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Residents sip coffee and discuss
local issues with supervisor
By Christy Scott
The Alpine Sun
ALPINE — More than a dozen local
residents gathered at the Bread Basket Restaurant early on
Friday morning, Oct. 2, for a “Coffee with Constituents” meeting
with Second District Supervisor Dianne Jacob. Participants
discussed issues ranging from Back Country fire protection to
East County gang concerns; asking questions and getting answers
from their local Board of Supervisor representative.
East County Gang Task Force
In the past few years the Board of Supervisors has
initiated action to establish an East County Gang Taskforce to
combat the increase in gang violence in East County
neighborhoods, resulting in the apprehension of more than 100
members in 2008.
The FBI has joined a dozen local law enforcement
agencies as part of the task force, targeting criminal activity
related to drug and weapons trafficking, homicides, and all
other violent crimes associated with street gangs.
“Gang activity in East County is high,” Jacob said,
citing areas in Spring Valley and El Cajon. “This taskforce has
not been easy to get up and running, but it’s been very
successful in these areas.”
According to Jacob, in addition to enforcement the
taskforce is working on prevention programs in these gang
communities. This includes working with local groups, centers
and churches to break the cycle of family gang life.
Jacob added that, at this point, Alpine is not a hot
spot for gang activity, however there are several criminal
elements in the area.
Fire relief and protection
After the Cedar Fire in 2003 the BOS secured more than
$180 million to boost fire fighting and prevention in the
region. This includes funding for 71 engines, tenders, and
emergency vehicles, two helicopters, brush and tree removal,
emergency communications and community notification, and
evacuation plans.
“In the 70s the county got out of the fire business,”
Jacob said. “As a result the unincorporated area — over 900,000
acres — was on its own.”
Residents in these areas, including much of East County
and all of the Back Country, rely largely on small all-volunteer
fire departments.
“It was hard making an argument for these areas with
three of the five Supervisors representing cities,” Jacob said.
She and Supervisor Horn are the only two members of board whose
districts contain the fire-prone, unincorporated county areas.
“It took the Cedar Fire to change opinions.”
As a response the BOS completed the formation of the
San Diego County Fire Authority, which will provide 24/7
coverage to over 50 fire stations and will ultimately provide
service to the nearly 1 million acres in unincorporated areas.
Supervisors also initiated board action to develop a
regional fire deployment study. This comprehensive study
assesses current levels of services and informs the region on
what is needed and how much it will cost.
“Vegetation management is the key, putting the
responsibility on individual property owners,” Jacob said. “But
much of this work is also done by volunteers in your very own
community through local fire safe councils.”
Another tool in the county’s reformed county fire
fighting arsenal is the Aerial Fire Protection Program, which
will be available in a “call when needed basis.” This program
will provide the region on a year round basis with additional
aerial assets such as the Martin Mars air tanker, the DC 7,
additional Type 1 and 2 helicopters and military helicopters
with buckets.
“Aerial fire planes don’t put out fires; it’s the boots
on the ground that put out fires; but these planes are important
as part of our firefighting force,” Jacob said.
Helping businesses and residents
The county has opened a new “Quick Business Counter”
for building permits that can be completed in 15 minutes or
less, such as: Electrical, plumbing and mechanical service
upgrades, septic to sewer conversions, copper re-piping, and
replacing water heaters.
The new service is available from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Monday through Friday and is expected to reduce wait times.
The BOS initiated action to reduce the Transportation
Impact Fees (TIF) for commercial and industrial development by
an average of 40 percent. Jacob also supported a BOS action to
implement an Impact Fee Deferral Program to stimulate local
development, job growth and the local economy.
The BOS is supporting Assembly Bill 920, which would
require SDG&E to buy back surplus solar energy generated by
residential customers at a fair market price, and exploring a
County program to help residents afford the upfront costs of
rooftop solar.
Making Alpine a better place to live
Allocated $40,400 from the Neighborhood Reinvestment
Program to the Alpine Mountaineers Pop Warner Football
Association for a snack bar trailer.
Allocated $50,000 Community Enhancement dollars to the
Alpine Chamber of Commerce.
Allocated $15,000 Community Enhancement dollars to the
Alpine Women’s Club.
Allocated $7,000 Community Enhancement dollars to the
Alpine Historical & Conservation Society.
Allocated $1,000 Community Enhancement dollars to the
Back Country Land Trust.
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