New PB Town Council board ready to serve! Civic leaders gather to cement community bonds, Jan. 20

Highlights of the 67th annual Pacific Beach Town Council Board of Directors Installation Dinner on Jan. 20 at Mission Bay Yacht Club, included the swearing-in of the new trustees, presentation of the Pug Sanford Community Service Award to Karl Jaedkte, and the proclamation of William Marsh as 2018 Honorary Mayor of PB.

The evening also featured poignant speeches by PB’s City Council member Lorie Zapf, State Senator Toni Atkins and retiring Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman, who used their few minutes to recount some of the past years’ accomplishments. Among these were securing police raises to attract and retain more officers on the streets, supporting the burgeoning PB Clean & Safe program (Zapf’s office donated $25,000), and cleaning up the more than 100 homeless encampments along the banks of the San Diego River.

Reminiscing about her early days in Pacific Beach, retiring Police Chief Zimmerman told the audience: “10 years ago, we all worked together on the beach alcohol ban and what we learned was there was nothing we can’t accomplish if we all work together.” She lauded the Town Council for its annual PAESAN (Police and Emergency Services Appreciation Night) picnic, which she said has strengthened the bonds between the community and PB’s first-responders. (The Firefighters of Station 27 will be PAESAN’s 2018 honorees, Thursday, Sept. 27 at the North Crown Point Shores Rotary Club Pavilion.)

Among the City officials in attendance were Ernest Dronenburg Jr. (assessor/recorder/county clerk) and Dan McCallister (tax collector), along with District 1 City Council member Barbara Bry and City Attorney Mara Elliott. Assembly member Todd Gloria stopped by to thank the community volunteers present for taking active roles in making PB a better place to live, work and play.

—For more information about Town Council activities, visit pbtowncouncil.org