ASLA Grant Proposals Are In
Stewardship Committee Going Strong
Seeking Suggestions for Health
& Transportation/Built Environment Web Forum
San Diego County Invasive Ornamental Plant Guide
Independent Practitioners Committee
Water Conservation Committee Developing Local Policy Statements
City of Villages Information
Design Review Boards
ASLA Grant Proposals Are In
?The San Diego Chapter has received a record number of proposals this year for the 2010 Community Grant. The Grant awards $5,000 to one worthy submittal, and is intended to educate and enhance the community on landscape architecture and/or environmental issues. It is available to all regional nonprofit community organizations.
Grant evaluation and selection by our Executive Board are expected by late September. The ASLA San Diego Community Grant was established in 1997 as a result of the Chapter's commitment to the local community. The grant may be used for landscape amenities, design, construction or maintenance.
Still a relatively new program in its 11th year, the grant program received ten proposals, the highest number yet.
The 2010 Proposals from various organizations include:
- La Jolla Wall Street Post Office Beautification - La Jolla Town Council
- The Water Wise Zoo - La Jolla Country Day School/Kindergarten
- The Rancho Bernardo Fire Wise Demonstration Garden - RB United
- The Famosa Slough Trail Improvements - Friends of Famosa Slough
- The Front Façade and Public Art Space - Casa Familiar
- Explorer Elementary Charter School Garden Design & Improvements - Explorer Elementary Charter School
- Xeriscape Inspiration Garden - Fallbrook Woman's Club
- Garden of P.R.O.M.I.S.E - The Coastal Academy and Solutions for Change
- The Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center - International Community Foundation Center
- Wisteria Cottage Lawn Renovation and Water Conservation Project - La Jolla Historical Society
Previous grant award winners have included:
2009 Albert Einstein Academies
2008 Fallbrook Garden Club
2007 San Ysidro Business Association
2006 Point Loma High School Foundation
2005 La Jolla Town Council
Stewardship Committee Going Strong
The ASLA Stewardship Committee has been active on several efforts over the summer to promote sustainability in the region.
In June, ASLA held a joint meeting with CLCA to promote the use of recycled water in the landscape. Members of the San Diego County Water Authority and various other water retailers offered information and answered industry questions pertaining to recycled water connections, and the effects of recycled water on plant materials and soil quality.
The Stewardship Committee appointed a task force (Kasia Trojanowska and Michelle Landis) to explore policy direction and set strategies for supporting 'Green Vendors'. The task force is planning a 'Green Dialogue' event in the first part of 2010 to showcase green vendors, have them highlight their products, and have landscape architects express their needs and expectations for green products. This event will be a mutual effort to 'raise the sustainability bar' for our chapter.
Members of the Stewardship Committee (Jon Wreschinsky) are instrumental in the planning efforts for the ASLA Design Awards Program, scheduled for December. The program will, for the first time, recognize the sustainable design efforts of ASLA Members.
The Stewardship Committee is continuing its outreach and advocacy goals with on-going coordination with Cuyamaca College, helping formulate the direction of its 2010 'Sustainable Urban Landscapes' forum.
As Chair of the Committee, Marian Marum has attained her LEED AP credential, and continues to serve as the ASLA liaison to the following related groups:
- AIA’s Committee on the Environment
- USGBC’s Advocacy Committee
- San Diego Regional Sustainability Partnership’s Energy & Water Committee
Member of the Stewardship Committee (Ruth Stafford) is working with the 'Sustainable Sites Initiative' leaders and will share what she has learned from ASLA National Conference in Chicago last month.
Anyone wishing to learn more about or participate on the Stewardship Committee should contact Marian Marum at (619) 992-9533 marian@marumpartnership.com.
Seeking
Suggestions for Health & Transportation/Built Environment
Web Forum
The Public Health Institute www.phi.org
is planning a Web Forum on the application of policy
change strategies to the upcoming reauthorization of
the Transportation Bill (SAFETEA-LU). The built environment
is considered a key contributing factor to health and
illness, particularly obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular
disease. Public health advocates had some success with
modifying provisions of the Farm Bill as a means of
preventing obesity & chronic disease. This Web Forum,
an activity of the California Health Strategies Collaborative,
will focus on how lessons from the advocacy experience
with the Farm Bill can be applied to the built environment.
SAFETEA-LU offers an opportunity to address the epidemic
of obesity and diabetes in our communities.
The Public Health Institute is seeking suggestions
regarding outreach/advertising efforts in California
for a Web Forum scheduled for late June/early July.
We are eager to have a broad array of stakeholders in
dialogue, particularly individuals who are not public
health practitioners, sharing their viewpoints on how
transportation policy/practice can support the goal
of increasing physical activity. If you have suggestions
or input regarding this matter, please contact Star
Tiffany at the Public Health Institute.
Star Tiffany
Research Associate
California Health Strategies Collaborative
Public Health Institute
555 12th Street, 10th Floor
Oakland, CA 94607-4046.
San
Diego County Invasive Ornamental Plant Guide
This Guide is produced and distributed by the San Diego
Chapter of the American Society of the Landscape Architects
(SD/ASLA) and the San Diego Chapter of the California
Native Plant Society (CNPS) for the primary purpose
of educating landscape professionals and the general-public
regarding the cultivation, selection, use and management
of non-native and/or invasive flora in San Diego regional
landscapes.
It is understood that this Guide is of special importance
in the "urban interface": areas where natural
vegetation and man-made landscapes come into close contact.
It is not the intent of the authors to add unnecessary
constraints or to discourage the planting of a broad
selection of native and non-native species where it
is unlikely that their presence would have any effect
upon indigenous plant populations or habitat. This Guide
is provided solely as a reference document and is not
intended for regulatory purposes.
To download the Plant Matrix, click
here.
For additional information on invasive plants, please
view the following links:
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Independent Practitioners Committee
Working on your own? Need to bounce an idea off someone besides your pet or spouse? Need a book on something special, but don’t want to spend the money on it right now? Have an issue with your practice that you need some advice on? Want to discuss and share issues, ideas, and gain support from your peers in a supportive group setting?
The San Diego Chapter of ASLA is forming an Independent Practictioners Committeee (IPC) to combine resources (i.e. experience, expertise and physical resources) that will benefit the individual group members. The IPC will meet or connect via email/conference call to cover topics such as business development (marketing), technical issues, design, client issues, insurance, employees and project issues. Depending on the group interests, the group could be used as a “pooling of resources”. These shared resources would be available to each group member upon agreement of each member.
The committee is open to ASLA members that are practicing as individuals or up to a three person firm. The IPC committee will be structured with a chairperson to schedule and start the meetings. Committee members will provide topics of interest and the Chairperson will schedule topics into the committee calendar. The committee will determine the actual structure of meetings that best fits its members. Meetings could be structured as round table or workshops and coordinated to not conflict with ASLA Chapter events/programs.
An initial meet and greet was held on April 3 to discuss the formation guidelines and gauge member interest. If you are interested in joining the IPC send your contact information to John H. McGee, Jr. ASLA IPC Committee Chairman at john@mcgeela.com
?Water Conservation Committee Developing Local Policy Statements
?The SDASLA Water Conservation Committee has been hard at work developing a series of policy statements. Three statements on Regionally Appropriate Landscape for San Diego County, Use of Turf Grass in the San Diego Region and Vegetative Erosion Control were approved by our Executive Committee in February and will be posted on the Chapter website at www.asla-sandiego.org at the Education link. Members are encouraged to review and comment on the statements as they will be circulated to local decision makers in the coming months to encourage their adoption. Other statements are being developed to address the following areas: Golf Course Water Conservation; Reclaimed, Recycled, Repurified Water; The Value of Native Plants; HOA Water Conservation; and the Value of Trees are being reviewed for approval by SDASLA’s Executive Committee in March and April. Member comments on the statements should be sent to ASLASD@sbcglobal.net.
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City of Villages Information
City of San Diego General Plan
Gather information on the City of San Diego's Strategic Framework Element,
an amendment to the General Plan and the proposed City of Villages
strategy. Visit www.sandiego.gov/cityofvillages.
Workshops and Hearings on City of Villages
Useful information on upcoming workshops and hearings planned to discuss
the proposed City of Villages Strategy. Visit www.sandiego.gov/cityofvillages/community/publicshop.shtml.
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Design Review Boards
City of San Diego Planning Commission
The role of the Planning Commission is to strike a balance between
private benefit and public good and lead the community in defining
the land use goals and objectives for the future. The Commission
is the decision maker on many land use projects or serves as an
advisory board to the City Council on the remainder. Typical projects
that are under consideration by the Planning Commission at this
time are land use proposals in Mission Bay Park and Balboa park,
developments in Carmel Valley or infill projects throughout the city.
The Planning commission is also taking the proactive role in leading
the update of the City's General Plan, and is currently formulating
the Strategic Framework Element for City Council presentation
on November 21. The Planning commission meets every Thursday in
the Council Chambers of City Hall, all meetings are open to the
public and noticed.
For additional information, visit the web site.
City of Carlsbad Design Review Board
The Design Review Board serves as the Planning Commission for all
projects within, and policies or regulations which impact the
Village Redevelopment Area. Many of the issues addressed are reviewed
within the context of enhancing the pedestrian experience for
the residents of Carlsbad and the visitors who frequent the area.
Issues include:
a. What constitutes compatible redevelopment;
b. Urban design;
c. Streetscape design;
d. Street trees;
e. Signage design and programs;
f. Community themes;
g. Parking design and requirements;
h. Historic preservation;
i. Development compatibility;
j. Mixed-use development concepts;
k. Transit / transportation systems and programs
Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC)
The Southeastern Economic Development Corporation is the development
corporation that represents the Redevelopment Agency of the City
of San Diego for planning and implementing redevelopment in Southeastern
San Diego. Its jurisdiction stretches over seven square miles
from Sherman Heights to Encanto south of the Martin Luther King
Freeway (94) within the City of San Diego.
The Development corporation uses a twin-pillar strategy: redevelopment
and economic development as intricately linked and simultaneous
activities designed to produce a wider array of opportunities
for the residents and business owners in southeastern San Diego.
Using tax increment financing, developer participation and other
funding sources, the Development Corporation is charged with both
housing and economic revitalization, and is balancing quality
jobs with new housing.
It has just adopted a multifamily Housing Guideline strategy to assist
in the good design of multifamily housing within the neighborhoods,
helping to eliminate the fear of density and support affordable
housing. Its Board of Directors is made up of local and community
leaders and professional expertise with a dedication to redevelopment.
For additional information, visit http://www.sannet.gov
Old Town San Diego Design Review Board
The City has established a Design Review Board to review projects
within the Old Town Planned District Ordinance to enforce the
directions of the ordinance and the design controls of private
property development, so that the ambiance of Old Town is maintained
in its pre-1873 character. Within the one-square mile area, the
Board has advisory capacity of all development except those within
State property (Old Town State Park and CalTrans property). The
Board is made up of community interests and design professionals.
For additional information, visit http://www.sannet.gov
Port of San Diego Public Art Committee
The Port of San Diego Public Art Committee meets monthly to review
proposals for public art projects as well as memorials.
For additional information, visit the web site.
Citizens Coordinate for Century 3
Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 also known as C3 is San Diego's oldest
non-profit, non-partisan civic organization dedicated to issues
of the environment and urban form. C3 was originally formed as
a grass-roots organization and has evolved into a well-respected
activist group offering positions relating to the urban and natural
environments and the political and physical forces that come to
bear on them.
The Board of Directors meets monthly to review pending issues and
projects as well as sponsoring community educational forums regarding
design and the environment. C3 is serving as a watchdog to the
various development activities taking place within the region
as well as both the City's and County's general Plan updates.
It authored the model for accommodating our region's population
with its publication of "Towards Permanent Paradise"
in 1999, as a follow-up to the seminal text "Temporary Paradise"
by lynch & Appleyard in the 70's.
To become involved with C3, breakfast meetings are held on the third
Thursday of every month. Membership is $50/year. For additional
information, contact the Citizens Coordinate for Century 3, P.O.
Box 121028, San Diego, CA 92112-1028 or call (619) 232-7196 for
a membership application and information.
Clairemont Town Council
The Town Council's purpose is to promote the civic, educational, cultural
and commercial activities, as well as the general welfare of the
community of Clairemont. The objective of the Council is to advocate
on behalf of the community, facilitate discussion of community
issues, take a stand as authorized by the membership, communicate
those views to the appropriate organizations, and sponsor programs
which benefit Clairemont.
City of San Diego Water Department Citizen's Advisory Board
The Citizen's Advisory Board was established in March 1999 and meets
every-other month. Other members of the Board include representatives
from: San Diego Association of Realtors, San Diego County Apartment
Association, San Diego Chamber of Commerce, Building Industry
Association San Diego, San Diego Taxpayers Association, League
of Women Voters, and the Sierra Club, among others. The Board
is charged with representing the best interests of the citizens
and water ratepayers of the City of San Diego. The Advisory Board
reviews planned expenditures, department organization, service
delivery methods, and the implementation of the $773 million dollar
Capital Improvement Program to ensure that the funds are expended
in a responsible manner, and quality water service continues to
be provided to City residents.
Recently, the Advisory Board has been reviewing water resource planning
issues relating to the update of the Strategic Plan for Water
Supply for San Diego. In addition, the Strategic Plan has targeted
an aggressive program for increasing water conservation efforts.
City staff and consultants are collecting information from the
Advisory Panel as well as interested groups such as the California
Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) in developing strategies
for increasing water conservation over the next several years.
City of San Diego Park & Recreation Design Review Committee
The City of San Diego Park & Recreation Design Review Committee's
main concerns and issues have been equally divided between functional
concerns and aesthetic issues. Recent hearings have addressed
the following:
- Fire and brush management and fire safety, and their direct impacts on the designs;
- Erosion control and site drainage and their impacts on adjacent sites and downstream environments;
- Basic aesthetics relative to human scale and people places; the creation
of "neighborhoods"; and developing sense of place.
San Diego Council of Design Professionals
Members were prepared for the subject as a result of previously receiving
a 03 October memo from Mike Stepner and Nick DeLorenzo including
the following documents:
- It's a Zoo Out There, C3 President's Column by Tom Anglewicz
- Draft Position Paper by Terry Barker
- Report to Zoo Working Group on the 12 August Charrette by Steve Estrada
Terry Barker provided background information about the Position
Paper. The writing was based on the premise that all options are
valid but a pro/con listing is desired to establish a conclusion.
A proposed Design Council listing of recommendations concludes
the Paper.
Comments by those in attendance:
- Balboa Park is one of the jewels of San Diego and, therefore, the final
report must offer a bold vision statement about its destiny. In
the meantime, the Design Council should generate and publish policy
statements and graphics to help guide the direction of Zoo expansion,
Balboa Park and greater Downtown. Principles and strategies need
to be identified. Some could be lifted from the Charrette. Graphics
are often more powerful than text to explain an idea.
- Parking is an issue that occurs on every project. The volume required
to serve the Zoo is huge, but it should be located for all Park
users.
- Transit is needed to tie all the projects and districts. This could be
an effective means of shuttling people through the Park in lieu
of everyone driving. A transit spline along Park Boulevard could
be extended to the Bay.
- A Committee was formed to establish the Design Council position
consisting of Tom Anglewicz, Terry Barker, Jack Carpenter, Joyce
Cutler-Shaw and Geraldine Forbes-Isais. They will work independently
of the Zoo Working Group.
MAYOR'S CONFERENCE
This conference is scheduled for 29/30/31 November and the Design
Council is needed to hold Downtown tours. The format is to ask
mayors from different parts of the country to discuss ongoing
projects that are not working properly.
CITY OF SAN DIEGO TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY
A 1996 Design Council letter offered the City help in formulating
a Traffic Calming Policy as an extension of the Street Design
Manual. Current City policy does not encourage calming. A policy
needs to be oriented toward pedestrians. Some calming devices
are particularly difficult for the disabled. A Roger Showley
article in the Union-Tribune discussing streets and sidewalks
versus pedestrians was distributed.
TWELVE GAMING HALLS
Jack Carpenter recommended that the Indian Tribes and their
spokesman, Richard Ledford, be asked to discuss the effect of
the proposed gaming halls on the environment. Of particular
concern is the traffic impact on existing roads, the use of
the land adjacent to the Indian Reservation and the change to
the character of the backcountry. Consolidation of the halls
would relieve some problems. A County of San Diego report on
the subject is being developed.
MIDWAY AIRCRAFT CARRIER MUSEUM
Jack Carpenter also reported that the Design Council Committee
set up to review the carrier subject came to a draw on every
critical issue, i.e. -- location, parking and size. The committee
consisted of Bill Chopyk, Victoria Hamilton, Linda Moreland
and Jack Carpenter.
Comments today included:
- They Navy represents a large part of San Diego's history and could
add to tourism as part of a "clean industry."
- The ship could focus the role of women in industry during World
War II as "Rosie the Riveter."
- Interesting idea but is the Downtown waterfront location appropriate for
a large ship?
- A prominent position is needed in order to obtain a volume of
paying visitors to support ship maintenance.
- This issue is scheduled to be heard by the Coastal Commission in
November.
MTDB UPDATE
The staff is in the final stage of a two-year study with four
different scenarios; one of which, will be selected by the MTDB
Board for further study.
CITY OF SAN DIEGO
A recent presentation dealt with the funding sources of public
utilities that are involved in long range planning.
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO
Presentations are scheduled for the Planning Commission and Board
of Supervisors between now and January which will show less density
and population between the old and new General Plans.
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For national public affairs updates, visit www.asla.org/nonmembers/public_affairs.cfm.
For national professional affairs updates, visit www.asla.org/members/open_comms.cfm.
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