Politics & Government

PQ Town Council Recap: Foreclosures, Pipes & Fires

The council's monthly meeting included presentations on fining banks for foreclosures and getting ready for fires.

The Rancho Peñasquitos Town Council held its monthly meeting on Thursday.

Here are some of the highlights:

  • Fines on Foreclosures: Stephen Whitburn, from the Center on Policy Initiatives, discussed an ordinance the organization is working on that would charge banks a daily fine for not maintaining foreclosed properties in the city of San Diego. There will be nearly 5,700 foreclosures in City Council District 1, which includes PQ, between 2008 and 2012, according to data estimates provided by the Center on Policy Initiatives from RealtyTrac. Whitburn said foreclosures drag down the values of residences within a 1/8 mile radius, moreso when the foreclosed property is not maintained. The ordinance has not yet been drafted, Whitburn said, but is following in the footsteps of a similar ordinance in Chula Vista which has brought in millions of dollars in fines.
  • Pipelines: A $5.2 million Los Peñasquitos Recycled Water Pipeline project is set to begin soon, crafting 1.7 miles of PVC purple pipeline between Canyonside Park and Camino del Sur (see attached map). The endeavor is part of a decade-long project to create 34 miles of reclaimed water pipelines in the "North City Water Reclamation System." There was concern about the impact of the project, which will run down Park Village Road near Park Village Elementary School, on students and parents traveling in the area. An information sheet about the project said routine working hours (that may change) for the project will be 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Park Village Elementary begins classes at 9 a.m. and ends at 3:20 p.m. on regular days. The project is scheduled to end in fall 2012.
  • Fire Readiness: Firefighters from Station No. 40 talked about the near Camino del Sur and Paseo del Sur in the Black Mountain Ranch area on Wednesday, which charred about a dozen acres. Residents should make sure they are prepared for wildfires, with Santa Ana winds coming through, they said.
  • New member: University of San Diego professor, and nine-year PQ resident, Alan Gin, was appointed to be the second representative for District 3 (Deer Canyon). Gin is well-known for his monthly reports on the local economy.

Upcoming council events:

Find out what's happening in Rancho Bernardo-4s Ranchwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Neighborhood Watch information meeting: Residents want to revive the Neighborhood Watch program and are holding an information/recruiting meeting at the PQ Library, 13330 Salmon River Rd., from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 30.

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