Quality of Life, Seacoast Lighting, Tidelands, Youth Panels on Agenda

To consider pedestrian-scale lighting and other changes to Seacoast Drive, the creation of new committees to advise the city and hear a presentation about the region's quality of life, the Imperial Beach City Council will meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. for a special meeting.

A presentation will be delivered by a representative of the Equinox Center about the 2013 Quality of Life Dashboard.

The dashboard surveys residents about 14 important topics like jobs, water quality and affordable housing [see attached PDF].

This is agenda item 1.1.

Following suggestions made by local residents, WiLDCOAST, Surfrider Foundation and others, the city will consider reviving its Tidelands Advisory Committee (TAC).

The committee was first formed in the 1990s and became inactive in 2011, said Assistant City Manager Greg Wade. 

As director of the Community Development Department, Wade would sit on the committee but would not have the power to vote.

The committee may be made up of five "local stakeholders" like a representative from the California Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Suggestions that the committee re-emerge have persisted since a meeting was held Jan. 23 to discuss the adverse impact of sand replenishment on the local environment and private property.

In the agenda packet for the Feb. 27 meeting [see attached PDF], City Manager Gary Brown urges the City Council to consider the following questions:

• Are there important topics on which Council wishes to receive TAC recommendations?
• Does the TAC  fact finding and public meetings duplicate what City Council and staff already do?
• Will the TAC provide an additional, valuable forum for public learning and input?
• Will there be adequate City staffing available for the TAC?
• Will the TAC unnecessarily slow down projects?

"The TAC may in some ways duplicate the work of City Council, but it can add value by exploring specific topics in more depth and more extensive interaction with the public," the staff report said.

Committee members would advise the city on matters related to the coast, Imperial Beach's local coastal plan and port master plan issues.

Appointments to TAC would be made by Mayor Jim Janney and approved by the Imperial Beach City Council.

This is agenda item 6.1.

Both Councilmembers Bobby Patton and Brian Bilbray discussed the idea of a youth committee when running for office last fall.

The idea of a youth committee will be explored at the meeting Wednesday. City Council will decide whether to appoint two council members to an ad-hoc committee to explore the idea and report back to council at a later date.

The committee would focus on ways young people can contribute to the community and ways to improve youth services.

This is agenda item 6.3.

At a Jan. 30 workshop meeting, consultants hired by the city gave a presentation on ways to improve Seacoast Drive including more lighting for pedestrians, increased advertising, gateway signs and parklets or mini parks.

City Council requested at the workshop meeting that the consultants continue to work with city staff and make formal recommendations.

Based on that collaboration, potential improvements and staff comments will be discussed at the meeting Wednesday. Here are those changes block by block based on staff comments.

City staff estimate that changes could cost from $50,00 to $400,000

From Palm to Dahlia avenues on Seacoast Drive:

• The block may not require lighting improvements due to lighting from buildings and the port parking lot.
• Consider creating a small plaza and gathering place.
• Consider a gateway sign at the Palm Avenue and Seacoast Drive intersection.
• Consider widening the parking lot on the east side of the street.

From Dahlia to Donax avenues:

• Remove bushes and add up-lighting on east side.
• Encourage property owners to install building lighting.
• Add sidewalk where bushes are removed.
• Widen sidewalk on east side of street.

From Donax to Daisy avenues:

• Widen sidewalk on east side.
• Install pedestrian-scale lighting on both sides of street.

From Daisy to Date avenues:

• Create 7-foot-wide sidewalk.
• Plant palm trees with up-lighting adjacent to vacant lot.
• Construct attractive fence along vacant lot.
• Work with property and business owners in commercial building to install additional exterior lighting.

From Date to Elm avenues:

• Widen sidewalk.
• Construct ADA compliant driveways.
• Install up-lights or pedestrian-scale lighting.

From Elm to Evergreen avenues:

• Widen sidewalk on east side.
• Install lights.
• Enhance bus stop lighting on east side.

Evergreen to Elder avenues:

• Install pedestrian-scale lighting.
• Widen sidewalk.
• Elder to Elkwood avenues:
• Widen sidewalk.
• Install more lights where feasible.

Elkwood to Ebony avenues:

• Widen sidewalk where feasible.
• Install points of light.
• Construct ADA-compliant driveway approach.

Elkwood to Ebony avenues:

• Coordinate with Port of San Diego for street end easements