Hall Park Roundup by Morgan Mallory

The city purchased the Hall property and invited it’s citizens to design their community park. It was a noble gesture. Two hundred plus stakeholders from all parts of our city were invited to design their park and a consensus was reached for a park concept in a well organized and fair manner.



The Community Input Map above representing elements the taxpayers wanted, morphed into a “Special Use Park, below with the plan now directed to: 1) ”Provide…recreational facilities that are predominately active…2) Maximize the number and use of athletic fields…”



Who made this decision? The Godbe Survey indicates 8o% don’t support the Special Use concept. An Encinitas Days survey indicated the citizens did not want this plan. A SANDAG report was not supportive. Council meetings minutes and press comments support a Community Park. Neighbors of the park are scared.



The issue has become divisive for our community. Across the picket lines are caring, loving families of our community that believe their cause is just.
One side believes that they have the right and need no less than five dedicated and mixed use fields in their “Special Use Park”. The City of Encinitas has been promising to build active-use fields for nearly 20 years. The first proposed site (where Encinitas Country Day was recently built) was sold and the Hall Property was acquired in 2001 with intention of building an active-use park in what had been a thriving commercial nursery. … that there are “unmet needs” for athletic fields in the City. (Enc. Soccer Web)
”Unmet Needs”
Appendix P of the Hall EIR includes a Needs Assessment table from the Encinitas General Plan3. This table lists the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) estimated required need of one soccer field per 10000 residents, with a service radius of ½ mile. The Encinitas Soccer League's web site lists 13 active field locations in the city, many with multiple fields.

One side which includes stakeholders from all over the city and park neighbors want their “Community Park” that was designed with playing fields, but not limiting additional park amenities to accommodate five fields. They have made many efforts to compromise, the other side has not. Cardiff residents who have valid, unanswered concerns want fields too.
"In 2008, you have no park, so softball, no soccer, no walking, no community access. It is a wasted asset. And there are huge bills such as consultants and attorneys fees, opportunity costs, community resources overused and polarization of the community. What happens if there is no change in the current approach? There will be winners and several losers. There are also likely to be lawsuits and three more years before the park is used realistically."
Dick Bayer of the La Jolla Center for Dispute Resolution


The city offered their stakeholders a Community Park and a Special Use/Sports Park at the same location.
The planning commission recommends:
“ Commissioners called for replacing at least one of the dedicated soccer fields with passive uses, such as trails or open space. Early documents show community support for passive uses at the site.”
“Commissioner Virginia Felker said that the project had languished for too long. “We’ve been talking about this since 2001,” she said. “Hopefully, we can come up with something that most people will be happy with.” She noted that records from several public meetings dating back to 2002 show that many residents don’t want a sports-focused facility at the site.”
“Commissioner Gene Chapo had a conciliatory tone. “I want to strive to try to find a project somewhere in this 2,500 pages of document and all of these consultants … that we can support together,” he said. “It really is in our interest that this project gets built.”

The Park and Recreation Dept and the Soccer Leagues are appealing the Planning Department’s recommendations on the 20th.

There is a consensus. Everyone wants to build the park.


Reference:
http://ci.encinitas.ca.us/Government/PublicD/Hall%20Property.htm
http://www.ci.encinitas.ca.us/CE/Government/PublicD/Hall+Park+Final+EIR.htm
The thousand pages of Volume II was withheld from electronic distribution, because “of the large digital size”.
http://www.5forkids.org/
http://www.hallpropertypark.com/concerns.html
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/06/03/news/coastal/encinitas/zafa947205fdfe2808825745d0018213c.txt see comments
http://www.encinitas-soccer.org/
http://www.thecoastnews.com/articles/3285/
http://www.hallpropertypark.com/release_group_seeks_solution.htm
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/09/03/news/coastal/encinitas/z2b4597e88c9fc937882574ba0018cd82.txt
lhttp://www.lajollacenter.com/about.htm
survey results http://www.lajollacenter.com/Hall%20Park%20Community%20Park%20Conflict%20Assessment%203-25-08.pdf
http://www.sfgate.info/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/10/BAPS12O7EL.DTL&hw=organically&sn=023&sc=435
Planning Commission rejects Hall park plans September 19, 2008
http://www.thecoastnews.com/articles/4597/
Candidates focus on park plan
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20080918-9999-1mc18cardiff.html

Leucadia Seafood

Healthy reefs keep you well fed. Lobster season has begun.

New Encinitas Blog

A new local blog has arrived, only 5 post so far but looks like it has potential. check it out:http://newencinitasblog.com/

Why Was Aceti Really in the Race?

From Aceti's announcement, "I am also very committed to my family and they have been very supportive of my campaign and my desire to serve on the Encinitas City Council. However, I will not be able to run an effective campaign, increase my commitment to the film project and spend quality time with my family.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the campaign trail and speaking out for the benefit of Encinitas. I have met a lot of people in the community I didn't know until the campaign season began and for that, I am very grateful. "

Doesn't it seem odd that Aceti's husband and treasurer can run a "vigorous" sand tax campaign that can raise a couple grand, but he can't raise one cent for his wife? Isn't it convenient that she drops out right when campaign contributions statements are suppose to be filed, and after it is too late to get her name off the balllot? Was she a decoy from day one?

Who benefits from Aceti being on the ballot?

Shelter

N Leucadia 101 tree shelter by Fred Caldwell.

My Fellow Leucadians...

Campaign signs are sprouting up all over town

Complaints about illegally placed signs?

Call Code Enforcement 633-2685. Do not take them down yourself as that is a misdemeanor.

ENCINITAS MUNICIPAL SIGN CODE PROVISIONS

2.16.040 Campaign Sign -- An unlimited number of political signs is allowed per parcel with the property owners permission. Signs may be displayed 30 days prior to the election and must be removed 72 hours after the election. The sign area shall not exceed 32 square feet for nonresidential zones or 32 square feet for nonresidential uses in residential zones; signs shall not exceed 8 feet in height. The sign area shall not exceed 3 square feet for residential uses in residential zones with a maximum height of 5 feet.

30.60.050(c) - Unless authorized by other provisions of this Chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to post, erect or maintain any sign within the public right-of-way or upon public property.

30.60.050 (E.2) No sign shall be posted, erected or maintained so as to obstruct a clear view of the street from any intersecting street or access to public street such as driveways.

30.60.050 (H) - No sign shall be erected that would unreasonably obscure from any public view existing, nonconforming signs on adjacent properties.

30.60.050 (K) - No vehicle or trailer shall be parked that is utilized as a portable sign for the purpose of providing directional signage, additional on-site signage, or an attention getting device.

Encinitas Campaign Contributions

NCT: ENCINITAS: Campaign finances released in City Council race

Three incumbents ---- James Bond, Maggie Houlihan and Jerome Stocks ---- are seeking re-election Nov. 4.

Seven challengers are also in the race for three open seats on the City Council. They are Betsy Aceti, Tony Brandenburg, Rachelle Collier, Doug Long, Bob Nanninga, Harriet Seldin and Joe Sheffo.

According to the financial reports released on Monday by the city clerk, incumbent Jerome Stocks raised the most during the last three months, with contributions totaling $12,780.93.

Stocks also has raised the most to date, with nearly $25,000.

Filing a Fair Political Practices Commission Form 460 is mandatory for any candidate who has raised more than $1,000.

Betsy Aceti was the only candidate who did not file the form.

Challengers Rachelle Collier, Tony Bradenburg and Doug Long closely followed Stocks, all with contributions of greater than $10,000 for the same period, followed by incumbent Maggie Houlihan with $6,556, newcomer Harriet Seldin with $6,349 and incumbent James Bond with $6,516.13, including a $3,295 loan.

Rounding out the field, Bob Nanninga raised $4,686 and Joe Sheffo raised $3,351, according to paperwork released by the city clerk’s office.

Contributions cannot exceed $250 per individual and candidates must list the full name, address and occupation of each contributor.

Sheriff's Signs

Sheriff's union breaks the law in order to support candidates?

This sign was put up by the deputy sheriffs association, which I think is basically a union. It is on the site set aside for the new Cardiff fire station (another property that the city overpaid to acquire.) That is public property, so I think putting a sign there is a violation of the law.

This won't win the contest, but it might get an honorable mention.

Complaints about illegally placed signs?

Call Code Enforcement 633-2685. Do not take them down yourself as that is a misdemeanor.

It's Campaign Signs Time *sigh*

It's that time of year where our town gets blanketed in campaign signs. Here are the rules if you want to put some up:

ENCINITAS MUNICIPAL SIGN CODE PROVISIONS

2.16.040 Campaign Sign -- An unlimited number of political signs is allowed per parcel with the property owners permission. Signs may be displayed 30 days prior to the election and must be removed 72 hours after the election. The sign area shall not exceed 32 square feet for nonresidential zones or 32 square feet for nonresidential uses in residential zones; signs shall not exceed 8 feet in height. The sign area shall not exceed 3 square feet for residential uses in residential zones with a maximum height of 5 feet.

30.60.050(c) - Unless authorized by other provisions of this Chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to post, erect or maintain any sign within the public right-of-way or upon public property.

30.60.050 (E.2) No sign shall be posted, erected or maintained so as to obstruct a clear view of the street from any intersecting street or access to public street such as driveways.

30.60.050 (H) - No sign shall be erected that would unreasonably obscure from any public view existing, nonconforming signs on adjacent properties.

30.60.050 (K) - No vehicle or trailer shall be parked that is utilized as a portable sign for the purpose of providing directional signage, additional on-site signage, or an attention getting device.

Complaints about illegally placed signs?

Call Code Enforcement 633-2685. Do not take them down yourself as that is a misdemeanor.

*blogger request--Please email me photos of the biggest most obnoxious campaign sign in your neighborhood!

North County Times Newspaper Endorses Encinitas Incumbants

A raspberry to the increasingly irrelevant North County Times for endorsing all 3 Encinitas city council incumbents. Not only is endorsing the status quo boring, it defies their own logic.

NCT: EDITORIAL: Encinitas trio merit return to city council

How quickly the NCT forgot it's previous Editorial comments about the Encinitas incumbents:

Encinitas approves 20 percent raise for city manager

May 14, 2007 NCT Roses & Raspberries
The 'City Manages to Overpay' award
A raspberry to the Encinitas City Council majority for being the latest to overcompensate their chief executive. Council members James Bond, Jerome Stocks and Dan Dalager voted to boost the salary of City Manager Phil Cotton, by all accounts a fine public servant, to $198,723. So Cotton apparently cottoned up to the council enough, in just six months on the job, to earn a 20 percent ---- or $33,723 ---- raise. What's more, the council tried to sneak it through by putting it on the consent calendar ---- more typically reserved for minor, noncontroversial items to be approved en masse.

In a bizarre race to cripple themselves at the bargaining table when public employee unions come a-calling, local councils are competing to overpay their city managers. Escondido shells out $243,310; Poway, $237,350; San Marcos, $237,008; Carlsbad, $228,968; Vista, $216,587; and Oceanside, $207,525. Even tiny Del Mar pays $160,000 and Solana Beach, $156,870. It's good to be the city manager. Taxpayer, not so much.

NCT criticizes city for holding special meetings: When is a 'special meeting' not so special?

Jim Bond's lame "State of the City" address
Raspberries and Roses

"A raspberry to Encinitas Mayor James Bond for his ill-prepared and self-serving State of the Community address last week. Bond's delivery indicates he has become entirely too comfortable in office. Unless voters see more substance and less stale style from the mayor, they may send Bond right back to retirement in 2008."

Comon' NCT, we need some fresh meat on the council. Try to think outside of the box, go to a different restaurant for a change. NCT, you are in a rut man. You used to know how to party but now look at you. You are old and stale man. ZZZZzzzz. You gotta reach for the brass ring every once and awhile in life you know? Can't have leftover meatloaf every Saturday night for the rest of you life you know what I'm saying man? Go talk to the pretty girl, she digs you man and you don't even have the balls to go over there and introduce yourself. NCT, you've turned into your parents man.

The Greatest American in America--Sarah Palin

Cardiff called "seedy"; post office and zip code in doubt?

Seedy-by-the-sea?

From SignOnSanDiego.com: Cardiff residents fear for post office's future

story by Tanya Mannes

excerpts:

The owner of Cardiff's beloved post office has put the land up for sale, raising fears among residents that it could close, even though the U.S. Postal Service just renewed its lease there.

Cardiff-by-the-Sea...known both for its low-key, beachy feel and for its feisty residents.

“The fear has always been that if we lose the post office, we lose our ZIP code, we lose our identity,” said Barbara Cobb, president of the Cardiff Town Council.

Charles Brockett, whose family has owned the post office property since it opened, said he's ready to sell if he gets his $3.7 million asking price.

Brockett said that whoever buys it would take over the lease contract, which was just renewed for five years.

The Postal Service says it has no plans to shut down its facility in Cardiff through October 2013.

Brockett is seeking a change in zoning that would provide more incentive for a new owner to close the postal facility, many fear.

In September, Brockett wrote a letter to the city in which he said he opposes the Cardiff Specific Plan's restrictions on the size of buildings he could construct on his site. He wants to have up to three stories, not two, and said he should be allowed to have a mixed project of commercial and residential uses, which would be allowed on certain other sites in Cardiff.

“I'm seeking relief from some of the restrictions,” Brockett said.

His ideas for developing the post office site include a drugstore such as a Walgreens or a small bank, possibly with homes on the second floor, which wouldn't be allowed under the zoning update.

Brockett doesn't believe the citizens advisory committee represented the community.

“They'd rather leave Cardiff just a little dusty, run-down, undeveloped, seedy little place,” he said. “It's totally against business. They went way overboard.”

Gosh!

Cardiff post office review on Yelp.com, clicky click.

Leucadia 101 Streetscape Workshop

Nobody wanted to talk to that guy.

The Highway 101 trees were mapped. Trees in green are safe from the axe. Red, firewood. Yellow, might get cut.