An illuminated bicycle path along Rose Creek, larger playground near the Pacific Beach/Taylor Library and traffic circles were among wish list items Pacific Beach residents mentioned during a community workshop.
A Pacific Beach Community Infrastructure Workshop was held during the PB Town Council’s June 27 meeting in the library. During the workshop, residents, community leaders and business leaders discussed their community’s strengths, weaknesses and areas needing improvement.
Their suggestions will be forwarded to city officials.
Grouped at tables, participants shared their thoughts and wrote down what they felt could be highlighted and improved around Pacific Beach.
Under community strengths, attendees noted family values, tourism, schools, space for structured events for all ages and local organizations.
Under weaknesses, traffic safety, limited adequate park space and lack of identification/character at neighborhood entryways.
As for community desires, attendees listed “better t-use of school property and increased variety of businesses – not just bars.”
Following the discussion, they created a list of larger and smaller projects for the city to review. PB Town Council President Charlie Nieto described smaller projects as ones that the city can attainably enact in the next several months to years and larger projects as being those they will likely lean on statewide to enact.
Ideas for smaller projects included Soledad Mountain Road traffic calming measures, bike parking at Law Street beach area and installing lights on the bike path along Rose Creek.
Larger projects included a bigger playground at the PB Library, a senior center, expanding the wetlands and additional traffic circles on Balboa and Grand Avenue.
Nieto said the council will along the workshop ideas to City of San Diego officials for review.
“We will begin working with our city officials to submit our finalized list of (Capital Improvement Project) proposals in August, and in September we will conduct our big community vote, which will rank the importance of those projects,” Nieto said. “The city will then take all of that info into when they begin their review process in the fall.”
Prior to the workshop, attendees heard from representatives of San Diego Police Department’s Northern Division and other community organization leaders. Topics raised during public comment included homelessness, road issues, pedestrian and bike lane disputes and the handling of noise complaints.
SDPD Lt. Matthew Botkin explained the department’s initiatives for past and holidays. Regarding law-enforcement presence on local beaches, Botkin said SDPD has had an increased presence on Pacific Beach beaches, as well as at local establishments, such as Belmont Park. He noted that during the recent Memorial Day weekend, police presence resulted in the confiscation of several weapons. The department plans to continue increased vigilance heading into the Fourth of July holiday.
“We will be on the beach for all major holidays, and I know our presence is needed,” Botkin said. “Our efforts out there are paying off for life down at the beach.”
Northern Division’s acting captain, Rick Aguilar, introduced himself to those present and talked about his hopes for the coming months while working in the Pacific Beach community.
“It’s good to be back in the Northern Division,” Aguilar said.
Other speakers included Shoreline Community Services Executive Director Caryn Blanton, who talked about the organization’s current efforts within Pacific Beach to help the homeless community.
“It is important that all of us are up to date. There was a 44 percent increase in individuals and families living in cars and temporary housing,” Blanton said.
She explained how Shoreline’s Com Station has assisted many homeless individuals in Pacific Beach and how it connected them with resources citywide.
