• • Recent Council Items of Interest • •
Council heard 12/03/20 updates by Chula Vista Emergency Services Coordinator, Marlon King, and Communications Manager, Anne Steinberger, on the city's COVID response and community support efforts.
Council voted (5-0)12/03/20 to establish a new capital improvement project (CIP), "Corrugated Metal Pipe Repair in the Right of Way FY2020/21", to address the 1800 linear feet of failing corrugated metal pipe in the right of way in addition to the 1400 linear feet previously identified as being in a condition of imminent failure. Corrugated Metal Pipe Repair in the Right of Way for FY 20/21 is estimated to cost $2,781,524, and will come from TransNet/gas taxes that are allocated to the city. Other engineering budgets/improvement projects had to be reduced to accomplish these repairs. I asked staff for an in-depth presentation on the state of Corrugated Metal Pipe in Chula Vista at a future council meeting in 2021.
Council heard (5-0)12/03/20 the quarterly financial report with updates to the FY 2020/21 General Fund budget. The General Fund budget is projected to be $2.2M less than anticipated. The largest variance is from sales taxes, which are down almost $2M from projected, from $36.9M to $34.9M. Property tax projections remain stable at $37.6M. It is clear that the 1/2 cent Measure P sales tax for infrastructure and 1/2 cent Measure A sales tax for public safety are critical to ensure our quality of life in Chula Vista, as each are projected to bring in $20M in the FY2021 $158.4M total Major General Fund Revenue budget.
Council Swearing-In 12/8/20 we bid farewell and thanks to Councilmember Mike Diaz, District 4, Southwest, and swore in new Councilmember Andrea Cardenas, District 4, and returning Councilmember Steve Padilla, District 3. You can send a hello email to CM Cardenas by clicking here.
Council voted (5-0) 12/8/20 to confirm the City Manager's appointment of our new Director of Public Works, Matthew Little. Mr. Little, a South Bay resident, previously served as the Director of Public Works for the city of San Marcos, and returns to Chula Vista, where he served as the Assistant Director of Public Works from 2007-2012. He began his work with the city of Chula Vista in January 2000 as a Civil Engineer. Mr. Little replaces Irascema "IQ" Quilantan, who retired in December.
Council voted (5-0) 12/8/20 to confirm the City Manager's appointment of our new Fire Chief, Harry Muns. Chief Muns became a firefighter in 1996, and rose through the ranks to become a Fire Engineer, Fire Captain, Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief, and Director of Operations with the city of Chula Vista. Chief Muns replaces Chief Jim Geering, who retired in December. Click here to read a nice article about Chief Geering.
Council voted (5-0) 12/8/20 to approve the 141-unit for-purchase townhome condominium project on 6.94 acres at 676 Moss Street. The new condominiums are spacious (1196 sqft - 2002 sqft), and have 282 covered parking spaces, 54 open guest spaces and 6 ADA spaces (336 total parking spaces). The developer will provide full street improvements (sidewalks, curb/gutter) along Moss Street. Each condominium will have rooftop solar panels.
Council voted (5-0) 12/8/20 for the Mayor's appointments to councilmembers to outside agencies. My committee assignments include the Metropolitan Transit System Board of Directors (MTS), the Metropolitan Wastewater Commission (member), the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Bayshore Bikeway Committee, and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) (alternate). As an MTS board member, I serve on the Security Committee and the SANDAG Regional Planning Committee. I also serve as a member of the US International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) Citizens' Forum in San Diego, a position that is not officially appointed by the Mayor or Council.
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The next city council meeting is Tuesday, January 5th, at 5pm, Chula Vista City Council Chambers, 276 4th Avenue. Councilmembers will teleconference to maintain social distance and work from home guidelines from the state. Council meetings are generally the first four Tuesdays of the month, but due to the need for our many boards and commissions to also meet via videoconference, Council meetings have occurred twice per month for the past few months. 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 on television on 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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• • Did You Know • •
Chula Vista began enforcing 24 hour permit requirements for RV parking on city streets on 12/30/20. An RV can park legally on the a city street for a maximum of 72 hours per residence per year (three 24-hour permits). Enforcement had been suspended to allow for family members to isolate in RVs near their home if family members were impacted due to COVID. You can read the ordinance and apply for a permit here. Permits cost $2 per day.
The City of Chula Vista and Port of San Diego have agreed upon 10 years of police/fire/medical services coverage for the Bayfront. Read more here.
The Chula Vista Fire Department will begin providing emergency medical transport (ambulance service) in April, 2021. This is a very good thing for Chula Vista residents! It will lower transport rates by more than $1000 for those with private insurance, and we look forward to greater response times as ambulances will now be housed at our 10 local fire stations. Read more about Chula Vista Ambulance Transport here.
CARES Act funding to our local school districts has been determined. The Sweetwater Union High School District is expected to receive $34.7 million and the Chula Vista Elementary School District $18.7 million of the $54.9 billion for CARES Act funding nation-wide for public schools. Read the UT article here.
There are 9 new laws in the State of California. Beginning in 2021: 1) Expanded mental health coverage, 2) Expanded paid family leave, 3) Improved policing, 4) Cal State ethnic studies requirement, 5) Ex-inmate firefighters, 6) Committee to study reparations for human enslavement, 7) Tax credits for undocumented workers, 8) Youth prisons closing, 9) Businesses must report COVID outbreaks. You can watch a one minute explanation of each or read more here.
Former U.S. Olympic Team Soccer Captain Dr. Rachel Buehler Van Hollebeke graduated from UCSD Medical School in 2019, and is now a resident at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Chula Vista, treating COVID-19 patients. Read her inspiring story featured on Good Morning America by clicking here.
Used Battery Disposal. Please DO NOT put your used batteries in the trash or recycling bin!! You can request a free mail (postage-paid) box to return used batteries. Click here for instructions and to complete the online request form. You can also drop off used batteries at CalRecycle locations. Click here to learn more. Hazardous Waste, including used batteries and small electronics, can be dropped off at the South Bay Hazardous Collection Facility, 1800 Maxwell Rd, Chula Vista, second entrance beyond the employee parking lot, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am-1pm. Please bring a valid California Driver's license, ID Card, or utility bill for proof of residency, and remember to wear a face covering. NEW procedures due to COVID: visitors must remain in their vehicle at all times and household hazardous waste (only) will be offloaded from the car trunk or truck bed - not from the passenger area. Click here for more information.
Pawboost.com is a free online service where you can post pictures of lost and found neighborhood pets. It is free and convenient to use, and will create supplemental Facebook post notices for you. It also provides a safe way for pet owners and pet finders to communicate. This service is particularly convenient to use during the hours when our Animal Care Facility is closed. I recently used the service myself when a trio of good samaritans found a lost dog and entrusted my family to help find his owner. Gizmo's family contacted us within a few hours of posting and enjoyed a happy homecoming!
Recreation Winter Session 2021 is open! Classes begin the week of January 11th. You can sign up for a variety of dance, enrichment, fitness, martial arts, and sport classes that will be offered outdoors at city parks and via Zoom. Scholarships are available. Learn more here.
New Urgent Care Center has opened in NW Chula Vista. San Ysidro Health opened a new Urgent Care facility at the Gateway building (NW corner of 3rd & H Street). Hours of operation, Monday - Sunday, 8am - 8pm. Read more here.
Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce's "Chula Vista-opoly - Sustainability Edition" has been released! Enjoy some family fun time with game night! This custom Monopoly board game features Chula Vista businesses, organizations and local government agencies. You can order a game for $49.95 plus tax by emailing here or calling (619)420-6603.
• • COVID-19 Update 1/4/21 • •
CA Notify is a voluntary bluetooth app that you can download and activate on your cell phone to receive alerts if you were in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Your privacy and identity are protected and your location is not tracked. Click here to learn more.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched a vaccination data page and tracker on its website. The page tracks the total number of COVID-19 vaccines administered in the US. Note that there is a lag between how many COVID vaccines have been distributed and how many people have received the first dose of the vaccine. Click here to visit the CDC COVID Data Tracker website.
The entire state of California has a curfew for non-essential travel from 10pm - 5am, and the limited stay order has been extended. It shall expire only after the Regional Stay At Home Order has terminated in all regions in the State of California. This order was triggered when the adult ICU bed capacity for the region is less than 15%.
U.S. land borders with Mexico and Canada remain closed to non-essential travel remain in effect. Click here for more information.
Chula Vista's FREE MASK GIVEAWAY has been extended to include adults, children and teen sizes! Chula Vista is giving away one free 100% cotton face mask (with our city's logo) to adults, children and teens (while supplies last). You can pick up a free mask at the Chula Vista Civic Center Library 365 F Street or the Otay Ranch Library 2015 Birch Rd, 11am - 6pm, Monday - Friday. Click here to see the mask and learn more.
FREE, COVID drive-up testing site (appointment required) at the Chula Vista South Library, Sundays through Thursdays, 12:30-8pm. Click here for more information. Click here or call 211 to schedule a free COVID testing appointment. Click here to see a list of County testing sites by day of week. CVS and Walgreens have COVID-19 testing sites and also currently require reservations. Private insurance companies in California are required to pay for your COVID testing at registered testing sites. Call your insurance company for more details.
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.
• • Priority Issues • •
Police Officer Staffing, as of 12/22/2020
- Authorized Peace Officers - 270* Full Time Employees (Chief, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Agents, Peace Officers)
- Vacancies - 26* Full Time Equivalents
- Applicants for those positions currently in process - 194 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.
• • Kudos to • •
Retired Chula Vista Fire Chief (and District 2 resident) Chief Jim Geering, for your 35 years of service to Chula Vista. We will miss your kind heart, steady leadership, and vision. Read more here. Congratulations to our new Fire Chief, Harry Muns, who was promoted from Deputy Fire Chief.
Tina Matthias, founder of South Bay Sustainable Communities, for her 32.5 years of service at the Living Coast Discovery Center, her service on the Chula Vista Sustainability Commission, and her tireless advocacy for our environment. Tina's non-profit, South Bay Sustainable Communities, not only runs neighborhood composting, but also hosts multiple cleanups on our Chula Vista bayfront. Learn more and read this month's newsletter by clicking here. You can also attend a free South Bay Food, Soil and Climate Change Chat on Thursday, January 28th, 7pm - 8:45pm by clicking here.
The Star News, for offering free listings in their Open for Business Directory (online and in print). If you're a business in the Star News coverage area, you can email Margo or call (619) 441-0400. Your listing can include the name of your business, address, pertinent info, and website. For $20/week (4 week minimum, prepaid), they offer a 4"x2" advertisement. You can request home delivery of the Star News for $90/year by calling (619) 441-0400. Hurry - this rate hasn't been updated in a long time!
Chula Vista Holiday Decorators, for stringing extra Christmas lights and cheer to light up our neighborhoods. Thank you! Many of you outdid yourselves this year. Also, kudos to the residents of Christmas Circle for keeping the peace and understanding our city's inability to support public events this year, as we were forbidden due to COVID-19 State and County protocols. We look forward to an end to this pandemic so that our city can once again help you manage traffic and other issues next year.
Scripps Health President and CEO, Chris Van Gorder, for writing a plea for help to San Diegans that was published in the Union Tribune between Christmas and New Years. You can read his heartfelt plea for cooperation and following health guidelines here.
• • Need Help? • •
California Relief Grant for small businesses and charities. The state has extended the deadline to apply to January 13, 2021. There are two application rounds. Eligible businesses and nonprofits will be scored based on COVID-19 impact factors incorporated into the Program's priority criteria. Not all applicants will receive grants. Grant amounts will range from $5,000-$25,000. Find out more and apply here. There are daily webinars at 11am to explain the program and answer questions. Register for a webinar here.
Rental Assistance - up to $3,000! San Diego County residents who are economically impacted by COVID-19 could qualify for assistance of up to $3000 to pay for past-due or upcoming rent. The County will be accepting new applications for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program starting December 1st. Find out more and apply here.
Chula Vista rental assistance applications can be found by clicking here, emailing here, or calling (619) 420-3620. This program is administered by South Bay Community Services.
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.
FACT offers free transportation for San Diego County residents for any essential needs (medical appointments and grocery shopping) for seniors, persons with disabilities, students, veterans and other residents who need assistance until further notice. Call FACT at (888) 924-3228 between 8am - 3pm, Monday - Friday to request free transportation anywhere in San Diego County. Click here for more information.
Great Plates, continued! The Great Plates program has been expanded and eligible people/families re encouraged to apply. The program provides delivered meals to those over 65 years, over 60 years with a health condition, or those with a disability. For eligibility requirements and more information, click here or call (800) 339-4661, then select option 7.
Caregivers (working parents and guardians) may be eligible for federal and state financial resources if they have to miss work to care for children as a result of school closures! Click here to see if you might qualify for the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). You might also qualify for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) - click here.
Childcare Help: Chula Vista-based Child Development Associates helps manage the Alternative Payment Program (APP) that provides subsidized child care services to thousands of families across San Diego County with the child care provider of their choice. The APP reimbures the provider on behalf of he parent for the child care. Learn more about CDA here. The YMCA Childcare Resource Service (CRS) is also the childcare resource and referral agency for San Diego County. Learn more here. Note - if you're ever in need of resources, please call 211 first to see how the County can help you.
For those experiencing food insecurity, Chula Vista has a dedicated phone number and city staff is making deliveries of San Diego Food Bank items - call (619) 476-5340, 9am - 4pm Monday - Saturday.
The Chula Vista Animal Care Facility has a "Pet Pantry" program for unopened food & other resources . Email animalcare@chulavistaca.gov or call (619) 476-2477
The Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") was created by the CARES Act to provide forgivable loans to eligible small businesses to keep workers on payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to fill out the PPP Loan Forgiveness Application (form 3508 from the Small Business Administration).
• • 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.
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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, or letter.
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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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