• • Recent Council Items of Interest • •
Chula Vista City Council Meetings now have live simultaneous translation in Spanish as they are broadcast. When you watch the recorded versions of council meetings from the city's website, you can click on "ES" for Espanol or "EN" for English in the video.
Council heard 7/13/21 in closed session the very first ever (in anyone's collective memory) annual performance evaluations of the Chula Vista City Manager and Chula Vista City Clerk. Both positions are appointed and managed by the city council. Both City Manager Maria Kachadoorian and City Clerk Kerry Bigelow presented an overview of the scope of their responsibilities and accomplishments over the past year, as well as a overview of projects and issues they will be addressing in the coming year. I have to say that we were all duly impressed by both of these effective leaders and the quality of their work. And from this point forward, we have a framework for job performance and expectations that can serve as a living document and record of history for future city managers and city clerks. Maria Kachadoorian made the commitment of an official annual review when we hired her (officially) in June 2020 and, as always, she met her commitment.
Council heard (5-0) 7/13/21 the Housing Element Update of the General Plan for the 2021-2029 planning period. To learn more about the Housing Element Update and review documents, click here and view the attachments for item #7.1.
Council heard 7/13/21 a brief presentation (in public comments) by my summer intern, Christopher Escamilla, and his summer project to help create awareness about the dangers of illegal street racing. Christopher is a Criminal Justice and Computer Science student at Southwestern College and a 2019 graduate of Hilltop High. Click here to see Christopher's presentation beginning at 58:50.
Council decided by consensus 7/13/21 to reinstate and sponsor the annual Starlight Parade in December. Mayor Salas and myself will be the co-chairs of this cherished annual event. The council will vote on the appropriation of funds for the parade at a later date.
Council voted (5-0) 7/13/21 to form an ad-hoc subcommittee at the recommendation of City Attorney Glen Googins, comprised of Mayor Mary Casillas Salas and Councilmember Steve Padilla to take a closer look at our city's campaign finance ordinance and present recommendations for items such as penalties and consequences and the process of obtaining advice for candidates for office in Chula Vista. The ad-hoc subcommittee is anticipated to provide recommendations by the end of the calendar year.
Council voted (5-0) 7/27/21 to participate with the County of San Diego in a road surfacing project for short stretches of Chula Vista roadways that are within a County street resurfacing area in the El Rancho Vista neighborhood and at Country Trails lane.
Council voted (5-0) 7/27/21 to decrease the speed limit on Moss Street between Broadway and 2nd Avenue from 35 mph to 30 mph and from 35 mph to 25 mph in the section of Moss Street from 2nd Avenue to the new Fire Station.
Council voted (5-0) 7/27/21 to extend the Emergency Rental Assistance Program contract with South Bay Community Services (SBCS) to disburse State and Federal funds.
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The next city council meeting is Tuesday, August 10th, at 5pm, Chula Vista City Council Chambers, 276 4th Avenue. Councilmembers will be in attendance and seated on the dais. The public is welcome to attend in person. Council meetings are generally the first four Tuesdays of the month. Agendas are posted the Thursday prior to each meeting. To view the agenda, click here. To subscribe to receive future agendas, click here.
City council meetings can be viewed live online here or on television Cox Cable channel 24 (only in Chula Vista) or AT&T U-Verse channel 99 (anywhere in the county), via live-streaming on your computer, tablet, or smart phone.
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• • High Priority Items • •
Police Officer Staffing, as of 8/1/2021 - WE'RE HIRING !
- Authorized Peace Officers - 280* Full Time Employees (Chief, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Agents, Peace Officers)
- Authorized Peace Officers (filled) - 245 (YES!!!)
- Vacancies - 35* Full Time Equivalents
- Applicants for those positions currently in process - 263 applicants are currently on a civil service list for either Police Recruit or Lateral Peace Officer. These applicants have passed a written test, pre-background questionnaire, physical agility test and/or oral board interview. After being placed on this list, applicants must successfully complete a background, chief's interview, psychological evaluation and pre-employment medical. Our Human Resources Department is continually recruiting, which includes written test, physical agility testing and oral board interviews monthly. Chula Vista has very high standards for our police officers, and we lose a majority of applicants in the first phase of the application process. We can and should do better as a city to prioritize funding for our police department to ensure that all vacancies are filled. You can read more about my thoughts on Public Safety staffing here.
• • Did You Know • •
Third Avenue Downtown Trees are Lit! With new, twinkling, LED lights that were laced in trees from F Street to H Street along Third Avenue. The lights were officially turned on July 23rd, sponsored by the Third Avenue Village Association. it sure does look pretty at night!
School is back in session at CVESD and SUHSD. If your child is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or gets sent home, the schools cannot accept the the Antigen or Rapid tests for their return to campus. the PCR/NAAT tests are needed for anyone who is symptomatic - and even those who don't have symptoms who tested positive with an Antigen test.
Due to a high number of positive COVID test cases, the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility will be closed to the public from August 4 - August 18th. Animal Control and regular services for the animals currently sheltered at our city's facility will continue and will not be impacted by this temporary closure to the public.
To borrow a phrase, What's in Your Wallet?!? Did you know that your Chula Vista Library Card can be used to rent free movies on Hoopla, free digital magazines from Serra Cooperative and Flipster? You can also use your library card for homework help and even job-seeking resources at Tutor.com. Check out these and many more resources (passport renewal services, law library resources, and so much more) at this link. Raise your hand if you love and appreciate our Chula Vista Librarians and services!!!
A new toll road and border crossing is expected to open in 2024! The Otay Mesa East has been dubbed a "21st Century Border Crossing." Click here to learn more.
The iconic San Diego Trolley Turned 40 last month! Click here to learn more about this milestone and the global pioneer in light passenger rail, MTS, located right here in San Diego.
• • Kudos to • •
Work for Hope and our Chula Vista Park Rangers Operation Hope for renovating and beautifying Hilltop Park's restrooms, gazebos, benches and tables parking area, and more. They have never looked better! We know you have also been beautifying parks and restrooms in parks throughout our city, and thank you, the Alpha Project, and the unsheltered individuals who are working very hard to turn their lives around with opportunities to do good work and learn new skills. Thank you. Operation Pride, with the Alpha Project and Public Works, collected 61,660 pounds of trash and 63 shopping carts in June.
Chula Vista Public Works Senior Maintenance Worker Rafael Orozco for your 22 years of service to our community. You have been an essential part of our city's graffiti abatement team that has promptly and efficiently removed graffiti and enhanced the natural beauty of our community. In 2021, Rafael and his graffiti abatement crew responded to more than 2,740 graffiti removal requests and performed at an average response rate of 91%, a 65% improvement compared to 2019. You can submit graffiti removal requests by downloading and using the ACT Chula Vista app on your smart phone. To date, ACT Chula Vista has resolved 32,523 issues.
Rafael Orozco is part of our Public Works Street Maintenance Division, who abate weeds on city medians, remove debris on entryways, coordinate street sweeping, and more. This is the same crew who painted the retaining walls on H Street from Highway 805 to Hilltop Drive, who work have worked hard, day in and day out, to keep Chula Vista beautiful. Thank you!!
CVHS Teacher Maria Galleher and her award-winning Chula Vista High School Garden for making the transition back to school a peaceful, welcoming experience for so many. Click here to watch the heartwarming story.
• • Call to Action • •
Do you have a strong sense of keeping the peace and upholding community standards while making new, lifelong friends? The CVPD Senior Volunteer Patrol (SVP) might be a great place to spend your time. I you are interested in helping the Chula Vista Police Department and are aged 50 or older, please consider volunteering one or more shifts per week, driving Chula Vista electric SVP vehicles on designated "beats". SVP members do not carry firearms but do wear a provided uniform. their valuable assistance to the Police Department allows sworn officers to conduct more critical aspects of public safety. Members perform such services as vacation house checks, vehicle abatement, parking enforcement, You Are Not Alone calls and visits to seniors, and traffic control. SVP members also assist with crime prevention programs and special events such as Coffee with a Cop, National Night Out, and more. For more information, call (619) 476-2417 or visit the website here.
Street Racing is ILLEGAL and DANGEROUS! Please call 911 if you see active street racing in Chula Vista, or reach out to the California Highway Patrol at 1-800-TELL-CHP (1-800-835-5247) if you regularly see street racing on a segment of our local highways.
Much of California is in a state of drought. Replace your lawn with water-wise landscaping and receive $2 or more per square foot of lawn that you replace on approved projects. Be sure your project is approved and take lots of before and after photos, and save all receipts! Click here to learn more.
Wildfire Season is underway. Sign up for SDG&E alerts for power shut-offs by clicking here.
Extreme Heat can hurt or kill those over 65, children under 4, and people with existing medical conditions. Visit the California Office of Emergency Services for tips to prevent heatstroke. Stay cool by avoiding direct sunlight, wearing lightweight clothing and staying hydrated. Know where our designated cool zones are.
Sign up for SDG&E alerts for power shut-offs by clicking here.
• • Thank You for Your Service • •
Lisa Cohen, who has retired after 20 years of exemplary service as the CEO of the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce. Lisa led with optimism, confidence, and love for our great city. We are grateful for her compassion for businesses of all sizes and commitment to the success of her members. Lisa was offered an opportunity she could not pass up by one of her former Chamber members. Thank you, Lisa. You will be missed.
My good friend, Detective D. Clark, for your years of dedicated service in the Chula Vista Police Department. Thank you for keeping us safe all of these years.
I didn't think Police Agent Eddie Ferko's smiles could get any bigger until I saw him after retirement! Thank you, Agent Ferko, for your decades of service, keeping the peace in Chula Vista.
When we dial 911 for emergency dispatch of our CVPD, Marlene Bragg will no longer be answering phones, but her 26 years of dedicated service in different capacities in the CVPD are greatly appreciated.
• • Welcome (New Restaurants and Businesses) • •
Las Tres Catrinas is a thrilling new restaurant and live entertainment venue at the Chula Vista Center Mall. The name and theme "Las Tres Catrinas" pays homage to the three wives of the partners in this exciting, locally-owned venue. This is a festive and happy place to take family and friends to be serenaded on their birthdays and special occasions. Many of the servers are artists and musicians. Click here to read their 5 star Yelp reviews and see customer photos.
TuStreams is a fascinating, rapidly-growing, Latin-focused digital music distributor that helps artists from all over the world promote and monetize their music. The mayor and I toured their creative headquarters last week and we were astonished to learn what they do right here in Chula Vista! Click here to learn more about TuStreams.
COVID - The Delta Variant - is actively spreading in our region and around the world. Take care to mask up and ensure your family is vaccinated.
FREE COVID Testing is available at various locations throughout the County. Click here to find a site near you. The Chula Vista Sears Site has been closed for testing. Our new city testing site (beginning 7/23/21) is the old Boys and Girls Club at 1301 Oleander Avenue, Tuesday-Saturday, 7am-7pm. Appointments are available but not required by clicking here. Other nearby testing locations are the Kimball Senior Center, 1221 D Avenue in National City and the Tubman-Chavez Community Center, 415 Euclid Avenue, San Diego.
FREE COVID Vaccinations are available every Thursday, from 1pm-4pm, at Chula Vista City Hall, Building C Lobby, administered by the Chula Vista Fire Department. Other vaccination locations can be found here or here. Remember, the COVID vaccine should be free. Free COVID vaccinations are also administered at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, 752 Medical Center Court, 10am-2pm, Monday - Friday. Free COVID vaccinations are also administered at the South Region Live Well Center at Chula Vista, 690 Oxford Street, 1-8pm, Sunday - Thursday. Free COVID vaccinations at San Ysidro Health at the Chula Vista PACE Center, 880 Third Ave. They have the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. They are taking walk-ins, but calling to make an appointment is recommended, (619) 205-4585.
If you are a housebound senior or cannot leave your home to receive a COVID vaccine, please call the Chula Vista resident support line (619) 476-2397. Our EOC staff will schedule our Chula Vista Fire Department's mobile vaccination unit "Operation Immunity" (Firefighter/Paramedic/EMT) to come to your residence.
School is back in session at CVESD and SUHSD. If your child is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or gets sent home, the schools cannot accept the the Antigen or Rapid tests for their return to campus. the PCR/NAAT tests are needed for anyone who is symptomatic - and even those who don't have symptoms who tested positive with an Antigen test.
IF YOU HAVE VERY RECENTLY TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 - Please consider getting early treatment (FREE) at one of two Monoclonal Antibody Regional Centers (MARC). The centers are open 7 days a week, and there is no cost to the patient, regardless of health insurance or immigration status. This is the same intravenous life-saving treatment that President Trump received to reduce his symptoms and help him recover after being infected by the coronavirus. Call (619) 685-2500 for more information. The Chula Vista MARC center is at 391 Oxford Street, Chula Vista. Click here to learn more.
NOW CLOSED - the South Bay Sears building vaccination site managed by Sharp closed operations on June 26th. Sharp Chula Vista will be offering vaccinations at designated locations (call your healthcare provider for details).
If you lost a loved one due to COVID-19, FEMA may provide help with your funeral expenses, up to $9,000. FEMA will begin accepting calls to it's help center (844)684-6333 on April 12th. You will need a death certificate after January 2020 and all receipts. Beware of scammers - FEMA will not call you. Click here to learn more.
CONSUMER ALERT on Reported COVID FEES charged to patients. Attorney General Xavier Becerra's office issued an alert warning consumers about some healthcare providers reportedly charging patients a COVID FEE when seeking care. If you are being charged a COVID FEE by your doctor, dentist, or other healthcare practitioner, please call one of the following: Medi-Cal Members call (800)541-5555, Medicare members call (800)633-4227, Private Insurance call (800)927-4357, and/or file a complaint here.
All California Employers with 25+ employees are required to provide up to 80 hours of supplemental paid sick leave for COVID-related reasons, effective immediately (SB 95). These protections are effective through September 30, 2021 and are retroactive to sick leave taken beginning January 1, 2021. Click here for more information.
Chula Vista's COVID-19 data dashboard can be found at this link.
You can continue to check updated COVID-19 information at three important websites: the City of Chula Vista, County of San Diego and State of California.
California has extended its eviction moratorium through
September 30, 2021. Click here to read more.
The Federal Government has suspended student loan collections through September 30, 2021. Click here to read more.
U.S. land borders with Mexico and Canada remain closed to non-essential travel remain in effect. Click here for more information.
• • Need Help? • •
Chula Vista Residents may now qualify to have 100% of past-du rent covered by the State. The Chula Vista ERAP program (which stands for Emergency Rental Assistance Program) is distributing up to $16.8 million in past-due rent relief from and help with utility bills. Click here to learn more and apply. Click here for a tutorial on how to apply (in English and Spanish) and to learn eligibility details. If you need help with the online application, you can call (619)271-1805 during business hours. Walk-in help is available at South Bay Community Services, 430 F Street. Funding for this program comes from allocations from the U.S. Department of Treasury and the State of California. If you do not live in Chula Vista, click here if you need help.
Don't despair - call someone if you are having mental health issues! Click here for a list of mental health resources in the county, or call (888) 724-7240 for 24x7 crisis support and referrals from trained and experienced counselors.
Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation Program (MEUC) is a program meant to help those who earned self-employed income the year before their unemployment claim. Eligible persons can apply for an additional $100 per week through this new program. Click here to learn more.
• • Jobs, Jobs, Jobs • •
Click here to see a list of current job openings with the city of Chula Vista. Job descriptions (and salary ranges) can be found here.
Click here to bid on projects with the city.
Click here to file for unemployment benefits if you have recently lost your job.
Marine Group Boatworks on the Chula Vista Bayfront is hiring (and training prospective employees!). Click here to learn more.
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Thank you for the honor to serve you on the Chula Vista City Council. Your thoughts and questions are always welcome!
Be safe, take care, and please check in on your friends and family via phone, email, letter, or in person!
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Warm regards,
Jill M. Galvez | Chula Vista City Councilmember | District 2, Northwest
276 Fourth Avenue | Chula Vista, CA | 91910
Phone: 619.691.5177 | Cell: 619.997.1016 | Email: jmgalvez@chulavistaca.gov
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