Secretly taped thoughts out of the South Bay: Maybe Ralph Inzunza won’t make governor before National City’s Nick Inzunza, nor San Diego mayor before Juan Vargas, nor re-election before resignation.

***

Must everyone who communicates with anyone at San Diego City Hall be paranoid of federal eavesdropping equipment, for fear some FBI agent might misconstrue? Rich Acello explores debugging on Page 16.

***

With the feel and the faces of the former Peninsula Bank and venerable San Diego Trust & Savings Bank, a new San Diego Trust Bank is organizing to open before year-end in the Mr. A’s building at Fifth and Laurel. Behind the perfect name are the perfect people, Larry Willette as chairman, Brian Gowland as vice chair, and directors Bill Cole, Christopher Coseo, Grace Evans Cherashore, Dan Herde, James Ledwith, Mike Morton, Toby Reschan, James St. John, Richard Wesselink and Claudette Wilson. Michael E. Perry, a veteran of Scripps and Grossmont banks, is the principal organizer, CEO and president of San Diego Trust. They intend to raise initial capital of about $10 million. The offering circular isn’t out yet.

***

Lou Cumming, who took over U.S. National Bank from C. Arnholt Smith for the FDIC and later rescued the San Diego Symphony, deserves honors for gracing more banks in the last six months than anyone. Excused when First National gobbled Bank of Coronado in December, Cumming joined First International Bank and got out quickly when he figured it out, settling in at Neighborhood National, where he left last month with great difficulty, he says, to accept an offer he couldn’t refuse. His perfect job: Chief credit officer and executive v.p. at the new Seacoast Commerce Bank in Chula Vista. Mayor Nick Inzunza just joined the board there, too. CEO Larry Benthien is interviewed in this month’s Local Lender$ on Page 27.

***

In a competition designed to acknowledge creative achievement and design innovation, the Structural Engineers Association of San Diego has handed out its Excellence in Structural Engineering awards. Winners were Degenkolb Engineers for the SDSU Chemistry/ Geology Building Renovation; KPFF Consulting Engineers for Renaissance and Stedman & Dyson Structural Engineers for the Bachelor Enlisted Quarters Renovation, Building 26. Pictured is Renaissance.

***

A memorial service for Joseph L. Howard, retired rear admiral, former president of the San Diego Historical Society and lovable historian of the San Diego Rotary Club, will be held at 4 p.m. July 14 at the Historical Society in Balboa Park. He was 85. Survivors include wife Rose Ellen and son John W. Howard of San Diego.

***

The city’s 1996 $2.2 million purchase of the air rights over the parking garage behind One America Plaza was widely heralded as solving the decades-long search for a new main library site. Now, with the library slated for a block behind Petco Park, CCDC is looking to sell. One America’s new owners, GE Pension Trust, are interested and a 300-day negotiation period started last month. But don’t look for new offices. Steve Williams, who’s representing GE, says most likely it is a hotel, condo or other business that would use the nearly empty, four-level underground parking lot at night. Up to 522,368 square feet could be built on the site.

***

On July 23, CCDC will open bids and award a contract to build a $17 million-$19 million, 1,230-space parking garage at K and L streets behind Petco Park. But because this mildly controversial effort is a public project that has engendered lots of meetings, it is running behind schedule and won’t open until June, two months after baseball play begins. Yet, if other Downtown ballpark precedents hold — Seattle only built 2,000 spaces — the other parking projects will tamp down outrage.

New public spots expected to be available by opening day include a 450-space surface lot just south of the ballpark on Imperial; the 1,060-space Tailgate Park on four blocks bounded by K, 12th, 14th and Imperial; and an 1,100-space garage set to open in February at J, 10th, 11th and Island. In addition, expect a major springtime marketing/P.R. effort that focuses on driving routes and alternate transportation.

***

SpongeBob SquarePants fans now have a trading card game to call their own. Produced by Carlsbad’s Upper Deck Co., the game is called ‘Deep Sea Duel.’ Also new from Upper Deck, which long ago changed the baseball card industry, are Disney Treasures Collectible Cards and ‘Hulk’ film and comic cards.

***

In 1995, Wayne Buss looked a little wacky when he bought the old Carnation Dairy property at K and 11th, deep in what was then known as Centre City East. This month he expects to complete the sale of the property to Levin Menzies & Associates, which has plans before CCDC to build 285 condos on the site while incorporating its historic architecture. At a market rate of $375 to $450 per square foot, the 280,000-square-foot project is worth between $10.5 million and $12.6 million. Buss is tickled with the buyers — “They are just a class act” — and that the project will do its part to slow urban sprawl and “save a few mountain lions.” The project’s towers have even been redesigned to allow 360-degree views from the main library planned for across the street.

***

William D. Lynch is 2003’s Nice Guy of the Year, says Nice Guys. He’s to be officially honored at a fund-raiser dinner in October at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina. Lynch is the owner of several businesses and chairs the board of the William D. Lynch Foundation For Children. Nice Guys was formed in 1979 to raise money for individuals and other nonprofit organizations.

***

From a flower stand to a $1.5 million company, Good Earth Plant and Flower Co. counts more than 400 clients, including Nokia, Sempra Energy and the Sycuan Casino, as it begins to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Interior Business Magazine ranks Good Earth as the 39th largest interiorscape business in the United States, and the only San Diego-based company in the top 40. Company owner Jim Mumford started with a simple Downtown flower stand in 1978.

***

When Torrey Pines Bank opened its Downtown office last month in 550 West C Street, Robert Sarver, the bank’s chair and CEO, said the ‘elegant yet cost-effective design’ was exactly what he was seeking. Credit goes to Howard-Sneed Architecture and Design, which also is working on offices for the lender in La Mesa and Del Mar Heights. ‘The contemporary design of the Downtown main offices reflect the progressive style of a terrific team of experienced bankers’ says Anne Sneed, principal of Howard-Sneed.

***

Jack and Mary Goodall, retired judge J. Lawrence Irving, Craig Irving, and Art and Jeannie Rivkin, have been named emeritus members to the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation board.

***

Rick Engineering Co. and Marquez Kuhlken Landscape Architects Inc. have merged. Rick’s portfolio now includes full-service landscape architecture.

***

Applied Development Economics calls San Diego a good example of how cities can successfully put in place Enterprise Zones, areas with high unemployment and economic stress where businesses can earn significant tax credits. San Diego boasts two of the state’s 39 such zones, where the average hourly wage of $11.55. The two zones, the Metropolitan Enterprise Zone, which includes parts of Downtown, and the South Bay Enterprise Zone, which covers San Ysidro, Otay Mesa and portions of Chula Vista, have brought in $1 billion in local business investments and have issued 10,500 employee vouchers, allowing companies to claim tax credits after hiring an employee previously receiving public assistance.

***

Versante, a 27-home project at the summit of Scripps Ranch, is more than 50 percent sold, with 15 view homes selected by homebuyers. Priced from the high-$400,000s to the mid-$500,000s, the neighborhood by Cal Sun Homes offers single-family, detached houses spanning 1,881 to 2,286 square feet. For information, call (858) 527-0909.

***

The Cortez Racing Association and Silver Gate Yacht Club are behind the relatively well-organized Beer Can Races each Wednesday, except July 2, through Aug. 6. Best viewing is from Harbor Island, although Shelter Island viewing, as suggested here last month, is not bad for one leg of the races. The fleet classes range from little single-handers to some serious yachts in the 50-foot vicinity. Unlike the disorganized Beer Can Races of years past, throwing cans and water balloons is illegal.

***

The San Diego City Council has named Patton Boggs its federal government consultant. The Washington, D.C., firm was the successful responder last month to an RFP, reports Andrew Poat, director of the city’s government relations department.

***

Sandag is hosting its annual binational summer conference, “Homeland Security Challenges and Opportunities for the San Diego - Northern Baja California Region,” on July 11, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the San Ysidro Middle School Multicultural Complex. Confirmed speakers are Peter Verga, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Homeland Defense and Ernesto Ruffo Appel, commissioner of northern border affairs for Mexico. Registration is free but space limited. Call (619) 595-5627 for details.

***

Construction is complete for a $7l4 million, 45,748-square-foot Mesa College Humanities, Languages and Multicultural Studies building. Overseeing the project was Bryan Adams, San Diego Community College District architect. Kvaas Constructors Inc. was general contractor for the three-story building on a 100-acre site. It was designed by Delawie Wilkes Rodrigues Barker.

***

Our pulse quickened as we learned that Maria L. Kirkpatrick, our talented managing editor, had been named winner of the American Heart Association Western States Affiliate’s C. Everett Koop Media Award for her article on cardiac care in San Diego. The article, “Working Together Gives Patients Better Care,” appeared in the February 2003 issue.

***

Ricochet wireless service now is available in National City. Already in use in San Diego, El Cajon, Escondido, Encinitas and Del Mar, the speedy wireless Internet service is rapidly making a comeback.

***

San Diego-based CNA Wireless is hosting the International Wireless Symposium in San Diego on Sept. 22 and 23. Supporting the theme of “Ubiquitous Mobility,” the symposium is organized into two tracks to enable discussion of emerging applications and business models, as well as the technologies behind the scene. To register, go to www.iws2003.com.

***

Greystone Homes’ Terracina in Mission Hills, with paired and single-family designs with scenic bay and Downtown skyline views, are now being offered, priced from the high $500,000s. These low-maintenance residences have three bedrooms and two baths in an estimated 1,557 square feet. Terracina is located at Spruce Street and Ibis Lane. For information call (619) 296-3299.

***

E. Mark Jahn, a Small Business Administration counselor and consultant, was mistakenly identified as an SBA client in a May article on SBA awards. He is part of the Southwestern College Small Business Development & International Trade Center staff. The San Diego Metropolitan regrets the error.

***

When the Woodwork Institute held its annual awards dinner in San Diego, locals didn’t go home unrecognized. Fallbrook’s Michael E. Robinson Architecture was honored for its design of Community National Bank in Escondido. Mission Valley Cabinet made and installed the bank’s cabinets. Quality Cabinet & Fixture Co. handled the interior woodwork for the Montage Resort & Spa in Laguna Beach for which designer Hill/Glazier Architects of Palo Alto won an award for excellence. Finally, the design of the Learning Resource Center in Chula Vista won an award for Irvine’s LPA Architects. Spooners Woodworks in San Diego handled the project’s cabinets. The Woodwork Institute represents members in California, Oregon, Arizona and Nevada.

***

For the third time running, Stone Brewing has been named “Best North American Brewer” on www.ratebeer.com. AleSmith Brewing Co., also in San Diego, ranked No. 3. More than 22,000 different beers were tasted by more than 3,400 brewers from 120 different countries. Our October 2002 cover boy, Stone’s CEO Greg Koch, must be proud.

***

Artist Peter Max will appear from 7 to 10 p.m. Aug. 9 at Wentworth Gallery, Prospect Square, 1025 Prospect St., La Jolla, in conjunction with his ‘Colors of a Better World’ collection tour. This collection features more than 100 pieces of art including original paintings, drawings and limited-edition prints. The subject matter ranges from cosmic images, to famous iconic paintings, such as the ‘Statue of Liberty,’ and ‘Flag with Heart.’