Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. High 71F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..
Partly cloudy. Low 64F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
A rendering of the new Mar Vista High School pool.
A rendering of the new Mar Vista High School pool.
An urgency ordinance enacting a moratorium on evictions, rent increases above three percent and anti-harassment protection for tenants of RV parks and mobile parks was approved by the council during the meeting on October 5. The council asked staff to draft this urgency ordinance at the last council meeting due to the situation at Miramar Mobile Home and RV Park. Residents have spoken to council regarding the many issues facing them since the change of ownership which include a sewer fixed with garbage bags and tape, a mandatory six-month move out, rent increases, evictions, and harassment. The council has discussed the problems over a number of meetings and, worried that residents could become homeless, has taken action.
The ordinance is based on: the county, city and state being in a state of emergency due to COVID-19 and about to enter the flu and cold season; the county having declared a public health crisis for homelessness on September 27; and the city not being a able to afford vulnerable population becoming homeless or suffer financial stress. Included in the ordinance is an anti-harassment protection and mediation. This ordinance was effective immediately. During public comment 25 people spoke. One of the owners of Miramar Mobile Home and RV Park, Victor Martinez, spoke to the council and said the owners plan to improve the property. He said that even though there is a six-month policy to move out, residents can come back without a rent increase. Martinez also assured the council the sewer problem was fixed and said if people are evicted it’s because they don’t follow the rules. Residents of the park believe otherwise. One of them, who has lived at the park for the past 24 years, spoke of the many problems including the smell of the sewer that was not fixed and how the owner donated $9,800 to a mayoral candidate instead of fixing the sewer. Another spoke of overflowing trash cans because there aren’t enough to go around. A resident recalled moving in and out of the park four times in two years because of the six-month policy. As a single dad with three kids he said it costs more to move out and come back than paying the monthly rent. A resident that lives next to the the sewer said the problem was fixed with a garbage bag and tape and the smell is still present. Two residents spoke against the ordinance.
A University of San Diego Law School Professor Alysson Snow, who runs the Housing Rights Project offering free legal services with her students, represents many of the tenants at Miramar Mobile Home and RV Park. She said some residents are being evicted because they can’t move out every six months, which is an expensive process in itself. The six-month shuffle, as she called it, is done to avoid the residents gaining permanent residency. But this practice can lead to homelessness. “These are not bad tenants, they’re good tenants, and know their rights and comply with everything they need to but because of an unfair business practice they find themselves on the street… residents are terrified,” she said. Councilmember Paloma Aguirre, who proposed the drafting of the ordinance at the last meeting, was adamant to move forward. “I’ve seen the issue of the sewer, it’s two of them, they are held together with tape and a prayer. Nobody should be living in those conditions. This is about preventing homelessness. This is about keeping people housed, this is about preventing harassment and allowing our residents to have a high quality of life… I urge my colleagues to support this ordinance because at the end of the day this is our task… to protect the well being and safety of our residents.”
Mayor Pro Tem Jack Fisher agreed. “I believe strongly in our residents having a fair and equal treatment. This is a temporary ordinance and I’d hope things will be worked out amicably or we move toward a permanent ordinance,” he said. “This has been a long time coming. I’m shocked by the conditions… with mobile homes parks and RV parks is like the Grapes of Wrath… I’m very sorry you had to go through this… it’s basically about justice, fairness and equality,” said Mayor Serge Dedina. He also spoke directly to Martinez and said if he had worked out the issues with the residents, it wouldn’t have come to this. He referred to the owner as a hippy Oregon slumlord who throws money at a candidate to buy them off. “Our job is to represent people in our community not throw them on the street and treat them like garbage… it’s the most egregious thing I’ve ever heard happening in Imperial Beach,” he said. Councilmember Ed Spriggs said the six-month move out needs to stop and should be including in the ordinance. “Since we can’t fix it tonight we can do it at the next meeting or a special meeting, so this practice stops as soon as possible,” he said. A motion was carried unanimously, Councilmember Matthew Leyba-Gonzalez was absent.
Sweetwater Union High School District gave an update on the Mar Vista High School (MVHS) swimming pool which is nearing completion. The city and the school district have worked together to get funding of $2 million to build the 50 meter pool. An arrangement has been made which is currently tentative for the use of the pool by the community. The use of 1.5 hours on weekday mornings from 5:30 to 7 a.m., three hours on Saturdays from 5:30 to 8:30 a.m., flexible use on Sundays of a minimum of four hours, and additional use time by the city during the week can be requested if available. The new pool has 21 swim lanes plus three shallow lanes for swim lessons, a new pool deck that can host two CIF water polo matches at a time, four floating water polo goals, timing system, LED scoreboard, bleaches to seat 400, shade structures, family restroom, outdoor showers, two 1-meter diving boards, and new pool deck utilities and drainage components. The completion of the pool is scheduled for mid-November. A number of public speakers supported the pool and gave some suggestions including starting a water aerobics class. Former Councilmember Bobby Patton, who was instrumental in getting the funds for the pool, suggested creating a liaison between the school district and the city. He also would like to bring back the swim lessons for kids in elementary school, he remembers from his youth to give an opportunity to learn to swim. A motion to support a joint Memorandum Of Understanding for community use of MVHS pool was carried unanimously. Leyba-Gonzalez was absent.
The council received an update from Karin Burns, CEO of San Diego Community Power.
Alberto Velasquez, Cox Communications government affairs manager, gave a presentation on access to Wifi/Internet for economically disadvantaged residents. He explained that since 2012, 866,000 people have received low cost internet, and the company has committed $400 million over the next three years to expand service to underserved communities. There are three programs that are part of Cox’s Affordable Connectivity Program that range from $9.95 to $50 a month.
The consent calendar was approved. Leyba-Gonzalez was absent.
The purchase of a Pierce Arrow XT Multi Purpose response vehicle Fire-Rescue Department was approved. Fire-Rescue Chief John French explained that the current primary response vehicle is a 2014 Pierce with 67,000 miles. The department uses two vehicles to respond to the calls that are not restricted to Imperial Beach but nearby cities of San Ysidro, Chula Vista and Coronado as well as throughout the state. The other back up engine used by the department is a 2004 Pierce ROXT with 130,000 miles. Funding of $500,000 for a new engine has been set aside in the fiscal year 2021—2022 budget and the finance department is working on applications for CDBG funds that could cover the rest of the cost which is estimated at $1,214,808.83. French also pointed out that timeline for receiving a new engine is mid 2025 and costs are supposed to rise this November by six percent with more increases next year. This item was approved by three votes. Dedina and Leyba-Gonzalez were absent.
The California Code of Regulations was updated and some changes made. Every three years the California Building Standards Commission adopts a new version of the California Building standards code to remain complaint with advances of fire protection methods and building standards. A new editions come out on January 1, 2023 and the city has the option to make amendments to the building standards code. Administrative changes and amendments were proposed for emergency housing and for tiny houses.
A resolution was approved revising the agreements between the city and on call engineering firms for a maximum of five years. Dedina and Leyba-Gonzalez were absent.
Appropriation of $300,000 form the Sewer Enterprise Fund operating reserves for pump station eight emergency repair was approved. Dedina and Leyba-Gonzalez were absent.
The next city council meeting will be held on November 2 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 825 Imperial Beach Boulevard. For more information or view the meeting online log on www.imperialbeachca.gov
Vol. 38, No. 41 - Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022
Your comment has been submitted.
There was a problem reporting this.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.