Forty years ago, the Encinitas ship of state was launched on the rocky shores of cityhood.
Oct. 1, 2026, marks this milestone and presents an opportunity to look back at how we started as a city and why. Cityhood was a struggle of frustration and determination to wrest ourselves out from under the yoke of distant county supervision and into local governance.
Before we could celebrate our independence in 1986, activist citizens would have to put in more than two years of hard work and constant focus to pay for this goal.
Why did we incorporate the communities of Leucadia, Encinitas, Olivenhain and Cardiff-by-the-Sea?
The county Board of Supervisors was far away, and powerful development interests heavily influenced its members. Despite recommendations from the locally elected San Dieguito Citizens Planning Group, the county ignored citizen concerns and approved high-density spot zoning in many of our neighborhoods.
The county used local revenues and some state funding to support infrastructure and needs in other areas instead of returning the money to our communities.
Citizens were concerned about losing the unique character of our communities and preserving our quality of life.
Many heroes and heroines gave tirelessly of their time, risked careers and reputations, faced insults and made even greater sacrifices on this path to cityhood.
The driving force, heart and visionary behind our city incorporation effort was Marjorie Foster-Gaines. She had a brilliant mind, an incredible memory and a strong command of facts. Marjorie was completely selfless. She organized a dedicated group of volunteers.
Bob Bonde co-authored the incorporation and formed the North Coast Incorporation Coalition. The coalition provided the framework that brought dedicated leaders from established community organizations together to work on this common cause.
The fire district led the incorporation effort, with Chief Robert LaMarsh, Matt Reilly and Tom Rouse leading the way. They covered the fees and hired attorneys to fight legal challenges.
Harry Couglar and Walt Wallace gathered voter registrations far beyond what was current and gave the city a major economic windfall of almost $1 million. That proved to LAFCO that we could afford to support ourselves as a new city.
Fred Nagy stepped forward and spent countless hours putting together our financial plan for LAFCO to prove we could sustain ourselves as a city. Immediately after he finished that process and handed in the report, Fred dropped dead of a massive heart attack. He was 35 years old. He left a wife and little girl.
A special election was called on June 3, 1986. Four important decisions had to be made: whether to form a new city; what to name it; whether elections would be by district or at large; and, lastly, who would serve as the first five City Council members. Voters chose at-large elections, which meant each council member represented all communities.
Marjorie Gaines received the most votes and became the first mayor of Encinitas. Rick Shea, Gerald Steel, Anne Omsted and Greg Luke courageously rounded out our first City Council.
Voters chose the name Encinitas. The mayor and council members were sworn in on Oct. 1. The first Encinitas City Council meeting was Oct. 3.
Does reflecting on this history suggest that our city in 2026 is in the same position with the state of California as we were with the county 40 years ago? Once again, under the yoke of a distant governing body making our housing and zoning decisions for us? Still now, finding ourselves in a struggle for local control?
After 40 years, what is the byword for residents today? Vigilance! Because this city — this prize so determinedly fought for and loved — can be lost. Quality of life and preservation of the character of the five communities are still at the heart of what attracts all of us to Encinitas. Greed and overdevelopment can destroy these fragile qualities.
Activism is still alive and well here. Stay tuned and involved. Our future quality of life is up to all of us.
Happy 40th birthday, Encinitas!
Sheila S. Cameron is an incorporation member and former mayor of Encinitas.
