Taxpayers group rates Flower Capital candidates

Based on responses
Encinitas Taxpayers Association recently announced the results of its evaluation of the four City Council candidates based on Q&A responses, record and position statements.
Teresa Barth, seeking a second term, received the highest score. Candidate Tony Kranz was a close second, followed by Mayor Dan Dalager and candidate Kristin Gaspar was last. Consideration included responses to pensions and compensation, secrecy, tax rates, debt policy, competitive process, real estate transactions and San Dieguito Water District. Read the full report at www.encinitastaxpayers.org/blog.
$4 mil. for choice parcel
A choice 22,000-square-foot parcel on Balboa Avenue in the Surfside City was sold for $4 mil. at auction recently. That’s enough gedes to pay off a $3.5 mil. debt the city owes on a Ninth Street site it plans to convert into a community park and the Balboa Avenue parcel will be back on the property tax rolls for the city. The Ninth Street parcel also will remain as the Winston School site and will provide a permanent location for the historic Case de Alvarado now housed at the fairgrounds and during the fair is an exhibit in the Flower & Garden Show.
Prop. P to decide future
A $44 mil. bond measure is on the ballot on behalf of the Encinitas Union School District. Trustees say funds are needed for improvements. One group of parents agrees, another sez may be so but this is the wrong time to ask for approval becuz folks are already overtaxed. The choice is up to voters in the district to decide. All but trustee Maureen Muir are in support of the measure.
Rx prescription drop box
A secure drop-box for prescription drugs is now located at the Encinitas Sheriff’s Station, 175 N. El Camino Real. County sheriff and the board of supes are co-sponsoring the program.
Taxis ordinance
A Solbeach ordinance has been adopted to regulate taxis and prevent them from roaming all over the city seeking fares. Most popular is at the train station. Taxi owners now must carry $1 mil. in liability insurance.
Village roundabouts
Rancho Santa Fe Association and board of supes are currently evaluating the merits of three roundabouts on Paseo Delicias. Question is not if they are to be installed but when and their design.
Cookie collection
St. James Catholic Community in Solbeach is seeking to collect more than 240 dozen home-baked cookies to distribute to inmates at the Otay Mesa correctional facility the weekend of Oct. 16 Oct. 17. It specifies they must be homemade, not packaged or bought, and be contained in clear, zip-lock freezer bags so they can pass inspection. Why 240 dozen? That’s the number contributed last year and there’s a desire to top that figure. More info by calling (858) 682-1118.
O’side marketing bureau
With San Diego North Convention & Visitor Bureau being taken over by San Diego Convention & Visitor Bureau, North County cities are forming individual organizations to promote their own communities. Most recently O’side has announced the formation of the Conference & Visitors Bureau with funding coming from a 1.5 percent Tourism Marketing District tax. Its office will be with the California Welcome Center Oceanside. Leslee Gaul will head the bureau.
Permanent vs. temporary?
North County Transit District is giving consideration to a Coaster station to serve visitors to the fair and races and possibly other events that attract large crowds. Several proposals each have their pros and cons. Bottom line is the dough to fund any of them. Several years ago when the 22nd District Agricultural Association went so far as to develop schematics of a proposal it quickly put the idea on the shelf when it came to the funding part.
Ready now
In-N-Out Burger that has sought an Escondido location for years now has one in operation at 1260 W. Valley Parkway west of I-15. It’s the 247th eatery in the Cal-based burger chain. One in Carlsbad off I-5 was SRO from the time the first double double came off the grill.
La Colonia Park plan to
Coastal Commission
Solbeach electeds have directed staff to submit a proposal to the Coastal Commission for a La Colonia park redo. Cost for the upgrades will be in the neighborhood of $5 mil. Included will be a skateboard park and remake of the amphitheater.
One-liners
Prop. 21 will provide an added tax on vehicle registration earmarked for Cal parks … Board of supes has approved more tuff regs for allocation of grants from the Neighborhood Reinvestment Program … Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra has been retired and will be bred to Curlin Horse of the Year in 2007 and 2008 … The Governator has signed 21 new laws including one that prohibits motorcycle owners from modifying their machines to make more noise … S.D. County Credit Union that has branches in C’bad, Solbeach and the Flower Capital will be the Poinsettia Bowl sponsor to 2012 … Leucadia Town Council has scheduled Howl-O-Ween on Oct. 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. featuring a pet parade and costume contest … Linda Zweig sez the Scream Zone on weekends at the fairgrounds is so scary some folks don’t make it through all the really frightening zones … According to the County Water Authority the Coast to Crest Trail from I-15 to Lake Hodges has reopened … Encinitas Preservation Association will present the inaugural Boathouses Plus Architectural Tour Oct. 17. Info and tixs at www.encinitaspreservationfoundation.org.

Hasta la Vista