The City is making selective changes to its street-sweeping program to help maximize the trash and debris removed from neighborhoods and prevent ocean pollution, a move not to the initial liking of some Point Loma residents.

Effective Sept. 1, the City’s Stormwater Department increased and decreased the frequency of select street-sweeping routes. Routes with high frequency and small trash collection were decreased; routes with low frequency and large trash collection were increased.

Additionally, four street-sweeping routes have new signage posted to implement limited-hour parking restrictions over the next few months. Street-sweeping changes in the Peninsula, proposed on selected streets, have aroused the concern of community planners. “The City is going to reduce street sweeping in the Point Loma and Midway areas to make City services more equitable,” noted Peninsula Community Planning Board chair Fred Kosmo. “Given the City’s inability to properly address the homeless situation in Midway, reducing street cleaning there seems like a bad idea for sanitary reasons. That makes one think that the City’s view of ‘equity’ means fewer City services. Is that really what the people of Point Loma want?”

The City will conduct robust outreach in neighborhoods where new signs are posted – including direct mail and informational flyers distributed on parked vehicles – to inform residents of the changes. Vehicle citations will begin after a 30-day grace period following the sign installation for areas with new parking restrictions. In all, 13 routes covering 300-plus miles of streets will experience adjustments with the goal of optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the street-sweeping program and providing more equitable service citywide. “Street sweeping is one of the most effective tools we have to keep our neighborhoods free of trash and stop pollution from reaching our local waterways and the ocean,” said Bethany Bezak, interim director of the Stormwater Department. “After analyzing years of data, we identified several opportunities where a slight increase or decrease in the frequency of our street-sweeping efforts would significantly bolster the amount of trash and debris collected citywide. These changes will help us continue our mission to ensure clean water and clean beaches for all of San Diego.” Street sweeping is a pollution-prevention service that protects local waterways and infrastructure by strategically targeting trash and pollution removal in urban environments. Street-sweeper vehicles are outfitted with water sprayers, rotating brushes, and a vacuum, which works together to remove toxic pollutants and trash from roads while reducing dust levels. Without street sweeping, those pollutants would eventually get picked up by stormwater, flow into the storm drain system, and go untreated into local waterways and the ocean. About 80% of all ocean pollution begins inland and flows through gutters, storm drains, and watersheds to the coast. The City’s fleet of 28 sweepers covers 61,000 miles of streets annually, removing 220,000 pounds of trash and debris.

Effective Sept. 1, the City’s Stormwater Department increased and decreased the frequency of select street-sweeping routes, increasing service to some, while decreasing service to others.

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