Wednesday, June 11, 2014

6/11/14 City Council meeting open thread

The current city council has continued prior councils' practice of not providing written summary minutes of council discussion, but only "action minutes" which state the outcomes. Encinitas Undercover will provide a forum for observers to record what occurs at each council meeting.

Please use the comments to record your observations.

On tonight's agenda: finalizing approval of Gus Vina's budget, which increases staffing levels and costs, increases debt, and continues to underfund road maintenance and pension liabilities.

They'll also approve putting medical marijuana dispensaries on the ballot, but this is a mere formality as they are required to do so after the sponsors gathered enough petition signatures. Prediction: the voters will reject the dispensaries by a landslide.

And of course there's the giant land giveaway to San Diego's Botanic Gardens.

95 comments:

  1. Wow! 45 minutes in and no snarky comments. Good job WC perhaps we can have some real solutions from all who blog here as to what we need from this council.

    I think Gaspar is doing a job tonight so far. I think she's alot smarter than some give her credit for. The girl does her homework. Barth looks a little out of place.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You the old codger that she used in her sand/rocks demo? Obviously the rocks were transferred to your head.

      Delete
    2. that is funny 5:07 I thought Barth looked relieved to be at the end. I think she is glad she is not in the drivers seat. She knows we are headed off a financial cliff and she is baling just before we get there!

      Delete
    3. Barth's fingers are getting all itchity for her Del Mar Fair ticket punching position - where she Peter Principled out

      Delete
  2. Pave paradise and put up a parking lot. Love it! Great quote. This time I'm with Shiela. Stop cutting down trees!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gaspar ding a great job? Gaspar approves Vina's budget. Vina misled the public and the council on Lew Edwards. Vina has increased city debt and Gaspar has been ridign shot gun. Now as Mayor Gaspar keeps driving teh Encinitas bus of financial ruin

    Gaspar= failure to hold Vina accountable and accept a bogus budget and more city staff lies that threaten the city's well being.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agree. part of the same problem….

      we need real change at City Hall.

      Delete
    2. Wrong. Gaspar and Muir voted NO on the irresponsible Barth-Vina budget.

      Let's be careful with our facts, lest this blog become a cesspool of lies like the city council's Prop A ballot argument.

      Delete
  4. Okay, 9:37, put up or shut up. Either take out papers next month and run for Mayor, or Shut the XXXX up. You whining Lil' BXXXX! As for the bus, you're the crossing guard. Try sobering up next time you want to criticize.

    9:37 PM = failure as a human being.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And 11:12, you are contributing how, exactly? By protesting too much when Gaspar's attacked? Boo hoo, she's a bought-and-paid for parasite.

      Delete
    2. Gaspar -along with the full council- approved all the bad budgets in 11,12 and 13-including VIna's
      Gaspar has voted to increase debt by $10M
      Gaspar has voted to increase debt service to banks
      Gaspar has voted to take $7M from projects without paying it back
      Gaspar has voted to hire Vina's approved to 135K spin doctor in 2013

      These facts are not criticism, they are what they are- Gaspar's record of mismanagement and waste of taxpayer money.

      No attack - just the facts

      Fact Thrower

      Delete
  5. 9:37 I'm not a Gaspar supporter, but at least tell the truth. Gaspar and Muir voted NO on Vina's budget. Barth, Shaffer and Kranz voted YES. You build credibility with truth not lies!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looks like folks have given up on this City Council. No wonder.

    Maybe next one, will be able to turn around the pathetic direction of City Hall.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I posted at 9:37 -

    YEs, Gaspar did approve the budget of last year that included Vina's shady accounting. Yes, Vina failed to hold Vina accountable for his misleading teh council on Lew Edwards.

    What is Gaspar doing about Vina- nohing
    Why was last nights budget put forth- by Vina, who Gaspar (and the council) fails to hold accountable.

    Gaspar HAS approved Vina's budgets in the past.

    Her vote to oppose last 's night budget is political theatre.

    Gaspar has been in opffice 4 years-

    debt under eladership- skyrocketed
    interest payments to banks under her leadership- skyrocketed.
    city financial well being under leadership- deteriorated.

    The post is accurate, Gaspar has approved Vina's budget- last year. There was no reference to this years budget.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True, but extremely misleading given that the council voted on Barth-Vina's latest irresponsible budget last night.

      Thanks for the clarification.

      Delete
    2. 7:03 AM.

      Weenie, period. Obvious you do not have any leadership qualities.

      In fact, you are operating like Barth and Audet.

      Delete
    3. Thank's Mikey

      Delete
  8. Gaspar is a sham do as I say note as I do.Showmanship does not equal Leadership.I so tired of hearing ( as it relates to and excellent ) STOP IT!

    ReplyDelete
  9. So you are going vote for the dunce that's also running for mayor?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Kranz is not even a consideration for me! Hopefully, we get some real talent. Otherwise, I'll have to settle for the pothead!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Be careful calling Gaspar a "pothead". Her mom might get mad.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I said this before, and I will say this again. Under Gaspar as mayor everything will remain the same as in the past with this council and that is 3-2 vote with the majority of Barth, Shaffer and Kranz.

    The lone ducks Gaspar and Muir will have no leverage. She will be a lame duck mayor, but apparently that is what people want for our city.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "I said this before ..."
      How can that mean anything to anybody if you post anonymously?
      Who are you? Who is "I"?

      Delete
    2. 12:28 Why do you care?

      Delete
    3. Only that you live in a weird, self-obsessed place that you think "I said this before .." matters when you are behind an "Anonymous" screen.

      Delete
    4. 2:47 I could say the same for you now, couldn't I as you post under Anonymous? Believe it or not, people read Anonymous posts. I know you do.

      Delete
    5. I know I post anonymously, as are 95% of the posts of this blog
      But I don't start a post with "As I have said 1000 times before, ...", as if anybody could separate, identify, or recognize your previous anonymous posts as something you said before.
      It is just silly, but go back into your self-obsessed world.

      Delete
    6. 4:39 You can shut the F up any time.

      Delete
    7. 4:39 Apparently you dip shit, you can't read either. I didn't start my post "As I have said 1000 times before". Go back and read it again dummy.

      Delete
    8. Some things bear repeating, whether posting anonymously or other wise.

      Delete
    9. Back in that self-obsessed place yet?

      Delete
    10. 8:55 Do you have anything to contribute to the subject of this blog?

      Delete
  13. Gaspar a lame duck Mayor?

    How about Gaspar is lame-

    If Gaspar truly beleived in leadership, open government and fiscal responsibility she would

    1. Apologize for the prop A ballot statement lies
    2. Immediately notice, suspend and make a motion to fire Vina for his performance in failing to disclose important financial information during the Lew Edwards Hearing.
    3. Fire Sabine
    4. Stop the ruse caused a housing element that is an attempt to circumvent PRop A, Hoodwink the public and destroy community character and quality of life.

    3.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 11:58 Agree with you.

      Why were none of the budget concerns even discussed last evening?

      Delete
    2. Gaspar and Muir made statements about not agreeing with the budget and debt, but there was no point arguing because the troika were set on pushing it through.

      Delete
    3. They originally said that the Housing Element would happen in 2016, and that residents would get to vote on it. I see another lie!!

      This is they way they work. They give a fake date then push it through under the radar.

      Delete
    4. No point in discussing the major budget? Interesting. And, that is why Gaspar will be a lame duck mayor.

      Delete
    5. 1:14

      I believe you are correct! I had not thought about it. Gaspar and the council of cronies is planning to put the housing element overlay zone on the ballot this year to defeat Prop A

      I can not believe I was actaully resting easy- it is Barth's legacy destroying our community character-

      They know if they puyt it on in 2016 a presdidentail election more people will vote.

      They are cunning!

      Bruce Ehlers and others please begin preparing. This is going to happen this year. Vina is a political snake-

      Delete
    6. Encinitas UndercoverJune 12, 2014 at 1:58 PM

      Well, Muir tried to get staffing levels on the agenda a few weeks ago, but the Troika refused to discuss it.

      And there has been much discussion of the Troika's overpaying for Pacific View, which Muir and Gaspar spoke against and voted against.

      So given that it was a done deal that the Troika were going to approve the budget with no changes, exactly how long would you have liked Muir and Gaspar to filibuster?

      Delete
    7. 1:58 The budget seems like a very important item to discuss rather than taking a great deal of time talking about a community garden when no one has even submitted an application. Would have been prudent for one of them to ask if an application had been submitted. Could have saved a lot of time.

      Delete
    8. 1:58 Muir and Gaspar will not get any where until there is a change on council. Their voices will not be heard to make any difference at all.

      I see it happening week after week.

      Delete
    9. Unfortunately, what comes with their fiscal responsibility are developers galore and THEIR favorite "tool," density bonus. Muir and Gaspar will sell this town out from under us, claiming their "hands are tied" as they collect developer contributions and owed favors.

      Delete
    10. I disagree - as long as they're in the minority they have to compromise. Does Julie understand she could be the swing vote on every major decision of the council? Based on what's been written on this board she's certainly not in the B/S/K camp, and she doesn't really fit into the Gaspar/Muir camp. Is she ready for such a role? I guess if she totally blows it it's still better than what is occurring now.

      - The Sculpin

      Delete
    11. Julie has no vote on the council . She hasn't been elected to anything.

      Delete
    12. 7:35, you are a truly deep thinker.

      Delete
    13. The lady representing the 501(c)(3) non-profit group that wants to run the Community Garden at the EUSD site on Quail Gardens, in Encinitas Ranch, said that WASN'T true, 2:42.

      This community volunteer, associated with the non-profit, insisted they had gone to Planning many times to get an application, to begin the process of installing the raised beds.

      This was Teresa Barth's agenda item, #12A. Neither she nor anyone else asked Planning Director Jeff Murphy about this "discrepancy" in the alleged "facts" he had stated at the begging of the agenda item.

      He wasn't prepared with a staff report, because for Council Member initiated agenda items, the Council Member who brings the item forward is supposed to provide the Agenda report. Council did a terrible job of asking Teresa Barth and Jeff Murphy questions about what Barth had submitted as her Agenda Report for Item 12A.

      Delete
  14. Another Shaffer apologist "newsletter" where she says she'd like a cap of $2M for the Moonlight lifeguard tower improvement, but agreed to a max of $3M. Hmmmmmm...who wants to bet the project will come in at a penny under $3M? Not me. Shaffer actually thinks she's scoring points here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The tower will come in over budget and behind schedule, typical Encinitas city project. This city govt is a FAILURE!!

      Delete
  15. Shaffer has been a total FAILURE!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I bet Julie Graboi is more likely to vote along with the recent financially responsible votes of Muir/Gaspar than with spend-at-all-costs Shaffer and Kranz.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That was my thinking precisely! It would make for a very interesting troika indeed - a troika of financial reasonableness? It would also send some here into a frothing tizzy.......................

      - The Sculpin

      Delete
    2. So Julie would be on the side of developers as Gaspar and Muir?

      Delete
    3. Julie would be on the side of residents. The difference between her and all five sitting is that she knows a snow job when she sees one.

      Delete
  17. Frothing tizzy's are sometimes worth it, Sculpin. I think many of us are getting a bit tired of the spending spree the troika seems to be on. Tony's offer of 10 million when only 9.5 could have done it, or even less, actually. I wouldn't want Kranz negotiating for me on anything, and I hope in the future, the City doesn't let him negotiate either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes 3:03, I agree. Granted that I know next to nothing about Julie, my impression is that if Gaspar and Muir are sincere today, and remain so, then between the three there would be an actual discussion of and compromise on issues. It might even knock some sense into Kranz (I think he's still finding his way, albeit very expensively). PV is not a done deal - what happens if Julie kills it (I think a good thing)? Who would make her pay politically, and how?

      - The Sculpin

      Delete
    2. Pretty sure the term sheet required the financing to be in place long before the next council is installed. Probably the deal complete by then too. So that will be a moot point by then. But the next council will certainly influence what gets built there assuming they can find some more Other People's Money to start construction.

      Delete
    3. No, the Memo of Understanding re the terms, gives about eight months for the City to obtain financing. The purchase of Pacific View is not a "done deal" until financing is obtained.

      Delete
  18. Julie definitely on board with stopping the spending spree AND questioning how the budget is shell-gamed.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Who would of thought that Graboi, Gaspar and Muir would make a good team. Based on actions, not words, I DO!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Politics can make strange bed-fellows, as the saying goes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agree, 4:35. Decisions should be made not according to political alliances, but according to the facts of a given situation, and what is the best way to honor the public trust.

      Delete
  21. the Gaspar trolls have hijacked this blog, expect dirty tricks. Graboi has nothing in common with the failed leadership, cronism, mismanagement and malfeasance of Gaspar and Muir

    Graboi supported Prop A /Gasapr Muir lied on the ballot
    Graboi opposed 2013 budget/ Gaspar Muir approved Vian's budget
    Graboi stood for resident rights at desrt rose/ gaspar muir supported developers
    Graboi stood for resident safety at desesrt rose/ gaspar muir opposed resident safety
    Graboi opposed wasting 1.3m on MIG/ Gaspar wasted 1.3M on MIG and the list goes on

    Graboi is the read deal, Gaspar Muir are again trying to hoodwink the public by riding Graboi integrity coat tails

    Fact Thrower

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As usual 5:30 PM, in your haste to lambaste Kristin, you are once again completely wrong. Demonstrably so. And if you are wrong once, then... perhaps you are knowingly misleading the readers?

      MIG was Barth's personal choice, just like her ad hoc committee on Climate Change, Barth chose all the participants The council vote took place on Wed. August, 18th, 2009 to pay MIG over a million. When it all blew sky high, Diane, Patrick and Mike S. then cowardly claimed that they were somehow misled by MIG. Except Diane admitted on tape several times that the general overall design of the update was hers. "I wouldn't change a word." Diane answered the new CM at an ERAC meeting. 8-19-09 Motion made by Barth with support from Lananger and Patrick Murphy from the Staff.

      Kristin didn't take her council seat until much later, hence she couldn't have voted for MIG: and in fact, it was only she who fought against Barth/MIG between May of 2010 and September 14th when the process was halted. 180 degrees from what you so erroneously stated above. because, you are not about the truth. You are about damage, to others, and your own. Sleep tight.

      By the way Madame OCD, er, Fact Blower, there are medications for what you are suffering. Get help, please.

      Delete
    2. 6:44,

      Thank you for setting the record straight. You're quite a fact thrower yourself.

      Delete
    3. I'll go by what Fact Thrower says any day compared to 6:44 which sounds like someone we all know.

      Delete
    4. 6:44

      My reference was to the vote on 3/21/12 regarding an extension of the MIG contract. I stand corrected as all 5 council members voted to oppose extending the MIG contract.

      Public speakers that night opposed MIG and the waste of taxpayer money. About 8 speakers spoke including Graboi.

      Sadly - Gaspar and the council did vote that night to waste money by voting to hire yet and housing consultant- only this time they said it could not be MIG.

      Shortly after this vote to hire another consultant not named MIG the city council and Gaspar approved extending Peter Norby's contract and expanding Norby's role- interesting timing.

      Residents opposed the extension of Norby. Norby of course then went on to recommend 5 story buildings that benefit- David Meyers and Doug Harwood - 2 big Gaspar supporters..

      Now, regarding the other Gaspar facts I look forward to your explanations of Gaspar's voting record. Surely you will give us your explanations.

      Gaspar lying on the Prop A ballot statement
      Gaspar voting to approve up to $135,000 on a PR flunkie
      Gaspar leaving the building and refusing to vote on PV
      Gaspar awarding Cotton an extra paycheck
      Gaspar voting to keep the road report from the public
      Gaspar voting against resident safety at Desert Rose
      Gaspar voting to increase debt $10M while we have 200 unfunded projects
      Gaspar voting to take $7M from funded projects with no plan to pay it back.


      Fact Thrower

      Delete
    5. ah- still waiting on your explanations of Gaspar's record of mismanagement and malfeasance- do you have anything 6:44?

      Fact Thower

      Delete
  22. I've been told that Gaspar and Muir like both Graboi and Blakespear and have actually said good things about both of them (even to their own supporters). This has been confirmed by many sources. We'll see if this admiration continues.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suspect they are just being gracious and will vote for another candidate yet to be declared.

      Delete
    2. I think EU is absolutely correct. The niceties don't last long when your opponent is trying to win the race.

      Delete
  23. I wish the City Council would really listen to citizens on both sides of whatever issue is out there. I would like to see our council be examples of leadership,courage, ethics, common sense, and intelligence. But I wish for a lot of things that never happen, so there is that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 7:13 This is politics. Your wish and desires will never happen.

      Delete
    2. I concur with 7:13. 7:40, if we don't envision positive change, it can never happen. So I'll never give up hope. I may get discouraged, or disappointed, but hope burns eternal.

      Delete
  24. Graboi is running for what she stayed at the council meeting last night for about an hour,left early and spoke to nothing.Do you call that a real candidate ?
    I don't

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Encinitas UndercoverJune 12, 2014 at 8:29 PM

      You know what you just did, right?

      You went Full ....

      Graboi has been attending and speaking at meetings frequently, for years.

      Blakespeare? Never seen her before.

      Gaspar and Shaffer, for that matter? Never seen around council until all of a sudden they decided they'd like a nice city office with a title.

      If that's the best you have to throw at Graboi, she's going to win in a landslide.

      Delete
    2. 8:20

      Graboi- actively walked street for PROP A
      Graboi- stood for resident safety at Desert Rose
      Graboi- has the courage and character to stand up to Vina when Gaspar and Muir wilted like limp flowers
      Graboi- Has the cajones to spaek out against the 2013 budget mismanagement

      Yes- that is a real candidate- try this on

      Gaspar- said she was for family values then lied
      Gaspar- said she was for responsible spending then handed out extra paycheck
      Gaspar- said she would hold Vina accountable- then voted to give Vina a PR Spin doctor
      Gaspar- said money should go to residents- then voted on a survey to benefit her husband

      Fact Thrower

      Delete
    3. Hahaha 8:20 WHAT A TROLL!!!

      Delete
    4. I believe Julie left after about an hour because she was attempting to go to the DB bonus meeting re the Jason project, which was disingenuously and intentionally set to conflict with the Council Meeting, last night.

      Delete
    5. You are correct, 9:16. She not only attempted to go to Jason, she did, and we neighbors got to meet her :)

      Delete
  25. I must say Graboi just might win this. We can help in some way, I'm sure. I'm, of course not talking to people who don't like her, or are just ignorant in what she has done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What she has done ????? What would that be ?? Once she announces she become just another rat fink politician .

      Delete
    2. Geez 10:10, why do you even bother getting out of bed in the morning? Ha.

      Delete
  26. What is Graboi's position on Vina, Density Bonus, roundabouts, lifeguard McCastle, staff levels?

    ReplyDelete
  27. Again! Graboi will be one vote only.One vote gets you nothing.Do you all remember Ralph Nader and that's way we had bush for 8 years .Divide and conquer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Better to have one independent vote representing the residents than another partisan ideologue representing Smart Growth, developers, or Vina's bureaucracy, no?

      Delete
    2. That's not why we had Bush for 8 years. We had Bush because Gore ran one of the worst campaigns this side of Mitt Romney. He came across so wooden, it was unbelievable. He showed zero passion.

      Couple that with a lot of strength via the religious right, the south, and most importantly, a funky voting system in Florida and you got a Bush win. Don't blame Nader.

      And remember, we do not have a direct popular vote, it's the electoral college, with the winner take all system per state.

      Maybe take High School civics again before trotting out that tired carnard..

      And remember, Gore couldn't even win his own state (Tennessee)

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2000#National_results

      Delete
  28. 11:02-Graboi's position on Density Bonus ought to be clear to anyone paying attention. It was she and others in Olivenhein that fought off Marco Gonzales and the developer that wanted it out there. The citizens sued and they won. Marco is going to appeal but that's not Julie's fault. When she announces her bid for council, you can ask her the other questions. She will announce by the end of this month.

    ReplyDelete
  29. You can say Julie will only represent one vote but that one vote is one for the community of citizens and not for the entrenched powers we are trying to overcome. This will put on notice to the remaining three up for election in two years to get on board or be shown the door at the very first opportunity. Now if a Prop A mayoral candidate manages to join in, look out, here we come. The flood of support will be telling and overwhelming and at long last.

    ReplyDelete
  30. PROP A won buy one percent I don' see flood of support ,what are you smoking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The percentage was greater than 1%, and would have been much greater than that, but for lies and propaganda disseminated through Building Industry lobbyists, staff, Council and city contractors through the not independent report taxpayers paid for through Rutan & Tucker.

      Delete
  31. We will smoke you naysayer when we take back our city from the hands of scoundrels! And those who supported Desert Rose development will be remembered for their role.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Just to be clear, Desert Rose hasn't been defeated. The developer has been required to do a full EIR.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Read the final judgement. If there is an appeal, it will be hard to overturn with a win at the Planning Commission and the Superior Court.

      Delete
    2. The Desert Rose project has been defeated, absent an Environmental Impact Report. Since an EIR is required, Council, at some future date, must reconsider the project in light of the EIR and environmental impact alternatives, which are mandated, through the report.

      Delete



    3. SDCCU was accused of bank and mortgage fraud

      http://image.bayimg.com/1daa6e5ac30cc6d280005dd001c4c09fd27b4da8.jpg


      And now a former EVP is suing them for covering up bank and mortgage fraud.

      media.utsandiego.com/news/documents/2013/10/28/SDCCU_Complaint.pdf


      Chase Bank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America weren't so bad after all.

      Delete