By TR Robertson
A full agenda highlighted the September meeting of city, county, and state representatives for the September Carlsbad Government Affairs meeting. Three guest speakers delivered detailed presentations about three important topics.
Holly Nelson and Mandy Mills from the City of Carlsbad and Mickey Williams from the Carlsbad Police Department presented an update on the status of the Homeless situations in Carlsbad. Holly and Mandy are with the Housing and Homeless Services and Mickey will soon take over as the new Police Chief for the City of Carlsbad. Holly, Senior Manager for the Housing and Homeless Services, presented a power point presentation detailing what the city’s approach is to deal with homeless issues.
San Diego has the third largest homeless population in California. Seventy per cent of the homeless live in unsheltered situations. There are many agencies trying to assist with the homeless crisis. At the present time, Carlsbad is the only city in San Diego County that has a specific department assigned to handle and study homeless problems. Some of the statistics the department has been able to gather indicate that 67% of the homeless in this area are male, 32% female and 1% transgender, 73% are Caucasian, 46% -50 years old and older, 6% under the age of 18 and 70% of the homeless last permanent address was in Carlsbad. The city began to deal with the homeless issue in the city in 2016.
By April 2021, $5.2 million was designated to create and implement a work plan. Some of the projects have been the creation of Homeless Outreach Teams, a North County Social Workers Pilot Program, hosting Town Hall Meetings, and a creation of the Housing and Homeless Services Department. Other statistics presented include 4,514 calls for service (both from citizens and from homeless individuals), 3,839 individual services, 133 homeless placed in temporary housing, 74 assigned to mental health evaluation, 133 clean-up projects in 2020 (this was placed on a temporary pause due to COVID). Future plans include setting up employment specialists, Emergency Shelter Voucher Programs, Rental Assistance through a Community Resource Center and expanded Clinical Services. When asked about the areas in Carlsbad experiencing the most homeless population, Chief Williams said the Village area and the area between College and Jefferson receives the most calls for issues dealing with homeless problems. For more information call 760-931-2249 or go to www.policeHOT@carlsbadca.gov or the cities web site.
The next speaker was Jordan Marks from Taxpayer Advocate San Diego County Assessor Office. Mr. Marks presented a power point about the Assessor Office and services. There are 5 offices in San Diego County, the closest North County office is in San Marcos. A total of 415 staff positions works in the five offices, dealing with a $50 million budget. The Assessor’s Office appraises all real and personal property in San Diego County. The Recorders Offices verify all documents and numerous other duties. The County Property Tax Roll is $627 billion in assessed value and had a record high taxpayer savings of over $250 million. Also included in this was taxes on 13,312 boats and 1,550 aircraft. The COVID-19 property tax relief was over $1 billion in assessed value reductions. For the past year Carlsbad, saw a 3.14% increase in taxable value. Jordan stated that customer service is their offices #1 priority. During the COVID shutdown, their offices were the first in the state to continue to offer marriages by setting up the Marriage Hut, taking over a snack shack to perform walk-up and rescheduled marriages. This was so popular they were booked 7 weeks out. Mr. Marks next went over the results of Proposition 13 and 19 and how this affected property taxes for residents, replacement property, Senior exclusions, Farm issues, businesses and the COVID impact, Disabled Veterans and much more. He encouraged anyone with questions to call their offices at 619-531-5064 or visit their web site at www.sdarcc.com to ask questions about any issues they may have dealing with property taxes or any other issues involving the county recorder or county clerk.
Jeremy Ogul, from Jobs on County Land Coalition gave a presentation on the Working Family Ordinance proposals from Nathan Fletcher and Terra Lawson-Remer. The presentation showed the effects that may arise from the ordinance such as construction and general employment on county owned land, issues dealing with wages, uncertainty for employers, creation of an unequal playing field between businesses on public and private land, FAA grant violations and the need to direct revenues from the General Fund. The County Supervisors are expected to vote on the proposed ordinance October 5th. For more information go to www.Jobsoncountylandcoalition.com.
Legislative Reports
Jason Haber – City of Carlsbad – Peder Norby has been appointed the new City Council Member for District 1 serving until November 22. There is also a vacancy in the City Clerk position. Citizen Council meetings are currently postponed.
Kristal Jabara – County Supervisor Jim Desmond’s Office – $28,000 has been appropriated for a Teen Career Library for Carlsbad. SANDAG Town Hall meetings are being held. Supervisor Desmond is the Chairman for a study for the disposal of nuclear fuel disposal. A study will soon be underway for evacuation plans during power safety shut-off necessities. Workshops will be underway concerning redistricting.
Matthew Phy from State Senator Patricia Bates Office – various deadlines are underway concerning proposed legislation requiring the Governor’s signature.
Kyle Krahel-Frolander from U.S. Congressman Mike Levin’s Office – Kyle read a statement from the Congressman concerning the troop withdrawal in Afghanistan and the recent deaths of U.S. Marines in that country. Several veterans’ bills are on the docket the Congressman supports. The Congressman is in support of the $250 million Desalinization Act and proposals to move spent nuclear fuel from the San Onofre site.
Bret Schanzenbach, CEO Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce – Workshop will be held for small business owners to go over the proposed retirement program for businesses with 5 or more employees. Date for this in person and online program is Sept. 8. Go to the Chambers web site for more information. https://carlsbad.org/
