IMPERIAL BEACH – Mayor Diane Rose touched on the city's financial crisis last night, keeping her State of the City address focused on the city's history and plans for its future.
The city will mark its 50th anniversary this year, with various celebrations planned during the coming months. Imperial Beach became the 10th city in San Diego County on July 18, 1956.
The theme of the mayor's address – before an invited audience of residents, city employees and civic leaders at the Dempsey Holder Safety Center – was “Celebrating the Past, Building the Future.”
Rose said Imperial Beach has not changed much from the 1950s, when it was a “vibrant place where people liked to live, work and play near the beach.”
She said the city retains its “hometown feeling” but also has become influential in South County, with an active redevelopment agency and major projects in the works. She said property values are rising, along with neighborhood pride.
Rose spoke about the city's plan to partner with home builder D.R. Horton to redevelop a rundown shopping center at Ninth Street and Palm Avenue. She also talked about how the city may soon enter into an agreement with the owner of the Seacoast Inn to redevelop the city's only beachfront hotel.
Both redevelopment projects are important, Rose said, but won't go far enough to help the city. Imperial Beach has been operating under a growing deficit in the past three years.
According to a recent study of the city's long-term fiscal sustainability, the city may be forced to cut services and possibly some employees, unless there is an increase revenue.
“Our ability to create revenue at a rapid pace is important for our fiscal future as we won't see the full results of our (redevelopment) projects for four to five years,” Rose said.
Rose talked about a few projects in the city's five-year capital improvement program, such as major work on streets and improvements at Veteran's Park. However, the city moved $685,500 from that budget to the general fund earlier this month to help with the city's day-to-day operating expenses.
Rose said while the city has done a good job at holding costs down, the city is feeling the pinch and must find a way to maintain basic services despite budget challenges.
One solution might be a citywide tax measure, Rose said.
“Through this possible tax increase, we will be able to preserve our unique community as well as our autonomy,” she said.
Rose thanked members of the council, department managers and employees. She recognized the San Diego Unified Port District for providing the maintenance of the tidelands and pier.
Rose also thanked the Sheriff's Department, which helped reduce the crime rate 15 percent from 2004 to 2005.
Janine Zuniga: (619) 498-6636; janine.zuniga@uniontrib.com
