The city also has a short list of six applicants for city manager after a national search by a consultant. Hall said local government officials and Carlsbad council members will conduct interviews, and the goal was to hire a new top administrator by March 1. The city received 50 applications for the position. Coates, the last city manager, earned $220,500 plus benefits for overseeing a staff of 650 with an annual budget of about $120 million.Encinitas pays Gus Vina, a man whose experience consists of finance and management in failed cities Stockton and Sacramento, about the same as the Carlsbad city manager gets for running a city with staff and budget more than twice the size of Encinitas (and Vina gets a much better pension at 55). And the Carlsbad gig is so juicy that they got 50 applicants.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Nice work if you can get it
Carlsbad:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I still can't blame Vina for Stockton or Sacto, both those cities had issues long before he got there.
ReplyDeleteBut I agree that he's overpaid, relative to the size of Carlsbad. Here's the link to the countwide comparison from several years ago:
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/Nov/03/city-manager-pay-averages-204000/
No matter how you slice it, all these managers get paid A LOT of money.
-Mr. Comparison Pants
Yes, both cities had issues. But what did Vina do to rescue things? It appears he left sinking ships. Encinitas is already listing. Vina better start the bilge pumps or bailing water very quickly.
DeleteMr. Pants
DeleteYou might think it is ok for Vina to have enriched his crony friends at the expense of taxpayers but don't expect common sense hard working folks to join you.
With Sacramento some $30-40 Million in debt, unable to pay bills, facing falling revenue what did Good Ol Gus do for his friends in his 'Cabinet' ? That's right, raises all around everyone, what the heck Sacramento Taxpayers are paying for it- ha ha!
So, Sacramento gave ol' Gus the boot, where did Gus land? , Encinitas - what did Gus do- hire a cabinet, what has Gus achieved? -increased our debt, increased fees on residents, reduced services, and raided capital improvement accounts-
These are the facts. They are not in dispute.
Not saying Vina was in any way to blame.
DeleteBut if we're going to pay someone that much money, shouldn't he have some demonstrated success at managing a city responsibly, or at least have been an assistant manager under a responsible city manager? Vina has never even seen what a responsibly-run city looks like!
WCV
Pants is your tax dollars at work for a spin doctor.
DeleteNot only was Vina part of the leadership team that sunk Stockton and Sacramento - try finance Director.
He is also doing the same thing in Encinitas. Growing Staff Costs - Not striking them.
Until he is gone, I don't support this City Council. Getting rid of Vina is the only really good thing they can do for Encinitas.
As to the talent search to replace Cotton, if you speak to Barth about it; she will tell you that Mrs. Houlihan absolutely refused to pay more than an initial figure and that the headhunter brought in six candidates that were willing to take that figure to serve as CM, after all, this is paradise, and that if Mrs. H would've allowed the spending of more money annually, you would have had a different result. As to Vina cleaning up the mess: he has replaced almost all of the department heads and has been dealing with the asylum escapees who haunt city hall every Wednesday night, who the council is obviously terrified of. You wanna blame someone? Blame Mrs. H. for her thriftiness in this circumstance.
DeleteI agree with you WC, there were probably better choices out there. I would like to see someone who's got a proven track record.
DeleteThe real question to me is, if we succeed in dumping Vina, how do we try and positively influence the process so we don't have another Phil Cotton, Vina, or Kerry Miller.
-Mr Salary Review Pants
And I'm not a city employee. I love it that when you try and raise a point of order on people's hyperbole, they immediately accuse you of being a shill or a city worker.
DeleteBelieve me, I wish I had a city job, I could use the cash. And my point remains the same, I think every single City Manager in this city is overpaid, but if we're going to pay that amount, let's at least try and get someone with a really solid track record.
It sounds like there was an issue with the process, I can tell you from doing hiring searches, that if you limit the criteria for selection like was alleged above, you cheat yourself from having the availability of some of the better candidates.
Let's look at this realistically, Teresa is not going to dump Vina. I don't think Muir or Gaspar will either. Maybe Lisa and Tony might down the line, but that's a big maybe. You need 3 votes, correct? It will be hard to dump Vina without getting a few new faces at the next election, that's the reality.
-Mr. Greenjeans
6:51
DeleteIs it shameful you put forth unsubstantiated rumors from a person who can't defend herself?
Please explain-
why did Vina give pay raises in Sacramento to his cabinet bya s much as 40% while the city was mired in debt?
Why did Vina tell Enciniutas residents that the Moonlight and Hall projects were linked - and then tell us they weren't?
Why did Vina tell the council the city's finances were in great shape - and now we learn there is no money for our roads?
Why did Vina tell the council to take the USS Cal builders bid when USS CAl builders were the only contractor not to have teh requird papers work at the time of the bid to treat the toxic dirt and grading?
These are facts I present, you talk in rumors. Looking forward to your response. We already know why VIna hired a spin doctor -just look at his terrible record.
8:23,
DeleteI love how you accuse someone else of unsubstantiated rumor mongering, and then present one yourself in regards to the communications position.
We don't "know" any of this, unless we get a signed affidavit from Vina, which we aren't getting.
I think we can all agree that Vina is not the person we want in the job. Why and how people voted on his selection matters, but it won't change the fact that we're stuck with him for now.
The more important question is about improving the selection process and criteria, and how we impress this upon our elected council.
-Mr Greenjeans
Mr. Green Jeans is it your contention that Mr. Vina did not hire what he calls a 'Communications Specialist' - it is a fact that he did. It is also a fact that many residents call this 'Communications Specialist' a Spin Doctor. This is not a rumor, it is a fact.
DeleteWe do know Vina did perform all of the actions described by 8:23. He gave his cronies pay raises in Sacramento, he linked the Hall park and Moonlight to get funding and one year later told the council they were not linked, he did tell the council during the budget meeting of 2013 the city's finances were in great shape, today we know they are not. Vina did recommend selecting USS CAl Builders, USS CAl Builders did lack the proper cetrifications to do the work at the time of the award. We don't need a signed affidavit- it is all public record
What a classic example of lining up convenient "facts" to bolster a position. This argument reminds me of a skipping stone sliding across the water.....once, twice, three and four times......until it sinks into the abyss never to be seen again.......
Delete- The Scuplin
Facts- do you have any? the public record is just that - the public record. The abyss is where Vina is taking us -
DeleteThe only "facts" I have are absolute - today's temperature, the time, the height of the tide, the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow, that sort of thing - you know - things that can be measured. All else, and especially anything associated with this council and this blog, are conjecture and opinion....
Delete- The Sculpin
Sculpin is an apologist croney it appears. He can't see the facts thru his encrusted shell.
DeleteThanks Sculpin, lol. Love the Swallow reference. 9:18, I don't think there's any huge fans of Vina on this board, we're merely saying that you're picking and choosing information.
DeleteI think I've made it pretty clear, I'm for a hiring freeze at city hall and thus don't support the hiring of a Comms Specialist, or as you prefer Spin Dr. (and for the record, that position has been suggested before, pre-Vina). I just object to the inflated pay number that's listed over and over, I have posted the actual pay range, which was something like 65-90k a year. That's all.
As for the rest, he will have to stand on his record, whatever that is determined to be. The more important aspect of this, which I'll throw out again, is how to improve the hiring process, the public's input into it and the council's responsibility towards the public with the end result.
IE, Kerry Miller and Phil Cotton came before Vina, who's to say we won't end up with something similar after Vina..
-Mr Greenjeans
I'm undecided on Vina. If he is responsible for helping get the park project funded, and if it doesn't seriously affect the city's other projects, then i'm for him. Everyone laments that the other capital projects were raided, but nobody says what the consequences of that were. There are park-haters on this blog who will never forgive anyone who helps get the project completed, including Vina. I try to look for the substance behind all the hate.
DeletePlease see Lisa Shaffer's latest newsletter, linked here, for discussion of Encinitas' poor financial condition, chronically underfunded road maintenance, and a suggestion to raise taxes.
DeleteWCV
Thanks WCV. I've read it. Immediate reactions are two-fold. One, the road maintenance funding has been an issue for many years now. It is not a Vina created problem. Two, does Councilwoman Shaffer really think her constituents need to be reminded that Councilman Muir was the fire chief? It seemed unnecessary.
DeleteI'd rather have the park completed than fix the road problem that has existed.
Thanks again for the link.
Encinitas - someone calls it Mayberry by the Sea - I think they're right! Too many employees, overpaid and a city government whose first priority seems to be cover-ups. Vina's not sweating it - he has the council in the palm of his hand.
ReplyDeleteGo down to the city and bang your pots. Drive them out, just like the Ukraine, drive them out. This is YOUR city, drive them out. Take back your city. Take back YOUR freedoms.
DeleteI just saw photo's what looked like hundred's of thousands of citizens in Venezuela protesting their marxist socialist government where the kelptocrats in government reward themselves while the people pay the price - sound familiar?
DeleteGuess what -they were all out in the streets banging pots -
Here we go again - the BANGING POT HEADS!
DeleteIt better be at City Hall. Because if one of my neighbors starts banging pots in the middle of the night, I will go off on them.
DeleteBesides blogging on this site, what other responsibilities does the new $135k spin doctor have.
DeleteMaybe thats it? Maybe we are paying all that salary and benefits for someone to post responses trying to be more favorable to Vina on this blog?
Is that good use of tax dollar?
Ok fantasists, while I agree that I would like to know what the spin doctor is actually doing (not getting paid $135k, but we've been over that), I honestly don't think that person is on here blogging.
DeleteWe'd all like to be that important, but we're not. Kind of hard to make a comparison to Venezuela, where the income disparity has been played on to build a loyal voting bloc for the Chavistas. That's the upper middle class and rich people down there protesting.....
Bang a pot outside city hall and you'll probably be spending the weekend in Vista...Bang your vote at the ballot box instead.
Read some of the comments on Kerry Miller from 2006, sound familiar?
Deletehttp://www.theleucadiablog.com/2006/08/kerry-miller-going-to-folsom.html
7:47
DeleteIncome disparity? Mark Muir will get a pension of $175,000 a year for life after retiring at age 55. That is $14,700 a month on the backs of taxpayers to benefit his family and to benefit his heirs.
What are you getting?
I am getting to pay for my own retirment at age 70 and to pay for the benefits Muir and his family get. Is Muir a Chavinista -, is Vina, is Barth and Socialist Shaffer?
Where is the money to fix our roads and protect our community?
I'm not getting a pension at all, although I never expected one. And for me the retirement age for SS is pretty much 70 anyways. We can all compare what we're getting all day long, but the issue is what's going on down at the city.
DeleteVenezuela has nothing to do with Encinitas. See my comments above about voting, the hiring process for City Manager and more.
The key is going to be to change some hats down at the council, and impress upon those we are voting for that we are voting for a change in the pension structure, a hiring freeze, and better service at city hall.
Everything else is just talk, unless you're in from of Council tomorrow.
I am sure the Venezualans got fed up with 'talking'
DeleteYou raised the income disparity in the marxist communist country once led by Hugo Chavez- embraced by President Obama, who filled free press, who stiflfled free speech and who murdered his political opponents 'disappeared'
Mark Muir and the elected council are the new aristocrats. The new elites. Convenient how you made no comment on the income disparity between Muir and his government cronies and the common man footing the bill. That is the income equality Pelosi, Reed, President Obama don't want to talk about.
Chavez was democratically elected, and I don't live there. Believe me, I'm well aware of Muir's pension, it's a frequent topic on this blog. I'm for pension reform.
DeleteIncome equality/disparity has always been an issue in the U.S., but we're not supposed to talk about it, everyone has an equal chance, until we don't.
-Mr Trotsky Pants
who ahs an equal chance when a city manager get $250,000 in salary and lifetime retirement at age 55 paid for by taxpayers. The two america's those who work for the government and their union thugs and those of us who pay the bill.
DeleteWhen our City needed a new City Manager, they did what all other cities do. They put notices in certain publications geared to the public government sector. It gives salary range, benefits, job title and what job experience is needed. When the request from Encinitas for the job came out, there were many applicants. One of them was a person I know who has been in public sector all her career. She has been a Director of Finance and a City Manager at another city. Since she lives closer to our city than to the city she still works for, she applied. She did not even get an interview? To this day I cannot understand why, as I can assure you she would have been a lot better than what we got.
ReplyDeleteThey made a horrible selection with Sad Sac. and they need to admit it.
DeleteSave Encinitas and Fire Vina. Its time for a really City Manager who knows how to focus on real City priorities, not his retirement.
There are unwritten rules for every hiring process, and they will never tell you the rules. Since the recession, those rules and guidelines have increased, and include things like age, pay scale, how long you've been out of work, where you've worked are in play in addition to gender, race, weight etc.
DeleteI once lost a gig because the company liked to hire ex-military. The ex soldier lasted 2 months, and then I got the job. Someone detailed above that Maggie put a ceiling on what she wanted to pay. Don't know if that's true, but I've heard that. I've also heard that with that criteria in place, Vina was the best available.
I am willing to pay top dollar, but that person better fix the roads, solve pacific view, fund the park, cut the pensions and right the city...
Is it responsible to blame someone who is not around to defend your charges 8:08?
DeleteBarth is on record she hired Vina becuase he had 'cool glasses'. Stocks participated in the interview in name only - he was on his cell phone.
This job should pay no more that $150,000 base salary, and the person who should have been hired should have been a successful city manager from the mid-west or northeast who had retired and was getting a pension from another state. We could offer that candidate sunshine - way more valuable than cash at that stage of a persons career. We also should have run the Cit Manager's payroll through a temp agency to avoid paying benefits and pension. Now, in the private sector we call that strategy.
Instead Stocks and Gaspar hired Vina to run the city the way they want. Now it is Marco Gonzalez, David Meyer, Harwood, Phony Tony, Barney Barth and the rest of the special interest directing Gus to write a bogus strategic plan that will later be used to hoodwink the public.
Pot banging is a LEGAL form of non violent protest. It is protected by the constitution of the USA. Pot banging is permitted here in Enc from 7am-10pm.
DeleteWhether it is one person or ten thousand it is a LEGAL form of protest. And do any of you think this city or any city is able to arrest and prosecute hundreds of people for pot banging?? The city would be laughed out of the court system.
Tonight go to city hall, stand on the street and bang your pots. Bang them loud, bang them hard, bang them with pride.
What were my charges? I assume you're referring to the Maggie comments, which weren't mine. I've heard the Barth "glasses" reference many times, but usually on this blog.
DeleteSadly, the analysis that they had to compromise on Vina because of payscale was closer to what I heard. Who said it and when, not sure, I wasn't there.
You probably won't be able to hire the city manager through an agency, there are state laws about how all that is handled.
I agree with your salary structure, I'd like to see $150k tops, but I'll pay more because you know they will use the info below to top it out way higher. I don't care where they're from, but they need a proven track record on the key points of pension reform, budget management and infrastructure maintenance.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/Nov/03/city-manager-pay-averages-204000/
Ok, 8:55, put your money wear your mouth is. You lead the pot banging. Tell us the exact time, location and what you're wearing (wear a mask if you like).
DeleteIs it responsible to blame someone not here? Is it 'shameful' to report what happened and why? Are you suggesting that because someone is not present, but historically, was responsible, that this should be overlooked so you can blame someone else who was also present but not solely responsible? Man, this blog has got to get a better educated/rational readership. There is nothing derogatory meant in the reportage: grow up.
DeleteSeveral days ago the bloggers here were praising Gaspar, Kramz and Muir for economizing: and now that we've brought up the fact that Mayor Houlihan did the same, it is 'shameful'? Let's try and be consistent. Unless you are a retired Kindergarten teacher, then, never mind.
DeleteThey surely interviewed for certain character "qualities" and must have seen something in Vina that fit the bill. He's sneaky, scheming, and obviously willing to do just about anything, including lie, to work for big money and against residents.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great choice city Council. You picked t the biggest loser
ReplyDeleteGoogle Gus Vina to find pages of information about him. Much of that information undermines or disproves many of the unfounded claims people irresponsibly post on this blog.
ReplyDeleteOne of references is an executive search firm that says they placed Vina and Finance Director Tim Nash with the city of Encinitas:
http://www.peckhamandmckenney.com/placements.html
With all respect 11:48 you are delusional. "Disproves many of the unfounded claims people irresponsibly post"
DeleteVina gave huge pay raises to his cabinet in Sacramento- when the city was $30-40M in debt.
Vina told the council Moonlight and the Hall Park were linked, one year later he told them they were not.
Vina recommended the council hire USS CAl builders - even though Cal Builders did not have the right certifications to to do the job at the time of the award.
Vina raided some 15 fully funded capital projects of some $7M
Vina has increased the city's debt service and reduced services to residents while increasing fees on residents.
These are facts- live with it, the rest of us have to.
Sorry - these "facts" are really a connect the dots exercise to bolster a preconceived notion. I'm not here to defend Vina - I'm here to defend intellectual honesty! Can you tell us why Vina raised salaries in Sacramento, and why it was a bad decision? Why is it important that a distinction be made between moonlight and hall being linked or not linked? What would have changed? Is there a reason why CAI did not have the proper cert's? Do they have them now? Did the job req's change? Why did Vina "raid" the funds? I'm sure he didn't do it by himself. What would have happened if he had not "raided" them. And finally, how would the city be functioning today if Vina (under direction from the council) had not increased debt and reduced services? Would we have even fewer services or missed an obligation?
DeleteBasically I am asking you to provide some context and nuance to your "facts" so that we can make sense of them. If you want us to take it at face value, then it's a non-starter and your arguments will forever be relegated to the dust bin.
- The Sculpin
Please answer Sculpin, Anonymous blogger 12:34 or STF up!
Delete12:34, you have been called out by 12:56, 2:59 and, previously, by 11:48. I'm not saying this with respect, because you haven't done your homework and you deserve no respect.
DeleteIf you want respect, before you post your unfounded allegations and accusations again, take the time to do the research and find the facts. What you pronounce as "facts" aren't. You're just spouting ignorance and revealing your bias.
Employ some rudimentary journalistic techniques, find the facts and stop polluting the blog with your nonsense.
3:24
DeleteFor the record-
Mr. Vina presented a financial package to the council linking the Hall park project and Moonlight projects in 2012. In 2013 it was revealed to the new council they were not linked. Most recently councilman Mark Muir questioned the financial wisdom of the Moonlight project- I guess Muir is a bit like Pelosi- we need to approve the funding to know what is in the funding.Muir does get his $175,000 a year pension, surely he knows what is in that.
It is a fact 3:24 that as the Interim city manager with Sacramento 'Big spending' Gus Vina gave pay raises to multiple members of his 'cabinet' as a time when the city was reportedley $30-40 million in debt. Shortly there after Vina received what was called a 'vote of no confidence'.
It is fact that Vina recommended the council raid some 15 fully funded capital improvement projects of some $7 million dollars. He made this recommendation at the same meeting he linked together the Hall and Moonlight projects. Today the projects that were raided remain unfunded -
It is a fact that city manager Vina recommended the council accept the bid from USS Cal Builders. It is a fact that upon not being selected the losing bidders protested the selection of USS CAl Builders. Their protests included that at the time of the award USS Cal builders did not have the proper certification to treat the haz/waste on site. It is a fact that the city has been sued by the water board for failing to properly manage the USS Cal builders and toxic runn off into the lagoon.
It is a fact that city manger Vina has reduced services to residents and increased fees- most recently increasing building permit fees on families seeking to remodel their homes. Vina along with Ms. Gaspar have also proposed raising fees on youth sports.
Please do share with us your facts after you have done some research. I look forward to it, I have done mine.
12:56 with all respect you sound ridiculous. I suggest you respond with facts or leave it alone.
Delete2:59
DeleteFropm a factual basis 12:34 is correct.
It is 12:56 who must explain asks illogical questions unless it is too mislead readers. 12:56 present facts to rebut the facts listed -if you have any.
Vina did give pay raises in Sacto
Vina did get what was described as a vote of no confidence in Sacto
Vina did leave Sacto some $30M in debt when he left
VIna did link the park and moonlight in one meeting and later the council was told they were not linked
Vina did propose the council raid fully funded projects, today those project remain unfunded.
Vina did propose raising fees on residents.
Service to residents is in decline - please see the road report.
Vina did propose awarding of the contract to Cal Builders was protested by the other contractors and among the protests were that Cal Builders lacked at the time of the award the right certification.
So- give us facts, let us know what we should consider.
They're linked and then they're not linked. So? Sculpin's point is what is your point? And what does Muir's pension have to do with it (factually).
DeleteIt is not a fact that the runoff was toxic, as it relates to the certification (which dealt with the hazardous materials). I'm not trying to argue that sediment is not toxic to marine life. I am arguing your association of the certificates to the runoff events. The certification had nothing to do with the runoff events. It does not excuse them, but they are not related.
You do not know whether even with the fines, whatever the total amount will be, that the Cal Builders bid will cost the city less than the other bids. Gus Vina may have saved the city millions in the process of building the park. You don't know. (Or if you do, please post the numbers of the other bids.)
What services have been reduced? General statements do not provide the proper information so that unbiased readers can decide the true significance.
I do not believe that it is just Vina and Gaspar that want to raise park use fees. The parks and rec department also made this recommendation (me thinks, but please chime in Dr. Lorri). Vina has asked for an evaluation of all our use fees (uh-oh!).
with all respect 5:01 you just posted that everything 12:34 wrote was factual and true. You don't deny the facts becuse you can't, so instead you attempt to explain them away.
DeleteWhat services have been reduced ? Unfunded capital improvement projects, unfunded road repairs - to name two big ones.
BS 5:07pm. The road repairs was not one of the raided projects. Road repairs were not further reduced, they already had been reduced.
DeleteCapital improvement projects that were not started and had no plan of being started anytime soon do not count as "reduced" services to an honest observer.
If Vina raises use fees and recommends a sales tax hike then i'm right there with 12:34. Until then, his facts include too much bias for me to make the same conclusions he does.
Further clarification on the runoff 5:07pm: The toxic soil was buried deep on the site. The certificates to handle that toxic soil is what was contested. On the other hand, the runoff events where the heavy rains caused soil to foul Rossini Creek and flow to the lagoon was surface (non-toxic) soil.
DeleteThe runoff was not tested so we do not know the real fact that is being flirted with, whether the runoff included toxic soil that had been buried. The report includes pictures that show the runoff was surface runoff. Whether it was toxic or not does not excuse the lack of oversight. The marine life isn't happy either way, but if it were toxic they'd be a lot unhappier.
5:45-
DeleteI direct you to the July 2012 City Council meeting held the week of July 4th at the senior Center. You can watch the video and hear city Manager recommend raiding some 15 fully funded capital improvement projects of $7M, then recommending the city go $8 Million in debt with a bond, and then linking the two projects.
As of today the $7M raided has not been replaced and the residents counting on those services- trails at Cottonwood Creek Storm drains in Leucadia and more have been denied the services their tax dollars paid for. You can share opinions but you can not deny the facts. I hope you can appreciate how ridiculous your comment is that "capital improvement projects that had not been started or had no plan of being started anytime soon do not count as reduced services" Vina proposed raiding the accounts, there was no money to deliver the services.
These are the facts, becuase you might choose to draw erroneous conclusions don't expect hard working common sense taxpayers to join you.
Your "facts" are cherry picked and not actually true! The 15 funds that you claim were "raided" from other projects were NOT FULLY FUNDED! Please share with us the "trails at Cottonwood Park" that are needed right now or how urgent is the need is for storm drains in Leucadia?
Delete7:52pm is not me (5:45pm), but the point i'm admittedly not making very well is that the term "reduced" services implies that something that exists was taken away. Were the trails removed at Cottonwood? Was the diameter of the pipe reduced in Leucadia? No. The CIPs were re-prioritized and the money for those other projects was used to finish the park. It's an unfortunate situation that we can't afford all of our CIPs and that tough decisions need to be made. But we set ourselves down the path of building the park many years ago and Vina could be the guy that actually gets it over the finish line. Park-haters will condemn him. But i have a different view.
Delete"trails" should be "existing trails"
Delete8:15 you have revealed yourself to be an ideologue. Your are a Vina apologist, as you have no facts you spin cpnjecture and opinion to hoodwink readers. Vina proposed rading accounts after first saying the city's finances were in good shape, I know this to an untruth. You might apologize for Vina's failure I don't.
DeleteI want the park built and there were many ways to do that, without rading accounts, telling untruths or going in debt. You reveal yourself as a political troll seeking to paint those holding Vina accountabe as park haters. The facts are there for all to see. They have been listed. The record is his, own it.
7:52 Vina raided 15 project accounts of $7 million. It is all on video for all to see. You can't make it go away, try as you might. Vina gave raises in Sacto Vina increased fees in Encinitas Vina increased debt in Encinitas Vina allowed our roads to deteriorate, he is the city manager, he has failed. You can try to put lipstick on that pig but we all know it remains a pig. Your illogical comments lead me to conclude you are the city spin doctor.
DeleteI agree with 6:09. Vina is a terrible City Manager. He was terrible for Stockton, Terrible for Sacramento and he is terrible for our City. More Debt, more employee costs and less money for projects. That is his ticket.
DeleteAll the other chatter on this site trying to defend Vina is from the mouthpiece spin doctor wasting tax payers money. It seems her only task is blogging on this website. What else is she responsible for?
For that matter, what the hell does the Art Director do to fill 40 hours a week? For that kind of time, we should have statues and paintings on every corner.
First step is to fire Vina. Once we have a good City Manager, they will clean up City Hall.
8:50/8:55, you're switching arguments mid-stream. Nobody said he didn't move money. The argument is with the term "reduced services". You weren't clear in your early posts what you meant by "reduced services". Now its clear you mean the switching of funds from CIPs to the park. It wasn't so clear at first.
DeleteAnd, no, i'm no apologist. And i'd sure love to hear your plans for how to get the park completed.
I'm still reserving judgment on Vina as there are a lot of interesting things pending (use fees, sales tax). But he did find a way to shift our priorities so that the park could get built. And until your next post where you explain how it could have been done, i haven't heard of a better alternative that was overlooked.
The absolute facts that can't be disputed poster is delusional. Can't seem to grasp that the facts are being disputed by several on this post. Spin doctor on this blog. Really? Grow up.
DeleteYes. Spin doctor on this blog. Paid for by encinitas Citizens.
DeleteWhat a cush job. I do this for free and she offers no more value than the rest of us. Just paid over $90k with a total cost to the tax payers of $135k and climbing every year.
The inherent truth is Vina brings only failed policy and practice to the City Manager position.
Vina should have and still should bring forward a financial plan showing the total costs of the sports park on the city, all contraction including needed surrounding infrastructure improvements and future operational and maintenance costs.
To not do this is bad management, from the City Manager and City Council.
Vina needs to be replaced ASAP. I hold Council responsible for this action, just as the City of Bell City Council were responsible for their lame City Manager.
What we have here is failure to communicate.
DeleteIt's kinda semantics.
Vina has not reduced services relative to the Cotton/Stocks baseline he started with.
However, his piling up debt with no explicit plan to pay for it, his continuing to underfund road maintenance, his continuing to spend recklessly on payroll and pensions, by definition reduces future services relative to what would be available under a more responsible city manager.
WCV
Except a lot of the city of Bell council members had a limited command of English. As much as we'd like to, it's hard to make a comparison between Bell and Encinitas.
DeleteThat said, I agree with WC, Vina seems to have a lack of planning, and knowledge on how to move the city forward, ie how the hell do we pay for this.
-Mr Want Green Fields
One more time:
DeleteCommunications City of Encinitas Communications Officer $68,761 to $96,754 (This is the RANGE). They don't give you top end of the range. Figure 75k.
A completed application packet is required and must be received in HR by 7/10/13. Contact HR at or visit or apply at City Hall, 505 South Vulcan Avenue, Encinitas, CA 92024 EOE. This job has originated from a member site of TheJobNetwork - U-T San egory: Marketing, Advertising & Business Dev., Keywords: Full Time...
7:15
DeleteOne more time.
Fact- last year city manager Vina went to the council meeting on the budget, stood at the podium, and praised the council that the city's finances were in Great shape.
Fact- at that meeting Mr. Vina asked the council approve up to $135,000 as year in salary, plus benefits and pension, to hire what Vina called a communication specialist and residents caleld a spin doctor.
Fact- Not a single residet spoke in favor of Vina's recommendation. All public speakers opposed Vina's recommendation.
Fact- at that same meeting residents gave presentations that the city's finances were being mismanaged.
Fact- the council led by Mayor Barth and Deputy mayor Schaffer along with Kranz, Muir and Gaspar chose not to follow the residents recommendations.
Fact- the council approved Vina spending up to $135,000 to hire a 'Spin Doctor'.
Fact- at last weeks council meeting we all found out the city is in bad shape financially and one proposed solutions is raising fees on residents, raising taxes and putting in parking meters.
10:30- I drove down my street this morning and my road sucks. I then went over to Leucadia near Vulcan drove through big frikin puddle becuase the storm drain sucks-
DeleteI pay big money in taxes to live here, I pay big money in city sales and county taxes when I buy something. This money is to provide me basic servics- roads and sewers. You can spin it any way you but the facts are the facts- Vina is failing to maintain our roads. This failure = reduced services. Sell you lame excuses and explanations elsewhere. No one here is buying it. You sound like the inept council who untruthfully told residents 5 story buildings were forever banned- the councl said it was a fact, they put it on a ballot statement. Loser Gus and incompentent Sabien let them. At best they were untruthful, at worst it could be argued they lied. Live with it, we all have to
9:13 -
DeleteFACT - you are really pissed off!!!!! And it can be measured!!!!
- The Sculpin
How do you know this fact. Give us all the details and background. Otherwise your comment is just an opinion, not a fact.
DeleteYou're right, 10:21 - this is not a fact, and we're probably being played by Dr. Lorri's evil twin.......
Delete- The Sculpin
Yeah, there's some real anger there, what the source is, we'll probably never know.
DeleteBut I know this, I'll take Encinitas over the city of Bell any day, or anyplace in the Midwest this winter, brrr....
-Mr Green psychologist
5:52 if the run-off was never tested as you claim then how do you know it was not toxic?
Delete11:48 AM
ReplyDeleteAnd your point is? The city uses an executive search firm which recruits.
Quoting from 9:01 above:
Delete"You probably won't be able to hire the city manager through an agency, there are state laws about how all that is handled."
This headhunter firm says they placed Nash and Vina:
http://www.peckhamandmckenney.com/placements.html
Quoting from their home page:
"Peckham & McKenney provides executive search services to local government agencies throughout the Western United States and is headquartered in Roseville, California. The firm was established as a partnership in 2004 by Bobbi Peckham and Phil McKenney, who serve as the firm’s Recruiters and bring over 50 years’ combined experience in local government and executive search."
That was the search firm that was paid to find Vina as a candidate for city manager, they didn't hire him as an independent contractor, which I believe is what that poster was saying..
DeleteThere's a difference there. A city Mgr of Encinitas by law would have the same rights to pension etc as Vina...
It is true the a search firm found Vina, but, of course, the city hired him. If they hadn't found him, we wouldn't have him.
DeleteIt's not true that the law requires a city manager of Encinitas to have the same pension as Vina. This is a discretionary benefit, since Vina isn't hired under a union contract. The city does comps with surrounding jurisdictions to offer a potential city manager what it thinks is necessary to hire him. If the city could find somebody who would accept a salary without a pension, it could hire that person. A contract would be signed, and then the city would be bound by it. There is a termination clause in the contact. In Vina's case it's 6 month notice. Then he's out of here.
My friend that I mentioned before, who did not get an interview, would gladly have accepted less than what Vina is being paid. She wanted to live closer to her home, and the City in which she is still the City Manager does not pay what we pay. And, it is in So. Cal.
DeleteWho in there right mind would turn down $200k plus a year plus benefits and a pension. That's why people are in these jobs.
DeleteDon't look for someone to sail in here, take $150k with lower benefits and no pension.
-Mr Green Jeans
8:21-
DeleteMaybe your friend is not a good candidate for City Manager. What has she done to turn around the City's she has worked for…. what is her vision and plan for future Encinitas?
We know Vina's sucks, but we need someone with the smarts and right vision.
- Ms. Communications Director Position at the City is a complete waste of money
8:21- Fair question. I'll ask her. On the other hand-what has Vina done?
DeleteMaybe the firm is owned by the Gaspars? It least I said maybe!
ReplyDeleteIts comments like this that demeans and devalues this blog.
DeleteExcept many such comments are really not such a stretch, unfortunately.
Delete6:10pm Your comment adds no value to this blog, city spin doctor.
DeleteA possible lien small but interesting against the city for a $900 overdue bill for landscaping plants provided to one of the city's contracted landscape services.
ReplyDeleteAny truth to the rumor that King Stalhman is opening an office downtown ??
ReplyDeleteBetter to know him and not need him then to - - ah - give me another beer ***** HIC***
DeleteWhat happened to the grass at Leo Mullens field? It is dead. Is it a preview of the maintenance of the Hall park?
ReplyDeleteYes, the city has still not addressed how they'll cover maintenance costs.
DeleteIt looks like that every winter after thousands of cleats have pounded that patch of grass to death after the soccer leagues have played and practiced on it. The new park will help reduce the demand on that litttle park and it will be in better shape in the future.
DeleteOh, brother. Spin away, doctor!
DeleteThe kids were playing on the dead grass many months ago. Not a peep out of the Encinitas Express about the field's condition.
Delete10:48 PM
The condition of the field isn't due to soccer players.
The grass went dormant. Its still there (er, mostly) but it's not pretty. What do you want Express to say? The field closes in March to help recover, just like the previous years. And, yes, it gets a ton of use.
DeleteSoccer groups were always complaining about the fields in Encinitas -holes, for one thing. It's not a "grass went dormant" excuse. That field isn't being maintained.
DeleteThere are no holes on Mullen. The grass is dormant and also suffering from over-use. It was very nice this year until the winter. Maintained very nicely as well. Mullen and the Y fields are maintained very well. The school district fields, now that's a completely different story.
DeleteGrass doesn't go dormant in the mild winters we have in SoCal. Mine has been very green all winter. The grass does need regular irrigation when there is no rain.
DeleteWasn't there a plan approved by the council to replace the grass at Leo Mullen with artificial turf to be paid for by the soccer leagues? Did the city stop watering while waiting for the money?
Sure it does, depending on the variant. The grass at Mullen has been watered regularly all year. The city has maintained it all year. In fact, they just aerated a couple of weeks ago (just before tryouts unfortunately -- an example that the city and the soccer leagues are not partners in crime as some have espoused on this blog).
DeleteThe turf project was an idea to create a field that wouldn't need as much regular maintenance. It would be open year long too, which would help the soccer leagues and the Y. It is very expensive to install and so never got enough momentum. It would have been nice to have a turf field at the new park, but again too expensive to install.
The Hall park is getting plugs, not sod.
DeleteThe Leo Mullen field goes through the same cycle of short green grass to brown dust every year. Most other grass fields used for soccer in the rest of the county don't die out every November-March period. It seems that Leo Mullen doesn't have the right type of grass as the other fields. Or it isn't maintained properly.
DeleteFire the Spin Doctor ASAP…. besides blogging, what are her other responsibilities and what will she be doing to help Encinitas?
ReplyDeleteSo far all I see is a spin doctor focused on trying to defend Vina's inept ways
Which posts are the spin doctors?
DeleteFire them all. Bang pots until they quit. Raise hell, fear not!! For evil to triumph, good men must do nothing but surf.
DeleteSo anyone who now posts comments which have a bit of reason and/or do not bash Vina/council is promptly accused of being a city hired "spin doctor". This blog has officially crossed the threshold of stupidity. Good work kids
ReplyDelete7:42 there is a difference between sharing facts and sharing opinions and explanations and excuses.
DeleteFor instance- It s fact Vina recommended USS Cal Builders. IT is a fact the award of the contract was protested by other bidders and among the claims was that USS Cal builders did not have the right certifications for treating the toxic dirt at the time of the award. It is a fact that USS Cal Builders did not have the right certifications for the project at the time of the award. It is a fact that the city is now being sued by the water board for the mismanagement of the park project under the direction of USS Cal builders.
The explanations, questions, excuses that do not offer any facts are just that - spin. It is what it. Vian gave raises in Sacramento when the city was in debt $30M. Vina got a vote of no confidence as reported in Sacramento. Vina proposed raiding other fully funded capital improvement projects of $7M. These are the facts.
Protests are pretty common in any kind of government bidding. The loser protests a high percentage of the time.
DeleteThis isn't to say USS Cal Builders should have been selected, or that they are qualified. I and others aren't on here to spin, we're trying to keep some rationality to the discourse.
If you're so strong with facts, perhaps you'd like this fact. Vina is City Manager until he's not. I'd love to hear some facts on how you think he can be replaced.
There's a lot of hyperbole being tossed about, a lot of history at the city, and a lack of depth on Vina's history in Sacto and Stockton. To whit, none of us were there. What were the political machinations surrounding his departure in Sacto. This is politics, so you know there are some maneuverings.
That's the context that informs the discussion, something that seems to be lost on you.
-Mr Greenjeans
So mr Green jeans,
DeleteWhat besides blogging is the communications person tasked with?
9:06 has the mini-mind of a conspiracy theorist. Too lazy to do real research, no objectivity, sees everything as confirming pre-conceived false conclusions, finds the chosen devil under every rock, closed mind, not worthy of discussion or debate.
Delete10:51
DeleteI did not know the award of the park project to USS Cal Builders was protested - i looked, turns out it was!
I did not know that the award was protested by the other contractors because USS Cal Builders lacked the proper certifications to do the haz waste work- this too turned out to be true!
I would not have known these things had I not read them here.
Why did Vina select the least qualifiied contractor at the time of the award to do the work?
Did Vina recommending the least qualified contractor lead to the city being sued for $400,000 ( I also did not know this, but it too turned out to be true!)
I did my research and it turns out all the information presented is true.
I'm not closed minded but open minded. Who do you hold responsible for the parks failure resulting in the city being sued? Who do you hold responsible for the falilure to improve our raods over the past 2 years? Who do you hold responsible for the city's worsening financial condition over the last 2 years? If it is not the city manager then who is it?
None of the teams that use these fields pay any fees NOTHING O NOT ONE CENT and as you say the city is broke.Thanks Kristin ,Jim ,Jerome and Dan .
ReplyDeleteProviding parks free-of-charge for kids' sports is not necessarily a bad thing, and is something that cities used to do as a key part of their reason for existence.
DeleteWe could still do that if we weren't diverting such a big percentage of revenues to City Hall.
WCV
Youth in all other activites pay fees,all seniors pay every one in fact pays except leagues yes organized youth leagues do not pay.In muy opinion every should pay a far share
DeleteVina doesn't run the city. The Encinitas City Council does. Don't like what Vina does? Blame your City Council.
ReplyDeleteVina is the puppet master and the council are being pulled by strings. I saw the meeting where Vina talked about strategic planning as his "passion." Everyone who has watched this video took it that Vina wanted to find a way around the General Plan and any other protections that citizens have, so that he could liquidate the value of this city and direct it into his own salary and pension. The majority of the hires have been selected to support him personally--not to help the council, the city, and esepecially not the citizens of Encinitas. Most citizens I know want to see positions cut at City Hall.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Greenjeans is spin doctor hired by city manager and wasting tax dollars.
DeleteMr. Greenjeans with all respesct your response is laughable. Rather then address any of the presented facts - or present facts of your own to rebut the facts presented - you instead make excuses and attack those sharing facts with your 'opinions'.and excuses - this is called spin.
DeleteI believe it possible you are in fact a city troll sent to spin the Vina message. Riddle me this Greenone -
Did USS Cal builders have the proper certifications to perform the project at the time of the project award (no) you can make excuses but you can't hide the truth - it is what it is.
Vina is running our city. (that is an opinion)
Vina recommended USS Cal Builders (fact) Vina proposed raiding 15 projects (fact) Vina said the city was in great shape and the city is now in bad shape and considering raising taxes (fact) Vina is in charge of our repairing our failing roads of today and he is failing to do so (fact)
I don't believe the Communications Director comments on the blog, and I certainly don't believe Mr. Greenjeans is the Communications Director or even a city employee.
DeleteI value his contributions to the discussion.
WCV
10:05 - It may very well be "a fact" that Cal did not have the requisite permits, so for arguments sake, let us accept that as a fact. Why does it matter? The building industry is so regulated that Cal either does not need the permit, or it has obtained one. Certainly the lack of proper permits would have come up on the latest Water Board infractions, and it didn't. So again, why does it matter?
Delete- The Sculpin
All I can say is if I'm a paid spin doctor for the city, all of the checks are way,way late.
DeleteI'd also like to add that I bet the real spin doctor doesn't have my wit, style or panache!
I'll leave you to your uninterrupted Vina hatefest, despite my desire that we turn that page and try and move on with someone is tested and proven in the areas of budget management, cost reduction and pension streamlining.
I bet Phil Cotton's glad he's safely retired, god knows what you'd say about him...
-Mr Green Checks
Hello 10:12
DeleteWith all respect no one posted USS CAl Builders did not have the 'requisite permits'. Perhaps you are wrong?
What was posted was that at the time of the award USS CAl builders did not have proper certifications and licenses to do the work - and that the other contractors not awarded the project did have the proper certifications. I think this is a big deal as we are talking about our kids using the field. I appreciate you may see it differently. It seems to me a responsible expereinced competent contractor would have experience and the licenses required to do the work at the time of the award.
City Manager Vina recommended USS Cal Builders knowing that at the time of the award the contractor was the least qualified at the time and did not have the required licenses. Again, I think this is important as it speaks to his leadership. Again, you may see it differently.
It is my opinion that when presented two contractors to perform the work and one has the proper licenses in order and tthe other does not that it is irresponsible to select the contractor least prepared and least qualified. That is what Vina did. Had Vina selected the best qualified contractor it would have been one of the contactors who had what USS Cal builders did, the right licenses at the time of the award.
I don't know how the building industry is regulated. I do know Vina recommended the least qualififed contractor at the time of the award, that the award was protested and that today the city is being sued for about $400K because of what is claimed shoddy and incompetent work performed by the contract.
I think this all matters a great deal. I see it as a failure of leadership. You are certainyly entitled to your opinions
But your conclusion, "failure of leadership", is based on incomplete information. Why? Why would you make your judgment without all the facts. Do you know the details of the other bids? Maybe Mr. Vina was making a very courageous decision because he knew it would save the city money. I don't know either, simply playing devil's advocate.
Delete-NTSD (not the spin doctor)
11:11 - Yay!!!! Now we have something to discuss!! OK - let me think about this......
Delete- The Sculpin
Wow!
DeleteHow things really work, most everywhere.
Okay, let's clarify: the voters elect the council: the council hires the city manager, city attorney and city clerk: the city manager directs the under staff to fulfill the policies that the council has approved in the annual budget.
So, yes, the new staff answers to the city manager: and not the city council.
There is a planned separation between the elected council, the city manager and the city staff for a reason: the same reason there are five council people: to allow public discussion and voter representation and prior to approval of the expending of funds without the 2 vs 2 vote paralysis that can happen on the dais.
If you do not grasp or understand these simple city-paradigm concepts, that are utilized by most cities, counties, JPA's etc... then people on this blog (Or perhaps any blog) easily realize that you do not or refuse to recognize these simple concepts: will not listen to nor acknowledge that your points are well-founded or probable, much less correct. But, perhaps you are more interested in hurting/blaming someone else rather than education and convincing others.
Seizing upon Leo Mullen's field, or pot holes on your street as 'proof' of your 'evil Vina genius' storyline of Vina reducing public services is not based in reality. Yes, funds were reallocated that July meeting, but no case for public service being reduced has been presented?
Try and conceive this: take a breath...
The city manager answers to the council, the city attorney answers to the council, the fire chief answers to the council, the city clerk answers to the council: everyone else answers to the city manager.
The city attorney doesn't tell the council what to do and neither do the manager, clerk or fire chief: nor (and this one is popularly incorrect) does the city have power over the school districts) anyone but the voters.
Finally, aside from advising you to either get some exercise to help oxygenate your body and mind, or to schedule a medical check up, a 'fact' is that no one is going to take your 'facts', 'proofs' seriously until your arguments are based on 'general law city' structures/paradigms: Robert's Rules of Order etc... informed speculation and maybe even, the Socratic method.
And, if you knew the new Communications Director for the City any better than you apparently don't know the public figures you rail against here, so far, (or how the city and most cities work) you would know that the CD wouldn't be caught dead posting on this blog: its a firable offense.
Finally, whether reallocating funds for the completion of the park or not, the youth leagues do pay fees, maybe not all of them, but most of them, ask a Parks and Rec commissioner, the one thing you've alluded to that seems realistic is that most of the city's CIP should go towards the resurfacing of the city's streets: and you can tell the council that before May, when they'll be voting on it.
Good luck. Take a breath, please... this is not how you make the world a better place. Yeah, the city's not perfect... pick up a mirror, neither are we...
11:53 With all respect I found nothing insightful or of value in your rant other then a desire to shift blame away from the council. You are long on excuses.
DeleteMany residents know how things work at city hall -not well. We know the city government abuses its power on a near weekly basis. We know the city government had failed to protect our quality of life, our community charachter and our financial well being. We know the city government is actively working against residents to spread untruths and misinformation as exemplified by the council and city manager's efforts to spread untruths on the ballot statement of Prop A. We know the city manager and government is actively supporting a few special interests in town with taxpayer funding while turning a deaf ear to the calls from residents for greater transparency.
You offered nothing in your rant other than excuses and explanations for the failings of a city government running roughshod over the very interests of residents they claim to represent.
You might like higher taxes and increased fees- I do not.
You might like failing roads and storm drains- I do not
You might like fiscal mismanagement -I do not
Given the lengths you have gone to ignore facts and make excuses I conclude it is an election year and the special interest powers are afraid Encinitas Undercover will help residents find out the truth.
I don't know who posted the facts listed on today's post but I checked them out- they are all true, each and everyone of them.
Take a deep breath please and ask yourself - why do you want people to ignore them?
hmmmm You think it is ok to waste $400K by hiring the least qualified contractor at the time of the award - I don't.
11:53 is off .... way off! We are here trying to improve Encinitas and there IS enormous waste at city hall, unsustainable pensions unless Vina gets up 5 stories, a really evil (yes Evil is not too strong) attitude towards citizens, bullying still exists evidenced by Vina wanting proactive code enforcement which is just a form of abusing power, remember Prop A, desert rose, and stay active! One day we may drive again on smooth roads.
DeleteDoes anyone know what is happening with the Rossini Creek lawsuit filed by the State?
Delete11:53 AM
DeleteCorrect your post.
The fire chief reports to the city manager - not to the council.
The city clerk reports to the city manager - not to the council.
Was the council meeting on TV last night?? I couldn't find it.
ReplyDeleteCouncil meetings are always on Weds. eve 8:38. You can watch tonight on Channel 19, I think, if it is Cox. Someone correct me if I am wrong on the Channel. You can always view them later if you go to the City website and click on the meeting you are interested in. It is streaming.
DeleteSpin & grin. Laugh all the way to the bloated pension bank. At least we can claim to be almost as corrupt as Bell california, may win the title over time. ENCINITAS "corruption capital of the world".
ReplyDeleteHyperbole award of the day, Encinitas is worse than Bell. Perhaps peruse a few articles on Bell, about the size of the city, the amounts people were making, the makeup of the council, the actual amount of people who voted before making that statement...
ReplyDeleteWow there really is a spin doctor!
DeleteIt does seems bit coincidental, and that is all that it may be, that both Vina and the relatively new Parks and Rec. Director are both from Sacto. She told the Parks and Rec. Commission last week that the Park may not be done until Nov. of 2014, instead of the original opening of June 2014. I am not sure the builders are doing a very good job on planning this park. Perhaps the lawsuit regarding Rosssini made things slow down. Not sure about that or even if it is being handled.
DeleteThe slow down has been explained before that, because they missed laying down the turf before the winter time, that they can't do it until spring. There is a (rather large) amount of time after the turf is laid before people can use the fields. So rather than open the park without fields to play on, the whole project was slowed until late fall of this year.
DeleteWhether missing the deadline for laying turf was related to the shutdown due to the runoff is a good question.
The park was to open in April. Then it was changed to September. Now it's November? I can't wait to see how much over bid the park comes in at. The sodding is just an excuse for poor planning.
DeleteHas anyone seen any documentation, or is any available, on what remains to be done at the park and the proposed timeline?
Delete-Mr Green Turf
Turf is not going to be laid down on the Park. It will be roots of some kind that take time to grow. Turf was too expensive, as they later found out. If there are any gardeners on this blog, there is a name for this kind of thing, I just cannot remember it, as I had never heard of it before. That's seems to be one of the hold ups for the Park. I am not sure if the Rossini thing is another.
DeleteYou can drive over to the Hall property park and see the progress and judge for yourself. If the city is not using sod, it must be using what are called stolons. They must be planting St. Augustine, Bermuda, Centipede, or Zoysia grasses. These are all warm season grasses. They have underground roots that creep and sprout and have the bad habit of invading adjacent areas. Annual maintenance costs just went up.
DeleteI don't think they've put the turf/stolons/grass for the fields yet. They did just recently spray the hydro-seed (?) on the perimeters. Maybe they're waiting for warmer weather for the fields...
Delete5:44 is right. They are using stolons.
DeleteHey 11:01 am - Did you know goold ol Phil Cotton who helped burry and opposed releasing the Nicholds road report to the public was given what was called by some 'An Extra Paycheck' that spiked his final salary just before he retired? See how it works at Encinitas city hall.
ReplyDeleteThe city is counting on the new In-N-Out to generate taxes to pay the bills. Who will be out mayor to cut the ribbon??
ReplyDelete$2 million In-N-Out sales * 1% city's share of sales tax = $20,000.
ReplyDeleteNot even enough to cover the benefits alone of the new Communications Director.
WCV
Wow-
ReplyDeleteThank you WCV for that number. It helps put things in perspective for me.
Kind regards
Andrew Audet
$2 M in sales??? Hardly worth the trouble for I-N-O. Let's see, they bought out the old lease, buy the land, permits, building construction, equipment, supplies.
DeleteNo INO will do somewhere near $6-8M or not worth their trouble.
INO is a private company, they don't disclose sales. Again, $2 M not worth their time.
DeleteSince none of the 50 companies listed topped $2.7 million in 2010, I find the $6-8 million a little hard to take. Besides, the Encinitas location will siphon sales from other units, especially Carlsbad.
DeleteThere will be a big line, I know that. Every In and Out has a big line, plus they snag all the tourist traffic that sees them by the freeway.
Delete-Mr Green Burger
What does In-N-Out have to do with this? They are the ones wanting to come here. They are replacing a fast food outlet which wasn't very busy. Even the people who had traffic concerns were saying they can't wait for it to open. I guess you have to find something to piss on.
ReplyDeleteHello 4:08 Thank you for projecting INO as a location could do $8M in sales. Using WCV's formula that would bring in an additional $80,000 a year in revenue for the city. That would be terrific. We'd probaly all agree a major company like INO opening a location could bring jobs for our high school kids and revenue in taxes.
ReplyDeleteUsing the $8 million number also shows how far off track the city's finances are. We can all agree we can't afford to pay the road work we have now or pay for the future unfunded pension liaiblitites.
Starting next year we will have the increased operating cost of the Hall Park which could be $500,000- 1 million annually. If that is true then it is the equivalent of opening 12 INO locations using your math.
Add to that that at the budget meeting in 2013 City Manager Vina expected city debt service to increase substantially- in all liklihood because we will begin paying interest on the second hall park bond (you might remember a we were told that the existing Hall Park bond would pay for the Park- but that money went to buildings like the $6.2 Million Firehouse #2 instead)
I can quickly see how the city's finances are likley to get worse before they get better.
Kind regards
Andrew Audet
Andy, the cities finances are awful. With or without INO burger we are doomed. Half the staff should be laid off, half the fire dept should be let go, keep the paramedics, they never arrive more than a min after the truck. But the fire guys have got to go. Q- how many guys does it take to watch a house burn down??
DeleteKicking the can down the road is the city motto.
I've seen the $500K - $1Mil numbers mentioned several times on this blog, and they seem outrageous for annual operating costs of the park. Where do these numbers come from? What are the annual operating costs of Cardiff Sports Park? Surely this would give good reference.
DeleteLast mention of Hall park maintenance expenses was over $1 million.
ReplyDeleteCome on economic development dude, say you need to feed Vina's pension, a big part of this.
ReplyDeleteThis whole economic group is a sham. Their vision is to up zone the community and link it to the general plan update. Their plan is to present overlay zones to defeat A. Their hope is that by attaching their logo to future ccampaign mailers they will be able to hoodwink the public. Vina hoax triangulated a strategy of getting the council to sign of on his 'strategic plan' and now this plan.
ReplyDeleteTheir vision is to serve visitors not resident.
Prepare to fight, the self seeking profiteers are planning to rob us of our community and quality of life
Just tuned into the cc meeting and guess who's talking???? Ahhhhh, excuse me while I stick ice picks in my ears!!!!! Ahhhhhhh.
ReplyDeleteBack to the " dots " excercise. Ahhhhhhhhhhh.
ReplyDeleteSheila telling us that people come here for art!!! WTF?? People come here to surf. And sunshine. But Arts?? Really now. I'm getting sick to my stomach.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting sick to my stomach looking at Dody's self-righteous mug.
DeleteWhos the cutie next to Dody??
DeleteThe yes-gal from L-101
DeleteSheila says knock knack lot on Sundays next to la Paloma is an art center??
DeleteNow Sheila wants businesses to clean the sidewalks?? Why?? It's not my property!!! You clean it bitch!! I'm not spending a nickel to clean CITY sidewalks!!!
ReplyDeleteSheila wants to trench the tracks!!! Hallelujah !!! She finally after 26 years sees the light!!
Sheila said the business owners, themselves, should be responsible for cleaning the sidewalks adjacent to their businesses. You are mischaracterizing what she said.
DeleteShe was responding to part of Encinitas 101 aka DEMA's wish list, which includes:
Encinitas 101
5. Full-time recruiter for desirable businesses
6. More city services such as sidewalk cleaning and tree trimming
12. Overturn Prop A at least for specific plans.
13. Omnibus man to walk builders through maze of planning permits.
None of these are good ideas.
"Tree trimming" should go to another contractor, not paid per tree cut down, someone who is better at actually trimming trees correctly, as pointed out many times, at CC meetings, by Mark Wisniewski.
Cutting down healthy trees because of some undefined "structural" needs (curb, gas or water lines? We are not told, only see the giant white X on trees to be executed, such as the one recently removed in front of Yoga Bliss on 101, south of El Portal).
The City should not be subsidizing its political "partners in crime," which includes the lies disseminated against Prop A, and supposedly "unauthorized use" of logos, for which the Political Action Committees were NEVER held legally responsible. Council has had a conflict of interests, in that it has favored special development interests over citizens' concerns and our needs.
Now she's taking credit for the success of downtown, Lord sweet Jesus help me. Please tell us Sheila how much of your money went into developing downtown???
ReplyDeleteSheila Cameron spells it out to council clearly. This is what majority of citizens want, please listen and learn, show some humility and do what you were elected to do!
ReplyDeleteAgree, 7:51!
DeleteThe council and Vina just couldn't wait to take the reins and do what citizens wouldn't do: reject Prop A. Their handlers require it.
ReplyDeleteMuir demures to Vina to tell us we don't know what we done know!!!! For that we pay him $250K a year plus benefits. He's also telling us there will be more " talking " in the future. No mention of " action".
ReplyDeleteGaspar telling us we don't have the staff to formulate a plan..... That tells me that " consultants" will be hired. Gee why are we paying millions of dollars to staff to not do the job they are hired to do??? Just a question?? Just a question??
ReplyDeleteBecause they're busy taking breaks. The new chick at the front desk is MIA much of the time and many workers may be seen hanging in the parking lot, slurping Starbucks, at all hours of the day.
DeleteThey are, as Murphy2 often states, overburdened and don't have "bandwidth" to do their jobs.
And just wait, I'll bet when In n out opens you will find more city staff there if you need to get help.
DeleteVina and the council seeking to overturn PROP A
ReplyDeleteShaffer pandering to Sheila's arts comment. Says we don't have a need to move forward on this project. So makes you ask why is the council spending ( wasting) time on this subject??? Just a question?? Just a question??
ReplyDeleteWhoa!!! Wait Shaffer says city is stream lining the building permit process!! Really ?? How so?? It still took McDonalds 3 years to rebuild their burned location......
"Streamlining" is code for rubber stamping. The developers are drooling.
DeleteThe only time there was any talk of "streamlining the process," was for business interests, or developers. The "little guys" wanting to add on a room, or do a small remodel, are left stewing in their own juices.
Deletefact under Vina and the council the city has raised fees on hard working conmon folk families to remodel homes as a way to plug budget problems. Vina has proposed hiring a code officer to harass citizens, Schaffer has proposed parking meters..................yeah, let's give the business special interest a break on fees. Who do they serve?
ReplyDeleteIf the council did not appoint this committee, how can the council direct them to move forward?
ReplyDeleteMuir wants to move the project forward w/o spending money. Says city does have the talent to do the job, so which is it?? Does the city have the staff to do the job or not as Gaspar says??
ReplyDeleteBarth wants Enc to be the urban garden Capitol of the world!!! Really, this city can't water the fucking medians let alone keep plants alive. EVERY city median is full of open spaces w/o any plants whatsoever...
Yeah with the increase in water rates that will surely happen!
DeleteIs it time to tax bicycles at a significantly higher rate? After all, bikes are now equal with cars via the sharrows, bikes block traffic andI have seen some nearly cause accidents.
ReplyDeleteyour a moron… sounds like something Lynn would say.
DeleteLet's look at facts, before sharrows bike had single file access, post sharrows bikes take over whole lanes. I got nothing against bikes, but if they are taking over roads shouldn't they pay for them?
DeleteShaffer is angling to raise our taxes to pay for the roads that Vina has let go to crap. Next there will be talk of a $20 million bond to pay off infrastruture - wait for it.
ReplyDeleteVina still trying to sell Strategic Planning to the public. Sorry Vina, anyone with over a 50 IQ knows it was a waste of time and energy and in the end the real thing that is needed is a Future Financial Plan for the City. We know all your fat pensions and money you borrowed to build ridiculously expensive fire palaces and a regional sport park on little old Encinitas tax base. Sigh…..
ReplyDeleteWhat a waste of time! Vina needs to be fire immediately.
You meant IQ over 5
DeleteShaffer telling us the business development in Olivenhain will be different than Cardiff!! Wtf?? There is NO business in Olivenhain. It's never been a business center. Good Lord what rock does she live under???
ReplyDeleteGaspar telling us about cal st San Marcos??? Why?? Says she distracted .....
Meanwhile tonight there is NO discussion about street repair.
Barth telling us she wants enc only better, ok then fix the streets!! That will make the city better!!
Muir wants a movie theatre.... You have one it's called La Paloma. Why not buy a ticket there...
Vina speaking... Is Gus short for Gustavo??
Vina telling us council has been at the planning process for one year.... And this is as far as they've gotten??? Wtf??? This city sounds like GM in 1975. Looking at failure but afraid shift gears.
Vina telling us a joke, ha ha. The joke is on us for paying this asshole.
Thats the best post I've read in a long time.
DeleteWay to go… I agree with all the comments. Especially the last line.
Great comment. Especially the last line! Perfectly stated.
DeleteMuir won't attend LaPaloma, seats not wide enough.
DeleteSo earlier Shaffer tells us there is no need to move forward on this project but she votes for the city to partner with other cities about strategic planning?? What ?? Which is it???
ReplyDeleteIt's intermission folks. Can't wait for the second half of this meeting. Usually I have turned it off by now, but this is way too good. Better than anything on unreal t.v.
ReplyDeleteMuir just made an "intent" motion to join the San Diego North Economic Development Council. What a charade. The last time the fellow made a presentation asking the council to join (translated pay money) the council said no.
ReplyDeleteThe Board and officers of this organization -
Chair - Kimberly Thorner - Olivenhain Municipal Water District
Chair-Elect - Brooks Roffey - Turner Construction Company
Treasurer - Randy Goodson - Accretive Investments, Inc.
Secretary - Chanelle Hawken - San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
Immediate Past Chair - Jan Jackson - California State University San Marcos
So have we now joined them?
DeleteSome of the names on that list...FRIGHTENING. Oh, and despicable.
DeleteOMG… More wasted time talking and talking about planning and Strategy, and strategy and planning, and strategic planning…. and communication.
ReplyDeleteHere is a comment for Council to understand. When is the City Manager going to do his job and complete a future financial plan for encinitas including accurate projections of costs including spiking pensions and benefits costs and the huge costs from the Regional Sports Complex.
Here is another suggestion- Fire Vina. He is useless.
Folks: write, write, write your council and get your friends to do so, too. The alternative is Vina will do our speaking for us and it's quite evident he does not fairly represent residents. He'll tell the council what he wants them to hear, clearly not what we would say to them.
ReplyDeleteLetting them hear from as many residents as possible does matter.
He doesn't even tell Council. When Muir asked about what the Communications person was doing, Vina's answer was like something from a television tease. Can't tell you now Mark. Wait for the big surprise March 5th. I wish Muir would have canned his ass right there. Or at least told him to give him an answer.
ReplyDelete