The city of Encinitas won’t participate in the Encinitas Union School District’s effort to auction off the former Pacific View school in March, City Council members decided Wednesday night, but if the auction falls through, the city might pitch a sales-tax increase in order to buy the land.We'd be slightly more inclined to consider a sales tax increase if the council had made any effort over the past year to rein in the city's out-of-control payroll and pension costs, rather than voting to put us deeper into debt and to raid the city's reserve funds. Council Member Mark Muir agrees:
The council declined to submit a bid for the proposed auction, saying the district’s $9.5 million bid requirement was far too pricey. But, in a 3-2 vote, with Councilwoman Kristin Gaspar and Councilman Mark Muir opposed, the council agreed to explore raising the city’s sales tax rate to fund new civic projects, including transforming the old school property into a city arts center.
Muir said the council should do a better job of cost-cutting, instead of exploring new taxing methods. The former city fire chief said he thought the estimated $2.9 million price tag for the Moonlight Beach lifeguard tower was one area where the city should cut back.They'd need a 2/3 vote to raise sales taxes on Encinitas families even as city employees are retiring at 55 or 60 on six-figure, set-for-life pensions. Good luck with that. [UPDATE: the council is now considering a general transaction and use tax, as opposed to a specific use sales tax, which means they only need 50.01% of the vote.]
“There’s a thing called fiscal discipline and that’s what we’re lacking here as we go through this (year’s budget process),” the councilman said during the council’s review of proposed capital projects.
On the brighter side, this issue gives us a differentiating point between Teresa Barth and Kristin Gaspar, in case they face off against each other in the race for mayor. Until now, they have voted identically on almost all of the major issues (Desert Rose, Prop A, budget, road diet, "excellent" Vina, red light cameras, etc.), with the exceptions being allowing general office use in agricultural zoning (Barth for / Gaspar against) and the bar moratorium (Barth for / Gaspar against). Now we have a third point of differentiation: Barth for raising taxes, Gaspar against.
Muir raised a good point: Contractors have been taking the City to the cleaners for years. The City pays way over market rate compared to what private parties pay. Muir could set a good example for financial discipline by volunteering to cut his almost $176,000 pension in half. That would put it down to about the level of the median income in Encinitas.
ReplyDeleteMuir's pension is what it is and can't be modified. Better that he earn his keep and provide the city with the savings needed to pay for his pension. That's something he can do, and has made the first step. Imagine that - the guy with the huge pension and the campaign infractions actually ends up being the Undercover darling because he's talking fiscal restraint!
Delete- The Sculpin
He can donate $88,000 per year to the City. That would set a good example, be consistent with what he advocated and endear him to the citizenry.
DeleteMaybe you could do the same! But only if you really love our city.
DeleteSeems there's a very slim chance of anybody offering $9.5 million or more when the appraised values are much lower and the zoning status is unknown.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThat's rich coming from Muir, considering he hauls down a huge pension. I'd like to see him walk the walk and cut his pension.
There's no way a tax increase that requires a 2/3 vote passes in this city, not going to happen.
I would add another differentiation between Teresa and Gaspar, Gaspar is a tool of developers on the council to be a mouthpiece for Jerome and that side of things. She doesn't have an original thought outside what her handlers tell her.
Teresa, like all her actions/votes or not, comes from a grass root base within the city. Personally, I would like to see neither of them on the council going forward or as mayor for that matter, but given a choice, I'll take Teresa any day over the 0 that is Gaspar.
-Mr. Greenjeans.
I do agree with him though,
Teresa forfeited her grassroots base after showing not just her true colors, but real nastiness, over Prop A. That base will not return and all her attempts to pin the "divisiveness" on the Prop A messenger only seals her fate that much more.
DeleteThe base was duped. There is no support for her and the ear burning comments towards this council steers me from talking politics around here, people are steamed!
Delete"Darling" -hardly, but let's see what he has to say here. Although the notion of cost-cutting is rather rich, coming from him. How many end-run, back room deals and favors has he granted and been on the receiving end of?
ReplyDeleteMark Muir retired with over 800 hundred hours of vacation and he's a fiscal conservative .I think he's a PHONEY Do as I say not as I do ------ that's his mantra
ReplyDeleteI went to the Special Meeting, yesterday, before the Regular Meeting. One closed session item was the subject of labor negotiations for the union represented employees.
ReplyDeleteI spoke to that item, before Council adjourned into "closed chambers." Because, by policy, the "non represented" executive officers' salaries and benefits are tied to the represented employess, who are represented by labor union attorneys, then it is a CONFLICT of interests for the new director of Human Resources, or the previous director, or in the past, the City Manager, to negotiate on behalf of the City. There is NO ONE representing the taxpayers in these negotiations who is neutral. Council is the most neutral party, and in the past, has been tied to the employee unions, and now, to Cabinet.
I suggested at that meeting that all employees (I should have included all contractors) making over $100K per year should take a 20% pay cut, across the board, to help address our unfunded pension liabilities, and because the public perception is that government workers are paid much more, now than the average private employee. It's become a case of the haves and the have-nots.
Mark Muir did ask some good questions at the regular CC Meeting. At the preceding special meeting, Teresa Barth asked Glenn Sabine, could we do that, cut the pay of workers making over $100,000? Glenn answered, "Good question. I'll have to look into it. I've never heard that question, before." He did say something about different classes of workers can be considered.
There is also to be a policy discussion about tying the non-represented officers' pay to the represented employees. But Teresa failed to address my question about the lack of representation, for the taxpayers, in labor negotiations.
I suggested that not only should there be no raise, but for those making over $100K, there should be a 20% pay reduction. I also questioned how pension benefits are calculated. The are presently calculated for the average of the last three years for the "second tier" of employees, that is new hires. Before they were calculated at the highest amount paid in any one year, or was it any one quarter?
Private unions usually calculate pensions on the average of all the earnings made, NOT only the last three years. I feel that unions have brought many protections, but government employee unions have sometimes gone too far. There should not be a big gap between the average wage of the average worker in the private sector and in the public sector. Public service should be a primary benefit. To give, not just to receive . . .
Typical liberal democrats. We don't have a spending problem, lets just increase taxes. I am so sad I helped Barth get elected. I now feel she should be tarred and feathered and ridden out of town on a rail.
ReplyDeleteYou feel this way and is there anyone who doesn't feel barth was just as bad an actor as the former mayor? They were meant for each other. But not meant for the betterment of our city.
DeleteI consider myself a liberal democrat but I am not interested in new sales taxes! If we cannot live within our budget we should focus on things such as road repair, etc. If we cannot afford Pacific View, so be it. If some wealthy people in the community want to purchase PV, with the caveat that the zoning cannot be changed, that to would be great. I would pay higher taxes if they were justified. However, from what I see at City Hall, just with Sabine's salary alone, which I will report on in the near future, I think it is time to trim some fat, so to speak. I don't think it is legal to take away pensions, but for people working at City Hall, I do wonder if we need all the people that we have. Vina's cabinet alone makes a lot of money. Just my 2 cents. And that's all I am willing to pay:)
ReplyDeleteOnce someone has retired, the pension cannot be taken away. The terms of contracts can be changed. In other words, changes can be made to salaries, and the way pensions are calculated, as long as the affected employees have not yet retired.
DeleteThis is done all the time with private sector unions.
In my opinion, we can afford Pacific View. That property would have an ongoing lease revenue stream to pay for debt service, were the City to purchase it and lease it out to a non-profit foundation to rehab it and then sub-lease classrooms for a true community arts and learning center. This is ONE instance, where a lease revenue bond could be justified by an ACTUAL lease revenue stream.
The City does need to change the way pensions are figured to be calculated on the average of that employee's wages (including benefits) earned, in his or her entire tenure with the City. That change was made for County workers about ten years ago; our city should follow suit.
Right now, it's only figured on the average pay of the employee's final three years, for new hires? Although pension benefits are locked in, as I said, once a worker hits retirement, if that worker is still on payroll, adjustments can and should be made. That would be the great opportunity to cut operating expenses and unfunded pension liabilities.
Who cares about your opinion… its not like you've ever said or though of anything productive or beneficial.
DeleteIts like listening to a slow learner who have been told their whole life they were passing the grade. Now we see the outcome.
Pensions could be and should be taxed. Anything over $50,000 should receive a 50% tax which goes towards Pers to make the system solvent without more public tax dollars.
Zoning can't be changed? Look at the parcel split proposed for the former Ecke Ranch. The beginning of the end of the "agriculture in perpetuity" covenant. Money bends the rules.
DeleteIf the City significantly cut employees and payroll, and simultaneously proposed a small temporary sales tax increase whose proceeds were dedicated to a nice, new community arts center with a theater/auditorium on the City-owned Pacific View site, that might earn approval by 2/3 of the voters. Emphasis on "might."
ReplyDeleteThe City needs to stand up to the unions for non-safety related jobs. It is simply ridiculous to allow administrative and clerical workers job safety in this day and age. Having dealt with the City employees I agree there are those who do a great job, but again, there are those who don't but are protected from termination by union rules. Time for a clean sweep. I bet the City would run fine if all the non-safety employees went on strike. There are many, many people who would do the job for less money.
ReplyDeleteAnd safety.. the only ones worth giving a pension too are Police for the tough job they do.
ReplyDeleteFire Princesses and lifeguards are like border patrol… they really don't do anything and our only a drain on our Tax base.
Carlsbad is twice the size of Encinitas and they don't have one lifeguard. Good for them.
I agree with 7:05pm- with huge emphasis on Might. I would actually predict a defeat at the ballot.
I really don't know how this City can even think about purchasing PV when there is so much else that needs to be done to our infrastructure. The Park alone will pretty much wipe out any extra monies that come our way. I understand the sentiment regarding PV, but I do not see any practical way of purchasing it and I don't want more taxes so that it can be purchased. What do we do after we buy it? How much would it take to convert it to anything that might be acceptable to all community members. Not all are artists and perhaps we have to consider that most people, even in Encinitas, are not wealthy and do not necessarily want an artists colony, a theater, or whatever else has been proposed. I would oppose a Lease Revenue Bond at this time. Our City is going to go broke if we keep spending this way. And, this is coming from a liberal democrat. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteBut we are broke! If we weren't roads would be fixed, water rates wouldn't be exploited, oh but we have pension hogs to feed!
DeleteDr. Lorri, as I shared, above, there would be a lease revenue stream to pay off the debt, in this case. There would be minimum rehab required. If the property were leased to a non-profit foundation, volunteers could and would help with rehab and maintenance.
DeleteThe school is not in as bad shape as Superintendent Baird has tried to get people to believe. Asbestos has already been removed. The City could also find ways to reduce operating expenses, as I also detailed, above.
The Hall Property park is the white elephant in the room. It has sucked many of our funds dry, and created a lot of division in the city. I support children, and sports, but the park as it is being built, was not what was envisioned by those who attended and participated in workshops held after the purchase of the property.
This is public land, which should not be privatized. The City has offered to purchase it, at a reasonable price, for a true community arts and learning center. That is a noble goal, and one worth the time and effort that so many have given to this cause, over the years that the District has intentionally let the property fall into a state of disrepair.
Lynn, How much lease revenue would the city earn in your hypothetical? Give me a number and let me start crunching some numbers and let's see where we get. If nothing else, we can start a more realistic discussion about the intricacies of this project.
Delete- The Sculpin
Please speak with Dody Crawford or Danny Salzhandler, about the Envision the View Plan. I believe it was anticipated, that after the classrooms were rehabbed, a non-profit foundation could bring in approximately $180,000 per month? As I said, I am not a numbers cruncher.
DeleteAlso, Bob Bonde presented another excellent plan, so you could contact him for more details. The City has both plans on file, so you could do a CPRA request, as well.
$180,000 a month!!!!!!! I don't have to crunch anything! That income stream is worth anywhere from $12 to $22 million!! Holy crap!!! Baird is letting it go way too cheap!!
Delete- The Sculpin
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWho needs math when you have a dream?
DeleteSculpin:
DeleteI assume you are either in or have experience with property development which I do not. So when I see your reaction to the $180,000 a month estimate above, I know my reaction was on the mark. A $180,000 a month !!!? Which unfortunately shows the unreality these and other comments are created in.
I just hope others take them with a grain of salt.
I qualified my comment by saying I wasn't sure on the numbers. Maybe it was less. But Envision the View PRESENTED its plan to Baird in February of 2012. The Request for Proposals (RFP) was put out by the District for proposals within public/semi-public zoning. A Charter School and Envision the View did submit proposals. Baird rejected those and went with John DeWald/April Game/Art Pulse's proposal, for REZONING to mixed use, for creating an entirely new mixed use zoning classification.
DeleteIt shows more bad faith, for Baird to put out an RFP and after proposals have been submitted, as specified, change the zoning. Baird is being greedy and unreasonable. The Trustees, with the exception of Mo Muir, are going along with him, and not honoring the public trust.
7:46
DeleteYes, but how could you even believe such a high number could be obtainable per month? A lot of the time you make a lot of sense, and I always appreciate anyone's involvement civically for whatever they feel is best for the people, but this time you're showing that numbers are not understood by you whenever you're making a point. Especially if anyone before you actually claimed the PV property could rake in $180,000 per month with a low impact rehab.
Gaspar, Barth, and Muir approved taking on debt for the Hall sports complex. Boohoo, no more money for anything with the money pit sports park. Start cutting back. No sales tax increase, no tax increase, no nada. All five of you spent the city into the verge of bankruptcy.
ReplyDeleteWe need to get rid of city employees--starting at the top!
ReplyDeleteMuir arguing austerity - how about voluntarily cutting your bloated pension in half? N0? Lip service is cheap.....
DeleteI suggest that whoever wants to purchase Pacific View, please do it. Just because I don't have millions, doesn't mean some others in our community don't. If you want Pacific View, get together and purchase it at auction. Then you can turn it into a great art/music center, or whatever your hearts desire. In the meantime, I know I cannot afford any more taxes. I personally thought the Hall Property was a stretch, but so much for thinking. We are not in a good financial position as a City. I am as sentimental as the next person about our heritage, but let's face it, our heritage should not equal going broke. If you want it badly enough, figure out how to pay for it without it raising taxes for everyday folks. I, for one, can't afford it.
ReplyDeleteA quarter or half cent sales tax increase levied temporarily would bust your budget?
DeleteNo it would not bust my budget, but I know some families that are really struggling right now. I wonder how they might feel? And, anytime someone says its a temporary tax increase, I fear that it will remain a permanent tax increase. However, I am just one citizen. If others want a tax increase, and believe it will be temporary, I'll go along. At this point in my life, I am seeing a lot of patients at no charge because they are having a hard time even meeting a copay. Perhaps my empathy resides with these people.
Delete10:05 PM
DeleteWhat is an additional half cent sales tax on a car? Or appliances?
It adds up. People who normally buy in Encinitas will drive a little farther for less sales tax. Then there is the internet. Talk about the council shooting themselves in the collective foot with the harebrained idea of more sales tax. The council spend all the taxpayers monies and now wants more. Too late. The council messed up. The council was soooo much smarter.
.5 sales tax increase would mean harder times for our Commercial businesses. and contrary to securing the best commercial companies. Companies are based on profit. Increased city taxes take away from profit. Will located in Encinitas be worth .5% increase of all sales than residing in Carlsbad?
DeleteFirst, the idea floated was a quarter or half percent increase. Second, other cities and counties have add-on sales taxes. That's what the TransNet tax is, for example. Third, it could be legislated as temporary. Fourth, it could be dedicated to Pacific View. Fifth, sales taxes on big-ticket items are adjustments on CA state income tax returns. Sixth, whoever started this string above said if it was accompanied by City staff and pay reductions, it "might" pass a vote. If it passed, the payroll, benefit and pension savings would be significant and long term. Seventh, it seems highly likely that people would drive to Carlsbad or Solana Beach to avoid a tiny difference in sales tax. The inconvenience and gas burned would negate the benefit. Eighth, grocery store food is not taxed. That's the biggest item in my budget. I suppose I'm not alone in that. Pacific View is a gem that should be preserved for all time. Doing that isn't free.
DeleteThank you, 10:35!
DeleteWith a big ticket item, though, like a car, people might drive to another city. But a lot of people already do that, driving to Carlsbad or San Diego.
I think we could, through the City, acquire PV without a sales tax increase. We could and should advocate for an across the board cut in city employees' and contractors' pay, with those making over $100K annually, in salary and benefits, taking a 20% pay reduction, down to $100K.
There's something on next week's agenda, ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, Item 8G, which includes Attachment, 7 - City Council Resolution No. 2014-08, entitled “Adopting Position Titles and Pay Ranges for Fiscal Year 2013-14”
The table that supposedly justifies this is NOT written with clarity. This should be a regular agenda item. The pay ranges are monthly, or in some instances, hourly. There is generally a high and low range, but of course for the City Manager, there's only a high range.
This resolution should NOT be passed, until Glenn Sabine reports back, at an open meeting, re Mayor Barth's question, could salaries be cut for employees making $100K per year, by 20%, which question he stated he would investigate, at the 2/12 Special Meeting, which began at 4:30 last Wednesday.
Part of this Consent Calendar item is to increase Code Enforcement to include another full time employee. Presently there are 1.5 FTE. This is also unwarranted, and the conclusions drawn are not substantiated by actual analysis of the work now being performed.
Planning and Building Department
1.0 FTE Code Enforcement Officer
Budget Adjustment Request
We do not need to to increase the part time code enforcement officer to full time.
Coastal Zone Management (Fund 212)
The Program Administrator position is currently budgeted at .85 FTE. Due to the workload associated with the Army Corps of Engineers Beach Nourishment project it has been determined that a .90 FTE would be more appropriate at this time."
This also need not be increased. Staff is well paid. We do not need to increase hours, and pay, in order to get more done within the allotted timeframe.
Pay ranges could be listed as hourly or monthly, but should also be shown as yearly amounts, for more transparency.
DeleteAlso, why is this on the Consent Calendar? The public was worn down by a presentation that went on for HOURS re the Capital Improvement Projects. But when it comes to operating expenses, the City tries to slip this part of the budget through on the Consent Calendar? Bogus!
http://encinitas.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=7&event_id=274&meta_id=36742
So what does the new spin doctor do? I thought the city hired someone to spin stories for the public. Has she done anything, except get paid a salary, a pension, healthcare, and who knows what else? What exactly do half of the city workers do? Does anyone keep an accounting of how they go about there days. I know they still get every other Friday off and don't tell me they spend 10 hours a day each day there because I have been there after 5 when no one was in planning.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone even thought about how people are going to get in to the new Park when it finally opens. Where are the entrances? I don't see any except one small road. How is this going to be dealt with. Isn't the city going to have to build a couple of other entrances? Or did I miss something in the master plan?
ReplyDeleteThe one small entrance is it. The council knows how to spend money not how to design.
DeleteGus Vina was the one who suggested to City Council to raid all the other funds. Gus Vina is now suggesting an increase in City sales tax. I say off with Gus Vina.
DeleteCity Council should fire this tax and spend pansy as fast as they can….
all this other strategic planning nonsense is a waste of time.
There are two entrances. One past the shopping center, and one off of Mackinnon.
DeleteMackinnon has a "F" from the planning commission and no mitigation planned and the EIR indicates that 6 or 7 roundabouts need to be installed. Two or three will be on hold, ?, until the state has the money to build them.
DeleteEven though the city sometimes denies it, the Planning Commission rejected the Hall EIR because of inadequate traffic mitigation and a belief that this is not the design the majority wants.
Planning Commission was smart. Vina is not! What a loser.
DeleteCity Council needs to fire this tax and spend pension sucker.
I predict the three that voted to put the tax increase on the ballot will not be re-ellected. Barth just lost the election for Mayor.
Now we need a great candidate for Mayor who will get rid of Vina and turn City Hall around. Who will step up for the people.
Q (10:58pm): Where are the entrances?
DeleteA (11:46pm): The one small entrance is it (wrong)
A (12:16am): There are two entrances (correct)
Nobody asked about the quality of those entrances (or the history of the project).
Btw, CalTrans gave the level-of-service 'F', not the Planning Commission. It is also not the only level-of-service 'F' in Encinitas.
The Planning Commission wanted one less multi-use field, bigger buffers between the neighbors and the park (better landscaping), and traffic mitigation.
Mackinnon has a service level F ? I must drive it at the wrong times, although it might have short peaks around SDA start & end times.
DeleteCaltrans will be replacing the Mackinnon overpass when they widen I-5 and the new design will provide a better connection/entrance for the park. The park design anticipates this change.
DeleteWhat year do they plan on doing this?
DeleteCorrection: I-5 intersections at Santa Fe and Birmingham would have anticpated levels-of-service of 'F'.
Deletehttp://www.ci.encinitas.ca.us/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=426
The mitigation is roundabouts. Roundabouts are recommended for the freeway exits at Santa Fe and Birmingham and two more on Santa Fe, too .The major identified anticipated F mitigations are not planned or funded.
DeleteGaspar sucks because she is a paid for Developers *)(*
ReplyDeleteBarth sucks because she is a paid tax and spend liberal.
God luck with that one.
Looks like a grass roots effort's afoot.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.northcoastcurrent.com/encinitas/2014/02/13/online-effort-launched-to-keep-pacific-view-property-public/
Good. Let the people start a voluntary effort to buy the property. The City is broke and until they clean house at City Hall of all those useless fat lazy pension rats, I would never vote for a tax increase.
ReplyDeleteMuir says "Let them eat cake - save the biggest portion for me!"
DeleteWe don't have to have a tax increase. We do need our city to be more fiscally responsible. And people should contact the Trustees at EUSD to let them know they are not representing their constituents, with the exception of Maureen Muir, who has been.
DeleteBaird's executive secretary: elizabeth.wallace@eusd.net
Trustee: maureen.muir@eusd.net
Superintendent Timothy Baird: timothy.baird@eusd.net
Trustee Gregg Sonken: gregg.sonken@eusd.net
Trustee Emily Andrade: emily.andrade@eusd.net
Trustee Marla Strich: marla.strich@eusd.net
Trustee Carol Skiljan: carol.skiljan@eusd.net
http://savepacificview.org/
ReplyDeleteThanks 2:24 & 10:50 & Scott!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA2hNZv3s-Y SavePacificView.org
ReplyDeleteScrew PV. No more spending, no more taxes.
DeleteDoes it make you feel important to be so vulgar?
DeletePV would be self-sustaining, with a lease revenue stream. No more spending on unwanted, unneeded roundabouts that a few think would benefit them, at the expense of adjacent residents and local commuters.
DeleteRoundabouts through Leucadia are projected to cost $20 Million plus. That is a HUGE waste of time and money. We don't have stop signs, now, going north and south, between Marcheta and La Costa. The traffic signal at Leucadia Blvd. would not be removed. There would be a net loss in parking, because the dirt parking, in the RR Right of way would be lost.
Save Pacific View. Dump the Roundabouts. They would be more dangerous for bicyclists, too, with cyclists forced to go through the one lane roundabouts with cars. Nationwide, there are more collisions with bicyclists in roundabouts than at the same intersections before roundabouts were installed.
And there you have it Leucadia. Carlsbad has already given us $3.5 million toward the La Costa roundabout and 8:33 wants the money to go anywhere else.
DeleteRight on. Fire them all and hire a bunch of teenagers to run the city at $10 an hour!
ReplyDeleteBut wait- we have to increase minimum wage first, we don't want any inequality.............like say pension thugs voting for pension increases and unions backing candidates who give them those increases
DeleteThis council has officially Jumped the Shark!
ReplyDeleteWow. Poway is removing red light cameras and in good 'ol Enc they are considering a tax increase. Meanwhile Oceanside has had the first of several meetings with citizens to reviltilize their downtown with a nice streetscape. Gee, how long will it be before someone claims the process of community input is flawed ?? Hmmm, then again Oceanside doesn't have a gadfly hovering over city hall. How lucky can they be ???
ReplyDeleteThe proposal for Hill St. (101) through Oceanside is one traffic lane in each direction. That's even sillier than the Streetscape proposed for North Hwy 101 through Leucadia.
DeleteAnd I'm will to bet Oceanside completes their streetscape before Encinitas.
DeleteAnton, I know that's you with your gadfly buzz. Call names all you want, but many feel it's a few Board members of L101MA that are the gadflies, buzzing in Council's ears, as subsidiaries/sponsors, lobbying for a project not supported by the majority of adjacent residents, nor local commuters.
DeleteMany people in Oceanside, including Coast News columnist Ken Leighton oppose reducing capacity, there, on Highway 101 by cutting the number of lanes in half, from four lanes to two lanes.
We'll see if that boondoggle ever happens.
8:04
DeleteThe problem is your unwillingness to accept that removing stops increases circulation and capacity. That does not inhibit it. But I realize now you're not the crunching numbers expert and that's ok.
Your problem is your unwillingness to accept that narrowing Highway 101 through four one-way three-way T intersection roundabouts with no cross-streets, to one lane northbound and one-lane southbound, will BOTTLENECK traffic during peak traffic periods. Particularly during peak SEASONAL periods, when traffic is already heavy (today, it was awful; it took forever for my daughter to go south on 101 through Leucadia), reducing capacity and Level of Service will NOT "remove stops."
DeleteOn the contrary, many more stops would be added, because traffic in and entering the roundabouts would become so jam-packed, people would be FORCED TO STOP in order to yield, creating a ripple effect. More and more people "in line" on the highway would be subject to stop and go conditions during peak traffic periods, with capacity reduced by two lanes.
You, Fred, are not a numbers crunching expert, either.
Gaspar was very happy to spend 65 million on the Hall park property and said on several occasions she would personally source 2 million in donations to the effort ( that was a big fat lie never happened).
ReplyDeleteGaspar and Muir voted no to just talking about the PV property ,me thinks there developer friends have the fix in
Gaspar and the majority of the voters in the City of Encinitas.
DeleteI didn't see Gaspar and Muir vote no to talking about the PV property.
DeletePacific View - Condo Ridge is the new name. The buzzards are in City Hall tho.
ReplyDelete2:43-Are you referring to Patrons of Encinitas Parks, who was supposed to come up with a lot of money for the Park? I haven't seen any of them, or their money, since I first heard about it at the Parks and Rec. Commission Meeting. At the time they wanted to have the exclusive right to be the fundraiser for the Park, or something like that. It's been a long time, and yet, I have never seen them since. Joey was the man's first name. I honestly don't remember his last name. I met him once with our interim City Manager before Vina. And then it was "fade to black" as they say in the movies.
ReplyDeleteQuite possibly because of the vitriol and attitude of those who kept/keep fighting against the park.
Deletehttp://www.patronsofencinitasparks.org/
DeleteThe last blog post was from March 2012.
They also had signs up in the council chambers selling custom pavers for the park. I wonder how that went?
Delete4:04- I don't honestly think that is the answer with regard to PEP. I just think that they were not as organized as they could have been. However, we shall see. As far as the pavers, I am not sure, but I don't think too many were sold. Part of the reason, I think, was that not many people knew what pavers were. Secondly, they were pretty pricey for such a small brick. We bought one and hopefully it will be by the dog park that I also hope will be dedicated to Maggie. My last Parks and Rec. Commission meeting is Tuesday night. I may ask again, under Commissioners corner, any questions you all have. Let me know if you want to have staff to answer a question. I will ask it.
DeleteGaspar made that fund raising pledge as part of her election campaign a personal pledge ,separate from PEP.
DeleteI think Gaspar was talking of her next make-over.
DeleteThe pension and park sunk the future financial condition for Encinitas.
ReplyDeletecompliments of Stocks and Vina. Why is Vina still here?!?
The weasel has his hiddie hole in a compliant council.
DeleteWhy is Sabine still here? Same answer. You all fill in the blanks.
ReplyDeleteWhen Sabine and Vina are gone it will be a new Encinitas. This is what citizens need to demand so we can move forward into a new future of progress without citizens being exploited.
DeleteCitizens can demand till they're blue in the face, but the council has control over Sabine and Vina and as long as they give them support and excellent marks, Encinitans are screwed.
DeleteThe problems so many of you bitch about were there with prior councils and prior city managers. Even if they all changed tomorrow, I doubt any replacements would make you happy. It would be the same old bitch, bitch, bitch. Bang your pots! Fix my street!
DeleteIf you're so disgusted run for council. Sit up there, make decisions and take the slings and arrows.
Apparently 10:42 thinks honesty in government is too much to ask. We all know we can't expect to agree 100% of the time with what council and the city does, but to have them scheme against the very people they said they wanted to serve is really mind-boggling.
Delete11:37 PM
DeleteThen run for council. Show us what non scheming honesty looks like. Remember, you will be representing all Encinitas residents. Some want ballfields, some don't. Some want to buy PV, some don't. Some want roundabouts on 101, some don't. Etc.
Vina was not yet on board win Stocks,Bond et al spiked the pension for the likes of Mark Muir.
ReplyDeleteMark (burp) Muir -" tried and tested" - to be a shill for the special interests!
DeleteSave a council member! Reduce his pension so he can reduce his calorie intake and live longer. Otherwise what good will that bloated pension get him?
DeleteBack before Kranz and Shaffer were elected and Barth was pretending she would have a spine, she said Sabine under her reign would be the first to go. She was gong to make sure that happened.
ReplyDeleteInstead something else happened, not sure what.
Time for new blood….. Barth has been in too long.
ReplyDeleteBarth is a cop-out. How she ever was associated with reform is beyond me. She does what she is told. Dump her.
DeleteBarth ins't a cop out she is a bald faced teller of untruths and a spreader of misinformation - just like Jerome Stocks. She told untruths on the Prop A ballot statement to mislead the public to ge her her way. She also does not believe in protecting our current community characther. She does believe in promoting hihg density development
Delete10:01 is right. So why hasn't Barth tackled Vina. Even Dr. Lori gave her some ammunition when she spoke in front of the Council about him. she spoke for 9 minutes giving them plenty of reasons to doubt Sabine's competence, and yet no one but Shaffer asked for the Council to even consider another firm. She couldn't even get a second on her motion from Barth or anyone else. Not only that but Donna Westbrook spoke after Dr. Lori and told them how they could makes that process of removing him happen that very evening. She had researched his contact, and the City has to give him 6 months notices, which she said they could give him that very eve. And yet, the sounds of silence afar Shaffer offered her suggestion. You could have heard a pin drop. When Sabine talked he went practically ballistic at Dr. Lori. It was pretty funny to see his face get to red and his eyes about pop out of their sockets. I had never seen him go off on a citizen before. Dr. Lori was sitting by then and looked at him while he was ranting and smiled at him. Damn that took some balls, and the more she silently smiled the more pissed he got. Epic! Too bad he is still here. What does he have on each council member?
ReplyDeleteWhat meeting was this? I want to watch the video....
DeleteThank God for our citizen activists ferreting out these incompetents like Sabine!
DeleteDr. Lori appeared before the Council on Oct. 23, 2013 if you want to watch the streaming from the City's website.
DeleteRaise sales taxes?? I have already decided to shop elsewhere should the COE adopt the plastic bag ban. Costco here I come.
ReplyDeleteCouncil voted, with Muir and Gaspar opposing, to set a future agenda item to talk about putting a measure on the ballot to raise City sales taxes by .5%.
DeleteI doubt if people would vote to raise local taxes. The City can find money by cutting operating expenses, by pay reductions of those making over $100,000, by 20%, including contractors. We can hire new employees, if necessary, if some employees leave.
With our 250 plus employees (according to Tony Kranz), we have no one on staff who can apply for grants? Hasn't the City sponsored grant writing workshops?
Gus Vina said at the last meeting, on 2/12, that the City doesn't have the "expertise" to apply for grants! That's absurd. He threatened, "I know there would be objections to my adding a new position!"
Dump the spin doctor and hire a grant writer - much more useful.
DeleteHey Carlsbad is right next door and a model city in many respects so I'm gonna shop there instead and support a great example of local government.
DeleteRaising sales tax will lower economical development opportunities and property values....which is where the real economic opportunities lie.....
ReplyDeleteCouncil should focus on lowere.ing staff costs
Agree, 7:55!
Delete7:55, By "economical development opportunities," do you mean low-cost development?
DeleteNo. I mean commercial businesses.
ReplyDeleteAnd raise property tax revenue through higher property values.
10:42
ReplyDeleteA problem solver is born.
10:42 AM
ReplyDeleteAround 60% of the city's general fund revenue comes from property tax. On the residential side without housing turnover and new development, the increase in property taxes would be slow due to Prop 13. That's not to advocate for more development or higher turnover but long time residents have a lot lighter tax load then the newbies. On the commercial side, there doesn't appear to be much support here for new commercial development either.
higher property values lead to higher property taxes which will bring in more income by far then selling out our City to developers and bar owners which would lower property values.
DeleteOn the commercial side, implementing measures to improve quality of life for residents and visitors will increase desirability for shoppers, thereby increasing the sales revenue, sales tax, rents, commercial property Values, and Transient Occupancy Taxes.
Its the smart way to go… Focus on improving quality of life improvements and very limited City Hall staff costs and existing residents and visitors to encinitas win
and focus on minimizing City subsidies for our huge regional sports complex which Vina shepherded in by taking on even more debt born by you and I .
First Step is go get a City Council that will fire Vina and Clean up City Hall
Higher property values only really kick in when the property changes hands or is newly constructed. Yes, existing property values and property taxes do go up for existing homeowners but thanks to Prop 13, they raise very slowly. So if you've lived in your home for a long while, there are many other homeowners paying a lot higher property taxes than you.
DeleteMakes you wonder how a country did so well without a plague of taxes.
ReplyDeleteexcerpts from a Huffington Post article a few years back:
"Over the last 100 years, the following taxes have mysteriously appeared:
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75
cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS
Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal
Service Fee T ax
Telephone Federal, State and
Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage
Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and
Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and
Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License
Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
With our current $17 trillion dollar national debt, it's painfully obvious that it's not only a few people on this blog who aren't good at crunching numbers. And what a legacy they're leaving.
Unable to pay the nearly $100 trillion debt, govt will order all banks to seize 40-70%of all bank accts. This has happened in Cyprus and Poland has seized all private retirement accts. It will happen here, get your money OUT of the banks.
DeleteWhat is interesting Fred is that the Huffpost in my opinion backs, supports, promotes candidates and elected leaders while mocking, demeaning and opposing financially responsible candidates like Ted Cruz who wanted to fully fund the government with the exception of Obamacare. The Huffpost joined with the bankrupt state propagandist called NBC, CBS, PBS, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NYTimes, USA TODAY to mock, ridicule and demean Cruz. Of course now the . Huffpost can add Obamacare as a new tax on the backs to citizens. The Supreme Court says so.
DeleteEven the Republicans don't like Ted Cruz..
Deletehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/02/14/ted-cruz-isnt-planning-to-be-in-the-senate-for-very-long/
And like Rand Paul, he'll never be president...
Well, I'm on unemployment, so I can't complain about that one. I don't think we're ever going to be able to return to the ways of the early 20th century. For me the question is always, what are we as a society willing to pay for and what are we not willing to pay for?
DeleteI'm willing to pay for libraries, I can tell you that....
10:43 DO you have a point? Are you capable of thinking for yourself? Are you forever destined to be led about like a dog on a leash to obey your masters who take away your freedom and liberty?
DeleteFred posted an article of the Huffington Post on new taxes. The Huffington post along with NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, CNN, MSNBC, NY TImes, LA Times, USA Today all support the ideologies of candidates who have no problem passing laws that take from american private wrokers and reward government workers- this is a fact.
In 2012 the House passed a fully funded budget with the exception of funding the tax as decided by the Supreme Court of Obamacare. Had Obamacare not been funded millions fo private american workes would not have been kicked off their plans, faced high premiums, or lot access to doctors and hospitals - again, facts.
One person on the Senate , who I don't like by the way, had the balls and courage to stand up for you, for I, for our families and say no to the new Obamacare taxes - the Huff Post and the state run propagandists mocked, demeaned and mislead the people about the new Obamacare taxes.
So my friend, I made a factual argument based on facts. What do you got, anything? Maybe you also believe it is ok fr teh government to take from one private workers family and give to a government union worker. Afterall, SEIU is a lead contributor to Obama and the democratic machine, now we know why.
Oh yea, some lucky government union woerkers got expempted from Obamcare and Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, John Boehner and Jophn McCain get a 72% subsidy from the government paid by taxpayers to buy gold plated health plans for them and their families.
We in the private sector lost our plans, are paying higher premiums and lost access to our doctors and hospitals.
Thanks Ted Cruz for trying to stand up America
10:43 it seems 11:14 has a point. The comment said nothing of President and was a post about the Huffington Post. Why are you writing about President? Turn off the TV and get some real facts.
DeleteActually, the only reason I mentioned the Huffington Post was to be acurate about the quote excerpt I made. There were other parts of the same article I either knew were wrong or would just pin me as like minded as the author's take on his whole article. I'm not. But if the part I did quote is correct, and we're still in sheep dip financially even after all the new taxes we've paid for the last 100 years in this country, the fox IS guarding the hen house.
DeleteHow taxing!
ReplyDeleteWhen is City Council going to do something good for Encinitas and fire Vina?
ReplyDeleteCouncil needs to hear from a lot of citizens who are NOT on Vina's list of 28. Even then, it is be hard to imagine any one of them has the backbone to do what needs to be done and fire both Vina and Sabine.
ReplyDeleteEvery day he's in office the city is further in threatened, yet and the council is more than happy to sit there, grin, fret privately (so I hear), and still sit firmly on their hands. The last thing any of them has the decency to do is stop the insanity.
Barth was generally disregarded by Master Bla$ter $tock$ and often ridiculed at meetings, thus she would make noise or vote contrary for being minimized. The activist community mistakenly took this for a reformist agenda, a spokesperson for the citizen.
ReplyDeleteHow wrong they were! Now that she has a kindred group of feel good do nothings, she has gone silent and takes her orders from Vina and Sabine.
There will be nothing of significance coming from her - DUMP BARTH.
Every month Barth spends as a council person she adds to her pension from 30 years as a state worker. She's not about to upset the apple cart of pensions nor salaries. She bought and sold to the union goons.
DeleteI don't think the council members are part of the pension system, correct me if I'm wrong somebody...
DeleteYou are wrong. They do earn a pension after x number of years as a council person. They also earn money for serving on committees and such. If they are retired from the state like Barth it all gets added in and that giant sucking sound you hear is her lips on the govt teat.
DeleteCondoRidge - coming to a school ground near you soon.
ReplyDelete