Monday, January 31, 2011

Craptacular

Can we tear down the Calypso? Or can someone buy it and fix it up?
It used to be a fun place, now it's just making us look blighted.

City Manger Bru HA HA Extended

With one day's notice,

The city council will be doing a city manager evaluation, tomorrow.

Is Cotton a contractor or an employee? It gets confusing.

The council agenda says the council will REPORT out on consideration of extending the current contract. Does that mean they will decide behind closed doors?

Thanks to Teresa Barth and a couple Leucadia Loonies you can speak before the closed session and hear the report out afterwards.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Encinitas Now More Sustainable



Developers of the mixed-use redevelopment project Pacific Station in downtown Encinitas, John Dewald & Associates create innovative and distinctive projects that address sustainability on multiple levels. Source

“Pacific Station reflects the look, feel and sensibilities of the unique Encinitas beach community,” DeWald said, “and contributes to a walkable community that brings life back to our downtown.”

On Thursday, county Supervisor Pam Slater-Price and the Encinitas City Council presided at a groundbreaking ceremony attended by more than 100 people. Pacific Station was hailed as a “poster child for transit-oriented design.”
Mayor Jerome Stocks said the project represents “a re-investment in our ability to sustain a living, breathing, working downtown Encinitas.”
There will be less cars on the road too!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Winter sand, reef, surf, sun.

Leucadia beaches still walkable during the winter despite what the fear mongers tell you.

SDWD Water Level Status

Short-term drought status to remain in effect in the SDWD. See Patch.http://encinitas.patch.com/articles/drought-level-for-san-dieguito-water-district-remains-at-level-two

Official California Drought Status for Jan 24, 2011


Are there any long-term water policies in the SDWD that address affordability & economic imacts, long-term supply, and long-term demand? Did anyone mention water policy at the goal setting meetings?

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Local Garden Art on Display

Art is on display in the gardens of many Leucadians. The inclusion of art in daily life is something that distinguishes much of Leucadia. So, you all might want to check out the sculptures that are on display at Quail Botanic Gardens (aka SD Botanic Gardens).




 The sculptures in the garden program is a great idea.  Great for the gardens and great for our local artists.

SINGLE NORTH LANE EVACUATION SUICIDE!!!

...with pedestrian crossing and funky/not perfect/but not neglected/center median. Located just a few miles south of Leucadia.
Photo taken from a Toyota Prius.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

One Anon's Take on the Hall Park

Prenotes:
The Hall Park Phase I is not funded
The park design was suppose to be done last summer.

From the Inbox:
Wednesday night the city council heard the appeal of the Planning Department decision to find Substantial Conformance of the design changes in the Hall property park since its approval in 2008. This mainly was related to the encroachment of the I-5 expansion into the park. Jerome Stocks quickly made a motion to go back to the original approved plan and derail the Substantial Conformance issue. Did he think that the city had a weak case? After all it was the city that thought it was necessary to initiate the review before beginning park construction.

Stocks had to withdraw his motion, and the appeal went forward. The Planning Department and the Parks and Recreation Department made NO defense and NO rebuttal of their findings. Isn't this an admission that the appellant was correct? There were statements in the City's letter to Caltrans on the I-5 EIR and in the comments of the consultant SRA that totally contradicted the findings of Planning Director Patrick Murphy. Isn't it odd the Murphy had nothing to say? The contradictions related to decreasing air quality, points may clear by the public speakers.

The council voted 4 to 1, with Barth dissenting, to revert to the approved 2008 plan. This seems an unsatisfactory solution for everybody, as it pretends the I-5 expansion won't take place. It is an attempt to shift all responsibility and cost from the city to Caltrans. Will this fly legally and politically? The lawyer of the appellant said that the city can't ignore a "probable" project, even if unbuilt. City Attorney Glenn Sabine said yes it can and Caltrans would be responsible for all costs. What kind of risk has the city taken on with this decision?
 

Monday, January 17, 2011

1st Goal Setting Workshop for 2011, Tuesday 6 pm

Be there and tell everyone what goals you think the city should strive for in 2011.

Has the city met it's past goals?

Are you happy or sad?

My goal is to skate city hall like Mycah Williams here. Vote for him on Thrasher Magazine's "Stoke of the Year".
photo by Max Dolberg

The king malcontent-activist-obstructionist

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Radical

Input on CM

ENCINITAS — Bobbi Peckham, a principal with Peckham & McKenny based in Sacramento, gave a presentation to the City Council on Jan. 12 regarding the recruitment efforts to find a replacement for interim City Manager Phil Cotton.

“I want to fully understand the city of Encinitas,” she said. She will meet with individual City Council members, the current interim city manager and the city’s management team on Jan. 13 in an effort to accomplish that goal. However, she also left the door open for residents to add their input as well.

In late May, Cotton, 61, submitted his resignation, saying he was ready to retire after 12 years with the city. His last day was scheduled to be July 6. City Council voted June 23 to offer departing City Manager Phil Cotton a temporary contract as interim city manager.

Deputy Mayor Jerome Stocks and Councilwoman Maggie Houlihan make up the ad-hoc committee to facilitate the hiring efforts to replace Cotton.

Peckham said she is already advertising the position in industry publications, but that “anyone who is interested in applying may apply” by the Feb. 21 deadline.

A dozen to 20 leading candidates will be presented for the council’s review in the later part of March. The first round of interviews with finalists will begin in early April.

“We do not want only a presentation by the consultant,” Sheila Cameron, a former City Council member and mayor, said. She reminded the council that it voted to include public comment in the qualification discussions for the new city manager.

The public can e-mail Peckham directly at Bobbi@peckhamandmckenney.com with suggestions for the city manager position.

Wouldn't it be cool if the top candidates were asked to be interviewed by the public before being hired? It wouldn't be the first time public administration job candidates were reviewed by the public.

Sunday, January 09, 2011

Coast Hwy Beach Cities to encourage cruising and not speeding

Story by Jonathon Horn via SignOnSanDiego.com clicky 

Local Water Suppy Update

Leucadia gets a substantial amount of its water supply from a local source. Lake Hodges. The lake is almost full.

(photo from A.H.RSF)

Regional suppliers have also been promised greater deliveries in 2011. The NCTimes reports:

In November, Southern California water officials said an increased allocation from the state will allow them to stash away more water next year. The California Department of Water Resources officials said the agency can send cities and farms about 25 percent of the water they've requested for 2011.
That conservative first estimate was raised in December to 50 percent, with an additional increase likely. A year earlier, the department estimated it could supply just 5 percent, but increased that to 50 percent of the requested water.
Water rates increased in Leucadia on Jan 1 and we remain on Level 2 drought status, with increased rates.

Saturday, January 08, 2011

Coast News Digs

Exclusively From The Coast News,

In 2004 and 2006, Ross watched as the water bubbled up from the newly installed valve and rushed into her home. She estimates the damage from both floods at $100,000. “I’ve talked to city staff on several occasions, I’ve presented drainage questions to the council in private and public,” she said, but to no avail. “I’ve gotten nothing, no tangible response.”

“There really isn’t any need to pump over the bluff at Beacon’s Beach,” Calver maintained. “It feels like their Leucadia has always been treated second best.” However he said he holds out hope that the problems will be fixed. “I know our engineers can figure this out. They can fix this issue once and for all.” A call to the city’s engineering department was not returned

Read more: Coast News Group - No end in sight for Leucadia flooding

The interim city manager was absent for three weeks over two months in November and December despite the fact that his contract does not allow for paid vacation time.

Read more: Coast News Group - Interim city manager takes paid vacation despite contract terms

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Leucadia Soul

by Alan Casagrande

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Leucadia Liquor

Has a pretty darn good wine selection. Including organics.

Leucadia Blvd to become less crappy

Sunday, January 02, 2011

Leucadia Scavenger Hunt V1





This comes from a family who stays in Leucadia every year during the holidays.


The Rules
This scavenger hunt has four parts
Word Search
Where In Leucadia Am I?
Who’s That Lady?
Tic Tac Toe

Working as a team, follow the instructions for each part, solving puzzles, gathering items, and taking lots of photos. All of the clues will lead you to places between La Costa Ave. and Leucadia Boulevard on North Coast Highway 101 on our side of the railroad tracks.

DO NOT CROSS THE RAILROAD TRACKS!  (because there are no safe and legal places to cross).

You’ll need the help of strangers, so don’t be shy.

Read carefully – some photos must have one teammate in them. Some must have all. Be sure that any required item is visible in the photo. You’re on the honor system here…don’t use your phones for an Internet search.

THE WINNERS Teams will earn 100 points for successful completion of all four parts. The first team back will be awarded 25 bonus points. Teams will lose 10 points for each missing or incorrect item, answer or photo. Extra credit items are worth 5 points each.

The team with the most points wins!










Saturday, January 01, 2011

Cool Beans!

Visit the Santos Fine Art Gallery at 978 N Coast Hwy 101 in Leucadia.