Last night, City Manager Gus Vina requested an increase in a code enforcement position from part-time to full-time. Council Members Kristin Gaspar, Mark Muir, and Tony Kranz voted to deny the request, at least for the time being.
Apart from the obvious fiscal issues (Encinitas is completely broke, and full-time employees cost way too much), there was much discussion of the changing role of code enforcement. Since the founding of Encinitas, code enforcement has acted only in response to public complaints. The word repeatedly used last night was "proactive," which means code enforcement will go around looking for trouble. This appears to be a fundamental change in the department's role from a public service to an antagonistic (and revenue-seeking?) harassment force.
Mayor Barth and Council Member Shaffer voted, as usual, to rubber-stamp Vina's agenda.
And we now have a fourth point of differentiation in the hypothetical Gaspar-Barth mayoral contest.
The unanimity of the council is now clearly broken. This is actually a good sign. It means City Manager Vina no longer has complete control of the council. It's the beginning of the end of his tenure at City Hall.
ReplyDeleteI hope it comes quick!!!
DeleteIt looks like Gustavo is trying to create a private core of brown shirts to intimidate citizens. Now that he has the ministry of propaganda spin doctor in place, he is trying to amp up the intimidation arm.
DeleteDon’t get me wrong, I am in favor of the sheriff issuing more citations during the weekend downtown bar scene, but if enforcement is through the city, we are assured that it will be selectively targeted towards citizens and not the drunks who Vina considers his own personal revenue stream. This is the guy who tried to legalize pot as a solution to financial problems in Sacramento after all!
Nice Nazi reference. Aren't drunks citizens?
DeleteLynn spoke at oral comm and to every agenda item 11 TIMES she is rude and disrespectful yet demands respect.That would be 33 mins of babble speak -------- Enough that's 1/2 hour of over time for every employe who had to stay a listen We can't afford LYNN. glad I have a mute button
ReplyDeleteGet used to it. You might learn something.
DeleteFive of the times I spoke were at the SDWD meeting, which is separate. I was consistently speaking about the state of drought emergency at that meeting. The water district could NOW decide that no new water meters are to be allowed, if a building permit has not already been issued. The water situation is actually more dire now, than from 2008-2011, when the last drought was officially declared, and then declared over. There was only one other public speaker at the SDWD meeting, which water board meetings, composed of Council, now begin at 5. The other lady spoke once, during oral communications. If someone doesn't want to hear me speak, don't listen to the Water District meeting.
Delete7:47 sounds like Teresa Barth. I did NOT speak a total of 11 times. If staff or someone on Council doesn't want me to speak to different agenda items, don't have such full agendas, for both separate meetings.
At the 8 o' clock break, Teresa rushed down from the dais to tell me I was rude. She complained I had something from the audience about not needing a staff report for Agenda Item 8G, which I had pulled from the consent calendar. She had started to tell Finance Director Tim Nash to give his report.
8G was the agenda item that was to authorize hiring another full time Code Enforcement Officer. Staff used phony numbers. Tim Nash's Capital Improvement Project presentation the week before was over two hours, reading from his powerpoint presentation. This one, re the Operating Expenses budget was to have NO report, which was ok with me, provided we could ask staff questions. Mark Muir asked some good questions. One thing, it only takes a 40 hour class to be classified as a CEO. Joan Kling is Director of a division that currently has herself and one other CEO, and two part time employees, "program assistants," who are not in the field, but are basically administrative assistants. The staff report wrongly stated there are only 1.5 CEO's, in one section, Page 12, and on Page 15, that there are 3.85 employees in the Code Enforcement division.
When the Mayor came down from on high, Teresa announced to me and those sitting near me, mostly people wanting to speak on e-cigarettes, that I was rude because I said something from the audience. I told her she was rude for cutting off others who try to speak, the second their three minutes are up.
Thanks, 7:54. Staff and Council should get used to it. I was really glad that Tony, Mark and Kristin made the right decision. Staff's numbers were tweaked. Their agenda report was inconsistent. They weren't counting Joan Kling, director, who is a code enforcement officer, as a code enforcement officer (CEO). Vina gave phony numbers from Stockton, that we need one CEO per 10,000 population. That also was not born out by the staff report's comparing Encinitas to other cities re the number of open cases. Director Jeff Murphy said "it's an apples to apples" comparison. But there was NO EVIDENCE of that, only belated excuses, NOT part of the agenda packet.
I'm not trying to defend myself, here, just to share with those not present what actually happened. Teresa started the meeting by giving the month as January. She didn't notice until she was corrected that the Agenda was incorrect on that, too. During the SDWD meeting, I was skipped over for public comments until I said something from the audience. Mark Muir apologized to me, and I told him that was fine. They aren't used to having any public speakers with the early start time. But there were no objections, then, to my giving a gentle reminder from the audience of one, plus staff (after the lady left, who spoke about her water being cut off and a $56 bill being increased to over $240, because she had gone out of area. All the late fees have been dramatically increased).
You go lynn, you are necessary for this community to keep the likes of Vina in check. It is time for Vina and Sabine to go, they have worn out their welcome. Lynn you on the other hand are becoming a darling of the community, I hear nothing but good comments about what you are doing! Thanks!
DeleteUse mute button on your brain. Lynn cares for this community.
DeleteHaaaa!
DeleteLynn,
DeleteWith all due respect, it sounds like it's getting personal between you and Teresa. Political differences aside, you both with to attend city council meetings, you may want to bury the hatchet with her so it doesn't become a distraction to you or her.
We need her full attention on the job to have any hope of fixing some of the issues down at city hall.
I'm also going to go out on limb and suggest you don't speak on every item, mix it up, swing heavy on the key issues. Make it count.
You obviously spend a lot of time researching, but hitting them on the oral side of things isn't your biggest strength.
Just some food for thought.
-Mr. Greenjeans
Well if the mayor can be distracted then less damage can be done. I ask you to name one significant accomplishment in the past year. Ribbon cutting doesn't count.
DeleteI have tried writing e-mails and not attending. I get worse results that way. You aren't "going out on a limb," because you are anonymous. But I wouldn't bite your head off for anything, anyway. You are entitled to your opinion.
DeleteI only speak on issues which matter to me. I don't attend every Council Meeting, but when I do go, I plan ahead, and know on what topics I intend to speak. If more people spoke, I wouldn't feel it necessary to repeat their comments.
Several times when I spoke, yesterday, it was for less than three minutes. Not once, last night, did I ask for a time donation. In fact, except for when Pacific View was on the agenda, I hadn't asked for any time donations in many months.
All I said from the audience was, "I don't need a staff report," because Mayor Barth started to say, on the record, the staff report will be given by Finance Director Tim Nash. We had just listened to him give about a two hour staff report, reading from his powerpoint presentation, the week before, on Feb. 12.
Vina and Barth went from one extreme to another. Two hour plus presentation for the CIP budget discussion, then placing the Operating expenses budget item on the Consent Calendar, with an intention for no separate public discussion. I only wanted to be able to ask questions. Lisa Shaffer did, too, but she kept insisting how she strongly supports hiring another Code Enforcement officer.
Tony Kranz asked for a commitment that a new hire could work weekends from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., to help deal with downtown bar issues and the potential deemed approved ordinance. When no such commitment was given, he voted with Muir and Gaspar to postpone the discussion of adding another full time employee code enforcement officer.
In my opinion, Mayor Barth does need to be distracted from her devotion to doing whatever Gus Vina wants. But my intention is not to distract, but to direct her attention to questions and objections that I and many others have regarding the way the City is being run.
Teresa makes it personal, when she comes down from the dais to accost me, in the audience.
She was also rude when she said there would be a 10 minute break, and the meeting would start back up at 8:15, before she came down from the dais. But she left the room, after bawling me out, and didn't come back until 8:17, resuming the meeting about three or four minutes late. The guy who clicks the board for the webcast was just standing there, clicking and clicking. The Mayor was again rude to keep people waiting, who had rushed back, so as to be in their seats on time. When she re-entered the room, after the break, she went to the left, to "Plaintiff's side," and began speaking to someone in the audience, there. I said, from my seat, on the right side, it's 8:17, Teresa. She ignored me. I didn't add she was being rude, but I thought it.
There were more people present because we heard not only from the e-cigarette speakers, but also from those applying for the various commission openings. I didn't speak on the Commissioners agenda item. But I won't apologize for my speaking. I have prepared written comments, so I am not sharing extemporaneously, usually.
If someone doesn't like what I have to say, don't listen. If you don't like looking at me, look away. Or come up and correct me, if you think I've got it wrong.
Thanks to those who share their support, and who truly care about our community.
Oh, correction, I did get one time donation at the 2/12 meeting re Capital Improvement Projects, which presentation was sooooo long, that the kindly person who gave me his three minutes wanted to leave. After Teresa called a break, I asked if public speakers could comment, before we heard more of the Finance Directors presentation, as some in the audience were wanting to leave.
DeleteOur current mayor did oblige, thankfully, but Teresa said, as a curt reprimand, "You wanted transparency! This is what you get! Before more of this discussion would have been behind closed doors!" People nearby seemed startled by her vehemence.
Gaspar ,Muir and Kranz Voting against public safety.You all want the city to do SOMTHING and yet you don't want to pay for it TEA BAGGERS
ReplyDeleteTea baggers= patriots.
Deleteassuming they are all teabaggers=wild assumption. Freeze hiring at city hall!
DeleteGaspar and Muir made a lot of sense when speaking against the City Manager's request of another new employee. Kranz jump in at the last minute and broke the tie.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mark, Tony and Kristin. I appreciate your going against yet another full time employee that we don't need. Now, what is the spin doctor doing?
ReplyDeleteGood question, Dr. Lorri. What items is Marlena Medford tackling as communications director. Does she come to council meetings?
Delete-Mr. Greenjeans
If Vina had proposed adding another full time fire fighter Muir would have wet his pants with excitement.
ReplyDeleteDon't give either of them any ideas.
ReplyDeleteLynn, You are well informed and I generally agree with your assesments, however, when you spread yourself thin by addressing nearly every issue at nearly every council meeting the result is that by default you become little more than a boring irritation to all sides of an issue. It is my experience that if you truley want to affect change that you limit your efforts to the issues that are most important to you and the community. Please take this as constructive advise.
DeleteThe Cabezon
Thanks Cabezon, I weighed in with similar advice above. I agree with you on the water meter issue Lynn, we need to quit just issuing water meters without knowing exactly where that water is coming from.
DeleteBut your point above is overshadowed by your tiff with Teresa. Unfortunately that information doesn't move the dialogue forward, it just acts as a distraction and devalues the good comments you made about water meters.
-Mr. Greenjeans
All politics is personal. Without it, there is no passion. It's how you deal with it that distinguishes you. I have a better idea - Lynn, start thinking about preparing for a run for office in 2 or 3 years. You have been around the block a few times, have a substantial amount of historical knowledge, and more than adequate reasoning skills to do the job. Start building a coalition now that will support you for the run. Even if you lose, you'll have a bigger impact on the process than you do today. Believe me when I say you can get far more done on the inside than you ever will on the outside. So, are you up for a major personal and public transformation? Ready to take it to the next level? Where do I send my check?
Delete- The Sculpin
I've been on the receiving end of some of Teresa's rudeness. She holds grudges a long time. It's my opinion that the person holding office needs to maintain proper decorum all the time. Teresa even used the word decorum when discussing proper behavior at council meetings.
DeleteIt's the old expression: "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.'
Politics is personal, I know what you mean, Sculpin, but to me, both Teresa and Lynn should try and make it look like there isn't one.
DeleteI wasn't there, so I guess we'll just move on. If Teresa isn't maintaining decorum, that's on her. I certainly wouldn't excuse that kind of behavior, especially after what she alleged happened to her with the past council.
Just an observation on how to handle it and keep it from becoming open warfare, if it isn't already.
-Mr. Peace and Love Pants
The remarks between Teresa and me, were NOT on the record. She came over to me in the audience after she called a break, at 8:05 p.m. When I looked up and saw her "smile," and heard her accusing me of being rude, I noticed that all of the other Council Members, the City Manager, City Attorney and Deputy Clerks were already gone; they had stepped beyond the glass door, into "private chambers."
DeleteSo it wasn't a distraction. I said nothing about this at the meeting itself, other than a few brief words, DURING THE BREAK, in reply to Teresa. So our personal conversation didn't overshadow anything at the Council Meeting. If it has, here, so be it.
I only brought it up because I found it to be too much of a coincidence, that 7:47 a.m., the second post, chronologically, on this thread, began by calling me rude and disrespectful. I was not rude at all, on the record, or off, in my opinion. Teresa was, but I didn't tell her she was rude until after she accused me of being rude.
Again, I said, from the audience, in a quiet tone, "I don't need a staff report," because Teresa was jumping ahead to having Tim Nash give one. Teresa then said, on the record, "If Lynn would let me run the meeting, we can proceed," or words to that effect. Her rudeness in re-starting the meeting late is also part of the record.
Teresa has made this personal in her over-reaction to me. Notice 7:47 doesn't say WHAT I allegedly did that was rude and disrespectful. More pre-formed conclusions, unsupported by facts.
I din't attend the meeting, so I cannot speak as to how many times Lynn, or anyone else, spoke. However, even if she did speak 11 times, what's the problem. She is a citizen of this community, just as I am. If I could get to a Council meeting to speak, and wasn't working, I would speak if I felt like it, It's called Democracy people. The rules say a person can speak 3 minutes with 2 time donations. So, let people speak! If the Council doesn't like what they;re hearing, perhaps they should saki themselves "why?" I did hear that Mark had asked to have exit interviews with outgoing Commissioners, as there seemed to be more than usual. I am one of those people. I would love to tell Council why I left. However, with the exception of Mark, none seem too interested, as I emailed them all before I decided not to reapply. Lisa did reply, but did not ask why? To the best of my knowledge Teresa, Kristin and Tony did not. I may be
ReplyDeletewrong on Tony. And if anyone thinks this is liberal vs. conservative, let me point out that Dennis Lhota did not reapply either. Dennis and I are political opposites, although I deeply respect and care for him. I would think it would be interesting to know why 2 Parks and Recreation Commissioners that had been on the Commission 5 years (me) and 6 years (Dennis) didn't reapply. But then again, I have always been curious about the underlying reasons people do things. Maybe that's why I became a "shrink". Hang in there Lynn. As long as your opinions are well researched, and your facts are straight, I know I will be there for you, whether you want to speak or donate time, as you did for me with the Gus Vina information I gave Council.
Dr. Lorri, I never even implied that Lynn did not have the right to speak adnauseum. My point was that with the town crier peoples brains will eventually hit the mute button.
DeleteThe Cabezon
There were TWO separate meetings. I only spoke once during oral communications at each meeting, and for four agenda items at the SDWD meeting. They were all interrelated. I told the Water Board I was coining a new phrase, "Density Bonification," because the State is trying to bone us on density bonus mandates. Not issuing more water meters would HELP tremendously with the drought, and with our lack of infrastructure. The drought TRUMPS density bonus mandates. I kept repeating that. I didn't speak three minutes every time. In fact, the last time, I had one minute and 58 seconds left out of my three minutes.
DeleteDuring the regular Council meeting, I pulled 8G from the consent calendar, to focus on code enforcement, re operating expense budget. I spoke to the issue of changing the appeal period from 10 calendar days to 10 business days. That was also less than 3 minutes. Glenn Sabine just said NO, but since the State Code regarding subdivision maps doesn't specify whether it's 10 business or 10 calendar days, it SHOULD be a matter of the public agency's discretion. Again, Sabine provided no case law or statutory code.
Counting two separate meetings, that went on from 5 until after 10 p.m., I spoke a total of 10 times. So out of five hours, I spoke a total of less 30 minutes, counting oral communications.
What is boring to me is listening to Lisa Shaffer drone on and on, but I do appreciate her newsletters, although I don't always agree. She speaks far more than I do. But public meetings are designed to include opportunity for public comments on EVERY agenda item. If I'm the only one who has something to say, so be it.
What's even more boring is hearing staff go on and on. As Lisa said, we can read what's on the written page.
But no one is forcing me to attend, or to listen to and watch the meetings when I don't attend, or to review them when I do. Hey, it's a free country. Go ahead and put me on mute, but several people have told me that I make the meetings MORE interesting, not less. To each her own!
I'm not sharing because I want approval. I am NOT going to be a candidate. That's not my role. I was glad I didn't have to stand up and ask to be a commissioner. I don't want to put anyone on Council in the position of being able to pass judgment on me, anymore than they already do.
We don't need ANY full time code inforcement. Period.
ReplyDeleteLynn is busting butt for all of us, to not get into personalities is better so I agree there. But with power hungry thin skinned immature egotists running the show it can be a challenge.
ReplyDeleteWith Lynn it always gets personal to bad
ReplyDeleteFrom Lisa Shaffers latest newsletter. Sounds to me like she would like to round us all up and make sure we aren't doing anything SHE or Teresa don't like:
ReplyDeleteCode Enforcement:
As part of the mid-year budget update, our Planning Department requested an increase of 1/2 FTE for Code Enforcement. There is a half-time employee who is retiring and the request was to create a full-time position that could give us more capacity and flexibility in enforcing our rules about noise, signs, parking, construction, etc. The request also described plans to be more pro-active in educating residents and businesses about the rules to reduce the number of violations. The request was rejected 3-2 with Mayor Barth and me voting yes, and Gaspar, Muir, and Kranz voting no. The issue will come back in May when we work on next year's budget.
It frustrates me that we spend time on making rules but we don't provide the resources to make them effective. We have a backlog of code enforcement cases, we have fewer staff than comparable cities and higher case loads, and we have frequent citizen complaints about code enforcement not being effective. One argument against the Deemed Approved Ordinance being considered to address problems from alcohol-serving establishments is that we already don't enforce existing ordinances, so why pass more. We already don't know whether servers have completed the legally required training; we already can't respond when there are noise complaints. I agree it's a problem, and was pleased to see a solution proposed. Unfortunately, three of my colleagues said no.
Perhaps ask the servers at D st that were handing out free champagne New Years eve, that customers were grabbing by the fistful, if that was part of the legally required training?
DeleteThere was no proof that the reason we have more "backlog," aka "open cases" is because we are understaffed. Code Enforcement officers are not acting efficiently. They are going after people that they shouldn't, and not following through where they should, aka, when Dan Dalager had (and still has) what the City considers to be an "illegal unit."
DeleteNo Code Enforcement Officer is retiring. Contrary to the staff report, one already quit (retired early), someone who was before working half time. That fact also should have been included in the staff report. It wasn't.
The numbers and charts provided by staff did not prove that staff was comparing "apples to apples," as Director Jeff Murphy claimed. There was NO INDICATION that for other cities their "Manager" Code Enforcement Officers were not being counted, as with the City of Encinitas. There was no evidence showing a direct correlation between number of open cases, and the amount of staffing, because there was no description of what constitutes an open case, how long a case is considered "open," or any other qualifications. There was only a bogus chart which compared 1.5 code enforcement officers on Page 12, for Agenda Report for Item 8G, to other cities number of code enforcement officers and their "open cases," with another description and chart on Page 15 which states Encinitas has 3.85 employees in its Code Enforcement Division. Supposedly "Manager" Joan Kling doesn't count, although she's often in the field. When you call Code Enforcement, you will almost certainly get an answering machine. And two part time "Program Assistants," are doing administrative work, so they aren't being counted? They should be able to assist with following through on open cases, even if they don't issue violations. And they should free Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) Joan Kling, "Division Manager" from more administrative duties.
The numbers were tweaked. I'm glad Lisa is frustrated. She would rather complain about her frustration than try to understand when, how and why the facts didn't add up. Data is statistically invalid when it is massaged to reach pre-formed conclusions.
Hey Schaffer, fortunately for the citizens of this city they voted no.
DeleteFYI,
DeleteHere's the lowdown on the Dallager illegal unit brouhaha off several years ago..
http://www.theleucadiablog.com/2009/11/dan-is-now-in-compliance-with-citys.html
Good grief. Doesn't the Sheriff do anything on some of these items. Are we becoming a little like a Gestapo City?
ReplyDelete"We have a backlog of code enforcement cases, we have fewer staff than comparable cities and higher case loads, and we have frequent citizen complaints about code enforcement not being effective."
ReplyDeleteI wonder if someone can tell me what City's have more staff as Dr. Shaffer suggests? I wouldn't even know how to go about looking it up. Anyone else know?
Shaffer s critical thinking is in critical condition.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI know about 15 years ago, one Encinitas code enforcer who liked to crack the whip went to Cardiff and upset one home owner so much over his fence not being to code, he committed suicide after she left. I forget how long she stayed with the city, but code enforcement got a little kinder and gentler after that ugly episode.
Deletehttp://encinitas.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=7&event_id=274&meta_id=36742
ReplyDeleteLorri, copy and paste that link into your browser (with no spaces), and check out Page 12 of last night's staff report. Allegedly, only 5 cities responded to Encinitas' inquiries, but the number of Code Enforcement Officers is not verified as to whether or not management is counted, or, in the case of Escondido, what fraction of a FTE (full time employee position) the seven part time Code Enforcement Officers compromise. In other words, the comparison is not statistically significant.
As I said, from my perspective, the number of open cases in Encinitas has far more to do with our City's NOT using best management practices, not being efficient, and not focusing on priorities, instead pandering to providing more litigation hours for the law firm of Sabine and Morrison, than it has to do with lack of staffing.
6:37
ReplyDeleteStaff provided this information, perhaps you should ask staff.I don't think you watched the same meeting as I did.
6:57-Thank you. I was working so I didn't watch the meeting at all. I was quoting from Shaffers letter that was posted above. Thanks, and Lynn thanks as well.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Lorri. If you go to the staff report, linked above, check out Page 15, too. Also, on Page 13:
ReplyDelete"Proactive Work
Roughly 95% of all code enforcement cases are resolved with a verbal or written warning. What was found was that most folks in violation of City code were not aware of the code requirements. What this tells us is that improved education and outreach may help reduce the number of complaints that are received.
To test this theory, the Division intends to begin a pilot program where we will focus on more proactive enforcement. While staff will be actively looking for violations, the program is going to be geared more towards education and voluntary compliance; as opposed to formal citations and penalties.
The Division hopes to start this program with illegal sign enforcement since that represents roughly 19% of the total number of open code complaints. It is believed that as this program matures and word gets out, we will ultimately see a decrease in violations (and complaints) regarding signage. As the complaints about signage decrease, staff can facilitate proactive enforcement in other code enforcement areas."
Sounds good, but perhaps there would not be so many open cases, NOW, if code enforcement gave out more warnings, as an "educational tool." I know that a small kiosk next to Captain Kenos (used to be a flower stand), where someone who used to work at Captain Kenos now works doing I-Pad and I-phone repairs was fined $100 for a sign deemed too large.
Was that business given a warning? From the staff report, it seems that the "pilot program" for pro-active enforcement will be more about enforcing sign restrictions than alleged violations by alcohol serving establishments. I believe that may be another reason why Tony voted no, for now.
Lynn
ReplyDeleteYes I do have a job and I did watch the meeting last night.SDWD,oral comm and every agenda item (me thinks the lady doth protest to much).Do you have a real job ?.I think that's 11 or more
I didn't speak on every agenda item at either meeting. I didn't speak 11 times. I didn't speak for 30 minutes, counting both meetings.
DeleteIf you have a job, and you are feeling overwhelmed, then methinks THOU doth protest too much. Give it a break and don't watch the SDWD meeting, or either meeting, if it's so boring and hard to take for you. People usually LIKE having a break from staff's overly long presentations. Three minutes at a time for public speakers is not too much.
Plus, I didn't ask or say anything about your having a job or not. That's completely irrelevant. Some people are retired. Some have avocations, rather than vocations.
some ticks take welfare from the government when they could be working and paying taxes and spend all their time wasting tax dollars as hobby of asking ridiculous requests of City Staff.
DeleteI feel a few gadflies at the City Council meetings are a huge waste of taxpayers money.
9:25 those 'few gadflies' are the nost noble citizens in america, interestingly they strike me as all walks and political orientations. It shows me when the truth is easily seen common sense prevails. we all know hiring a spin doctor was wrongheaded, we know raiding capital projects of money was idiotic. we all know $43 million in unfunded road work is criminal and shamefilled - you must be Vina nd Bart and Shaffer state propagandist, trying to discredit truth tellers. Pension hohs, wasn't that a line in animal farm, some animals are mor equal than others- do you speak oink?
DeleteI though think that Lynn has too much time on her hands and not enough to do with her idle time.
ReplyDeleteI though think Lynn is a huge waste of tax payers money, haven't to ignore all her comments for some many hours throughout the year that could have been spent on productive work.
She also wastes valuable time of staff with all her senseless requests.
I think Lynn is very bad for Encinitas and is a terrible Encinitian (luckily she doesn't live in Leucadia).
But this is just my opinion that is shared by very many people.
Easy for you to say, anonymous sockpuppet. Your opinion of what "many people" may opine, is irrelevant.
DeleteYour opinion of what is "senseless" is also irrelevant. Your opinion of what or who is a waste of time is irrelevant.
lol. Your opinion of where I live and what is lucky or not is of no consequence. Your anonymous, unverified, and unshared opinions are all irrelevant. You, anon, 7:37 are projecting your own excess amount of time on YOUR hands, projecting the fact that you have not enough to do with your idle time. So you just make accusations, without backing them up.
My deed says I live in Leucadia. Your opinion of where I live is irrelevant. But Leucadia is part of the City of Encinitas. If you want to think I don't live in Leucadia, go for it. But then the Sunday Farmers' Markets at Paul Ecke Central are not in Leucadia, either. The Leucadia 101 Mainstreet Headquarters is not in Leucadia. None of that matters, anyway. I care about all of our community, including Cardiff, Old Encinitas, New Encinitas, Olivenhain, and yes, Leucadia. I formerly lived in Cardiff. Morgan Mallory lives in Cardiff. Charles Marvin lives in Old Encinitas. Peder Norby lives in Carlsbad. Your "exclusivity" only shows that you are trying to exclude others, through prejudice.
7:37 are you Vina's propagandist sent to try and discredit free people speaking who choose to speak the truth and participate? really, the post is about this code officer, you are rambling on and on off tpoic, you sound stupid.
DeleteAnon 7:37, I would like to know what research you have done to conclude that staff time at the City of Encinitas is valuable? They certainly don't act like their time is very valuable. People don't call the Encinitas City Hall the "country club" for nothing. The more that they extend their influence into new neighborhoods that they change or even ruin, the more new people there are who really hate city staff. Sorry to say it, but it is true. The General Plan Update started a massive spiral down that has impacted the image of all staff members.
DeleteThe city treats citizens horribly. They don't listen or care. But we pay their pensions and they laugh.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteLynn, It's obvious, even to a casual observer, that you are more interested in running your mouth and shaming than actually getting any results. I think you should have a few sessions with Dr. Lorri to determine what your real motives are. Vindictivness is a horrible lifestyle.
DeleteKill the messenger syndrome.
Delete10:06- Perhaps I am not the best person for Lynn to see, as I think her motives are just fine. As long as we have a democracy, I will fight for anyone's First Amendment Rights to speak out. She doesn't bring a firearm to City Hall, she waits her turn, and unless someone gives her a time donation she stays within the 3 minutes. You may disagree with what she says, or the way she says it, but if you truly think that she has no business being up there, may I politely suggest you move to a country where people are not allowed to express their opinion? If you think she speaks too much, get up there yourself and make your rebuttal, if you have one. I love my country and my community. I will defend anyone's right to speak, no matter what their motivation. I also defend your right to speak in a public forum. So state your name for the record and go for it. I will be right behind you and you don't have to have any particular motive.
DeleteSpring will be here soon , the bars will be nuts o code enforcement
ReplyDeleteI don't think so THANKS TONY !MARK AN GASPAR
This evening at lumberyard three separate groups of drunk / rowdies smoking, one obviously tweaked on meth.... ya it's only Thursday and our city is worried about little a frame signage? Priorities people, Rome in the making.
ReplyDeleteEncinitas City council should focus on improving quality of life and property values by clamping down on the downtown bar scenes.
ReplyDeleteThat is where my vote is heading.
I agree 9:27 that is what asll 5 council members mustr be voted out of office. Barth is on recrod that she thinks 'mellenials' shoud run our town with their high density mixed use scene. Shaffer is on record she thinks government should make housing affordable for everyone and everyone should live at the beach. Phony Tony told the ballot untruth that no upzoning happened with a vote of the people BS- the 101 was upzoned without a vote destroying quality of life. Muir and Gaspar are backed by the unions that need revenue for pensions and the Los Angeles developers who need profits - so they too back destroying our quality of life in the name of the almighty dollar - vote them all out!
Delete7:55 Ouch that hurts!!!!! You just called 90% of us posters a name….. BULLY!
ReplyDeleteOh well…. you have nothing worthy to say anyways. only lame repeats.
Thank you Tony, Mark and Kristin for doing the right thing!
ReplyDeleteI agree. Thank you Tony, Mark and Kristin for doing the right thing.
ReplyDeleteBarth and Shaffer---- WAKE UP!
Its time to reduce staff costs not increase them!!!
How come the naysayer/trolls always have weird syntax and terrible grammar?
ReplyDelete-Mr. Weatherbee
Public school graduates that started their education at Pacific View, that's why.
Delete12:03
DeleteNo wunder I won the spellig bees.
Troll school doesn't have basic writing in the curriculum, only anger and cheap shots..
ReplyDelete-El Senor Pantalones Verdes
El Senor- I would add facts to the troll curriculum as well. Mayor Barth is on record that she thinks Encinitas should be upzoned for the "Millennials" -she told KPBS
ReplyDeleteFormer Deputy Mayor Shaffer is on record that the Governments job is to provide low cost housing even if that includes destroying existing quality of life - she opposed Prop A
Tony Kranz did write an editorial in the paper or on a blog I believe that made the outrageous and incorrect statement that no upzone had ever happened in Encinitas without a vote of the people.
The Fire and Sherrif Unions did back Ms. Gaspar and Mr. Muir - as did the out of town developers.
I guess at troll school they focus on facts and solutions rather than gammar and syntax - speaking of Sin Tax - Are Shaffer Barth and Kranz really proposing to raise out sales tax ? Now that's a sin, but hey, at least they have good grammar.
gammar? I wouldn't admit to being a troll. It's ok to post your opinion, we're trying to have give and take. But the personal attacks, especially on the few people on this board to use their real names, that's not cool.
DeleteYou don't sound like a troll with your comments above, you're welcome to oppose any council member you like.
However, this was Teresa's comment to KPBS:
She thinks the new development represents changing trends in the way people want to live.
“Our demographics are changing,” she explained. “The fastest growing group in our region is the seniors, people who already live here, people who are going to get out of the suburban house because the kids have all gone and they’re moving into a smaller apartment or townhouse, and they all want to live downtown. They and the millennial all want the same thing.”
So that's not quite the same thing as saying she wants it upzoned for the millennials.
You may have to work on the facts portion of the curriculum.
And hey, like I always say ad nauseum on this blog, if you don't like who you have on council, vote them off or better yet, run yourself.
-Herr Disco Pants
How many seniors are moving downtown - Zero, nada, none. How many Seniors living down at Pacific Station or Moonlight lofts - Zero, nanda, none.
DeleteApparently in yours and Teresa Barth's world there is a Seniors Early Bird Special at the Bier Garden from 4-5 followed by a Millennial Happy hour and dance off from Midnight to 1:00 am.
The new deveopment downtown represents the power of money and the destruction of community character and quality of life fr existing residents That is why Barth and the council opposed A, they want the power, not the people. Facts are facts - pesky things.
Using the millennial supposed preferences as an excuse to upzone is Barth's real message.
DeleteUnfortunately, the Millenials have $1 trillion of student debt, so they're not going to be in a position to buy $900,000 party condos any time soon.
DeleteWCV
Hello WCV
DeleteThat is an excellent point and one I was not aware of until I talked with a MS graduate level 27 year old at Starbucks in Cardiff. She shared with me that many of her friends can not find jobs and can not pay the debt on the Student Loans for their undergraduate degrees so they are going back to school for their M.S. Degree's.
Apparently, going back to Graduate school delays them needing to start paying down the debt from the undergraduate degree.
This girl was saying that while she had a job, a good job, 40% of her monthly income was going to pay off her student loans.
I wonder if that is why they are rezoning ins ome cities to make micro-units as small as 250 square feet, because that is all the single millennial in America will be able to afford.
Hello WCV-
DeleteI am responsible for the post at 12:03
Kind regards
Andrew Audet
12:30
DeleteThat sounds about right. A-21 by any other name...
11:27, my point was merely on what Teresa actually said, vs. what you claimed in your post.
DeleteI don't actually agree with her take on Pacific Station or migration patterns in Encinitas, or Prop A. for that matter.
Encinitas housing discussions are pretty simple for me, millionaires by here, seniors retiring sell their house, take the money and move elsewhere and regular joe's like me rent and hope our house doesn't get sold.
-Sir Lord Green Felt Pants
WC,
DeleteI'm not a millennial, I have no debt and I can't afford a million dollar house in Encinitas either.
I can relete to them, though, it's tough out there on the job front. Interesting point that Andrew brings up. I wonder which cities are rezoning for micro units?
I know the "small house movement" is popular, although I think that's just a trend/desire to use less resources than anything else.
I'm personally not a believer in the whole agenda 21 angle, to me it's more about developers trying to wring out every buck out of the existing square footage.
Encinitas to me does not have the type of footprint to support or encourage a lot of apartment style density. Pacific Station is proof of that, it looks totally out of place and has struggled to fill the slots.
We're not Little Italy...
-Professor Green Jeans
And who could forget Gaspar's "You won't be able to build a patio under Prop A." It was Muir in the subcommittee who tried sneaking language into the ballot statement against Prop A that even the Planning department rep said was not true.
ReplyDeleteLisa Shaffer ought to take a gander at video on youtube of Austin Police hiding out to hand out jaywalking tickets on a quiet city street. Shaffer, Barth and Vina might want to take a look at government harrassing and intimidating local residents in Austin in the name of raising money to pay fat bloated public pensions - oink, oink
ReplyDeleteThat Felix candidate for Mayor has a point. Cops are becoming so desperate for money to pay their bloated pensions they are now finding any reason to cite residents rather than protect residents. There is a story out there about some Encinitas guy getting harassed for jaywalking downtown by Encinitas Sherriff's- shoved in the back of a cop car, handcuffed, resisting arrest, I heard the guy was like 70 years old.
Code enforcement my ass - Vina and Barth failed to talk about code enforcement when former Mayor Jerome Stocks and Mark Muir were captured on Video for all to see - VIna was silent on enforcing that code becaue it helped his pension giving buddy out. On animal farm some pigs are more equal than others- right Gus? oink, oink.
Not to mention enforcement in the bars...which officer was it who stood up at Council one night to say that there have been times when the bar was clearly over capacity and, rather than issuing a warning or heaven forbid a ticket, he told them there were too many people in the joint?
DeleteEnforce code on business, especially Encinitas "Hospitality" Association business: never. Enforce on regular residents for minor, minor errors? Always, and with the Council's blessing. Disgusting.
Yet bankers steal billions and no one goes to jail....
DeleteGet the cops out of their cars and on the streets on weekends - that might curb some of the rowdy behavior.
Delete11:20am: I know this guy and what happened. Yes, he's 70 years old, but in pretty good shape. He was crossing 2nd street near Union Bank, (like he had done thousands of times for the last 40 years,) and a cop was detaining a couple of young people across the street. When he passed by, the cop shouted that he was jaywalking, but unfortunately, he chose to ignore the cop so the cop stopped him near Hwy 101, handcuffed him, and threw him in the back of his cop car, where he suffered a panic attack. He got a jaywalking ticket, and was cited for "obstructing justice", a $1800 fine. Of course, he had to hire an attorney, to the tune of $3000, and the case was thrown out of court the day before it was due to go to trial. A classic example of a cop with an overblown ego, and a job description that allows brutality.
DeleteTeresa lives in Cardiff in a condo. I wonder why she hasn't moved downtown. Maybe she doesn't see herself as a senior. And Lisa, where does she live? I would bet not downtown. Practice what you preach is what my father used to say.
ReplyDeleteThe barnyard animals are coming out in full force. Better get 2 code enforcement officers to put them back in their place. Maybe 3, as it would appear that Teresa might want one just for Lynn.
ReplyDeleteVina wants proactive code enforcement revenue. Gestapo state alive & well in Encinitas.
DeleteBarth should be jeered at every event - she is a disgrace and a cop-out.
ReplyDeleteDUMP BARTH!
Barth should have pots banged everywhere she goes publicly. Goes the the other turds in office also.
DeleteLisa lives in a large box-like thing off Encinitas Blvd. Definitely not a condo.
ReplyDeleteLet's leave people's housing locations out of it. As for Code Enforcement, if you want to look at revenue raising, look no further than Del Mar in the summer, when they bring on the extra ticket officers between Memorial Day and Labor Day..
ReplyDeleteIt's not a new tactic...
I'll say this again,disagree with Lynn and it becomes very personal.the list goes on And on ,Charlie Fred Peter Jerome the City every city manager s he has become the BULLY she says she hates. Enough already
ReplyDeleteI don't hate any of them. Hate is a form of attachment. Hate is a mask that fear wears.
DeleteAnd love is a many splendored thing.
DeleteYou're right, we should leave housing locations out of it. But the fact that Shaffer lives in a big box and thinks everyone else needs to pack in like sardines because that's some sort of "sustainable living" obligation we all have to save the earth...it's the hypocrisy.
ReplyDeleteShe advocates getting on your feet/bike to get around and would love nothing better than to "complete streets" (cement sidewalks everywhere, like it or not), yet drove from Encinitas to UCSD for how many years? Why wasn't she living in the UTC area and hauling herself to work under her own power?
These folks who are happy to reconfigure Encinitas into something it's not to fit an ideal they're unwilling to live themselves...ugh.
some pigs are more equal that other pigs - you must ride your bike and limit your mobility and like, while the other 'equal' pigs drive their cars when and how they want - kind of like Al Gore flying private jets, taking limo's and cashing in on 'green investments' that robbed taxpayers of money and went bankrupt
Delete"They're selling postcards of the hanging. They're painting the passports brown. The beauty parlor's filled with sailors, the circus is in town. And here comes the bling commissioner, they've got him in a trance. One hand tied behind the tightrope walker, the other is in hits pants. And the riot squad they're restless. They need somewhere to go. As lady and I look out tonight on Desolation Row"-Bob Dylan
ReplyDeleteAnd buy a Chrysler..... (French owned)
DeleteHey, it's not cheap to live in Malibu, and Bob has a few kids to support.
Delete-Mr Greenjeans
It's blowing in the wind.....a foul odor!
DeleteProbably urine from la Paloma!
DeleteTwo grammatical erros. "blind commissioner" and "in his pants"
ReplyDeleteWE ARE ANONYMOUS. WE TAKE NO PRISONERS. YOU WILL NOT KNOW WHEN WE STRIKE UNTIL WE DO!
ReplyDeleteYou are not Anonymous. I am ….. quit the rhetoric poser…. Ueeehiiii day...
ReplyDeleteCity Council needs to focus on priorities. No. 1 priority is City Finances. No. 1 issue with City Finances is not enough money for projects. No. 1 reason for no project money is 98% of tax money goes to huge City Employee Costs including high salaries and huge pension and benefits.
ReplyDeleteCity Council needs to take the first step and fire the existing City Manager that does the opposite of what is needed to address the City's highest priority.
City Council needs to hire a City Manager that will focus on reducing staff costs and increase project budgets.
What is the annual costs for maintaining that huge regional sports complex anyway?
Vina is a jerk. Code enforcement is usually selective harassment and generally used in neighbor wars. Now he wants them to search out infractions to generate a cash flow? Live and let live - - Vina needs to be set packing, but don't hold your breath. Barth will never get my vote again - she rates this guy as "excellent"...
ReplyDeleteBarth was hopeful. But rating the loser Vina as even competent lost all my support. Council needs go get rid of this loser quick.
ReplyDeleteHe is bad for Encinitas. and I wish Barth was not so easily smoozed by that loser.
Hey, Barth is a good friend of many on the new Encinitas Hospitality Commission. They have it in control. Just leave it to them to fix the problem. No need to fuss.
ReplyDeleteThe new Park is not scheduled now to be open until November of this year, if that. So maybe it will be in next years budget.
ReplyDeleteDump Barth (and Gaspar).
ReplyDelete