the mad ‘solution’
Discussion on the Pacific Beach MAD
This is a series of legacy posts from a 2008 website I created regarding the Maintenance Assessment District (MAD) DiscoverPB tried to impose on the community…
A Maintenance Assessment District (MAD) is being considered for the business and surrounding residential neighborhoods of the western side of Pacific Beach, CA. Have you decided if you are in support of this MAD? Learn more about what others are thinking here before you make your decision.
Where to start? Right here…
You’re here by invitation. Where do you start? What can you do? Read up, come to the June 5th, 2008 meeting with your concerns and to the City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 10am. Check out the Engineer’s Report and MAD Zone Map articles below. These are the foundational documents used to develop the current MAD assessment. All the other posts on this pageare relevant to the assessment issue and will help you make an informed decision.
MAD Links:
Engineer’s Report
Appendix
Map Street Lighting
Other helpful links:
MAD: At a price?
Other San Diego MADs
What is Proposition 218
Thursday, May 27, 2008
Open Letter to the PB Community
There are several considerations to make before the Maintenance Assessment District (MAD) assessment proposal is voted upon. Are you happy with the current proposal? Do you know the details?
I’ve expressed my opinions on several issues relating to the existing work of Discover Pacific Beach (BID) as well as the use and allocation of funds from this potential MAD assessment.
Here’s my open letter to the Pacific Beach community.
To view my personal analysis of the Discover PB BID 2009 budget click here. And for Discover PB’s version click here.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Public Meeting – June 5 – Last chance before vote
Summary: A vote was delayed by City Council to advance an assessment measure for the MAD because the public was concerned about lack of prior education on the issue. Discover PB announces a new meeting on June 5, 2008.
My concern is the flier used to promote this meeting is pretty vague – to say the least. It does not explain to the recipient that they face an annual assessment and that this is the last opportunity they will have to shape the measure before it goes to vote.
Background: At the City Council meeting this week, the public commented about their concerns that they were not aware of the forthcoming Pacific Beach Maintenance Assessment District (MAD). Supposedly many attempts by the Discover Pacific Beach (BID) to educate the public were made over the last many months but, still many people simply were unaware.
The Council responded by postponing the action item on the agenda, which was going to send the issue to a full ballot with the 2,173 parcel owners in the MAD zones. Councilmember Faulconer suggested a two week delay on the vote.
Discover PB then arranged a meeting where the public will be invited to discuss their concerns. This discussion will take place about 5 days before the item again goes up to vote.
Also, having the meeting so close to the actual vote date pretty much puts the kibosh on any changes being made to the assessment measure. Am I to believe that Discover PB will hear the concerns of the public, make adjustments, then publicize that to the public, then go to vote the following Tuesday? I doubt it. I think that train has already left the station.
Yet another example of keeping people in the dark – a trend that I believe is indicative of an organization that doesn’t respect it’s constituent’s opinions.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Another MAD Adventure – Golden Hill
Want to learn how another recent MAD is faring? Golden Hill recently installed a MAD and all is not bliss. Read more about their adventure. You may recognize some of the players:
In the news:
MAD Gets Irate, San Diego Reader – May 21, 2008
MAD About Graffiti, San Diego Reader – May 19, 2008
Willful Blindness to Golden Hill, San Diego Reader – July 26, 2007
How much will you pay each year? Call this number…
If you are a property owner in the MAD zone (click here for map) and you want to determine how much your annual assessment will be simply call or email the person below. He’ll look up your property in his binder and give you that information.
Luis Ojeda
Community and Economic Development Department
619-236-6475
lojeda@sandiego.gov
City Council Support Documents
These are the City Council Agenda and support documents concerning the PB MAD.
I noticed inconsistencies in these reports compared to what I’m hearing from the community. I will write about those issues as soon as possible. For now however, these are for your review:
Click here for the Adoption Agenda for Item-109 Western Pacific Beach Maintenance Assessment District, City Council May 27, 2008. These are the few pages (52-56) relating to this item. Click here for the full Agenda.
Click here for the Support Documents mentioned in the first paragraph of the above Adoption Agenda.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Important Notice to Property Owners
Here’s a flier created by a community group that is interested in helping spread the word about the special MAD community meeting announced for June 5th, 2008 at the Discover PB offices at 6:30 p.m.
Here’s the version that was mailed by Discover PB last week to all the affected business and residential property owners in the proposed MAD (see map).
One says there’s a forum to discuss the clean and safe program and the other says there’s an assessment coming. Wonder which one will compel people to the attend?
Is this what we’ll get with the new MAD?
Here’s the contract between the city and the Golden Hill CDC. The items listed in the Scope of Services and Requirements section are essentially what we may also get insofar as services. These funds will go towards cleaning up the western side of the Pacific Beach business and residential sides (see map). Many of these services seem to be duplicates of what the BID is already tasked to do or with city services.
Shouldn’t we have a statement in the MAD assessment that says the MAD cannot do work that is duplicative with existing city service?
Although this agreement is unsigned it is a copy of the final version that Golden Hill enacted.
