ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Ed continues to provide strong leadership to make sure IB’s classic, Southern California small beach town charm is preserved while improvements are made that enhance quality of life for all residents.

As a Councilmember, Ed has led or voted for many community improvements and has fought for regional and State-level policies that benefit Imperial Beach.

Photos: Groundbreaking for Veteran’s Park restroom; Leading student workshop at UCSD; and with new IB business owner

Community – Quality of Life: Ed believes we must keep our neighborhoods safe, continue to improve City services along with shopping and recreational opportunities, and maintain our character as a family-friendly, beach community.

    • Lowest beach city crime rate due to Ed’s consistent voting and advocacy for a well–staffed Sheriff’s unit, fire department and lifeguard service.
    • Most alleys are now paved, through reserves and funding priorities that were strongly supported by Ed.
    • 4th of July fireworks and our iconic Sun & Sea (Sandcastle) Festival are now regular annual events through Ed’s leadership and advocacy on behalf of community members.
    • Persisted for years in the successful fight to bring the Pier South and Breakwater Shopping Center projects into being.
    • New community dog park strongly supported over the years by Ed.
    • Renovation planned for our senior center, and eventually a new facility, through Ed’s votes and direct work with the architect to right-size the project.
    • Prevented establishment of multiple marijuana outlets and led efforts to eliminate ordinance loopholes.
    • Strongly supported new library with ample space for youth and education programs, including IB funding and land transfer.
    • Helped negotiate establishment of parks and recreation committee, Boys and Girls Club support for recreation programs; voted for new parks and equipment.

Environment: Ed believes strongly in preserving and enhancing our physical environment, ensuring that our beaches, estuary and bay front areas are well protected from pollution and encroaching development.

    • Former member and Chair of the Tidelands Advisory Committee and the IBWC Citizens Forum.
    • Through letters, Citizens Forum Board pressure and personal advocacy, helped force the IBWC Commissioner to give top priority to OUR cross-border pollution issue.
    • Used legal and environmental knowledge and experience to support Mayor’s efforts and help shape City’s lawsuits against IBWC to stop cross border pollution.
    • Led City Council discussion leading to ban of polyurethane/Styrofoam in IB and for extending ban to include plastic straws to protect our beaches and ocean.
    • Playing leadership role in updating IB’s General Plan & Local Coastal Program to address economic and sea level issues that now or soon will affect many neighborhoods in IB and the City as a whole.
    • Leader of CA coastal cities effort influencing Coastal Commission state-wide policies that help IB and other coastal cities.

Transparent Government and More Citizen Participation: Ed believes that IB citizens deserve to be well informed about what their City Government is doing before actions are taken or final decisions are made:

    • Ongoing leadership in achieving a balanced city budget with reserves for priority projects and emergencies.
    • Worked with budget director to establish a budget forecasting tool to improve IB’s financial sustainability and protect our economic future.
    • Led efforts to hold annual IB department and budget open house days in Veterans Park, through ideas brought back to Council from other cities.
    • Periodically holds several of his own community forums at different locations in IB.
    • Co-founded Seacoasters to facilitate public input on commercial zone development.

Appropriate Development/Managed Growth: Ed understands the importance of balancing economic growth with preserving our informal beach town, family-friendly identity:

    • Led work in 2016-17 to remove pro-developer loopholes in IB’s zoning code and supports a second phase of this process to reduce density incentive loopholes.
    • Led successful efforts preventing short term rentals in residential areas and will work to remove illegal STRs going forward.
    • Supported and will continue to support construction of well-designed low density affordable housing to help meet IB’s housing needs.
    • Supported development of Bikeway Village to enhance IB’s bayfront.
    • Fighting for new traffic management and parking options to alleviate parking shortages and reduce speeding in neighborhoods.
    • Actively participating in the process to update the City’s Local Coastal Program and General Plan to maximize local control over our destiny as a community.

Strong and Effective Representation and Advocacy for Imperial Beach and its residents: Ed represents IB on the following influential statewide, regional and local boards and organizations:

    • Statewide Policy Committee on Housing, Community and Economic Development of the League of California Cities
    • Chair of the League’s Coastal Cities Issues Group comprised of over 60 coastal cities
    • Member of the League’s Environmental Quality Policy Committee
    • Member of the SANDAG Shoreline Protection Working Group
    • Board Member, Metro Wastewater Commission
    • Member of the Steering Committee on the IB General Plan and Local Coastal Program Update, which is also creating a new Climate Action Plan for IB
    • Tijuana River Valley Trails Committee participant
    • Co-chair for the Seacoasters, an informal organization of business owners and residents seeking Seacoast Commercial Zone improvements that benefit residents and visitors alike