City Council approves upgrades to existing surveillance along San Diego coast

SAN DIEGO– Tuesday, San Diego City Council approved the fire department lifeguard services division to buy upgraded surveillance technology to replace existing cameras around Mission Bay and the Ocean Beach Pier.

The fire department wants to upgrade its existing cameras for “situational awareness,” according to James Gartland, Chief of the Lifeguard Division for the City of San Diego.

Gartland said the upgrades will help them better monitor the activity on the bay or when a boat is in trouble.

FOX 5’s Alani Letang caught up with Frankey Borja, who lives near the cameras, to find out his thoughts to the matter. “They would help out a lot,” said Frankey Borja.

Borja said he is all for the San Diego lifeguards using surveillance cameras around Mission Bay and the Ocean Beach Pier. “Because we have a lot of things going on in the parking lot. There’s vandalism and there is a little bit of where boats are breaking down,” Borja said.

For the past six months, Borja has lived in his car at Ski Beach. He said he was forced to live there after he quit his job to care for his wife who recently passed away.

Now, Borja spends his time fishing at Ski Beach while also working a new job. The added eyes in the sky, he says, means safety.

“PD doesn’t patrol that often, we don’t see them too much. But they come in here and there,” Borja explained.

San Diego City Council on Tuesday approved the fire department’s lifeguard services division to continue the use of the Mission Bay and Ocean Beach (OB) Pier Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Camera System (Camera System) Pursuant to the Transparent and Responsible Use of Surveillance Technology Ordinance.

The physical locations where the surveillance technology is deployed can be found at:

1. OB Pier: 5100 Niagara Ave. San Diego CA 92107 GPS: 32.7502375 N, 117.2529870 W
2. Mission Point: 2600 Bayside Lane GPS: 32.76205 N, 117.24591 W
3. Quivira Basin: 2581 Quivira Ct. San Diego CA 92109 GPS: 32.76134° N, 117.24138° W
4. Dana Landing: 1800 Dana Landing Rd GPS: 32.76659 N, 117.23464 W
5. South Shores: 404 South Shores Parkway GPS: 32.76420 N, 117.21865 W
6. Fiesta Island: 3000 Fiesta Island Rd GPS: 32.76880 N, 117.20913 W
7. De Anza Cove: 3000 N. Mission Bay Dr. GPS: 32.79346 N, 117.20931 W
8. Ski Beach: 2900 Ingraham St. GPS: 32.77308 N, 117.23365 W
9. Vacation Island: 1404 Vacation Rd. GPS: 32.77193 N, 117.23981 W
10. Ingraham Street: Ingraham Street X Crown Point Dr. GPS: 32.77981 N, 117.23603 W
11. Santa Clara: 900 Santa Clara Pt. GPS: 32.78204 N, 117.24874 W 3

Chief Gartland said the cameras will help during a boat accident, when a swimmer needs rescued or even to help patrol when boats are speeding through the area.

“Mostly it’s for what’s going on out on the Bay or out on the water in real time,” Chief Gartland said. “It gives us the ability to effectively respond to emergencies or areas of concern, and it makes the lifeguard division quite a bit more efficient.”

Chief Gartland said the cameras have been up since 2005, when the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and the Office of Emergency Services (formerly The Office of Homeland Security) developed the Mission Bay and OB Pier UASI Camera System.

To upgrade the cameras, Chief Gartland said they have completed the requirements of the city’s Surveillance Ordinance, and that they held three community meetings in the impacted areas last November.

Chief Gartland said they also prepared a surveillance use policy, and presented the item to the city’s Privacy Advisory Board in January. The board approved the camera’s use with modifications.

“We’ve checked all those boxes, we’ve met and taken all the feedback from the public and those that are in charge of that, and so we are ready to go,” said Chief Gartland.

“Any concerns for privacy?” FOX 5 asked Borja.

“Privacy is already out, there ain’t no privacy anymore,” Borja answered.

Chief Gartland said he estimates about five to six months for the new cameras to be installed, and said the surveillance technology will only be reviewed by authorized personnel.

Also on Tuesday, city council approved state funding for a new $1.25 million fire and multi-response boat, similar to the one used to assist with the Oceanside Pier fire .

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