New Capital Improvements Program Website

Curious about that project happening in your community? You can now access every project update with our overhauled Capital Improvements Program (CIP) website.

Whether you’re looking for details on neighborhood park improvements or when a busy street is expected to be repaved, our new site has the tools to help answer all your questions, thanks to three new interactive dashboards that make the data accessible and easy to search.

• CIP Project Look Up – Provides detailed information about all projects currently in the City’s active CIP projects database. Users can filter projects by asset type, project phase and/or Council District.

• CIP Map Viewer – Allows users to locate CIP projects near a specific address through an interactive web-mapping interface.

• Street Overlay Tracker – Provides a comprehensive resource for the City’s street resurfacing information for the current fiscal year, including both projected and completed miles. Several filters allow users to further customize their searches.

In addition to the new dashboards, the site includes updated information on how CIP projects are selected and resources like bidding and contracting opportunities as well as public reports. It also illustrates our ongoing commitment to improving communities through infrastructure with a variety of vibrant project photos.

There are currently more than 1,300 active CIP projects and a budget investment of $949.9 million for fiscal year 2025, the largest budgeted infrastructure investment in the City’s history.

The CIP includes unique construction projects that improve or add to the City’s infrastructure assets and systems, enhancing the overall quality of life and public health and safety of the community.

For more information on CIP projects, visit sandiego.gov/CIP.

Our staff have utilized new technology to streamline CIP projects and are being recognized.

The American Public Works Association featured E&CP in its January 2025 issue of APWA Reporter. The article discusses demands across our infrastructure and how our use of various programs has increased efficiency in executing our CIP. These programs are designed to ensure accountability, seamless coordination and improved outcomes for projects, which results in time saved through these programs and spent on other infrastructure needs.

Project Updates

Balboa Park Botanical Building

One of Balboa Park’s most iconic features has reopened! In December 2024, we welcomed the public back to the historic Botanical Building.

This was Phase One of the Botanical Building renovation project, which restored the building to its original design from the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Work included structural improvements to the building, replacement of the redwood lath, reconstruction of the historic window arcades, planter upgrades, accessibility improvements and more.

The Botanical Building is one of the largest remaining structures in the world using lath, the thin strips of wood that form the exterior arches of the building’s roof and center rotunda. Built with the adjacent Lily Pond, it is one of four structures in Balboa Park that were designed to remain as permanent features following the Exposition.

The iconic landmark hosts thousands of visitors every year and was designed to showcase the importance of horticulture in California, featuring an eclectic variety of rare, tropical and indigenous fauna. Regular operating hours are 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. every day except holidays.

Phase Two of the project will be overseen by the City’s nonprofit partner, Forever Balboa Park, an organization dedicated to the care and enhancement of Balboa Park. Their work will feature improvements to the exterior landscaping and irrigation, as well as reconstruction of the historic pergola.

For more information about Phase Two, visit foreverbalboapark.org/projects/botanical-building.

Tecolote Canyon Trunk Sewer

Work is underway in Tecolote Canyon. Construction crews are rehabilitating and replacing nearly five miles of pipes. Some trails may be impacted, so check the project webpage for updates before heading to the area.

Ocean Beach Pier

The Ocean Beach Pier lost another supporting pile this winter. While there is no immediate safety threat, it remains closed to the public and visitors are reminded to stay cautious in the area around the pier.

As we forge ahead into a new era of infrastructure development and sustainability, the North City Pure Water Facility project, part of Pure Water San Diego, serves as a beacon of innovation and engineering. This project has seen advancements that underscore our commitment to progress and sustainability. The North City Pure Water Facility project is a testament to engineering precision and sustainable infrastructure practices.

During December 2024, the Operations and Maintenance Building saw significant progress with the continued installation and assembly of laboratory equipment and library casework. This phase also included the installation of plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, tile, drywall and insulation, storefront framing and glazing, T-bar ceilings and interior painting — crucial milestones for the facility’s long-term operational needs. We successfully installed horizontal bi-fold doors in the Process Building, enhancing operational dynamics and access. Finally, the installation of the lime silo at the facility in the Product Water Building was completed, which set the stage for later integration in the water treatment process.

In January, the project team completed the mega-trench backfill, providing the foundation for upcoming construction phases. The continuation of drilling for the West Soldier Pile Wall, serving as a retaining perimeter around the facility, is essential for maintaining the security parameters. Furthermore, the completion of Cast-in-Drilled-Hole piles laid the groundwork for the upcoming CO2 tank installation.

Looking ahead, we continue efforts to install the facility's electrical infrastructure. This includes installing medium-voltage power cables into the duct banks to ensure reliable power distribution across the site. Foundational work will soon begin on the Security Guard Building.

As we progress with the North City Pure Water Facility project, each completed milestone brings us closer to the project’s fruition and reinforces our infrastructure’s capability to serve the community efficiently and sustainably. We are committed to setting benchmarks in innovative engineering practices, ensuring this project serves as a model for future endeavors in the field.

Park Progress

Olive Street Park

A project with a special tribute that was nearly three decades in the making is now complete in Bankers Hill. Olive Street Park and the City’s first-of-its-kind AIDS memorial opened in December 2024.

The nearly three-quarter-acre park sits on what was previously an empty lot at the intersection of Olive Street and Third Avenue. The project includes the AIDS memorial, a new playground for children of all ages, fitness equipment, an open lawn area, landscaping, lighting, a drinking fountain, ADA-compliant pathways to facilitate access for all users and an overlook deck to enjoy views of Maple Canyon below.

The pathway that leads through the park and out to the overlook deck is designed in the shape of a ribbon, symbolizing the red ribbon that has long been used to help raise awareness of AIDS and those living with the disease.

The park features a tribute to honor the nearly 10,000 San Diegans who have lost their lives to AIDS. Phase 1 of this memorial includes boulders featuring names of organizations and individuals who worked to improve the lives of San Diegans living with AIDS and panels describing the history of AIDS in San Diego. Phase 2 of the memorial, which is expected to be completed by World AIDS Day 2025 on Dec. 1, will include an installation bearing the names of the people who lost their lives to AIDS to honor their memory.

Our project team coordinated the AIDS memorial component of this project under the vision of the San Diego AIDS Memorial Task Force. Memorial boulders and interpretive panels are located throughout the park, containing the history of the AIDS crisis in San Diego and honoring the many people and organizations who have served those living with AIDS.

There are a number of other park projects taking place across the city. Check out some of the other work below.

Jerabek Park

Scripps Ranch is expected to have an upgraded park in the near future. Construction crews are making progress at Jerabek Park and we can't wait to reopen this restored community centerpiece.

Salk Neighborhood Park

Salk Neighborhood Park & Joint-Use Facility will soon be ready for the public to enjoy. The walkways are paved and the park entrance sign is in place, ready to welcome everyone to this new Mira Mesa gem later this year.

Clay Avenue Mini Park

The fourth and final mini park in a series of new assets across southeast San Diego is complete. Clay Avenue Mini Park in Logan Heights opened late last year, joining Island Avenue, Gamma Street and J Street mini parks which welcomed residents in recent years.

We continue to deliver on our commitment to improving San Diego roads. Below are just a few examples of the dozens of roads on which we’ve completed asphalt overlay in recent months. But our work is never done — we will continue to progress toward our goal of 75 miles of overlay this fiscal year.

City Heights • La Jolla • College Area • Rancho Bernardo

Ocean Beach • Emerald Hills • Del Cerro • San Carlos

Engineers Week

The San Diego City Council proclaimed Feb. 16 - 22 as Engineers Week in San Diego. This proclamation recognizes how hundreds of our engineers help make a difference in all communities by designing and constructing critical infrastructure.

Engineers Week, started in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, aims to ensure a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding and interest in engineering and technology careers. It takes place annually during the fourth week of February.

This year’s theme, “Design Your Future,” is both a call to action and a celebration of engineering's limitless possibilities. It invites engineers to dream boldly, innovate relentlessly and create a future shaped by their ingenuity, as seen in projects across San Diego.

Project Management Academy

The Project Management Academy (PMA) is shaping the future of our city’s infrastructure by equipping our staff with the knowledge and skills to deliver successful CIP projects. Through this intensive training program, City employees gain expertise in project management, ensuring our public works projects are efficiently planned, funded and constructed to serve residents and businesses.

We recently hosted the latest session of PMA. This twice yearly, six-day immersive program provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of the CIP delivery process, from preliminary design to construction support. The academy is limited to 25 students per session from E&CP and other City departments, nominated by their supervisors.

Led by seasoned professionals from E&CP, City departments and industry experts, PMA participants engage in a curriculum covering critical project management topics, including: Permitting and Compliance, Consultant Procurement and Management, CIP Budgeting and Funding, Risk Management, Public Relations, and Engineering Applications. Additionally, the academy fosters collaboration by assigning participants to teams, each tasked with developing a project to present to a panel of senior City leaders at the conclusion of the academy.

By investing in staff development through programs like PMA, we are strengthening our ability to deliver high-quality, cost-effective and community-focused infrastructure projects — ensuring a better future for all.

We spoke with Donald Githens, a Project Officer in E&CP’s Project Management Office, to learn about his position. He has been with the City for three years.

Q: What are your duties? What type of person excels in that role?

I support management by tracking project scope, schedule and budget, utilizing tools like Power BI to provide stakeholders with the data they need to make informed decisions. A successful Project Officer is detail-oriented, analytical and committed to transparency in reporting.

Q: Tell us about your personal experience working as a Project Officer.

This role has been both challenging and rewarding. I enjoy the opportunity to work with data, collaborate with teams and see the tangible impact of my work on City projects.

Q: How does your job impact E&CP?

The dashboards I create in Power BI provide decision-makers with real-time insights at every stage of a project — from creation and bidding to contracting, management and closeout. This helps ensure that projects are delivered efficiently and effectively.

Q: How does your job benefit the City and its residents?

By improving project tracking and transparency, E&CP can better allocate capital and set realistic expectations. Our reports are also available to the public, giving residents a clearer view of project data and reinforcing trust with the community.

Q: What should everyone know before going into your line of work?

Transparency in data is crucial. It’s important to maintain integrity and avoid manipulating data to fit a particular narrative. Accuracy and honesty are key to effective decision-making.

Q: What’s your favorite part of your job?

My coworkers. I work with an incredible team and the support we provide each other makes all the difference in creating a positive and productive environment.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Seeing a newly developed dashboard in action and knowing it’s making a real impact. It’s fulfilling to create something that helps teams make better decisions.

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