• • Recent Council Items of Interest • •
Council voted (5-0) 4/13/21 to limit the speed to 25 mph on Bonita Glen Drive between Bonita Road and the Chula Vista city limit. We also voted to increase the speed in two sections of roadway in eastern Chula Vista from 45 mph to 50 mph: 1) Eastlake Parkway between Olympic Parkway and Hunte Parkway and 2) Birch Road between La Media Road and Eastlake Parkway.
Council voted (5-0) 4/13/21 to authorize the vote of property holders and their representatives in the Bayfront Special Tax Financing District to vote on the rate and method of apportionment of additional 5.5% Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT) to pay for infrastructure and maintenance of the Bayfront. The additional 5.5% TOT will drop to 2.5% of nightly rent on July 1, 2060 and 1% of rent on July 1, 2075. Chula Vista's standard TOT for hotels and vacation rental properties is 10%. On July 1, 2086, the additional bayfront TOT will expire. Authorized improvements paid for with this additional TOT include: a new Convention Center Facility, a Parking Garage, street improvements (grading, paving, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, street signals, street lights, parkway/median landscaping, pedestrian and bicycle paths, storm drains, public utilities (including sewer, reclaimed water, electric, gas, telephone), public parks, open space, recreation, parking improvements, fire protection/emergency response facilities, museums and cultural facilities, ecological and sustainability educational improvements, energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy improvements, land, rights-of-way, easements, equipment apparatus and facilities.
Council voted (5-0) 4/20/21 to authorize a trail pilot program in the Rice and Snake Canyon Loop Trail, officially allowing mountain biking and hiking, installing wayfinding signage and making trail improvements this summer. Click here to read the presentation of the master plan and pilot program. Special thanks to CV staff members Cheryl Goddard and Mark Caro, the San Diego Mountain Bike Association and SDMBA Executive Director, Susie Murphy. Thank you also to the Sierra Club for ensuring that this plan is mindful of sensitive habitats and resources. Council received over 230 letters in support of this pilot program. Please use the trails responsibly, be sensitive to native habitats and plants and the surrounding community so that this pilot program of trails can be enjoyed and continued.
Council voted (5-0) 4/20/21 to authorize an additional year of operation of the Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) program by our Chula Vista Police Department. ALPRs are cameras mounted on a small number of CVPD patrol vehicles (currently 4). As the patrol vehicles navigate through our city, license plate images are captured and matched against a database of vehicles that have been flagged as being either stolen, at the scene of a crime, on the Amber alert system, etc. During this next year, the council has pledged to host forums/discussions in each council district to provide data to interested community members and answer questions. It is our intent to be completely transparent and responsive to our community's concerns about privacy rights while also maintaining an important tool that our police department relies upon to better protect and serve our community. You can watch the ALPR presentation by our police department and hear the riveting speech given by our mayor and other councilmembers, as well as hear the valid concerns of community members here (start at 40 minutes into the council meeting). Click here to watch the Channel 8 report.
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The next city council meeting is Tuesday, May 4th, at 5pm, Chula Vista City Council Chambers, 276 4th Avenue. The Mayor's State of the City Address will immediately follow at 6pm. Councilmembers will be in attendance and seated on the dais. The public is welcome to attend in person, and is required to use masks. 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 5/1/2021 - WE'RE HIRING !
- Authorized Peace Officers - 275* Full Time Employees (Chief, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Agents, Peace Officers)
- Vacancies - 37* Full Time Equivalents
- Applicants for those positions currently in process - 193 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 • •
The Chula Vista Fire Department began Ambulance Transport Services on April 9th, taking over from AMR, who had been our provider for 40 years. Six of the eight ambulances were placed into service 24 hours a day/365 days per year. The remaining two ambulances will be in service 9am - 9pm. Each ambulance is staffed with one paramedic and one emergency medical technician. We welcomed 48 new employees to the Fire Department in April. Chula Vista Ambulance Transport will arrive on-scene faster and will cost insured patients less than AMR. We look forward to providing statistics and updates in the next few months.
Four Chula Vista Recreation Centers will open May 5th: Norman Park Senior Center, Monte Valle, Veterans, and Otay Recreation Centers. The other centers will open in a phased reopening plan over the next few months.
The Greg Cox Bicycle Skills Park opened in a collaborative effort, funded by the County of San Diego, at 325 Rancho Drive. The city of Chula Vista will manage the park, which is technically in San Diego (adjacent to Chula Vista) at the Otay Valley Regional Park. Bring a helmet and come have some fun! Click here to see a video of youngsters riding through a section of the impressive new 3.2 acre park and here to see additional footage of the bike park and learn about the nearby 79 acre Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Campground (with 51 camp sites and 10 YURTS!).
Rohr Park has new outdoor playground equipment.
The Department of Homeland Security has extended the REAL ID enforcement date, from the original date of October 1, 2021. The new deadline is May 3, 2023. Beginning May 3, 2023, all persons 18 and older will be required to have a U.S. REAL ID compliant driver's license or ID card for domestic air travel. Click here to read more.
Earn a FREE Public Transportation for a month! MTS launched "Eat-Shop-Play" in April to help support our local small businesses and get people moving again! Eat, shop or play at one of many venues in downtown Third Avenue. Spend $10 at a participating local business in Chula Vista or the region, and receive a stamp. Collect 10 branded stamps and receive a $72 MTS transit card for the month! Stamped cards to be redeemed at MTS's headquarters at the 12th & Imperial trolley station. Click here to learn more. Please note that not all participating businesses are listed on the website yet, so be sure to ask your favorite Chula Vista merchant if they participate in the program.
Chula Vista has a new, luxury Bed & Breakfast - for cats! Chula Vista resident and entrepreneur Lisa Bender opened "Mama Lisa's Rainbow Kittihood Kitten & Cat Bed & Breakfast. Click here to visit her website. Click here to read the heartwarming Star News story. Lisa is the former co-owner of Moctezuma Books & Gallery on Third Avenue.
Chula Vista opened Fire Station #3 in April 2021, at 100 Moss Street. The new, state-of-the-art fire station was built with Measure P 1/2 cent sales taxes and replaces a 60+ year old, dilapidated fire station. Click here to see footage of the old and new fire station. Fire station #3 was the second of two new fire stations we opened this year!
• • Kudos to • •
Operation Pride, and the enormous, collaborative, multi-agency effort for their outstanding work collecting 261,000 pounds of trash from "The Jungle", on the south of the Sweetwater River, adjacent to Hwy 54 and Hwy 805, to the east of the KOA. Mother Earth and Northwest Chula Vista residents thank you! Kudos to Agent Freddy Dominguez, for rescuing and transporting a family of kittens to the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility.
You Are Not Alone (YANA) coordinators Susannah Saco and Linda Dolsen, Senior Volunteer Patrol Supervisor Bob Mains, and members of the CVPD Senior Volunteer Patrol, for their extraordinary care of YANAs during COVID. They not only delivered donated care packages of essential and non-perishable items to seniors enrolled in the Chula Vista Police Department's YANA program, but also called YANAs daily to ensure they remained mentally and physically in good health. Those daily phone calls were at times the only human interaction YANAs had for the day. YANA enrollees are seniors or disabled persons who live alone and have no one else to check on them. The Senior Volunteer Patrol is looking forward to resuming weekly personal visits soon. For more information about the You are Not Alone (YANA) program, please contact the Senior Volunteer Patrol Unit at (619)476-2417.
CVESD Superintendent Dr. Francisco Escobedo for your service and dedication to our students, families, teachers, and employees of the Chula Vista Elementary School District. Dr. Escobedo will leave the CVESD August 31, 2021, to lead San Diego State University's efforts to transform urban schools. Click here to read the UT article. Click here to learn more about the SDSU initiative.
Community Through Hope, Rosy Vasquez, barber Donald James, Operation Immunity and local volunteers, for hosting the Day of Hope event last month, featuring vaccinations, a mobile shower unit, haircuts, outreach services, food and other services. Click here for the heartwarming story.
Hilltop High School's Adopt-A-Senior Campaign, a Facebook group of 266 members, created by compassionate Hilltop High faculty Christina Espinoza, Louise Eckels Williamson, Courtney Michele, Connect Crew, alumni and community members. This unique and uplifting program connects graduating seniors with a community member who will see that their senior is celebrated through June, when he/she graduates. The pandemic has kept the seniors off campus for the entire year. They missed Homecoming, assemblies, field trips, sporting events, and in-person socialization. Adopted seniors have been receiving gifts, uplifting messages, lunch dates, and love. My daughter and I adopted the most impressive young lady, Gabriela Spicer. We recently enjoyed a late lunch by the beach together and look forward to carrying our "adoption" through her years at UCSD and beyond.
• • Congratulations • •
To the seven new 125th Chula Vista Police Academy Graduates, for being sworn in to protect and serve Chula Vista! You are joining the finest police department in the country! Congratulations, Officer L. Moreno, Officer C. Misegades, Officer T. Rudolph, Officer R. Gifford, Officer M. Menna, Officer J. Acosta and Officer M. Jauregui.
Dr. Moises Aguirre, for being confirmed as the permanent new Superintendent of the Sweetwater Union High School District. Dr. Aguirre has been serving as SUHSD's Interim Superintendent. Prior to that, he was Assistant Superintendent of Business Services. Dr. Aguirre lives in the South Bay and is also a parent of students in the district. Click here to read more.
• • Call to Action • •
Share your COVID story for posterity! Chula Vista District 2's Chris Morrow, an independent filmmaker, shared her stories of the COVID pandemic, from long lines at grocery stores and the scarcity of toilet paper to stuffed animals riding the Belmont Park roller coaster. Watch the news report here. Read more COVID stories with the San Diego History Center here. Share your story here.
Meals On Wheels (still) needs more volunteers! Join my good friend, Betty Torano and other amazing volunteers by delivering meals to homebound seniors (roughly 1-2 hour shift (11am-1pm), 1-4 times per month). Last month, I rode along with Betty and met some of the very kind folks who volunteer each week to deliver meals and check in on our beloved seniors. Click here to learn more.
Chula Vista opened a FREE COVID monoclonal antibody treatment center. 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. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, a one-hour, FREE, monoclonal antibody treatment might help you recover more quickly. Click here to learn more. Call the Monoclonal Antibody Treatment Center operated by San Ysidro Health Center (619) 685-2500 to make an appointment, 7 days per week, 8am - 5pm.
EVERY CALIFORNIAN 16+ is now eligible to receive the COVID vaccine.
REMINDER - COVID Vaccines and Testing are all FREE.
All County vaccination sites are now walk-in, no appointment necessary.
The main County vaccination site in South Bay is managed by Sharp and is located at the old Sears building at the Chula Vista Mall, 565 Broadway Ave. Hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 7am - 7pm. Beginning May 18th, the superstation will be open Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm. Learn more about County vaccination sites at this link. Please note that the city's COVID site at the Orange Avenue library was demobilized Friday, April 30th. Thank you city staff and volunteers for your months of dedicated service, administering more than 54,000 tests since October at that site.
Free vaccinations are also available 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.
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.
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.
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 June 30, 2021. Click here to read more.
The Federal Government has suspended student loan collections through September 30, 2021. Click here to read more.
MTS is offering free rides to vaccination appointments. Riders on Trolleys or busses will only need to show a confirmation email of their vaccine appointment that day, in a printout or on a smart phone. Passengers are required to wear a mask and please do not take transit if you are sick. 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.
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 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. 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.
Round 6 of the California Relief Grant ($5,000-$25,000) for waitlisted small businesses and nonprofits (Rounds 1 - 5 applicants) and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria begins April 28 - May 4th. More information can be found here.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has extended its application period for loans to small businesses to May 31, 2021. Click here to learn more and see if you qualify.
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 has reinstated fares for San Diego County residents for essential needs (medical appointments and grocery shopping) for seniors, persons with disabilities, students, veterans and other residents who need assistance. Call FACT at (888) 924-3228 between 8am - 3pm, Monday - Friday to request and schedule 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 reimburses 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.
Free meals (breakfast, lunch and fruit), regardless of income eligibility, are available (while supplies last) for all children ages 2 - 18 on Tuesdays from 11am - 1pm at most Sweetwater Union High School District middle and high school campuses. Click here for more information and locations. For CVESD, all enrolled students may participate in the meal distribution program, which includes food for seven days. Click here for more information.
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
• • 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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