Get Gardening Tips All Year Long with Free Lunchtime Lessons

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Join the Master Gardeners program for monthly gardening and sustainability talks on the first Wednesday of every month at the County Operations Center. Each event will take place from noon to 12:30 p.m. in the Demonstration Garden in the courtyard outside 5520 Overland Ave., San Diego.

March 6

Straw Bale Gardening: Delve into the innovative world of straw bale gardening. Learn how to transform straw bales into growing spaces. Discover techniques for planting, watering and nurturing gardens with minimal soil and space requirements. 

April 3

Pollinators: Explore the vital role of pollinators in our ecosystem in this class. Discover how to attract and support a diverse array of pollinators, from bees to butterflies. 

May 1

Herbs: Discover the secrets of cultivating an herb garden. From basil to thyme, get tips and tricks to grow an herb garden. 

June 5

Tool Care:  Learn the art of tool TLC in this class dedicated to caring for your garden tools. From sharpening shears to preserving wooden handles, unlock the techniques to keep your gardening tools in top-notch condition for seasons to come.  

July 3

Plumerias: Dig into the enchanting world of plumeria cultivation at this lunch and learn. Discover the secrets to nurturing these vibrant blooms, from optimal planting conditions to expert pruning techniques. 

Aug. 7

Bees: Learn how to attract, support and conserve these vital pollinators, enriching your garden ecosystem while contributing to biodiversity. 

Sept. 4

Exotic Fruits: Add a tropical twist to your garden space with this class. From cultivating dragon fruit to caring for passion vines, unlock the secrets to growing and enjoying a diverse array of delicious and uncommon fruits. 

Oct. 2

Citrus: Learn the art of growing vibrant citrus trees. From selecting the perfect varieties to mastering citrus tree care techniques, discover how to cultivate bountiful harvests of juicy fruits. 

Nov. 6

Worm Composting: Join this lunch and learn to unearth the power of worm composting. Learn the ins and outs of vermicomposting, from setting up your worm bin to harnessing nature's recyclers to create nutrient-rich compost for your garden. 

County Employees on the Move

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southeastern live well center

General Services is always working to improve County facilities, not just for us but for the customers we serve.

And this year will be no different. That means a number of us will soon move into new or remodeled spaces, offices or buildings, and in some cases, to entirely new locations.

These facilities will be modern, efficient and environmentally friendly. More are being designed to respect those who visit them and show even passersby how well a facility fits in with a neighborhood’s culture.

Where once it was enough for a new facility to be built on budget and on time, now much more is taken into consideration.

as part of reducing embodied carbon, wood replaced concrete walls and most of the steel in the roof during construction of the East Otay mesa Fire station.

In recent years, we’ve built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and Zero Net Energy which means a facility produces more energy than the building consumes over the course of a year.

Now we’re reducing embodied carbon too. Embodied carbon represents the emissions made in the manufacture, transport, use and disposal of building materials.

General Services is reducing embodied carbon by using concrete with less cement, more energy-efficient produced steel and replacing some steel and concrete altogether with wood.

Now that you’re up to date, here’s a look at new facilities scheduled for 2024 and highlights of building openings in 2023.   

OPENINGS SCHEDULED FOR 2024

Aerial Photo of Youth Transition Campus Phase 2. The new youth development center is on the lower left, the state-owned juvenile court is on the lower right, housing units form an arc at the center and the school is located in three buildings at the top of the photo.

Youth Transition Campus Phase 2: Phase two of construction is just about completed at the Youth Transition Campus in Kearny Mesa. The first phase was completed in January 2022 and it replaced your “typical” detention facility with one more in line with a school campus. Currently, it features eight housing units with a total of 96 beds, a dining building, a school complex with an open courtyard, a gymnasium, an amphitheater and a stage. Basketball and handball courts stand next to the housing units. The new phase saw a Youth Development Center office building open in October. A six-housing unit, 72-bed campus with its own education complex is scheduled to open in March.

Tri-City Psychiatric Health Facility: Builders are working on a new 13,560-square-foot,16-bed facility for psychiatric inpatient care in Oceanside. The groundbreaking took place in October 2022 on vacant land at the Tri-City Medical Center campus. The County and the medical center worked together to plan, design and build the new facility. Tri-City will operate the facility. The addition will bolster behavioral health care needs in the region. The opening is scheduled for this summer. 

Ramona Community Resource Center Rendering

Ramona Community Resource Center: Construction began on a new 7,400-square-foot zero net energy facility on the Ramona Intergenerational Community Campus. The new building will be the latest addition to the campus. A County library is already on site and an affordable housing complex could go up next year. Meantime, the resource center will offer self-sufficiency programs and include Public Health, Behavioral Health and Child & Family Strengthening services. The resource center could open late this year.

Libraries: The Rancho San Diego branch expanded its Friends of the Library area by 400 square feet and reopened to the public last month.  

Workers are putting the finishing touches to a new 2,500-square-foot community room at the Julian library branch. The new addition could open sometime this month.    

NEW BEGINNINGS

Public Health Lab rendering

Public Health Lab/Parking Structure/COC Consolidation: Expect some big changes at the County Operations Center. Construction is underway on a new $91 million public health lab.

The two-story, 52,000-square-foot building will be three times the size of the old, outdated lab at the now vacant Health Services Complex on Rosecrans. The new lab is designed to achieve a minimum of LEED Gold certification. The building will feature solar panels on its roof and General Services will use strategies to reduce embodied carbon during construction. 

The lab will fit nearly 90 employees and contractors, and still allow room to grow.

Next door, remodeling on the existing 5530 building will allow 700 Public Health Services staff to move into the four-story, 150,000-square-foot building.

The facility is one of four similar office buildings on the campus. General Services worked with departments in those four office buildings to consolidate existing staff into three of them. Existing hybrid work schedules and desk sharing made it possible. The consolidation effort will complete in spring 2025.

The consolidation saved the County from building a replacement for the Health Services Complex, resulting in a cost avoidance of $150 million.

Parking structure north of public health lab and east of the Registrar of Voters

A $35 million parking structure is going up just north of the new public health lab. Workers are using embodied carbon reduction strategies during construction. Once completed, the structure will feature 725 spaces, 146 electric vehicle charging stations and solar panels on the top level. The parking structure is expected to open in September and the lab in spring 2025.

East Region Crisis Stabilization Unit: The County’s seventh crisis stabilization unit is going up in El Cajon at the former site of the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk’s office. The facility will measure about 14,000 square feet and offer services to several East County communities. It is expected to open its doors in late 2025.

MAJOR RENOVATIONS/REMODELING/DEMOLITIONS (underway or future)

Courtesy: Alex Nye/SILLMAN

County Administration Center: Scaffolding still surrounds the building, but workers are making progress replacing the old terracotta roof tiles with new ones. This multiple phase renovation project involved replacing or updating mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, painting the exterior, modernizing elevators, updating fire protection systems, performing seismic retrofits and refurbishing nearly 600 historic windows. The CAC should be back up to speed in late 2025.

HHSA Facilities: Two HHSA buildings were demolished to make way for affordable housing. The two vacant properties are in the City of San Diego. They include the former Northeast Family Resource Center at 5001 73rd Street in the College area. A 22,000-square-foot building once sat on the 1.26-acre property.  

The second is located at 6255 Mission Gorge Road in the Grantville area. A 23,385-square-foot building sitting on 0.86 acres was knocked down. A nearby 18,731-square-foot parking lot will also be cleared.  

The work will allow developers to build housing on clean lots.  

PLANNING STAGES

Casa de oro Library rendering

Casa de Oro Library: A new library is in the works for the Casa de Oro neighborhood. The branch will replace the current one located at a strip mall. The new building will measure about 12,000 square feet and will include for the first time in the area a community room as well as a bookstore and large spaces designed for children and teenagers. The facility will be designed to reduce embodied carbon, earn LEED Gold certification and achieve Zero Net Energy. Groundbreaking is expected in the fall, the opening is scheduled for winter 2025-26

Animal Shelter Rendering

San Diego County Animal Shelter: Watch for a groundbreaking this spring in Santee. The state-of-the-art building will replace the Bonita facility built in 1974. The new site will include a building measuring approximately 21,000 square feet, a barn, kennels and an outdoor livestock area. The site will also temporarily house animals during local disaster events. The facility will be designed to reduce embodied carbon, earn LEED Gold certification, and achieve Zero Net Energy. The project’s completion date is set for late 2025.

 A LOOK BACK AT 2023  

Lakeside library

Lakeside Library

The long-awaited Lakeside Library opened last March. The new facility is located on Woodside Ave., a few blocks away from the former site on Vine Street. The new solar-powered building measures 16,800 square feet, three times larger than the old building. The facility features a 2,000-square-foot community room, a Friends of the Library bookstore and large spaces for children and teens. The facility was designed to earn LEED Gold certification and achieve Zero Net Energy.

The Southeastern Live Well Center

The formal grand opening celebration for the new Southeastern Live Well Center took place in September. The project broke ground in fall, 2021 on a nearly five-acre site at the intersection of Market Street and Euclid Avenue.

The community played a large role in planning the sixth of the County’s Live Well Centers. The new two-story facility measures about 65,000 square feet and includes a 4,000-square-foot conference center available for community meetings. The one-stop shop offers medical insurance coverage, food and nutrition assistance, family strengthening services, financial and employment assistance, public health, behavioral health, child support, restorative justice, services for older adults and people with disabilities, and services for the military and veterans.

The facility was designed to earn LEED Gold certification and achieve Zero Net Energy. Nearly 50 pieces of artwork by approximately 30 artists graces the inside and outside of the building. A four-level parking structure was also built on the site.

Courtesy: Pablo Mason

East Otay Mesa Fire Station 38

East Otay Mesa Fire Station 38 opened its doors in October. The facility is located on Alta Road south of Otay Mesa Road near the growing border region and the future addition of the East Otay Mesa Port of Entry.

The 14,000-square-foot building houses a ladder truck, a fire engine, two ambulances and other apparatus. The station also includes four double-depth apparatus bays, 12 bedrooms, a kitchen, a day room, a fitness room and a conference room. The facility achieved a 34% reduction in embodied carbon and was designed to earn LEED Gold certification and achieve Zero Net Energy.

For more information on planned and proposed construction projects, see General Services’ Current Capital Projects list.

Your View: County Addresses Homelessness in San Diego Riverbed

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The Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities shared these photos of their team, the City of San Diego and multiple partners addressing homelessness in the San Diego Riverbed during a four-day coordinated outreach event.

During the event, the team assisted 252 people experiencing homelessness, issued 62 Electronic Benefit Transfer cards on the spot using the Live Well Mobile Office, processed 47 Department of Motor Vehicle/birth certificate vouchers, gave flu, hepatitis A and Mpox vaccines, and distributed 39 hygiene kits to those in need.

Share your photos! If you see a coworker getting the job done, a beautiful sunset over your office or a wonderful County program being offered—snap a pic and submit it. Be sure to include information about the photo and your name. One image will be posted to InSite every week and may be shared on social media. 

See more of Your View photos.

Love is in the Air: Couples Say ‘I Do’ on Valentine’s Day

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NEwLYWED COUPLE Kierstyn and Aaron CELEBRATE THEIR MARRIAGE.

Marriage ceremonies were held throughout the County Wednesday as couples marked Valentine’s Day by exchanging vows. 

On Wednesday, between the four ARCC locations, 129 marriage licenses were issued and 101 wedding ceremonies took place. 

For more information and pictures, visit County News Center.

Your View: County Employees Show Some Heart

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The Department of General Services shared this photo of their team collecting hearts for a fundraiser called “Show Some Heart” where employees could purchase a blank paper heart for $1 to write an appreciation gram to their co-workers.

The department collected these hearts during the month of February to form a large heart outside of their 4th-floor breakroom to show staff how much they are appreciated for all they do.

Share your photos! If you see a coworker getting the job done, a beautiful sunset over your office or a wonderful County program being offered—snap a pic and submit it. Be sure to include information about the photo and your name. One image will be posted to InSite every week and may be shared on social media. 

See more of Your View photos. 

Achieve a More Productive and Balanced Workday

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Boost your productivity and enhance your digital skills with just a few clicks. Register for an upcoming webinar to learn more about the digital tools available to you. Courses will be held Feb. 26 through March 14 and are open to all County staff.

Maximize Productivity

Learn how to leverage OneDrive, Teams, and SharePoint for collaboration, file management, and co-authoring, saving you precious time.

Register: Collaboration in OneDrive, Teams, and SharePoint

Dates
Monday, Feb. 26, 10 a.m.
Wednesday, March 6, noon
Tuesday, March 12, 2 p.m.

Project Management Mastery

Build skills in managing tasks and projects with tools like To Do, Planner, and MS Project, enhancing your productivity and project management capability.

Register: Manage tasks and projects like a pro with To Do, Planner, and MS Project

Dates
Tuesday, Feb. 27, noon
Thursday, March 7, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, March 13, 10 a.m.

Boost Efficiency with Windows 11

Discover new tools and tips to personalize your Windows environment, streamlining your work process for unparalleled efficiency.

Register: Tips, Tools and Accessibility in Windows 11

Dates
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2 p.m.
Monday, March 4, 10 a.m.
Thursday, March 14, noon

Promote Digital Wellbeing

Explore Viva Insights in Teams to find the perfect balance between work and life, ensuring you remain productive without burning out.

Register: Enhance your Digital Wellbeing with Viva Insights

 Dates
Thursday, Feb. 29, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, March 5, 10 a.m.

Prefer learning at your own pace? Looking for one-on-one training and support? Explore more at helpmeknow.sandiegocounty.gov.

Know the Code: Big Plans Ahead for Ethics Awareness Month

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Get ready for a new catchphrase as the County prepares for Ethics Awareness Month in March – Do the Right Thing.

The Office of Ethics, Compliance and Labor Standards is rolling out the new catchphrase to coincide with a slate of activities during the month of March.

You’ll see it on posters, fliers and on other materials.

Many of us already try to “do the right thing” but sometimes situations at work may fall in a gray area. You can ask questions or just meet the team during a March 4 pop-up event at the County Administration Center.

OECLS will also offer virtual workshops every Thursday on ethical issues like privacy, discrimination, harassment, retaliation and conflicts of interest.

Starting March 19, OECLS will honor labor and civil rights leader Cesar Chavez with a week of action. Employees and the public are invited to attend events supporting businesses and protecting workers in San Diego County. You can expect a small business workshop, a legal clinic and resource fair and a super walk.

OECLS wraps up its events with an Ethics Fair at the County Operations Center on March 28.

March may be Ethics Awareness Month, but OECLS is available to help employees any time of the year.  

Check out the OECLS webpage on InSite for information about upcoming Ethics and Compliance Program events, training and resources including monthly “Know the Code” articles and micro-training videos. 

If you have questions about Ethics and Compliance training and other resources, contact the OECLS team at oec@sdcounty.ca.gov or 619-531-5174.  

HHSA staff may also contact the HHSA Business Assurance and Compliance team at compliance.hhsa@sdcounty.ca.gov or 619-338-2807. 

See the flyer below. For more information and links to join these events, click here.

Your View: Nowhere Over the Rainbows

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After all that rain, one rainbow was just not enough. Several employees, Mike Durler with Registrar of Voters, Desiree Romero with Aging and Independence Services, Hannah Elanny with Agriculture, Weights & Measures, Jen Spencer with Parks and Recreation, Eulma Thomas from Public Health Services, and Sara Foster with the Office of Strategy & Innovation all submitted photos of the radiant rainbow over the County Operations Center and the County Administration Center.

Photo by Jen Spencer, Park Project Manager

Photo by Hannah Elanny, Administrative Analyst II, AWM

Photo by Desiree Romero, Office Assistant, In-Home Supportive Service

Photo by mike Durler, Election Worker Specialist

Rainbow over building

Photo by Eulma Thomas, Supervising Human Services Specialist

Photo by sara foster, Senior Data and Research Analyst

Share your photos! If you see a coworker getting the job done, a beautiful sunset over your office or a wonderful County program being offered—snap a pic and submit it.

Be sure to include information about the photo and your name. One image will be posted to InSite every week and may be shared on social media. 

See more of Your View photos. 

Rewind: Social Security and Medicare Lunch and Learns

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Did you miss the Department of Human Resources lunch and learn sessions on Social Security and Medicare? Watch the “rewind” and review the presentation slide decks now.

For additional questions, contact the Human Resources, Employee Benefits Division at 888-550-2203 or DHRBenefits.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov.