Logan Jenkins:
We’re informed the deferred maintenance on infrastructure in Encinitas is staggering. Councilman Tony Kranz tells me the pricetag is $25 million or much more.While activists have long known that deferred road maintenance was a major problem on par with our unfunded pension liabilities (and believe that "or much more" is the operative phrase), this was the first time that a city insider had publicly acknowledged the magnitude of the problem. The statement directly contradicts the official party line that Encinitas is well-managed and fiscally responsible. A few recent examples:
July 2012:
Gus Vina: "Good, prudent and consistent fiscal management in Encinitas has allowed our organization to serve the community at appropriate levels in spite of the recession that has swept across America."March 2013:
An important element of the City’s overall financial strategy is to remain nimble, proactive and prepared for occurrences beyond its control. The City has a $10 million Contingency Reserve and a $1.1 million Budget Stabilization Reserve.Thanks to Tony Kranz for beginning a long-overdue honest discussion of the Encinitas financial mess, and to Lisa Shaffer for making a similarly important revelation last month about the annual amount of ongoing road maintenance decline.
The City plans to continue pursuing the conservative budgeting philosophy that has enabled it to preserve programs and services while moving forward with new projects desired by residents such as Encinitas Community Park, slated to open in 2014.
So Mr. Kranz start the movement to fire Vina and become a hero in Encinitas.
ReplyDeleteSo is Kranz willing to dance or slay the 800 lb gorilla know as city staff salaries and pensions. Dancing kicks the can down the road, slaying says enough is enough and forces layoffs and firings to reduce costs and balance the next 20 years budgets..
ReplyDeletePrediction----- all council members will dance with the 800 lb gorilla.
PS- the city is bankrupt, they just haven't filed the paper work.
DeletePhony Tony has been kicking the can down the road and is, along with the other 4, responsible for reckless fiscal stewardship. a few facts
DeleteResidents told the council not to hire the spin doctor - they were ignored.
Residents told the council not to hire Vina's cabinet - they were ignored.
Residents told the council not to let Vina give an additional $400K over planning department budget to consultants - they were ignored
Kranz and Shaffer new going in the city was in bad shape and they ignored the fatcs - heckjust last week Kranz made the motion to spend money to engage Lew Edwards
Let's hope this is the start of something good. I still hold out some hope for Tony and Lisa.
Delete-Mr Green Jeans.
Vina needs to be fired for gross misrepresentation and incompetence. He obviously is looking at the retirement finish line, where he too can get the grossly bloated annual income for life. What is the current underfunded pension liability and what are its projections? The function of this city is to collect taxes to pay off the civil servants - it is Bell all over again!
ReplyDeleteNotify everyone you know to read this blog - the greater group of Encinitas citizens need to know what is happening to this city.
Way to go Tony. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteFrauder Capital of the World.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome. I hope the others get on board. Quickly... Maybe there is hope for Encinitas ?
ReplyDeletewe know Barth will be the last one.
Encinitas has a chance of becoming excellent once we rid ourselves of vina
Finally the truth is coming out.
ReplyDelete1. Unfunded pension obligations.
2. Unfunded street maintenance.
3. Unfunded infrastructure maintenance.
That's a whopping amount of money. But Vina said we are nearing completion on a beautiful new park.. I can't wait to see the final cost of that.
It is obvious that NOW something needs to be done. We can not continue to function effectively as a city under these circumstances. Painting a rosy picture of what is actually taking place with the finances of the city is deceitful at best. It is time to get rid of the bad decision makers before it is too late and we have no city to talk about. Thanks city manager for running us into the ground. Please have "excellent" removed from your job performance evaluation. It is so far from the truth.
ReplyDeleteTony also said he's for 'scrubbing the organizational chart.' Good idea! Let's get started!
ReplyDeleteRight, just before Phony Tony voted to approve $135;000 so Vina could hire a spin doctor and another $400,000 so Vina could hire consultants at planning department - not coincidental it was the same week Vina got notice the water board was fininf the city $400,000 for the screw up at the park and spewing toxic into the lagoon..............oh yea, and Vina recommended US Cal Builders - the only bid without the right certification at the time of the award - right and Phony Tony gave Vina a glowing review when Vina should have been canned.
DeleteWe are on to you Kranz, you are in the pcoketpocket of developers and want to raise our taxes.
Great Job Tony!!!
ReplyDeleteBang your pots, drive them out.
ReplyDeletePlease ask for an independent audit of the City' s books. This would be an excellent time to do it. Go Tony!
ReplyDeleteDr.L this info released by Kranz is a ploy to raise taxes. Nothing more, it's a ruse, a pity party. Ohhh whoa is me, the city is broke, we need a tax increase to keep the lights on etc etc etc.
DeleteI call bullshit. Let them go bk. lay off half the staff and cut salaries of the other half by 60%.
Well now, isn't 9:55 the voice of moderation and reason! Woe is he or she!
DeleteI agree with 9:55;pm. 10:16 sounds like the city's tax paid blogger.
DeleteAt 10:16 at night? I don't think the city staff works past 4:59pm, if that.
Delete5:58 — Extremely dumb comment.
DeleteI don't trust the motivations of Kranz. He's as sneaky as the rest of them.
ReplyDeleteTax increase, did you say. Ms. Lew calls the shots. Read about the public survey her company did in Modesto.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.modbee.com/2013/06/19/2770975/tax-poll-details-revealed.html
Thank you for this link. Very informative. It says a lot about the state of the city's finances, me thinks, when they are trying to hire this firm to conduct a "survey". I hope all of our council members are paying very close attention -- it sounds like the council in Modesto was not.
DeleteYes, thanks for the link; here's some quotes out of the Modesto Bee article:
Delete"Cecil Russell, Modesto Chamber of Commerce president, said it was obvious to him the survey was biased . . .
After hearing about the work the firm was doing for the city, one council member quipped that filing a record request might give her more info about what was going on. "I was not aware of any of this," said Stephanie Burnside. She said she first heard about the survey during a budget workshop in May and knew little about the contract with Lew Edwards. "It just doesn't sit well," she said.
Other council members said they've been kept in the dark. Dave Geer said he was surprised the firm gave pointers to Nyhoff and Marsh about running the June 4 meeting. "I was not told what to say or not to say," Geer said. "It's one thing to take a poll, but another thing to give instructions like that to the city manager and the mayor."
Read more here: http://www.modbee.com/2013/06/19/2770975/tax-poll-details-revealed.html#storylink=cpy
A couple of weeks ago, I notice Tony Kranz having drinks with a well known developer. They were laughing like good friends.
ReplyDeleteSo what I have some friends that are lawyers which are known scumbags. And what about those cake walking tax gobbling fire princesses?!!
DeleteI read Kranz went to some swanky invite only party with Papa Doug of the UT after getting elected in Del Mar- soon after that he sided with developers on Prop A and sided with developers at Desert Rose
DeleteDid Lisa Shaffer find out that Ms. Lew did many things behind the scene? More than what Shaffer would do?
ReplyDeleteThe residents of National City were sold a falsehood that visitors to their city would pay the transaction and use tax. Shame on National City officials for not being truthful. National City is using Ms. Lew's firm to get voters to approve an extension of the tax.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be good if we could get together a simple info graphic with the total pension shortfalls, the amount for the roads, the Hall Park cost etc. If you could put that together and distribute the information around to various people in the city, I think the alarm bells would go off in even the most apathetic minds.
ReplyDelete-Mr Green Jeans
Green Jeans maybe you should pay more attention to city hall. Last May Sheila Cameron gave a presentation at the budget meeting highlighting all of this - phony tony along aith the other 4 ignored her. Bob Bonde has made detailed presentations, as has others - again ignored. You always seem to want to blame the public, the publics not to blame - it's Barney Barth and the council to blame
DeleteWho did I blame there, chief, I was just thinking out loud? Sorry I can't get to as many meetings as I'd like. I will check in with Bob Bonde. Tried to find the ETA website, but it's no longer active.
DeletePlease don't put words in my mouth, I am not out to blame the public. The public as a whole has no clue what's happening, I'm trying to get some light on the mess to people who aren't paying attention so we can all get some turnover down at city hall?
Sound good, or should I check in with you first?
I now return you to your regularly scheduled hate fest. We need to get some critical mass folks, not just the people on this board. The elections are coming up, and right now, it's Barth vs. Gaspar..
Delete-Mr Green Jeans
I agree with GJ. If we had a flyer that we could pass out at different events to people who are not paying attention to the City financials, perhaps they would become less apathetic? I would be happy to help on that committee if someone wants to put one together and host it. I would do it, but I am working on some other things I want to sure with the Council. Will let you know when I will be speaking at oral communications which is at the beginning of each Council meeting. I still have not received La Mesa's info on Sabine, so there are in violation of CPRA. I gave their City Clerk until the end of this feel to get it to me. If that doesn't happen I will write to their City Council informing them they are in violation. If nothing happens at that point, I'll go to their Council meeting and state it once again. After that, CalAware will get involved.
DeleteIf only I could type as fast as I think. "until end of this week". There's more, I know, but that one was way out there. Sorry.
DeleteBarth loses in a landslide and she should. She has been no better than Jerome Stocks. You want to get involved GJ - the get your ass down the city hall and begin demanding accountability. You are the one hiding behind a fake name - serious citizens seeking change are not
ReplyDeleteWhere's your real name, jackwagon? I've worked on a ton of campaigns in this city and have been to city hall at least 100 times. The only people using their real names on this board are Fred and Dr. Lori, so what's your point? Are you at City Hall demanding accountability?
DeleteI'm trying to move the ball forward, you guys can attack me all day long because I'm not vicious enough for you, but I'm telling you, as someone who's done at least 8 campaigns, you have to get the word out to the 90% of the people who aren't involved.
8:54., you are correct that I didn't use "An Active Voice" in my post above, but that's why I'm saying the I will contact Bob Bonde and Sheila to get the information on the graphic of all the revenue shortfalls down at the city.
There needs to be more call to action on this board, and less snarky remarks...
-Mr Green Jeans
ahh- I think a couple of other people use their name as well on this Board- lynn, kmc etc.
DeleteI think the observation might have been that a few of your posts are that others should do something-
I thank you for your involvment at city hall if you have gone. THe citizens benefit when the community has leaders willing to take action.
Apologies to Lynn and KMC. Sorry to get my hackles up, but after all the 4am campaigning I've done in the last 15 years, I'm not really up for taking heat from people on my "lack of involvement"...
DeleteLack of involvement is my theme for the day, you practically have to FORCE people to be involved, so that's why I'm out to collect data and graphics and figure out a way to broadly distribute that info in a way that will draw a lot of attention.
-Mr Green Jeans
I look forward to the chart Mr. Green Jeans - thank you
Delete7:42- your comment "I think it would be good" should read "I am going to prepare" people expecting other people to do something is how democracy and freedom are lost-
ReplyDelete"You people" - (and "you" know who you are) - are just nuts. "You people" voted in a block of candidates to affect change in city governance and once they're in slam them to no end. After a year or so of "learning the ropes" and making some pretty bad rookie mistakes (I never thought these guys were up to the task) they're finally seeing the light. And "you people" keep slamming them. In a macabre kind of way I find this very amusing. Now some other of you more enlightened folks are seeing this for what it really is...on the job training and starting to understand what they're faced with. As Dr. Lori will gladly point out - denial is a strong thing! As for "you people" you need to take a page out of Buck Brannaman's repertoire and "reward the try".........
ReplyDelete- The Sculpin
You're an idiot Sculpin....
Delete9:17 - I'm not in a position to debate that, but I will tell you Mr. Green Jeans is right...you don't win elections by preaching to the choir.
Delete- The Sculpin
If you renember prop A and desert rose you know they turned on us. That is why they caught heat. If they hadn't done that in the face of great campaign efforts by people who deserved better it would be a different story.
Delete"You people" voted in a block of candidates to affect change in city governance and once they're in slam them to no end." . . . But what happened was that we voted in a block of candidates to change, and they betrayed us, by writing false ballot arguments against the initiative, which became known as Prop A. But before that, they decided to ignore staff's recommendation and the Coastal Commission's recommendation, and go ahead and begin the first phase of the Leucadia 101 Streetscape, which eliminated a northbound lane for motorists, when the CCC had said there could be NO exemption for a Coastal Development Permit.
DeleteSculpin, many were PROMISED that if we could vote in a new majority, Sabine would be out; instead, Gus Vina was given an excellent and Sabine was supported, in a process that did not encourage ANY public input, despite other promises to the contrary, at the initial subcommittee meeting.
The City Manager was given an excellent, although he wrongly leaked information to DEMA, through Dody Crawford about the unreleased appraisal reports. The higher appraisal figure should NEVER have been accepted, or released, as it used Los Angeles Comps, on Wilshire. Is that Ocean View? That higher appraisal amount has prejudiced the City's bid to EUSD on purchasing Pacific View.
"Learning the ropes" is one thing. Betraying your base is another.
Lynn, here's the flaw in your analysis - the block of candidates did not have the skill, the experience, or the firepower to make good on those promises. Those who were "promised" rightly feel betrayed, but they also should feel "twice shy" because they didn't do enough diligence/research/homework to determine if these promises were realistic. Basically they drank their own Kool-Aid. Ever since I started participating on this blog I have said these 3 are in way over their heads, and I continue to say it. Green Jeans is dead on - future candidates need to have a track record of results and must be comfortable working in that environment. Running on a campaign of "I'm going to blow everything up and fire everybody" works if you don't win, but if you do - you're screwed........
Delete- The Sculpin
Sabine and Vina need to be shown the door. Then perhaps a new future could begin.
DeleteI'm glad I ignited a discussion. Sculpin and Lynn, you both have some valid points. Sorry to say the Sculpin is right, the "I'm going to blow it up" method isn't going to work in practice. Ask Carl Demaio. How did his yelling and screaming baby act work down in SD? Not real well.
DeleteThe brutal reality of elections is that once the person you elected is in office, the ship has sailed. We'd all like to think we'll get what we were "promised", but that just isn't how it works. We could sit here and debate these promises all day long.
All I can do at this point is hope Tony and Lisa round into form in the next 3 years. Otherwise it's vote them out time. The difference between the Stocks/Bonds "axis" and the current majority, is those guys had some kind of coordination. It wasn't always there, like on pensions, but on development and some of the other key issues of their backers, they were pretty damn consistent.
Lisa/Tony and Teresa do not have that. If Tony and Lisa "promised" to support Prop A., I never bought that promise. I'm not buying a promise that big on something from candidates that have yet to be in office.
I can't imagine it would be easy to introduce a reduction in pensions to the people you have to work with, ie staff, once you are in office. It becomes WAY harder.
That's why I think we need the critical mass on the pension and fiscal issues to come from the people. We have to make it a big enough think in the public mindset that it's not an option for the council to kick the can down the road. The "Want" for reform has to trump niceties like the park.
Otherwise, you will see stealing from Peter to pay Paul, how else are they going to get it built. You're not going to get action from Gaspar or Muir, and probably not Teresa at this point. The best hope is someone else for Mayor, but that person would be a Newbie again, so it's not going to be a fast start out of the gate most likely.
Off to start tracking down some of this info...
-Mr Green Jeans
Green Jezns- staff works for the council and the citizens. Not the reverse. If they don't like a reduction in pay and salary they are free to seek employment anywhere.
DeleteThis nonsense of vista pays this, Carlsbad pays that so we need to equal them is idiocy.
Fire services should be privatized.
Planning already is as all development must be sent to a private firm for plan check, so why do we have all the $100K+ staff in the planning drpartment ??
Lay off 50% and reduce salaries 60% in all others. Either that or go down to city hall and write a blank check to cover costs. Hey it's only your money I'm spending...
9:14 This council has known for years the city is in bad financial shape. Your agument not only lacks logic but facts as well.
ReplyDeleteBarth has been in office 8 years, Gaspar 4, Muir has been around the city for 20 years, Kranz and Shaffer were at city hall in 2011 and 2012- The debt problem is not new or just coming to light. Residents have shined the light on Vina's mismanagement since 2012.
People worked to elect Barth, Shaffer Kranz wrongly believing they would act responsibly and with common sense.
At last week's meeting Kranz talked about no money for quiet zones- of course there isn't, that is the $7M Gaspar, Barth, Muir and Vina raided. So Kranz's solution is to tax citizens twice to pay for a project they already paid for? And Kranz made the motion to engage a firm to hoodwink the public into voting to raise taxes ?
If Barth, Shaffer and Kranz had held city manager Vina accountable from day one in 2013 and opposed the Spin Doctor Hire, Opposed the Rutan and Tucker 50K, opposed the Vina requested $400,000 over budget for the planning department - they would have a leg to stand on as being responsible-
but they didn't. The public has every right to light a fire under their asses- they alone are responsible not "you people"
Lacks logic, eh? So if Barth has been there so long, why was she reelected? Clearly no one consulted you......If the debt problem is just coming to light, how were they to know about it 2 years ago? Since you clearly have all the answers, I will be expecting you to throw your hat in the ring and will gladly contribute to your campaign. After all, you seem to be someone who knows how to get things done!!
Delete- The Sculpin
11:34am, you mean those fully funded quiet zone plans that the city was just about to implement? construction was just about to start when they pulled the plug? those funds? yeah, right.
Delete9:55 you make no argument as you have none. You prefer to blame others rather than hold elected officials accountable. IT's called the easier softer way- or the Vina, Barth, Shaffer, Kranz, Muir, Gaspar way- you might choose denial and joining them - thankfully the rest of us are not.
DeleteGo Green-Jeans - make your flyer!
Oh pleeze, 10:18 - get over yourself......thankfully the rest of us have.....
Delete- The Sculpin
Speak for yourself, Sculpin, whomever you are. I feel Mr. GJ made some good suggestions.
Delete11:08 - again, your argument lacks logic and facts- Tony and Shaffer were the best most viable options residents could support to win. So, they did. Now Kranz and Shaffer along wtih barth have proven to be as irresponsible and self-seeking as Gaspar and Muir.
DeleteLynn's logic is correct while your logic again remains flawed and incorrect.
Quiet Zones? You have to pay for those out of your own pocket, ask Del Mar.
Deletehttp://www.delmarquietzone.com/
http://www.delmarfoundation.org/waysideHorn.html
Nice try, 11:40 - but hindsight (which is a bitch) has proved you wrong.
Delete- The Sculpin
11:53 in July of 2012 Encinitas Taxpayeras had fully funded quiet zone projects and other projects. City Manager Gus Vina recommended and council members Barth, shaffer and Muir approved- raiding those accounts of $7M.
DeleteAt that time residents suggested the city use a pay as you go model and build the park in sections as it could be afforded - other citizens suggested the city build a few ballparks as they could afford and make trails and fields until more money was in hand, yet another group suggested Vina and the council put a general bond issue up for a vote-
the three blindly followed Vina and raided the funds. Now Barth is using it as an excuse without looking at her own responsibility in mismanagement
Unless that money is specifically earmarked in the budgets, I doubt the Wayside horns were funded. Is there a link or presentation from the city with that info in it? I'll gladly tip my hat if that's the case, but I hadn't heard that wayside horns were a done deal. That's why Del Mar raised the money privately, under the leadership of Pam Slater's husband.
DeleteSuggestions by the public, sadly we know that doesn't take us very far...
12:38 Please visit the July council meeting 2012 held at the senior center listed on Balfour. Please open agenda for the meeting, please look at City Manager Vina's proposal to raid fully funded capital improvement projects. Please note the funding for rail crossings and quiet zones (among others they took $7M)
DeleteNow both Kranz (who knew of the raid in 2012) and Barth (who voted for the raid in 2012) are telling residnets (tony at the meeting / barth in her newsletter) that the council needs to raise taxes on residents to pay for these projects-
Is it stealing to ask taxpayers to pay for the same project twice? Good luck with that hat tipping
THe minutes of the meeting on 7/1/2012 state: staff recommendation: "reallocate general fund capital improvement project funding in the amount of $7 million for the development of the Enc Comm. park or Moonlight Beach project.
DeleteIt doesn't state that the $ was earmarked for rail crossings and quiet zones. I'm not disputing that they made this move, but it's a question of allocation of funds. Obviously the park is way over budget, but couldn't you see that coming? I did.
Clearly we need better financial management, but a project isn't paid for until the money is specifically allocated, that's why Vina was able to "raid" the general fund, which I'm guessing is perfectly legal.
3:39 you need to read the city agenda report for the July 2012 council meeting held July 11 2012 at the senior center. The attachment to the agenda reports specifically what fully funded projects Vina recommended raiding and the council approved. Money was already in place for the rail and quiet zone-
Deletefact- July 12 2012 there was $150,000 in plce to pay for what the city called Rail Horn Waning System (Barth, Muir, Gaspar took this money)
Fact July 12, 2012 there was $300,000 in tax money set aside to fully fund a capital project the city called "The Chesterfield Rail Quiet Zone" for $300,000(Barth, Muir and Gaspar took this money as well)
Please read the July 11 2012 agenda and the attachment fully on the city's website to review the facts presented if desired.
To be clear, so there is no misundertanding, in the city's budget on July 11, 2012 there was $150,000 to fund the quiet horn waring systems and $300,000 for the Chesterfield Rail quiet zone- Barth, Muir, Gaspar and Vina took our money. Now the discussed Kranz, Shaffer, Barth VIna plan is to tax our asses and make us pay for it again-
3:39 if you only read the minutes of meetings then you are getting screwed by the lack of transprancy Barth and the others promote.
DeleteIf you want the facts you need to do more research - In Encinitas the council and Vina's job is to keep the residents in the dark while they give pay raises to city employees, raise pensions, loot funded projects and then try to stick us with tax increases
Vina only schemed to raid the funds- Stocks, Barth, Muir, Gaspar and Bond carried out the heist-
Deletehttp://encinitas.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=7&clip_id=754
Deletehttp://encinitas.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=7&clip_id=754&meta_id=25897
Chesterfield Rail Quiet zone CIP reallocation = $300k
Horns: 150k
I don't see any obfuscation, what they did is right there in black and white. You didn't pay for it per se in the sense it wasn't a direct tax, they took the money from the CIP general fund. A lot of other things like storm drain repair, playground repair and open space acquisition got axed too.
The Chesterfield project was for design, engineering and permitting only, the total cost to implement the whole thing was over a million.
Total cost of Rail horn warning system: $674k. Final design and implementation not funded.
I don't like it, but I don't see how else the park was going to get finished. Definitely not government at its finest....
Correct- they raided fully funded projects- you are an apologist. You belevie it is ok for government to take from our families and childrens to increase our taxes not to pay for our projects but to cover up their financial mismanagement and malfeasance. Own it-
DeleteWe are two different people. I believe in responsible government you believe in rewarding failure.
What is the proof- Encinitas, California and the Federal government are going bankrupt while well runs city's and states are thriving. Adidos Muchachos Tijuana by the Sea coming soon to a tepid beach near you
A park would be more popular than a waning horn: why should ht e city spend money on that?
Deletethe park is not popular with all - I supported building a park we could afford.
DeleteIn 2008 the city did a bond offering near $20 Million sticking it to taxpayers and promising the money would "complete the Park" The council failed and this was an untruth- they blew the money
4 years later the council raided $7M AND did another bond offering near $10 Million with increasing annual debt service by $600,000- a year -
In that same time the council raised pensions and salaries of city employees and Gus Vina hired 4 cabinet members he pays close to $800,000 a year combined
There are lots of parks in town - Leo Mullen, The Y, Lake sports park
the park could have been built and the warning horn could ahve been built but the council looted are money.
Irresponsible leadership has accomplished neither
4:48. I don't want to get personal, but you have a lot of anger. How am I trying to cover anything up? It's right there in black and white for everyone to see. How am I rewarding failure?
DeleteRewarding failure would be re-electing anyone who took that vote, which would be Barth, Muir and Gaspar, and trust me, they are not getting my vote.
The question is what are we going to do about it, as usual the only question that matters. What are the people of this city going to do vote wise and pressure wise to make our mandate clear to the city?
Are we going to argue on an unmoderated blog, or are we going to make it happen by running ourselves, or supporting a candidate and carrying the mandate of small government forward.
These are the real questions, you're not going to score any real points by telling me to own it...
6:11 a person says the city raided funded projects, and then cites $450K that was looted. You make an argument that to me is weak by some how wanting us to believe hat the $450,000 was not committed, your argument. makes no sense, and you sound like you are making excuses, just like Vina
DeleteThen let's light a fire. To do that we need facts, not speculation. We need to reach out to the general public by passing out flyers with accurate information on it. If a flyer was made, and we all took even 20 of them and passed them out to our neighbors, friends, post them on boards like at E Street, perhaps people would understand it a bit more. Those of us who have been around a while understand it, but there are so many more people that don't have a clue. It isn't because they don't want to, it's probably because they have very full lives and times are tough. One of my former patients had 2 jobs, 3 kids, and was involved with their kids sports activities. This person would never have the time to watch or go to a City COuncil meeting. But, I would bet, if this person had a one page flyer spelling out it plain English what's going on at City Hall, they may have a "clue". That doesn't mean they would agree, but they would be informed. Let's do this and not keep going on and on in a infinite regress. For the City spin doctor, that's a statistical term, meaning going around and around and around with no end.
ReplyDeleteThe last comment about statistics was a but snarky and I apologize. However, when I asked one council member why the Communication person could not do this so called "survey" that would cost 100K, and should be reliable and valid, the answer was the Communication person didn't know statistics. At SDSU where my husband teaches communications and journalism, it is a requirement to know basic stats so I don't quite get it.
ReplyDeleteRead 9:55 pm. It's the Art and Soul of the problem.
ReplyDeleteAbout Pacific View-With this kind of debt I would suggest we forget about buying Pacific View. I think the City could make a case for eminent domain on this one, as the land was given to the children, long before we were a City or there was an EUSD. Or, if some of the local artists want to buy it, let them. It's out of our league at this time, if Tony is correct. I really don't feel like going broke over anything at this time. The park is to late. It's been bought and paid for-sort of.
ReplyDeleteGet it straight: Pitcher gave the land to the school district without specifying its purpose. There's nothing in the deed transfer about children or a school. The implication is that since he gave it to the school district, he intended it to become a school site. Since schools are for children, and since a grade school was built on the site, that seems to have been Pitcher's intent, but he didn't say so in the deed transfer.
Delete11:18
DeleteNo, the deed is not specific for the land use by the school. But imagine how elated the school was to get it. And of course there weren't a posse of lawyers crowding around giving advice when the deed was written to cite WHY the property was given. Just who, what, when where, which and how. An unforseen 21st century loophole.
The bigger the gift, the bigger the shame it is to sell it. Who would donate property to a school so a handfull of people on a changing board could later liquidate it for short term cash? Kinda like the YMCA selling out their generous gift from the Mr. Ecke on Saxony to fund their corporate office. Or DEMA selling off the church site graciously given to them across the street from PV. Shouldn't happen.
1:29, you misunderstand 11:18's point and intent. People have repeatedly misstated what's in the deed. 11:18 is simply saying get the facts straight. Nobody should be making a case for keeping Pacific View public by attributing nonexistent things to Pitcher and the deed. Fiction has no legal standing.
DeleteThe Church of Awareness was not given to DEMA.
Delete10:07
DeleteThen someone in charge misrepresented that to me years ago.
9:47
DeleteWhy do you think Mr. Pitcher gave the property to the Encinitas School District?
I also think a good case could be made for eminent domain. Additionally, were the City to purchase Pacific View, a non profit foundation that could operate a true community arts and learning center would create an ACTUAL lease revenue stream, to repay the debt, unlike the Hall Property Park, or Moonlight Beach, or the library or the firestations. None of those should have been funded through lease revenue bonds, because, except for purchase and construction, money is NOT to come out of the General Fund. There is supposed to be a lease revenue stream to pay back the bonds, as there would be for Pacific View.
ReplyDeleteLynn to comply with all the local and state regulations needed to create the revenue stream you write a out will require about $2.5M in cash. Not to mention the CCC hoops to jump through. I know you care about PV but it's something no one I know wants to jump into. Too much trouble and costs.
Delete10:47
DeleteAnd on a closed day, E-101 might want to move their Farmer's Market to PV for addition positive cash flow. Just sayin'.
Dump Vina Now!!!
DeleteLet a non profit or private citizens worry about PV.
The city had enough high priorities it is blowing off!!!!
No, there wasn't a dream team of lawyers standing around in 1883, giving J.S. Pitcher or the early settlers advice. Superintendent Tim Baird wrote a response to Council, which I have copied to WCV (as a .jpg file).
DeleteHere's what I wrote to Council and the Board of Trustees, in response:
Thank you, Scott Chatfield, for providing Superintendent Tim Baird's response to the City's letter, which letter was initiated by Council Member Tony Kranz, in our ongoing attempts to renegotiate and postpone the auction, if possible . . .
"Thank you for visiting the Encinitas Union School District (EUSD) web site. Founded in 1883, the EUSD is located in beautiful north coastal San Diego County and serves the communities of Encinitas, Leucadia, Olivenhain and the Rancho La Costa area of south Carlsbad."
EUSD keeps revamping its website and home page, which is great. But the text, [quoted] above, which now begins EUSD's home page, is another inaccurate statement. Encinitas Union School District was not formed unitl over 60 years after the community of Encintas' early settlers decided to raise money for a school, through a $600 school bond ( a significant amount in those days), and created Encinitas (not Union) School District to do so, and to accept the generous land donation of JS Pitcher, in 1883. The land was donated for the local settlers' children, so their parents could begin building what is now the Old Schoolhouse. At that time, Encinitas School District was NOT EUSD, and did not include areas of Carlsbad.
Now approximately 40% of students are from outside of Encinitas, according to the numbers provided to me through California Public Record's Requests, and statements made at previous Board Meetings. Children or adults from Carlsbad would be welcome at the community arts and learning center, but it is not correct to allege that EUSD was founded in 1883!
Moreover, re Baird's most recent letter to the City, please refer to my response, immediately below:
#1 is unreasonable according to the only relevant, current appraisal, which was for the same public/semi-public zoning, using local comps. The District has never based its excessive minimum opening bid price on any current appraisals, within the current zoning, using San Diego County comps, or North County comps.
#2 is unreasonable because the School District should not attempt to prevent the City of Encinitas from leasing the property to a non-profit foundation to rehab and maintain the classrooms for a true community art and learning center. I do think it’s entirely reasonable that the property would not be rezoned, but must remain in the public domain, in perpetuity. However, why would that be a condition on Encinitas, but not other bidders or negotiators? If an accessory use were desired, such as a small amphitheater, that should be possible within the public/semi-public zoning.
Also, the School District could and should have explored the idea of leasing the property out to a non-profit foundation, itself, which would provide a lease revenue stream, in the current zoning, as was proposed before by Envision the View, and which has been proposed, since, by Robert Bonde, on behalf of the Encinitas Taxpayer Association. If the District is unwilling to be a landlord for leased property, then it should cooperate with the City of Encinitas so that the community can realize our dream of more than a decade.
Also, if the current Pacific View classrooms were rehabbed, and the current zoning were maintained, there would be NO LOOPHOLES TO JUMP THROUGH with the California Coastal Commission. That is simply another red herring!
DeleteThere would be a NEGATIVE environmental impact declaration, or if minor redevelopment was done, in the public/semi-public zoning, possibly a mitigated neg dec.
However to reconfigure 101, through Leucadia, from a four lane major arterial down to one lane northbound and one lane southbound, including for bicyclists, through four one-lane three way T intersection roundabouts, reducing already lowered 35 MPH to 15 MPH WOULD require jumping through CCC hurdles!
The reason Carlsbad's roundabout on PCH was approved is because it also included a railtrail corridor bike and ped lane, and it was for only ONE roundabout, not four, nearly in a row.
Barth won't run for mayor or the other council seat.
ReplyDeleteThere's already a working group meeting weekends for her.
Deleteyeah- a working group of cronies I bet - do they know how Barth looted the Chesterfield Quiet zone project of $300,000? Or how Barth looted the railway horn warning of $150,000? Bet they don't - Barth doesn't write about that in her weekly propaganda piece
DeleteShe's running, no surprise. Who will step into the breach so we don't get stuck with Gaspar or Barth....
DeleteI guarantee most people will not read a sheet full of statistics so that is a waste of time. Why not start a recall campaign on all of the city council, or simply not vote back into office those who are up for re-election?
ReplyDelete11:57- you are once again wrong and your logic is flawed. Before Kranz and Shaffer no one talked about the road liability or deferred maintenance liability - now they are, in the public domain - for the first time-
ReplyDeleteBefore Kranz and Shaffer no one asked the city manager for bids- last week Shaffer did-
That is progress, made by the residents, who helped elect them. Brought about by the continued constant pressuring by citizens who watch city hall.
Kranz and Shaffer along with the other 3 still voted for the spin doctor, the Rutan report, the $400,000 budget increase for consultants- all a waste- but change is coming, and it's the residents who have made that happen. Not bottom feeding fish lurking in caves sucking up whatever slop is thrown their way.
Gee - and I thought there was a huge brouhaha about a faulty capital improvements report performed before Kranz/Shaffer?
DeleteGee - and I though it was illegal for a city to not get bids on city funded projects?
So the 2 things you mention as progress have been happening for awhile -
Next you mention their transgressions - Rutan - 400K - but yet you still say change is coming. Wow!
I like Tony - I think he will make a good councilperson if he can survive this term. I also like Muir. He knows how to run things. Gaspar is starting to make more sense - yea, scary, eh? I have no doubt Barth and Shaffer are wonderful people, but as it relates to city council they have no clue.
- The Sculpin
12:28- please share with the group the date and meeting where a sitting council member said in public the city's finances and ability maintain roads is in bad financial shape?
ReplyDeleteKranz's admission last Weds is the first time a council member lifted the veil in public saying the city's finances suck - though they, including Kranz- have known this for years but would never admit at a council meeting.
Maybe I am incorrect- please give me the council persons name and date of the meeting so I might verify it. I look forward to your facts, your credibility is at stake.
The calling into question by the public of the "flawed" capital improvements report that occurred during a previous council is all one needs to make it public. That's one of the times when the public first realized something was wrong. That's what got me first thinking about it. As far as my credibility, it's never at stake.
ReplyDelete- The Sculpin
12:41 you did not answer the question.
DeleteKindly name the sitting council member who told the public the city did not have money to fix the roads like Kranz did last week?. Please cite the council members name and the meeting date. You said this had occured - calling it a 'brouhaha' prove it, or are you a teller of untruths - like Mayor Barth?
ahhh -hello? Crickets?
DeleteThe total cost of repairing the roads is 3 times the $25 million that Tony mentioned.
ReplyDeleteDeferred road maintenance goes up exponentially as it is pushed off. Expect this cost to become huge. But hey we have a sports park thanks to the non leadership.
ReplyDeleteI would like The Sculpin to answer the question that was asked by another. I think The Sculpin is a former council member or a family member thereof. Sure sounds like someone we know.
ReplyDeleteOh really - you're much too kind in fostering such ignoble provenance my way......
Delete- The Sculpin
Guys fishy.
DeleteLay off the Sculpin, he provides some welcome clarity on this blog, free of the sometimes vicious vibe than can start permeating the discussion.
Delete3:24 Sculpin hasn't answered the question that was asked hours ago. That isn't clarity.
DeleteWhoever he or she is, they have repeatedly made more sense than you. And whoever suggested C.J. Come on! Fantasyland. Y'all wonder why you don't get taken seriously...
Delete5:33 nice of job of name calling - but do you have any facts? Or are youa troll sent by Gus Vina to try and distract from the facts?
DeleteSo I repeat 5:33- facts - do you have any?
The fantasy land you are living in is the one where Gus Vina and the council give you a pay raise you don't deserve or a contract you can't complete- then tells us everything is good, when the city can' pay their bills. Now that is a fantasy
5:33 must be on city payroll and/or getting a fat pension from the city. P.S. Your city is in trouble. That is no fantasy.
Delete5:33, you should be so lucky to have a fraction of CJ's decency and intelligence.
DeleteSounding mighty like Mikeyland or similar ilk.
I believe our city council needs to understand that they are representing the people who elected them. Their function as elected officials are to establish policy, pass local ordinances, make major decisions, voting appropriations and develop an overall vision of the city. The city manager is selected and hired by the council. The city manager is similar to a CEO of a company whose duties are to oversee the daily administrative operations, implement the policies as directed by council and advise council (not tell them what to do or how to vote). Once they understand who is "running the ship" perhaps things will get a little better. The council is in charge at all times. Let's get the ship moving in the right direction and stay on course.
ReplyDeleteShame we have a sports park only 3 people seem to want at the cost of not having Pacific View from my view almost everyone wants. The vision of JS can be seen daily at Leucadia blvd. with the out of character Starbucks or at Walmart. The citizens need to quit being afraid of the pension hogs and get active! We all lose otherwise.
ReplyDeleteDUMP KRANZ!!!
ReplyDeleteKranz is no better than the rest.
ReplyDeleteThat sports park was not wanted by a major portion of the citizens. Only a few will benefit from it and most will not step one foot on that holy ground. What a big waste of money.
ReplyDeletethat is why the council did not put it to a vote under a general obligation bond - it would have lost. Now tricky Gus and slippery Barth are trying to hoodwink the public into spending some $150,000 on a consultant to take money from private citizens and give it to the council and Vina
DeleteMaybe Kranz is no better than the rest, but that's the point, they are average people trying to satisfy very un-average people, those on this blog to start with. At least Kranz hasn't become frustrated and started making false accusations against his peers like Barth.
DeleteMaybe Kranz is no better than the rest, but that's the point, they are average people trying to satisfy very un-average people, those on this blog to start with. At least Kranz hasn't become frustrated and started making false accusations against his peers like Barth.
Delete5:36 you just joined the rest of us very un-average people. That was quite an un-average statement.
DeleteI agree with the post about not wanting to put a bond to the vote. A complete financial analysis should have been completed prior to putting the issue to the vote of the people. What happened, Vina slipped a fast one for Stocks who he thought would for sure remain on Council.
DeleteHaaa. He guess wrong and like $tock$, we will Dump Sad Sac!!!!
How is anyone sure that PV is wanted by everyone? Has there been a survey that I am unaware of? I don't want it and I am a taxpayer. I want my roads and infrastructure fixed!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. I don't want PV I want the roads fixed.
DeleteThe City and EUSD have received over 650 letters from the community who support saving Pacific View in the public domain for a true community arts and learning center. It can, over time, pay for itself, if it is leased out to a non-profit foundation, just as the Boathouses were, but with a substantial City subsidy.
DeleteAlso, the Encinitas Preservation Association owns the Boathouses property. Maybe the EPA Board of Directors should step up and negotiate with EUSD over purchasing Pacific View?
650? That is 1% of the city. That's not a mandate. Give it up it will never happen.
DeleteI'm with you 3:26. I don't want it, the cost is too much and as far as I can tell, only the artistic culture have an interest in it.
ReplyDeleteHeard from two of the three.
Deletethe cost under the Naylor act is 30 cents on the dollar - what a steal. Do you want it now?
DeleteFuck NO!!
DeleteHell no… we want our roads fixed.
DeleteReposting over and over, anonymously, that you want your roads fixed is NOT indicitive of community support, and is not relevant to the discussion.
Delete4:11 NO
ReplyDelete4:11 sounds like a great deal - how do we get it?
ReplyDeleteI have a better idea....you buy PV, then donate it to the city. That saves us all a passel of money and YOU are a hero. Hurray !! This is what Lynn should do, but won't.
Deletegreat idea. PUt up or shut up.
Deletethe city has too many other large problems to address..
7:48 the put up or shut up isTim Baird following the law. Baird never offered it to residents at the Naylor act price. The shut up is the reason the city has no money includes pensions like Muir's 170K, new fire house we didn't need costing 6.2M and bond measures that got wasted.
DeleteI'd sooner see them buy Pacific View than pay $18,000,000 for three more holes under the tracks.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the underpass thing is a complete waste of money. The price is just way too high. Pursuing at grade crossings, though probably futile, makes a lot more sense financially.
Delete-Mr Green Jeans
3 X $6.4 million is $19.2 million for three more underpasses. It's $18 million for the coastal rail trail. Combined, that $37.2 million is a good start for funding trenching the tracks when they're doubled. Trenching is better than other ideas because it solves many current problems that will only get worse as time marches on.
DeleteTo trnch the tracks would be closer to 100 million dollars or more to do. It would be much more of an impact on the community during construction than Solana Beach. How would you like Leucadia Blvd and Encinitas Blvd shut down while they trench from D st to La Costa Blvd. Talk about gridlock. Train engineers don't like steep elevation changes and prefer limited grade climbs. It will not be so easy to do as some will think on this blog.
DeleteHey I stead of trenching the tracks, let's give the $100M to the city staff, mostly the fire dept. They need it more than most.
DeleteIt will take Federal money, that won't be available. Check out the breakdown from the Solana Beach project.
DeleteThe grade separation cost approximately $18 million, with funds gathered from the following sources: $5.8 million through Proposition 116, a 1990 state initiative to fund rail projects; $6.7 million from the Federal Transit Administration; $2.5 million from Amtrak; $1.4 million from the City of Solana Beach; $1.1 million from the state’s Capital Improvement Program; and $500,000 from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (formed when the ATSF merged with the Burlington Northern Railroad). The rail right-of-way was sunken 28 feet below street level for more than a mile-and-a-half through town.
Kill Leucadia Streetscape, add that $20 million to the $37.2, and we have $57.2 million. That's a good start. This is an election year. Get Chavez, Wyland, Issa and whoever runs for mayor and council on board trenching the tracks. Make them pledge to get the funding as a condition of being elected.
Delete2:59, Solana's tracks were trenched, and the same kinds of engineering problems that would occur in Encinitas were overcome there. Then there are the much bigger trenching projects already completed in Alameda and Reno. Check those out.
DeleteThe temporary inconvenience during the construction period would be far outweighed by the forever nightmare that will follow doubling without trenching.
If you want to talk about inconvenience, what do you think I-5 will be like when the widening starts and continues till 2040?
You may be right 4:47 I would prefer they were trenched as I live near 101 and Leucadia Blvd and that is a constant inconvenience to me and my family on a daily basis for sure but if you think it would be a temporary inconvenience.... I'm wondering how long you think temporary will be? I'm thinking at least a year and maybe more to complete.
DeleteI still think the grade issue is a little more complex than you think with the businesses that are next to the west side of the tracks from E st to Encinitas Blvd.
There's no question that it's complex. Inconvenience is temporary, nightmare without is forever.
DeleteGoogle Alameda railway corridor or similar and read about the trench there. It makes what would be involved in our project look easy.
Interesting thing about the one underground underpass that has already been done. There is no counting device that tells how many people actually use it. This is yet another example of how the City does things. No accountability. If they City knew how many people use this underpass, it would give them an idea if it is worth it to do others.
ReplyDeleteMany people use it now and more will follow. It has made it possible for many more to enjoy Swami's. I would guess at least a hundred per day and many more on the weekend.
Delete3:03-What is unfortunate is that you have to GUESS rather than know. I am happy that people are using it, but where is the accountability? Wouldn't it have made sense to add a sensor on both ends, which would have not cost a lot of money, to actually see how many people use it?
DeleteWhat are you talking about? Accountability? Sensors? Go look for yourself and see that it is used extensively. They are talking about the parking problem on the east side of the tracks because of the popularity of the crossing. Sheesh.
DeleteOh, didn't you hear that because so many more people will be walking and riding their bikes, parking space on the east side won't be needed.
Delete6:46-Since I live relatively close to this particular crossing, I go by it all of the time. And, yet, I have never seen it being used. I also drive 101 almost every day. And the light was put around Swamis. It turns red for drivers if someone is crossing. I have yet to have it be red when I drive through. I'm not saying people don't use it, I am saying that when I was on the Parks and Rec. Commission and asked the same questions, I was given a similar answer. I have never been a public employee and have worked in both pharmaceutical sales and as a a psychologist. Accountability was a high priority in both cases, and still is as a psychologist. I cannot even imagine not keeping notes, dates, progress reports, before and after symptoms etc. It is true insurance companies want this, but I would do it anyway, so the person can see if her or she is making progress, and what needs to be still worked on. Since I am self employed, I don't have the luxury of guessing. In pharm. sales, I cannot even imagine telling Squibb, "Gee I just don't know if the veterinarians are using our products.". Not only would my boss have laughed I would probably have been fired. But, then again, Squibb is a stock holder owned company, and I have been self employed for 25 years, and I cannot afford not to know.
DeleteWell then, you're not looking very long or just not paying attention while you drive by. Go there any morning and watch the stroller mamas go through it or how about in the evening before sunset and see how many use it to view the sunset at Swamis!
DeleteWhether or not many people are using the underpass at Swamis, the City could and should install a counting device. I know that one was installed at Stonesteps. This can be thrown off, somewhat, by people going up and down the stairs, for exercise, but I suppose each "lap" they take should count!
DeleteThis issue of accountability and keeping accurate records was underscored, to me, by a recent agenda item, an appeal from a Planning Commission decision re allowing a dog and cat dental clinic in a zone that includes clinics. Fortunately, Council made the correct decision, as supported by ALL the public speakers. But what came out was that the applicant/appellant, had called the Planning Dept. and was given misinformation on the process that was required.
In working in private industry, and taking phone calls, as an administrative assistant, I know I was required to make brief notes about the subject of any call, whether the call was for me, or was to be directed to someone else in the office. City Manager Gus Vina stated, at that meeting, it would be too much trouble to track phone calls; that would be too much of a "burden."
When someone does a CPRA request, one typically asks for all documents related to a particular subject including any phone logs, memos, e-mails, etc. For this precise reason, the City Manager does NOT want any tracking done through phone logs. I have NEVER been provided with any phone logs or notes, although they are publicly disclosable.
Also, inaccurate surveys are routinely done, whereby the results are skewed, and the data becomes statistically invalid. An example is that the City hired a contractor to take readings of traffic on 101, Neptune and Vulcan only before AND after lane elimination, northbound, on N101, during the months fom the end of September until the end of October, 2012 and 2013. October months are not peak seasonal traffic periods, so a survey to measure increased cut through traffic, limited to those months, would not show the possible increase in cut through traffic, the possible increase in traffic back-ups, and the possible negative impact of further reducing emergency response times.
Well Lynn, you seem to have alot of free time and nothing productive to do. Why don't you get off your @$$ and go down there count the people for yourself! and do something positive for a change!
DeleteOh yeah, I forgot that you're omnipresent and know everything so why bother. You speak for all of us. Right?