City quarterly investment reports removed from public comment. Council receives the reports in the back room.We've never found the quarterly investment reports interesting or useful. It's basically a bank statement showing a few million dollars earning approximately 0% (thank you Ben Bernanke).
The quarterly investment report provides the taxpayers the information on income generated from the collected money in the General Fund, the SDWD, the sewer districts (divisions) and all other moneys collected by the city.
Under previous city policy the quarterly report was on the Council agenda within 30 days of the ending of the quarter.
Within the last few years of city managers that policy was changed to “periodic” reports.
Now the City Council has allowed city manager Vina to decide if the reports will be vetted in public or given to them as a memo behind the glass doors.
It will take a public outcry to restore the city policy that the quarterly investment report be placed on the Council agenda within 30 days of the ending of the quarter reporting period.
Otherwise, taxpayers will be left in the dark.
The city's "investments" (assets) are insignificant relative to its enormous liabilities (Hall Park and fire station debt, infrastructure maintenance backlog, and unfunded pensions).
We're inclined to give City Manager Gus Vina the benefit of the doubt on this report, and assume that this change is to save council time by getting rid of an agenda item. We also assume the quarterly statements will still be made available to the public on the city's web site. They are extremely simple to produce.
Does anyone have additional information on this?
Were these funds among the 17 funds that were emptied and directed towards the park last year?
ReplyDeleteYep. It's just a statement of all the 0% bonds held by the city for all its reserve accounts.
DeleteSo it will be a lot less after the Vina Plunder.
WCV
So a bottom feeder ranks higher than a troll?
DeleteMy understanding is that according to the Brown Act, a "behind the scenes memo" would constitute an illegal serial meeting. These "memos" are to be "vetted publicly," although if the money being reported rounds down to 0%, then theoretically, this could be on the Agenda as part of the Consent Calendar, for Council, at a public hearing, to "receive the report."
ReplyDeleteYes, the report IS a "disclosable" public document if the memo is provided to a quorum or more of Council. I had high hopes that our new City Manager would have more familiarity with the Brown Act than he does. We already knew our City Attorney had been, and still is giving bad advise about both the Brown Act and the California Public Records Act (CPRA).
City Manager Gus Vina and City Attorney Glenn Sabine are working together to give poor advise to Council and staff, including to our new Finance Director, Mr. Nash, whom I was foolish enough to mistake for Peder Norby at the initial Strategic Planning meeting, as his back was to me. Council and staff were seated around two long rows of wooden tables, with upholstered chairs. Nine folding chairs were circled around the back of the room, including crammed in corners, for any interested members of the public who took the trouble to attend.
The first Strategic Planning meeting was held for Council, and "cabinet members," with the public relegated to the "back of the bus," was at the Golf Course, last March, with a delicious lunch served for public officers, gratis? I left after half an hour, because we were only allowed to speak for three minutes, a kind of "oral communications," but not about anything on the Agenda, which was not pre-distributed, another violation, which works against City transparency and truly encouraging public participation.
All such meetings could be videotaped. With the new technology, this would not be prohibitively expensive. Most people can't attend during "working hours." But Gus Vina's plan, all along, was to justify hiring a "community outreach specialist" (he's rebranded the position of communications specialist) to "reach out" to the public AFTER the Strategic Plan had already been formulated.
Unfortunately, no real notice has been given of the initial public outreach session, which I only know from Lisa Shaffer's newsletter is to be at Olivenhain Town Hall next Wednesday night at 7:30. I know not whether those outside of Olivenhain Town Council are invited?
I heard back from Terry Francke, General Counsel of Calaware, through an open meeting forum on that site. Apparently, the Brown Act has been amended so that memos are allowed, as are "informational briefings," about upcoming Agenda items, provided that these are purely informational and any briefings or memo's do not discuss other Council Member's positions, or seek accord or concurrence.
DeleteI was very glad to get more information through Californians Aware, because the City Attorney has never answered any of my legal questions directed to him directly, or through Council, by answering any e-mails I've sent.
This new information through Calaware, is according to either case law and/or Government Code which has amended the specific code and case law published in the State Attorney General's 2003 Brown Act pamphlet, which I had read, copied ( excerpts from pages 11-12), and before shared with the City, including Risk Management and the City Attorney.
However, any memos, notes or e-mails related to City business, outside of very specific closed session or California Public Records Act exceptions, are publicly disclosable. Therefore anyone can request to see a copy of such memos, e-mails, or notes from briefings, including a memo scheduling meetings, through a CPRA request. Although one on one meetings or "briefings" are allowed, written materials regarding the meetings are public documents.
I know that briefings were held regarding hiring a PR Communications Specialist, now rebranded as "Community Outreach Specialist." I would like to see some notes or memos from those meetings. Although Kristin Gaspar, Tony Kranz and Mark Muir all had suggested that a Communications Specialist could better be hired, as a trial, as a Contracted employee, so there was Council consensus, after Gus Vina's INSISTENCE, all of Council voted to allow the City Manager to hire a full time employee at up to $130,000? I'm not certain of the salary cap, as part of the money was alloted to HR expenses?
zzzz.....
DeleteLYNN
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be about you always about you
WE DEMAND ACCESS TO THESE USELESS REPORTS
ReplyDelete9:37 actually, it's all about all of us and the gap we'll all have to cover if the city continues to spend, spend, spend. Most of us want to know what's going on here fiscally, especially given the huge discrepancy between Barth's claims of pension health vs. even her commissioned independent consultant's analysis.
ReplyDeleteYou are oddly more concerned about Lynn than the condition of the city. Sucking at the city hall teat, are we?
Lynn is to be highly commended for being acutely informed of the inner workings of the city's civil sector. People like her keep the politicians on their toes, as they want a disengaged public to ignore the process, giving them free reign to do whatever suits them. Usually it is alignment with monied interests that don't represent the majority good, as the politicians get their rewards from kickbacks and inflated salaries/benefits. Keep up the good work, Lynn -
ReplyDeleteLynn is far more respected than anyone of the past two councils.
ReplyDeleteLynn is totally ignored by almost everyone at the city especially this council she is
ReplyDeletea joke and has only questions no answer.
I agree. with 4:49 am, Lword is a total joke and has lost grip on reality. It is a waste of time listening or reading anything she thinks. Main reason is its the same garbage....over, and over, and over again.
ReplyDeleteLword doesn't have the ability to listen.... hence, she is a waste of life.
With that said, what has council done to honestly evaluate the future health of our City with true pension and sports park expenditure projections?
I read everything that Lynn writes, and I stop reading as soon as I can tell it is a troll like Sculpin, Loser Leucadian and Anons 4:49 and 6:02.
ReplyDeleteEgad, Man!!!!
DeleteI am not a troll - how dare you.......I am a bottom dwelling fish!
- The Sculpin
And an outstanding IPA.
DeleteSo a bottom feeder ranks higher than a troll?
DeleteI don't often agree with the Sculpin, however he presents his points respectfully and in a circumspect manner. Not a troll.............The Cabezon
DeleteTroll?
DeleteNot sure that you actually know what a troll is, but I am definitely not a troll.
4:49, 6:02, 6:50
ReplyDeleteYou gotta stop talking to yourself.
I raise my standards by lowering the bar.
ReplyDeleteIt's to late to fix the present pension plan ,you can thank Maggie ,Jerome Christi and Dalager yes its protected by law nothing can be done.I am surprised you don't now
ReplyDeleteWe now have a two tier system in All new hires. Thank you Gus and the present
council. Maybe if you got your dead ass and attend council meetings you would
be better informed
Thank you COE employee. Are you ready to hunt down and drag through the streets the politicians that have/will bankrupt the city?? It's you who will lose your pension....
Delete11:44 AM
ReplyDeleteNothing on the city website about a two tier system.
Check out the HR page on benefits.
There is only one plan it's the second tier why would you say the city had a better plan
ReplyDeleteThree years ago but you don't get .I don't think that would be a smart recurment
Plan, do you.You should try and keep up pal
Anonymous 1:07 PM
DeleteLet's hear you explain the two tier system.
1:07 PM
ReplyDeletePlease explain the second tier system.
Although I do not know the specific details, the two tier system refers to the fact that new hires, as of last year, I believe, when the latest salary and benefits negotiations were "finalized," will have a different, more equitable (in my eyes and in the eyes of those who pushed through this preliminary aspect of needed pension reform) system of determining retirement benefits.
DeleteThis new method, again, is only applicable to "new hires" and is supposed to curtail the practice of "spiking" to increase benefits, as Phil Cotton was allegedly able to do, by the way his pension was calculated.
Also, City fire department employees and other officers, including the City Manager, I believe, now are required to pay into health benefits they receive while employed. I'm not certain, but there could have been other benefits, as well, that were changed, saving tax payers, rate payers and fee payers money, in the long term?
I believe it was reported through SDWD that the pension reform had already made a 1.5% savings for them, presumably to their bottom line? I'm not an accountant, and I don't understand many of the details, but the two tier system refers to different terms for contracts between the newly hired and those with whom previous employment contracts are still in effect, "old hires."
I wouldn't believe a word of your gibber. 99% of your content is wrong. Why would I waste my time reading garbage.
DeleteYou tell us. You evidently did waste your time as you know that 99% is wrong. What 1% is right then?
DeleteWhat is right?- Her name.
DeleteI used to read her crap. No more.
2:44 You don't know the details and you qualify everything you wrote with "I believe." In other words, you don't know the facts, and what you posted is speculation. Post when you know the facts!
DeleteI am not your minion Do your research big boy
ReplyDeleteCatching up for just a second. Can't read everything...
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean that Jerome's city hall did more to communicate the city's financial standing?
This is a perfect example of something that can go on the agenda as a distribution item without requiring a full blown review. Making sure it stays an agenda item would be sure to make it possible for the public to draw the ocuncil's attention to problems when the staff would rather not.
Who is against being open and transparent about the financials?
Openness and transparency is easy when its about something you like. It is less fun when its about something that might make you look bad.
Gus Vina and HIS minions, City Council.
DeleteKevin you make yourself look petty, the investment reports are like your bank statement after the fact information. Jerome did nothing good for us citizen activist. You only have time for your on agenda. D WORK KEVIN.
ReplyDeleteYou just need to show up you're feeding at the civil service trough. Some call it an ivory tower. By the way how's the view?
7:16, you have something of value to add to this conversation? Do you work at city hall? You sound like it when you try (unsuccessfully) diverting attention off these topics....
DeleteDiscussing the merits of Kevin/Lynn/person X as people is a bore, discussing ideas is not.
Here, here! Stop attacking citizens, and start discussing the roles, responsibilities, and standards for performance of PAID city staff and city council.
DeleteCity management and the council themselves have divided the city and created this environment of distrust. I might not agree with every poster on this blog, but the lack of credibility among city leadership is justified.
We are not the ones who have changed positions. We still believe in the values that were articulated in campaign promises that council members have abandoned.
In addition, Gus Vina has been given every resource that he has asked for and complete support to be successful. Why is this city so much worse off since he has taken over?
Do a post on the ridiculous Strategic Planning fiasco. All the Council Members should be ashamed to ask the public for yet another round of wasted meetings.
ReplyDeleteCity Council already knows what is important to the communities. Remember you asked all those questions during the last 2 years of the General Plan update.
This is the same old shit. Just get to the bottom line- What is the City's long term financial plan? Lets see the honest numbers. How bad are the employee costs and the upcoming regional sports park going to set us back?
Are are roads and parks going to continue to deteriorate?
Lets be honest folks. More $175,000 a year pensions means less money for Park, Beaches and Roads projects. Whats important to you another $6 to 8 million dollar firestation for 3 sleeping or movie watching fire fighters?
The fire stations were the biggest joke and waste of money. The firm hired fell into "stupid heaven" with such free spenders.
DeleteFrom Teresa Barth, to me, excerpted from her e-mail dated August 6:
Delete"As to your complaints about the council's Strategic Plan workshops. Perhaps we didn't make it clear that these workshops were intended to allow the council and staff to get to know each other better and develop a positive working relationship, especially since most of the department heads are new. The workshops were also intended to allow the council to develop the frame work for public discussion on the Strategic Plan. All of the workshops were tape recorded and copies of the audio are available to the public."
[Audo recordings not also recorded through Granicus, as webcasts, are only available through a CPRA (California Public Records Act) request. Also, most of us don't want to download a four hour plus special strategic planning meeting onto our computers, part of the meeting taking place during Council's specially served luncheon. One can purchase a CD, or sometimes borrow a CD, but when I listened to a recording of a city manager and city attorney evaluation subcommittee, the MP3 file was automatically copied onto my hardrive, for some reason, not sure why.]
"The public will have numerous opportunities to discuss, comment, agree/disagree with the topics. You can read more about the topics from the link on the city's website homepage. A more detailed schedule of meetings will be presented at a future council meeting."
I think Council should "get acquainted" with new department heads, rebranded as part of Gus Vina's Council and Cabinet "team," by doing so at regularly scheduled Council Meetings, not setting up special meetings basically designed to exclude the public, by their timing, and by the fact that the Agenda was not pre-distributed, and no one could speak on Agenda items.
Kevin works in the puplic sector and is feeding at the same trough as mark muir and yet he thinks it's O. K. I think not HOW DO YOU SPELL PHONEY.
ReplyDeleteKEVIN. Tell us please
I think that WC explained that there are different rules for different types of employees--city,academic,fire). If I an not mistaken, most City employees can retire at age 55, but firemen can retire at 50! Another point that needs to be researched is that it is rumored that almost all firemen claim disability when they retire so that they can get an even HIGHER payment and can collect it tax free. This is a story that I heard about another North County city, but it would be interesting to see if this is true in Encinitas.
DeleteIn academia, very few people pull in those types of pensions. One would have to be a president of a college or university or other high-ranking manager with oversight of hundreds or thousands of employees to make what Mark Muir is making.
The comparison with Kevin and his job, which based on his work in Encinitas that he does for free, is not a fair comparison with the work that we get from most city workers who are paid much more than acual qualified people in their fields who hold the correct academic credentials! What we have at the city are a lot of cronies.
Maybe I should pay more attention to "how I make myself look". I don’t and probably won’t because I doubt it will change whether or not the issue is considered.
DeleteThe things I want to see happen are the same things most people want and are what Barth ran on in her first election, when I helped her get elected.
Back to the reports. Millions of dollars is important. I’ll bet the council doesn’t think the public would like the financial reports off the public agenda. More important than what I am guessing is what our elected officials actually thinking on this. I’ll commission you to write a report that reviews this change and quotes the Mayor explaining why they don’t want to leave space on the agenda that ensures that the council and the public can speak to the city’s finances. The Mayor sets the agenda, right (note: she did write to me to say she didn’t really know what the Mayor’s role was, but would try to establish that this Fall.) It won’t be hard to do better than I would do. So, please email WC and we can negotiate a price for your work.
Yes, to a great extent the document is like a bank statement. We should open that bank statement and take a look. It’s the public’s money. Putting it on the agenda makes sure attention is pointed to that bank statement. Compare what happened at ERGA where ERGA’s financial statements were giving to the council off the agenda. Lots of financial shenanigans and problems developed within ERGA. I doubt it would have happened to the same extent if those were on the public agenda. They would have been forced to address the issue. ERGA came to mind immediately when I heard about the change. Look how easy it has been for the Mayor and now the deputy mayor to avoid answering the question, who made the decisions on the FAQs over Prop A (that should be easy to answer, right).
Don’t we want those investment statements easily available and in front of the council where they have to open the envelop and take a look? It is also a great idea that the public be able to ask questions and get answers ON THE RECORD about our city’s finances. The city is good at deflecting questions or simply bullshitting, but we notice that the finance staff doesn’t like to do that when being recorded (this hasn’t changed and I would love for the Mayor to hold a public meeting about the trust issues at city hall).
DeleteBeing on the agenda gives the council the opportunity to question the staff about our finances, on the record which is important, oh boy. All this can lead to changes in the investment strategies. Sure, it might be sparked if it the reports were done behind the scenes but we’ve seen the city want to keep uncomfortable discussion from the council chambers, which doesn’t benefit the public. There are examples of the current council majority not wanting to provide information that they aren’t interested in discussing. Sigh.
Think of all of the trinket ceremonial items that the council does and explain how the city’s investments are not more important to air than that? When the council starts cutting out fluff (they can distribute fluff in other ways), putting fluff at the end of the agenda, or on separate meetings then they will be more credible about cutting out a discussion of the city’s investments. Hey, look at how many councilmembers publicly asked for the roads report going into the current budget cycle… the roads underfunding remains hidden by the current city administration. Why?
Jerome capitulated at times. He also supported several actions that improved openness, but that was balanced strongly against other actions (and inactions). Can you list the differences between the current council’s policies and the ones that Jerome’s city hall? I can only name a few, and they seem superficial compared to the elephants in the room that they are dancing around.
What is my “agenda”? What are you thinking here?
I wouldn’t even be pursuing answers to the Pro A stuff if others didn’t want me to. Others are saying that our city is going to need to do more initiatives and what happened during Prop A needs to be addressed long before the next one. Again… I’d rather you do that too and I’ll pay you (or whoever), and I don’t exactly have much disposable cash, but its important in the long run.
I am currently a government employee (on soft money and soon to be paying extra to cover recent retiree’s underfunding of the UC pension pot… a fate many YOUNGER city employees are LIKELY to face decades from now.) Also, I’ve addressed the issue about working for the government many times before. I expect less of others than I do of myself. Does it have anything to do with the topic? Or do you have specific questions about this?
Let WC know if you or someone else will take the job of finding out why, how, and who supports the change to the financial reporting AND public discussion of the city’s investments
KC
I have a friend a now retired high school coach. $98000 a year he is 59 and yes he
ReplyDeleteworked hard for this We all did You can't point your finger at some one And not be held to the same rule. It's called talk the talk walk the walk. Kevi believes in
DO AS SAY NOT AS I DO. HE'S A PHONEY. No pass for Kevin Put up or
Shut up
Yeah..... Phony!!! Yeah!
DeleteHuh?
DeleteActually, who said I was pushing for something that I would accept for myself? Who said I haven't sat down with the UC unions and sent letters to the Regents?
I'd RATHER have SS + defined contributions, and at least I have supported the Unions push 5 years ago to change the actuarial assumptions to something more conservative...
On the flip side, UC profs and doctors should get improved and separate and more secured retirement packages (that's not my category).
So I've addressed your points about my personal stuff, are you willing to address the issues about how the city handled Prop A?
KC
Anon 1:53, you did not provide other important information about your example like where he lives, what his education level is, and how many years of service credit he has. My guess is that he has at least 1 advanced degree. We have almost none at the COE, even among directors! They are supposed to have advanced degrees, but they keep lowering the standards so that they can hire lesser qualified people to do as Gus tells them.
Delete1:59, what exactly is it that Kevin should "put up"?
ReplyDeleteKevin, thanks for all your efforts, and your understanding. There's one or two people here, who "tag team," writing negative comments. The vast majority reading and commenting, or just reading, are deeply appreciative of the volunteer work you've done and continue to do on behalf of our entire community. You don't need to defend yourself, and I guess you are just trying to understand some of the comments made, or respond to them.
ReplyDeleteI've learned, one can't have a logical discussion with someone who is behaving irrationally. Sometimes I still try, but I realize those who aren't open minded won't listen to reason.
After a lot of "trial and error," I find that it's much easier for me to "skim" past the "regularly scheduled" attacks. I am so grateful for those who show some appreciation. I'm not posting under my name for recognition. I'd actually prefer to remain anonymous, but I got weary of this same person, or same tag team assuming every longer post was from me, even when I hadn't posted in days, weeks, or months.
Alright Kevin! You have Lword sticking up for you... you must be doing something to please her. Did you join the KLCC?
DeleteSharks are circling, this council will pay for A, desert rose, Gus, & Sabine. You betrayed us one time too many!
ReplyDeleteMan, are you dreaming, Sheila.
DeleteScared? A lot of people have the same idea as the sharks poster.
DeleteI agree. The biggest slap was to support the terrible Sad Sac and waste all that time and money on senseless Strategic Planning.... WTH?
ReplyDeleteWhat is wrong with you folks? Its pretty easy to see his intensions. Geeze- If you can't figure that out, your not smart enough to run this City.
Next!!!
Anyone who would agree with addressing of our new city council with sentiments like...
ReplyDelete"You betrayed us one too many times."
I would challenge the reasons that would justify such a statement. The council has no 'dues' to pay for A. Desert Rose is a state mandated density bonus issue. The counci dis-approving the project would would not trump state law.
Gus is a positive asset to our community. I truly believe that, for the first time in a long time, we have a city manager that listens to the entire city council's concerns.
And Sabine is not perfect, in your enlightened opinion.
How do you get to, "You betrayed us one time too many."?
"I truly believe that, for the first time in a long time, we have a city manager that listens to the entire city council's concerns."
DeleteYou are truly wrong. What City Manager pulled all the money from all other CIP projects including future parks, openspace and road improvements projects and put it towards building a huge Regional Sports Complex that will sink the City's future finances?
What City Manager was puppet to Jerome Stock's crap?
Re: the so-called state mandate for Desert Rose, we all know by now that the safety issues that caused the Planning Commission to say no to the developer were valid options to for the council to say no, too.
Delete6:23 AM, what would you have done about the park? The majority of Encinitans as determined by the previous two elections want a park completed. Five fields is NOT a huge Regional Sports Complex. You keep beating that drum and nobody challenges it, but it needs to be challenged because you are wrong. True, it is not a open space nature preserve. But it will be a nice park and should have been one years ago.
DeleteIt's a regional sports park as council has let slip many times, despite the friendly "community" tag they try to put on it. Note one San Diego soccer org has pre-paid playing rights 5 years out. That should give us an inkling of what's to come. The city has to cover the cost somehow, which means that as usual, we're for sale.
DeleteYou say "San Diego soccer org" implying its not Cardiff or Encinitas. Which one?
DeleteThe CA State Soccer Assoc South (website says Fullerton), $15K for 5 years.
DeleteThe council accepted at the 9-12-12 council meeting.
DeleteYou mean the donation that Cal South made to the City of Encinitas for the development of the park? Cal South is the governing body for youth soccer in SoCal. Both Cardiff and Encinitas soccer programs are CalSouth members. CalSouth generously granted the city $75K for field construction. It wasn't for "pre-paid playing rights" as you call it.
DeleteI believe it came up in a recent council meeting when asked why one of the fields was a soccer-specific field rather than a multi-use field and the answer is because of this grant.
Sad Sack loves it.
DeleteOne year closer to $220,000 year retirement in a few years. Yeeee Haahhhhaaa!
7:06 PM
DeleteThat was no donation, but strings were attached. It was for pre-paid playing rights for 5 years. What other city would sell out residents rights to an outside organization for $15,000 a year.
Gus and his cabinet is trying to figure out how to snow taxpayers on the "gift" money.
Cal South's grants are usually in the $2000-$5000 range for non-profit organizations; not city municipalities. The original amount was $65,000. Now it is $75,000? Cal South must be attaching parents bank accounts to get that much money in the Cal South piggy bank.
CalSouth is Encinitas and Cardiff. The gift was in support of your LOCAL community soccer programs. Programs that serve over a thousand local kids.
DeleteThe City is raising use fees. Now that is something to be concerned about since we are already paying for our local parks. The local programs will still be paying use fees, even though CalSouth made this donation. CalSouth makes large grants to support the development of fields because they know how difficult it is to have strong youth soccer programs without proper facilities.
Btw, 5 times $15000 is $75000. I'm using your numbers. If its $65 then its $65.
And 5 years is just a formality so that the City doesn't just take the money and not allow the soccer teams to use the fields. One would expect that the local soccer organizations will be able to use the park for as long as the park exists. Just like Cardiff Sports Park on Lake and the SDYS softball league (which doesn't serve nearly as many kids as the local soccer organizations btw).
DeleteThis does not "sell-out residential rights", it actually benefits a large portion of our residents.
2:11 PM
DeleteWhat a bunch of hooey. That 5 years was a specific requirement for the city to receive the money. Cal soccer south puts on regional tournaments. Check out their website. Cal soccer south requires that the group receiving the money be a 501c(3) organization.
Is the city a 501c(3)?
Encinitas Express is the 501c(3) organization. One of your local soccer clubs that serves over 1500 area kids.
DeleteCheck out:
http://www.calsouth.com/downloads/GRANT_APPLICATION.pdf
CalSouth puts on tournaments at facilities with dozens of fields, not five. Check out the Polo grounds (Surf) and the coming Oceanside El Corazon development (20 fields). Those are places for big "regional" tournaments (Surf Cup is international not just regional).
The regional tournaments you're scared of are held in Lancaster (34 fields):
http://www.lancastersoccercenter.com/fieldmap.php
Watch for local teams unable to get play time thanks to it being sold out to higher bidders...just watch.
Delete6:33 PM
DeleteMore hooey. The "grant" was made to the City of Encinitas. Encinitas Express wasn't involved.
The Encinitas Express has the recreational soccer, but their real money is made on the high fees charged to the more advanced players.
Encinitas Express was involved, look at the meeting minutes. The competitive fees are high but not as high as some other clubs. The coaches for competitive are paid. The rec side is staffed completely by volunteers serving approximately 1100 local children.
DeleteThe big concern should be the increase in fees. It will impact both Cardiff and Encinitas soccer clubs and the families in those clubs.
The fee schedule is fixed now. I can't imagine a scenario where there are "higher bidders". But time will eventually tell. Hopefully the park is available and used by our local soccer clubs and other local clubs, organizations and families.
7:39 AM
DeleteMore and more hooey.
This from Cal soccer south press release -
April 11, 2012 (Fullerton, CA) - The Cal South Soccer Foundation announced today it has awarded eight non-profit organizations grants totaling $117,500 to assist with soccer field development, program development and to provide equipment.
2012 Award Recipients are as follows:
•City of Encinitas (Encinitas, CA) -Field Development
•Club Deportivo (Port Hueneme, CA) - Small Equipment
•Fallbrook Sports Association (Fallbrook, CA) -Field Development
•Matrix Soccer Club (Riverside, CA) - Small Equipment
•Notah Begay III Foundation (Santa Ana Pueblo, NM) - Medium Matching (for programs in Southern California)
•San Luis Obispo Soccer Club (San Luis Obispo, CA) - Small Equipment
•Spartans Football Club (Yucaipa, CA) - Small Equipment
•Voetbal Soccer Club (Lemon Grove, CA) - Small Equipment
The city of Encinitas is now a small 501c(3) non-profit organization?
Of the $117,500 in total grants $65,000 of it goes to the city of Encinitas.
That $65,000 would have helped many organizations in the inner cities.
The city of Encinitas is spending $70 million dollars on the sports park and gets a $65,000 grant from Cal soccer south with the stipulation that Cal Soccer has use of the fields for 5 years.
Something's wrong in that arrangement.
The CalSouth grant is for the City of Encinitas thru Encinitas Express. It is for our local kids. Cardiff and Encinitas soccer clubs benefit (they are both members of CalSouth). Local kids benefit. Believe what you want, but you're wrong.
DeleteThere's nothing wrong with any of this. Also keep in mind tha tthe US does not have a formal infrastructure to develop players on a national level. Other countries do this through the established teams, but the US has to do it through local outreach with the competitive teams. That's why Beckham came over o play with the Galaxy. It wasn't for the Galaxy to win games, it was to further strengthen a national farm program to develop professional soccer. How does Encinitas figure in this? Frankie Hedjuk! So one of CalSouths jobs is to promote competitive soccer. How do they do that? They help to build fields. And yes, they can give to a governmental body - it's not a 501(c)(3) but it gets similar treatment by the donor. No fields, no rec program. No rec program, no competitive program. No competitive program, no national team. No national team, no Frakie Hedjuk! See how that works? Everyone wins! This is why the sports park is so important. Without it, we won't produce another Machado, Hawk, Tudor or White; all a source of great community pride.
Delete- The Sculpin
So Encinitas Express gave the money to Cal soccer south to give to the city of Encinitas. Why didn't Encinitas Express just give the money directly to the city.
DeleteSculpin , none of the above you mention needed the public to subsidize their after school activities.
Delete2:28 - of course they did! Beaches are maintained by the public and the public pays the lifeguard salaries. Little league teams and basketball teams play on school fields paid for by the public. The public, through various grants and gifts pay for after school programs including skateboarding, music, tutoring and social activities. While I described a fairly detailed and specific program that is funded by both public and private, don't fool yourself into thinking that soccer is the only activity funded by the public. I, for one, and glad that my tax dollars are funding this sort of stuff. In my view, the government should really be in only 3 things; 1) protect its citizens physically and financially and keep them safe, 2) make sure every citizen has the opportunity for a quality education, and 3) make sure every citizen has quality health care. OK, a 4th one - maintain a transportation infrastructure. So basically you'll end up with a healthy, educated population that is financially secure that no one can invade - and doesn't have to swerve for a pothole. And yes, Lynn - this includes roundabouts!!!!!
Delete- The Sculpin
Cal soccer south gives out small "grants" to 501c(3) non-profit organizations. The city of Encinitas received $65,000 from the Cal soccer south foundation.
DeleteCal soccer requires that the grantee certify that it is a 501c(3) group. Did the city officials certify that the city is a 501c(3) group? Cal soccer south foundation could lose their tax exempt status if they aren't following their own rules.
Something is wrong with the Cal soccer and city of Encinitas arrangement.
No 11:15am. Encinitas Express helped the City secure the grant from CalSouth. CalSouth gave to the City. Encinitas Express helped facilitate it as a CalSouth member in Encinitas. CalSouth gives large grants for developing fields. Smaller grants for other things like field repair, equipment, etc. There is no risk for losing tax exempt status. They didn't get involved politically. They made a donation to benefit thousands of kids. Good for them. Good for us. At least those of us who don't see conspiracies at every turn.
DeleteThe Soccer Leagues pay the various school districts to use their fields.
DeleteCal soccer had strings attached to the grant. Cal soccer has the use of the fields for 5 years or no grant. Conspiracy - why would strings be attached.
DeleteThe soccer teams pay nothing to use the fields at Cardiff Elementary and Ada Harris in the Cardiff School District. There is a joint use agreement between the district and the city. It's a unbalanced deal for Cardiff taxpayers because they get to pay for field maintenance and get low priority for any alternate use of the fields. The city schedules the field use and locks up the dates a year at a time.
DeleteJust listen to you, people!!!!!! You're arguing about kids doing something with their lives! About parents being involved and interacting with other families. This is a good thing. Do you have similar feelings about the conspiratorial nature of after school book reading clubs at the public library? After all, those evil publishers want to get their hands on our impressionable kids - oh the horror!! The visceral vehemence exhibited by some of you against the use of public funds is virtually villainous!!
Delete- The Sculpin
7:06am, it's already been said. CalSouth is Cardiff and Encinitas. They want to make sure those clubs have access to the field they just committed thousands of dollars to. But despite the overwhelming evidence against all your arguments, you still believe there is some evil plot at work. Whatever.
DeleteSculpin, i've stayed engaged in this thread to show that there are people who cannot be swayed even in the face of overwhelming evidence. I'm pretty much done though.
Go Express! Go Mustangs! Go Community Parks! Keep the use fees low!
1:16 PM
DeleteYou said it all - there is an evil plot at work. Cal soccer isn't Cardiff and Encinitas. It is regional. Cal soccer gives a "grant" of $65,000 to the city of Encinitas stipulating that they have access rights to the fields for 5 years. What about the $70 million of taxpayers money paid to make the Hall property into a regional sports park to the exclusion of residents not into soccer.
The overwhelming evidence is that the Cal soccer south regional organization gave the city of Encinitas a $65,000 grant with the stipulation that Cal soccer south has rights to the fields for 5 years.
1:39 - it's the best $70M spent. If you feel that you will be excluded from using the park, I am sorry, but know that collectively our $70M is going towards a wonderful park and fields that will be open to everyone.
Delete- The Sculpin
Open to everyone? Perhaps, but not usable by everyone. An $84 million sport facility dominated by less than 1500 soccer kids means an investment of about $58,000 per player. That's a poor investment by an objective observer
DeleteRemember that it's not a community park. A name doesn't make it what it isn't. It's a special use park. Even Kristin Gaspar admitted this. And don't forget that all the children will be breathing contaminated air from the freeway. There is unimpeachable evidence that children exercising this close to a freeway is a terrible idea. The state recommends placing schools no closer than 1000 ft. to a freeway. Yikes, this sports complex is going to be a disaster for our children's health.
-The Huachinango
I love Huachinangos!! They are so colorful and yummy with a vera cruz sauce! But I digress - your assuming that 1,500 kids will have exclusive use of the park 24/7. And I'm not sure where the $14m increase in costs come from. But lets run with it. The park should give us 30 years of fun, so that works out to $2.8M a year. Lets say its open average 14 hours a day so total park costs run about $550 an hour. Now 1500 kids is 100 teams. So practice is 2 times a week for an hour and a half each, or 3 hours a week. Practice goes for 26 weeks. With each team using a half field to practice (4 fields) each half field gets used for 78 hours per tesm for a cost of $42,800 per team, or with 15 players per team, $2850 per player per year. What a bargain!!!!
Delete- The Sculpin
A bargain? You forgot maintenance, which has been estimated at $1 million per year. That's another $30 million in 30 years. Also fields will be closed once a year for a 3-month renovation, just like Leo Mullin. Soccer players tear up the fields. The other 59,000 residents of Encinitas get the short end of the stick. The soccer folks have plans for regional tournaments and increased use to expand their programs. Plus outsiders will be coming in and taking up the limited 420 parking spaces, and all the traffic in and out of the park will cause access problems to Scripps Hospital.
DeleteIt's a total ripoff and hurts the city!!! Will pensions be paid? Will the Pacific View property go to the developers because the city can't borrow any more money to buy it? Will streets be maintained?
-The Huanchinango
Sculpin -- You have visions of bouncing soccer balls in your head. Get a life, Dude.
DeleteSculpin and me and approximately 2000 kids and more (Express is over 1500, Cardiff Mustangs are several hundred, and the YMCA Pee Wee program is fairly large too -- they've played at Oak Crest in addition to the Y).
DeleteThere will be several hundred kids with visions of other types of sports bouncing in their head too. Adults who play in adult leagues will be looking forward to game day. There will be skateboarders thinking about getting to the skate park. And dog lovers going to the dog park.
You guys will be dreaming of evil plots and spewing falsehoods and hate on this message board.
Perhaps one of the problems is what another poster pointed out? With the exception of Lisa, there are no highly educated people on the City Council. Lisa, is a narcissist, so if it is not her way it is the highway. A lot of academicians are like this. But, Prop.A, Desert Rose and others just may be way too complicated for them to know what to do. Vina is not the brightest light on the bulb, and Sabine, well he is just looking for money and does a terrible job for our city. If he gets reappointed, and he probably will, anything goes.
ReplyDeleteI guess it is time to get out my old Sabine FOI requests, and then ask for the last 2 years from City Hall. I shared the old ones with the Council and asked, "Why haven't we bid this contract out, as we do other things?" The answer I got from one Council member is "Sabine knows the institutional history of Encinitas." I translate that to,he knows all the "dirt" in the City, not just this Council but all Councils and staff. Somehow, that doesn't seem to be a good enough answer, at least to me. Many of you might remember Jay Edgar Hoover, FBI director for a very long time. Many believe the reason he never got fired is because he kept all of the dirt he could find on every politician, and said he would release it if he were fired. I cannot verify if that is true, but it has been a common belief by many insiders in the US government that say it is true.
ReplyDeleteOMG, your comparing Sabine with Hoover!
DeleteAm I comparing Sabine to Hoover? You decide. I have already been threatened twice by Sabine for saying anything personal about him. Not interested in a lawsuit. If you don't think there is a comparison on a smaller scale, then you don't think it. No worries.
DeleteWill it never end. DEMA is determined to turn downtown Encinitas into the boozeland of San Diego. For the first time ever, the Encinitas downtown taste of main street event will provide wine and beer stops at various stores on 101 for an additional $10. Temecula Wine growers provide the wine and local craft breweries donate the beer.
ReplyDeleteIt's about time. Hey don't forget to piss in the palm trees in front of Marcos place. I will.
DeleteDoes DEMA bring in porta potties? Do the sip stop patrons use the 101 businesses restrooms? Will DEMA provide friendly little reminders that larger servings of beer, wine, well drinks can be bought at the Union and the Saloon.
DeleteSo we should call DEMA for any late night drunk problems, not Marco?
ReplyDeleteI think we should call the sheriff. Perhaps they need to put more men on the street between 12 and 2AM to enforce the laws already on the books. Then we should limit the number of drinking establishments. Just my two cents. I wonder how many sheriffs are actually patrolling in the late hours?
DeleteCall Dody and Peder, the vibrancy specialists!
DeleteWell maybe we should call all of them, except Peder who isn't working for us anymore.
DeleteEh, call him anyway. He sure helped create this mess, the king of vibrancy and revitalization. That is one fellow who did not know when to stop.
DeleteThe San Diego Reader reviewed two Downtown Encinitas bars.
ReplyDeleteD Street
Heavy bass and flip-flops meet at D Street in Encinitas, a hipster bar and grill that effectively transforms into a dance hall after 10pm. Be prepared to sweat. From a raised DJ stage, the small dance floor looks more like an orgy. The line to enter can get long, but it moves quickly. There are plenty of tables and booths. Partiers scream to songs by Lil John and LMFAO. D Street’s casual atmosphere is a great place to spontaneously end a night and bust a move, and it’s occasionally a spot for heated hipster dance battles.
Daley Double
This hip dive bar in Encinitas is a perfect place to serve up some serious dance moves. Dirty Monday’s deep house and dubstep paired with great drink prices mix well for free-spirited dance moves. Friday and Saturday nights, DJs spin popular hip-hop that flows into faster dance jams, perfect for making an impenetrable dance circle with friends.
Young and old alike sip and mingle in this intimate bar that easily transforms into a place to boogie. No cover and casual dress code make it a perfect place to have fun, sport a mustache, and have a more casual night out dancing to hip music.