This Wednesday the Council will hear about the golf course again and vote on moving around some money.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Carving at Swamis
Thursday, March 17, 2011
BIG Cracks at City Hall
NCTimes It takes two to get an item on the agenda
The city council promised several times to agendize a discussion of the disposition of the city's property on Quail Gardens Drive. That discussion has not happened. It won't be heard publicly because the council is too afraid of the public.
Only under pressure, Council Members have spoken as if they have a secret plan for the site. A public discussion of the topic would make them have to dredge up old and secret, if passive, decisions and it could ruin their secret plans.
Kevin C. requested that the city bring up the property for discussion as far back 2007, and the whole council said they were for the sunshine (who could be against a public discussion of a public asset, when put on the spot?).
Well, those in power were against a public discussion of this public asset. The meeting never happened. Yes, Kevin reminded them and they ignored it.
A good retrospective read on why the council should have had the discussion prior to borrowing $20 million, is Matt Walker's 6 points, which explains a whole different financial approach for the city and shows that Kevin C wasn't the only one talking about pension reform before the market crash.
"I'm going to support it because I can't certainly subscribe to what it was before," Barth said, mentioning that she would like to have the 60-day time-limit to make certain an item gets on the council's agenda quickly.
Others on the council said they didn't see a need for a time limit at this point, saying council-requested items do end up on agendas and very seldom fall through the cracks.
The city council promised several times to agendize a discussion of the disposition of the city's property on Quail Gardens Drive. That discussion has not happened. It won't be heard publicly because the council is too afraid of the public.
Only under pressure, Council Members have spoken as if they have a secret plan for the site. A public discussion of the topic would make them have to dredge up old and secret, if passive, decisions and it could ruin their secret plans.
Kevin C. requested that the city bring up the property for discussion as far back 2007, and the whole council said they were for the sunshine (who could be against a public discussion of a public asset, when put on the spot?).
Well, those in power were against a public discussion of this public asset. The meeting never happened. Yes, Kevin reminded them and they ignored it.
A good retrospective read on why the council should have had the discussion prior to borrowing $20 million, is Matt Walker's 6 points, which explains a whole different financial approach for the city and shows that Kevin C wasn't the only one talking about pension reform before the market crash.
Monday, March 14, 2011
PEC Garden
Paul Ecke Central School edible gardens was featured in edible san diego (click to read).
Copious hours of effort of community volunteers (including Leucadia bloggers) have turned the gardens into a reality. A nice donation from Paul Ecke III funded the enterprise.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
85th Percentile
What is the 85th Percentile Speed?
The 85th percentile speed is the speed at or below which 85 percent of the motorists drive on a given road, unaffected by slower traffic or poor weather. This speed indicates the speed that most motorists on the road consider safe and reasonable under ideal conditions. It is a good guideline for the appropriate speed limit for that road.
See the 85th percentile for your street
The 85th percentile speed is the speed at or below which 85 percent of the motorists drive on a given road, unaffected by slower traffic or poor weather. This speed indicates the speed that most motorists on the road consider safe and reasonable under ideal conditions. It is a good guideline for the appropriate speed limit for that road.
See the 85th percentile for your street
Saturday, March 12, 2011
It Might Get Worse in Japan
Explosion Destroys Building at Nuke Power Plant
Backup power system not enough at Nuke plant
From Popular Mechanics:
During the first six decades of the nuclear age, however, fewer than 100 people have died as a result of nuclear power plant accidents. And comparing modern nuclear plants to Chernobyl—the Ukrainian reactor that directly caused 56 deaths after a 1986 meltdown—is like comparing World War I fighter planes to the F/A-18. Newer nuclear plants, including the fast reactor now being developed at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), contain multiple auto-shutoff mechanisms that reduce the odds of a meltdown exponentially—even in a worst-case scenario, like an industrial accident or a terrorist attack. And some also have the ability to burn spent fuel rods, a convenient way to reuse nuclear waste instead of burying it for thousands of years.
Backup power system not enough at Nuke plant
From Popular Mechanics:
During the first six decades of the nuclear age, however, fewer than 100 people have died as a result of nuclear power plant accidents. And comparing modern nuclear plants to Chernobyl—the Ukrainian reactor that directly caused 56 deaths after a 1986 meltdown—is like comparing World War I fighter planes to the F/A-18. Newer nuclear plants, including the fast reactor now being developed at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), contain multiple auto-shutoff mechanisms that reduce the odds of a meltdown exponentially—even in a worst-case scenario, like an industrial accident or a terrorist attack. And some also have the ability to burn spent fuel rods, a convenient way to reuse nuclear waste instead of burying it for thousands of years.
Friday, March 11, 2011
View of Leucadia
Click to Clean up
This is titled leucadia,leep it funky.. ~~~alan casagrande
Check out the cool stuff at www.bongobaystudio.com
Check out the cool stuff at www.bongobaystudio.com
Tsunami Warning for West Coast
The National Weather Service estimates the tsunami's California arrival time at 8:41 a.m.
The tsunami will act like an extreme tide movement. It probably won't be large here but it may catch morning beach walkers off guard. If you have any friends or relatives who like to walk along our bluff in the morning make sure they are aware of the warning.
The tsunami will act like an extreme tide movement. It probably won't be large here but it may catch morning beach walkers off guard. If you have any friends or relatives who like to walk along our bluff in the morning make sure they are aware of the warning.
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Vulcan gets spruced up
Encinitas has done a wonderful job maintaining its infrastructure and has plenty of money to go around. New paint to spruce up the streets!
j
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Opportunity to Address the Fundementals
California allows citizens to implement solutions if their representatives fail to take action.
The Encinitas Project was formed to develop public policy solutions to difficult issues facing the city, which have been marginalized by the Encinitas City Council. While the Council makes progress on safe issues, we will tackle the big issues ignored by our Council by putting them on the ballot. To be successful, the Project plans to focus on a set of issues and solutions that are recognized and supported by a vast cross section of Encinitas residents.
You can help. Please give us your input at the first Encinitas Project citizens’ workshop to be held:
For more information or to suggest other issues and solutions to be considered email encinitasproject@gmail.com.
Encinitas Citizens Initiative Project
Community Workshop Invitation
Community Workshop Invitation
The Encinitas Citizens Initiative Project is seeking the community’s help.
The Encinitas Project was formed to develop public policy solutions to difficult issues facing the city, which have been marginalized by the Encinitas City Council. While the Council makes progress on safe issues, we will tackle the big issues ignored by our Council by putting them on the ballot. To be successful, the Project plans to focus on a set of issues and solutions that are recognized and supported by a vast cross section of Encinitas residents.
You can help. Please give us your input at the first Encinitas Project citizens’ workshop to be held:
March 21, 2011
San Diego Credit Union Meeting Room
501 North El Camino Real
Presentations 5-6 pm
Panel Q & A 6-6:30 pm
Breakout Discussions 6:30-7:00 pm
Citizens have already proposed a diverse set of candidate initiatives:San Diego Credit Union Meeting Room
501 North El Camino Real
Presentations 5-6 pm
Panel Q & A 6-6:30 pm
Breakout Discussions 6:30-7:00 pm
Open GovernmentCurrent project participants span the political spectrum and have come together to achieve common goals. The objective of this first workshop is to identify and select which issues should be tackled first.
Increased access to public information and decision making. Ensure accountability for open government law violations.
Competitive Management Practices
Require competition and oversight in contracting. Require competitive appointments to top city positions.
Pension Reform
End the practice of passing all the risks of pension debt to our children.
Upzoning (Increasing Development Rights to Allow Higher Building Density)
Ensure taxpayer subsidized developments benefit the public's interest.
City Council Organization
Term-limits and rules for council appointments.
Low Income Housing
Increase access and oversight of mandated programs. Ensure taxpayers are not being cheated in related development schemes.
For more information or to suggest other issues and solutions to be considered email encinitasproject@gmail.com.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Pension Matters
Pension policy matters because if you get it wrong you won't be able to do all that fun stuff and "do-good" stuff in the future, when the bill comes due. Encinitas is a young city. People like to say that we are doing better than other cities, but what decisions did the city make that are different than most of the cities that have the bill for their short-sightedness at their door step?
EU just ran post on the troubles that Costa Mesa is running into. Those troubles were planted DECADES ago.
So lets compare:
The public has brought alternative approaches to the council over the years--no action by the council, other than taking on way bigger/stupider risks.
Just as a comparison for all those folks who work in less strenuous jobs in the private sector:
You also have defined benefits for part of their retirement. It is called social security.
Social Security Full Retirement Age is 67 years old if born after 1960. The earliest you can pull SS is 62. As the baby boomers draw down funds and rosy predictions fail to materialize, younger private sector employees who have been PROMISED the same retirement benefits will find that those promises can not be kept. A choice will have to be made, reduce benefits to current AND future retires or reduce benefits from future retirees. For some reason people think it is more fair to take something away that has been earned but never been held than to take away something that is already in someones hands.
City and state employees will go to the taxpayers for more money for their failed retirement funds at the same time the taxpayer's own social security benefits are getting pulled out from under their feet. We may be heading toward a society where only those who get lucky and get a government job get to retire.
LB notes:
No one ever took the $100 challenge to explain how we dodge a pension meltdown by doing nothing different.
Dear anon pension posters, this is the place to put your comments.
EU just ran post on the troubles that Costa Mesa is running into. Those troubles were planted DECADES ago.
So lets compare:
Non-safety Staff
PERS 2.5% @ 55
Safety Staff
PERS 3.0% @ 55
Non-safety Staff
PERS 2.7% @ 55
Fire
PERS 3.0% @55
The public has brought alternative approaches to the council over the years--no action by the council, other than taking on way bigger/stupider risks.
Just as a comparison for all those folks who work in less strenuous jobs in the private sector:
You also have defined benefits for part of their retirement. It is called social security.
Social Security Full Retirement Age is 67 years old if born after 1960. The earliest you can pull SS is 62. As the baby boomers draw down funds and rosy predictions fail to materialize, younger private sector employees who have been PROMISED the same retirement benefits will find that those promises can not be kept. A choice will have to be made, reduce benefits to current AND future retires or reduce benefits from future retirees. For some reason people think it is more fair to take something away that has been earned but never been held than to take away something that is already in someones hands.
City and state employees will go to the taxpayers for more money for their failed retirement funds at the same time the taxpayer's own social security benefits are getting pulled out from under their feet. We may be heading toward a society where only those who get lucky and get a government job get to retire.
LB notes:
No one ever took the $100 challenge to explain how we dodge a pension meltdown by doing nothing different.
Dear anon pension posters, this is the place to put your comments.
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Leucadia 101 Main Street Assoc Membership Meeting March 3rd 6:30 pm
Leucadia 101 Main Street's Annual Membership Meeting
WHEN: March 3, 2011
TIME: 6:30 - 8:00 PM
WHERE: Encinitas Civic Center, Poinsettia Room
· Meet the Board of Directors and hear our goals for 2011.
· Principle Planner Diane Langager will also present an overview of the N. Hwy 101 Streetscape refined phase I plan and discuss the next steps.
· Find out more about our Main Street Committees and how you can get involved!
Please Join Us ~ All Are Welcome!
WHEN: March 3, 2011
TIME: 6:30 - 8:00 PM
WHERE: Encinitas Civic Center, Poinsettia Room
· Meet the Board of Directors and hear our goals for 2011.
· Principle Planner Diane Langager will also present an overview of the N. Hwy 101 Streetscape refined phase I plan and discuss the next steps.
· Find out more about our Main Street Committees and how you can get involved!
Please Join Us ~ All Are Welcome!
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