El Cerrito Community
Newsletter
Volume Five: Number 11
October, 2008
The Boulevard Boo! Parade and Carnival
Saturday, October 25th, 2008
ECCC’s Meeting
Council Member Jim Madaffer
Thursday, October 16, 2008
7:00 p.m. Parish Hall
Council Member Jim Madaffer will be our guest speaker
this month. We would ask you to write any questions
you have for Mr. Madaffer on an index card (provided at
the meeting) and hand them to Carl Luster who will be
the moderator. This will be the last visit of Council
Member Madaffer due to the fact that he is termed out.
September’s ECCC Meeting
The community was introduced to our new Community
Officer, Dean Thomas. His contact information is: Phone
619-516-3009. E-mail: dmthomas@pd.sandiego.gov.
You can also call the general San Diego Police non-
emergency phone number 531-2000. Residents voiced
concern about several home invasions, theft from cars
and stolen vehicles. One encouraging note, according to
the statistics, car thefts have gone down 34%.
The rest of our meeting was devoted to our guest
speaker: Mr. Gary Pence, Traffic Engineer, City of San
Diego. He was given information concerning traffic
issues within El Cerrito. We hope to have Mr. Pence back
at a future meeting to find out our options and solutions
to ease the traffic flow within the community.
El Cerrito Community Council, P.O. Box 151268, San Diego, CA 92175-1268: (ECCC @cox.net)
619-287-2460
ECCC Community Garage Sale
There were over 50 participants in this year’s El Cerrito
Annual Community Garage Sale. A big “thank you” to all
of you who participated. We hope you made lots of $$$.
If you see Laura Riebau, give her a big “thank you” as
she heads up the organization - collecting names,
address and items for sale, putting them on a map &
distributing copies to the neighborhood, and with the
help of Carl Luster, Amy Earhart & Jan Riley gets signs
put up and taken down. Lynn Clinton, our Treasurer,
does all the co-ordination. Our appreciation goes out to
these community minded members who make the garage
sale possible and a great success.
4th Annual BOO Parade
Hop on your broomsticks and fly over to the College Area
to experience a day of Halloween thrills and chills! It’s
the return of The Boulevard BOO! Parade and Carnival,
where ghosts and goblins of all ages are invited to
encounter the magic on Saturday, October 25th from
11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. This FREE family-friendly event is
action-packed with a parade, carnival games and rides,
live entertainment, tasty treats and costume contests.
New to this festive celebration is the first ever haunted
beer garden. Don’t lose your head at this chance to don
your cape and favorite costume as you enjoy this
faBOOlous event!
Get consumed by the fiendish Halloween spirit as you
observe the extravagant floats, unique vintage cars,
enchanting costumes and marching bands all
masquerading down El Cajon Boulevard. The BOO!
Parade begins at 59th Street and travels along El Cajon
Boulevard ending at Roland Boulevard from 11:00 AM to
Noon. San Diego State Hall-of-Famer Fred Dryer makes
his best play yet as Grand Marshal for this year’s BOO!
Parade.
When the clock strikes twelve, creep on over to partake
in the carnival festivities, which lurk right around the
corner at Clay Park, off El Cajon Boulevard at Seminole
Drive. From Noon to 6:00 PM everyone’s funny bones will
be tickled as they take a wicked ride down the inflatable
slides or whirl on the merry-go-round. Take a walk on
the wild side, dare to journey onto the cackling swings,
and display your talents at the various carnival games.
Shake your skeletons to the upbeat country tunes of Eve
Selis and enjoy a variety of dance groups including the
award-winning San Diego State Dance team.
Tradition comes alive as little witches and vampires trick
or treat their way down the Boulevard BOO! Parade and
Carnival and discover everything that the College Area
has to offer. This spooktacular event, brought to you by
the College Area Business District, features a spellbinding
parade, interactive games and rides, live entertainment,
costume contests and much more! Don’t miss out on
this experience full of exciting activities guaranteed to
cast a spell on you. For more information please visit
www.booparade.com, www.mcfarlanepromotions.com or
call 619.582.1093.
News You Can Use About El Cerrito &
Surrounding Areas
Coyote Contact Information -By Kelle Cooter
The ECCC received the following e-mail:
The person that I spoke with is Eric, of Wild Life Rescue.
His number is 858 694-2518. Leave him a message if
you have a coyote sighting. It takes him a couple of
weeks to get back to you, but he is very kind and helpful.
He told me of the capture and death of the coyote that
had very bad mange and was extremely thin. He said
the female is still in the area. You can also try the
Department of Agriculture. There phone number is 800-
486-0010. Another number to call is Dangerous Animal
Control at 619-236-4250.
Passing of Doris Perry
Many of you knew Doris Perry and we are all saddened
by her sudden passing on September 13th. Doris gave a
lot of her time to several community organizations, was
the heart and soul of the Rolando Community Council and
founded the Rolando Street Faire. She will be greatly
missed in all the surrounding communities. Donations in
her honor may be made to the Disabled Services
Advisory Council, City of San Diego Park and Recreation
Department, 3325 Zoo Drive, MS 33, San Diego, CA
92101; or the Kroc Center Theatre Scholarship Program,
6845 University Ave., San Diego, CA 92115.
CACC (Information ONLY Item)
Village Lindo Paseo – Presented at the CACC meeting was
a Conditional Use Permit for a 143,670 sq. ft., 5 story,
896 bed student dormitory with a 6,661 sq. ft. basement
plus a 34,821 sq.ft., 900 car below grade automated
parking structure at 5565 Lindo Paseo Drive, located in
the Fraternity Designated Area of the College Community
Redevelopment Area.
El Cerrito Community Council, P.O. Box 151268, San Diego, CA 92175-1268.
(ECCC@ cox.net) 619-287-2460
Support Our Local Businesses
Wild Harmony Wellness Center
5837 El Cajon Boulevard
We treat a wide variety of health issues, pain &
emotional disharmony
$10 off your first treatment with this ad
Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine
Vickii Gervais, LM LAc 619 286 2888
Therapeutic Message, Reiki, Essential Oils
Melissa Romahn, HHP 619 813 9991
WE’LL DO YOUR LAUNDRY FOR YOU!
FREE pick-up & delivery for El Cerrito Residents!
Take advantage of Get It Clean’s laundry service
right in your neighborhood & receive FREE pick-up &
delivery with 20lb min. laundry service.
Call us today & schedule a pick up @ (619) 269-
3973
Upcoming ECCC & Community Events
• Saturday, October 25th BOO Parade E Cajon Blvd
• Sees Candy Distribution – To be determined
• Holiday Pot Luck: Thursday, December 18, 2008
Graffiti Committee
If you see graffiti in the community, please send an e-
mail to taggerwatch@gmail.com, or call (619-287-
2460)
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.
It’s HOT and it’s Fire Season
Brush Management Guide
Published by San Diego Fire-Rescue Department
The City of San Diego has over 900 linear miles of wild-
land-urban interface, where the back yards of homes
meet the natural vegetation in canyons and other open
space areas. Years of drought have increased the
flammability of vegetation. This time of year, vegetation
can pose a wildfire risk and requires proper management
to prevent future tragedies. The following information
describes actions you and your family should take to
reduce your chances of being affected if a wildfire ever
occurs near you.
SAN DIEGO’S UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT
San Diego’s semi-arid natural environment contains
drought tolerant brush called coastal sage scrub or
chaparral, which is home to many rare and endangered
plants and animals. In fact, San Diego has more sensitive
species than anywhere in the continental United States.
Dangerous wildfires can occur in this environment. Fire
becomes a potential problem where there are homes
located next to dense stands of native or naturalized
vegetation. But, you can create a defensible space
around your home that can slow the fire down, giving
firefighters crucial time and space to protect your home.
CREATING “DEFENSIBLE SPACE
Defensible Space is the landscape between your house
and the potential fuel source (dense stands of native or
naturalized vegetation) that is your responsibility as a
homeowner to maintain to reduce fire risk. The City’s
Municipal Code* regulates brush management and
creates two Brush Management Zones with different
requirements. The Code was amended in October 2005 to
make these Zones total 100 feet of defensible space from
the structure. (However, your property may be governed
by a previous entitlement requiring different zone widths.
If in doubt, check with the Fire-Rescue Department or
Development Services Department before you begin your
work!
Brush Management Zone 1 is typically 35 feet from
the structure on the level portion of your property next to
your house.
ZONE 1:
• Generally must be permanently irrigated to
maintain succulent growth.
• Shall consist primarily of low-growing plant
material, less than 4 feet in height with the
exception of trees. Plants shall be low-fuel and
fire-resistive.
• All portions of trees which extend within ten feet
of the outlet of any chimney must be removed.
• Trees adjacent to or overhanging any building
must be free of dead wood.
• Roof and rain gutters of any structure must be
free of leaves, needles, or other dead vegetative
growth.
• Buildings or conditions legally in existence at the
time of the adoption of the Brush Management
Regulations as amended in 2005 (including
habitable structures, accessory buildings, and
other structures such as fences, gazebos, and
decks) are allowed to have their use or
occupancy continued. However, such use or
occupancy must not constitute a distinct danger
to life or property. New construction of non-
habitable structures such as fences, gazebos, and
decks must be non-combustible and/or have a
minimum 1-hour fire resistance rating.
• Irrigation from Zone 1 must not run onto Zone 2
as it encourages growth of flammable vegetation.
Brush Management Zone 2 is the remaining 65 feet
that extends beyond Zone 1 and is usually comprised of
native and/or naturalized vegetation.
ZONE 2:
• Can have NO permanent irrigation.
El Cerrito Community Council, P.O. Box 151268, San Diego, CA 92175-1268.
(ECCC@ cox.net) 619-287-2460
• Must be thinned and pruned on a seasonal
basis to reduce the fuel-load of vegetation
greater than 24 inches in height without
harming native plants, soil or habitats, as
described below.
HOW TO THIN AND PRUNE BRUSH IN ZONE 2
Step 1: Remove…. as much dead wood and invasive
species as you can within the Brush Management Zone
areas.
Step 2: Thin…. the entire Zone 2 area. Start by cutting
down 50% of the plants over 2 feet in height to a height
of 6 inches. Don’t go any lower than 6 inches so the
roots remain to control soil erosion. The goal is to
create a “mosaic” for more natural look, so do your
cutting in a “staggered” pattern. Leave uncut plant
groupings up to 400 square feet — that’s a 20x20-foot
area, or an area that can be encircled by an 80-foot
rope — separated by groupings of plants cut down to 6
inches. Thinning should be prioritized as follows: 1)
invasive non-native species, 2) non-native species, 3)
flammable native species, 4) native species, and 5)
regionally sensitive species.
Step 3: Prune…. all plants or plant groupings that are
left after the thinning process to achieve the horizontal
and vertical clearances.
Tree and Shrub Spacing
Remaining plants, 4-ft or more in height, should then be
cut and shaped into “umbrellas.” This means pruning
one half of the lower branches to create umbrella-
shaped canopies. This allows you to see and deal with
what is growing underneath. Upper branches may then
be shortened to reduce fuel load as long as the canopy
is left intact. This keeps the plant healthy, and the
shade from the plant canopy reduces weed and plant
growth underneath. Vegetation that is under 4 feet in
height, like coastal sage scrub, should be cut back to
within 12 inches of the root crown.
Step 4: Dispose…. of the cuttings and dead wood by
either hauling it to a landfill; or, by chipping/mulching it
on-site and spreading it out in the Zone 2 area to a
depth of not more than 6 inches.
Step 5: Thin & Prune annually…. because plants will
grow back.
NOTE: In general, Brush management activities are
prohibited within coastal sage scrub, maritime succulent
scrub, and coastal sage-chaparral habitats from March 1
through August 15, during Gnatcatcher nesting season.
Additional Information: Brush/Weed Abatement; use
of goats: Fire-Rescue Department (619) 553-4444.
Helpful Phone Numbers –
Cut out & Keep
Abandoned Vehicle Abatement 858-495-7856
Air Pollution 858-650-4700
Brush in Canyons 619-533-4444
Building Code Violations 619-236-5500
Building Permits 619-236-5500
Cockroaches 858-694-2888
Code Violations 619-
236-5500
Community Clean-Up 858-492-5055
Community Officer Dean Thomas 619-516-3009
Community Police Number 619-531-2000
Construction without A Permit 619-236-5500
Council Member Jim Madaffer 619-236-6677
Curb Painting 619-533-3126
Dead Animal Removal 858-694-7000
Dilapidated Fences 619-236-5500
ECCC 619-287-2460
Mayor’s Office 619-236-6330
Miramar Landfill 858-694-7000
Permit Assistance 619-685-1386
Community Police 619-532-2000
Potholes 619-527-7500
Senior Services 619-
236-6905
Sewer/Water Emergency Repair 619-515-3525
Vector Control 858-694-2888
Zoning 619-446-5000

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

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