The Pacific Beach Town Council (PBTC) will conduct a mail-in vote of its members to determine whether the council should lend support to a proposed deck expansion of the Pacific Beach Shore Club at 4343 Ocean Blvd. The decision to put the issue up for a mail-in ballot was determined by a one-vote difference during the PBTC general membership meeting June 16. Those present at the meeting voted 35-34 in support of a mail-in vote on the issue. However, the PBTC does not have any control over the expansion — regardless of whether it lends support or not. The Pacific Beach Shore Club is proposing a deck expansion to obtain a level playing field with its competitors in the area who already offer outdoor deck seating, according to a statement issued by PB Shore Club’s majority owner Barrett Rinzler. Scott Chipman, who serves on the Pacific Beach Planning Group, but stated that he was present as a general member of the PBTC, made a motion for the attendees to vote whether the PBTC should offer the general membership a mail-in vote determining if the Town Council should offer its support for the deck expansion. However, PBTC President Rose Galliher had already sent a letter in support of the expansion to Andra Brown of the San Diego Police Department on April 9 on behalf of the PBTC board. Letter writing in support of Pacific Beach issues is a common practice for the PBTC board, Galliher said in an earlier interview. The June 16 meeting served as Chipman’s third attempt at making a motion to have the general membership vote on PBTC support or rejection of the deck expansion. Chipman’s first attempt at making the motion was at the April 21 meeting, resulting only in a debate among meeting attendees. There was no resolution. He broached the subject again at the May 19 meeting. Again, the result was debate and no resolution. “We need to move forward,” Galliher said. Those in favor of putting the mail-in vote up to the general membership pointed to democracy in action and the shared fears of added alcohol-related crime. Those who opposed the mail-in vote pointed to what they said was the Shore Club’s generosity in the community with fundraising projects for both wounded veterans and breast cancer research. Presentations from each of the two sides will take place at the July PBTC meeting. The mail-in ballot will be sent to the general membership with the August PBTC newsletter.