Council Agrees on Road Projects, Paves Way for Vote on Tax

The divisive debate over what road projects will be funded by a proposed countywide sales tax increase ended Tuesday when the San Diego City Council unanimously approved a list that was changed to appease Councilwoman Abbe Wolfsheimer, who had previously threatened to oppose the tax measure.

Wolfsheimer went along with the list on Tuesday, but her vote did not come without some controversy. The outspoken 1st District representative criticized developers and tangled with colleagues on how best to ensure that builders follow through on their promises to widen overworked Black Mountain Road in Mira Mesa.

Dispute Over Road

Wolfsheimer wanted the council to include the full Black Mountain Road project in the sales tax pork barrel, rather than spend $1.5 million on just a portion of it. But Mayor Maureen O’Connor and Councilman Ed Struiksma opposed her, arguing that using sales tax money would only let developers who have promised to improve the road off the hook.

When the dust had settled, Wolfsheimer lost that battle but gained a road improvement at Ardath Road and Interstate 5; O’Connor said she would take responsibility for seeing that the Black Mountain Road project was carried out, and Struiksma, a driving force behind the sales tax proposal, had a unanimous vote that could be used to sell the increase to voters.

The proposed increase, slated for the November ballot, would add half a cent to the local sales tax and raise an estimated $2.25 billion for San Diego County roads projects. The revenue would be split three ways--new freeways, mass transit, and local road repairs and construction.

Each city is supposed to compile a wish list for its share of local road funds. For San Diego alone, the increase would net an estimated $318 million to $340 million over the next 20 years, according to projections by the San Diego Assn. of Governments (Sandag).

Council members had tried several times to settle on a list for what it would do with the $88.5 million expected to come in during the first five years of the tax, but the discussion ended in a bitter stalemate last week when Wolfsheimer complained that her district, at slightly more than $11 million, was getting far less than it deserved. She threatened to vote against the plan and rally her constituents to vote against the proposal.

Rather than remain divided and damage the proposal’s chances for passage, the council retreated and the city manager’s office negotiated with Wolfsheimer to win her support.

The new list dropped plans to use local road funds for California 56, which runs through portions of the urban reserve in Wolfsheimer’s district, but it included a new $15-million project to improve the intersection of Interstate 5 and Ardath Road.

Yet Wolfsheimer wanted more, and she pressed her colleagues Tuesday to include a widening of Black Mountain Road from Galvin Road north to the Mercy Road--a stretch of two-lane pavement that carries 60,000 cars a day when it is designed to carry only 5,000.

The major development firms of Genstar, Pardee and Shapell have committed themselves to improving the road, but Wolfsheimer said she didn’t trust them to keep their word.

“I just don’t trust them because I look at North City West,” said Wolfsheimer, referring to a Pardee development in her district. “I haven’t seen a park in 12 years. I haven’t seen road completions there . . . . So I’m not too pleased with them, I’m afraid.”

However Struiksma, whose district includes Black Mountain Road, said he has been negotiating with Genstar, Shapell and Pardee to begin the road improvements this summer.

He and O’Connor argued that including the project now would only give developers the incentive to back off from the commitment in the hope the sales tax would be approved.

“You’re giving the developers a big excuse,” said O’Connor. “Frankly, I don’t want to give them an excuse. They have plenty of them as it is without giving them an extra one.”

The mayor said she would take personal responsibility to see that the road was constructed as promised, and she instructed City Manager John Lockwood to come back to the council with a time line on the Black Mountain project.

“You’ve got to trust in your colleagues,” O’Connor said. “If you don’t trust anybody else, trust in us and we’ll make sure it happens.”

“I do trust you, but I’ve learned to be distrustful ever since I became a city councilwoman,” said Wolfsheimer.

“I trust everybody inside this room,” Wolfsheimer added later. “It’s the people outside this room I don’t trust.”

Despite the guarantees, Wolfsheimer wanted to put her demand for Black Mountain Road to a vote. Her colleagues rejected it 5-3, with Councilwoman Judy McCarty absent.

Then the council voted unanimously to approve the plan, which will now be forwarded to Sandag for a public hearing Thursday evening on the tax increase proposal.

ROAD PROJECTS

Citywide installation of about 75 signals, and modernization of obsolete traffic signals and systems, including a new central master computer. Estimated Cost: $11 million.

Friars Road bridge over the San Diego River--widen to six lanes. Estimated cost: $5 million.

Mission Gorge Road from Old Cliffs Road to city limits--complete widening to six lanes. Estimated cost: $3.5 million.

Fairmount Avenue from Montezuma Road to Interstate 8--widening and interchange improvements. Estimated cost: $4 million.

Napa Street from Linda Vista Road to Morena Boulevard--widen to four lanes plus turn lanes. Estimated cost: $1 million.

Texas Street from El Cajon Boulevard to Madison Avenue--widen to four lanes.

Estimated cost: $7 million.

San Ysidro Boulevard from Smythe Avenue to Border Village Road--widen to four lanes. Estimated cost: $11 million.

Reo Drive from Alleghany Street to Plaza Boulevard--construct four-lane roadway. This project requires coordination and funding from National City since a portion of the alignment lies within its boundary. Estimated cost: $4 million for total project.

Jackson Drive extension from Mission Gorge Road to future California 52.

Estimated cost: $25 million.

Black Mountain Road, northbound side of bridge over Los Penasquitos Creek--accelerate project schedule. Estimated cost: $1.5 million.

Famosa Boulevard-Nimitz Boulevard interchange--improve interchange capacity and add a northbound off-ramp.

Estimated cost: $1 million.

National Avenue from Interstate 15 to 43rd Street--widen to four lanes. Estimated cost: $3.5 million.

Improvement of intersection of Ardath Road and Interstate 5. Estimated cost: $15 million.