I wonder if you had the opportunity to watch Wednesday’s Encinitas City Council meeting agenda item #7 regarding a rezoning application for the Pacific View Elementary School property to allow for the an arts center and 7 residential lots. No matter which side of the debate one favored, the discussion was a complete waste of everyone’s time and a mere ‘kicking the can down the road’. The council rejected the application at this time because 1) there was no tolling agreement from EUSD and 2) it may require a vote of the citizens. I ask, “why didn’t the city council either contact the EUSD to request a tolling agreement prior to the council meeting (EUSD has already provided a letter saying they would drop the lawsuit upon approval of the rezoning) or decide to move forward with the application process pending a tolling agreement and with the understanding that a vote may be required?

The next item on the agenda regarding the annual banners faired no better.

As a well respected journalist who regularly addresses city issues, I would like to know your opinion.

In mine, Mayor Jerome Stocks and the council should do their homework before coming to council meetings.

Sincerely,

Linda Bergen

cc: Jerome Stocks
Coast News

Art Pulse wishes to acknowledge the 17 supporters who spoke at the City Council Meeting (14 Encinitans, 1 San Diego, 1 Solana Beach, 1 Carlsbad):

William Simon – Encinitas: Positive Action Community Theater
Peter Tobias – Encinitas: Doctor
David Chase – Encinitas Resident: Choral Director of La Jolla Symphony Chorus
Roxanne Grooms – San Diego: Artist who hopes to move to Encinitas if this center is built
Manuelita Brown – Encinitas: Artist, Encinitas Preservation Association boardmember
Diane Welch – Solana Beach: Artist, Writer, Local Historian
Paul Ecke – Encinitas: President of Encinitas Preservation Association, Developer
Treggon Owens – Encinitas: President of DEMA, board member of Encinitas Preservation Association
Mia – little girl who wants this because there is no art in her school
Erick Scott – Encinitas: Lives near PVAC and is excited about what this will bring to the neighborhood
Ann Olson – Carlsbad: Artist
Bhavna Mehta – San Diego: Artist and art educator
Dianne O’Connor – Encinitas: Artist
Betsy Gilpin – Encinitas: North Coast Symphony
Robert Matts – Encinitas: Businessman
Austin Blue – Encinitas resident

We would also like to thank and acknowledge the 8 additional supporters who attended the meeting but had to leave early or didn’t have the opportunity to speak:

Erin Weidner – Rancho Santa Fe: Arts Patron
Susan Bailey – Rancho Santa Fe: Cowan: Bach Collegium
Ansley Pye – Point Loma: Artist and Gallery Director
Francine Hudson – San Diego: Arts supporter
Steve Dilley – Encinitas: Artist
Joe McNalley – Encinitas: PVAC immediate neighbor, Artistic Director, The Hutchins Consort
Ryan Maher – Encinitas: Gallery Director
Pam Wells – Encinitas: Artist

We would also like to acknowledge the 6 people who spoke against allowing Art Pulse to submit a rezoning application. Being passionate and committed the betterment of your community deserves praise and to each of you, we tip our hats (our apologies if we did not spell your name correctly):

John McPherson – Encinitas: Believes arts center and residential should be specified up front, not go forward as one zone
Felix Tinkoff – believes the SEQUA process should be followed, sent a letter to the council.
Bill Sparks – Encinitas: Part of the Envision the View group. Believes in an arts center under current zoning and without houses.
Cowan Strong – Encinitas: Believes in an arts center under current zoning and without houses.
Annie Leaf – Encinitas: Believes in an arts center without Rezoning.
Lynn Marr – Encinitas: Against rezoning.

Danny Salzhandler also spoke in support of an arts center, expressing his continued hope that it can happen in existing buildings.

Thank you all for participating in the process and letting City Council and the entire community know where you stand and how you feel.

Thank you,

April Game and the Art Pulse Team