Good news for Ocean Beach out of the 2017 Budget…
OB Library Expansion
Firstly, by working with the Library Department and the Friends, Councilmember Zapf was able to secure over $200,000 to begin a preliminary engineering study on the expansion of the Ocean Beach Library Annex. Once this initial assessment is completed by City Staff (approximately 8 months), we will advocate for design and construction dollars depending on several different alternatives with input from the Friends of the Library and community. We are also anticipating that 4 out of the 5 tenants, who are currently in the annex, will be vacated by the October timeframe. Library Staff is evaluating how to best use this soon to be vacated space for library and educational purposes in short term and/or uses that align with the intent and purpose of the original CDBG loan. This is new momentum for this important community project.
OB Lifeguard Station
As of part of the FY 2017 Councilmember budget priority memos, Councilmembers were asked to recommend their top priority projects for a $90.0 million deferred capital bond currently planned for issuance at the end of FY 2017 (April/May, 2017) (DCB #4). This bond is being discussed to be about $90 million with approximately $60 million going to Transportation and Stormwater Projects (street reconstructions, sewer, water). The remaining $30 million will be allocated for CIP Projects. The good news is that 7 out of 9 Councilmembers recommend funding for the design of the Ocean Beach Lifeguard Station including Councilmember Zapf. I will obviously keep you update on this progress but nothing has been finalized at this point. Councilmember Zapf was very happy to see our outreach efforts to other Council offices pay off. There will be a public hearing on this next Spring and I will encourage the community to come out and support Councilmember Zapf’s recommendation at time.
OB Street Light Circuit
Public safety in Ocean Beach was also improved as we were successful in obtaining funding for the Abbott Corridor Street Light Circuit which received $1.4 million in to replace the entire underground infrastructure of street lights. As we heard at a recent Town Council meeting, this was a top priority for residents. While I am still looking to get information on the size of the circuit to be replaced, I note that there are 32 circuits citywide. This will undoubtedly help reduce outages and improve nighttime walkability. More information to come here.
There are several more budget highlights to announce but for now, I am happy to say that we are making progress on several high-profile community projects and are actually implementing the newly adopted community plan with your continued advocacy and help. I will announce more at the next OBTC meetings and Planning Board meetings. Please let me know if you have any questions for me and/or City staff. This is an exciting time for OB and I am glad to be a part of the team.
Kind regards,
Conrad
Conrad Wear
Council Representative | Ocean Beach & Point Loma |
Policy Advisor | Infrastructure |
Councilmember Lorie Zapf | District 2 | City of San Diego
