Oops! Kranz says the quiet part out loud

From the Inbox:

In this clip from Wednesday's council meeting Kranz voices his concern that the majority choice, Joy Lyndes, lives too close to the D3 map border and may get redistricted out of her seat next year when the districts are redrawn. Getting over excited while pushing for his Hubbard replacement, Brett Farrow, he slips and not only indicates that the map was drawn to screw Muir, but admits that the entire council - not just Tasha - collaborated on the district maps so that "every council member wasn't competing against one another." Brown Act violation, anyone?

2/24/21 City Council meeting open thread

 Please use the comments to record your observations.

Anti-maskers occupy Seaside Market and Lazy Acres, harass customers and employees, steal food

 10 News:

Deputies responded to the Lazy Acres Market on Encinitas Boulevard around 6 p.m. Deputies say a group of about a dozen people were refusing to wear masks and yelling at store employees and customers. Management asked the group members to leave, but they refused. Deputies were able to get the people to leave the property.

Around 7 p.m., deputies were called to Seaside Market on San Elijo Avenue in Cardiff for another trespassing incident. Deputies say a group of people refused to wear masks and were yelling at store employees and customers. They were asked to leave but refused.

“They opened up some canisters of yogurt, some chips, just started eating it pretty blatantly throughout the store without paying for it,” Seaside Market General Manager Austin Davis, said. “(They were) throwing stuff around when we asked them not to. Again, just generally being disrespectful.”

2/17/21 City Council meeting open thread

 Please use the comments to record your observations.

City to dump another $1 million into abandoned school, hire social media propagandist

 Wow! They sure are flush with cash down at City Hall!

Union-Tribune:

Encinitas should pay for renovation work at the long-closed Pacific View property, hire a communications specialist and focus on two housing-related issues in the coming year, City Council members agreed last month.

[...]

The council’s fourth item on the top priorities list was improving the city’s online presence by hiring a communication specialist. Blakespear said other cities do a better job than Encinitas in regularly communicating online with residents.

“We can mobilize for things that are urgent, but we don’t have a consistent presence,” she said.

Kranz noted that the city did have a communications specialist some years ago, but her efforts sparked controversy.

Marlena Medford was hired by former city manager Gus Vina in late 2013. She established the city’s Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram accounts and won two state awards for excellence in communications, but one of her innovative communication efforts --- the use of the e-townhall system called PeakDemocracy to collect comments on a proposed citywide housing planning document --- generated huge controversy in Encinitas.

The Peak Democracy and Pacific View boondoggles were two of the most amusing episodes of city council incompetence in recent memory. Take a stroll through the archives here:

Peak Democracy

Pacific View

Encinitas Viewpoint is back!

From the Inbox:

With so much happening in our city, the EVP team decided to come together and bring back Encinitas Viewpoint. In the upcoming months we will discuss everything Encinitas, with particular focus on all the big issues of the day.

Want to hear the latest goings on in our city, city council and our neighborhoods? Want to get involved but don't know where to start? Sign up for this Thursday's Zoom meeting and let's talk! Our regular hosts, Julie Thunder, Susan Turney, Alex Riley, Kevin McClave, Steve Meiche and Cindy Cremona will be stirring it up. All are welcome and we hope to see you there! 

When: Feb 18, 2021 06:00 PM Pacific Time

Please register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMuc-qgqz0oG9Kf_e_4OO6trsB7MNc_Xu43

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Questions? Please contact encinitasviewpoint@gmail.com

City to create permanent homeless bureaucracy

 From the Inbox:

On the 2/26 City Council meeting agenda that as usual, this council downplayed until game time.  The Homeless Action Plan will ratchet up expenses and increase homeless operations citywide:

1. New position creation for a dedicated City Homeless Manager and Coordinator
2. increased/newly-created temporary and permanent housing
3. Expanded safe parking lots
   
4. Additional brick and mortar operations for drug treatment/walk in clinics and day centers

This plan is far more comprehensive and extensive than was presented previously to the public.  City funding will create an entire range of services that include ADU incentives, motels, developments, shelters, parking programs, clinics, etc. 

https://encinitasca.gov/homelessactionplan/fbclid/IwAR0KzL6GEuQA7XcaxXEQGcMUOW-dSMqbXkWxToIEttDh4y02FJ1-Nj4l3ZI

2/10/21 City Council meeting open thread

 Please use the comments to record your observations.

City Council to create "equity committee"

 From the Inbox:

On this coming February 10 City Council Agenda: 2021-02-10 Item 12A Council Initiated Item - Formation of Equity Committee 

12A.

Council initiated item from Mayor Catherine Blakespear and Councilmember Kellie Hinze regarding the creation of the Encinitas Equity Committee. Recommended Action: The recommended action is to create an Encinitas Equity Committee; to appoint Mayor Catherine Blakespear and Councilmember Kellie Hinze as the City Council members assigned to the committee; to create an application for community member participation and do robust community outreach to ensure a diverse mix of applicants. The committee members shall recommend to the City Council for approval the members of the working group based on application.

Prop A heads to court

From the Inbox:

Your Proposition A Right to Vote is under attack from the building industry  – and from our own Encinitas City Council.   Proposition A ("Prop A"), passed by Encinitas voters in 2013, guarantees residents a vote on zoning density and building height increases.    Recent Prop A votes included Measures T and U, two high-density housing plans that failed because they favored developers over residents and did not deliver on the promise of affordable housing.  Yet our Council blames Prop A, not their failed plans, as the obstacle to complying with state law.