El Cerrito Community
Newsletter
Volume Five: Number 7
June 2008
ECCC’s Meeting
Spaghetti & Garlic Bread Contest
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Parish Hall – 7:00 p.m.
Well, this is where the rubber meets the road! Our
spaghetti & garlic bread contest is finally here. Bring a
large pot of spaghetti or garlic bread to share. We
would suggest you use a Crock Pot for the spaghetti as
there is no way to keep food warm in the Parish Hall.
Using the crock pots worked out well when we had our
Chili Contest.
This time we will give out six “Best of El Cerrito
Certificates” – three to the spaghetti winners for first,
second and third place and the same to our garlic
bread winners. All will be nicely framed with your
name on it. We would like to print your recipes in next
month’s issue of the newsletter, so please remember to
bring a copy with you.
If you don’t feel like making spaghetti or garlic bread,
why not bring a salad, side dish or a delicious dessert
to share. As usual, we will provide tea, coffee, soda,
water, utensils, plates, etc. Ice cream is available for
desert.
Aztec Budget Inn
Aztec Budget Inn Senior Housing Project
A lot is happening with respect to this site! Please take
the time to read the items below.
El Cerrito Community Council, P.O. Box 151268, San Diego, CA 92175-1268: (ECCC @cox.net)
619-287-2460
CACC Planning Subcommittee Reviews
AMCAL’s New Proposal: On June 2nd, AMCAL
asked the CACC Planning Subcommittee to recommend
to the full CACC board approval of a conditional usage
permit needed for this project. The Planning
Subcommittee voted to delay the motion till its July
meeting (June 30th) to allow AMCAL to do their due
diligence in notifying the neighborhood councils of the
project. This will allow the Project Review Committee to
investigate AMCAL’s claims of 55 years for senior
housing together with a waiting list, due to the
“shortage of senior housing.” As a result, we have
invited AMCAL’s representatives to discuss their project
during the June 19th ECCC meeting. Thanks CACC! A
job well done in their support of El Cerrito and the
surrounding communities.
Please know that our spaghetti and garlic
bread contest plans remain the main focus of
the meeting. Due to AMCAL’s time frame, this is the
only opportunity our community will have to meet,
discuss and provided our input to the CACC on the
proposed senior housing project.
Discussion of Proposed Senior Housing Fac-
ility: If you are interested in AMCAL’s new plan, please
attend the June 19 ECCC meeting to review the new
design for the Aztec Budget Inn Site and discuss the
viability of their plans.
New Proposal for Aztec Site: AMCAL has respon-
ded to the collapsed housing market by requesting a
Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to transform its
condominium project into an affordable senior facility
for adults 55+ years. AMCAL would rent these units
and would mange the project, providing one on-site
manager.
This change in usage has impacted both the building’s
design and its financing:
 • 65 units with 65 on-site parking spaces, one • This project's influence on the community's
space per unit. balance of housing stock and the need for our
52 - 1 bedroom/1 bath units with 554 sq. ft neighborhood to have projects that add to the
13 - 2 bedroom/1 bath units with 721 sq. ft economy and revitalization of El Cerrito.
• 3,000 sq. ft. commercial space with 16 parking
spaces at street level • The chances that the use of the building will be
• Smaller foot print with a 2 story building on able to be converted from senior housing use to
North side, 3 story building on Soria – 40 feet in general affordable housing and the related
height and a 4 story building on El Cajon Blvd. question of parking and traffic impacts.
• Windows and balconies will face inward – away
from single family residential. • The concern that the developer’s history and
• 10,000 sq. ft residential courtyard on two levels responsiveness with the current site man-
agement is an indicator of its future
• 1400 sq. ft. recreation building commitment to on-site management.
• Building to remain senior housing for 55 years Plus any other issues you wish us to bring to the CACC’s
attention.
• Underground parking
• No tandem parking
Demolition & Clean Up: According to AMCAL, we
• Financing: Details to follow should start seeing daily activity on the site with respect
to clean up and securing it. We are advised by Mr. Tom
This proposed plan involves affordable housing funding. Davis, Vice President, Acquisitions & Development,
A loan, for this type of financing, dictates the use of the AMCAL Multi-Housing Inc., that someone will be on the
entire building to be affordable housing for a period of site several hours every day to make sure it is clean and
55 years. The new plan also requires approval for a free of trespassers. On Monday, June 9th, 2008, a
Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow senior housing HazMat survey will start and once completed, AMCAL
use. Although the intended usage is for senior housing, can pull the demolition permit. AMCAL anticipates that
we are investigating whether the project could tran- actual demolition will start late June or early July and be
sition into other uses at a later date. complete near the end of July. The plan is to remove
all construction materials and vegetation, leaving an
empty lot until construction of the new building.
During the CACC Planning Committee meeting, AMCAL Hopefully this will bring great relief to those neighbors
mentioned that the building would be similar to the who have put up with the ongoing vandalism,
senior housing on 52nd and El Cajon; in case you would
prostitution and homeless occupancy.
like to visit that building, as a point reference, before
the ECCC meeting. For a list of the qualifications to live
in that building, please visit the Housing Commission Crime Statistics – El Cerrito
site at: January/February/March, 2008
http://www.sdhc.org/giaffordhousingnews1a.shtml Officer Bernie Piceno provided us with the following
crime statistics at last month’s meeting:
Mid City Division
New Concerns for Discussion: In addition, to
2007 2008 % Change
votes on the best spaghetti and garlic bread recipes, we
Murder 3 4 33.3%
will take a vote as to whether or not you support this
Rape 21 8 - 61.9%
project and provide any stipulations you wish us to
Robbery 111 102 -8.1%
make. Your views will be provided to the CACC Planning
Aggravated Assault 161 125 -22.4%
Committee, which meets on Monday, June 30th, and
Violent Crime Total 296 239 -19.3%
the College Area Community Council that meets on
Residential Burglary 269 221 -17.8%
Wednesday, July 9th. Both meetings will be held at
Commercial Burglary 80 86 7.5%
7:00 pm in the College/Rolando Library on
Larceny 568 523 7.9%
Montezuma Road. You are encouraged to attend
Motor Vehicle Theft 399 340 -14.8%
these meetings and give both the Planning Committee
Property Crime Total 1,316 1,170 -11.1%
and the CACC your feedback.
Crime Index Total 1,612 1,409 -12.6%
Car Prowls 334 253 -24.3%
While we are tasting the various spaghettis and garlic
breads, we would like the community to discuss:
El Cerrito
2007 2008 % Change

El Cerrito Community Council, P.O. Box 151268, San Diego, CA 92175-1268.

(ECCC@ cox.net) 619-287-2460
Murder 0 0 0%
Rape 1 0 -100% On February 7, 2008 I called to find out the status. I
Robbery 4 2 -50% was told Joanne had retired or transferred from the
Aggravated Assault 5 8 -60% department. On the same day a manager/supervisor
Violent Crime Total 10 10 - 0% called me back. He said the case was closed, but he
Residential Burglary 8 18 125% didn't have the file easily available so could not answer
Commercial Burglary 4 8 100% specific questions. He said he would call back.
Larceny 36 23 -36.1%
Motor Vehicle Theft 12 19 58.3%
On March 11, I called back to find out the report results.
Property Crime Total 60 68 13.3%
The supervisor called back and told me that the report
Crime Index Total 70 78 11.4%
was closed because speed bumps/humps were not an
Car Prowls 15 7 -53.3%
option due to the slope of the road & the distance
needed for signage preceding a hump/bump. Also,
Last Month’s ECCC Meeting since the road is a “collector” they are limited on the
Unfortunately Council Member Jim Madaffer, at the last remediation they can do. He opened a new report to
minute, was unable to make the meeting and sends his study for possible, more creative, traffic calming devices
apologies to the El Cerrito community. (e.g. chokers, traffic circles, solar powered radar speed
sign, etc.)
Mr. Tracy Reed, Crossroad Project Manager (Project Area
Committee) stepped-up-to-the-plate and filled the gap May 15, 2008: Mr. Mark Stauffer (Principal Traffic
for us. Mr. Reed had some very interesting information Engineering Aide) showed up unannounced at my house
for us regarding the implementation of the PAC’s five to make a site inspection. Luckily, I was home. The
year plan, the reorganization of the Redevelopment best solution he could come up with was putting a stop
Agency and the upcoming elections. sign on 58th St at Spartan. He also said a solar
powered radar speed limit monitor could be erected.
Traffic Calming Measures on 58th Street
between University & Trojan Avenues Proposals:
The ECCC received the following e-mail from David 1. Make driving on 58th St really annoying by putting
Folch concerning his efforts, on behalf of the ECCC, to traffic circles at Trojan, Spartan and Olympic. However,
have traffic calming issues dealt with on 58th Street be- there MUST be sufficient protection for the houses so
tween University Avenue & Trojan. The following is a that cars don't go flying into them if they miss the
synopsis of what he advised us: circle!

2. Remove the designation of 58th as a collector. This

“After the May 15hth ECCC meeting, a few people
stayed behind to talk about traffic calming on 58th St.
The following is a brief timeline of my efforts to reduce
and/ or calm the traffic on 58th St between
University & Trojan. All communication I've been
involved with has revolved around just this stretch of
58th only, but I know there are also issues between
Trojan and El Cajon... not to mention along Trojan
itself.
Issues:
1. There is too much pass-through traffic by vehicles
which should be on 54th/College/El Cajon/University.
We should reduce the traffic generated by the apart-
ments at 58th St & University & the schools that pass
through the intersection of 58th St and Trojan.
2. Traffic speeds are too high.
Timeline:
11/19/07: Initial contact with Joanne Dickson in the
traffic division. She filed a report to initiate preliminary
research into alternatives to address traffic issues along
this street. She was to contact me in 30 days.
would allow for many creative solutions.
3. Implement solutions on 54th/College/El Cajon/Uni-
versity which makes staying on these big streets
“better” than passing through the neighborhood.
The ECCC is attempting to see if they can get a Traffic
Engineer to come to either the September or October
ECCC meetings and discuss traffic calming issues for the
entire community.
Graffiti Committee
If you see graffiti in the community, please send an e-
mail to taggerwatch@gmail.com, or call (619-287-
2460). Shayne will visit the site within 48 hours to
document the afflicted area. When contacting us, please
include the street address, block number, the nearest
cross-street, a description of the affected property, the
time you first noted it, and if possible whether it is on
private, business, or public property. Photos will be
taken. We’ll attempt to contact you to let you know the
graffiti has been documented and sent to the police.

El Cerrito Community Council, P.O. Box 151268, San Diego, CA 92175-1268.

(ECCC@ cox.net) 619-287-2460
 Alma’s Cleaning Service
European Attention to Detail
References on Request
858-336-3527

Upcoming ECCC & Community Events in

2008
• Thursday, July 19, 2008 – Mr. Curtis Hussey –
Code Enforcement – City of San Diego
Residential High Occupancy Permit – Ron
Halbritter. A presentation on new Council
policy for Mini Dorms
• Pot Luck & Silent Auction – Thursday, August
21, 2008
• Community Garage Sale - Saturday, Septem-
ber 20, 2008
• Sees Candy Distribution – To be determined
• Holiday Pot Luck: Thursday, December 18,
2008

ECCC Contact Information:

E-mail us at ECCC@cox.net or jan.riley@cox.net or call
Jan Riley 619-287-2460. Fax: 619-269-8057.

El Cerrito Community Council, P.O. Box 151268, San Diego, CA 92175-1268.

(ECCC@ cox.net) 619-287-2460