Happy New Year Best Friends!

Guess where I now?
-JP
;)

Leucadia Resourcefulness

Million dollar ocean view house. Big lot with great landscaping. New car.

A partial tree stump just high enough for a hoop.

In other news, Gaspar says she snubbed Barth in order to restore civility: Barth didn't denounce attacks on Gaspar's family and staged pep-rallies filled with accusations.

Leucadia Bluff collapse 2010

CH 10 News coverage (with non-embeddable video)

SignOnSanDiego.com story with side view photo.

North County Times story with best photos

Photo swiped from the North County Times.

Stray Observations:

Seawalls prevent bluff failures, but there is a sea wall here.

The dangling bodyboard is a nice touch. Who is going to rescue this poor kid's bodyboard?

Why do people hate on Neptune homeowners so much, but have sympathy if someone's home slides off a hill inland?

Encinitas Patch reports storm caused no major damage, with photos of a home about to fall into the ocean.

Ch 8 News looking for Leucadia Flooding

Leucadia 101 Small Business = Job Creation

Gate Valve to Flooding

Leucadia's flooding now a city management decision?

Tim Calver and Leslie Ross

To the city of Encinitas Engineering Department, Public Works Department and any other citizens concerned about dirty water going in to the ocean:

On Dec. 21, Leucadia was hit with a storm that dropped more than an inch of rain. Although the system in the Leucadia area handled the storm all though the morning hours, at about 1:50 p.m. the city decided to open a gate valve on Vulcan by RCP to release water from the east side of the railroad tracks south of Union Street. In doing so, it overtaxed the system downstream in Leucadia and caused flooding in the sump areas west of 101, coming close to flooding and endangering more than 20 homes.

The city procedure is to pump this dirty, raw, unfiltered water over the bluff to Beacon’s Beach, a local surf spot. This brings up two questions: does Leucadia have a drainage problem or is it Old Encinitas’ problem? And do we really have to pump over the bluff to solve this problem?

In 1986, five communities were incorporated as a city to become Encinitas. I have always considered it a single city. However, in dealing with the city on drainage issues, the city has consistently treated this as a community issue, insisting that the excess water is Leucadia’s problem. E-mails from the city have stated that, by law, water cannot be diverted from one area (community) to another.

In 2003 and 2004, the city paid more than $1 million for an extensive hydrology study intended to improve the drainage in Leucadia. It clearly states in that report, and is known among city employees in the Engineering and Public Works departments, that a gate valve installed to store water in the 1,300-foot channel built at Union and Vulcan would only “be opened to expedite drainage of the stored water after the storm when the downstream facility is no longer taxed.” (Rick Engineering Co.)

And yet, the city opened the valve during a storm, the system became overtaxed, the Leucadia Park and alley flooded and the city sent out employees and pumped dirty water over the bluff. Does this need to happen? We don’t believe so … the water at Union and Vulcan can be sent south instead of being diverted north to Leucadia. And there are other solutions that have been brought to the attention to the city.

In 2004, residents suggested to install a 3-foot pipe, 5,500 feet long, to send Old Encinitas’ water to Cottonwood Creek Park. This idea was shot down by the engineering department because it was stated that it could overtax the park. In 2006, a proposed new development for 35 homes and an office building in Quail Gardens was given the go-ahead and a 96-foot diameter pipe, 1,220 feet long and additional 86 inches in diameter, 8,400 feet long was installed. (The Coast News, February 2006).

A structure already exists under Leucadia Pizzeria to connect Vulcan’s water trench/pipe to Cottonwood Creek Park to Moonlight beach, yet this system has never been utilized and it would not take many funds to allow this particular piece to function along with adding infiltration to send cleaner water out to the ocean. This system would also prevent Old Encinitas’ water from flooding Leucadia.

If Old Encinitas’ water problem is fixed and solutions are found that cost in the neighborhood of $1 million, Leucadia would no longer flood, the 101 would be far safer to drive, houses could avoid flooding and dirty water would no longer be sent over the bluff at Beacon’s Beach.

Our City Manager, Phil Cotton, and engineers have the knowledge and ability to fix this problem once and for all. I’m hoping they do.

Tim Calver and Leslie Ross are Encinitas local residents.

Read more: Coast News Group - COMMUNITY COMMENTARY Is Leucadia’s flooding problem really Old Encinitas’ problem

Merry Christmas

Shop Encinitas

It is soooo much easier and pleasing to shop Encinitas Ranch with its ample parking, than the Forum.

Encinitas Ranch

The Forum

Flickering Question: Why can't people easily walk from the Forum to REI?

NCT Times Calls out Barth for Petty Politics

NCTimes gives Bond and Barth a lump of coal:

Having been snubbed by her colleagues for the mayoral spot, she did something of a turnabout-is-fair-play by announcing Monday that she thought fellow councilman Jerome Stocks should be removed from his appointment to the San Diego Regional Association of Governments. Other council members didn't support her in this effort.

As far as I know, Barth had never voted against the mayoral recommendations for the appointments and had always voted for Jerome to be the NCTD and SANDAG rep. She has not demonstrated to be above what looks like petty politicking.

Kevin C

Leucadia Flooding not so bad so far

It just dumped crazy rain. I heard that the coast highway in Carlsbad is closed due to flooding. Leucadia seems to be doing well so far.

New Choke Point

Enjoying the new traffic light at F St and 101 at the new Pacific Station development?
Some of the supporters of PS called the proposed Leucadia Streetscape roundabouts "choke points".

Gas is still over $3 a gallon

But nobody seems to complain about it anymore. I guess we are all comfortable with it now.

Encinitas Reindeer Games

The  N.C.Times hasn't posted this to their website, but it is in print. Gaspar, Bond, and J.S. get a raspberry (click to read).

Today at 4pm there is a council meeting to appoint people to representative positions on regional boards.

Tree shopping in Olivenhain today

Streetscape!

I know a lot of people are upset about details of the Streetscape, but think back to a few years ago when the city was on the brink on declaring Leucadia BLIGHTED and were going to hand private property over to developers.
We should be stoked on our new Streetscape. Don't worry, be happy.

Small Business marches forward

Located on Leucadia's Hwy 101 one block north of Leucadia Blvd.

Trees Coming to the 101

Yeah!

Jim Changes his Mind

UT

Patch

NCTimes

See Also: The history of the Mayoral rotation is posted at Encinitas Undercover.

Jim says, no cornrows for Barth, she should be 2011 mayor.

A New Spirit of Cooperation Hits Encinitas

Tonight everything changes at City Hall. No more bickering. No more petty distractions. No more personal animosity getting in the way cooperation. It is a new day and everyone is looking forward to the future.

Council Member Elect Gaspar will be seated tonight and cast her first vote. Her top campaign promise on the issues was:

I will bring positive energy, a spirit of cooperation, and unity to the Encinitas City Council. Our council has too often been distracted by petty personal feuds and hyper-partisanship. I pledge to focus my efforts on the needs of our city instead of disparaging the personal character of those whom I may not agree with on specific issues. My track record with numerous boards and foundations in Encinitas demonstrates that I get the job done by helping my colleagues arrive at a consensus. When council members do not work together, they actually decrease the chances of a successful outcome. Finally, council members need to approach each issue on an individual basis with an open mind. Too often, council members have opposed each other based on a history of personal conflicts instead of considering the merit of their colleagues' ideas.

Streetscape Option

There is one option for consideration in Wednesday's council meeting staff report on the streetscape and here is a note from the in box:

Merry Christmas  and Happy Holidays to all!

As a present to Leucadia, please plan on showing up to this Wednesday night council meeting or at least sending an email to all the Council Members voicing your support for the project.  This project will be great for your quality of life, the environment, the City’s financial health, and your property values.

For those of you that have stepped up in the past for Leucadia, I appreciate it.  For those of you who haven’t yet, Its time to give back to your community by taking just a few minutes of your time.  Please act.  We have been working on this project for over 6 years and it will still be another 2 years until anything is built.  Hopefully  the 90 trees with irrigation can happen sooner.

Signed,
Infrastructure Ivan

A Sign of Things to Come, Coming

We will get a glimpse of what is to come, just in time for the holidays. We will have a new council member and a new Mayor.


Tuesday, 6pm the new council will be sworn in and the new Mayor elected by the council.

The following week on Dec 20th, 6pm the council will elect OUR representatives to regional boards like the Water Authority, SANDAG, and NCTD.

Eco Yurt March

From the In Box:

Local Eco Businesses being forced to shut down- march on city hall Wednesday at 5pm

Hello,

Please read the attached press release for the current situation with the Yurt run businesses in downtown Encinitas. They are currently being forced to shut due to code restrictions on their property. They will host a march on city hall at 5pm on Wednesday...

Carris

Read the press release here. (update: see it below)

CommUnity PEACE MARCH TO SAVE YOGA SWAMI YURT FROM DEMOLITION

Supporters peacefully march to Encinitas City Hall to “Save Our Space,”

Wednesday, December 8 at 5 p.m.

Who: Supporters of Yoga Swami and Lemongrass Aveda Concept Salon and Spa along with local community member.

WHAT: A peace march from Yoga Swami aka the Yoga Yurt to city hall will be organized so that residents, employees and business owners can present their case for why the yurts should stay up

When: Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at 5 p.m. – CommUnity Peace March begins. The march will end at Encinitas City Hall at about 5:45 p.m.

Where: Yoga Swami 912 S Coast Hwy 101

Two women owned environmentally proactive downtown Encinitas are being forced to shut their doors because their operation takes place in a Yurt which at the current moment the city deems illegal. The Lemongrass Aveda Concept Salon and Spa and Yoga Swami both use yurts as a vital part of their businesses.  With the forced closure of both yurts on their prospective properties their businesses cannot proceed.  5 years ago both businesses had verbal agreement from the city of Encinitas engineering department to erect the structures because the city of Encinitas had no policy and procedures on yurts within the city. Now after 5 years of operation, both businesses are thriving and they are being asked to take them down. The City of Encinitas is requiring the owners of both businesses to meet current building codes or take the yurt down.  If you do not know what a yurt is please visit the Colorado yurt company http://www.coloradoyurt.com/

Now supporters of both businesses, local community member, clients and students of Yoga Swami and Lemongrass in Encinitas will hold a CommUnity Peace March to try to prevent a beloved yoga yurt from being dismantled on Thursday. The “Save Our Space” march will begin at Yoga Swami and end at Encinitas City Hall prior to the City Council meeting where citizens will speak to council members, encouraging them to allow the yurts to stand possibly granting a variance on each of the structures.

For the past five years, the owner of Yoga Swami has operated a donation-based yoga studio in a yurt on Coast Highway in Encinitas. In an outpouring to save the yurt, in less than 4 days more than 1,000 people have signed a petition to encourage the Encinitas City Council to waive building codes to allow for the eco-friendly building to remain.  For more information on Yoga Swami please visit http://www.yogaswami.com and for Lemongrass please visit http://www.lemongrasscenter.com/

8 am

Leucadia Economics

A commenter seemed to think all Leucadians have taken on unsustainable and unstrategic debt. I don't know if there is good data on local consumer debt, but you'd think that local businesses and governments would want to know how tapped out the people are before making revenue projections. Is that data available?

A lot of Americans took on debt for boob jobs, boats, and trips to bermuda. The NYTimes did an interesting series on why so many jumped into the "debt trap". It is unfair to imply that this behavior was conducted by all Americans. Many were responsible and more thoughtful about taking risks. Many even realized the generational penalty we would pay for all the play.

Here is a little write up on the impact of interest rates and housing prices. Rates will have to rise (lets hope) and that will cause a deflationary pressure on housing prices. Maybe the government should prop housing prices with the Mick Pattinson solution of increasing permit fees and legal hurdles for development. We all know that the cost of production is what sets the price of a home. The papers printed that anyways.

Here is an example house that is for sale on Crocus:

Below are the zillow market price estimates. 

click to enlarge

You can see that the Zillow estimate for this house and for 92024 demonstrates a substantial drop in real estate prices, since the peak. The Fed can't lower interest rates enough to shove prices back up, especially in this economy. No more housing credit ATM machines. Good thing  a lot of us didn't over leverage.

Low Income Housing

From the inbox:

How things work in Leucaida

1. Low income family lives in an old house on greenhouse property.

2. Developer subdivides property and asks for a density bonus, that is only available to those doing large developments and is granted regardless of proximity to mass transit or a local coffee shop.

3. Developer gets density bonus for providing a place for low income people to live. Yes, it can be the same house that was already occupied by low income families and, yes, you can end up with less free market low income housing in the end.

4. Developer builds out the development and the old house is bulldozed. Zero low income housing.

John

Bloggers note: Below shows where there was once a home housing a lower income family and now awaiting  (years) to become a density bonus low income house.

Houlihan waved her hands at the Density Bonus stuff a few years ago. Other than that, there has been no real effort to fix this homespun density bonus law. What can be done? 
1. Make it a council goal to adopt a density bonus ordinance that closes grand canyon loopholes and makes sure it is consistent with other city goals, 
2. work with our state reps to change the state law. The council (disingenuously?) complains about density bonus but does not follow through on changing the law.

Pacific View Cultural Center?

Fellow Arts Supporter,

Please join us at the next EUSD Board of Trustees  meeting
Tuesday December 7, 2010, 6:30pm
101 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road, Encinitas

The Downtown Encinitas Mainstreet Association has let the school board and its superintendent know that we are very interested in leasing the Pacific View School site for a cultural arts center.  We intend to have 3-5 key speakers address the board at this meeting.  You will not need to speak, but the most  potent a message is a room packed with as many  supporters as possible so that they realize just how enormous the community sentiment  for this venture really is.  You can also send each of the board a quick message of support.

Please keep in mind that any future use or project on the Pacific View site should have four guiding principles:
·             Education including art and nutrition, and our children’s access to the site.

·             Historic Preservation and adaptive reuse of the existing buildings.

·          That it remain in a public use

·          That it provide revenue to the EUSD and/or Encinitas Education Foundation for the benefit of our schools

       The final decision is up the EUSD board of trustees.  I urge you to write to them.
Bill Parker                       bill.parker@eusd.net
Carol Skiljan                    carol.skiljan@eusd.net
Catherine Regan             cathy.regan@eusd.net
Emily R. Andrade            emily.andrade@eusd.net
Gregg Sonken              greggsonken@gmail.com
Marla Strich                    marla.strich@eusd.net
Maureen Muir               maureen.muir@eusd.net

Hope to see you at the meeting and eventually at the “Pacific View Cultural Arts Center”!
Please forward this to as many interested people as possible.


Dody Crawford
Executive Director

The Yurt don't Hurt

Saw this petition on my Facebook wall feed:

Save the Yurt @ Yoga Swami's @ 912 S. Coast Hwy 101

I've never actually been there. Is it cool? It sounds cool.

RTV Estates Update

Here is some happy news from the Planning Commission meeting last night.

The Planning Commission meeting concerning the topic of the ol' Barratt development took a bit over 2 hours to discuss tonight.  The PC was concerned that the affordable unit allotted on Sheridan was not part of the build out by ELN...and they had some concerns about the 2 units proposed for Andrew - plus other problems in the proposal.

Remarkably they seemed to have read the emails sent by us. (I know it's hard to believe. I was impressed that the commission had done their homework - and told them so.)

In the end they voted NOT to approve the application of ELN.

You can be proud of the excellent speakers tonight -- each highlighting different elements of this very complicated situation.

Thanks to all who participated and supported this effort to make things right in the hood.

Ron

Hermes Commotion

This just in:

Major commotion with a dozen plus law enforcement officers rolling on Hermes Ave, one block off Leucadia Blvd. Who was on the scene first to cover the story?  encinitas.patch.com. Watch for their report to appear here.

Rancho Tyvek Estates

From the In Box:

There are two important quality of life issues for Leucadia that need citizen attention right away.

# 1 - More about the famous Barratt-American business at the corner of Sheridan and Andrew:  There is an agenda item before the Encinitas Planning Commission this Thursday Dec. 2 at 6 PM that needs our attention.  Brief summary of case # 10-150 RA  (the full and very involved agenda item is at: http://archive.ci.encinitas.ca.us/WebLink8/DocView.aspx?id=671211&dbid=0)

A company called ELN, LLC has purchased the remaining home in escrow on the western Nantucket property. It can't be sold until the affordable home is built on Lot 8 along Andrew Avenue. They propose to increase the square footage of what is required to 2000 sf and add a 600 sf additional unit for affordable income families. Two units would be on the same lot. That would free up the existing home in escrow to be sold.

ELN also is proposing to the city that ELN be allowed to build out all of the eastern part of Nantucket WITHOUT HAVING TO BUILD THE AFFORDABLE UNIT designated for Lot 4 - along Sheridan. They are asking for a change in the contract with the city to get out of building the affordable home.  They say they do now own Lot 4 and are therefore not responsible for the affordable unit on that property.  This plan if passed on Thursday would allow the complete build out of eastern Nantucket, and would not provide an affordable unit there.
ELN proposes that the additional 600 ft unit on Andrew would fulfill their obligation. That property would also not have a 30 year time limit and would be managed by a non-profit in the city.

Many people who attended the CPP on October 25, 2010 opposed another higher density housing unit on Andrew. We already have enough.  And many also spoke up against allowing ELN to build out a density bonus development without having to build a proper affordable housing unit...as per the city's contract.  The city would be breaking it's contract, many believe.

If you can weigh in on the subject please send an email to Kerry Kusiak at the city and have him forward your comments to the planning commission. KKusiak@ci.encinitas.ca.us

********************

# 2  There is a CPP (citizens "participation" ) meeting on the proposal to build TWO 30 ft high cell-phone towers at the RE/MAX office site on the corner of La Costa Avenue and Highway 101 - Thursday Dec 2 - also at City Hall.  This proposal would also build a utility building 12 ft high x 12 wide x 50 long on the site.  (That's almost the size of railroad box car)  This is the gateway to Leucadia.  What an ugly image for us.  The city has said in the past they will not fight the increasingly possible severe health hazards of cell-phone towers in the city (even though they don't allow them on fire houses). The only way to fight these tower monsters is from design and neighborhood eyesore issues.

If you can weigh in on the subject please send an email to Kerry Kusiak at the city and have him forward your comments to the appropriate city planner: KKusiak@ci.encinitas.ca.us

************

Many thanks,

Ron Ranson

Made in Encinitas

Do we have much of an  industrial (manufacturing, commercial, or agricultural) base in Encinitas, beyond the service and retail industry? Do we have jobs or job centers here in Encinitas to sustain us locally?

No Calaway, Heidelberg Engineering, Qualcom, ViaSat.

Here is a list of local makers of things. What else do we produce, here in Encinitas?

B. Elliot Sierra Padre Mill Co. 555 N. Vulcan Ave. Zip 92024 Phone 760-753-5368	Bill Iwaisako Print & Copy House 523 Encinitas Blvd., Ste. 104-6 Zip 92024 Phone 760-632-8911	Cynthia Blodgett Blodgett Glass, Inc. 1086 Hygeia Ave. Zip 92024 Phone 760-942-2002	Donnie Valentine T & M Plumbing Enterprises, LLC 132 N. El Camino Real Zip 92024 Phone 760-230-1069
James Shatto Shatto's Shirts 696 Hwy. 101 Zip 92024 Phone 760-436-5542	John W. Concrad Falcon Co. 3435 Jasmine Crest Zip 92024 Phone 858-759-6746	Max F. Afcari Master Plating 1709 Hill Top Ln. Zip 92024 Phone 760-943-1482	Michael Seewald Award Custom Framing 835 N. Vulcan Ave. Zip 92024 Phone 760-633-1351
Patricia Brady Ipanema P.O. Box 230746 Zip 92023 Phone 858-759-5015	Robert Bahne Fins Unlimited 585 Westlake St. Zip 92024 Phone 760-753-8847	Scott Clayton Fine Line Screenprinting 740 N. Hwy. 101 Zip 92024 Phone 760-943-1701	Sherrie Cook Accent Packaging 1042 N. El Camino Real, Ste. B225 Zip 92024 Phone 760-632-5880
T. Wragg Wragg, Inc. 899 Passiflora Ave. Zip 92024 Phone 760-943-0750	William L. Bahne Jr. Bahne & Co. P.O. Box 230326 Zip 92023 Phone 760-753-0255

Poinsettia Time!

Leucadia 101 Mixer Dec 2

You Are Invited to a

Leucadia 101 Main Street Mixer

Find out what’s new in Leucadia!

When: December 2, 2010

Time: 5 - 7:30 pm

Where: JamRoc101 Caribbean Grill,

101 Coast Hwy 101

Enjoy Their Great Caribbean Cuisine – Ya Mon!

Happy Hour Prices for Appetizers & Beverages

Please RSVP by Nov. 29th 760-436-2320

There is no charge to attend!

Thankful

What are thankful for on this day?

Lessons from the State for Encinitas

Selling Assets the Wrong Way

Suppose a grinning real estate agent knocks on your door with a proposal.  He will buy your home (which you own free and clear) for a fair price if, in return, you promise to spend all the proceeds within one year and agree to rent back your property over the next 20 years for an amount that exceeds what you were paid.  At the end of 20 years you will have to arrange a new rental agreement or become homeless.

At this point most property owners would recognize a scam and some might even summon the family pit bull to make sure that the slick salesman beats a hasty retreat. 

However, what is an obvious scam to average taxpayers is called sound public policy by Sacramento politicians.

The Schwarzenegger administration plans to sell 24 state buildings, including the Ronald Reagan State Building in downtown Los Angeles, to raise $1.2 billion to help offset the budget deficit.  If these were surplus properties for which the state had no further use, taxpayers would be cheering.  Indeed, we’ve consistently argued that the state’s real estate portfolio has been mismanaged and offloading surplus property should be vigorously pursued.  There is, for example, no reason whatsoever for the state owning a golf course which could be better managed in the private sector.

But, sadly, this is not the case with the current proposal.  These are facilities that are being used and are important enough that the state is agreeing to lease back these properties for the next 20 years.  Here is how this pencils out according to the Legislative Analyst's Office:  The transaction amounts to borrowing at 10% interest over the next 35 years, an amount much more than the state pays for bonds.

Indeed, the long term financial commitment – in the form of a 20 year lease – is a stark admission that the subject property is not surplus.  Thus we have the worst of all worlds from the perspective of fiscal prudence:    All downside and no upside (other than a quick infusion of cash that will be quickly squandered by the same political elites who are more focused on the debate over the official state rock than they are with balancing the budget).

This deal also runs contrary to the spirit of the law which requires voter approval of long term financial commitments.  But the forces behind this scam know that voters would never agree to so burden the next generation of Californians which is why they are jamming through this sale that does nothing to fix the state’s addiction to overspending and, in fact, makes it worse.

Only in Sacramento does this make sense.  Unemployment is up, personal income is down and so, too, is revenue to government.  The politician’s response is to use tricks to avoid reality and the obvious need to cut back on spending in these times of economic crisis.  Their goal is preserve the government status quo, regardless of how much it hurts already beleaguered taxpayers.

Ironically, the only two voices of reason that are coming from Sacramento on this issue are two officials affiliated with the political party not renowned for fiscal prudence.  State Controller John Chiang and Treasurer Bill Lockyer, both Democrats, have blistered the real estate agreement as bad for taxpayers.  Both serve on the Public Works Board, which granted final approval of the arrangement, but were outvoted by three Schwarzenegger appointees.

Taxpayers will be burdened with decades of lease payments, said Lockyer, while Chiang called the property sale and lease back another budget gimmick that pushes the state's fiscal challenges down the road.  A spokesman for the one of the firms involved in financing the deal has been quoted as saying, "We're happy we came out on top."

The firms involved in this horrible deal did in fact come out on top.  But the taxpayers came out on the bottom.

Now, where is the dog when we need him?

Jon Coupla (www.hjta.com)

City Hall Gets Touchy Feely

It is kinda funny how most of the council thinks that the government shouldn't be involved in telling developers what their developments should look like and then at the General Plan Workshop the attendants are asked how they "feel" about a bunch of photos of different street frontages. A lot of time was spent on that.

At the meeting, staff said the images wouldn't be online so we had to come up with our own set.

"How do you feel when you see?"

1.

 2.

 3.

 

4.

5.

 

6.

More Trees Get the Chop

A set of trees along Gardenview, near Leucadia Blvd. are tagged for elimination.

The city writes:
12 London Plane Trees (Platanus acerifolia) Reason for Removal: the trees are frequently infested with  several common diseases and pests of Platanus including Sycamore Anthracnose, Powdery Mildew, Sycamore Scale, and Sycamore Leaf Mites.   The trees continue to significantly decline.  Location: the west side Gardenview Road, between Via Cantebria and Leucadia Blvd.   

A local arborist responds:
The reasons cited in the removal list hardly seem sufficient as that species is noted to have the "problems" cited in the list. Those so called problems rarely lead to a significant decline in tree vigor. It is another case of [the city] not really knowing what to do with the tree population.

Note: Most of those tagged trees hardly look like they are dead, almost dead, or certain to die or certain to have faults.

Read more about the city's tree management contract here and here.

PV Fundraiser

From the in box:

Come join us at a "Rally for a Pacific View Cultural Arts Center" Saturday, Nov 20th at 7:30 pm; donation is $7.

Now that the Encinitas City Council has voted unanimously not to change the zoning/public/semi-public usage for Pacific View Elementary School, the property most-likely will not be developed for residential use. This means the community has a shot at giving it a second life as a downtown Encinitas cultural art center for the 101 Artist's Colony that has been searching for a permanent location. Join us for an 'Art Rally' at the Elks Lodge, 1393 Windsor Drive, Cardiff. Nov. 20th, 7:30 PM.
   
The 101 Artists Colony's favorite band, Rocket Science,  will be playing and the dance floor will be wide open. There will be some discussion about how to proceed with a proposal to the Encinitas Union School District to lease the school out and create an income stream for the school district, but, for the most part we will be just kickin' up our heels before we start the hard work of making this dream a reality. For more info call Danny at 944-6027.

We believe any future project on the Pacific View site should have four guiding principles:

1.       Ongoing education; including art and nutrition along with our children’s access to the site.
2.       Historic Preservation and adaptive re-use of the existing buildings.
3.       That it remain in a public use; zoned public/semi-public.
4.       That it provide revenue to the EUSD and/or Encinitas Education Foundation for the benefit of our schools

 CONTACT: DANNY SALZHANDLER 760 944-6027

Caltrans to Leucadia: Don't Send Regional Traffic to the I5

Dated March 2010, Caltrans sent this letter to the City.

Update at Patch: Council moves forward. According to patch the new contract approved was for work to be done in response to Caltrans and Carlsbad. Did they say why it has taken over 8 months to decide to do this?

Where do you stand with the General Plan?

Encinitas General Plan Workshop Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Senior and Community Center. 1140 Oakcrest Park Dr

Be there, tell your friends, bring your kids and dogs (well, maybe not). But be there.

more info: www.encinitas2035.info

Post meeting update: Article by Patch Here

CPRA Doesn't Apply to the City

The city released the final pavement management report. The city has been underfunding streets work.

During the summer of 2010, city staff denied access to the report and claimed that the report was not finalized (which doesn't exempt documents from disclosure anyways).

A lawsuit was filed to gain access to the draft (according to staff) document and to the correspondence between the city and the consultant about the report.

The report was subsequently released and the final report was dated March 2010.

The lawsuit continues to gain access to the draft document (or an explanation of how a draft can exist when the final has already been produced) and correspondence with the consultant, which are likely to demonstrate that the city was not being honest about the condition of the report. Instead of addressing the issues of the case it looks like the city's strategy is to obfuscate. Here is the response to the city:

Petitioner and Plaintiff (“Cummins”) brings this motion to strike portions of Respondent and Defendant City of Encinitas’ (“City”) Answer to Cummins’ Verified Petition for Writ of Mandate and Declaratory Relief (“Petition”) to stop the City from jerking this Court and the parties around any further. For example, the City admits it is a municipal corporation but denies that it is subject to the California Public Records Act applicable by law to all cities in California (Government Code § 6250, et seq., “CPRA”). The City unqualifiedly denies that it received a demand for records then denies the authenticity of the responses from City employees to the CPRA demand.

In eleven instances, the City denies (usually on lack of information and belief) verified allegations as to matters which are presumably within its knowledge or matters of public records. Such sham answers should be stricken.

It's funny that the city denies the records requests, as the requests were discussed openly in front of the council by Tony Kranz. All the filings can be found at the bottom of this post.

People have been asking me for an update and how to help. Well, this is the update and how to help? Easy, write letters that suggest the council takes on a sunshine ordinance that truly makes open government a policy that is difficult for staff and the council to selectively ignore. If that doesn't work, let me know if you're ready to get signatures for an initiative. We could piggy-back a couple initiatives if that's what we have to do.

Streetscape: 11 months later

 On next week's council agenda the streetscape planning contracts will be considered for extension and expansion. See here. Below are excerpts.

On January13 2010 City Council directed staff to move forward with
Alternative 4A as the preferred alternative for the North Coast Highway 101 Streetscape Project and to initiate the required discretionary permit process Plan 4A consists primarily of roundabouts reverse angle and parallel parking and at hree lane road configuration with one northbound lane and two southbound lanes City Council also directed staff to further explore alternative phasing options for the North 101 Streetscape Project As part of the original scope o f work the detailed design and ultimate construction of the first phase was designated from A Street to North Court However CityCouncildirectedstafftoexplorethefeasibilityofextendingcertainelementsand return with are fined Phase1 that focuses on walkability the tree canopy and traffic calming measures Staff will present the phasing options and feasibility analysis to the City Council on December15 2010

Authorization for a contract amendment 4 with MWPeltz Associates for additional traffic analysis in an amount not toexceed 17570 and authorization t o enter into a separate contract with AlternateStreetDesign PA in an amount not toexceed 19810 for refined traffic analysis and preliminary design work regarding the North Coast Highway 101
StreetscapeProject

Any deadlines in the contract?

An application to amend the GeneralPlan GP LocalCoastalProgram LCP andNorth101 CorridorSpecificPlan N101SP Case No 10036GPALCPAN101SPA was also filed on March 15 2010 given the proposed three lane configuration for Plan4A  North Coast Highway 101 is classified as a Major Arterial in the Circulation Element of the CityofEncinitas General Plan which is d escribed as a four lane divided roadway Additionally the N101 SP provides cross sections and design recommendations for North Coast Highway101which depict a four lane configuration and a righ t of way width of 90 feet TheGeneral Plan and the N101S Pare components of the Local Coastal Program The amendments as requested wil l specify via text that a Major Roadway may be authorized as a three lane road as long as the operational characteristics are adequate Both discretionary permit applications including project plans and traffic report were distributed to internal City departments and to the State of California Department of Transportation Caltrans North County Transit District NCTD and City of Carlsbad for review and to provide comments Staff received comments from Caltrans and the City of Carlsbad Based on the complexity of  comments received additional analysis is required to adequately facilitate responses to comments received.

Carlsbad sent us the letters from Carlsbad (from April 2010) and the July response from Encinitas. It took just a few minutes to get the letters, which were digitized and obviously archived in a well organized and easily accessible location. They didn't make me drive to city hall. It is rare in the City of Encinitas to ask for and get a file immediately.  I sent an email to the Encinitas Planning department for the same and the Caltrans correspondence Wednesday evening. Encinitas City Hall was closed today.

I've asked Carlsbad staff for  documents several times over the years. There is a qualitative difference in the customer service orientation and open nature of Carlsbad city hall when contrasted with Encinitas. KC.

Candidate Pledge Revisited

From the in box:

Free Speech vs. Fair Elections - Round one

Free societies are messy. They allow me to worship the aqua-Buddha as my God. They allow you to call me an idiot for doing so. They allow a Yemeni friend to send me a birthday present, and they almost allowed one of his countrymen to send us a bomb. They allow you to vote for the candidate of your choice, and they allow me to influence that choice by masquerading as someone you should choose. This is the case with the latest set of slate mailers delivered in a flurry over the last month to your doorstep. Democrat? Jerry Brown supporter? For Prop. 19? Against Prop. 23? We've got the candidates for you! Republican? Meg Whitman supporter? Against Prop. 19? For Prop. 23? We've got your ticket as well! Surprise! They're the same candidates! Just take this mailer with you to the polls and punch the holes knowing that you're doing the right thing. Who needs a hanging chad when I can get you to punch the right hole without your even knowing it?

The courts have ruled that this type of political activity is protected by the 1st amendment as an exercise of free speech. Fair enough. On the other hand, no one would argue that this promotes fair elections. In fact, anecdotal reports of these mailers in trash bins next to the polling booths suggest that our elections have already been distorted by these mailers. So what to do? We don't live in Singapore, although some may wish we did. In my view, the only antidote to bad free speech is good free speech. So, here's a proposal. 

On the city website, in a section titled "Encinitas Campaign Practices",  let's publish the following 3-item  campaign pledge:
1) I will not allow my name to appear on campaign material which endorses candidates or ballot initiatives with which I do not agree, or whose content I have no knowledge of.
2) I will publicly identify the amount and sources of financing for campaign material on my behalf within 24 hours of the distribution of that material.
3) If I or my supporters publicly attack my opponent's character or conduct, I will either provide supporting evidence for any charges on a campaign website within 24 hours of the attack, or disavow the legitimacy of the attack. I will also allow my opponent to post a response to the attack on my campaign website.

At the start of each election, organizations such as the North County Times,  the Union-Tribune, The Coast News, The Encinitas Tax Payers Association, and The Leucadia Blog can ask each candidate whether they will take or decline the pledge. Everything is voluntary - no arm-twisting. You either take the pledge or you don't. At the least, it will save a tree, and at best it might save an election.

Tough Love



This rewrite was suggested by the Bearded Dragon:

As a candidate or election participant (PAC or major contributor):

1. I shall conduct my campaign for City office openly and fairly. I will not misrepresent, distort, or otherwise falsify the facts in any of my communications nor approve of such tactics by others. Further, I will be prepared to provide supporting evidence for all statements made on my behalf.

2. I shall clearly identify myself, or my campaign committee(s), as the sender of all of all campaign communications. The individual(s) responsible for approving and funding the content of the communications will be clearly identified.

3. I shall openly discuss the issues and participate in fair debate with respect to my views and qualifications. I will focus on the issues in all statements, debates, advertisements, and press releases, and other communications.

4. I will formally request all advocacy groups and PACs--special interests, campaign contributors, or any individual--to respect my dedication to this pledge and to refrain from making independent expenditures on materials which involve unsubstantiated negative or wholly personal attacks on my opponents.

5. Should it be discovered that false or misleading statements have been made in my name, I will issue a retraction and apology in a timely fashion. Any retraction of a false representation will be conspicuous and in the same manner as the initial statement was made. If an third party unauthorized by me has paid for such a breach of this pledge, I promise to immediately and publicly denounce any such activity and will help to identify the responsible parties.

6. I will only accept financial support for my campaign from residents of the City of Encinitas. I will use only unpaid, volunteer campaign workers and canvassers to place signs and go door-to-door. While I welcome a statement of support from any organization, I will reject any offer of financial, logistical, mass mailing, or ground support from any and all non-profit service organizations.

7. I will use local business for all my campaign materials

8. I will not participate in slate mailers. I shall publicly repudiate any and all support derived from any individual or group whose activities would violate this Fair Campaign Pledge.

9. To further public discussion of the issues I will publish all of my mass communications to the (yet-to-be-established) Encinitas campaign clearinghouse website for information and debate for the candidates’ campaigns. I will conspicuously note in all my mass communications that I am participating in the EFC Pledge and will conspicuously display the specific EFP website address on all mass communications where my opponents and I may opt to discuss or respond to each mailer, video, or other mass communications.

10. I will help any and all of my opponents respond to violations of the EFC Pledge by helping them to publish a response, if they desire, by sharing up to 35% of the space/time of my mailings (or other communications) to allow my opponents to response to any attacks until the response has reached an equivalently sized audience as offending communications.

See Also: Campaign Pledge

Pacific View Not Rezoned

Last night the council voted 4-0 against rezoning Pacific View to high density residential. EUSD could have sold off Pacific View and used the money for their general fund.

No worries. The EUSD won a vote in the election that allows them to float $44 million in bonds for a shopping spree. The payments won't be due until the next generation.

Read More at the UT

Which Option is Best for Leucadia?

Vote on the UT website

Groovy new building planned for Leucadia coast hwy

Stoked to see they are keeping those impressive twin palm trees.
Read about it via Encinitas Patch: Panaderia Planned for Vacant Lot in Leucadia

Stone Steps Contest Tribute Video

Leucadia gets new Bott's Dots!

Okay, this is nerdy, but driving down the Leucadia 101 at night is actually much nicer with our new Bott's dots. Thanks Dr. Elbert Dysart Botts!

Elections are the democratic pivot (not war)

The purpose of proposing an Encinitas Fair Campaign (EFC) Pledge is to make all aware of the city’s desire for more useful and comfortable campaigns. Voluntary campaign pledges come in many forms. What is below is a place to start. Please suggest edits and additions.

The Draft City of Encinitas Fair Campaign Pledge

As a candidate or election participant (PAC or major contributor) I shall:

1.I shall conduct my campaign for city office openly and fairly. I will not misrepresent, distort, or otherwise falsify the facts in any of my communications.

2.I shall discuss the issues and participate in fair debate with respect to my views and qualifications. I will focus on the issues in all statements, debates, advertisements, and press releases, and other communications.

3.I shall not engage in, or permit, the unfair representation of the character of my opponents; nor shall I engage in unwarranted invasions of personal privacy unrelated to campaign issues.

4.I shall not, at any time, use or permit the use of any campaign material or advertisement that misrepresents, distorts, or otherwise falsifies the facts regarding any candidate or the candidate’s position on issues.

5. I will at all times be prepared to provide supporting evidence for statements I have made, and will issue a retraction and apology, in a timely fashion, should I find that I have been in error. Any retraction will be conspicuous and in the same manner as the initial statement was made.

6. I shall clearly identify myself, or my campaign committee(s), as the sender of all of my campaign communications. The person(s) responsible for approving and funding the content of the communications will be identified.

7. I will not condone personal attacks in my campaign. I will not discuss during the campaign or issue any statement or communication whatsoever discussing my opponent's family, children, race, religion, personal associations, or sex. I will not discuss or issue any statement or communication related to my family, children, race, religion, personal associations, or sex.

8. I will formally request all local advocacy groups and PACs--special interests, campaign contributors, or any other--to not make independent expenditures that involve negative or personal attacks on my opponents, and I promise to immediately and publicly denounce any of this activity if it occurs.

9. I will help my opponents respond to violations of the EFC Pledge by helping them to publish a response, if they desire, by sharing up to 35% of the space/time of my mailings (or other communications) to allow my opponents to response to any attacks until the response has reached an equivalently sized audience as offending communications.

10. I shall publicly repudiate support derived from any individual or group whose activities would violate this Fair Cam­paign Pledge.

11. I will not participate in slate mailers.

12. I will take responsibility for managing the actions of my campaign teams.

13. To further public discussion of the issues a website will be provided as a clearinghouse of information and debate for the candidates’ campaigns. I will publish all of my mass communications to this website. I will conspicuously note in all my mass communications that I am participating in the EFC Pledge and give the specific EFP website address where my opponents and I may opt to discuss or respond to each mailer, video, or robocall (mass communications).

14. I will not tie nonprofit organizations into my mass communications.

15. I agree to participate in regular private meetings with the other candidates to discuss campaign issues.

16. I will recognize that no candidate or campaign will be without flaws.

I’d just say this is mostly crazy talk, but there are pledges out there that contain most of the elements listed above. Please suggest edits and additions.

Moderation rules will be applied to this post. Only comments that are constructive will be retained. Do not rehash the last election in this thread.

Election Roundup

Encinitas mayor voted out of office

You know, I always like Dan Dalager as a person and enjoyed talking with him. But he drove me crazy with the way he tried to achieve things. I think he made things harder than they had to be sometimes. It was hard to blog about him sometimes because I always liked him growing up. I wonder what he will do now?

Encinitas City Council, two seats open

Unofficial Results with all precincts reporting

• Kristin Gaspar, 8095 votes, 28.73 percent

• Teresa Barth, 7292 votes, 25.88 percent

• Tony Kranz, 6419 votes, 22.78 percent

• Dan Dalager, 6368 votes, 22.6 percent

A lot of people are having a panic attack about Kristin Gaspar sweeping into a city council seat out of nowhere. Cynics say she is a puppet with no real ideas of her own. It is astounding she got over 8,000 votes. I mean, that is pretty epic.

I say give Kristin a chance to let us get to know her. Because now it is real. Now she is an actual city council person and that comes with serious responsibilities. The big money and prestiges people and groups that backed her, they better hope they bet on the right horse, because if she does poorly it reflects poorly on them. And after that ugly campaign a lot of people in this town are not willing to cut her any slack. I personally believe she will prove to be more of an independent thinker than people believe. Some people say she will just do what her husband tells her to. Those people have never been married.

In a weird way she is like Obama, coming in full of hope and promise. Now Obama has gray hair and has to deal with crazy people screaming him at 24/7. Welcome to your new life Kristin!

The Leucadia Blog will give you a fair shake (remember the anonymous commenters are a whole separate deal) but we are taking to heart that you reminded us again and again that you are a CFO who can make responsible money decisions. Plus, you like comic book superheroes which is a-okay with me. Good to see geeks and nerds infiltrating mainstream society

Teresa Barth: No good deed goes unpunsihed. Face it mudslingers, Teresa is a really good council person and your disturbing and low class smear campaign failed. Your bizarre lies about Teresa have put your golden girl Gaspar in a tough position (like mistrust and now Gaspar can never attend an important conference due to hypocrisy over using the city credit card). Congrats to Teresa on her second term and taking the high road this summer.

Tony Kranz: Tony is a cool cat and has lots of contributions to make to the city over the long run. The whole Obama is Hitler sign guy probably did nothing to harm Tony's run, but it sure was weird and lame and distracted from important Encinitas issues.

Hall Park: So, Gaspar was elected to build the Hall Park. Great! Time to create a solid and realistic financial plan that doesn't involve a ponzi scheme or raising taxes. The city can't hide behind it's phantom NIMBY opposition anymore. This will be interesting to watch.

Billionaires Fail to buy California: Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina you both suck.

Prop 19 Fail: I knew Prop 19 was doomed when a stoner kid who just moved to Leucadia from Poway came into my store on Monday and tried to sell me a bag of weed. I asked him if he was looking forward to voting yes on Prop 19. His response, "Whatcha' you talking about dawg?"

Republicans retake House: Thank god Pelosi is no longer speaker of the house so now I don't have to listen to those fat old grumpy retired city workers that hang out in the Swamis parking lot complain about her anymore. Man, dudes of a certain age really have a creepy obsession with Pelosi. Please never speak of her again and try to enjoy your pension for once dudes. Go see your grandkids you fat lazy slobs. And try wearing a clean shirt for once. That VG's coffee stain has been there all year.

And, John Boehner cried not out of joy but out of fear. Because it was easy to snipe at Obama from the sidelines day in and day out. Now he has to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. And he has no plan and now has an impatient unemployed American public as a monkey on his back. Have fun with that Boehner!

The Leucadia Blog: I started this blog in 2005 because I was pissed off about the redevelopment district scam. Since then the blog has become a weird part of my life. I get a lot of grief about this blog. A lot of it is because the internet still scares some people. Interested parties who once tried to pretend the blog didn't exist now use the anonymous comments feature to try to push their agendas. I'm not sure just how effective these agent provocateurs are, personally I think they are just spinning their wheels. The mainstream press even acknowledges the blog from time to time. I just want everyone to know that this blog is a hobby, Kevin and I don't make money off it. In fact it's a pretty heavy time suck. We will keep it going though and should probably upgrade to the new Blogger platform soon.