Mira Mesa Community Planning Group Elections March 16, 2009

The Mira Mesa Community Planning Group will hold elections March 16th. Anyone interested in being on the Planning Group needs to attend at least one meeting and provide an expression of interest no later than the February meeting. The February Planning Group meeting will be held on Tuesday February 17th at the Mira Mesa Senior Center.

If you are interested in being on the Planning Group, please send your expression of interest to Election subcommittee chair Jeff Stevens at jeffstev@san.rr.com. For more information, use the planning group link.

Mayor Sanders at the Mira Mesa Town Council Double Header

There was a Mayor’s Town Hall Forum last night at the Town Council meeting, in which the Mayor and his staff spoke directly to those in attendance about the city’s water supply challenges, and the need for everyone to conserve water now. The city is supporting the 20 gallon challenge, which basically asks us all to conserve 10% of our current usage (20 gallons per day). They outlined many ways that we can conserve, and also explained that if we do not reach our goal of 10% by the end of the year, we may face mandatory water conservation.

As a city, residents have currently conserved 6.3%, while the city (parks, recreation, city buildings, etc.) have conserved 11.5%.  We are close to achieving the goal, but as residents we need to do a better job. They also asked for residents to compare their water bills, as all the information is listed at the bottom of your statements. There are also tips to help you conserve. Mayor Sanders spelled it out simply “Water is the economy, it affects us all.” For more information, click on this link to the 20gallonchallenge or use the Mayor’s website for ways to conserve.

The second half of the double header involved the Principals from each of the schools in Mira Mesa, and President Hseih and her entire administrative board from Miramar College. It was a great opportunity to meet all of the Principals, and for them to tell us their goals for the upcoming school year. All were proud of the community and their support, but with the major budget cutbacks that each school faces they also stressed the importance of volunteers and the need of financial support.

We also heard from the representatives from Assemblyman George Plescia and Senator Christine Kehoe, and they informed us of a new ordinance banning over sized vehicles from parking on all city streets for extended periods of time. Also passed is the law banning text messaging on cell phones while driving which will take effect on January 1. As a quick reminder, October 20 is the last day to register to vote, so don’t delay. The Public Utilities Commission is holding a hearing on October 14 from 6-8 p.m. at the Al Bahr Shrine Center  to gather information regarding the October 2007 San Diego fires. The public is welcome, and the address is 5440 Kearny Mesa Road.

Local resident Jack Barr reached out to the community to support the “Yes on D” initiative, which would make the temporary ban on alcohol at our city beaches permanent. Go to safebeachessandiego.org for more information.

Patrick Hubbard spoke at the meeting about the sign on Reagan Road that vandals destroyed a few weeks ago. He would like community support to replace the damaged sign, and the Town Council Board will address this at a future meeting.

Another hi-lite of the meeting was the donation from Diana Smith from the Womens Club to the Adopt – A – Wall program, supporting the efforts to paint the walls on Mira Mesa Blvd and surrounding areas. Time Warner Cable also donated $1000 to the efforts, and Mike Davis accepted the checks on behalf of HEROES and the Town Council.

For more details, go to the Mira Mesa Town Council website, and mark your calendar for the next meeting which is November 3.

If you want to keep up with what is going on in Mira Mesa make sure to subscribe to our free newsletter. Not only will you get the latest news sent directly to your inbox, you will also get lots of chances to win some great prizes from local merchants.

Oct. 6 Community Issues “Double Feature”: Water, Education at Mira Mesa Library

This Monday, Oct. 6, there will be a “double feature” evening of back-to-back meetings on two important community issues, water and education, in the community meeting room at the Mira Mesa Library, 8405 New Salem St., from 6 to 8:30 p.m. All Mira Mesa and Scripps Ranch residents are invited to attend either or both of these meetings!

From 6 to 7 p.m., there will be a Critical Water Supplies Issues Town Hall, with Mayor Jerry Sanders and staff members from the San Diego Water Department presenting critical water issues facing our city and answering any questions you may have. To RSVP, please contact Stephen Lew at (619) 236-7174 or RSVPMayor@sandiego.gov.

As the Water Town Hall meeting draws to a close, Mira Mesa Town Council volunteers will serve light refreshments in the back of the room from 6:45 to 7 p.m. and there will be an opportunity to meet the principals and other guest speakers arriving for the annual Mira Mesa Education Night hosted by the MMTC, which will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

That program features the principals of all elementary, middle, and high schools which serve students from Mira Mesa, including Scripps Ranch High School, with an update on what is happening on their campuses, as well as an opportunity to meet the leadership at Miramar College. There are several new principals among the group this year. Following the series of brief presentations, “Education Night” will conclude with an opportunity to chat informally with a number of speakers – and enjoy more refreshments! For more information see www.miramesatowncouncil.org.

City Attorney Candidates Forum at Town Council Meeting

What: City Attorney Candidates Forum

When: Monday, September 8, 7:00 p.m.

Where: Challenger Middle School, 10810 Parkdale Avenue

The September meeting of the Mira Mesa Town Council on Monday evening will feature the two candidates for City Attorney, incumbent Mike Aguirre and his opponent, Jan Goldsmith. This is bound to be very interesting and could go a long way toward helping each of you make a decision regarding your vote in November. This month only, the meeting will be held at the Challenger Middle School to accommodate a larger crowd.

More information on Mike Aguirre is available here.

And for more about Jan Goldsmith click here.

August Town Council Meeting

August 2008 Mira Mesa Town Council Meeting. This was my first time going to a Town Council meeting, and it definitely won’t be my last. I like the fact that if you live in the community, and want to get involved, there are many ways that you can participate. The President of the Town Council is Jeff Stevens, and he covered a lot of ground while letting several residents voice their opinions. Here are some of the topics discussed, with links if you want more detail or contact;

1. Adopt a Wall – Currently painting the walls on Mira Mesa Blvd and surrounding areas. Painting continues on Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 17 from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. Learn more at the “Adopt a Wall” section of the Town Council website.
2. Mira Mesa Street Fair – Spaces are still available if you want to host a booth. The date of the Street Fair is Saturday, Sept. 27th from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Deadline to apply is August 18th, after that there is a $50 late fee. Sign up today! For more details or to get an application click here.
3. Soldier’s Angels, a non-profit group needs your help to fulfill their goal of sending over 100,000 care packages to our troops fighting overseas this holiday season. They are sending blankets, quilts, care packages, letters of support, and calling cards, but they need your help. Go to www.soldiersangels.org to find out how you can help.
4. Protect your home – Landscaping Tips – Greg Rubin, owner of California’s Own Native Landscape Design gave an eye opening presentation on the effective use of native plants in landscaping, and the different ways that you can improve the chances that your home will survive a wildfire. Don’t become a victim, like those who lost their homes to the Witch or Cedar fires. For more info and advise, visit their website.
5. Police Blotter – Police want us to be aware of a group of criminals that have been targeting people walking alone in the Mira Mesa area. They are brazen, sometimes driving up to individuals and surrounding their victims while taking items like cell phones, skateboards, and such. They strike at any hour of the day, so be aware. Walk with a friend. Suspects are typically male, age 16 – 25. Don’t take matters into your own hands, call the police with information. Our local contact is Officer Paul Lennon. (858) 538-8091 for non-emergencies.
6. Mira Mesa Chamber of Commerce is forming! A group of Mira Mesa businesses have started the MMCoC and their inagural meeting is Thursday, August 7th at 6:00 p.m. and will be held at Callahan’s Pub & Brewery. A select menu is available during the meeting for $15 which includes dinner,beverage, tax & tip, so arrive a little early and place your order when you sign in. For more detail click here.

There was more , but I think that the Town Council website will provide a more detailed account of the events. I would encourage you to go to a future meeting, as they are open to the public and are held the first Monday of each month at the Mira Mesa Public Library from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. The next meeting is Monday, September 8 and will feature candidates for City Attorney, Mike Aguirre and Jan Goldsmith. This should be good.

If you want to keep up with what is going on in Mira Mesa make sure to subscribe to our free newsletter. Not only will you get the latest news sent directly to your inbox, you will also get lots of chances to win some great prizes from local merchants.