Encinitas Fire Chief Jon Canavan has resigned after two months on the job and will return to Poway as its fire marshal. Canavan said Thursday his change of heart was based on the large time and energy commitment needed to do the Encinitas job, coupled with unspecified personal issues.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Encinitas fire chief quits after two months
Del Mar Times:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Probably couldn't commit to the donut allotment that Muir established. These guys are paid too much and their pensions are absurd. Sounds like this guy got a better deal or didn't like the stink pile situation that Encinitas represents.
ReplyDeleteHe can do just as we'll in Poway and no stink pile and no Muir calling the shots from behind the scenes.
ReplyDeleteWell, not we'll.
Delete"Large time and energy" to do the job?? What the fuck is he talking about?? How much time and energy does it take to drive to Von's and buy milk or go get burritos?? Certainly he's not referring to putting out fires, everything burns it's self out as it burns to the ground. I suppose he's referring to the fact that in Enc he's expected to " show" as if they care where as in Poway they don't even bother to fight any fires. Go ask the residents who lost their homes in High Valley Estates.
ReplyDeleteGood riddence.
Or perhaps he - gasp - has scruples and refused to claim Santa Ana winds pose no hazard because, after all, "the wind blows just 10 miles an hour on average in a year."
DeleteHow many donuts does it take to watch your house burn down?
ReplyDeleteFeel the love for the firefighters...
ReplyDeleteHad Mr. Canavan served as a chief prior to his two months as chief in Encinitas and if not, will he now be eligible for a chief's pension due to his brief tenure as chief in Encinitas?
ReplyDeleteYes he will. He served just enough to milk the taxpayers for the next 30 years.
DeleteNo he will not!,it requires a year in the position
DeleteFire princesses. Pfff. What a job.
ReplyDeleteTake a task that was done as a communities voluntary task for hundreds of years and let the union get a hold of it. Now brainless tasks and fun stuff like sleeping, working out, cooking and eating, giving tours to MILFS and chicklettes bring in a salary and retirement at 50 of over $159, 000 per year... What a fricken sad joke to the real workers and tax payers of Encinitas.
These guys are ticks just like border patrol, lifeguards and TSA slackers.
Agreed. Would you support a candidate who's platform was pension reform hat did away with taxpayer funded pensions, through a hiring freeze if neccessary and the use of contract employees?
DeleteFor Sure…..someone includes that in their platform and they have my vote. Hell I'd even have to vote for crazy Sheila if she promised that in her platform.
DeleteThat and can Sad Sac.
Actually, a lot of the firefighting unions go back about 100 years. I'm not going to get into a dialogue on firefighters and whether they're lazy or not. They have to be on duty, and at times they have to risk their lives.
ReplyDeleteWe need firefighters, the issue is the pay and the pensions. Both are too high and not sustainable. I've seen their turnout to back guys like Muir and Stocks, our local RINO's...
ReplyDeleteThere is a City of Encinitas culture that encourages bad standards. It seems widespread and throughout every deparmtent. It seems that the worse they perform, the more they are rewarded. Then new fire houses have resulted in slower response times, and I think that it wrong.
Who is responsible for Rossini Creek when many experts who spoke against it and won the first lawsuit anticipated that something like this would happen? Department to departement we see the same thing over and over again.
It seems that once on council, our members become their environment. What happened to all of those promises to give citizens a voice at City Hall?
This year shop small local business.
ReplyDeleteUpdate on the Wednesday night transportation 2 workshop.
ReplyDeleteDirector Pruim promised several behind the scenes memorandums to the council that will never see the light of day as agenda items.
I have asked that all staff or City Attorney memos responsive to Council's questions asked CC Meetings should be added to supplemental agenda report materials, available online, after being provided to Council and scanned by the Clerk. I don't know if that request will be granted.
DeleteYes, at last Wednesday's Strategic Planning Transit Workshop Part 2, Public Works Director Glenn Pruim promised three or four memos would be provided to give more detailed answers to Council's questions. Once Pruim has responded to Council, one can submit CPRA requests (California Public Records Act) to review them, paying 10 cents per page for any copies requested. However, we won't know when they are available.
There seems to be a new culture of "memos" at City Hall. I feel that all these reports should come back at future Council Meetings. Probably there were memos before, but this practice appears to have increased under Gus Vina.
Anyone who would like to review Glenn Sabine's "memo" about the ERGA development agreement can now do that too. But my point here is that since he was asked the questions at a public CC Meeting, at which time he was unprepared to answer, then he should report back and provide the memo, publicly, or a brief synopsis of it, at a subsequent meeting.
Just as Mayor Barth's State of the City Address should have been repeated at a regular Council Meeting subsequent to her State of the City Address Event sponsored by the Mainstreet Associations and the Chamber of Commerce, which charged $20 per ticket. That "advertisement" was recorded, though, and can be viewed under Miscellaneous on the City's webcast archive page.
Sorry, I meant: I have asked that all staff or City Attorney memos responsive to Council's questions asked at CC Meetings should be added to supplemental agenda report materials, available online, after being provided to Council and scanned by the Clerk.
DeleteTest
ReplyDeleteThat Encinitas Fire unit is so fucked up - it just took him 2 months to get it. That's why Rancho Fire back out of the joint venture with them and the other 2 cities.
ReplyDeleteWhat's so screwed up about it, inquiring minds want to know....
ReplyDeletetest 2
ReplyDeleteAsk Jon!!!
ReplyDeleteWe have a GREAT FIRE DEPARTMENT! Based on the most recent community survey, the residents felt (by a 98% margin) that the Encinitas Fire Department provided EXCELLENT service.
ReplyDeleteExcellent service is what they are supposed to provide. You give them credit for doing the job they are being paid to do. You are an idiot!!
DeleteI agree with the last post! If you hate everyone who receives a public pension; you hate, firefighters, police officers, teachers, street crews, etc...
ReplyDeleteYou must be a lawyer or a cooperate creeper...
See 7:23 above. Learn something.
Delete6:19 and 6:37 are pension ticks on society.
ReplyDeleteSo Muir at $175k per year. Cotton at $200k per year, Pat Murphy at $150k per year, Tom Currden at $110k and a butt load of other fat tick retirees are the reason the City is broke.
ReplyDeletePass a pension taxing all pensions over $30,000 50% and give all the revenue to the PERS to pay for the huge unfunded liability of the program.
If you do that; tax everyone 50% over 30,000. Why stick it to pensioners only?
DeleteBecause it's excessive pensions that are causing the problem and they should contribute to the solution.
Deleteumm...social security has problems too. Not just pension system.
DeleteAnd tell residents we're in great shape every chance you get, whether Stocks or Barth - no diff.
ReplyDeleteNo leadership & no money. Greedy pensioners will kill off this city in the end.
ReplyDeleteThe fire chief who resigned claimed that the time commitment was too much for the job??? What does that translate to - some political controversies behind the scenes? What does this bloated staff of Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs and Sub Assistant Chiefs actually do? Barth was praising him up for his citing "personal" reasons as additional reasons for resigning and says everything is oakey-doeky with the excessive sub-command. Barth is a failure too - she was given excessive credit as a reformer because $tock$ picked on her. She won't achieve a thing during her time - she has to be dumped too. Boo her in the Parade downtown tonight.
ReplyDeleteIt's called trying to exit gracefully. What's he really going to say, the department is run like a kindergarten and the firefighters are a bunch of jackwagons?
DeleteHe's not going to admit he made a mistake coming here.
Maybe the new fire chief resigned after only two months because he didn't want to go along with practices or policy that is not optimal for public health and safety? Until he was on the job for awhile, he couldn't have known the complications and intricacies, the political posturing . . .
DeletePerhaps he doesn't support the fire dept. signing off on one-lane three way intersection roundabouts, with no cross streets on a main arterial, primary circulation element? Perhaps he didn't agree with the fire dept. having signed off on Desert Rose?
We'll never know. The previous poster is correct. The resigning Chief is not going to explain the real reasons why he decided he didn't want to be "in charge" of protocol with which he may not have agreed.
Encinitas Guerilla
DeleteWe are getting reemed by this fire department. San Clemente, a city with 60k population, similar geographic, demographic and general fire hazards spends less than $8 million a year for fire protection. Encinitas budget is nearly $13 million. Since the consolidation of fire departments the budget only climbed.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, the FD has a very poor performance record with regard to fire loss, response times and firefighter misconduct.
Dump the fire dept. Privatize the service.
DeleteDo any cities have privatized fire service?
DeleteWhat a liar!!!
DeleteBonde never quits.
DeleteCoal for you this year!
ReplyDeleteLet's implement a public safety review committee. They can take a look at the fire department, lifeguards, and the sheriff's contract. All volunteer no pay. Do not let city employee control committee. To much influence.
ReplyDeleteI had asked, as supported by Bob Nanninga, when he was a candidate, and to which suggestion all the council candidates agreed, at the public forum before that year's election, that we could create a separate Ethics and Safety Commission. Rachelle Collier had said it's a good idea, but would be hard to implement because of Council's influence in appointing the Commissioners. Good point.
DeleteWhat we got, instead, was a renaming of the Traffic Commission, which before had a similar legal status, in Encinitas, to the Planning Commission, with one Commissioner for each community, or five Commissioners, one each from Olivenhain, New Encinitas, Old Encinitas, Leucadia and Cardiff.
Under Lisa Shaffer's suggestions, we are now going to have two at large members of a "rebranded" Traffic and Safety Commission. Having more commissioners makes the commission less powerful, not more; it takes away some of its legal standing, as it is thrown off balance. For instance now three commissioners could be from one community, or two communities could have two commissioners, and the others, only one. Not equitable, nor wise!
Council couldn't add more members to the Planning Commission, because that is regulated by State Law. When Planning judgments, which can effect quality of life and health and safety, or Traffic decisions are made, also directly impacting health and safety, it is much more equitable for each community to have balanced representation, before the Commission.
I believe the ordinance to make these changes has to go through a second reading. I will be opposing it, will probably have to pull it from the consent calendar.
Also, if Commissioners have to have term limits, I believe Council and the Mayor should, as well. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Reselecting every two years was better, just as it is for mayor. That way we can replace, sooner, unsuccessful candidates for reelection or applicants for reappointment.
The Traffic and Safety Commission can decide to review the various public safety officer contracts, if two commissioners agree to do so, or if one does, for preliminary discussion, without a staff report.
When represented employees' contracts are negotiated, in closed session, we have not really had anyone fairly representing the City, that is, the citizens. Everyone, including the City Manager, in the past, have almost always been in favor of giving inflating benefits and salaries. In the "old days," Jim Bond had been an exception.
Executive Officers, such as the CA, CM and Heads of Dept. are not represented by unions, but their pay increases, or lack thereof, are tied to the represented employees. In the past the Director of Human Resources or City Manager have been the ones supposedly negotiates, on behalf of the City with the Attorney who represents the Public Employees Union. I do have to add that I believe that in the most recent past cycle no increase in compensation was given, after numerous closed session meetings.
What really hurt increasing our operating expenses in Encinitas, including our unfunded pension obligations, were the raises given under Jerome Stocks in 2005. I had spoken at the time, warning "We can't afford to give our public servants these kind of wage and benefit increases." I believe I was the only one there to speak against the raises.
Jerome Stocks had replied, "we can't afford not to."
No disrespect, but what's your point with the above. I would go with bullet points at the top. I think you have some good points to share with us, but it's like you're having an internal conversation. The written word is different you have to lay out the content so people can read and understand it.
DeleteI would lay it out thusly: A.) This is the way things are at the city. B.) these are the changes I suggest.
BTW, totally agree about Stocks being behind the big pension incerase.
My point was to reply to 3:25's suggestion: "Let's implement a public safety review committee. They can take a look at the fire department, lifeguards, and the sheriff's contract. . ."
DeleteState lifeguards are now issuing speeding tickets on 101. Watch yourself out there, not too fast.
ReplyDeleteHow fast were you going?
ReplyDeleteWell the road is rated for 65, so I was going 60. I'll win in court because its a state highway.
DeleteDump the speed limit.
Delete65 mph on our Hwy 101?
DeleteI hope you die soon before you kill someone.
Yeah that doesn't sound right. I thought it was 40, lower in Encinitas downtown?
DeleteI don't know what "rated" means, though. Sounds like 10:37 was testing some kind of road designation vs. posted speed limit? Either way, 60 or even 50 is nuts.
The speed limit through Leucadia, on 101 has been lowerd to 35 MPH. I called CALTRANS, and although this part of 101 is designated Historical State Highway 101, CALTRANS doesn't consider it a State Highway. It's given jurisdiction over to the City, more or less.
DeleteHowever, on City streets, the State mandates that speed limits are to be set, I believe on arterial, or collector streets, by an average MPH, after the various jurisdictions take a measured reading of the rates of speed motor vehicles are traveling.
The reason Encinitas was able to lower the speed limit here to 35 MPH on 101 is because the State has now determined that cities can round down. So if the average speed limit were 38 or 39 MPH, I believe it can still be rounded down to 35 MPH. A good thing, for this section of the highway.
9:19 Good! (You know, unless someone's drowning nearby at the same time).
ReplyDelete10:37 You go, girlfriend!
its not a state highway anymore… Its a local roadway and needs to be reconstructed to serve the current users. the point is it should not be the same old wide fast roadway which causes blight in our City.
ReplyDeleteHahahaha.
Delete6:06
DeleteYes, you are right. 101 is not what it used to be. In Ventura it's a freeway. In Del Mar it goes down to 25 mph with 10 stops. Variety is the spice.
Same people who wanted to declare Leucadia blighted are trying to eliminate lanes for motorists, without going through due process of law. 101 is not just a "local roadway." It's classified as a Major Roadway, Main Arterial, Primary circulation element within the Coastal Zone. The state still does have jurisdiction, through the California Coastal Commission.
DeleteMost of the time, cars are not speeding, here. That's why the speed limit was reduced.
As miss most things, Lynn's comments are completely wrong.
DeleteIf you use common sense, you will see that roadway is now blighted compared to the surrounding community through years of neglect from the City.
Then again, if you like blight and live blight- - does blight exist Lynn?
Maybe we should change the Lword's nickname to Blight loving Lynn or maybe just Lblight. I like Lblight. What do the rest of you think?
Oh sorry Lynn,
I realize you don't have a job and don't really have anything constructive to do today or any day, so you will not be getting up for at least another 4 hours to respond to your new nick name query.
Working and Tax Paying Leucadian
KLCC is a cult.
DeleteMost of the time cars are not speeding? More like the reverse of that statement. I'd say the average speed from La Costa to Leucadia Blvd. is still about 50, maybe 45.
DeleteIsn't 45 the posted legal limit?
Delete35 is the latest speed limit for N. Coast hwy 101
DeleteThe 35mph limit has been working very well too. However, Some cars from the north barrel into town at 50 mph - especially during morning commutes. The roundabout at La Costa ave will remedy that problem quite a bit, as will the following roundabouts. But even with slower speeds, more cars will get through town quicker without having to stop in many places. It's just people's imagination that it will take longer. If that discourages speedy cut through commuters who think the speed limit is 50mph (as evidently even some here think), great.
DeleteWhat is your obsession with roundabouts, and why only on N Hwy 101? Why not put them at intersections on every major arterial in the city? If that's done, would you be happy and shut up?
DeleteIf I'm obsessed with anything it's safety. Slower speed limits increase it. So do several aspects of Streetscape. Roundabouts are just one of them, but relevant to the subject of our lowered speed limit. And completely unrelated to the topic of this thread. But I like your questions. And to answer, yes, I would shut up and you'd save gas and get to where you're going quicker.
DeleteRoundabouts should be placed all over the city, they work. And have for thousands of years.
DeleteNo, Freddie, you just want traffic to jam up in front of your business. Try putting a roundabout at the intersection of Encinitas Blvd. and El Cam Real. Solana's re-do of 101 looks like it's working great, and they ain't got no roundabouts.
DeleteSolana Beach's streetscape is what you called a missed opportunity. Nice landscaping but the two new signals are jacked up and will be replaced in 5 to 10 years. A complete waste of money, time, pollution and congestion.
DeleteAlso there diagonal parking sucks! They should have put in reverse angle parking. Better for everyone.
They caved into the few uneducated old farts that are resistant to any positive change- sound familiar?
We can and will do much better than their 4th rate streetscape.
Eventually, we should replace most traffic signals with modern day roundabouts. They flow better, less congestion, save time, money, improve safety, better for the environment, better for pedestrians and bicyclist, opportunity for art and landscaping, better looking, more manageable speeds on the corridors. For a sane person, whats not to like?
I'd rather have solana beaches missed opportunity than the NO opportunity in Leucadia.
DeleteSB has completed the trifecta on 101. A- lowered the tracks. B- rail trail. C- streetscape. Enc, one , two, three strikes you're OUT!!! Enc has no leadership nor vision. A city staff that does as little as needed to draw a paycheck and pension. And 5 council numbnutts that think banning plastic bottles and bags is a good days work. With a city of slackers and idiots there's no hope. And I won't mention the obstructionistas, we all know there delusional lunacy.
1:43
DeleteExcept for a few awesom trees and plants, Solana Beach barely looks any different than it did three years ago. They did make it harder to get through their town though by introducint more stops so folks can appreciate their handiwork better as they needlessly burn fuel. And no. More stops on 101 are what would jam up traffic in front of businesses on N 101. The combination of circulation elements working with 22 less stops keep it flowing. Not unlike The Tortoise and the Hare.
They did add angled parking and I think there's one extra light at Mr. T's cafe (I think). I do like their separated bike trail, and the two overpasses over the rail corridor..
Delete2:24
DeleteI think there are two new signaled intersections on 101 in Solana Beach, but two other ones crept in in the last decade or so. Also, their bike lane is only separated from cars with paint, but it beats what we used to have here - no bike lane at all. Their meadering walkway (lit at night) and lowered train are a big plus. But they've been there almost 2 decades. They did make a cool entryway to the pedestrian trail at the south end with tilework a few years back (same artist as Fletcher Cove?). Check out the tiled benches etc on this site below (and others u might find). The NCTD bus stops along 101 here could be awesome public art instead of usual assemblyline schtuff and be a better funky than the random plastic / folding chairs at many stops now. (Although a new postcard with our current charming bus benches is on my to do list).
http://www.cabq.gov/culturalservices/public-art/public-art-in-albuquerque/public-art-for-kids
"Same people who wanted to declare Leucadia blighted are trying to eliminate lanes for motorists."
ReplyDeleteNo. I twice fought Redevelopment goons here in Leucadia / Encinitas / Cardiff
as did the unanimity of related city councils and the majority of it's citizens.
Most of the time, cars are not speeding, here. That's why the speed limit was reduced.
No. the speed was reduced from 60 mph to 40 mph as a highway when freeway 5 opened in 1965. At that time there were TWO stop lights on 101 between Carlsbad and La Jolla. Now there are dozens. The speed here was further reduced after two decades of the people asking for it to be reduced - NOT because most of the cars aren't speeding.
Even when people ask, the speed limit on a highway can't be reduced except by measuring the speed, and now rounding down, to determine the average. Well, it can be reduced, also, by narrowing lanes, installing stop signs, traffic signals, or other road obstructions.
DeleteWe only have one intersection where northbound/southbound traffic has to stop, at stop signs, between A st. and La Costa, on 101, at Marcheta, and one traffic signal at Leucadia, another at La Costa.
Marcheta is a good spot for a stop sign, because the tracks are "at grade" and more people can cross them there, and use the cross-walk to cross the highway. In 2007, most or all of the Directors of L101MA signed a petition for a stop sign at Grand View. That was what was asked for, to help slow traffic, and probably to offer a u-turn lane, too? I saw the petition through a public record's request at City Hall.
A roundabout at Grandview was the only one out of all those discussed to receive "enthusiastic support," at the Peltz and Associate Workshop, after the "Walking Audit" (8:30-11 a.m.) and the "Design Charrette," (11:30-2 p.m) held on February 23, 2008, which date happens to be my daughter's birthday. These statistics are incomplete and outdated. They should be updated, now, after the speed limit has been lowered, by the City's now being able to round down average miles per hour motor vehicles are traveling.
The number of participants at the design discussions was not specified, nor was the number of those needed to qualify for a category's having enthusiastic support.
"Even when people ask, the speed limit on a highway can't be reduced except by measuring the speed, and now rounding down, to determine the average. Well, it can be reduced, also, by narrowing lanes, installing stop signs, traffic signals, or other road obstructions."
DeleteThe speed limit could be legally reduced to 35 mph because of the bus stops on it's east side according to what a former city manager told me. But your'e right about stop lights and signs being inherant obstructions to speed, not to mention safety, travel, economy and efficiency - reasons why less mandatory stops will be great for everyone.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteMost cars aren't speeding, because the speed limits are set, rounding down, by the average MPH, as measured by the Sheriff's Dept.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteSo someone in charge said "We'd better lower the speed on 101 because cars are going slower"? OK.
DeletePeople were asking for the limit to be slowed. They could be lowered without installing more stop signs or stop signals by rounding down.
DeleteSlowing 101 was a subject brought up and pushed by L101MA, to benefit the community.
DeleteKLCC is a cult.
11:01
DeleteThen why didn't they do that in Solana Beach?
Fred: did you know that speed limits are increased because cars are clocked going faster? It's true...it happened on Lisa Shaffer's street and was explained to her and the rest of us. I don't know if the reverse is true if cars drive slower...one would hope so.
Delete"Fred: did you know that speed limits are increased because cars are clocked going faster? It's true.."
DeleteLOL. Not if you've tried going faster than the speed limit in Carlsbad.
I think Lynn and I are coming closer to agreeing. She likes rounding down and I like rounding about.
DeleteSorry, keep misspelling guerrilla, lol.
ReplyDeleteBut there's another great post this week on Encinitas Guerrilla
The bike angle is bit overplayed. Obviously we're not going away from cars, but that doesn't mean we can't improve what we have, slow everyone down and make our community better.
ReplyDeleteWC - ur editing suck. U should leave posts writing the truth
ReplyDeleteWho's the new mayor and deputy mayor?
ReplyDeleteOMG! This is one of the dumbest city councils in Encinitas history. Tag team deputy mayors and mayors.
ReplyDeleteLack of leadership in (in)action as they all sat and looked at one another. Bizarre.
ReplyDeleteIncompetence - none of these people have any qualifications for the positions that they hold. Therefore they are swayed by Master BS artists like Vina and $abine, who follow hidden agendas tailored by their OverLords (developers, monied elite). Encinitas needs to de-incorporate.
ReplyDeletethat's right. Encinitas has lots of successful professionals and executives in different fields, but they are all understandably focused on their careers and personal financial responsibilities. These experienced, qualified people don't have the time or energy to serve on council, or even follow what's going on at city hall.
DeleteSo look who we get on council: a retired fireman, a retired professor (blinded by the light of the real world outside of the ivory tower), a physical therapist mother of three small kids, a photographer, and whatever Barth did. Nothing wrong with any of those pursuits. But none of them prepare someone for the management skills needed to deal with the real issues of the city. The people on this council are overmatched compared to what they need to be able to do. Unfortunately, the prospects are not good for getting anyone on council who is really skilled and equipped to do the job.
De-incorporate? Totally agree, wish we never would have incorporated. NOTHING to show and in the end ONLY created another layer of government. $abine is exactly as you wrote, the ones who got aboard the Encinitas gravy train really sat back and rode into incompetency! Toot-toot.
ReplyDelete