Mayor’s
Citizen Task Force on the Convention Center Project
The Mayor’s Citizen Task Force on
the Convention Center Project is charged with evaluating and recommending to
Mayor Sanders the necessary steps required to ensure San Diego’s ability to
protect and expand local jobs and retain and enhance its current market
position in the convention and meeting industry.
Charge
To review and evaluate the feasibility of an expansion
to the current Convention Center and related developments or enhancements
and the impact on generating new jobs;
To identify and evaluate various financing options for
an expanded convention center that relies mainly on revenues generated by
the Convention Center and/or related developments or enhancements;
To identify key issues related to public access,
resource conservation and waterfront enhancement;
To encourage public comment on the convention center
project by holding meetings at locations and times accessible to the
public;
To present a final set of findings and recommendations
to Mayor Sander’s no later than September 2009. All meetings will be
conducted in accordance with the Brown Act.
The Civic Center Complex site is a four-square-block property bounded by
Front Street, Third Avenue, A Street and C Street. The site currently contains
five separate public structures: the City Administration Building, San
Diego Civic Theatre, Convention and Performing Arts Center, Evan Jones Parkade
and City Operations Building/ Development Services Center.
The Civic Center Complex currently needs an estimated $125 million in
renovations, including seismic and ADA retrofitting and removal of hazardous
materials including asbestos.
A principal objective of the Downtown Community Plan is to reinforce the
Civic/Core District as a center of business and civic activity for downtown and
the region. Development of the subject site area is governed by the Downtown
Community Plan and Centre City Planned District
Ordinance ("PDO"). Both documents currently are undergoing
amendments.
City Councilman Carl DeMaio, a leading critic of the redevelopment plan,
said the report shows that San Diego can't afford this project now. The city
recently forced pay and benefit cuts on employees to help close a $60 million
budget gap next year.
“At a time when the city faces structural budget deficits and looming
liabilities in the pension system, the city should shelve this project,” DeMaio
said in a written statement.
For more information on the Civic Center Project, CLICK HERE
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City of San Diego Plastic Bag Ban Councilwoman Donna
Frye has introduced an ordinance that would prohibit the use of plastic
checkout bags by retailers within the city, which could result in
significant economic consequences for businesses and consumers. The
American Chemistry Council is recommending that the City Council,
instead, promote increased recycling policies that are good for the
environment, good for business, and good for consumers. To see a copy
of the ordinance, click here.
STATE
Brinker Restaurant Case
Last year the Fourth District Court of Appeal in San Diego handed down a decision that favors all businesses with employees. Brinker Restaurant Corp. v. San Diego Superior Court held
that Plaintiffs' strict interpretation of the California Labor Code,
which requires employers to "ensure" that employees take their meal and
rest breaks, was erroneous. As a result of this ruling by the Appeal
Court, employers are merely required to "make available" meal and rest
breaks for their employees. This provides employers and employees
greater flexibility in scheduling meal and rest breaks and eliminates
the ability of an employee to sue his/her employer for not "ensuring"
that he/she takes meal and rest breaks.
The case was sent back to the trial court and, in October 2008, the
California Supreme Court granted review of the Fourth District Court of
Appeal's decision. The case is currently pending before the court.
California's New Landmark Disability Access Law - SB 1608 California's
new American with Disabilities Act (ADA) reform law, SB 1608 (Anderson,
2008), takes a multi-faceted approach to helping businesses become
access compliant. The calADA site (CLICK HERE)
is designed to help business owners learn what new tools SB 1608 made
available to them when it went into effect on January 1, 2009.
Access Modifications Are Tax Deductible: The federal
government allows for up to $10,000 in tax deductions for access
related changes. CLICK HERE to see IRS Form 8826. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8826.pdf
