Election Q&A with Encinitas City Council candidates

The Coast News asked four candidates running for two seats on the Encinitas City Council to respond to questions about their stances on local issues before the November election.

Marine veteran and high school coach Luke Shaffer and Deputy Mayor Allison Blackwell are running in District 1. Business owners Destiny Preston and Jim O’Hara are vying for the District 2 seat.

All four candidates agreed to participate in the questionnaire and submitted responses via email. 

Can the state-mandated housing requirements be balanced while maintaining local control? Does the RHNA process need to be reformed, and if so, what would that look like?

Shaffer: Yes, we can balance state mandates with local control by advocating for responsible development that prioritizes our community’s character. I believe we need to establish clear standards for developers, ensuring that projects align with Encinitas’ values. The RHNA process should allow for community input, emphasizing quality over quantity in housing developments.

It’s essential to work collaboratively with residents to ensure that any new housing projects are truly beneficial to our community. While also taking into account each community’s specific layout and needs, such as lagoons, oceans, coastline and historic sites, just to name a few. 

Blackwell: Yes, we can balance state housing laws with local control, especially with Prop A, which gives Encinitas residents the right to vote on upzoning. The legislature has passed, and the governor has signed, many new housing laws to address the housing crisis. These laws can feel oppressive to cities like Encinitas, which are mostly built out.

While the City cannot impose additional standards on “by right” projects, the City Council can oppose or support new legislation, and the Council regularly does so. I believe the RHNA process needs reform.  The RHNA numbers are derived and distributed using a complex formula that tries to predict housing “needs.”  One idea is to require cities to carry an equal percentage of affordable housing — a straightforward, simple approach that also takes politicking out of the equation.

O’Hara: Maintaining a focus that keeps the quality of life and public safety of Encinitas’ residents at the forefront of our decisions is essential when navigating state-mandated housing requirements. My commitment is to develop affordable housing that manages state mandates while also enhancing our neighborhoods, prioritizing responsible growth that truly serves our residents. RHNA numbers are assessed every 8 years, and I believe that it will be important to have voices on the council that question these numbers so our city is not overburdened with inappropriate RHNA numbers during the upcoming assessment.

Preston: State law has helped us advance environmental protection goals, such as those afforded through the California Coastal Act, which provides for local control through the development of a Local Coastal Program, which can be more protective than policies contained in the Act. Therefore, I believe state laws can help us advance broad principles that benefit the public interest while still providing for local control.

State law is controlled by the legislature, not city councils. That said, as a council member, I will advocate for legislation that provides for local control. RHNA regulations could be improved by evaluating a community’s split between for-rent and for-sale residential options. Given the limited carrying capacity of our relatively small suburban city, we should be given some time to realize and mitigate the impacts related to new development that has been approved in recent years before we are required to build more housing. 

Some residents worry that providing more services for homeless individuals will impact their quality of life. What can you do to provide homeless services while also maintaining residents’ quality of life?

Shaffer: Addressing homelessness requires a balance of compassion and accountability. We must provide necessary services while ensuring our businesses and public spaces remain safe for residents. This means implementing effective outreach programs that connect individuals with resources (such as the San Diego Rescue Mission) while maintaining a strong law enforcement presence.

I will advocate for comprehensive solutions that hold service providers accountable, ensuring they meet the needs of both the homeless and the wider community.

Blackwell: At the core of this topic is a human who is struggling and does not have adequate housing. We need to address homelessness as a humanitarian issue with a “service first” approach to help people transition to stable living situations. The City of Encinitas has a robust Homeless Action Plan with specific goals to reduce homelessness. The city also benefits from the Homeless Outreach Program for Empowerment (HOPE) teams that combine law enforcement with social workers for outreach to the city’s unsheltered people.

Furthermore, the city already has ordinances prohibiting camping on public and private property. Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson in late June 2024, the Sheriff’s Department is now able to enforce these ordinances against people who resist offers of service.

O’Hara: Addressing homelessness in Encinitas requires a thoughtful strategy that prioritizes both compassion and public safety. I am committed to increasing access to support services that are held accountable while ensuring that law enforcement has the necessary resources to keep our neighborhoods safe.

By collaborating with first responders and local organizations, we can develop effective transitional programs that assist individuals without compromising the quality of life for residents and the success of our local businesses. It’s about creating a community where everyone can thrive, not just surviving.

Preston: A good leader should have compassion and empathy for those experiencing homelessness rather than homogenize and villainize these individuals. I believe we can leverage our existing partnership with Buena Vista Creek Center in Vista to provide shelter beds for our unhoused community. My approach is aligned with the current Homeless Action Plan adopted by the City in  2021, which is to pursue humane solutions for unhoused individuals while enforcing our local ordinances.

For the past four years, the Homeless Outreach Program (known as HOPE), composed of the Sheriff’s Deputy from the Community Oriented  Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) and an HHSA social worker, has worked to contact individuals experiencing homelessness to connect them with various resources to assist them in finding permanent housing, while enforcing local laws and ordinances (now made possible because of the court’s ruling in the case City of Grants Pass vs. Johnson). 

How do you ensure fiscal responsibility? What are some ways that cities can raise revenues?

Shaffer: Fiscal responsibility is about transparency and effective budgeting. I will ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and prioritize essential services. To raise revenue, we can seek grants and explore partnerships with local businesses rather than increasing taxes. I oppose the 1% sales tax increase because it disproportionately affects our fixed-income residents. Instead, let’s maximize our existing resources and engage the community in budget discussions to ensure accountability.

Blackwell: The City Council is legally required to adopt a balanced budget each fiscal year, ensuring the city adequately funds its reserves, which is essential for the city to maintain a strong credit rating (on 4/15/2024, Standard & Poor’s Services affirmed Encinitas’ AAA credit rating). The council has authority over all expenditures, which ensures spending is in line with city council policies. While historically, the city’s revenues have always been more than expenses, the council would need to address the imbalance through cuts if necessary.

Cities can raise revenues through a variety of methods, all of which would require approval by the voters. Cities can also fund expensive projects such as large infrastructure improvements through loans/borrowing, public-private partnerships, and grants. Currently, the best way for Encinitas to raise revenue to help fund the $200m infrastructure backlog is through a 1-cent increase in the sales tax (Measure K).

O’Hara: Fiscal responsibility is not just about balancing budgets; it’s about ensuring transparency and actively involving our community in financial decisions. I will push for regular audits and encourage residents to participate in budget discussions to reflect their priorities. The city’s revenue has grown annually for the past decade and appears set to continue that trend.

My approach will prioritize sustainability without imposing new taxes on our residents, ensuring that our financial strategies support the needs of our community rather than special interests.

Preston: The City Council has a robust community engagement strategy they employ during the annual budget process. I commit to being responsive to community needs and priorities when making funding decisions. It will be my responsibility to make sure that I understand all existing and proposed expenditures and challenge these decisions as needed.

Changes in spending will be made with scrutiny and transparency. Cities raise revenues through various mechanisms,  including through property and sales taxes, as well as through permit and developer impact fees.

I will advocate for the city to secure additional funding through appropriations from the state legislature and Congress via grants. I have extensive experience directly related to municipal finance, transportation planning, contract management, state/federal grants administration, and legislative advocacy to allocate additional funding for public safety and climate action. I will leverage my public policy skills to work hard for the people of Encinitas. 

What’s a decision the council made in the past term that you supported? What about disagreed with?

Shaffer: I supported initiatives to enhance public safety funding, which is crucial for our community. However, I disagreed with the lack of progress on the train horn quiet zone. This issue has been ignored for too long, impacting residents’ quality of life. We need a council that prioritizes the voices of its constituents and takes decisive action on important issues.

Blackwell: I supported the decision by the City unanimous vote on June 12, 2024), to fund the additional 60” drainage pipe in Streetscape Segment C which extended the new 60” pipe from Moorgate to Jupiter. This action meant the City had to move funding from other valuable projects, such as the Hygeia roundabout on Leucadia Boulevard — a difficult trade-off.

When the City Council approved the FY24-25 budget, I voted to approve it overall. However, during the budget workshops, I advocated for using some of the unallocated General Fund money to repave more streets, as I feel the City needs to do more there. That recommendation did not get majority support, but I will continue to advocate for more funding.

O’Hara: I stand firmly behind initiatives that enhance public safety, understanding that a safe environment is the cornerstone of our community’s well-being. However, I have serious concerns about the council’s push for high-density development, particularly when it neglects the long-term impact on our neighborhoods.

We must prioritize the voices of our residents and ensure that any development aligns with Encinitas’ unique character. This isn’t just about meeting housing quotas; it’s about ensuring the quality of life that makes our community special. Together, the council should forge a path that balances growth with the values that define Encinitas.

Preston: I support the work that the existing City Council has done to advance historic preservation and create a native plant ordinance. I believe the council is doing a great job making sure we are compliant with state and federal laws.

If elected, I will work to improve our use of the city’s lobbying resources to advance legislative priorities that make sense for Encinitas. Given my extensive experience working in government to advance public safety and environmental protection, I’m uniquely qualified and positioned to get things done for our residents through legislative advocacy starting on day one.