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Barking Dog
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My neighbor's dog is barking all night. It's now 4 a.m. and I called the "San Clemente Police Department" which is really the OC Sheriff. At least that's how they answer the phone at 4 a.m. They can't do anything. I have to call Animal Services during regular business hours. Of course, they take at least a month to respond to any written complaint. After that you have to wait ten days to complain again. But they don't necessarily tell you when they go out to the dog's house, so you wouldn't know when the 10 days starts. Is there anything planned to fix this crazy situation? Basically, there is no way I can get any sleep tonight or any other night that my neighbor just decides to leave the dog outside to bark all night. By the way this same neighbor leaves the dog outside all day also. I lived in a rural area of San Bernardino County and had much better service than this.
If a resident is experiencing a barking problem they will be asked to contact the Animal Shelter during regular business hours. We are open 6 days a week, which includes Saturdays and Sundays. A person who has a barking complaint must submit a Barking Dog Complaint Form to CASA which can be accessed from the city's website, along with the complete civil citation process. Once received, an Animal Control Officer will contact the Animal Owner as soon as possible to explain the barking dog procedure and attempt to help resolve the situation.
The staff, including the Animal Control Officers, do their best to expedite this process. We try to educate the public on alternative ways to decrease a dog from barking excessively. After the implementation of this process in March of 2008 we were able to see a decrease in the number of barking complaints and an increase in compliance. We feel this program has been successful in alleviating many of the barking dog problems we had previously experienced in the city of San Clemente.
Kimberly Kurtz
CASA
General Manager
While the primary enforcement of this complaint would be for the Animal Shelter the Orange County Sheriff’s Department can assist. If this occurs outside of normal business hours, Sheriff’s dispatch can be reached at 949-770-6011. If you can identify the residence causing the disturbance a deputy will respond and notify the resident to quiet the dog. If you have any problems with this please feel free to call me at 949-361-8230 the next business day.
Paul D’Auria
Chief of Police Services
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Fiesta
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The Fiesta Street Fair in downtown San Clemente on Del
Mar this past weekend was well attended on a beautiful Sunday. The entertainment, food and vendor assortment was plentiful. The idea that our city is the the "friendly Spanish village by the sea" was tarnished tremendously (in my and many others, opinions) by the overflow of beer in the hands of so many questionable patrons parading up and down the street with as many as two cups each. Is this the example we want to set for families with young children in our city? Why do we even sell beer other than to make money?
Why do we want so many beer cup carrying thug type patrons parading around flaunting their egotistical personalities in a business district where they probably don't even shop?
Does this drive our great families away from an event they would like to attend with their kids, and also return to shop on Del Mar? Why not restrict beer sales to our bars and restaurants and then require all alcohol drinkers to remain on the premises of each establishment until they are done drinking? No alcohol on the sidewalks or streets, I say. No beer booths unless in a controlled beer garden type environment. Between the beer overdosed young patrons in abundance and the extreme high volume music (Except the Navy Band), and the overall rudeness in the afternoon that spilled over onto the balcony's of the adjoining neighborhood, why would any decent person in our great community want to attend this event? One law enforcement officer who knows me and saw me asked, "what are you doing in this war zone." Well, I was there with the Courtney's Sandcastle Universal Playground booth, and with Courtney Faye Smith in person in her wheel chair with her Mom. Not an appropriate scene by any stretch of the imagination. By the way, we sold zero tiles in eight hours. I hope this event organizing leadership has the courage to switch to a no alcohol event in the future. Now is the time for our decent and citizens to take this event back.
Don -San Clemente resident and dedicated community volunteer.
The event is a long standing, traditional San Clemente event that is very popular with our community. The event is conducted by the Chamber of Commerce. The City issues a street closure permit and provides a large Sheriff presence to insure a safe event for attendees but the City does not organize or manage the event. Each year representatives from the City and the Sheriff Department meet with the Chamber of Commerce to review the past event and to discuss modifications to the event that might improve it for the next year. We will share your comments with the Chamber of Commerce and include them in our discussions regarding next year's event.
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Target in San Clemente
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My wife is very excited to have a Target coming to San Clemente, what is the status of this development?
In May 2010, the City Council unanimously approved the development of a Target retail store at the northwest corner of Avenida La Pata and Vista Hermosa. It is located in the Forster Ranch Specific Plan and is directly across the street for the new sports park. The store is approximately 142,206 square feet and is designed in Spanish Colonial Revival Architecture.
Target Corporation is scheduled to break ground Winter of 2010 with a projected grand opening in winter 2011. For more information of the project please visit “Current Projects” on the City’s website at www.san-clemente.org, or contact Amber Gregg, Case Planner, at (949)361-6196 or gregga@san-clemente.org.
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Poche Urban Runoff Treatment System
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The Poche urban runoff treatment system is in operation, although the rubber dam is not being used. This is due to the high pond level and that the County’s sand berm breaching activity is constrained by its current permit. Those permit conditions become somewhat more flexible in September, and County staff is coordinating a new permit with the resource agencies.
The system is currently being operated under an interim agreement with the Contractor, and the South Coast Water District (SCWD) will soon take over long-term operations and maintenance duties. The SCWD-County agreement has already been approved by SCWD and is scheduled to go to the County Board of Supervisors for approval on Sept. 14.
Water quality is improved even with the system running without the rubber dam and discharging treated water into the pond. Since the beginning of July, there were only four exceedances of the Enterococcus single sample standard and no exceedances of the Total or Fecal Coliforms single sample standards. However, Poche Beach is still posted due to exceedances of the 30-day log mean standard (while most single-samples are now below the limit, it only takes a few single samples to exceed the 30-day log mean standard).
Tom Bonigut, P.E.
Assistant City Engineer
City of San Clemente - Public Works Dept.
910 Calle Negocio, Suite 100
San Clemente, CA 92673
(949) 361-6187
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North Beach LAB Project
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Didn't we already vote on North Beach LAB project?
Measure W, relating to the LAB North Beach project, was voted upon at the November 4, 2008 General Municipal Election as an advisory measure only. Council subsequently approved the Lab project in July 2010. A referendum petition against Council’s action (if filed in a timely manner with the City Clerk and if validated to contain the signatures of no less than 10% of the registered voters in San Clemente) would necessitate that the City Council take one of the following actions: 1) entirely repeal the ordinance against which the petition is filed, or 2) submit the ordinance to the voters. The ordinance would not become effective until a majority of the voters voting on the ordinance vote in favor of it.
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Green Algae
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City Hall - we are all wondering what the bright green-yellow scum in our ocean is? It seems to have been here for several weeks, and when viewed from high-up on Salvador, the scum actually appears to be eminating from the new kelp-beds just off shore. Is this stuff harmful?
According to Dr. David Caron, a University of Southern California microbiologist, the greenish-yellow scum appearing in the surf from Long Beach to San Clemente is a large bloom of a tiny, harmless form of algae (Orange County Register, 7/29/10). Dr. Caron went on to say that it doesn’t produce any recognized toxins or present a health danger to humans or animals. You can read more about the science of this algae Here.
On the practical side, even though it’s not harmful many people are avoiding swimming through the thickest parts of the algae for the simple reason than it looks “yucky”! Lifeguards recommend minimizing contact or ingestion (a good idea in the ocean even without algae present) and taking a shower after swimming or surfing – just in case someone is sensitive to it.
Bill Humprheys
Marine Safety Chief
949.361.8260
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Updated Election Costs
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The previous blog responses provided all of the cost information that was available to the City at the time it was written. As you can see from the below previously-provided answer, the only cost that was available at the time the blog response was written was the cost for a stand alone election, but notation was made that consolidated elections are usually less costly than stand-alone elections. Today the Registrar of Voters office provided the City with the estimated costs to consolidated with a 2012 election. Those figures are as follows:
Consolidated Election (February 2012) - $76,500 - $94,500 Consolidated Election (June 2012) - $71,500 - $89,500 Consolidated Election (November 2012) - $58,500 - $71,500 (Note: Because the City will already consolidate with the County of Orange for this election to fill various offices that are due to expire, a measure could be added for approximately $8,500 more).
For questions, contact Joanne Baade, City Clerk. 949-361-8345
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Ralph's Shopping Center at Trader's Joe's
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As you enter into the Ralph's shopping center at Trader's Joe's, where the first cross section is, it becomes a pedestrian's nightmare and safety hazard since there isn't any sidewalks. You either have to walk in the street, where cars seems to have the right away, or walk on the inside of the red curb which is a mixture of marginal vegetation and empty shopping carts, usually from Trader Joe's. Isn't there some kind of code where some type of walkway or safety area must be provided for liability concerns. It's amazing that their hasn't been a serious injury there, at least that has been publicized. It is going to happen! My question is, who is responsible for and should put in safety walkways. If it is the shopping center owners to do it, then will the city initiate it? If it is the city's responsibility , then how about doing something. Someone made the decision to let the traffic have the right away so it won't back up into Los Mares. This makes sense, sort of. Now if they only will put in walkways we can be on while the cars zip by. If they put narrow walkways inside the existing red curbs and islands, I think this would be a good start or at least have the design engineers have a go at it! Thanks for looking into this matter, the sooner the better!
Thank you for forwarding your concern regarding pedestrian safety within the Ocean View Plaza parking lot by Traders Joe's. Since the parking lot is privately owned, the City has no jurisdiction over the existing layout nor can the City require any modifications to the lot. Staff will forward your concern to the property management company of the Center for its review.
Bill Cameron, Public Works Director/City Engineer 949.361.6120
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Pico Restoration
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When is Pico between Los Molinos and El Camino going to be fixed back the way it was. 2 lanes in each direction?
The bonding company for the Sun Cal project anticipates the possibility of equipment mobilization within the next few weeks. Work to finish Pico from Los Molinos To El Camino Real should commence shortly thereafter.
If you have further questions, please contact Dave Dendel at 949.361.8255.
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What is the least expensive way to vote on a referendum for North Beach?
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If the referendum regarding the North Beach development (Resolution #10-53) qualifies for the ballot, what is the least expensive way to vote on it?
Is $200,000 the correct number?
The Orange County Registrar of Voters Office has informed the City that if it conducts a STAND ALONE election (i.e., one that is not consolidated with any other agency’s election, thus resulting in the City incurring the full bill), the cost is estimated at $151,500 to $169,500. It should be noted that this estimate was provided by the Registrar of Voters Office so the City can’t vouch to its accuracy. Consolidated elections are usually less costly than stand-alone elections. So far, the Registrar of Voters Office does not have any elections scheduled in 2011 with which the City could consolidate and consequently share costs. Two or three consolidation opportunities, however, exist in 2012. One election is scheduled for June 2012 and the General Election is scheduled for November 2012. Assuming that the Presidential Primary remains in February as it was in 2008, then February 2012 would provide another consolidation opportunity. The Registrar of Voters Office has been asked to provide the City with the estimated cost to consolidate with the February 2012 election (if it takes place), the June 2012 election, as well as the incremental increase that would be involved if the measure were to be added to the November 2012 ballot (which the City will already conduct for the purpose of filling two seats on the Council, one City Treasurer position and one City Clerk position). The City was informed that the Registrar of Voters’ Office is currently developing its 2012 election cost estimates and that it will take a few weeks for those numbers to be available.
For questions, contact Joanne Baade, City Clerk. 949-361-8345
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McDonald's Sign
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Is it possible, or feasible that the McDonald's, located at 650 Avenida Pico, "golden arches" sign be raised or moved. The sign is near the sidewalk in front of the playground. This sign makes seeing oncoming traffic difficult, which causes the driver to pull out excessively, often partially into an oncoming traffic lane. The Macdonald's drive-through customers often cause driving hazards to those passing the facility.
The owner of our local McDonald's store is in conversation with McDonald's Corp to remodel the restaurant and have started the process. Preliminary plans may be ready to submit to the City in the next couple of months. Relocation or replacement of the sign may be a part of the project.
Sincerely,
Bill Cameron
Public Works Director/City Engineer
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Washing the Pier
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A group of us walk the pier most everyday. We are appreciative of the extensive and expensive work that was just finished. However, our beautiful pier is blighted by the blanket of bird droppings and the awful messes left by fisherman. We understand that washing the pier will put pollutants in the water, but these same birds and fisherman drop wastes in the ocean all the time. If, at this point a REGULAR washing was done , perhaps after 10:00 at night, the ocean would be clean enough to allow for human use by the next day. As for now our lovely pier is quite a mess. I believe it was a mistake to not net the pier, and perhaps should be reconsidered. Please come and see for yourselves. Thank you. -Lee
Good Morning
I have been asked to respond to your email from July 3 regarding the need to wash the San Clemente Pier.
If you are a long term resident, then you probably recall City staff or contractors washing the pier twice a week in the 1990s and early part of this decade. That changed a few years ago.
The City of San Clemente is governed by water quality standards set in place by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Board (SDRWQB). This agency has implemented local storm water runoff/water quality regulations, and one of their decisions is to ban the washing of impervious surfaces unless all runoff from this washing can be captured and recycled or properly disposed. The City has been advised that this includes the San Clemente Pier.
As you can imagine, it is impossible to recapture the water that would be used in washing the pier surface. The City has discussed this issue with the Board many times. The City's argument is that periodic washing will possibly displace small amounts of impurities, but that failure to wash the pier will deposit a great deal of impurities in the ocean during the first rain. This has not proven to be an effective argument.
All other piers within the SDRWQB jurisdiction face the same issue, and other piers in Orange and Los Angeles County face the same restrictions from their local boards.
Since this restriction, the City has mandated that the Beach Maintenance Contractor provide a number of pier related services, such as washing the hand railings, removing built up debris in the cracks, etc. Of course, this fall far short of what water washing would provided.
The City does share your concerns, but until the SDRWQ decides differently, we will not be able to wash the pier.
-Dennis Roger Reed
Beaches & Parks Maintenance Manager
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Temporary signs in Talega
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Large plywood signs advertising “Available Office Space” have been installed near the intersection of La Pata and Pico for years. They tend to tip over in the wind, the paint deteriorates over time, and they do not fit in with the signage or other architectural guidelines that other businesses are required to follow. Do you ever see a time when we’ll be able to enjoy the architecture and style of the shopping centers and monuments in Talega without the eyesore of these “temporary” signs?i>
The Zoning Ordinance provides the ability for property owners to advertise if there is vacant space for sale, lease or rent. We hope that one day there will be a time when the center is 100% occupied, unfortunately given the current economic state there are several vacancies in the Talega Courtyards. With regard to sign deterioration, the City Nuisance Ordinance requires signs to be maintained to minimum standards. The attached photo shows that the sign in question is being maintained to minimum standards.
For questions or further information, please contact:
Amber Gregg | City of San Clemente
Associate Planner | 910 Calle Negocio, Ste. 100 CA 92673
office: 949.361.6196
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Deadline for Ballot Measures
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I would like to see another Vote in November on the Lab Holdings and proposed improvment of North Beach.
THE LEGAL DEADLINE TO ADD A MEASURE TO THE NOVEMBER 2, 2010 BALLOT IS AUGUST 6, 2010. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ADD MEASURES TO THE BALLOT. BECAUSE THE IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS AND ARGUMENTS WOULD ALSO BE DUE TO THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS BY AUGUST 6, 2010, HOWEVER, A DECISION TO ADD A MEASURE TO THE BALLOT IS NEEDED BY JULY 22, 2010.
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Landscaping ECR Storefronts
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Hi. Recently returned from trips around the U.S. and Europe and notice how unattractive El Camino Real is. The street is filthy and needs power washing. The majority of commercial owners either have 0 or almost 0 landscaping. The areas that could have attractive landscaping have limited or unkempt dirt some with trash. Can owners be told to plant and maintain flowers or plants ? If not, can the city encourage them to do so by offering prizes for the best landscaping.
Also, the street has several unsightly old gas station sites some with some without chain link fencing. Can the city require the owners to fence the sites with green canvas or other material to mitigate their negative impact on citizens and visitors ?
When a property owner proposes to improve their property and is subject to a discretionary permit from the City, the City can require landscaping and other aesthetic enhancements. However, unless a property owner seeks discretionary permits from the City, the City cannot require that the property owner install landscaping nor can we require that a fence be installed.
The City can require the property be kept clear of debris and if a public nuisance is declared, we can require the public nuisance be removed.
For questions contact:
Jim Holloway, Community Development Director
949.361.6106
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Shredding Service
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Does the City of San Clemente offer free or low cost shredding services? Is the City of San Clemente planning on holding a shredding event in the near future? If yes, where and when?
Thank you,
Sandra
Yes, the city is hosting a FREE SHREDDING EVENT on Saturday, August 7th from 8-2 at the City yard located at 390 Ave. Pico. Please see attached flyer and look for more advertisement to come in the SC Times. Thank you.
For further information, please contact:
Danna McIntosh
Environmental Services Coordinator
(949) 498-9436 direct line
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Soundwalls in South West San Clemente
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What happened to the soundwall(s) that were planned for SW San Clemente? -John
Unfortunately, the State of California’s budget crisis is impacting the construction of the soundwall and other highway projects. Orange County Transportation (OCTA) staff has indicated that the source of construction funds was to be from Proposition 1B bonds to be sold by the State. If bonds are sold, the earliest that may occur is November 2010. It appears this project will continue to be indefinitely on hold.
-Bill Cameron
Public Works Director/City Engineer
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