By Linda Lou Contact Union-Tribune Staff Writer
2:00 a.m. March 15, 2009
SAN MARCOS — San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond’s State of the City address touted the city’s 2008 accomplishments and called for cautious optimism in 2009.
The 30-minute talk will be broadcast at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily on Cox Cable Channel 19, Time Warner Channel 24 and AT&T Channel 99. The speech can be seen online at www.san-marcos.net. About 150 people heard the speech at a breakfast event Tuesday. The gathering was organized by the city and the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce and attracted 15 sponsors.
Desmond’s speech touched on a variety of topics:
Public safety: Violent and serious crimes are down. Desmond attributed the city’s gang injunction as a major factor. Fire Station No. 4 opened in San Elijo Hills and has responded to more than 600 service calls. It also received an environmental award from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Traffic management: A new segment of Linda Vista Drive has opened and is improving travel between San Marcos and Vista. Parts of San Marcos Boulevard, Grand Avenue and Rancho Santa Fe Road have been resurfaced. Work is under way to widen a part of Barham Drive from two to four lanes.
Parks and community services: A 30-acre park, Hollandia, opened in the fall and includes the city’s first skate-board park. Construction has started on 19-acre Sunset Park in western San Marcos and should be finished this winter. Construction of Double Peak, a 200-acre regional park, has also started.
