San Diego, CA

San Diego has put off $1 billion in routine building maintenance, audit says

Published

1 year ago

November 9, 2024

San Diego has put off billion in routine building maintenance, audit says

San Diego’s nearly $5 billion infrastructure funding deficit would be about $1 billion larger if the city included hundreds of maintenance projects that officials postpone and ignore, a city audit says.

Postponing those projects, which include roof patches and minor repairs to air conditioning systems, will increase long-term costs by forcing the city to replace entire buildings sooner than necessary, according to the 57-page audit.

“Although deferring maintenance can save money in the short term, deferring maintenance results in higher future costs and can impact city services, worker morale and the overall reputation of the city,” the audit says.

It can also deprive city leaders of an accurate picture of how far behind they are on infrastructure projects. The audit says deferred maintenance should be included in future evaluations of the city’s infrastructure deficit.

If it is included, it will likely account for the second largest deficit behind only stormwater. In last winter’s evaluation, the stormwater deficit was $1.6 billion, the streets deficit was $989 million and the parks deficit was $801 million.

The audit says the roughly $25 million San Diego spends annually on facility maintenance is only somewhere between 8% and 18% of what the city should be spending.

That’s based on recommendations from the National Research Council that cities should spend between 2% and 4% of the replacement value of their assets on routine facilities maintenance each year.

San Diego’s 1,600 buildings and facilities have an estimated net worth — or replacement value — of $7.2 billion, which would require annual spending between $143 million and $287 million on routine maintenance.

The audit also says the city is spending those limited resources the wrong way.

It says best practices dictate government agencies should spend 30% of facilities maintenance money on repairs and 70% on preventative maintenance projects.

By contrast, San Diego spends 87% of its facilities maintenance money on repairs and only 13% on preventative maintenance.

“We found that continually underfunding facility maintenance has also resulted in the Facilities Services Division needing to take a reactive approach to maintenance, meaning the city is fixing facility components as they break and delaying repairs until it has the needed staff time and funding,” the audit says. “This pattern has created a substantial deferred maintenance backlog and limits Facilities Services’ ability to conduct preventative maintenance.”

To help solve this problem, the audit said the city should develop a facility management plan to track and report maintenance needs and decide how to address them and how much money is needed for each project.

The audit also recommends the city use that plan to create a long-term funding strategy to address both annual maintenance needs and deferred maintenance.

A third recommendation is that the city set a goal for the percentage of total facility replacement value the city intends to spend annually on facility maintenance. The city is now spending 0.4% of its $7.2 billion facility replacement value — far below the recommended 2% to 4%.

In the city’s defense, the audit says San Diego is far from alone in deferring maintenance, because it’s a way for cities to make ends meet — spend money on immediate priorities and postpone less immediate ones.

“The National Research Council says underfunding of maintenance and repair is such a prevalent practice in the public sector that it has become a de facto policy that compounds the problem each year as the backlog of maintenance needs grows,” the audit says.

City officials agreed to all of the audit’s recommendations but stressed that complying with them would require more money.

“Significant investment in the Facilities Services Division is required to correct the underfunding issues and be able to take actions required for ongoing maintenance to protect the city’s investments in its facilities,” two officials — Comptroller Rolando Charvel and General Service Director Musheerah Little — wrote in a letter to City Auditor Andy Hanau.

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San Diego, CA

Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records

Published

7 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records

San Diego County is known for having wet, cold weather in February. But it had numerous hot spells this year. And when the month ended on Saturday a high pressure system produced heat that broke or tied temperature records in nine communities from the desert to the sea, the National Weather Service said.

The most notable temperature occurred in Borrego Springs, which reached 99, five degrees higher than the previous record for Feb. 28, set in 1986. The 99 reading is also the highest temperature ever recorded in Borrego in February.

Escondido reached 95, tying a record set in 1901.

El Cajon reached 92, three degrees higher than the record set in 2009.

Ramona topped out at 88, five degrees higher than the record set in 2009.

Alpine hit 88, four degrees higher the record set in 1986.

Campo reached 87, four degrees higher than the record set in 1999.

Vista hit 86, four degrees higher than the record set in 2020.

Chula Vista reached 84, one degree higher than the record set in 2020.

Lake Cuyamaca rose to 76, four degrees higher than the record set in 1986.

Forecasters say the weather is not likely to broadly produce new highs on Sunday. Cooler air is moving to the coast, and on Monday, San Diego’s high will only reach 67, a degree above normal.

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San Diego, CA

Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title

Published

19 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title

OCEANSIDE — The Frontwave Arena scoreboard showed 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Up 16, Francis Parker’s win over Westview High School for the CIF San Diego Section Open Division girls basketball championship was secure.

“No, no, no!” Parker head coach Courtney Clements screamed to freshman guard Jordan Brown, telling her there was no need to score.

So Brown walked the ball up the floor, from the backcourt, across midcourt, a 1,000-watt smile etched across her face.

With no Wolverines defending her, Brown dribbled from side to side across the logo. Then, a fraction of a moment before the final buzzer sounded, Brown flung the basketball high toward the rafters, then was engulfed by teammates.

The job was complete. Parker’s first Open Division title in program history was secure, the final reading 66-50 on Saturday night.

Of those final seconds, said Brown, who scored 23 points. “It was a surreal moment, knowing we worked for this all year long. It’s amazing.”

One reason it was amazing was because the top-seeded Lancers (21-7) were a decided favorite, but were stressed by the sixth-seeded Wolverines (20-9). Led by UC Santa Barbara-bound senior guard Sarah Heyn (18 points in the first half), Westview led 35-28 early in the third quarter.

“I just knew I had to do whatever it took to win,” said Brown. “Whether that was defense or offense. I just wanted to win, period.”

Sparked by its defense, Parker closed the quarter on a 14-0 run. Westview’s final 11 possessions of the quarter ended with five missed shots and six turnovers.

Still, the game wasn’t over. Heyn cut the deficit to 48-44 with just over six minutes to play on a bucket. But with 5:47 to play, Heyn was whistled for her fifth foul on a reach-in.

“Knowing their best player fouled out, we sealed the win,” said Brown.

As for Heyn, who finished with 23 points, she sat on the bench and pulled her jersey over her eyes, hiding tears.

Clements’ thoughts when Heyn fouled out? “I hope we can put this game away now.”

Francis Parker High’s Jordan Brown shoots against Westview High during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

That the Lancers did, outscoring Westview 18-6 down the stretch.

The Lancers’ players and coach were effusive in their praise for Heyn, a four-year starter.

“She’s a great player,” said Brown.

“She played phenomenally,” said Clements. “She played the way you would think a senior would play in a championship game. She played desperately. She played every possession like it was the last 20 seconds of the game. She was extremely impressive. (Heyn buried five 3s, missing only once from deep.) She should be proud of herself.”

Clements was proud of her team for another reason. After blowing out two-time reigning Open Division champion Mission Hills by 26 in the semis, some thought Parker might cruise in the title game.

“I figured it was going to be a fight, and it was,” said Clements. “It was good that our girls had to come together, had to stick together. That’s what this is all about, developing character via the sport of basketball. When the kids face adversity, they have to make a decision. Who do they want to be? They showed the best version of themselves. That’s what I want to remember from a game like this.”

Francis Parker’s primary color is brown, which is fitting for the girls basketball team. They are led not only by the freshman Jordan Brown, but also junior Brieana Brown, a strong, aggressive and athletic 5-foot-11 wing.

Brieana Brown scored 25 points and yanked down a team-best eight rebounds.

About the team in brown being led by the Browns (who are not related), Jordan Brown said: “It’s super cool. I love Bri and our story. So many people think we’re related, that we’re siblings. In reality, we’re not, but we play like it.”

Francis Parker High's Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune) — Francis Parker High’s Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Francis Parker and Westview both will advance to the Southern California Regionals.

Earlier in the season, Clements — who was dressed in all black for the championship game — confessed she wasn’t crazy about Parker’s primary color. Her mood shifted Saturday night.

“Brown’s doing well for me now,” she said.

Asked if Lancers’ Brown squared tandem represents the best one-two girls basketball punch in the San Diego Section, Clements gave the questioner a “What do you think?” smirk.

“That,” said the coach of the Open Division champions, “is a no-brainer.”

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