Thursday, February 26, 2015

This could be the last year for Little League at Ecke ball fields

We wrote last year about the City giving away its option to a clean 10-year extension of the lease for the Ecke YMCA baseball fields, which put Encinitas Little League at grave risk of a loss of playing fields.  The change was negotiated by city staff, and passed unanimously by council without discussion as a consent item. When a member of the public informed the council a year later that they had put the Little League fields at risk, the council seemed surprised.

It now appears that risk has become a reality.  Encinitas Advocate:
Susan Hight, executive director of the YMCA, said in an email that the organization is developing a site master plan to serve members better, including expanding its footprint and renovating existing buildings. The plan could affect one or more of the fields.

"The YMCA anticipates finalizing their master plan site prior to July 2015, in advance of next year's scheduling session (for leagues)," Hight said. She also said the YMCA would provide open communications with families who are part of the sports leagues.
So the YMCA clearly wanted to terminate the lease early. Just over a year after being given the right to terminate, they already have development plans. But why would the city give away eight or more years of use of the fields with no good alternative for the Little League?

Parks and Rec Director Lisa Rudloff is sticking to the highly dubious city line:
Rudloff said the 30-day clause provides flexibility if either party wants to end the lease. As an example, Rudloff said: "If the city, through the parks master planning process, identified space to develop, the city would have flexibility to get out of the lease."
The city needing flexibility to get out of the lease stretches credulity.  The rent is $25 for the entire term, and maintenance and utility costs are only $129,000 per year, a tiny fraction of the Parks and Rec budget and a bargain for four lighted fields for which the city has no alternative for the Little Leagues.

So what the heck happened?  We can see three possibilities:

1) Rudloff's story is true.  Vina and Rudloff wanted the option to save a small amount of money, and either didn't know or didn't care that they were taking much-needed playing fields away from Little Leaguers.

2) Rudloff and Vina gave away the fields to benefit the YMCA or related development interests, for some unknown reason.  The fact that they negotiated this change and slipped it through the Council without public discussion lends credence to this possibility.

3) Some or all of the council members supported the YMCA development plans for some unknown reason, and Vina and Rudloff were just carrying out the council's wishes.  Unlikely as this may seem, it is bolstered by the fact that the council has neither fired Rudloff nor opened a public inquiry into this debacle that hurt thousands of Encinitas children's sports opportunities and made the council look foolish.  By not holding anyone accountable for the contract change, the council is admitting tacit approval.

What's your theory?

All four sitting council members who gave away the Little League fields have their terms ending in 2016, and at least three are expected to run for re-election.  Joe Mosca and Al Lerchbacker may want to call the Little League folks.

90 comments:

  1. If the council approved this and didn't realize what they were approving, they should not remain blameless. It is their responsibility, as our representatives, to get up to speed before they make a decision. If they can't do that, they don't deserve to sit in the big chair.

    We DO have a clueless council. That was evidenced once again at last night's meeting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Also, the City Attorney should review all land lease contracts. It's inexcusable that the changes to the contract were part of a consent calendar renegotiation.

      There needs to be a shake-up in management, including all heads of department hired by Gus Vina, our ex. If the incumbents do not want to take direct responsibility, they should hold the city attorney responsible. How could they give Glenn Sabine an "improved to excellent" re-evaluation?

      Sure it would take a lot of guts to replace the City Manager and the City Attorney.

      Kristin Gaspar has the most seniority, elected for the first time in 2010. Council is wrong to constantly defer to and praise staff. But it's management who is ultimately responsible for the errors; and the buck does stop with Council, when it acts to set policy, to delegate authority without understanding the ramifications of the decisions the members are making.

      Decisions should not be made out of fear. Caution is good; cowardice is not.

      Delete
  2. I wonder what Dennis Lhota, Lorri Greene and Sandy Shapiro know. They all quit the Parks and Rec. Commission for reasons they didn't state, except I heard that all 3 had issues with Rudloff.

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  3. Heads better roll for this one. Another big error like the creek pollution, city attorney wasteful costs, crumbling roads, who's watching out for taxpayers? Probably they will blame Vina since he is gone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Heads roll? This is Encinitas, where we praise staff for a job horribly done.

      Delete
  4. This is there plan to put lights at the hall park and decrease Cardiff property values and quality of life -

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agreed… you know its coming and you will not have to hold your breath for long.

      Delete
  5. 7:07- You have no idea how right you are. Just a matter of time. They will figure a way around Prop.A and that is why people are getting so disgusted.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Housing Element Update is a way around Prop A - if it passes.

      Delete
    2. How is having a vote "getting around" Prop A. It IS Prop A.

      Prop A doesn't prohibit rezoning or height variances. It establishes a process for the people to vote. Period. The city's HEU process is within both the spirit and the letter of Prop A.

      Ballot campaigns are messy and chaotic. I predict both sides will accuse the other of spreading fear and misinformation. In the end, the voters usually get it right. I trust the voters.

      Delete
    3. Good; the voters proved we want to be able to vote on increases in zoning density. So the housing element update will be a citywide vote.

      But when the voters passed Prop A, we weren't thinking there would be a plan pushed by the City to upzone citywide, through the ballot. Council and the communications specialist will use fear of being without a certified housing element as a pitching point for city wide upzoning, in one fell swoop.

      I trust the process of democracy. I don't always trust the processors. Power not only corrupts, it can distort public perception.

      Marketing is used in attempts to defeat the widely held desire to maintain our quality of life, to preserve our community character. Marketing jive and jingo is employed, relying upon the myth of affordability.

      All this when the actual numbers of existing affordable housing have been miscounted and misapplied through erroneous population projections, as enabled by staff and SANDAG, under Jerome Stocks.

      The spirit of Jerome Stocks wages battle from the sidelines, on behalf of those whose bottom line is profit through densification, claiming affordability, but seeking maximization of capital through exploitation of our community assets.

      Delete
    4. Stocks was incapable and the pension increase in one evening explains his fiscal philosophy rooted is ignorance. But his companion in stupidity was Barth, equal to the task.

      Delete
  6. 4. All of the above.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anything less than the firing of Parks and Rec Director Lisa Rudloff is unacceptable.

    All of Gus Vina's Cabinet needs to go. Rudloff, Pruim, and Murphy for sure. Any Council person showing support for these three will reap the fate of Jerry $tock$.

    Next!

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  8. At least one city council member knew about the change in the lease with the added 30-day cancellation clause. That is Tony Kranz. He revealed this in a private conversation. He didn't have a good reason for letting it slip through as a consent item, except that Vina said it was OK. Council member Lisa Shaffer, in her blissful ignorance, also let it slip through, even though she says she reads everything.

    I agree that Rudloff needs to go, as well as Pruim and Murphy. Pruim made a fool out of himself on Wednesday night when he answered incorrectly about why temporary barriers had been set up along the railroad right-of-way on San Elijo Avenue in Cardiff. He said NCTD was doing soil sampling for double tracking. Duh! Double tracking was done years ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa Rudloff is paid $160,000 per year.

      Are we getting our money's worth?

      Delete
    2. Yes, City Hall needs a shake-up, with the new City Manager. That's what Oxnard got, and what we need. The City Attorney and all heads of department appointed by Gus Vina need to be reviewed.

      Vina over-promised, through his Strategic Planning, which was never concluded. Council was so busy setting goals, a plethora of directives was never accomplished, nor goals reached.

      Our ex city manager also over-paid those he hired to justify his own inflated pay and benefits. It would be better for the residents if Council were to ratify the City Manager's nominations for heads of department. There should once again be no "cabinet" category referred to in Encinitas policy and code.

      By the way, the heads of department are not part of the Public Employees Union, but their salaries, their potential raises are directly tied to raises of represented employees. Therefore, Courtney Barrett, the head of human resources, also part of Gus Vina's "cabinet" is not an independent negotiator when it comes to negotiating on behalf of the City with respect to salary increases now being negotiated in closed sessions.

      Maybe Kristin Gaspar and Mark Muir, and sometimes Tony Kranz and Lisa Shaffer, are heaping so much praise on staff because they want to give out praises instead of raises? Please, God, let it be so.

      Council, instead of giving out increases, should definitely consider salary cuts, particularly for those making over $100K per year.

      Delete
  9. I heard that Pruim was a cast off from Carlsbad and left because he had issues with the Carlsbad City Manager.

    How do we attract people like this, who are either on the way out like Vina and Pruim, or are grossly under qualified and inept like Jeff Murphy?

    It looks like when they do their recruitment they give them all a test a hire the lowest scoring applicant. The council is not well served by their advisors, but the only thing that they can do is to take control and demand higher standards.

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  10. Agree with that. Its appears that Blakspear is the only one up to that standard. The other are rubber-stamping retards without a brain.

    I got an idea. Lets offer 20 million dollars for a 6 million dollar piece of open space property. that is the mentality of Dalakranz and Shaffer.

    And Muir and Gaspar are owned by the developers willing to sell out Encinitas to pay for the fat pensions at City Hall.

    ReplyDelete
  11. add the communications officer and Philipps to the list of fires. Not that she's all bad, just that the position is not needed for a town of 60k. Fire deadwood Philipps too. Any thing he does (which is very little) is bad for Encinitas. City Hall needs a big time cleansing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Richard Phillips retired in December.

      Delete
    2. Gay but now the tick is collecting retirement at full pay

      Delete
    3. 12:22 PM

      It's this kind of rubbish that keeps this blog in the gutter. What an absolute lack of class.

      Delete
    4. It was a siri mistake. Gay was supposed to be Good. Sorry but kind of ironic. We all knew Phillips was openly gay and I for one don't care one bit about sexual preferences as long as it doesn't involve kids.

      Delete
    5. 1:59pm. Tell us about the things you do that exhibit class please. Your comments begs to differ.

      Delete
    6. 9:46 PM Hater post, with the kiddie porn suggestion? WC, you can do do better than this. Pathetic!

      Delete
    7. Richard Phillips is not openly gay and I as far as I know he's not gay period. I believe he is married as well and a Christian.

      I know for a fact that he is a good man regardless of his perceived sexual orientation. Not that it matters to me or anyone else on this blog.

      "We all knew"? Really?? Please share with us how you know this to be true.

      Delete
    8. Years ago he was dating a friend of someone I'm close to. He's not gay; not that it matters.

      Delete
  12. Pretty damned outrageous that Kranz knew, but kept quiet under Vina's spell. And Jranz is supposedly our sports guy...at least that's how he presents himself.

    Disgusting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If he knew then it was done on purpose. No one could possibly be that checked out.

      Delete
  13. Vina brought in all his own choices for heads of departments. That way they were all beholden to him and easier for him to control. He didn't promote anyone from within. In one case the highest scorer was at the city, but Vina still brought someone from the outside. He was on a major power trip. We should be thankful he is gone.

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  14. NEWS FLASH!

    Encinitas Youth Commission to meet Monday on how to fulfill the City Council work plan wishes.
    The Youth Commission is still confused on what the Council wants of the Commission in the required work plan for the year. Will the Youth Commission be teaching civic classes to city hall visitors? Perhaps the Commission will give tours of city hall much like the NBC pages. The Commission will be discussing the making of a video on life at city hall.
    If you have other suggestions for Commission work let the city council know.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Have them work on getting city council to cut pension costs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think that Mark Muir's son is on the youth commission--or at least he was a member.

      Delete
    2. No wonder the Youth Commission is confused if there is a Muir on there. Like father, like son.

      Delete
    3. I don't think they have very much authority. It is more of an experience for kids to put on their college applications. However, I am not sure if it is something that we should be paying for.

      Delete
    4. Pension reform will NEVER come from within. It will ONLY be achieved thru a voter ballot initiative created and sponsored by some motivated citizen action committee.

      Delete
    5. Good point. And the current organizations don not do anything. like Encinitas Leucadia Town Council. They don't do squat.

      This seems like something that the Encinitas taxpayers association should sponsor and organize. But they don't do squat it except for sit there and complain about everything. All talk. No action.

      Delete
  16. Fire Rudloff, Pruim, and Murphy for sure. Any less is chicken shit and deserves a boot kick!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No one will be held accountable. This city council represents special interests or is paralyzed by indecision.

      Delete
  17. None of the Commissions, except Planning, have any clout. Parks and Rec. Commission was never asked to get involved in the new Park. It does not maintain or have the directive to maintain the trails-sorry Sculpin. In fact, it has been asked to do nothing since Rudloff became the Parks and Rec. Director. That is why 3 long time Commissioners left.

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  18. This City Council better step up and fire some of these lame Department Head. Vina amassed lame people. Time to clean them out!!!

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  19. Donna Westbrook last week, nailed it. Good Job Donna!!!!

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  20. Donna is our community's tiger mom defender and bless her heart for it. I cannot refrain from breaking into a grin when she saunters up to the speakers podium, as I know we will always hear something spot on that we all wish our council would follow up on and make the positive change that is so needed. The community talent we have here should be running this city.

    As we have painfully learned, when you let certain staff hang on that should have been ushered out the door, like when our former mayor was booted out a couple of years ago, the results come up the same. The same with vina and his stacking of many positions that need to be shown the greener pastures of anywhere but here.

    A forensic audit would be a good thing and show us all where the great waste of our taxpayer dollars has gone and just who is responsible. Let the sunshine in. Enlightenment at last would be our reward.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definition of Forensic Audit:
      The application of accounting methods to the tracking and collection of forensic evidence, usually for investigation and prosecution of criminal acts such as embezzlement or fraud. Also called forensic accounting.

      This would be an interesting audit, but I highly doubt if any Councilman or woman would vote for it. The question is "Why wouldn't they?" They have been asked many times but the citizens, but every council has said NO. i wonder if the current council would be different.

      Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/forensic-audit.html#ixzz3T7XcXynz

      Delete
    2. Vina told residents and no doubt warned the compliant Council, too: "We don't use the word 'forensic.'" What, did he have a mouse in his pocket?

      Delete
    3. Sabine will be the one cringing when we finally get a forensic audit.

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    4. Donna Westbrook is a crank, and a self-appointed expert on everything. If she has such broad support, she should run for office. The truth is, she couldn't get elected dog catcher.

      I respect her right to participate, but she and others like her would be more effective if they chose an area of interest, became a recognized expert in that domain, and limited their comments to their area of expertise.

      Delete
    5. Anyone calling Westbrook a "crank" has something to fear from what she has to say.

      Delete
    6. True dat! Sounds like a Mikey or Jerome (is there a diff?) post with the fake-o "I respect her right to participate." Their inconvenient truth is that Donna is an expert in many areas...tough luck for them and those behind them.

      Delete
    7. ". . .Donna is an expert in many areas. . ."

      The thing about experts is, they have deep domain knowledge in one area. In fact, that's the definition of expert.

      City Council has to deal with all aspects of governance--they need to be generalists. They also need impartial, credible experts in focused topic areas to offer advice to help them make good decisions. Council tends to listen and engage when true experts offer input.

      But when someone dilutes their personal brand by weighing in on everything, they will rightly be ignored.

      I know this is difficult for some to accept, but it's simple truth. If the regular open mic speakers want to be taken more seriously, they should get together and delineate clear areas of expertise, and stay in their lanes.

      Over time, if you do your homework, and show a depth of understanding in your focus area, you would see a different response from Council.

      Look at how your opposition does it. The head of the Chamber of Commerce only appears to speak on local business issues; Same with DEMA, BIA, Rotary, Ecke, etc.

      Delete
    8. "Rightly be ignored"?? You wish. Again, you clearly have something to fear. What specifically frightens you about what she says?

      Delete
    9. Donna has been right more times than she has been wrong. You don't have to be an expert to figure that out.

      Council needs to listen more to the people who put them in office.

      As Donna suggested at the last meeting, we don't need a Communication's person. Her suggestion was abruptly ignored..

      Delete
    10. 11:28, I have nothing to fear. In fact, I'm probably more in agreement with Donna on issues than you might think. It's just frustrating to me to see a group of people so dedicated, and yet so disorganized. My point isn't about Donna per se. It's about the whole group of regulars.

      If Donna is an expert in "many things" then what exactly are those things, and does she limit her comments to those things? What about Andrew Audet--in what specific domain does he speak with authority? What about Al Rodbell, Shiela, etc. Julie didn't win, but I think she has established herself as a serious voice on land use and preservation issues.

      If I wasn't sympathetic, I wouldn't be offering ideas on how the group could become more effective.

      Put it this way: If I have Steven Hawking, Donna Westbrook, and a licensed plumber on my speed dial, and my toilet backs up, who do you think I'm going to call? That's the power of specialization. It's not that the tradesman with a GED is smarter than Donna or Professor Hawking--he's probably not--but he likely has domain knowledge the other two don't. Now, if I have a problem involving the warping of space-time near a black hole, Hawking gets the call. The problem is,after watching Donna and the regulars speak for years on any and every thing imaginable, I have no idea what I would call any of them for, specifically. And they wonder why they are "abruptly ignored" by Council.

      That's why.

      Delete
    11. Then I've got an idea for you, since you're so frustrated at what you perceive as the "disorganization:" introduce yourself to her and give her some of your ideas as to how she could be more effective. No one's taking you're "well-meaning advice" until you step out from behind your anonymity.

      And as for being an expert - who do you suggest the council call in when they make their blunders? Staff? They do that on a regular basis, see where it gets us. Give us names of your "experts" and then we can compare whether Donna is the more fit. Spoiler alert: anyone you suggest who currently works for or represents the City will not count.

      Delete
    12. Make that "your" well-meaning advice...unlike some ex-council members, i do know the difference :D

      Delete
    13. 12:27 What makes the five council members we have an expert in any area? They have had no experience or expertise in matters that pertain to running a city. Just because they run for office and get elected does not make them qualified experts. Based on past council people, I know this to be true. Some were lucky they got their high school diploma.

      Your theory on experts is quite flawed when it comes to those who are sitting on council representing us.

      Some of them don't read what is given to them and are ill prepared to make decisions. We have seen this time and time again.

      I'll stick with Donna. She makes more sense than all of them.

      Delete
    14. Did you read? Council are not experts, although some of them may have more experience in certain areas (e.g Muir on public safety).

      Council should be good generalists, as they will need to decide such a wide variety of issues. As generalists, that can and should depend on people who can speak with authority on specific subject matter.

      Delete
    15. Donna takes the time and makes the effort to study city documents, and past actions/decisions. She is far more informed and thus has more expertise than Council.

      Staff and contractors are not giving an independent unbiased analysis in their agenda reports. Donna, because she is informed, and intelligent, motivated to shine a light on the facts, is able to offer very well educated advice. She is able to point out the flaws in staff's and contractors pre-determined conclusions.

      Julie Graboi is also well informed about the process of quantifying and qualifying data. Her areas of knowledge, and her dedication, as well as Donna's, have benefitted our communites tremendously.

      The bottom line of community experts is not amassing more funding for operating expenses through more fees and taxes, in the case of staff, or greater profit, in the case of corporations and business owners.

      Community experts, and the community as a whole, want to preserve what we can of our character and small town quality of life.

      Donna is a "generalist," too, but an extremely well-informed, dedicated, logical and perseverant generalist. For those agenda items she investigates, she is often more expert than staff, who often tries to defend inadequate or misleading staff reports.

      Delete
    16. Muir could NOT run a foot without getting winded. Right, he's the kind of guy I want saving my life. NOT.

      If he pretends to know anything about public safety, it doesn't come through. Sorry, but the guy is as dumb as hell.

      Delete
    17. 3:24,

      Bill Belichick can't tackle, block, throw, catch or run. Would you say he knows nothing about football?

      Delete
    18. 5:01 Unless he has been elected by his city to represent the taxpayers, he really has no significance in this conversation.

      This is not football in case you didn't know. DUH

      Delete
    19. Bill Bellicheck is a genius!

      Delete
    20. Yep, all those football people are purdy darn smart! Yep!

      Delete
    21. Bill Bellicheck would lead this country better then any indivdiual now running- He is an operatational and motivational genius-

      why - ? Because he tells the truth

      Delete
  21. And what accomplishments has the new communications director had since she was hired? Anyone?

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  22. 12:27- They are continually ignored because every council member has his or her own agenda, and it is usually not what the people who stand up to the Council want. Just an observation from someone who has been on both the inside and outside of the City.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's also not what Vina's cabinet want, and they do hold a freakish sway over the council.

      Delete
    2. 12:56 I hope you are still not on the "inside". What a dumb comment.

      Delete
    3. 12:56, there is always some bias in any deliberative body. It's not either or. Both have an effect.

      Delete
    4. 1:52- Many of the comments on this blog come from people who work of the City and now don't. Funny you think it's a dumb comment. Personally, I have known many an "insider" that has given a great deal of insight into what and why the City does what it does. When they retire, they get to talk, although Vina used to hate it when they did.

      Delete
    5. 2:42 If former staff have nothing better to do with their time but comment here, they must be looking for continued importance. They won't find it here.

      We'll take Donna over former staff and current staff any day of the week. This gal knows her stuff, has read it, verified it, presented it, and has contributed much to this city. Council would be wise to open their minds to her intellect.

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    6. 3:38- If the former staffer wanted to be important wouldn't they post their own name instead of anonymous? I love Donna, and I have worked with her on several projects. But to say that a former staffer has nothing to offer, except to get continued importance has a chilling effect on some of us who have some information we would have liked to share. Obviously this is not the blog to do it.

      Delete
    7. 1:32 Well, you finally have it figured out.

      Delete
  23. My last thought on this. I understand no one is going to accept or even consider specialization as a way to be more effective. Ironic that the group that bemoans being "abruptly ignored" by council exhibits the very same behavior when suggestions are made--but I digress. This is worth every penny you paid for it.

    Today, as most days, I drive past the Chinatown restaurant next to 7-11 in Leucadia. For the 1274th day in a row, I did not stop to dine there.

    Why?

    Because the sign says "Chinese and Italian." Fair or not, I don't think they can be the best at both of those cuisines. If I am in the mood for Chinese, I want to go to a restaurant that is passionate and 100% committed to the craft of preparing that style of food. I might even want a focus on Schezwan or Cantonese. Same with Italian: Milanese or Sicilian?

    The less focus a chef has, the more diluted his expertise becomes.

    I just think Andrew Audet would be more credible if he focused on open government and procedural issues. Julie would be outstanding as a land use and community character expert (only). I could see Bob Bonde focusing on financial matters. It's not to say that no one else can have an opinion. Anyone can help contribute ideas or research to an expert behind the scenes, but there should be a single public voice that speaks with authority on specific topics. That person would have the time and charter to build a network and relationships that bolster their credibility in their chosen field.

    At the moment when you establish yourself as an expert, and can be seen to represent other people with similar focus, at that moment you become powerful, and people listen--even council--even if they don't agree.

    Just my .02.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 11:29- Why are you perseverating on this? Why is it so important to YOU personally when you won't even post your own name? Just my 2 cents. BYW, you should have put a $ sign before posting your $.02 cents.

      Delete
    2. Good question. I guess I don't like to see good people waste their time and talent.

      The frustration is evident.

      It's a natural human impulse to blame everyone else (apathetic voters, city staff, elected officials, etc.) for the current state of play, but that defines the problem in a way that we cannot control. In my personal and professional dealings, I've always been well served to ask "what can I (we) do differently to affect a desired result?"

      $.02 noted.

      Delete
    3. Don't lose sleep over it, 1:44. Worry about wasting your own talent. The folks whose time you concern yourself with are doing just fine without your advice.

      Delete
    4. 1:44 You sound so high and mighty like you are an "expert". In reading your posts, I find the opposite. You really have contributed nothing that we already didn't know. I think the smart people in Encinitas can figure out if a cook is good only at Chinese or Italian or if they want to visit and dine a place that excels in both. It can be done and has been done.

      Your two cents was worth just that -- two cents and nothing more.

      The people that speak before council have every right to do so. There is NO requirement to be an "expert" on what you talk about. If we were all experts, no one would learn a thing.

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    5. Absolutely agree. They have every right to keep doing precisely what they have been for years.

      They also have every right to continue complaining that they are ignored. And they have a right to perpetuate the cycle of destructive and combative relations with the city that helps no one.

      I support your right to do so, if that is your desire.


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    6. 4:42 Try and salvage the rest of your day if you can. You sound so miserable, but that is your right if you choose to be that way. I choose a different path.

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    7. Has anyone seen the most recent post on Encinitas Guerrilla? That's got to be the funniest thing I've seen about local in a awhile!!! So, what's the over under on a majority?

      - The Sculpin

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    8. Sculp –

      Please clarify.

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    9. Sculp –

      Please clarify.

      Thanks.

      Delete
    10. I think that piece is one of his (her?) best yet - and would that it was for reals.

      Delete
  24. Chinatown rules, and no, I've never had the Italian! A Leucadia institution. Try it before ya knock it!

    -MGJ

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  25. March Safety Tip

    Tsunami Preparedness and Awareness
    Posted Date:

    3/1/2015 8:00 AM.

    Tsunami Preparedness

    "With unstable geology and miles of low-lying, unprotected coastline, North County has the natural elements needed to create a tsunami, a Japanese compound word meaning “harbor wave.” Encinitas may be particularly vulnerable, believes Fire Department Senior Management Analyst Tom Gallup, due to the proximity of the offshore Rose Canyon Fault, which could generate a 6.2-7.2 magnitude earthquake that could trigger a series of major sea waves.

    “Tsunamis are rare, but can be devastating. Awareness and preparedness are key to reducing your risk,” advises Gallup.

    A brief Tsunami Advisory was issued for San Diego County on March 11, 2011 in the wake of the 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Japan. Japan also suffered from an ensuing tsunami, which further contribed to the major disaster. Learn more about the event here. We were fortunate, but like earthquakes, tsunami occurrences are not a matter of if, but when.

    In keeping with March 22-28 as Tsunami Awareness and Preparedness Week, below is an overview of this wild natural phenomenon. To obtain answers to specific questions, please contact the Fire Department at 633-2800 or astratakis@encinitasca.gov.

    Description

    A tsunami is a series of sea waves of local or distant origin resulting from major sea-floor displacements from large earthquakes, underwater landslides or exploding volcanic islands. A tsunami can travel at 450 MPH or faster. As waves enter shallow water, they slow down and can raise several feet. The first wave is seldom the largest. Damaging waves often follow for hours."

    There go the baseball fields.

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    1. Rose Canyon is a strike-slip fault, with side-to side motion that does not displace much water. Japan was a thrust fault with vertical motion.

      The ball fields are 200 ft above sea level. If they are gone, I think more people will be focused on the fact that LA is gone, and the other consequences of the giant meteor strike or Hilina Slump failure.

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  26. People lined the bluffs and shore line during that tsunami warning in Encinitas. Even the News 10 van was in the parking lot waiting for it. The lemming syndrome!

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  27. Attention - For all the users of the dog park -

    Dog Park Maintenance Schedule Announced

    Posted Date: (on the city website)
    3/3/2015
    The City of Encinitas has announced its maintenance schedule for the Maggie Houlihan Memorial Dog Park, which is part of the recently-opened Encinitas Community Park located at 425 Santa Fe Drive.

    The maintenance schedule will ensure that the dog park remains in good condition, and it takes effect March 12 as listed below:
    •The dog park will be closed every Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. for cleaning, turf maintenance and odor control treatments.
    •The dog park will be closed April 27 through May 21 for turf renovations and grounds maintenance.
    •If needed, the dog park may be closed Sept. 8 through 20 for turf renovations and grounds maintenance.

    City staff will evaluate the success of the first renovation to determine if the closures can shorter in the future.

    This schedule will be available for reference on the city website, and signs will be posted near the dog park to alert the public to the closures. In observance of the holidays, the dog park will remain open for Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.

    Please note that the dog park is subject to unscheduled closures after periods of heavy rain or other inclement weather.

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