Santee Wins State Grant for Local Parks

The state announced today it has awarded the city of Santee a $117,450 grant that can be used to acquire land and develop a neighborhood park.
Santee was one of five cities in San Diego County to earn a grant under the Housing Related Parks Program administered by the state Department of Housing and Community Development.

"We’re excited because this grant will enable Santee to enhance the quality of life by building a park in one of our neighborhoods where it is needed the most," said Community Services Director Bill Maertz.

The purpose of the grant program is to reward cities and counties that provide new affordable housing units by awarding them funds to build parks in under-served neighborhoods.

Santee qualified for the grant because its Community Development Commission provided partial financing for the construction of a 48-unit affordable apartment complex called Cedar Creek, which was completed in 2010 at a cost of $14.1 million.

State Housing and Community Development Director Linn Warren applauded the 33 cities statewide that received $11.3 million in grants under the program.

"These local governments have demonstrated a commitment to affordable housing at a time when the housing market has proven to be a significant challenge for California families and low-wage workers," Warren said in a news release.

Free Concert Features Caribbean Sounds from Upstream

Se habla reggae?  Take a quick Caribbean vacation (at least in your mind) by attending a free concert at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Santee’s Town Center Community Park East.

The amphitheater parking is located behind the YMCA at the south end of Park Center Drive.

The concert will be headlined by the band Upstream, which plays a mix of reggae, calypso and soca (soul of calypso). This high-energy, five-piece band will enthrall you with their vocal harmonies and musicianship.

The band, which has already recorded five of their own CDs, was originally formed in 1989 in Trinidad and Tobago and features two sons of the late Ras Shorty, who is credited with creating soca music.

Click on this link to listen to one of the band’s sample tracks called “Dance”: http://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=22955403&ac=now

Click here to see video samples of the band on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/upstreammusic

Santee’s free Thursday concert series is produced by the Special Events Division of the Community Services Department and is sponsored by Barona Resort & Casino, Cox Communications and Union Bank.

Quail Brush Public Workshop Cancelled

The California Energy Commission has cancelled a public workshop on the Quail Brush power plant project originally scheduled for Friday, June 29 at West Hills High School in Santee.

The workshop was cancelled after the Cogentrix  Energy LLC, which is seeking permits to build a 100-megawatt natural-gas-fired  power plant, missed a June 22 deadline for filing supplemental project information with the commission.

Commission officials said the additional information was to include details about a revised design aimed at addressing concerns raised by the public and the city of Santee, including the visual impact of the plant on the surrounding open space.

Commission officials decided the public would be better informed if the workshop takes place after Cogentrix unveils details of the proposed redesign, which requires complex re-engineering that isn’t finished yet. The commission issued a statement saying the hearing would be rescheduled when Congentrix files information on the revised design.

Cogentrix has indicated it is working on a redesign aimed at lessening the plant’s visual impact by consolidating the original 11 smokestacks that would be 100 feet tall into two clusters that would be about 70 feet tall.

The proposed plant would occupy about 11 acres of a 21.6-acre parcel near the Sycamore Landfill near Santee’s western boundary with the city of San Diego.

Santee Hosts Top Chef TV Show

Monday, June 25 was an extra rare day for gourmands in Santee. The city hosted the Top Chef TV show under a tent outside the Cox Solutions store at The Marketplace shopping center on Mission Gorge Boulevard.

The show featured a live “quickfire cook-off” competition between chefs Brian Malarkey of San Diego and Tre Wilcox of Dallas, Texas.  Audience members were chosen to judge the culinary creations of the two chefs and pick the winner.
The show recorded in Santee is the 24th of 25 competitions that will be aired on the upcoming season on the Bravo Network.  Spoiler alert: Wilcox was the winner.

Free Concert Tonight by Emerald River Band

The Emerald River Band, which plays country and classic rock favorites, headlines tonight’s free concert at 6:30 at Town Center Community Park in Santee.

Come on down and sit for a spell and tap your toes to the twang of an electric guitar. Bring a lawn chair, a blanket and all the friends you can gather. If you also happen to bring an appetite, you’ll have your choice of four gourmet food trucks.

Here’s an audio sample of what Emerald River sounds like: http://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=23705143&ac=now

The free concerts, which are produced by the Santee Community Services Department, are every Thursday (except July 5)  through August 16. Go to our web page to view a map of the concert location.

Night Work Scheduled on Mission Gorge Road

Watch out for traffic cones and caution signs on Mission Gorge Road in Santee early next week.

Construction crews will be resurfacing the road between Tamberly Way and Cottonwood Avenue from Sunday June 24 through Wednesday, June 27.

Work hours will be from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction over the duration of the project.

Questions or concerns can be directed to Associate Civil Engineer, Toby Espinola at tobyespinola@ci.santee.ca.us or (619) 258-4100 ext. 174.

Deadline Today For Power Plant Comments

Today  (June 19) is the deadline for submitting letters or emails to the San Diego Planning Commission regarding a proposed rezone that would allow for the construction of the Quail Brush power plant project.

Email comments can be sent to planingcommission@sandiego.gov

The commission is scheduled to consider the rezone at its June 28 meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. at San Diego City Hall.

The commission is still in the process of deciding whether San Diego planners should analyze whether the power generating plant can be built on a 10-acre parcel currently zoned for open space.

The proposed power plant site is in the city of San Diego north of State Route 52 but close to Santee's western boundary near the Sycamore Landfill.

Cogentrix Energy of North Carolina, the firm that wants to build the 100-megawatt natural gas-fired facility, also is seeking a construction permit from the California Energy Commission.

Job Fair at Santee City Hall Friday

Update your resume and get down to the job fair Friday, June 15 from 9 a.m. to noon at Santee City Hall, Building 8, 10601 Magnolia Avenue.

More than 30 businesses and public agencies will be screening job applicants at the event. Bring your resume and dress to impress.

The job fair is sponsored by the city of Santee, the Santee Chamber of Commerce, the East County Career Center, the state Employment Development Department and Assemblyman Brian Jones.

Check this website for more info.

Woodglen Vista Dog Park to Reopen Friday

Green turf, a rare amenity at off-leash dog parks, will be available again to pet owners on Friday, June 15, at Woodglen Vista’s fenced-in dog park.

The nearly 1-acre dog park with a luxurious lawn has been closed the past six weeks to allow the grass to recover and for rehabilitative maintenance.

The grass was aerated, re-seeded, fertilized and treated for weeds. City workers also filled ruts and divots with top soil.

“We’d like to thank pet owners for their patience and allowing us to restore this popular

dog park to a more robust condition,” said Community Services Director Bill Maertz.  “In the future, closures will only occur as needed to allow the grass to recover so we can provide a quality experience for pets and humans alike.”

During the recent closure, dog owners were allowed to use the adjacent playing field during morning hours and were guided to Mast Park’s off-leash dog area in the afternoons.

Dog owners can help preserve the lawn by picking up after their pets and stopping animals from digging.  Click here to review dog park rules and regulations.

Video Preview of Thursday’s Free Concert

Check out this video of the Destroyers, a 7-member contemporary music ensemble that is  part of the Navy Band Southwest.

The Destroyers will make their first appearance at the city of Santee’s Summer Concert Series this Thursday, June 14 at 6:30 at the Town Center Community Park amphitheater.

The group performs everything from rock to pop to jazz.

We’ve beefed up our concert series this year with some gourmet food trucks that will please your palette while you’re enjoying the free music.

Thursday’s food trucks will be:

• New York on Rye - A New York style deli
• The Dog Shack - Fancy hot dogs with unique toppings, batter-dipped or on a bun
• Asian Persuasion - Asian fusion dishes and cuisine from China, Japan, Korea, Mexico and more
• Kona Ice - Gourmet shaved ice.

Want to Give Back? Volunteer to Clean Up Forester Creek

Volunteers are needed this Saturday, June 9 from 9 a.m. to noon to remove trash and debris from Forester Creek.

Huge amounts of mostly plastic trash end up in Forester Creek, an urban waterway that passes through the city of El Cajon before connecting with the San Diego River in the city of Santee.

Groups of all ages are welcome to pitch in and help. The cleanup is sponsored by the Clean and Green Team from the San Diego River Park Foundation.

No experience is necessary. All tools and supplies are provided. You should wear sturdy clothing and, if you have them, waterproof boots. A hat and sunscreen are also recommended.

Volunteers will rendezvous at the city of Santee public works building at 9534 Via Zapador at 9 a.m.

For more information, you can call (619) 297-7380 or email: volunteer@sandiegoriver.org. Details about the event are  posted on the River Park Foundation’s website.

Santee's 4th of July Event Moving to New Location

Santee Salutes, the city’s annual 4^th of July celebration and fireworks show, will move to a new location at Town Center Community Park East adjacent to the City of Santee Aquatics Center/Cameron Family YMCA.

The event, which runs from 3:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., features live music, gourmet and traditional food, carnival games and inflatable attractions for kids.

Live music will be provided by the 80z All Stars, an ‘80s music tribute band. A patriotic ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. will be led by a color guard from the Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 based at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar. The fireworks show begins at 9 p.m.

New this year will be a fleet of gourmet food trucks offering a variety of delicious meals from old-fashioned barbecue to spicy Thai cuisine.

To help defray costs for the free patriotic community event, motorists will be charged a $5 parking fee. Limited preferred parking at the lot closest to the event will be available for $15.  Handicapped parking at the preferred parking lot will be $5.

Free parking is available at the Costco parking lot, where patrons can take a free shuttle back and forth from the event from 3:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. RV parking is also available at Costco.

To avoid the hassle of carrying chairs, tables, coolers and etc. for a long distance, you can reserve a 10-by-10 foot canopy in a prime viewing area along with a preferred parking spot for $100 for the entire day. Reserve online at www.ci.santee.ca.us

Free swimming is available at the City of Santee Aquatics Center from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The following streets will be limited to resident traffic during evening hours:

Bilteer Drive, Bilteer Court, San Remo Court, San Remo Drive, Conejo Place, Magnolia Park Drive, Cottonwood Avenue, Verde Vista Lane, Day Creek Trail and Leavesly Trail.

This popular event is made possible through the support of our anchor sponsors, Waste Management and Cannon Pacific. Donations have also been given by Lakeside Equipment Sales Inc, Bob’s Crane Service, Cottonwood Electric Cart Service and Rice RV.

Information: www.ci.santee.ca.us or Special Event Hotline at (619) 258-4100 ext. 201



Skeeter Deleter

If you see a helicopter hovering over the San Diego River in Santee this Wednesday, June 6, it’s probably a contractor working for the county’s Vector Control Program.

The aircraft will be dropping tiny pellets of a larvicide called VectoMax that contains two types of laboratory grown bacteria that prevent mosquito larvae from maturing into flying adults that bite.

County officials say the larvicide pellets are harmless to humans, wildlife and the riparian habitat that surrounds the river. The county's effort to control  mosquitoes is aimed at preventing the spread of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases.

This will be the second aerial drop of mosquito larvicide for the 2012 mosquito breeding season. Additional applications will be conducted at four-week intervals or as needed.