Pier South Hotel Sign Design, Climate Change and City Pay Raises at Meeting Wednesday

The Imperial Beach City Council will meet Wednesday to discuss and decide on matters ranging from the potential impact of climate change on IB to Pier South Hotel to the exit of sheriff's substation substation commander Lt. Marco Garmo.

City Council will consider sign proposals for Pier South Hotel made by Pacifica Properties.

The corrugated glass, eight-feet-tall signs would sit in planters at the northeast and southeast corners of the property in a stainless steel frame. Of two possible sign designs brought forward, city staff suggests the sign advertise Sea 180 Coastal Tavern and the hotel but not D'ames Day Spa.

"Though it is not staff's intent to exclude the business from signage, it was staff's opinion that the addition of a third element/business did not blend well due to the proposed colors of red and yellow, and because the sign appeared crowded due to improper scale and spacing," a Community Development Department staff report on the signs states. 

This is agenda item 5.1 (pg. 50).

A representative of Pacifica Companies will also give a report to City Council about progress made so far in construction of the hotel. Crews have moved beds and furniture into the hotel in recent weeks. 

Pacifica is expected to announce that the hotel will open its doors Nov. 1, the staff report states. Last month Pacific employees told IB Patch the hotel may open in September or October.

This is agenda item 6.1 (pg. 64).

City Council may retroactively approve a July 2013-June 2015 agreement with employees represented by Service Employees International Union Local 221 Wednesday. A three percent pay raise in the next two fiscal years is expected to cost the city about $316,000, city staff estimate. Negotiators from both parties reached a deal last Tuesday, according to SEIU Local 221.

See agenda item 6.4 (pg. 128) to read the terms of the agreement.

In June, a week before President Obama laid out plans to address climate change, the Imperial Beach City Council discussed grants to study sea level rise in and near IB.

Back then city council approved an Ocean Protection Council grant application. On Wednesday council members will consider submitting a State Coastal Conservancy grant application also for the purpose of studying the effects of climate change.

Both studies could lead to the adoption of a climate change plan for Imperial Beach. 

This is agenda item 6.2 (pg. 66).

A three-year study of climate change in the Tijuana estuary and river valley is also underway.

The meeting Wednesday will start by recognizing Maria Ramirez and Lt. Marco Garmo with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. 

This is last week as the commanding officer at the Imperial Beach substation, Garmo told IB Patch.

City Manager Gary Brown is expected to retire Aug. 9, Assistant City Manager Greg Wade told IB Patch Monday.

Andy Hall, who will take Brown's place as the city's chief executive officer, is expected to start Aug. 16. Wade will act as Interim City Manager until Hall starts.

In the consent calendar, multiple agenda items approved with a single vote, the warrant register shows about $932,000 in $1.09 million in expenses including payroll between July 6-25.

This is agenda item 2.2 (pg. 30).

Also on the consent calendar is an agreement with Urban Corps for landscaping work around a project to provide Bayshore Bikeway access near the city's Public Works facility near the corner of 10th Street and Cherry Avenue.

A contract was awarded to Sierra Pacific last month but a Regional Trails Program grant valued at near $350,000 that will fund the majority of the project stipulates a portion of the work be done by Urban Corps.

This is agenda item 2.3 (pg. 42). 

If agenda item 6.3 (pg. 118) is approved, a consulting firm will be asked to draw up plans related to storm water and the project's construction permit.

People with disabilities who wish to attend the meeting can call 619-423-8301 for assistance. Cox Communication customers may watch the meeting on channel 24.