems, depression – not the exciting things, he joked, like bank robberies. Finally, Surwilo urged those who wish to get hold of him, to use email. “I do better with emails,” he said.

Public Comments

Colleen of the OB Green Center announced the center is having a Native Bee Presentation on August 25th Saturday, 1:00 p.m.  at the Ocean Beach Green Center 4843 B Voltaire St.

There is also a “Rise for Climate” rally and march on Sat., Sept 8, from 10am to 2pm; it includes a march from the Civic Center to the harbor.

Matt from the OB Library said there is a Nature Talk at the branch, Wed., September 5, from 5 to 6pm, by Centehua Sage.

Susan Winkie announced the OB Woman’s Club is having their next meeting/ dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 11; she urged all the women in the audience to come check it out. They’re also already working on their huge, annual fundraiser in November.

Tracy Dezenzo rose and told the crowd she’s running for the OB Planning Board, district 1. Later in the evening, Kevin Hastings also announced he is running in his district.

Denine Hunt and Mike spoke from the rear of the seating area about the dangers at West Pt Loma and Bacon streets. She said when the city repaved West Pt Loma, they had hopes the city would make the intersection ADA compliant. Not so, she added. Now, there’s 3 curbcuts but only 2 are “functional” she said. One goes nowhere. She cautioned that kids from Pioneer school near the intersection “are at risk trying to cross.”

Mike – who is wheelchair-bound – then spoke. He’s been trying to get the city to bring the intersection up to ADA standards since 2011-2012, he said. City reps, he said, have given him an “assortment of reasons” why nothing has been done. One board member suggested the city plans to install a traffic circle at the intersection and perhaps that’s the reason for the stall. Even so, the circle wouldn’t be completed till 2020. Mike responded he’s been waiting for a resolution in the meantime. Board vice-president Mark Winkie sat down with Mike later and went over his options and how the OBTC would work with him to contact Conrad Wear.

Mike and Denine ought to be applauded for bringing this issue to the council. Denine has become a kind of guardian for West Pt Loma, as meeting after meeting, she warns people about the dangers, the lack of stop-signs, etc.