The Coast News, Aug. 17, 2012

AUG. 17, 2012
Group collecting names in
petition against ‘up-zoning’
By Jared Whitlock
ENCINITAS — A community group
known as Encinitas Project is pushing for a
ballot initiative that would let voters
decide on whether to approve major density
or height increases that are a part of
proposed building projects, also known as
“up-zoning.”
The group created the initiative out of
concern of overdevelopment and where
1,300 state-mandated housing units will be
built.
We’re asking for signatures
everywhere in Encinitas right
now.”
Bruce Ehlers
Spokesman,Encinitas Project
Currently, the Encinitas City Council
can approve up-zoning projects with a fourout-of-five
council member vote.
Under the initiative, certain up-zoning
projects, including those that increase the
number of permitted dwellings on a residential
lot or change a parcel’s zoning type
from non-mixed use to mixed use, would
require a majority vote from residents.
According to Bruce Ehlers, the
spokesperson for the initiative, the group
must submit 5,700 signatures to the city by
mid-December. The group began collecting
Teens vandalize vacant home in Carlsbad
By Christina Macone Greene
CARLSBAD —
Authorities responded at the
scene of a vacant home in
Carlsbad on the morning of
Aug. 3 because of a reported
break in and vandalism.
Although the case is still
under investigation, the
Carlsbad Police Department
did confirm that the incident
involved teenagers who
gained access into the home
located at the 5400 block of
Carlsbad Boulevard and
threw a party there the night
before.
According to the police,
it’s estimated that more than
$5,000 in damages occurred.
“There were holes in the
walls, broken windows and
damaged appliances,” said
Jodee Sasway, public information
officer at the City of
Carlsbad Police Department.
Sasway said the teens
received a message via text
that a party was being held at
the home. There were more
than 50 attendees at the
party.
Nearby neighbors did
not call authorities that
evening about any noise disturbance.
Sasway pointed out that
the police report did not indicate
the origin of the text.
Four individuals were
still inside the residence
when the homeowner arrived
the morning of Aug. 3.
“One juvenile was
placed under citizen’s arrest
by the owner; the juvenile
was cited for misdemeanor
vandalism and released to
parents,” Sasway said. “Two
additional people were
detained by the arriving
police officers. They were not
cited as at that point they
could not be directly linked to
any of the vandalism.”
Beer containers and cigarette
butts were also noted in
the police report.
At this time, officials are
not aware of where the majority
of teens that attended the
party reside.
Although it’s not a regular
occurrence in Carlsbad,
Saway said, incidents like this
do occur from time to time
and that’s why it’s important
to let surrounding neighbors
know if a house will be
vacant.
“Let the neighbors know
what type of activity should
be normal around the house
so they can quickly identify
suspicious activity,” she said.
“Make sure doors and windows
are secured and check
on the house regularly. Ask a
neighbor to check on the
house.”
Sasway also shared that
neighbors should have the
homeowner’s contact phone
number as well in the event a
problem or concern arises.
Other tips given by
authorities to make a vacant
home look inhabited include
signatures at the end of June and has more
than 1,000 so far, Ehlers said.
“We’re asking for signatures everywhere
in Encinitas right now,” he said.
Ehlers said the initiative is a response
to “a Council that’s sympathetic with
developers over citizens.” He also takes
issue with recent housing workshops that
“pitted five communities against each
other.”
During the housing workshops, residents
were each given 10 blue stickers and
asked to mark on a map of
Leucadia, Old Encinitas, New
Encinitas, Cardiff and
Olivenhain where 1,300 statemandated
housing units should
be located.
Proposals for the statemandated
housing units define
density as 30 plus units per
acre. Currently, most of
Encinitas isn’t zoned for more
than 25 units per acre.
The results of the workshops have yet
to be released to the public. Calls were
placed to the City Manager’s office to see
when the workshops’ results would see the
light of day, as well as requesting comment
on the proposed initiative, but were not
returned.
The city started the housing workshops,
along with open houses and a new
advisory committee, to engage the public
outdoor and indoor light
timers, collecting mail and
newspapers, angling blinds so
people from the outside cannot
see in, having the irrigation
system run normally, an
audible alarm system, and
periodically have a car
parked in the driveway.
“Neighbors should be
aware of vacant homes in the
area and have a zero tolerance
for suspicious activity
around the house,” she said.
“Don’t let the house become a
party house.”
THE COAST NEWS
TURN TO PETITION ON A15
State cuts pay for fairgrounds employees
By Bianca Kaplanek
DEL MAR — Despite
record-breaking attendance
at the San Diego
County Fair and opening
day at the race track,
employees of the Del Mar
Fairgrounds were forced to
take a pay cut last month.
Approximately 185
full-time workers, including
management, were
issued a 4.62 percent
salary reduction, effective
July 1, three days before
the end of the annual fair
that ran a record 24 days
this year.
“There are concerns
with staffing and morale,”
Manager Tim Fennell told
the board of directors at
the Aug. 14 meeting of the
22nd District Agricultural
Association, which operates
the state-owned fairgrounds.
It’s very difficult to
have success year after
year and break records and
then tell employees you
can’t give them a pay raise
and now you have to cut
their pay, Fennell said.
“I’m starting to see
some cracks in the concrete,”
he added, referring
to the confidence and commitment
of some workers.
According to a letter
from the California
Department of Human
Resources, the pay reduction,
effective through
June 30, 2013, is an effort
to “assist in achieving
2012-2013 Budget
Savings.”
But cutting the pay of
fairgrounds employees
does nothing to help
reduce the state budget
deficit, Fennell said.
The 22nd DAA is a
financially self-sustaining
entity. It doesn’t send
funds to Sacramento.
Money from the 350-plus
events at the site is used
for operating costs, includ-
ing payroll.
“We’re not part of the
state’s general fund,”
Fennell said. “We produce
all our own revenue. We
could disappear tomorrow
and it wouldn’t affect one
iota of the state budget.”
However, even though
their paychecks come from
the ag district, full-time
workers with benefits are
considered state employees,
requiring them to follow
state rules.
Director Russ
Penniman said the 22nd
DAA has tried to use internal
funds to better compensate
its workers but
“every time we try … we
get cut off at the pass.”
“We don’t have the latitude
to do that,” he said.
“We need a solution. … We
still do the same amount of
events. We have to staff
them. Someone has to do
the work. This policy is a
net negative.”
Last year the fairgrounds
was criticized for
improperly allowing its
employees to cash out
accrued leave hours, such
as unused vacation pay,
which they would have
received if they quit.
Seasonal and parttime
workers are not subject
to the pay reduction,
nor are people who work
for subcontractors, such as
golf center and food and
beverage employees.
If we can do that for
certain areas, why can’t we
do it for the entire fairgrounds?
Director David
Watson asked.
He suggested possibly
creating a private entity
from which the fairgrounds
could draw its
employees, thereby eliminating
the mandate that
they follow state worker
guidelines.
He likened it to the
structure of the San Diego
A3
Zoo, which is owned by the
city but run by a privately
operated nonprofit organization.
Otherwise it will
require a legislative fix to
change state law, Watson
said.
Board members also
discussed bringing back
incentive and bonus programs
for employees.
Board President Adam
Day said he was looking
into what options the 22nd
DAA has. “As much sympathy
as I have for the state,
we’ve got to look inward
for more local control,”
Day said.
He also said he didn’t
want to limit the options to
those outside of the system.
He said he would travel
to Sacramento to see
what policy alternatives
the state can provide “to
protect our employees.”
According to a scenario
included in the
August agenda, “Joe the
Plumber” working for the
fairgrounds, making
$47,000 in 2000, should
now, keeping up with inflation,
be receiving an annual
salary of $65,000.
But with mandatory
pay cuts and furloughs,
“Joe” is currently being
paid about $43,780 annually.
Board members will
continue the discussion at
the Sept. 11 meeting.