Dear Friends:

I had several productive meetings in San Diego yesterday, to advance the Max Lenail Memorial Bridge to the next step. It is a critical time for the project. I am both excited and tense. 

I met Kevin Legge in-person for the first time. I hired Kevin to help me manage the project in the year ahead. This comes from an admission that I am not based in San Diego; I am disabled and cannot easily get down to the San Diego River Crossing site and walk around; and I am not a construction professional. Kevin will be my “owner’s rep”, my “boots on the ground.” 

Kevin and I first went to meet the team at the City of San Diego’s Development Services that oversees our project. The Development Services team is wonderful. They are working with us, not against us. In the attached photo: Max Lenail Memorial Bridge project manager Catherine Rom; Liz Shearer-Nguyen; and Kelli Rasmus. We were joined by Vic Vettiyil, from Councilmember Raul Campillo’s office. 

We filed several permit applications and reports – e.g., geotechnical, hydrology, cultural, biological, landscape – with the City and are now getting comments, which is part of the normal review cycle. We need to address the comments and complete the review. This will lead to a site development permit and, ultimately, to a construction permit.

I then went to a lunch meeting with our dear and loyal friend Jennifer Morrissey, the executive director of the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation. Jennifer has been a key ally of the project from Day One. We touched on many things, including how the project intersects with Mission Trails’ staffing, funding, and other priorities, from regular repair and maintenance, to structural improvements.

We then had an exhaustive 3-hour long project review chaired by Kevin, and involving our civil & structural engineer KPFF and architect Safdie-Rabines, in KPFF’s offices. Photo attached of Kevin (on the left) with KPFF engineer Elainey Fetene and Safdie-Rabines partner Eric Lindebak. This was an immensely productive – and frankly overdue – exercise that crystallized what we (including the many subcontractors) need to do in the next nine months to get ready for construction, which could start in August-September 2025.

Finally, Kevin and I had an informational conversation with a major San Diego construction firm, which will soon bid for the project. Here, I have been helped by the highly skilled duo of Nick Monroe and Karen Fields, who have tremendous experience working with builders on complex projects.  Together, we have already interviewed two builders, who made a very strong impression. We will interview this third one, and perhaps one more; and select a firm by the beginning of November. We will then include the chosen firm in our project reviews to ensure a seamless transition from KPFF to the builder.

I will be back in San Diego in January, if not earlier, for the Mission Trails Regional Park Task Force meeting; and presentations to the Navajo and Tierrasanta Community Planning Groups. I am also hopeful to meet US Representative Sara Jacobs, whose district encompasses Mission Trails, to get confirmation of her support for the project.

As always, Laurie and I are grateful for your continued interest and support.

Much love,

Ben