I want to thank Fire Chief Muir and his staff for an excellent and informative presentation on the issues being brought before counsel. He and his staff brought clarity to this matter with in-depth research using empirical data.
The chief and his staff were clear about the issues at hand; the areas of Olivenhain noted “in red” are at extreme risk of inadequate fire and life safety response times.
Leuadia was looking a little orange-red in the northern parts.
The chief was quick to document that simply shifting the proposed construction of the coastal located Fire Station 1 from its currently planned location to an area within “the red zone” would immediately provide an equitable distribution of life/safety services for all of Encinitas and its outlying communities.
Why not have a 6th fire station if public safety is the council's priority? We've got gazillions of dollars for recreation.
Given the fact that Chief Muir’s presentation documented the areas of “Encinitas proper” experience a response time from four to six minutes AND the areas of Olivenhain are recorded to have times in excess of 14 minutes not only puts that area at risk but certainly poses a liability to the city itself.
Is the city liable for not providing adequate sports fields? Is the city liable for Leucadia's flooding?The chief’s presentation predicatively forecasted that by simply shifting Fire Station 1, an equitable and reasonable response time of six minutes would be experienced throughout the entire area from which you reside, represent and control.
Why reduce response times for anyone? Firestation 6 should be made to fit in with the surrounding Olivenhain estates. It will need a huge swimming pool and tanning deck.
It would be very difficult to understand any decision by counsel that doesn’t protect and serve the life and fire safety of our community, including that of The Colony of Olivenhain, which resides within the city of Encinitas. We are contributors to the general fund out here in “The Red Zone.” Our community of 66 homes alone contributes in excess of $2 million in property taxes annually. We are more than willing to contribute in anyway reasonably possible to assist the council members into ensuring these essential services are provided to our community.
That $2 million was smoked by a couple department heads.
Thanks for your time and willingness to serve.
cory.crommett
Why is almost all Leucadia in yellow or orange? It is yellow next door to the the Orpheus fire station!
ReplyDeleteJust throwin' this out there, but weren't the last people to die in a fire Nick Rodriguez and Lani Lambert on Regal Road in Cardiff and Keith Manigold in Leucadia? Meanwhile, when was the last time someone died in a fire in Olivenhain?
ReplyDeleteBoth of those fires were in the green zone. Cardiff and Leucadia have older, wooden houses that are deathtraps for fire. Olivenhain has modern stucco mansions with tile roofs, modern fire alarms, and even sprinkler systems.
Remember the arson also on Regal Road last year? When was the last time there was even a real fire in Olivenhain?
Just sayin', from a resources management perspective, you put the fire resources where the flammable stuff and the arsonists are.
Is the reason behind Olivenhain's lobbying for more fire protection really that their insurance company is saying "your insurance is going up b/c of fire protection issues, distance to fire station, wild fires, etc."?
ReplyDeleteNot that I blame Olivenhain for complaining.
ReplyDeleteThey pay a lot of property taxes into the city, and they get nothing for it -- plus they get saddled with Encinitas' huge unfunded pension liability.
Honestly, Olivenhain ought to secede and go back to the county. RSF is infinitely better off for not having signed on to a scheming, dreaming, big-spending city council.
Good point Lee. I have been trying to bring this point up for the last two years. After the city implements the streetscape plan on hwy 101 as currently planned and installs five one lane roundabouts and removes a northbound lane, all of Leucadia west of 101 will be red like Olivenhain.
ReplyDeleteThe city as a whole, has horribly neglected their responsibility in providing and maintaining an effective emergency response infrastructure. The city and the 101 main-street assoc has been advocating the practice of removing traffic lanes and installing roundabouts for extra on street parking. This is a direct violation of their own fire code and General Plan.
This is an obvious bonus for commercial real estate owners, however, these actions severely compromise an already insufficient emergency response infrastructure.
Last year the Fire Dept made a comprehensive presentation at an Encinitas City Council Meeting. The presentation consisted of a video, showing Fire Apparatus navigating unopposed by any traffic or pedestrians through narrow roundabouts and roads under controlled circumstances to justify why the City of Encinitas does not need to adhere to their own laws related to road standards in order to promote streetscape.
The absurdity of this would be equivalent to United States Coast Guard making a video presentation of Carnival Cruise Passenger Ships navigating through calm water to justify not requiring sufficient lifeboats for the passengers.
There are big problems with our city, and we need to change it.
Lee - good point. Why would a fire station be in a slow response zone? Shows you how reliable that graph is.
ReplyDeleteDavid - All traffic on the 2 mile stretch of 101's Streetscape will have the a large bike lane to pull over into when a siren comes from behind. Besides, only about half of the distance north becomes one lane. The remaining northbound stretches have two or more lanes WITH the bike path. There will be nothing to delay emergency vehicles, but there will be smoother roads. (No fun being in an uncomfortable ambulance driving emergency speeds over pot holes. Sounds like a joke, but that happened to me. Felt like lying in the back of a covered wagon on top of my other pain and cost $2500 for a 10 mile ride.)
My first questioin to you is simply this. In your opinion, would the removal of the small landscaped blockage between Mountain Vista and Lone Jack Road decrease response times to Olivenhain by emergency vehicles by 4 minutes or will it not?
Winston
ReplyDeleteEncinitas Fire code calls for a min 24’ fire dept access for roads servicing four or more homes and a response time goal of 5 min or less 80% of the time.
Hwy 101 is a regional major arterial and the only access and egress for over a 1000 homes, and has consistent high traffic volumes during the summer months. (don’t schedule your heart attacks on summer weekends)
There are many major jurisdictions that have implemented a practice of comprehensive traffic calming measures. They all require an impact study before traffic calming measures are implemented on primary and secondary emergency response routes. These would include the NFPA, Portland Fire Dept, Seattle Fire Dept, and Orange County Fire Authority to name a few.
Given the fact that EFD is currently only making the response goal of 5 min or less 45% of the time to the homes west of hwy 101, and there are no secondary response routes. Traffic calming measures on a road like hwy 101 would be an absolute contraindication.
This is not rocket science. Direct unimpaired roads will facilitate response times. Putting obstacles in the roads will impair response times. If you can’t make your goal with the roads you currently have, don’t impair them more.
Adequately designed direct roads (response routes) to Olivenhain or Leucadia would absolutely facilitate improved response times.
I hope that answers your question.
David-
ReplyDeleteYour suggested wide fast roads kill and harm people more than they would help response times. Wake up. We don't want every road in our City to allow people to go 80 mph. If Hwy101 wasn't designed like an 80mph freeway today, there would be a great young man alive today.
David- You are clueless and an embarrassment to all firefighters.
This whole issue smells like a fireman cash grab. Safety & response times my arse.
ReplyDeleteHH
ReplyDeleteYou’re certainly on the right trail.
1. Spend extra taxpayer dollars to compromise our existing roads.
2. Create a huge public concern over deficient emergency response times.
3. Spend more taxpayer dollars to build and staff more fire stations.
4. Spend even more taxpayer dollars to expand I 5 because we have bottlenecked all of our roads.
“Cash grab” you are so right.
John, you simply need to do more of your own research, and not believe the highly paid consultants that profit from this cash grab. Thanks for the input though.
David -
ReplyDeleteMy question was: "Would the removal of the small landscaped blockage between Mountain Vista and Lone Jack Road decrease response times of emergency vehicles to Olivenhain by 4 minutes or would it not?"
Just as this thread is specific to Olivenhain, my question was also specific to a certain space and a time. The space length is the main road blockage to Olivenhain, and the time length concerns 4 minutes. When I was asked What made Columbus come to America? and answered; "A ship" my answer was correct too. But trust me, I didn't get an A on that paper.
My second question to you. What is the code number for the local road width requirement you mentioned?
And a comment...
If anyone could schedule a heart attack it should be on a Sunday morning. Check your own street for parked cars that morning; compare that to all other days of the week, and you'll see what time of the week has the least amount of traffic to deal with. Statistics show most heart attacks happen on Monday which makes me think maybe someone is scheduling them. I better shut up. It's Monday, I had a pepperoni pizza last night, and I'm in an Orange zone.
Winston these are just a few relevant codes and policies.
ReplyDeleteEncinitas Fire Code:
Section 503.2. Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed improved width of not less than 24 feet, except for single-family residential driveways; serving no more than four single-family dwellings, shall have a minimum of 16 feet of unobstructed improved width.
Encinitas General Plan:
Safety Service Standards: Adopt and implement standards for response time for delivery of fire suppression, police, medical emergency and other emergency services;
POLICY 1.1: Ensure that the arterial circulation system provides adequate connections across the freeway for convenient circulation and rapid emergency access.
POLICY 2.4: When considering circulation patterns and standards, primary consideration will be given to the reservation of character and safety of existing residential neighborhoods. Where conflicts arise between convenience of motorists and neighborhood safety/community character preservation, the latter will have first priority.
POLICY 1.20: No street shall be closed without prior analysis including environmental review which addresses increases in traffic on other streets which would be created by the closure. Generally, it is undesirable that any closure increase traffic levels beyond the limits specified in this Plan for any street included in the General Plan computerized traffic model.
I am a have been a firefighter, engineer and paramedic for Los Angeles Fire Dept for 25 years. I know what it takes to get a fire engine, and/or an ambulance from here to there in a timely manor. The codes and policies I referenced are there so our city management can establish and maintain an adequate emergency response infrastructure. Our highly paid city management has been and is currently neglecting this obligation.
ReplyDeleteWe all pay a great deal of money to staff and train our fire dept. However, if they are unable to respond to you or a loved one in a time of need. This fire dept is a complete waist of money.
Hey David-
ReplyDeleteYou must be smoking crack. I see at least 5 fire trucks a day go through the Leucadia Roundabouts everyday. They don't slow down much for the roundabouts. What does delay them is the traffic at the traffic signals and the all way stops.
Your desire to keep the roads wide and fast would cause more deaths, faster traffic, fewer pedestrians, fewer bicycles.
You are way off base and your vision is that of the Devil. If you love wide LA roads, move to LA.
I thought Firefighters actually cared about creating safe envirnments, not just scrapping up dead people's body parts? What's your deal? Do you want to see more people die and fewer pedestrians and bikes in Leucadia?
I thought roundabouts were great because they physically forced vehicles to slow down. They don't slow down the fire trucks and ambulances?
ReplyDeleteOh yeah Lee. They slow down from 50mph to 25 mph..... At the signals and all way stops traffic slows down to 0 mph. Hence roundabouts are better for emergency response than signals or all way stops.
ReplyDeleteSweetie,
ReplyDeleteI've gone for rides with all the real men in this town. We never came to a full stop at any stop sign.
Darlin' - Roundabouts do slow down traffic and that is great. Great because more traffic can flow through town in less time. The only thing that slows down emergency vehicles are clusters of cars. That's what roundabouts eliminate.
ReplyDeleteBut I didn't know it made some women hot when all of their real men ran stop signs. I'll have to try that. Now if we can just get everyone else to run stoplights too, we'd never have emergency vehicles blocked and we wouldn't need roundabouts.
Looks like David realized he is looking backwards and not forward and has nothing positive to offer.
ReplyDeleteMaybe he will finally wake up from his LA nightmare way of looking at life.
No Beth
ReplyDeleteLike the written standards that I referenced earlier, their not going away and neither am I.
So whether you see me posting on this blog or not. Rest assured I will be vigorously exercising my rights and influence in referencing the city laws, codes and policy, specifically written to keep mine and other homes safe from inappropriate development and construction.
Nice to make you acquaintance. ;-)
"Just exercisin' my First Amendment Rights" as Walter would say in The Big Lewbowski. Right David?
ReplyDeleteYes Dr. Lorri
ReplyDeleteGood point, the first amendment, and the fourteenth amendment.
" No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
The city of Encinitas depriving myself, and my neighbors of appropriate, and equitable emergency service.
Thanks again Dr. Lorri, always very insightful. ;-)
You see what happens, Larry?
ReplyDeleteWC- You see what happens Larry when someone-----------You finish. I am not sure my First Amendment Rights are covered by the Cohen Brothers movies. Did you know The Big Lebowski has the word Fu-- 283 times in it? Glad someone one this blog knows the good movies.
ReplyDeleteYep. This blog covers the whole gammet. From Geniuses to Firefighters who beleive the way LA Streets were developed is good for a community. We know David is on the low end because we all wonder why he lives in Encinitas were people are more focused on quality of life issues and not driving fast everywhere. Go Figure. The spectrum is covered. Even though I can't stand his thinking. I am glad LA speed demoned David is blogging. It makes it interesting and shows how once someone has their mind set in a certain direction, pure logic will do nothing to change there mind. I wonder if David things the world is flat or round?
ReplyDeleteLinda
ReplyDeleteWe all certainly have a different place in the spectrum; otherwise it would not be a spectrum would it.
Your last question: “I wonder if David things the world is flat or round?”
I think you meant to say I wonder if David thinks the world is flat or round?
That’s OK, I make dumb typos a lot myself, just ask HH. Kind of puts us at the same end of the spectrum. The flat end, be careful don’t fall off. ;-)
Now I understand the full picture. You can never get 100% to agree on anything. As an example, Some still think the world is flat. Thanks David for confirming my theory. Now matter what you do, some people will hate that Leucadia becomes more walkable, bikable and livable. Its just the way it is.
ReplyDeleteGood point Linda. Is the world flat or round? Seems like common knowledge. Or is it?
ReplyDeleteIs Streetscape about “walkable, bikable and livable” or is it about parkable and shoppable?
If you take the time and look at the streetscape plans and how hwy 101 is going to be changed. The bulk of the land is going to accommodate extra on street parking. Rest assured that big trade off of a north bound lane for extra on street parking is not for the benefit of us residence. Why do we need extra parking if we want to walk and bike in our neighborhood?
Try this on for size. Use the railroad dirt patch to accommodate trees, bike lanes and walking trails and at grade railroad crossings. This can be done, it is done in our neighboring City of San Clemente. Then proved some appropriate pedestrian crossing on 101 at El Portal, Leucadia Blvd, and Grandview. Then keep the driving lanes and parking as is, just a few more stop signs and about 15 million dollars cheaper.
I simply refuse to trade practical access and egress to and from my home so a few retail shops can have extra parking. Especially, Emergency Vehicle Access.
We should meet at the Panikan for a cup of coffee. I think we would agree on a lot more than you think. I will even buy the coffee. ;-)
One more thing. If you find your self board, and walking around the baron Leucadia Corridor. Try this out for fun. Stand in front of the Leucadia Main St. Office and advocate no on street parking to accommodate a big bike lane.
ReplyDeleteYou will hear the most horrible death cry you have ever heard in your entire life. Make sure you are warring running shoes, cause you will certainly have to get away quickly.
OK David. I see your point about parking. In my opinion, in current and forseeable conditions our mainstreet businesses need parking to survive. I want business there that I can walk to. Without parking there will be no businesses.
ReplyDeleteThe more important issue to me is speeding along the cooridor. Which you know as a fireman, speed kills. How do you address speeding? And don't say enforcement. It doesn't work.
"Is Streetscape about 'walkable, bikable and livable?' or is it about parkable and shoppable?"
ReplyDeleteGlad you asked that, David. If you're suggesting the streetscape will not be more walkable, bikable and livable, we'll just have to agree to disagree on that one.
And as far as the other part of your implication goes, the 2 mile Streetscape adds only a total of 40 parking spaces to a district of over 250 businesses. Big deal. Captain Kenos alone has that many parking spots. If "more parkable, more shopable" were the streetscape's main objective, the entire 2 mile stretch of the east side of 101 along the railroad right of way would be parking. Guess what? NONE of it is for new parking.) The streetscape creates safe bike lanes / emergency widths instead. (And don't think for a moment the merchants would have complained about 2 extra miles of parking! And don't think for another minute that the railroad wouldn't prefer parking spaces to trees.)
You have a large axe to grind David, and I really can't see your motive in all this. Injuries and fatalities will decrease when the roads are better, speed limits slower, bike paths and the sidewalks are better. Some people will say anything to keep that from happening and you seem to be one of the few.
Amen to that! Well said Winston!!
ReplyDeleteDave.
ReplyDeleteYou obviously have not attended the workshops or understand how we got where we are.
There are very good reasons that the current plan was adopted by the overwhelming majority of the public.
It answers the stated needs of the N. 101 corridor.
No amount of facts will probably change your mind.
But I respect your right to offer your opinion.
You do not have the right to change the facts.
Saturday night after midnight, there was a hit and run in the 1200 block of N. Coast Hwy 101 in Leucadia. I don't know the man's condition who was hit on his bicycle, but a truck hit him in the north bound lane. Life Flight took him from in front of the Sake House. He was still conscious at the scene, but was thrown quite a distance his legs were pointing in opposite directions. His bike was in many small pieces. Response time to the scene was just 3 minutes, and Life Flight was only 12. I hope he lived and can recover.
ReplyDeleteHe was on a bicycle trip with 5 or 6 friends from Temecula to Borego Springs to here then to Carlsbad to sleep. There were about 6 in his party who saw it all happen and one motorcyclist who may have given police a lead. The forensic people were taking pictures and measurements till dawn why the north lane was closed.
This is a prime example of why the Streetscape needs to happen sooner rather than later. There are no safely designated bike lanes on N. Coast Hwy 101 from A st to La Costa Ave - a 2 mile distance in either direction. Neither are there regular streetlights.