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Misplacing items and losing the ability to retrace steps
By Jacqueline Covey
VISTA — The city has been recognized for its continued efforts to battle homelessness.
The International City/ County Management Association named Vista’s Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness a recipient of the 2022 Local Government Excellence Award in Community Health and Safety.
“The street is no place for any person to live and a compassionate society does not allow for anyone to live on the street,” Vista Deputy Mayor John Franklin said.
The ICMA is a century-old agency with more than 11,000 members dedicated to improving resident quality of life through municipal government. The ICMA’s annual Local Government Excellence Awards, open to U.S. and international jurisdictions, will be presented in September at the association’s annual conference in Ohio.
This year, 14 municipal programs and five individuals received awards. Vista is one of two cities from California on the list.
“Good for the city,” said Paul Webster of the Hope Street Coalition, a leader in advocating for the unhoused. “They took a realistic view of what they could actually do. They not only invested in a social worker to do the appropriate outreach, but also to get valuable information back to the city to make sure what they’re committed to is actually working.”
Vista’s Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness was developed in 2018 — the same year the City Council first placed homelessness as a top priority, as it would again in 2021 — and aims to tackle homelessness in a “tailored to Vista” fashion, according to the plan’s site.
For example, Vista found social workers best suited its unhoused population. It has since boosted its outreach team — internally and through external contracts — and focused on what services were being used.
“We have implemented every good idea,” said Franklin, who is persistent about keeping homelessness a priority in the city. “We’ve held listening sessions with the community. … We have listened to every good idea that’s been brought to us.”
Franklin said that he and his colleagues on the City Council have only turned down one — which included offering rides to an out-of-city shelter — due to practicability and limited transportation space.
“But we did acquire a van for our social worker,” Franklin said, adding that safe transport of belongings and pets is a major key in connecting an unsheltered person with a housing resource.
Webster said that while the city’s goals to improve quality of life and prevent/ reduce homelessness are not necessarily innovative, the application of methods is commendable.
Vista relies on various funding sources to carry out its strategic plan, including local, state and federal funding to provide services, and is always on the lookout for grants and collaborations within the county. There is a plethora of funding available to cities through grants and state/federal dollars, money that sometimes has repercussions.
“Some cities may look at dollars available, and commit to ambitious programs,” Webster said, “and the problem is they spend a lot of money, obligate the city, and then these programs don’t pan out.”
Webster said that Vista does a good job of working within its authority and knowing when to collaborate. The city also emphasizes collecting data.
Data on civic connections and appeal to services is one topic Franklin brings up in City Council meetings when discussing the strategic plan and other programs to address homelessness in Vista. He explained that thorough data collection helps the council make better decisions.
It also highlights the need in the city for resources.
From October 2020 to March 2022, city staff made 289 unique contacts with people and offered shelter. Overall, there have been nearly 2,000 contacts.
Franklin said that the city will keep its momentum and look for opportunities to connect with other local governments in North County for a regional outlook on homelessness.
THE CITY is being honored this year with ICMA’s Local Government Excellence Award for its efforts to combat homelessness. File photo
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NEWS?
Business news and special achievements for North San Diego County. Send information via email to community@ coastnewsgroup.com.
OKTOBERFEST
Same Oktoberfest, different location. Make note that this year’s Oktoberfest is still on Mountain Vista Drive but from Wandering Road to Rambling Road Sept. 25. Want to get exposure for your business at this family-friendly event? There are numerous sponsorship opportunities to get involved. Contact admin@ encinitaschamber.com for details.
STAR STUDENTS
• Sydney Bourassa of San Diego has made the dean’s list for the spring 2022 semester at Emmanuel College in Boston. • Caitlin Walker of Oceanside has been named to the spring 2022 dean’s list at Palmer College of Chiropractic. • Carthage College in Wisconsin has named Danielle Aiello of Carlsbad to its dean’s list for the spring 2022 semester. • Katherine Potz of Carlsbad has been named to the Purchase College (New York) dean’s list for the spring 2022 semester.
BASKETBALL STANDOUTS
Jayce McCain, Blake Seits and Lyle Sutton of the Cal State San Marcos men’s basketball team were named to the 202122 National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court while the Cougars also earned the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award.
GREAT GRADS
• Sierra Ruth Steffen of Encinitas recently graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in New York. Steffen earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in the U.S. armed forces. • Ricardo Sotelo of Oceanside graduated from Park University in spring 2022. • Joshua Friedman of San Diego earned a master’s degree in pharmacogenomics from Manchester University in Indiana. • Elizabeth R Bruch of Del Mar was named to the dean’s List at the University of Alaska Southeast. • Chun-Hsiang Yang and Ian White of Carlsbad, Stephen Cioffi of San Diego and Lin Welsh of Encinitas received diplomas in May from the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. • Emerson College graduates included Alyssa DeVries of San Diego, Lawrynce Cecio of Carlsbad and Taina Millsap of Encinitas.
SERVING AT SEA
A 2007 Escondido High School graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, Rim of the Pacific. Petty Officer 1st Class Jamie Trapasso is a yeoman aboard USS Essex, currently operating out of San Diego. a sports cards and coffee lounge, combining the love of sports and memorabilia with pour-over coffee, has opened at 267 N El Camino Real, Encinitas. Open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
TETRAHEDRON PRIZE
Scripps Research Professor Chi-Huey Wong, PhD, has been awarded the 2022 Tetrahedron Prize for Creativity in Organic Synthesis for his pioneering work in glycoscience — or, more familiarly, the study of complex sugars and their role in physiology and disease biology. Wong’s discoveries and technologies have fundamentally shaped our understanding of complex carbohydrates and glycoproteins, as well as uncovered new therapeutic strategies to treat major diseases.
HOUSING FOR FOSTERS
State Sen. Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) applauded San Diego County for securing housing funds to assist young adults in foster care find suitable housing. The California Department of Housing and Community Development oversees the Housing Navigators Program which allocates approximately $5 million in grants to counties based on each county’s percentage of the total statewide number of young adults aged 18 through 21-year-old in foster care.
NEW IN NORTH CITY
Founded by Maya Madsen, the vegan Maya’s Cookies opened its second storefront at North City, 250 N. City Drive, San Marcos. Wynston’s Ice Cream has also opened its flagship store at North City. Draft Republic North City added weekend lunch + live music and Copa Vida North is serving summer cocktails.
BEAGLES RESCUED
Helen Woodward Animal Center took part in the rescue of over 4,000 beagles, pulled from a lab-testing breeding facility in Virginia in July. On July 24, HWAC welcomed 43 of those beagles to its animal shelter at 6461 El Apajo, Rancho Santa Fe. Make an appointment to adopt at animalcenter. org/beaglerescue.
UPDATED RAILS
Metrolink put into service a refurbished passenger train car featuring new and improved passenger amenities designed for a more enjoyable, productive and safe ride. The train car is the first of 50 slated for renovation. Enhancements include features that make the train cars easier to clean, such as vinyl seating and non-carpeted flooring, as well as enhanced air filtration and UV lighting for bacteria, air pollutant and virus protection.
PET FOOD GIVEAWAY
Rancho Coastal Humane Society got help July 23 from Camp Pendleton Marines to give away 19 tons of Mars Petcare dog and cat food donated through the Goods Program operated by Greater Good Charities. In about an hour, the 38,000 pounds of food was loaded and on the way to helping feed pets waiting to be adopted throughout southern California.
Filing period open for San Marcos races
By Laura Place
SAN MARCOS — San Marcos voters will see candidates for city, school district and community college district races in the Nov. 8 General Election, with several individuals bidding for available positions.
The election filing period opened July 18 and closes Aug. 12. Those interested in running for city positions must file with the city clerk, and those running for school and college districts must file with the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.
If the incumbent for a position that is up for election does not file by Aug. 12, the filing deadline will be extended by an additional five days.
There are three seats up for election on the San Marcos City Council, two seats on the San Marcos Unified School District board and three seats on the Palomar College Board of Trustees.
The seats of Mayor Rebecca Jones, District 1 City Councilmember Maria Nuñez and District 2 City Councilmember Randy Walton are up for election in November. Jones, who has served on the council since 2007 and as mayor since 2018, will face two challengers in this year’s mayoral race — Walton, who has served on the council since 2018, and 24-year-old resident Jake James Henry.
The mayor is an atlarge position while the City Council seats are elected by members of the district they represent.
With no incumbent running for Walton’s District 2 seat, three individuals have stepped up and pulled papers for the position as of last Friday. These include Vallecitos Water District representative Mike Sannela, Jay Petrek, who was appointed to a two-year term to fill a vacant seat on the City Council in 2018, and Marine Corps veteran Lionel Saulsberry.
Nuñez was also elected to the council in 2018 and is the only person who has pulled papers for her position.
Up for election in the San Marcos Unified School District is the Area E seat of trustee and board president Stacy Carlson and the Area C seat occupied by trustee Sydney Kerr. The only individual who has pulled papers is Sharyl Cavellier for Area E.
The Palomar College Governing Board has three seats up for election this November — the Area 1 seat held by Mark Evilsizer, the Area 4 seat held by Kartik Raju and the Area 5 seat held by Norma Miyamoto.
San Diego Asian Americans for Equality co-founder and Californians for Equal Rights Foundation President Frank Xu has pulled papers for the Area 1 seat. Small-business owner and Ramona Community Planning Group representative Michelle Rains has pulled papers for Area 4.
Evilsizer has announced his intention to retire this year after 20 years of service on the governing board. Raju was appointed to the governing board in 2021.
Miyamoto was elected to her first board term in 2018 after serving as dean of the Arts, Media, Business and Computer Science Division at the college for nearly 20 years. No one has pulled papers for the Area 5 position as of Friday.
The official list of candidates who have filed paperwork will be announced after the Aug. 12 filing deadline. Information about candidates for City Council races is available via the city clerk.
Information regarding candidates for school district, community college, and service district races is available via the San Diego County Campaign Docs website at southtechhosting.com/SanDiego County/CampaignDocsWebRetrieval.
JOIN THE VISTA SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
SENIOR VOLUNTEER PATROL
The Senior Volunteer Patrol of the Vista Sheriff’s Station performs home vacation security checks, assists with traffic control, enforces disabled parking regulations, patrols neighborhoods, schools, parks and shopping centers and visits homebound seniors who live alone for the community of Vista & portions of the county’s unincorporated areas. Volunteers must be at least age 50, be in good health, pass a background check, have auto insurance, a valid California driver’s license, and be a US citizen. Training includes a mandatory two-week academy plus training patrols. The minimum commitment is 6 hours per week & attendance at a monthly meeting. erested parties should contact Administrator Jim Baynes to arrange an information meeting.
