Meeting notes by Lola Sherman
Downtown Oceanside is looking a lot better, security-patrol officials told the MainStreet Oceanside Monthly Morning Meeting Tuesday.
Sometimes, he said, the patrol runs up against jurisdictional issues.
There was a lot of interest in problems around the Oceanside Transit Center, but Norman said that’s one of the ”gray areas of jurisdiction”. It is not, he said, the responsibility of Oceanside police but of the county sheriff.
Still, he said, particularly the pathway from the transit center to Coast Highway is looking “a lot better.” There’s ”a marked difference,” he said.
(Hemet-based Gatekeeper was hired last year with a $1-million grant from the city. It provides seven-day, 24-hour unarmed patrol in the downtown core.)
Most questions centered on problems around the transit center and the 7-Eleven store on North Coast Highway. Tom DeMooy, a MainStreet board member, said it’s not possible to walk safely in the area behind the church (Seagaze Drive and Tremont Street) near the transit center.
Jane Marshall, president of Oceanside Coastal Neighborhood Association, praised the cleanup that has been done at the transit center, wondered about the possibility of surveillance cameras and asked if the patrols could swing through nearby residential areas as well.
Penny Mayercheck expressed concern about conditions near the sports arena being built in the city’s El Corazon area (outside of downtown) but was told by Linda Piña in the audience that a police station will be built in that area.
Speaking of surveillance cameras, Rick Wright, MainStreet CEO, showed video taken of one of the new Big Belly Trash Receptacles being vandalized. Two men were shown running full force and crashing into them.
A fuller report on the new receptacles was left for the arrival of Colleen Foster, the city’s environmental officer, later in the meeting.
Meanwhile, Wright showed pictures from the recent statewide California Main Street conference meeting hosted by MainStreet Oceanside.
He said sessions were held at the Springhill Suite, and a reception was held at the Oceanside Museum of Art. Kristi Hawthorne, director of the Oceanside Historical Society, provided a tour of downtown sites. Wright said that the 75 attendees were “very impressed” by what Oceanside has to offer.
Oceanside Police Officer Tyler Peppard
He said this was only the second presentation on the local program, which provides decals that can be placed in business windows to tell such victims that it is a safe place to seek refuge and summon police.
Peppard handed out fliers stating the program originated with Seattle police in 2015.
He noted that Oceanside’s annual PRIDE parade celebrating LGBTQ people is the second largest in the county, but there already have been hate crimes this year.
In response to a question from the audience, Police Lt. John McKean said “there is no agenda” involved, “no push,” but it is something that can be put out to all business owners. “Hopefully, this is something that runs itself when it gets up and running,” McKean said.
Piña suggested he contact Max Disposti at the North County LGBTQ Resource Center. She said she’d like a sticker for her car (Carla and Linda’s Walking Food Tours).
Peppard said he had a roster for those who would like to participate.
Foster arrived to show an informational video for businesses illustrating the correct use of large trash bins.
After the video, she did a presentation on the new Big Belly trash receptacles in a pilot program for downtown. The new bins have solar-powered compacting ability and have a capacity five times that of current receptacles.
Foster said there are approximately 500 public trash cans citywide, but there was only money (at a cost of $6,000 to $9,000 a unit) to swap out 17 of them.
Noting the bright colors on the new big cans, Foster said, “obviously, they are very visual.” Scenes painted on the cans were coordinated with Visit Oceanside and reflect not just downtown sites but such as Mission San Luis Rey as well.
McKean, citing the case of a woman who accidentally dropped her keys along with some refuse in a can, asked that police have access to opening them.
At the end of the meeting, Cathy Nykiel, Sunset Market manager and director of events, reported that the annual Independence Parade will be held early this year, June 24, due to the need to coordinate with city resources.
Nykiel said Genentech biotech company is Title Sponsor again this year, and 2,500 programs will be printed.
She asked the group to watch for an email asking for nominations for Hometown Heroes (up to three) to be honored. The Parade Committee is doing a community-wide outreach to name this year’s Hometown Heroes. Nomination forms will also be posted on the parade website as soon as they are available: OceansideParade.com.
From The Coast News newspaper, Sue Otto, advertising manager, explained the paper’s new “Best in North County” section.
Marshall announced that the Oceanside Coastal Neighborhood Association will meet at 6 p.m. on March 22 at St. Mary’s School, 515 Wisconsin St., to hear about the city’s sand-retention efforts.
The next MainStreet Morning Meeting will be held on April 4, 2023.
The MainStreet Morning Meeting is held on the first Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m.
We welcome all parties interested in the progress of Downtown Oceanside, including businesspeople, residents, and City staff.
This informative one-hour meeting is held in an informal discussion format. The general public is always welcome! Come meet your city officials, MainStreet Oceanside staff and members and find out about upcoming events and changes to YOUR downtown and city.
The MainStreet Morning Meeting is held at the MainStreet Oceanside meeting room at 701 Mission Avenue. Call our office for more information or directions at (760) 754-4512.
