Last night's city council eyewitness report by M. Fleener
What a cast of...uh...characters last night. My evening began with Doug Long telling me that "The Press" would probably make me move from the table I was sitting at in the back room. I told him I'd been contacted by the LA Times to possibly do a comic story about small town politics. "Ever hear of them?" I asked Doug. Then Dalager walked by us and with a big grin on his face said, "Looks like we're going to be here until 11 pm tonight!" All the folks around me said, "Yep. I guess so." Seems to me that crack was more of a challenge than an actual observation. As the crowd grew in number, some guy yelled out, "Low income seating, anyone?" When Christy announced item #9 would "be continued" at another meeting on Dec 13, there was a loud groan from the audience. Oh, she remarked that she knew people had made time for this and she was sorry but they just weren't "prepared" to vote on it. I think this means they got a LOT of feedback about this Housing issue and it wasn't good.
Then we were treated to a water district dog and pony show that was design to convince us why we need to raise our water rates. Power point presentation, lots of graphs, mathematical formulas, statistical manipulations, and the fellow talking was a good little robot who said the city only got ONE letter of protest. Gee, some people do need to get a life, don't they? Then James Bond droned on as to why we need to do this. Several people got up and spoke and Bond told the audience not to clap after each speaker. This was met with laughter. The Council voted 5-0 to raise the rates.
Then at 6:40pm we got to see a special duel meeting between the City Council and the Water District. A nice female robot informed the crowd that the city made a lot of money with property taxes, $813,000.00 excess, to be exact. We also learned the average price of a home in Encinitas is $800,000. After that was over, Bond yammered about the Libraray, the Hall property and told us all we gotta is wait and everything will be OK.
The best was yet to come. The General Housing Update Presentaion! Seems for 2 years there have been meeting and more meetings to address our dire situation here in Encinitas. Another power point slide show with graphs, and info. This was a boring robot who went on and on and on. I saw several people nodding off, their eyes closed, their faces weary. Dalager was looking away from the screen. Maggie looked tired. Bond was "acting" interested and Guerin kept staring at the crowd, and at one point interrupted the speaker and told people that "standing in the chambers is not allowed", and made 'em move to another room.
The speaker robot told us that if we don't act on this Affordable Housing Program SOON we'll lose out on "certain funds" from the State, such as transportaion. This was the good part. We gotta move on this, people. Hurry!! Emergency!!!! Anyway, the guy finished his talk, and Bond started speaking in that low montone of his. Man, was his face ruddy. He don't look so good and apparently was in a rotten mood. Guerin asked him to "wrap it up" and Bond snapped back, "I listened to your questions and now you're going to listen to mine!" Oooh, that made Guerin mad and when she finally got a chance to speak she started her comment with, "MIS-ter BOND....I voted against this, and blah blah blah". Talk about a woman scorned!!
We took a break at 8pm. (Somehow, magically, all the other agenda items were shelved,) and at 8:15pm the speakers for item #9 were heard and there was a 100% negative response to this Housing Element scam. No one likes it and everyone knows this is a plan by the developers to screw each and every citizen in Encinitas. Most people asked for a public vote. My very favorite speaker was a guy who held up a report that gave the word "spin" a whole new definition. Every concern, whether it be Traffic, or Quality of Life, was put in the "No Impact" category, so this guy led the crowd in a chant-when he would read one of the comments, such as "...environmental pollution..?", he'd gestured towards the crowd and we all yelled out, "NO IMPACT! This went on for a bit and was very funny.
I guess we were having way too much fun...the city manager and attorney glared at us and Dalager looked like he had a headache. I left after this nice man got up and told the Council that "...we are strong, we are organized and we are prepared. We want to be on your side, but we want you to be on our side too." Or something like that. He was very gallant. Robert Nanninga was spot on and brought up some good points and delivered his argument with an unusually cohestive cachet.
Wish I could've seen those croc tears of Guerins', but I've seen 'em before, like when she helped stripped Sheila Cameron of her Mayor title two weeks before Camerons' term was over. I suppose I'll see 'em next week when Teresa Barth takes her place.
What's not to love about this town?
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Water rates increase; housing vote delayed
Encinitas approves water rate increase; most customers face 9 percent hike
*note the dirty trick tactic the city used.
By: ADAM KAYE - Staff Writer
ENCINITAS -- The Encinitas City Council approved 9 percent increases Wednesday to the meter charges and usage rates for most of the San Dieguito Water District's 11,500 accounts.
Also Wednesday, the council listened to comments from an overflow crowd about a pending housing plan. Mayor Christy Guerin announced that a council decision on the plan would be postponed until Dec. 13.
Acting as the water district's board of directors, the council voted 5-0 to approve the rate increase.
*The increase came over objections from a resident who said a notice informing ratepayers of their right to protest did not make that point clearly.
Encinitas activist Kevin Cummins told the council that the notice the city mailed to ratepayers did not state that written protests submitted by a majority of the district's customers could have halted the rate increase. Ratepayers received the notice about six weeks ago.
"(Property owners) have the power to say no," Cummins said.
The mailed notice, which was included with the council's agenda, states that the water board would "hear and consider all protests" at Wednesday's meeting.
"It doesn't say that we can turn in letters," Cummins said.
Bill O'Donnell, a senior engineer for the water district, told the council that just one ratepayer had mailed a letter objecting to the rate increase.
Had the city's mailed notice informed ratepayers of their right to challenge the rate hike, "I bet you would have got more than one (letter)," Cummins said.
He added that a notice that the city of Poway mailed to ratepayers clearly informed them of their right to oppose a water rate increase in that city. Proposition 218 requires written notices of rate increases.
"We're extraordinarily careful to make sure we comply (with Prop. 218)," said Encinitas Councilman James Bond, serving as the water board's president.
Bond added that the increase completes the third of three scheduled rate hikes originally approved in 2005. Before then, the previous increase was in 1995.
To read the rest of this story click on the link at the top of the post.
Connecting the dots here is story from the San Diego Union Tribune, Lake Hodges too dirty, water authorities say
McCollom said his district is concerned about the urban runoff, algae, high carbon content, bromine and silt that end up in Lake Hodges.
“Probably urban runoff is the biggest problem,” he said.
We are now seeing how fragile the North County infrastructure really is.
*note the dirty trick tactic the city used.
By: ADAM KAYE - Staff Writer
ENCINITAS -- The Encinitas City Council approved 9 percent increases Wednesday to the meter charges and usage rates for most of the San Dieguito Water District's 11,500 accounts.
Also Wednesday, the council listened to comments from an overflow crowd about a pending housing plan. Mayor Christy Guerin announced that a council decision on the plan would be postponed until Dec. 13.
Acting as the water district's board of directors, the council voted 5-0 to approve the rate increase.
*The increase came over objections from a resident who said a notice informing ratepayers of their right to protest did not make that point clearly.
Encinitas activist Kevin Cummins told the council that the notice the city mailed to ratepayers did not state that written protests submitted by a majority of the district's customers could have halted the rate increase. Ratepayers received the notice about six weeks ago.
"(Property owners) have the power to say no," Cummins said.
The mailed notice, which was included with the council's agenda, states that the water board would "hear and consider all protests" at Wednesday's meeting.
"It doesn't say that we can turn in letters," Cummins said.
Bill O'Donnell, a senior engineer for the water district, told the council that just one ratepayer had mailed a letter objecting to the rate increase.
Had the city's mailed notice informed ratepayers of their right to challenge the rate hike, "I bet you would have got more than one (letter)," Cummins said.
He added that a notice that the city of Poway mailed to ratepayers clearly informed them of their right to oppose a water rate increase in that city. Proposition 218 requires written notices of rate increases.
"We're extraordinarily careful to make sure we comply (with Prop. 218)," said Encinitas Councilman James Bond, serving as the water board's president.
Bond added that the increase completes the third of three scheduled rate hikes originally approved in 2005. Before then, the previous increase was in 1995.
To read the rest of this story click on the link at the top of the post.
Connecting the dots here is story from the San Diego Union Tribune, Lake Hodges too dirty, water authorities say
McCollom said his district is concerned about the urban runoff, algae, high carbon content, bromine and silt that end up in Lake Hodges.
“Probably urban runoff is the biggest problem,” he said.
We are now seeing how fragile the North County infrastructure really is.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
"Most of these cost increases are coming from the increasingly diminished supply of water for all of us,"
NCT.com: Encinitas preparing to increase water rates
At tonight's Encinitas city council meeting there will be decisions made to increase housing density (more people) and increase water rates (more people=more water use).
Longtime council member Jim Bond (the old crusty Bond, not the new buffed out edgy blue eyed Bond) says, "Most of these cost increases are coming from the increasingly diminished supply of water for all of us,"
Sounds like the perfect time to dramatically increase the population within city limits!
From the article: The district is continuing to recover from state takeaways of local property taxes during fiscal 2004-05 and 2005-06 -- another reason cited for the rate increases, said Jay Lembach, city finance manager.
The district also faces a one-time payment of $3.4 million to the city for a new headquarters on Calle Magdalena, Lembach said. The water district and the public works department will share the former automobile dealership.
In 2005, when the three-year rate study was prepared, the district had budgeted $2.5 million toward the cost of a new facility. That amount was factored into the rate analysis. Lembach said.
He said the district's upcoming move from leased space at the old Pacific View School to the recently-purchased, $9.5 million dealership is not driving the rate increase.
In 2004, the water district sold its D Street headquarters to the city for $1,040,000 for a city library. At the time, the district earned $60,000 a year from renting portions of the D Street site to the public works department.
All this raises questions, city watchdog Bob Bonde said Tuesday.
"What kind of oversight do we have when we have the City Council being the buyer and the seller at the same time, and the ratepayers of San Dieguito Water District being the cash cows for the city?" Bonde said.
Also from the article, what you will pay: Most of the district's 11,500 accounts are served by 5/8- to 3/4-inch meters, for which the bimonthly charge would increase from $23.71 to $25.84. That's a 9 percent increase.
The additional $2.13 every two months amounts to a $12.78 yearly increase for most residential customers in the district, which covers coastal Encinitas east to El Camino Real.
Customers with larger meters face corresponding 9 percent increases.
For water itself, residential users can expect increases ranging from 8.2 percent to 9 percent. Under a three-tiered system, residential customers pay more per gallon once their water usage exceeds 700 or 2,100 cubic feet.
The San Dieguito water board meets at 6 p.m. at 505 S. Vulcan Ave.
At tonight's Encinitas city council meeting there will be decisions made to increase housing density (more people) and increase water rates (more people=more water use).
Longtime council member Jim Bond (the old crusty Bond, not the new buffed out edgy blue eyed Bond) says, "Most of these cost increases are coming from the increasingly diminished supply of water for all of us,"
Sounds like the perfect time to dramatically increase the population within city limits!
From the article: The district is continuing to recover from state takeaways of local property taxes during fiscal 2004-05 and 2005-06 -- another reason cited for the rate increases, said Jay Lembach, city finance manager.
The district also faces a one-time payment of $3.4 million to the city for a new headquarters on Calle Magdalena, Lembach said. The water district and the public works department will share the former automobile dealership.
In 2005, when the three-year rate study was prepared, the district had budgeted $2.5 million toward the cost of a new facility. That amount was factored into the rate analysis. Lembach said.
He said the district's upcoming move from leased space at the old Pacific View School to the recently-purchased, $9.5 million dealership is not driving the rate increase.
In 2004, the water district sold its D Street headquarters to the city for $1,040,000 for a city library. At the time, the district earned $60,000 a year from renting portions of the D Street site to the public works department.
All this raises questions, city watchdog Bob Bonde said Tuesday.
"What kind of oversight do we have when we have the City Council being the buyer and the seller at the same time, and the ratepayers of San Dieguito Water District being the cash cows for the city?" Bonde said.
Also from the article, what you will pay: Most of the district's 11,500 accounts are served by 5/8- to 3/4-inch meters, for which the bimonthly charge would increase from $23.71 to $25.84. That's a 9 percent increase.
The additional $2.13 every two months amounts to a $12.78 yearly increase for most residential customers in the district, which covers coastal Encinitas east to El Camino Real.
Customers with larger meters face corresponding 9 percent increases.
For water itself, residential users can expect increases ranging from 8.2 percent to 9 percent. Under a three-tiered system, residential customers pay more per gallon once their water usage exceeds 700 or 2,100 cubic feet.
The San Dieguito water board meets at 6 p.m. at 505 S. Vulcan Ave.
Agenda Item#9 on tonight's city council meeting
Housing Element Update on the city of Encinitas official website: click me
Clever how they stick those controversial agenda items last eh?
City Council Meeting 6 pm at City Hall
505 S. Vulcan Avenue
Encinitas, CA 92024-3633
Monday, November 27, 2006
Low Income Overlay Zone
click map to enlarge.
Parcels in yellow are sites possibly targeted by the city that can be used for increasing our housing stock in the overlay zone. This map was created from data in the appendix.
Burning Questions:
Is the entire city basically an overlay zone?
What kind of low income apartment buildings will the developers build in our town? Will they show restraint or build massive UTC style buildings?
How will this affect the traffic?
Is the developer friendly city council using the state mandated low income housing requirements as an excuse to sell us out?
Friday, November 24, 2006
Changes
click images to enlarge
The cool swanky Artist Colony and all it's fun nooks and crannies will be gone forever soon. It will be replaced by what I call Yuppie Modern, a safe non-threatening building. I know a lot of people are bummed about this but trust me, it could be much, much worse. The project is less Carlsbad and more Gaslamp than what I expected.
Here is the website to the architecture firm that designed the project: www.h2aarchitects.com
This building is going to look massive when it is finished. It will loom high above Encinitas Blvd. The story polls don't tell the whole story.
I will miss the 1950' slanted windows the most, I always loved those. If I owned this property I would have kept a lot of the existing elements instead of simply razing the whole area.
The existing site is home to some really beautiful trees. I hope the trees can be saved and moved instead of just getting chopped down. Maybe Quail Gardens can rescue them?
The project is called 101 Artists Lofts which is an odd name considering there probably isn't a single local artist who will be able to afford the new rent. It's kind of like when a developer bulldozes a hillside of oak tress and then calls the subdivision Old Oak Ranch Hills.
From the Coast News, Richard Sax, a Carlsbad attorney and developer, filed plans last year with the Planning Commission that show a proposed complex complete with underground parking, commercial space on the first floor and 19 two-story townhomes on the remaining floors. Upper decks would provide residents of the new development with views of the ocean and Cottonwood Creek Park. The 52,000-square-foot project is estimated to cost $23 million. The homes, ranging from one to three bedrooms, would start at $1 million according to Sax.
Hopefully for the new owners of the million dollar townhomes the city will get the Cottonwood Creek water treatment thingy working because right now that whole area smells like poo at night.
NCT.com: Poles and strings show building's shape, size
The cool swanky Artist Colony and all it's fun nooks and crannies will be gone forever soon. It will be replaced by what I call Yuppie Modern, a safe non-threatening building. I know a lot of people are bummed about this but trust me, it could be much, much worse. The project is less Carlsbad and more Gaslamp than what I expected.
Here is the website to the architecture firm that designed the project: www.h2aarchitects.com
This building is going to look massive when it is finished. It will loom high above Encinitas Blvd. The story polls don't tell the whole story.
I will miss the 1950' slanted windows the most, I always loved those. If I owned this property I would have kept a lot of the existing elements instead of simply razing the whole area.
The existing site is home to some really beautiful trees. I hope the trees can be saved and moved instead of just getting chopped down. Maybe Quail Gardens can rescue them?
The project is called 101 Artists Lofts which is an odd name considering there probably isn't a single local artist who will be able to afford the new rent. It's kind of like when a developer bulldozes a hillside of oak tress and then calls the subdivision Old Oak Ranch Hills.
From the Coast News, Richard Sax, a Carlsbad attorney and developer, filed plans last year with the Planning Commission that show a proposed complex complete with underground parking, commercial space on the first floor and 19 two-story townhomes on the remaining floors. Upper decks would provide residents of the new development with views of the ocean and Cottonwood Creek Park. The 52,000-square-foot project is estimated to cost $23 million. The homes, ranging from one to three bedrooms, would start at $1 million according to Sax.
Hopefully for the new owners of the million dollar townhomes the city will get the Cottonwood Creek water treatment thingy working because right now that whole area smells like poo at night.
NCT.com: Poles and strings show building's shape, size
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Beacon's Trail Grant Requires Seawall?
Click image to enlarge (some users may have to click image twice to read)
Harsh because everyone hates the seawall and the Surfrider Foundation will unleash their army of lawyers and sue us if we put one in. Does this mean the Beacon's trail project is dead?
Harsh because everyone hates the seawall and the Surfrider Foundation will unleash their army of lawyers and sue us if we put one in. Does this mean the Beacon's trail project is dead?
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Crossing Over to Cadmus-Pros and Cons
New Encinitas railroad crossing proposed
What we know for sure is that the status quo sucks. The proposed Cadmus crossing is an intriguing idea.
Closing the train track crossing may seem extreme at first glance but I think it's a good idea. The chaos of the Leucadia Blvd intersection is getting worse and worse by the week.
The only reason Cadmus is even worth discussing is that Cadmus does not connect to Neptune Ave. This prevents Cadmus from becoming a busy thoroughfare to Beacon's. It's odd because Cadmus is one of the few streets that doesn't connect to Neptune Ave. What luck that is.
I think the traffic signal at the Leucadia park/coast highway 101 should stay so that if you are leaving Beacon's you can make a left turn. And if you are going north on Hwy 101 and you want to Beacon's you can make a left turn with a green arrow. There needs to be a pedestrian crossing here as well. I guess you will have to cross the tracks illegally if you want to get to 7-11 and the dry cleaners. Maybe we can work safe legal pedestrian crossings over the train tracks into this plan.
Encinitas Blvd is a prime example of a major thoroughfare with a business district and an entrance into the coastal part of downtown and the beach. Right now traffic coming down Leucadia Blvd is expecting the same thing but instead finds that Leucadia Blvd is more of a sleepy neighborhood road. Unfortunately this sleepy road is being used by commuters coming off the freeway during rush hour. This causes all kinds of gridlock and madness with the combo of the dysfunctional intersection. Cars from I-5, cars from San Elijo Hills, pedestrians, cars coming in and out of 7-11, people trying to take their kids to the elementary school, surfers trying to get to Beacon's, and the train mucking up the whole process.
The ultimate solution would be to lower the tracks like in Solana Beach. Since the cost for such a project is out of reach we have to think out of the box and look for a cheaper solution. Luckily, La Costa Ave and Encinitas Blvd are not affected by the train. Those two locations are equipped to handle the thoroughfare that Leucadia Blvd is not (La Costa Ave needs some improvements as well. See Leucadia!: La Costa Ave Expansion?).
The concern about doing this diversion around Leucadia's dysfunctional intersection is the ripple effect to Encinitas Blvd and La Costa Ave. Drivers may soon learn to avoid Leucadia Blvd and use Encinitas Blvd or La Costa Ave instead. Can these two other intersections handle the impact?
We need to be intelligent about this and look at the traffic studies and see if the new traffic imposed on Encinitas Blvd and La Costa Ave will work. Also, there needs to be fair warning to commuters from the freeway all the way down Leucadia Blvd that there is no direct access to the coast highway. A nice sign before the Leucadia Blvd off ramp on I-5 warning that there is no direct access to the coast highway would help prevent some confusion. A series of signs the whole route would be ideal.
Cadmus needs to have a very large sign declaring that there is NO beach access in order avoid cars going down that street and then having to make u-turns. That would be horrible, even catastrophic for the people that live on Cadmus.
An intersection tells us certain things. A stop sign tells us this intersection is fairly busy. A traffic signal tells us that this is a very busy route. People naturally assume that there is beach access at the traffic signals. We must make the new intersection as idiot proof as possible so not to destroy the quality of life for the people on Cadmus.
One thing that will improve for the good people of Cadmus is that they can use the light to make a left turn onto the coast highway. Right now making a left turn off Cadmus is pretty hairy.
Closing the Leucadia Blvd train track crossing will solve the problem of accidents at a dysfunctional intersection, but in turn it may force that traffic onto La Costa Ave and Encinitas Blvd. I don't know if there is much we can do to improve Encinitas Blvd but La Costa Ave improvements must be made in conjunction with the Leucadia Blvd project.
I don't know if the traffic studies are ever available for public review but it sure would be nice to see the numbers. The numbers should dictate the design. The idea is good but does it work with the numbers?
One of the most appealing things about this proposal is the train quiet zone. Imagine, no more horns blaring away. You could actual have a conversation with your cup of coffee at the Pannikan.
Culturally people are going to be upset about the direct route to the coast highway and Beacon's being closed. But I think this intersection project will jump start other infrastructure improvements needed for business and life to flourish in Leucadia.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Today is National Buy Local Day
Today is National Buy Local Day. Be sure to get out and enjoy this nice weather and support some of our cool little local mom&pop business. I plan on stopping in Ducky Waddles and Lou's Records myself.
Why Buy Local?
• Local businesses produce more income, jobs, and tax receipts for local communities than big box stores do.
• Local businesses are more likely to utilize local ads, banks and other services.
• Local businesses donate more money to nonprofits and are more accountable to their local communities.
• Supporting local businesses preserves the economic diversity of our communities and the unique character of our neighborhoods.
• Supporting local businesses is good for the environment, because it cuts down on fuel consumption. Buying locally produced goods reduces the need to ship goods from thousands of miles away and also cuts down on the distances shoppers travel.
* And don’t forget to also buy Fair Trade, organic and green!
ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH, LET’S BUY LOCAL!
www.buylocalday.org
Surfers, be sure to support your local shapers. Avoid outsourced "pop-outs" from Thailand and China. Thank you.
Friday, November 17, 2006
>>>a number of assumptions I find disturbing<<<
YOUR WATER BILL
by Herb Patterson
The City of Encinitas is planning to move the San Diegito Water District [SDWD] into the new Mossy Public Works Yard. Moreland and Associates prepared the study allocating costs to the various entities [only the SDWD is technically a separate agency – the rest are simply departments of the City]. In the study, Moreland made a number of assumptions I find disturbing.
The first assumption is that the SDWD owed a capital cost donation to this project. Why? The study does not indicate that the SDWD would then own some portion of the property. What equity does the SDWD receive for the expenditure? When the City bought the SDWD property for the new library, it purchased the land and received title for payment – why is that apparently not happening here?
Assuming you believe it is appropriate for the SDWD to donate towards the purchase price of the Mossy property, I would suggest a long look at the methodology used to determine the cost. Moreland estimated that building a similar facility for the SDWD at $300 a square foot and then used the number of SDWD employees [a rounded off 23] as a percentage of the total employees using the yard to arrive at a square foot per SDWD employee of about 364 square feet. That was then multiplied times the $300 figure to arrive at the capital cost. The only problem with this is that about half of the SDWD employees are field workers, not desk bound. A good portion of the SDWD land use would be for parking vehicles and equipment in garages, car ports or parking places. Should the SDWD pay $300 a square foot for a parking place? I don't think so.
Among the other items left off the Moreland report, there is no discussion of the previous locations used by the SDWD. Wouldn't it have been instructive to see a breakdown of the office space and the parking/garage areas? Wouldn't some comment from the SDWD on what their needs were be appropriate? Why is there no discussion of alternative locations and their availability?
I have no problem with the SDWD moving in to the new Public Works area if they pay rent, and pay for whatever alterations necessary for their operation, but having to “up front” the capital expense appears to be a way of transferring the cost to acquire the Mossy location from the City to the SDWD.
This is useful to the City because they can raise your water rates [without a vote] to pay for it. If the City is transferring costs from the City to the SDWD, it is illegal under Prop 218. I have my doubts that the proposed Capital Improvement “donation” from the SDWD meets the Prop 218 definition of Capital Expense and may well be illegal regardless of the intent of the City.
Why does the Moreland report have no alternative scenario for a straight rental of City property to the SDWD? Might that be cheaper for SDWD in the long run ? Nobody knows because the report ASSUMES that the SDWD will buy into the Mossy location.
Since alternatives to the Mossy location were not even looked at, the cost estimate for an SDWD building are imaginary and poorly applied, a review of past locations usage was not done, and the actual needs of the SDWD not even addressed in the Moreland report, I believe it is premature to expect the public to buy into a solution that has the appearance of transferring capital costs from the City to the SDWD. The City Council, sitting both as representatives of the City as a whole and as Directors of the SDWD, have a fiduciary responsibility to both the citizens of Encinitas and the customers of the SDWD. They do not appear to have done that duty in relation to the ratepayers of the SDWD.
Please attend the special Council meeting on 11-29 at 6:00PM in the Council chambers for a discussion of the SDWD water rates – want to guess which way they are going?
by Herb Patterson
The City of Encinitas is planning to move the San Diegito Water District [SDWD] into the new Mossy Public Works Yard. Moreland and Associates prepared the study allocating costs to the various entities [only the SDWD is technically a separate agency – the rest are simply departments of the City]. In the study, Moreland made a number of assumptions I find disturbing.
The first assumption is that the SDWD owed a capital cost donation to this project. Why? The study does not indicate that the SDWD would then own some portion of the property. What equity does the SDWD receive for the expenditure? When the City bought the SDWD property for the new library, it purchased the land and received title for payment – why is that apparently not happening here?
Assuming you believe it is appropriate for the SDWD to donate towards the purchase price of the Mossy property, I would suggest a long look at the methodology used to determine the cost. Moreland estimated that building a similar facility for the SDWD at $300 a square foot and then used the number of SDWD employees [a rounded off 23] as a percentage of the total employees using the yard to arrive at a square foot per SDWD employee of about 364 square feet. That was then multiplied times the $300 figure to arrive at the capital cost. The only problem with this is that about half of the SDWD employees are field workers, not desk bound. A good portion of the SDWD land use would be for parking vehicles and equipment in garages, car ports or parking places. Should the SDWD pay $300 a square foot for a parking place? I don't think so.
Among the other items left off the Moreland report, there is no discussion of the previous locations used by the SDWD. Wouldn't it have been instructive to see a breakdown of the office space and the parking/garage areas? Wouldn't some comment from the SDWD on what their needs were be appropriate? Why is there no discussion of alternative locations and their availability?
I have no problem with the SDWD moving in to the new Public Works area if they pay rent, and pay for whatever alterations necessary for their operation, but having to “up front” the capital expense appears to be a way of transferring the cost to acquire the Mossy location from the City to the SDWD.
This is useful to the City because they can raise your water rates [without a vote] to pay for it. If the City is transferring costs from the City to the SDWD, it is illegal under Prop 218. I have my doubts that the proposed Capital Improvement “donation” from the SDWD meets the Prop 218 definition of Capital Expense and may well be illegal regardless of the intent of the City.
Why does the Moreland report have no alternative scenario for a straight rental of City property to the SDWD? Might that be cheaper for SDWD in the long run ? Nobody knows because the report ASSUMES that the SDWD will buy into the Mossy location.
Since alternatives to the Mossy location were not even looked at, the cost estimate for an SDWD building are imaginary and poorly applied, a review of past locations usage was not done, and the actual needs of the SDWD not even addressed in the Moreland report, I believe it is premature to expect the public to buy into a solution that has the appearance of transferring capital costs from the City to the SDWD. The City Council, sitting both as representatives of the City as a whole and as Directors of the SDWD, have a fiduciary responsibility to both the citizens of Encinitas and the customers of the SDWD. They do not appear to have done that duty in relation to the ratepayers of the SDWD.
Please attend the special Council meeting on 11-29 at 6:00PM in the Council chambers for a discussion of the SDWD water rates – want to guess which way they are going?
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Even More Beacon's-post planning commission thoughts
I attended a portion of tonight's planning commission meeting about the proposed Beacon's beach trail access. I arrived at 6:15 and I left right around 8:00 pm when public comments were still taking place.
Here is my 2 minute take on the whole thing:
The conceptual plan presented by the city was fairly weak and seemed to be lacking a lot of detail. Maybe this was because they are proceeding slowly and carefully due to all the public interest.
The sea wall is a no-go. Everyone hates it, nearby bluff residents, environmentalists, surfers, beachcombers, etc. The mere fact that Surfrider Foundation will sue over the sea wall makes finding an alternative all the more attractive.
We have a grant for 2.8 million bucks for this thing but the presented plan comes out to 5 million. The city has no extra money for anymore capital projects. We just borrowed 20 million and it's all spent. Let's do a Beacon's beach access for 2.8 million. Let's work with what we are given.
My architect wifey made a rare appearance tonight and soaked in the presentation. We ducked out early and went out to dinner where she sketched out a really solid plan on her placemat. Her plan should only cost around 3 million. She is going to draw up a rough draft of her idea and submit it to the city. I will post the plan on this blog. It's a good idea and doesn't have a sea wall.
For those of you who didn't make the meeting you missed 3 oddball minutes by unsuccessful city council candidate Paul "Pablo" Martens where he ranted about hurricanes in the 1800's and paleontologist in the future. FYI, he talks in that voice all the time.
For those who stayed, how did the commission end up voting? This meeting was about the EIR only. What happened? What happens next?
And dammitt, I can't believe I missed My Name is Earl and The Office. I really need Tivo.
NCT.com story:
Beacon's Beach report criticized at meeting
Union Tribune
Here is my 2 minute take on the whole thing:
The conceptual plan presented by the city was fairly weak and seemed to be lacking a lot of detail. Maybe this was because they are proceeding slowly and carefully due to all the public interest.
The sea wall is a no-go. Everyone hates it, nearby bluff residents, environmentalists, surfers, beachcombers, etc. The mere fact that Surfrider Foundation will sue over the sea wall makes finding an alternative all the more attractive.
We have a grant for 2.8 million bucks for this thing but the presented plan comes out to 5 million. The city has no extra money for anymore capital projects. We just borrowed 20 million and it's all spent. Let's do a Beacon's beach access for 2.8 million. Let's work with what we are given.
My architect wifey made a rare appearance tonight and soaked in the presentation. We ducked out early and went out to dinner where she sketched out a really solid plan on her placemat. Her plan should only cost around 3 million. She is going to draw up a rough draft of her idea and submit it to the city. I will post the plan on this blog. It's a good idea and doesn't have a sea wall.
For those of you who didn't make the meeting you missed 3 oddball minutes by unsuccessful city council candidate Paul "Pablo" Martens where he ranted about hurricanes in the 1800's and paleontologist in the future. FYI, he talks in that voice all the time.
For those who stayed, how did the commission end up voting? This meeting was about the EIR only. What happened? What happens next?
And dammitt, I can't believe I missed My Name is Earl and The Office. I really need Tivo.
NCT.com story:
Beacon's Beach report criticized at meeting
Union Tribune
Beacon's Beach part 3
You can download the Beacon's Beach pdf plans from the city website: click me
If you download the big Graphics zip file you will find good pre-visualizations on files 2.2-10 through 2.2-14
Today's NCT story: Surfrider to challenge Beacon's Beach study
The public meeting is tonight at city hall 6:00 pm
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Beacon's Beach Trail Photos with Captions
click all images to enlarge
Read the previous post about the proposed Beacon's trail here: Leucadia!: Beacon's Beach Trail Access
Here is cliff erosion meeting the beach sand. The experts will tell you that the majority of our beach sand comes from the cliffs and that is why we cannot build sea walls of any kind. As a 36 year old surfer who grew up in Leucadia I can firmly tell you that there is a clear difference between dirt and sand. Classic Leucadia beach sand is mostly black and is sticky. It comes from huge sand basins offshore that spring and summer south swells push onto the beach. During the winter when we have big north swells and storms we lose a lot of sand. It's the ebb and flow of the beach. I believe the Surfrider Foundation has a political agenda against beach property owners so they overhype the amount of "sand" we get from the cliffs.
The natural beauty of the bluff and vegetation meeting the beach is superior to any kind of wall. But what about safe public beach access? Is there a happy medium?
The trail and it's switchbacks are pretty cool. When I was a kid the switchbacks were concrete ramps that were slippery with sand and impossible to walk up in flip-flops. The current trail has some dicey sections that are sure to fall during the next good rain storm.
When Leucadia Blvd was extended to El Camino Real the city was thinking about the Ecke's new golf course and shopping center. Did they realize they were also linking the new shiny mega-sprawl known as San Elijo Hills to Beacon's (and the dysfunctional Leucadia/Vulcan/Hwy101 intersection). The Union Tribune reported that 170,000 people visited Beacon's last year. While I don't trust those beach people-counters that much (your surfboard appears to be getting counted as you walk by) it's obvious that since San Elijo Hills was built, Beacon's beach and it's soft breaking beginner friendly waves are more crowded than ever.
The new plan must address drainage.
The parking lot is always busy. It's a great place to pull up in the evening and watch the sunset. Unfortunately there is only one decent bench on the north end of the lot. I failed to take a photo of the north end but there is a lot of un-used space. There is a pay phone used by illegal aliens and drug dealers, a bike rack, one of those nice tiled art trash cans, a planter and not much else. This would be a good area for porti-potties.
Bonus photo, a Ron Stoner shot of Billy Hamilton surfing Beacon's in the mid 60's summertime.
Several items which I think are noteworthy; the bluffs are effected by the wind. When Beacon's had thick healthy kelp beds not only did the surf stay glassy and good all day but the cliffs were not taking a constant beating from the wind. Our kelp beds are still trying to recover from the horrid chopping they took from the last and possibly illegal midnight run by the Kelpco and their kelp cutter ship.
Also, when I was a kid many areas of the bluffs were always damp, wet and drippy. Wild tomatoes grew all over the cliffs. Now the bluffs are bone dry and therefore brittle. You know when you build a sandcastle how the sand needs to be damp so it will stay up? The bluffs are the same way. Now that Encinitas has turned into suburbia, rain water no longer soaks into the ground and slowly seeps it's way towards the ocean. Now it just quickly runs off down the streets, into the gutters and goes gushing out into the ocean. I don't think this is reversable.
The majority of our sand migration down the coast is blocked by the Oceanside jetties. I don't see how our local cliff erosion is supposed to make up this massive quanities of sand that no longer reaches us.
Read the previous post about the proposed Beacon's trail here: Leucadia!: Beacon's Beach Trail Access
Here is cliff erosion meeting the beach sand. The experts will tell you that the majority of our beach sand comes from the cliffs and that is why we cannot build sea walls of any kind. As a 36 year old surfer who grew up in Leucadia I can firmly tell you that there is a clear difference between dirt and sand. Classic Leucadia beach sand is mostly black and is sticky. It comes from huge sand basins offshore that spring and summer south swells push onto the beach. During the winter when we have big north swells and storms we lose a lot of sand. It's the ebb and flow of the beach. I believe the Surfrider Foundation has a political agenda against beach property owners so they overhype the amount of "sand" we get from the cliffs.
The natural beauty of the bluff and vegetation meeting the beach is superior to any kind of wall. But what about safe public beach access? Is there a happy medium?
The trail and it's switchbacks are pretty cool. When I was a kid the switchbacks were concrete ramps that were slippery with sand and impossible to walk up in flip-flops. The current trail has some dicey sections that are sure to fall during the next good rain storm.
When Leucadia Blvd was extended to El Camino Real the city was thinking about the Ecke's new golf course and shopping center. Did they realize they were also linking the new shiny mega-sprawl known as San Elijo Hills to Beacon's (and the dysfunctional Leucadia/Vulcan/Hwy101 intersection). The Union Tribune reported that 170,000 people visited Beacon's last year. While I don't trust those beach people-counters that much (your surfboard appears to be getting counted as you walk by) it's obvious that since San Elijo Hills was built, Beacon's beach and it's soft breaking beginner friendly waves are more crowded than ever.
The new plan must address drainage.
The parking lot is always busy. It's a great place to pull up in the evening and watch the sunset. Unfortunately there is only one decent bench on the north end of the lot. I failed to take a photo of the north end but there is a lot of un-used space. There is a pay phone used by illegal aliens and drug dealers, a bike rack, one of those nice tiled art trash cans, a planter and not much else. This would be a good area for porti-potties.
Bonus photo, a Ron Stoner shot of Billy Hamilton surfing Beacon's in the mid 60's summertime.
Several items which I think are noteworthy; the bluffs are effected by the wind. When Beacon's had thick healthy kelp beds not only did the surf stay glassy and good all day but the cliffs were not taking a constant beating from the wind. Our kelp beds are still trying to recover from the horrid chopping they took from the last and possibly illegal midnight run by the Kelpco and their kelp cutter ship.
Also, when I was a kid many areas of the bluffs were always damp, wet and drippy. Wild tomatoes grew all over the cliffs. Now the bluffs are bone dry and therefore brittle. You know when you build a sandcastle how the sand needs to be damp so it will stay up? The bluffs are the same way. Now that Encinitas has turned into suburbia, rain water no longer soaks into the ground and slowly seeps it's way towards the ocean. Now it just quickly runs off down the streets, into the gutters and goes gushing out into the ocean. I don't think this is reversable.
The majority of our sand migration down the coast is blocked by the Oceanside jetties. I don't see how our local cliff erosion is supposed to make up this massive quanities of sand that no longer reaches us.
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