Saturday, June 29, 2013
San Deiguito Mustang Open Reunion today!
Kinda late notice, but today starting at 3pm at Charlie's Foreign Car at 751 Second Street is hosting an open reunion for San Dieguito High School.
No matter what year you graduated you are invited to attend.
More info on Facebook: click me
No matter what year you graduated you are invited to attend.
More info on Facebook: click me
Friday, June 28, 2013
It's Summer Fun on the 101 !!!
Saturday 11:30am beach clean up at Moonlight Beach to Beacons.
Saturday in the little Leucadia Roadside Park music starts at noon.
Lots of great bands, raffle prizes, beer garden, surf films in the park after dark.
Surfy Surfy Surf Shop is raffling off a couple of sweet surfboards by local Leucadia shaper Gary Hanel.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
Lou's Records!
Friday, June 21, 2013
NOOOoooo, Besta Wan is for sale!
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Prop A
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Sign the Petition for School Area Improvements
BQ: Why is there no bus service to PEC?
From the inbox:
A petition to improve safety and the traffic conditions surrounding Paul Ecke Central (PEC) during drop off and pick up (d/o and p/u) periods including providing Safe Routes to School for Pedestrians and Bicyclists.
Improving the efficiency of the d/o and p/u process
The highest priority for improving the efficiency of the congestion on Union Street in front of the school is to improve the efficiency of the intersection of Union and Vulcan Avenue. The queuing for cars on west bound Union Avenue causes gridlock near the intersection. To address the inefficiency the following improvements could be made and are in the order of the greatest benefits received to address the issue:
Roundabout: Construct a modern day roundabout at the intersection of Union Street and Vulcan Avenue. Issues include cost and time of implementation.
Costs: The costs for a modern day roundabout range from $100,000 to $300,000.
Time of Implementation: At best, it would take the City two to three years to implement a roundabout.
All-way stop. A all-way stop would improve the frequency for turns onto Vulcan Avenue for the queued traffic on Union Street. Other advantages include improved cross-walks at the intersection with continental style delineation, which is preferable to middle-block crosswalks. A all-way stop could be approved by the traffic commission and City Council within three months and is a good interim measure until a permanent roundabout can be constructed.
Turn restrictions at Union Street and Vulcan Avenue. If the City will not implement a three-way stop at Union and Vulcan, they should consider left hand turn restrictions on westbound traffic approaching Vulcan Avenue. The time restrictions could be from 7:45 AM to 8:10 AM. This restriction would also improve the efficiency of the drop off area for the school. Similar signing and restrictions have proven to be effective in the City of San Clemente.
Preferred Alternative: Regarding the three alternatives for addressing the efficiency of the intersection, I recommended installing an all-way stop as described above as an interim measure until a roundabout can be constructed. The measure should be installed as soon as possible with a realistic time schedule of three to six months.
Improving safety and convenience for pedestrians and bicyclist accessing PEC
To improve the safety and convenience for pedestrians and bicyclists accessing PEC, suggestions for addressing the remaining existing conditions listed above include:
Speeding on Vulcan Avenue - Constructing a roundabout or implementing a three-way stop will help address the speeding on Vulcan Avenue. Another traffic-calming measure used in other parts of Encinitas near elementary schools is the raised crosswalk. An example of one may be seen on Montgomery Avenue and Westminister Drive adjacent to a Cardiff School District School.
Large puddle at the intersection of Union Avenue and Vulcan Avenue - Construct new cross-gutter across Union Avenue and Vulcan Avenue which will also help dissuade speeding.
Intersection at Leucadia Blvd. and Hygeia should be improved to encourage more bicycling and pedestrians use for children crossing Leucadia Blvd. on their way to PEC. Unfinished streetscape (bicycle and pedestrian) improvements between Hermes Avenue and Hymettus.
The City Council approved roundabout should be installed at Hygeia Avenue and the Phase II Leucadia Blvd. Streetscape Improvements should be constructed to make a safe and more convenient pedestrian and bicycle experience for children crossing Leucadia Blvd. on their way to school. The Phase II improvements were promised following the completion of the successful Phase I, and were supposed to be constructed in 2012. The District should send a letter to City Council requesting the City fund the Phase II improvements in the next fiscal year.
No bike lanes on Hygeia Avenue, Cereus Street, Union, or Hermes Avenue- While implementing bike lanes on the streets would likely require significant restrictions on parking, the City should install Sharrows and associated signing on the noted streets. Sharrows are pavement legends that help notify the vehicle drivers that bicyclist have equal rights to the roadway. They also help make bicyclists aware of the proper position in the roadway for maximum safety and to avoid hazards such as “dooring.” Dooring is when a driver opens their door in front of bicyclist and the bicyclist doesn’t have time to react and hits the door.
There is no efficient way for pedestrians or bicyclists who live west of Vulcan Avenue to cross over the railroad-No crossing from Encinitas Blvd. to Leucadia Blvd. No crosswalk on the south side of Leucadia Blvd.
Crossing from the west side of Hwy 101 to AC walkway along Vulcan Avenue can take over 10 minutes; this lengthy wait dissuades pedestrians and bicyclists living west of Hwy 101.
The City should pursue a pedestrian/bike crossing at or near Union Street. Considering the costs of grade-separated crossings, focus on implementing an at-grade crossing with a wayside horn system. Wayside horns are significantly quieter than train horns. A video of the warning system may be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNgJ7VdL3og. Additionally, the City should be pursuing a quiet zone similar to that being implemented by the City of San Diego and the City of San Clemente throughout the entire city limits.
The City should construct a crosswalk on the south side of Leucadia Blvd. between Vulcan Avenue and the west side of N. Coast Hwy 101. The new crosswalk would reduce pedestrian delays by over 50% from the current conditions. The proposed new crosswalk is consistent with all the other intersection cross-walk configurations implemented in downtown Encinitas and downtown Leucadia deserves no less. The new crosswalk would need to be coordinated and permitted with NCTD.
The AC pathway on Vulcan Avenue has SDGE transformers that block the effective use of pathway. Relocate or underground the SDGE infrastructure. Construct an ADA and pathway up to public works standards. Constructing the Rail Trail would address this issue.
The existing AC pathway on the west side of Vulcan Avenue and adjacent to the east side of the NCTD right-of-way is full of goat head thorns. The goat heads are responsible for minimizing bicycle travel on the AC pathway. The City needs to coordinate with and put NCTD on notice that they need to address the goat head problem to comply with their own mission. People are dissuaded from walking and biking to NCTD stops and our local school because of the goat head problem. Create a task force to address the problem. It’s not that difficult and only requires accountability from the agency’s involved. The solution is to kill the weeds with an herbacide and repeat the process following regermination until the goat heads are eradicated. This method is proven for all the City parks, golf course, and other landscaped areas and should be implemented for the NCTD right of way.
Until landscaping/hardscaping is established, STOP hoeing dirt to remove weeds by work crews. The hoeing loosens top soil and promotes more air pollution and soil erosion when trains pass over 70 times per day.
Schedule Rail Trail improvements.
The current mid-block crosswalk on the west side of Vulcan Avenue should be moved to the intersection of Union Street. Studies have shown that mid-block crosswalks are more dangerous that crosswalks at intersections.-
Move the crosswalk as a part of the new intersection improvements proposed.
Hygeia Avenue and Hermes Avenue sidewalks are narrow and have many restrictions and obstacles for users. The City should address the restrictions and obstacles, and delineation.
Install the City Council approved stop sign at Vulcan and Union, and Hygiea and Cereus. Address ADA Improvements.
Install Sharrows on all the streets leading to PEC.
Construct the modern day roundabout at Hygeia Avenue and Leucadia Blvd.
Traffic congestion at the intersection of Cereus Street and Hygiea Avenue.
Install the stop sign that was approved by the Traffic Commission and City Council in approximately 2005 to 2006 time frame. The all-way stop would improve the efficiency of eastbound traffic on Cereus Street and would improve the safety for pedestrians on Hygeia Avenue crossing Cereus Street.
There is a section of rolled curb on the south side of Union Avenue between the eastern most school driveway and the exit of the school that should be replaced with 6 inch standard curb to dissuade cars from driving up on the sidewalk.
Many kids are being dropped of by parents driving one or two children to school. It doesn’t appear that most are utilizing car pooling. Implement a highly publicized Car Pooling Campaign as further explained below. The school only has one bike rack with limited capacity. Install a free-standing, fenced bike rack with increased capacity. It can be locked and unlocked by designated PEC staff. Increase the capacity to hold 100 to 200 bikes.
Reducing the number of car trips to the school during the peak drop off period
If not already established, PTA may consider creating a subcommittee to address the safety concerns of children walking and bicycling to school as well as maximizing carpooling. The reduction in the number of vehicles dropping off children has a direct impact in the congestion and safety of the area.
Benefits from walking and bicycling:
Environmental benefits including less pollution and greenhouse emissions.
Reduced use of fossil fuels, which helps our nation become less dependent on foreign countries.
Directly addresses the congestion issue. The more children that bike and walk to school the fewer vehicles causing congestion.
Creates positive habits in children’s lives.
Increase exercise for children before school, helping address the national obesity issue and providing children the opportunity to breath fresh air and maximize their alertness before starting school.
Benefits from carpooling: Items 1 through 3 above.
Many of these solutions can be implemented within a few months. I believe a realistic goal would be to have 40% of the students walking, bicycling, or carpooling to school. A reduction in trips caused by meeting this goal coupled with the improvements listed would greatly improve the congestion currently experienced.
Sign here.
From the inbox:
A petition to improve safety and the traffic conditions surrounding Paul Ecke Central (PEC) during drop off and pick up (d/o and p/u) periods including providing Safe Routes to School for Pedestrians and Bicyclists.
Improving the efficiency of the d/o and p/u process
The highest priority for improving the efficiency of the congestion on Union Street in front of the school is to improve the efficiency of the intersection of Union and Vulcan Avenue. The queuing for cars on west bound Union Avenue causes gridlock near the intersection. To address the inefficiency the following improvements could be made and are in the order of the greatest benefits received to address the issue:
Roundabout: Construct a modern day roundabout at the intersection of Union Street and Vulcan Avenue. Issues include cost and time of implementation.
Costs: The costs for a modern day roundabout range from $100,000 to $300,000.
Time of Implementation: At best, it would take the City two to three years to implement a roundabout.
All-way stop. A all-way stop would improve the frequency for turns onto Vulcan Avenue for the queued traffic on Union Street. Other advantages include improved cross-walks at the intersection with continental style delineation, which is preferable to middle-block crosswalks. A all-way stop could be approved by the traffic commission and City Council within three months and is a good interim measure until a permanent roundabout can be constructed.
Turn restrictions at Union Street and Vulcan Avenue. If the City will not implement a three-way stop at Union and Vulcan, they should consider left hand turn restrictions on westbound traffic approaching Vulcan Avenue. The time restrictions could be from 7:45 AM to 8:10 AM. This restriction would also improve the efficiency of the drop off area for the school. Similar signing and restrictions have proven to be effective in the City of San Clemente.
Preferred Alternative: Regarding the three alternatives for addressing the efficiency of the intersection, I recommended installing an all-way stop as described above as an interim measure until a roundabout can be constructed. The measure should be installed as soon as possible with a realistic time schedule of three to six months.
Improving safety and convenience for pedestrians and bicyclist accessing PEC
To improve the safety and convenience for pedestrians and bicyclists accessing PEC, suggestions for addressing the remaining existing conditions listed above include:
Speeding on Vulcan Avenue - Constructing a roundabout or implementing a three-way stop will help address the speeding on Vulcan Avenue. Another traffic-calming measure used in other parts of Encinitas near elementary schools is the raised crosswalk. An example of one may be seen on Montgomery Avenue and Westminister Drive adjacent to a Cardiff School District School.
Large puddle at the intersection of Union Avenue and Vulcan Avenue - Construct new cross-gutter across Union Avenue and Vulcan Avenue which will also help dissuade speeding.
Intersection at Leucadia Blvd. and Hygeia should be improved to encourage more bicycling and pedestrians use for children crossing Leucadia Blvd. on their way to PEC. Unfinished streetscape (bicycle and pedestrian) improvements between Hermes Avenue and Hymettus.
The City Council approved roundabout should be installed at Hygeia Avenue and the Phase II Leucadia Blvd. Streetscape Improvements should be constructed to make a safe and more convenient pedestrian and bicycle experience for children crossing Leucadia Blvd. on their way to school. The Phase II improvements were promised following the completion of the successful Phase I, and were supposed to be constructed in 2012. The District should send a letter to City Council requesting the City fund the Phase II improvements in the next fiscal year.
No bike lanes on Hygeia Avenue, Cereus Street, Union, or Hermes Avenue- While implementing bike lanes on the streets would likely require significant restrictions on parking, the City should install Sharrows and associated signing on the noted streets. Sharrows are pavement legends that help notify the vehicle drivers that bicyclist have equal rights to the roadway. They also help make bicyclists aware of the proper position in the roadway for maximum safety and to avoid hazards such as “dooring.” Dooring is when a driver opens their door in front of bicyclist and the bicyclist doesn’t have time to react and hits the door.
There is no efficient way for pedestrians or bicyclists who live west of Vulcan Avenue to cross over the railroad-No crossing from Encinitas Blvd. to Leucadia Blvd. No crosswalk on the south side of Leucadia Blvd.
Crossing from the west side of Hwy 101 to AC walkway along Vulcan Avenue can take over 10 minutes; this lengthy wait dissuades pedestrians and bicyclists living west of Hwy 101.
The City should pursue a pedestrian/bike crossing at or near Union Street. Considering the costs of grade-separated crossings, focus on implementing an at-grade crossing with a wayside horn system. Wayside horns are significantly quieter than train horns. A video of the warning system may be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNgJ7VdL3og. Additionally, the City should be pursuing a quiet zone similar to that being implemented by the City of San Diego and the City of San Clemente throughout the entire city limits.
The City should construct a crosswalk on the south side of Leucadia Blvd. between Vulcan Avenue and the west side of N. Coast Hwy 101. The new crosswalk would reduce pedestrian delays by over 50% from the current conditions. The proposed new crosswalk is consistent with all the other intersection cross-walk configurations implemented in downtown Encinitas and downtown Leucadia deserves no less. The new crosswalk would need to be coordinated and permitted with NCTD.
The AC pathway on Vulcan Avenue has SDGE transformers that block the effective use of pathway. Relocate or underground the SDGE infrastructure. Construct an ADA and pathway up to public works standards. Constructing the Rail Trail would address this issue.
The existing AC pathway on the west side of Vulcan Avenue and adjacent to the east side of the NCTD right-of-way is full of goat head thorns. The goat heads are responsible for minimizing bicycle travel on the AC pathway. The City needs to coordinate with and put NCTD on notice that they need to address the goat head problem to comply with their own mission. People are dissuaded from walking and biking to NCTD stops and our local school because of the goat head problem. Create a task force to address the problem. It’s not that difficult and only requires accountability from the agency’s involved. The solution is to kill the weeds with an herbacide and repeat the process following regermination until the goat heads are eradicated. This method is proven for all the City parks, golf course, and other landscaped areas and should be implemented for the NCTD right of way.
Until landscaping/hardscaping is established, STOP hoeing dirt to remove weeds by work crews. The hoeing loosens top soil and promotes more air pollution and soil erosion when trains pass over 70 times per day.
Schedule Rail Trail improvements.
The current mid-block crosswalk on the west side of Vulcan Avenue should be moved to the intersection of Union Street. Studies have shown that mid-block crosswalks are more dangerous that crosswalks at intersections.-
Move the crosswalk as a part of the new intersection improvements proposed.
Hygeia Avenue and Hermes Avenue sidewalks are narrow and have many restrictions and obstacles for users. The City should address the restrictions and obstacles, and delineation.
Install the City Council approved stop sign at Vulcan and Union, and Hygiea and Cereus. Address ADA Improvements.
Install Sharrows on all the streets leading to PEC.
Construct the modern day roundabout at Hygeia Avenue and Leucadia Blvd.
Traffic congestion at the intersection of Cereus Street and Hygiea Avenue.
Install the stop sign that was approved by the Traffic Commission and City Council in approximately 2005 to 2006 time frame. The all-way stop would improve the efficiency of eastbound traffic on Cereus Street and would improve the safety for pedestrians on Hygeia Avenue crossing Cereus Street.
There is a section of rolled curb on the south side of Union Avenue between the eastern most school driveway and the exit of the school that should be replaced with 6 inch standard curb to dissuade cars from driving up on the sidewalk.
Many kids are being dropped of by parents driving one or two children to school. It doesn’t appear that most are utilizing car pooling. Implement a highly publicized Car Pooling Campaign as further explained below. The school only has one bike rack with limited capacity. Install a free-standing, fenced bike rack with increased capacity. It can be locked and unlocked by designated PEC staff. Increase the capacity to hold 100 to 200 bikes.
Reducing the number of car trips to the school during the peak drop off period
If not already established, PTA may consider creating a subcommittee to address the safety concerns of children walking and bicycling to school as well as maximizing carpooling. The reduction in the number of vehicles dropping off children has a direct impact in the congestion and safety of the area.
Benefits from walking and bicycling:
Environmental benefits including less pollution and greenhouse emissions.
Reduced use of fossil fuels, which helps our nation become less dependent on foreign countries.
Directly addresses the congestion issue. The more children that bike and walk to school the fewer vehicles causing congestion.
Creates positive habits in children’s lives.
Increase exercise for children before school, helping address the national obesity issue and providing children the opportunity to breath fresh air and maximize their alertness before starting school.
Benefits from carpooling: Items 1 through 3 above.
Many of these solutions can be implemented within a few months. I believe a realistic goal would be to have 40% of the students walking, bicycling, or carpooling to school. A reduction in trips caused by meeting this goal coupled with the improvements listed would greatly improve the congestion currently experienced.
Sign here.
Sunday, June 09, 2013
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
Barth's Stance Makes My Decision on Prop A Easier
Date: June 5, 2013
Author: KC (not JP)
Barth finally came clean about a week ago and gave a list of reasons why she does not support Prop A. She was also on KPBS revealing her root motivation driving her to embrace greater density in Encinitas.
I sent Barth a response. Here is an excerpt:
Barth responded and pasted a clip from her first email:
Some people have known for years that Teresa will craft her words very carefully in a way that provides either non-answers or that allows for people to read into the answers what they want to believe. Image over substance.
Barth is going to let the public believe that she is posturing to enact the core of Prop A. As pointed out to Barth, her approach does not give the last word to the voters, which is the central tenant of Prop A.
The May 22nd meeting shows why the council will retain supremacy over direct voter approval. Just striking out the current exception does not prohibit the addition of new exceptions. At the meeting, "staff" proposed a new 3/5ths majority exception, which is compatible with the approach that Barth has shepherded. Council was wise to not adopt that exception before Prop A, but a future council could. That's the point of Prop A, by giving those decisions to the voters.
If the council sincerely wants to give the voters the last word then they should do that. They should add affirmative language giving the public the right to weigh in on upzoning.
In response to Barth's confirmation, I asked Barth the following question (6 days ago).
I got no response.
These were my original questions, which she decided against directly addressing:
1. Did the council commit to putting the right to vote on upzoning on the 2014 election?
She only committed to the 4/5ths strikeout and putting the general plan update to a vote. She has been asked about all of the general plan amendments that could also include massive upzoning, but those are not addressed by Barth's statement.
2. Will it be a separate item?
If she doesn't state it, expect it to bundled with a bunch of other things you might not like.
3. Will you support adding new affirmative wording giving the right to the people?
This is the big question. If she had simply answered yes to this very easy question that defines whether or not she supports the Spirit of Prop A, this whole thing would be resolved. Instead, Barth provides more evidence that she doesn't support the Spirit of Prop A, but is willing to deceive people into believing that she does.
4. Do you support putting a separate item on the 2014 ballot if there is not already a commitment?
Ditto
Barth's allies on the council don't seem to fall into Barth's camp on this issue. I'd like to be wrong, but we can suppose that they will fall into a 2-3 minority on the council (someone can check in with the council minority).
Related Tangential Note: Barth never attempted to explain the inconsistencies and the really difficult to believe reasons she gave for not explaining what she saw as the negative consequences of Prop A.
Barth's statement contrasts greatly with Tony and Lisa's.
CM Kranz states:
I added the underlying. This is key. This is different than what Barth is proposing and when this was brought to her attention she stuck by her plan.
CM Shaffer states:
Shaffer's approach clearly closes the painfully obvious hole in Barth's plan. She also addresses the issue of seeing all the juicy stuff in the GP update being shuttled off to multiple GP amendments, which is also in the Spirit of Prop A.
Please, ask Barth if she will give the voters a chance to take protected control of the right to vote on upzoning in 2014. To do that Barth will have ADD language to city laws that say exceptions cannot be added without a vote of the people.
Don't assume that I'm against greater density. I'm not, if the promised benefits of greater density are contractually guaranteed by the property owners in the new developments and the taxpayers don't subsidize windfall profits of those being granted NEW development rights. It would also be nice if they could find a way to make the beaches less crowded, as the beaches are less pleasant to visit these days (if you can find parking), but that's another story.
Don't assume I'm 100% for Prop A. I'm not. I'm not for tying together the height limitation, which is functionally retroactive, in with the rest of the proposition. Barth is making it really hard to vote no, because I do not trust her to give the people the option to vote on the spirit of Prop A in 2014. So far she is only committing to a phony version of Prop A. They had the opportunity during the May 22nd council meeting to add a simple sentence that prohibited new COUNCIL approved exceptions. The council did not do that. If they didn't do it before the Prop A vote, why would they do that after?
(I'm happy to publish, in full, any commentary from council members that they wish to submit.)
Author: KC (not JP)
Barth finally came clean about a week ago and gave a list of reasons why she does not support Prop A. She was also on KPBS revealing her root motivation driving her to embrace greater density in Encinitas.
I sent Barth a response. Here is an excerpt:
It is a little ambiguous in your email.
Did the council commit to putting the right to vote on upzoning on the 2014 election?
Will it be a separate item?
Will you support adding new affirmative wording giving the right to the people?
Do you support putting a separate item on the 2014 ballot if there is not already a commitment?
Barth responded and pasted a clip from her first email:
This doesn't sound ambiguous to me.
The City Council agrees with this intent and at the May 22nd meeting voted unanimously to eliminate the 4/5 super majority exception and added a requirement for voter approval of the comprehensive General Plan update. Council will submit these changes for voter ratification on the November 4, 2014 General Election ballot.
Some people have known for years that Teresa will craft her words very carefully in a way that provides either non-answers or that allows for people to read into the answers what they want to believe. Image over substance.
Barth is going to let the public believe that she is posturing to enact the core of Prop A. As pointed out to Barth, her approach does not give the last word to the voters, which is the central tenant of Prop A.
The May 22nd meeting shows why the council will retain supremacy over direct voter approval. Just striking out the current exception does not prohibit the addition of new exceptions. At the meeting, "staff" proposed a new 3/5ths majority exception, which is compatible with the approach that Barth has shepherded. Council was wise to not adopt that exception before Prop A, but a future council could. That's the point of Prop A, by giving those decisions to the voters.
If the council sincerely wants to give the voters the last word then they should do that. They should add affirmative language giving the public the right to weigh in on upzoning.
In response to Barth's confirmation, I asked Barth the following question (6 days ago).
How was it not disingenuous for you to claim that you would enact the spirit of Prop A?
I got no response.
These were my original questions, which she decided against directly addressing:
1. Did the council commit to putting the right to vote on upzoning on the 2014 election?
She only committed to the 4/5ths strikeout and putting the general plan update to a vote. She has been asked about all of the general plan amendments that could also include massive upzoning, but those are not addressed by Barth's statement.
2. Will it be a separate item?
If she doesn't state it, expect it to bundled with a bunch of other things you might not like.
3. Will you support adding new affirmative wording giving the right to the people?
This is the big question. If she had simply answered yes to this very easy question that defines whether or not she supports the Spirit of Prop A, this whole thing would be resolved. Instead, Barth provides more evidence that she doesn't support the Spirit of Prop A, but is willing to deceive people into believing that she does.
4. Do you support putting a separate item on the 2014 ballot if there is not already a commitment?
Ditto
Barth's allies on the council don't seem to fall into Barth's camp on this issue. I'd like to be wrong, but we can suppose that they will fall into a 2-3 minority on the council (someone can check in with the council minority).
Related Tangential Note: Barth never attempted to explain the inconsistencies and the really difficult to believe reasons she gave for not explaining what she saw as the negative consequences of Prop A.
Barth's statement contrasts greatly with Tony and Lisa's.
CM Kranz states:
The council has removed the 4/5ths exception, making any projects or specific plans with up zoning subject to a vote of the people, per our existing General Plan. Further, I will be proposing a measure for the ballot in November of 2014 which would require that any effort by a city council to add exceptions in the future would be subject to a vote. I will use the "right to vote" aspects of Prop A, but will work with my council colleagues in a public process to address my main objection: the nullification of existing specific plans (Section 3.1 e & f). The other provision that should be considered for modification or removal has to do with how the pad heights are measured (second sentence of Section 6.1). Both of these provisions have nothing to do with the right to vote on up zoning.
I added the underlying. This is key. This is different than what Barth is proposing and when this was brought to her attention she stuck by her plan.
CM Shaffer states:
I support putting an item on the 2014 ballot to require a public vote to give the Council any additional authority to make zoning changes (ie, to reverse our elimination of the 4/5 or to create any other formulations of similar intent) beyond what exists now. I also support putting the comprehensive GP update to a public vote. I do not support saying that ANY GP amendment needs voter approval because there are some minor adjustments and changes, such as are listed in the other sections of 3.12, that even the Prop A people agree should be within the Council's authority.
I don't have the exact wording but as I said below, a change that gives the Council new authority to make zoning changes beyond what is allowed now, and significant or major changes going forward.
Shaffer's approach clearly closes the painfully obvious hole in Barth's plan. She also addresses the issue of seeing all the juicy stuff in the GP update being shuttled off to multiple GP amendments, which is also in the Spirit of Prop A.
Please, ask Barth if she will give the voters a chance to take protected control of the right to vote on upzoning in 2014. To do that Barth will have ADD language to city laws that say exceptions cannot be added without a vote of the people.
Don't assume that I'm against greater density. I'm not, if the promised benefits of greater density are contractually guaranteed by the property owners in the new developments and the taxpayers don't subsidize windfall profits of those being granted NEW development rights. It would also be nice if they could find a way to make the beaches less crowded, as the beaches are less pleasant to visit these days (if you can find parking), but that's another story.
Don't assume I'm 100% for Prop A. I'm not. I'm not for tying together the height limitation, which is functionally retroactive, in with the rest of the proposition. Barth is making it really hard to vote no, because I do not trust her to give the people the option to vote on the spirit of Prop A in 2014. So far she is only committing to a phony version of Prop A. They had the opportunity during the May 22nd council meeting to add a simple sentence that prohibited new COUNCIL approved exceptions. The council did not do that. If they didn't do it before the Prop A vote, why would they do that after?
(I'm happy to publish, in full, any commentary from council members that they wish to submit.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)