CHULAVISTA MAYOR WANTS ROUTE125 TO BE TOLLFREE

BY TAMMYMURGA

CHULAVISTA ChulaVista Mayor Mary Casillas Salasispushing to turnSouthCounty’s only toll roadintoa free highway.

SouthBayExpressway, which openedin2007, is the 10-milestretch of state Route 125 that runs from state Route 905 in Otay Mesa to state Route 54in Spring Valleyandseesabout 54,000driversdaily Tolls range from 50 cents to $3.50 formotorists.

The SanDiego AssociationofGovernments,the county’s leadtransportationplanning agency has operatedthe roadsinceit acquireditin2011 for$341.5 million, about one-third of what a private consortium spent to buildit, according to theagency.

In2017, SANDAG refinanceditsoutstanding loans and, asofOctober 2020 owed about$182 million according to its November2020debt overview report. Toll revenueisused to repaytheloans and the costsofdaily operationsand maintenance.

SANDAG must payoff thatdebtby2042, but Salas saidshe wantsit to bepaid by2027. SalassaidChulaVista residents who commute for work and school are the most affectedbythe toll road and thatithashinderedbusinesses from openingshopinthecity.

“To us,it’s a matter ofthe ability forus to in South Bay, really flourisheconomically and to attractthose companies that wewant to provide the jobs that we need,”shesaid.“Ithinkthat thisis a goodthing toget rid of this toll sooner rather thanlater.”

Withunanimoussupport fromtheChulaVistaCity Council,Salasaskedthe SANDAG board ofdirectors,ofwhich sheis a member to consider a financial plan to retire thedebtby 2027. At a SANDAG meeting late lastmonth,shesuggestedtheagencytake advantage ofanopportunity to refinanceoncemorein2027. ShouldSANDAG refinance, there wouldbeabout a $40 million gap to payoffthe remainingbalance saidAndre Douzdjian,the chief financialofficerwithSANDAG.

“Idon’tlike debt.Ilike to payoffdebt,” said Douzdjian.“I comeback to the board and refinanceas much as I can and that wouldbethe goalbut we’re notthere yet.”

Thehope,saidDouzdjian,is to build reserves,especiallyafter revenues droppedamid the COVID-19 pandemic.SinceSANDAG took over the toll road,there was about a 6 percentannual growth,butin 2020, revenues droppedbyabout25 percent,hesaid. To date,the agencyhas about $80million inSouthBayExpressway reserves,headded.

Salas’proposal received mixed reviews fromthe SANDAG board. Terry Gaasterland, a Del Mar coun- cilmember supported her request.“Mayor you are defendingnotonlythepeople wholive and work within your city, but yourstudents,”she saidduringthemeeting. “Theyhave negative income. They’re paying togoto school,they’re payingtheir tuitionandthey too are affectedbythis toll,especially whentheyliveinyourregion.”

SanteeMayor John Minto cautionedthat removing the toll could potentiallyincreasetraffic congestion inEastCounty, sayingthat“onething always leads to another.”

CoronadoCouncilmember Bill Sandke added thatif atoll removalis considered, “We better dothisdeliberatelywithsome datapoints andstudiesandsomemore research backgroundon this.”

CatherineBlakespear, SANDAG chairperson and mayorofEncinitas,saidthe issue involveslookingatthe budgetmore closely, which theboard agreed to doata future meeting.“Itseems like there are policy considerationsandGHG(greenhouse gas) considerations andequity considerations and financial considerations Andso, we need, you know, thatbudget,” shesaid. tammy.murga@sduniontribune.com said Megan Gamwell, the city’s economicdevelopmentspecialist. NeighboringChulaVista’s is on the high endwithafee upwards of$16,000.

The estimated$11,000 willbepaid asapplicants move along a three-phased application process. The firstphase determines if a business meetsthe minimum eligibility requirements andwill costallapplicants$1,859 There will also bea$350 background check fee per ownerand$80fora zoning verification letter, which verifieszoning andentitlementson a property.

Thosewhomove onto phase two will be charged $3,765 for anapplication evaluation.Applicationswill bescoredandrankedusing amerit-based systemthat looks at a business’plansfor safety andsecurity, neighborhood compatibility, laborandinvestmentinthe community The top sixapplicants witha minimum score of90percentmove onto the finalphase,said Brennan.

Phasethree includesa $5,000deposit to receivea cannabislicenseandthen enterintoa development agreementwiththecity. The

Citycouncils

Chula Vista, 5p.m. Tuesday

Schoolboards

Chula VistaElementary SchoolDistrict, 6p.m.

Wednesday; National SchoolDistrict(National City), 6p.m. Wednesday; SanDiegoUnified SchoolDistrict, 5p.m.

Tuesday; San Ysidro SchoolDistrict, 5p.m.

Thursday; SouthBay Union SchoolDistrict (ImperialBeach), 6p.m.

Thursday

OnStage Playhouse presents ‘Admissions’ “Admissions,”anewplaythat explodestheidealsandcontradictions of liberalwhite America, isbeingpresented at OnStage Playhouse, 291 Third Ave.,Chula Vista. The play runsthrough Feb. 24 and showtimesare8p.m. Thursdays Fridays andSaturdays,2 p.m.Sundays Ticketsare$25, or$22 forstudents, seniors, militaryandeducationprofessionals,andare available at https://www.onstageplayhouse.org/2021-2022-season. Call(619)422-7787 oremail

City Council would then have to provide finalapprovalandallow thebusiness to applyfor a land-usepermit andbusinesslicense.

If a business wants to appealtheprocess,such asif theapplicantdisagrees with how thecity scoresitsapplication,thebusinesswill have to pay a fee of$3,586. Thecity will revisitfees annuallyandadjustpermit costsasnecessary, according to city staff. Application formswillbe availableonthecity’s website Monday. tammy.murga@sduniontribune.com info@onstageplayhouse.org.

Bonitamuseum hostssculpture exhibit

The BonitaMuseum& Cultural CenterannouncestheNationalSculpture Society California exhibitionin February andMarch. The exhibition features38pieces by master California sculptors. The museumis at 4355 Bonita Road, Bonita.Hours are 10 a.m.-4p.m. Wednesday throughSaturday Call(619) 267-5141;visitbonitahistoricalsociety.org.

Senditems to fyi.south@sduniontribune.com at least two weeksbefore events.

BY TAMMYMURGA

IMPERIALBEACH

ImperialBeach Mayor

Serge Dedina deliveredhis firstState of the City addressseven yearsago.On Wednesday he gave hislast.

“Ithas truly beenanhonorand one of mymost rewardinglife experiences to serve asthemayorofmy hometown,”hesaidin a prerecordedaddress “What hasmadeitso rewarding was theopportunity to improve thequality of lifeinthe community I grew upin across every corner ofourlittlebeach town forfamily, friends,neighbors community faithleaders,business ownersandvisitorsalike.”

Dedinawillnot be runningfor re-election, and he hasnot yet publiclyshared plansforwhat’s nextinhis politicalcareer. In2020 he hadannouncedinterestin former Sen KamalaHarris’ openseat,which isnow filled bySen.Alex Padilla.He was sworninasthecity’s mayor in November2014 after becoming the firstinthecity’s history to unseatanincumbent,former Mayor Jim Janney In2018, Dedinabegan hissecond term. Before discussingpri- oritiesforthenew year, the mayorhighlightedsomeof hisoffice’s accomplishments overthepastseven years, which includepavingalleys that were oncedirt,attractingnew businesses,installing streetlightsandanoutdoor fitness gym, andbringing murals to areasthat hadbeen fouledby graffiti.

Underhis leadership, thecity also sued thefederal government over theongoingcross-bordersewage pollution.

“Thanks to local nonpartisanleadership,theEPA (EnvironmentalProtection Agency)isnow developinga comprehensiveplanforthe necessary infrastructure to addressthese concerns,” saidDedina.

Last yearfocusedon COVID-19 recovery efforts andhow to use $6.56 million in stimulusfunding. A large portionofthefundswill go toward grantsandloansfor businesses and household assistance,as well asimprovementsforcity facilities and recreation.

Thisnew yearisputting those plansinto action.Dedinahighlighted the council’s January voteto developarchitecturalandengineering designs to revampthevacant,city-ownedPalm Avenuebuildingintoa new community center.

The renovationispart of thecity’s plan to rebuildits Parks and Recreationprogram,which Dedinasaidwill be the focus ofhis final yearin office.ImperialBeach dissolvedthedepartmentin2014 due to budget cutsanditis now buildingit fromscratch.

“We will createa program that every residentinour community willenjoy We willbuild community pride throughinvolvementinan inclusive programthat accountsfor residents fromall walks oflife and every incomelevel,”hesaid.

Dedinaalso recognized several community organizationsthat contributed to the community last year, amongthemtheUCSDCenter for Community Health’s nutritionpantry program andtheSunCoast Market Co-op which is a natural grocery store co-oplooking to openinI.B. tammy.murga@sduniontribune.com