Councilmember Lorie Zapf's 2015 Year-End Review

Hello Clairemont! Wow, 2015 has been busy; full of changes, challenges, and great accomplishments.

Looking back, I am happy to report that the state of our City continues to strengthen. Since working with the Mayor to champion a fiscally responsible budget, we have designated significant funding to go towards neighborhood repairs, improving safety, expanding community opportunities, all while pledging to repave 1000 miles of streets over the next five years!

In January, I helped to adopt 15 streamlining measures that will improve the City’s methods for repairing our infrastructure. Overall, these 15 measures will expedite timelines and save the City up to $9 million annually. With these new cost/time savings, the City looks to fund and complete many more capital improvement projects in 2016.

Towards the goal of safe neighborhoods, I am proud to have advocated for the hiring of 27 additional civilian and sworn officers, including an additional $5.6 million in upgrades to SDPD’s antiquated dispatch system that will quicken response times and prioritize vital information for first responders.


Increased revenues at the City have brought exciting opportunities for Clairemont including the recently expanded “Do Your Homework @ the Library” afterschool program that provides free access to paid tutors, school supplies and computers for local K-8 students. I am also happy to report that the hours at South Clairemont Park and Recreation Center have been extended from 45 to 60 per week.

District 2 Councilmember Lorie Zapf

Together with the Friends of Tecolote Canyon (FOTC) and the Tri-Canyons Park Rangers, we’ve worked to identify and advance efforts that seek to preserve the wildlife within the Canyon. Looking into the future, I look forward to supporting the FOTC and their many wonderful educational opportunities for children to engage with the Canyon’s diverse plant and wildlife ecosystem.

2015 has been a year for progress, but most recently the Council’s unanimous decision to approve the City’s first Climate Action Plan (CAP) puts our City in a position of leadership for clean energy. Our CAP calls for eliminating half of all greenhouse gas emissions in the City and aims for all electricity used in the City to be from renewable sources by 2035. History has been made and there can be no doubt that we are committed to implementing responsible policies in San Diego for future generations.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Councilmember and best wishes for many blessings in the year ahead.