There is no other season quite like it and there is no other community that embraces it quite like National City. It's the holiday season in National City. Can you believe there will be snow AND ice skating in Kimball Park? This is the 2017 Holiday Edition of Your National City News, so grab an eggnog latte or whatever your favorite holiday libation is and sit back for some National City News.
Join the City of National City as we present the 10th Annual Tree Lighting. Now called “A Kimball Holiday and Tree Lighting Celebration”, the event will take place in Kimball Park (12th & D) beginning on Friday, December 8th through Saturday, December 9th. The two night event is free and open to the public.
Friday night is the kick off to “A Kimball Holiday and Tree Lighting Celebration” with ice skating, snow play area, children’s train ride, craft activities, holiday movie, live dance and musical performances, and a not to be missed photo opportunity with Santa! Delicious food and beverages available for sale. The countdown for the annual tree lighting begins at 6:00 p.m.
It’s the season of giving; please bring a canned/non-perishable food item to the two day celebration. All food items will be donated to the National City Food Bank to help local families in need. Also, the National City Police Department will have an opportunity drawing for bikes. If you bring a new - unwrapped toy you'll receive an additional chance to win!
Saturday morning join in on the fun with our inaugural Reindeer Dash. Families and children of all ages can participate in a 1-mile run/walk in Kimball Park. All participants will have breakfast with Santa and photo opportunities with Santa and his “reindeer”.
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Friday, December 8 |
Main event & activities |
4 p.m.–8 p.m. |
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Tree Lighting Ceremony |
6:00 p.m. |
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FREE Ice Skating |
4 p.m.–8 p.m. |
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Saturday, December 9 |
Reindeer Dash |
9:00 a.m. |
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FREE Ice Skating |
11 a.m.–8 p.m. |
National City was awarded a KaBOOM! grant in early August and amazingly 3.5 months later we have a new playground in Las Palmas Park! A huge thank you to KaBOOM! and our funding partner Dr Pepper Snapple Group. A lot of work went into preparing for build day on November 11th. The process began with a design workshop with youth and adults where they were able to pick the park components and colors. The final playground design truly meets the needs and wants of the National City community and provide kids and families with the tools, places and inspiration to make active play a daily priority.
On volunteer prep day we had 50 volunteers cut wood for benches, tables and shade structures; sorted nuts, bolts and other small parts, and dug holes, lots of holes. We had a large group of Navy volunteers that without their help we wouldn’t have accomplished all these tasks in one day. In addition, our Public Works - Parks division removed all of the playground equipment and prepped the site for our volunteers including digging all the holes for the playground equipment and structures. We are lucky to have such a supportive Public Works department.
On build day we had 70 youth and 185 adult volunteers. Adults were putting together playground equipment, moving mulch, and mixing concrete. Youth painted 1 by 1 squares, made thank you signs and banners and wrote thank you letters to veterans. It was a very well organized event and the playground was complete in only 5 hours!
A big THANK YOU to Dr Pepper Snapple Group, they were much more than just a funding partner. They also provided all of the beverages for prep day and build day and many of their employees volunteered on Build Day. A huge thank you to Wrigley’s Supermarket that provided breakfast and lunch for all of the volunteers on prep and build day. Thank you to our Community Services Department for leading the charge in brining increased play opportunities to National City. Thank You to our Public Works and Fire departments for their support and hard work.
Jose Lopez was hired as a Civil Engineering Technician for the Engineering & Public Works Department in September 2014. Based on outstanding performance he was promoted to Junior Civil Engineer within two years and subsequently promoted to Assistant Civil Engineer this past June. Jose's work ethic and dedication is second to none. He has taken on a very heavy workload and continues to perform at an extremely high level. For example, Jose serves as project coordinator for over a dozen capital improvement projects, facilitates the Department's monthly Utility Coordination meetings, prepares all of the quarterly grant reports for Caltrans funded projects, and provides training to our junior engineers and engineering technicians. Furthermore, Jose provides exemplary customer service to members of the public and staff from other departments. Jose is an incredible asset to our Department and we are very grateful to have him as a member of our team. He truly sets a positive example for all of us to follow.
City Hall will be closed for two weeks beginning December 20, 2017 thru January 2, 2018 as a cost savings measure. Estimated salary savings will be $104,284 in addition the City will realize approximately $12,950 in energy savings.
During this time essential emergency personnel from the Police and Fire Department will remain in operation to include animal control, graffiti abatement, and parking enforcement. The City will have standby and on-call personnel from Public Works, Fire Investigations, and executives and managers from each department.
During the two week closure the Senior Nutrition Center dining room and home-delivered meals will not be affected. Park maintenance will continue. The City Hall Finance Department drop box will be available to make payments. Library materials will not be due during this time and fines will not accrue.
This will be the ninth year of the closure. “The two week closure represents the partnership between the City and its employees. The program results in cost savings to the city while allowing employees to have quality family time during the holidays”, said City Manager Leslie Deese. The two week period crossing December and January was selected because it is historically a slow business period. Representatives from all departments will be available to address emergencies.
For non-emergencies, call Police Dispatch 24-hours a day (619) 336-4411 ext. 0.
See Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about City Hall Closure:
TWO WEEK EMPLOYEE WORK FURLOUGH & DOS SEMANAS DE CIERRE DEL MUNICIPIO
During the month of “Walktober” the National City Safe Routes to School (NCSRTS) team hosted 10 walk to school days at ALL 10 elementary schools in National City; 1,000 students in total participated.
NCSRTS partnered with the National City Police Department and gave away a total of 20 bikes to students. During the events students learned about the importance of walking to school and how to be safe pedestrians.
The NCSRTS team would like to thank all the families, community members, and senior volunteers that participated in “Walktober” as well the National School District, National City Police and Fire Departments, and the multiple local businesses that continue to support the idea of “Keep Moving #NationalCity”
Enjoy safe holidays and challenge yourself to be more ACTIVE over the holidays and throughout the coming year. This includes more walks to/from school and in your community. Going CAR FREE is good for your health, good for the environment, helps your wallet, and slows you down to connect in your community among many other benefits!
Many children receive bikes, skateboards or scooters for Christmas, don’t forget to also include a helmet with these types of gifts! Helmets are Smart and Cool!!! Whether you are on a bike, skateboard, scooter, or even snowboarding, be smart and protect your head. You need it to last your lifetime! Parents (and other adults) be a positive role model and be sure to wear your helmets too!
For more information on National City’s Safe Routes to School Program please contact Priscila R. Hegger Lead Coordinator 858-576-1700 ext 7278
Have you noticed green bikes all around National City? Last week the City Council authorized a pilot program with LimeBike, a bike sharing program to increase transportation opportunities for everyone in National City. National City is the 30th location launch for LimeBike
Click for more on LimeBike
You’re invited to the official ribbon cutting ceremony of National City Fire Station - Squad #33 on December 19th at 11am. Squad #33 is located at 2005 E.4th in El Toyon Park.
National City Fire Department’s Squad Program Highlights
Enhance service delivery to the residents of National City
