When residents and cyclists complained to the city, staff made excuses such as that they didn't have enough money or that it was NCTD's problem.
Frustrated with City and NCTD inaction, some residents took matters into their own hands and organized a clean-up, which was a good start but didn't eliminate the problem. The next year, the vines were back.
Recently, cyclists have once again been seen on the 101 and Vulcan bike paths, and the once-ubiquitous puncture vine plants appear to have been cleared by rakes. How did that happen?
Encinitas Undercover has learned that in early August, Council Member Tony Kranz e-mailed NCTD staff asking to put together a joint effort by the City and NCTD to solve the problem. Within weeks, NCTD was on it.
In response to an inquiry, NCTD Right of Way Officer Tim Morehead writes:
NCTD has instructed our contractors to use hand tools and to drag burlap sacks around to remove the remaining goat heads from the ground on the east and west side of the tracks from La Costa Ave. to Leucadia Ave. Moving forward we will continue our efforts monitoring this area and looking for a permanent solution.Thanks to Tony Kranz for taking the initiative to fix a problem that has plagued the community for years, and thanks to NCTD for the quick response when asked. Why did no previous council members make a similar request years ago?
Good work Council Man Kranz.
ReplyDeleteNCTD wants something. As for Councilman Kranz - too bad you don't show any backbone when it comes to Vina's manipulations of the Council.
ReplyDeleteVina to Council - Repeat after me - strategic plan, strategic plan.
ReplyDeleteW.C. Varones worked on Tony's Kranz campaign.
ReplyDeleteYes, thanks councilman Kranz for your efforts removing goatheads on the NCTD right of way. And not to throw a sour note into the song, the mothership of goatheads is still flourishing in the median at 1200 N. Coast Hwy 101. I'm just sayin'...
ReplyDeleteVina to Kranz, "Why are you doing actually something good for the community? Didn't you get the Memo?
ReplyDeleteRepeat after me- Strategic Plan, Strategic Plan, Strategic Plan....
I keep telling you, you don't need to worry about finances and projects for the next few years. I have everything under control.... repeat Strategic Plan, Strategic Plan....."
Removing the goat head thorn plants is a positive, cooperative start. The City should push for the Bicyle Master Plan (BMP), the update of which was approved by the Planning Commission on January 17. We should have a DEDICATED BICYCLE lane in the RR Right of way, as already exists, intermittently, and has been on the books since at least 2005, South to Chesterfield, in Cardiff, and north, all the way to La Costa. Many other cities, including San Clemente and Solana Beach have wonderful bicycle and pedestrian lanes in the RR Right of Way. As I said, getting rid of the thorns is a positive start, and makes the existing sections of the bicycle lane in the RR right of way MUCH more useable. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCouncil was to approve the BMP Update, on February 27, but after that Agenda item was already published in the Coast News, Gus Vina, suddenly, mysteriously, cancelled it from the Agenda. The public was NEVER given any explanation. I asked to speak on it, anyway, as I had prepared notes, but was told by Mayor Barth I could only speak to the BMP during oral communications, not as a cancelled agenda item.
The BMP Update was to come back to Council during strategic planning, the process that will never end, and is a way that Council and the City Manager have been kicking a lot of important topics down the road, indefinitely. I only know that the BMP was scheduled to come back as part of the Strategic Planning process because I wrote Council, asking when it would come back, as it had been published, and wasn't continued according to Robert's Rules of Order and Parliamentary Procedure, JUST AS JEROME STOCKS USED TO DO.
Kristin Gaspar was kind enough to ask, and e-mail me that answer, not until the Strategic Planning process. The Strategic Plan has already been SET, folks. Now what we are being subjected to is just pure stalling.
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ReplyDeleteDr. Lorri, yes, of course you answer to the Encinitas City Council...just the fact that you don't seem to understand that is reason enough to reexamine the entire 'standing committee' scheme the City is using at this time. The City is liable for any and all decisions/suggestions that your committee makes, that's WHY they must be agreed to by the Council, the elected representation. Hopefully you'll agree to the lights in the new park. Perhaps the City Manager might have a word with whomever is overseeing/advising you from the Staff. meanwhile, good work, Tony!
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DeleteThe NCTD will never give up right away for a bike lane in leucadia. Solana Beach is a whole different story, because the rail in underground there. Your best hope is NCTD head Matt Tucker leaving in Dec. when he hits 5 years. Until then, we have to count on Tony to carry the flag. Thanks again Tony!
ReplyDeleteNCTD has given up right-of-way in all the Cities it runs through. thats a ridiculous comment. Long stretches of the bike trail are in Oceanside, Carlsbad, and Solana Beach. there is no good reason why they would allow for the trail. NCTD is a public entity serving us citizens. Bike riding and walking are synergistic with NCTD goals. The should not only allow it, they should be promoting it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure the bike trail in Oceanside is in the right of way. The ROW is much wider there than in Encinitas. they've never allowed the trail in the past, and I'm not aware that the answer has changed. The bottom line, though, is Tony has stepped up to help after many years of Jerome doing nothing.
Delete"east and west side of the tracks from La Costa Ave. to Leucadia Ave."
ReplyDeleteThe biggest Goat Head Problem is south of Leucadia Blvd. to Encinitas Blvd.- Why aren't they focusing on the highest priority area?
I'm told they are working on that section this week.
DeleteBut even prior to August, that area is greatly improved (perhaps by vigilantes?).
WCV
Guerilla goat head vigilantes. Dexters of gardendom.
DeleteI'm just glad NCTD is stepping up. Thanks Tony and Thanks Matt Tucker and NCTD.
ReplyDeleteBurlap sacks are a good idea
TEA BAGGERS,you will not do the work or expect to pay only WHINE. WHINE WHINE.
ReplyDeleteWhatever that's supposed to mean?
ReplyDeleteI am proud of my liberty beliefs and integrity.
Better than u war loving Democrats.
Who is just like Bush? Obama. That's who....
Most of u are fools to have voted for either of those two losers....
Here is the great work of the head kook- Vina
ReplyDeletehttp://www.encinitasca.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=3008
What a loser leading our City..... sigh....
Kranz removing thorns - his crowning achievement. How about the thorns of excess pensions and over-staffing of a small city?
ReplyDeletethats to tough for our current council... they will pass it off to the next council who will actually accomplish something less of course another million per year in pensions that should be going towards City projects.
ReplyDelete