PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID SAN DIEGO, CA PERMIT NO. 835
The
BOXHOLDER
THE RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS
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MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL.12, N0. 16
AUG. 5, 2016
Beach & Country Guild readies for annual event By Christina Macone-Greene
With an 8-1 vote, the San Diego City Council awards a 28-year lease to Surf Cup Sports for use of the polo fields, saying polo will continue at the site. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek
Surf Cup gets polo fields’ lease By Bianca Kaplanek
REGION — Despite the threat of litigation, the San Diego City Council on July 25 granted a 28-year lease to Surf Cup Sports for the 120-acre site on the corner of Via de la Valle and El Camino Real best known as the polo fields. President Sherri Lightner, in whose district the property is located, was the lone dissenter in the 8-1 vote. “Surf Cup Sport’s passion for investing in our youth through sport opportunities is undeniable,” she said after describing herself as a longtime former soccer mom. “Youth sports are very important. “We need to make sure children and youth have a safe and convenient place to practice and play, but we are also responsible for ensuring that it is an appropriate location,” Lightner added. “I can appreciate the frustration of the neighboring homeowners who are dealing with traffic and noise impacts on a regular basis. I do have concerns about this lease and whether this is the right location for Surf. “Despite my strong support for youth soccer I cannot support this,” she said. The property was deeded to the city of San Diego in 1982 as mitigation for open space lost when increased residential development was allowed in the river valley. According to the deed the site was to be used for noncommercial recreational use. In 1986 the Rancho Santa Fe Polo Club, as it was called at the time, entered into a 26-year lease, which expired March
31, 2012. Because the property hadn’t been out to bid for more than two decades, city officials felt doing so was appropriate. Surf has been using the site for soccer practice, games and tournaments since 1992, when the San Diego Polo Club and Brenta Group LLC responded to a request for proposals issued last year. Surf Cup was selected, as it was the only bid deemed “responsive,” according to Tracy Irvin, the city’s supervising property agent from the Real Estate Assets Department. The organization will pay an annual rent of $240,000. The city will also receive 10 percent of all field, stall and arena rental revenue. The base rent will be adjusted every five years, and the rent percentage every 10 years. By comparison, the city received $150,000 and $141,800 in lease income in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Irvin said the polo club, which had been leasing the site on a month-tomonth basis for the past four years, was six months behind in its lease payments. Independent of the lease agreement, Surf Cup agreed to resolve two outstanding environmental code violations and restore the adjacent Coast-to-Crest trail at an estimated cost of $8 million collectively. A Polo Club representative said the organization was deferring improvements until a long-term lease was awarded.
The soccer club also plans to create a traffic mitigation plan. According to a video presented by Surf Cup, the group’s three largest events attract 35,000 visitors who book 23,000 hotel nights, second only to Comic-Con. Surf Cup estimates its overall economic impact to the region is $14 million. The nonprofit has assumed all operational responsibilities since 2012 and spent $1.5 million in the past two years in renovations and maintenance. There are plans to develop and reconfigure the fields to accommodate more players and spectators, add a new equestrian center, restore and build pedestrian trails and public use fields and upgrade the facility for youth polo activities. Representing Surf Cup, Jim Madaffer said there will be no intensification of use and “we fully intend to keep polo at the property.” The number of events is “governed by the health of the grass,” he said. “You can only have so many events on living grass at a time and we’re about at that number right now.” Irvin said the number of cars generated by soccer has remained flat since the mid-1990s. Surf Cup enrollment has also remained fairly steady, with about 1,000 participants annually. The lease, which expires in 2044, allows a maximum of 25 events per year, TURN TO POLO FIELDS ON 16
RSFSD enrollment forecast shows a dip By Christina Macone-Greene
RANCHO SANTA FE — The student enrollment numbers for the upcoming school year for R. Roger Rowe may be taking a slight dip compared to last year. Serving as superintendent for her last board meeting on July 14, Lindy Delaney mentioned that the current numbers hovered at 650 to 670. Last year, those student numbers were at 693. Delaney said that the reason for the slight disparity is because they had 82 eighth graders that graduated, and to date, 47 incoming students were signed up for kindergarten. Tradition-
ally, the school sees an uptick of new students during the middle of summer. However, Delaney noted that this year has been quieter than usual. “I did notice this week that it seems like the office is busier and we’ve been handing out some packets,” she said, noting that perhaps people are just now returning from vacation. Delaney described the current student numbers as stable with smaller class sizes being offered. While delivering the numbers, Lindy Delaney, the outgoing district superintendent, reports at her final Delaney estimated that the board meeting on July 14 that the current enrollment numbers at R. largest classroom would be Roger Rowe hovered at 650 to 670. Last year, those student numbers were at 693. File photo
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RANCHO SANTA FE — The Beach & Country Guild is preparing for its 47th Annual Dia Del Sol luncheon soiree slated for Oct. 19 at the Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad. This year, its theme is entitled, “Mystique.” It’s estimated that 250 to 300 guests will be in attendance. The Rancho Santa Fe based nonprofit has been in existence since 1970 and they consider Dia Del Sol as one of its primary fundraisers. Its mistress of ceremonies in previous years and once again this year is television anchor Kimberly Hunt. According to Deanna Murphy, who serves as the publicity chairwoman, their organization’s
pants of our event, giving our guests an incredible opportunity to witness their growth and change over the years,” she said. Murphy went on to say that other program features will include a guest speaker who will provide a deeper understanding about cerebral palsy, stories of empowerment, and how UCPSD changes lives through support, physical therapy, and much more. Over the years, Dia Del Sol has transformed from a charming ladies’ tea to an anticipated event. Murphy describes it as having grassroots beginnings. “Dia Del Sol grew to become a large event that remained, until recent years, hosted at a private estate in Rancho Santa Fe. The day began
We take pride in knowing that all funds raised stay right here in San Diego County....” Deanna Murphy Publicity Chairwoman
primary objective and purpose is to raise money to support United Cerebral Palsy San Diego (UCPSD). The efforts of UCPSD afford help and services to those touched by cerebral palsy as well as other disabilities. “We take pride in knowing that all funds raised stay right here in San Diego County, therefore providing significant help in our own backyard, versus being diluted and distributed through a large national organization,” Murphy said. “The Guild is an all-volunteer organization of women whose primary fundraising effort is Dia Del Sol, which began as an at-home ladies luncheon and has now grown to a highly-anticipated annual event that hosts between 250 and 300 guests.” Murphy shared that Dia Del Sol consists of a gourmet lunch punctuated by a silent auction, live auction and fashion show. “The highlight of the event is the children’s fashion show, which features child models affected by cerebral palsy. Many of our models have been longtime partici-
with a guided tour of the home followed by the event’s main festivities,” she said. Murphy added, “Until the final few years at a private residence, the Guild took pride in managing every aspect of the event, including preparing and serving the food at the event.” In recent years, Murphy explained how the venues have transitioned to the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club, Fairmont Grand Del Mar, and now the Park Hyatt. Although the venues have changed, Murphy said that their all-volunteer group still manages as much as possible of the entire event to ensure a maximum net donation to UCPSD. In addition to Dia Del Sol, another fundraiser the Beach & Country Guild takes part in includes Regale in the Ranch, which takes place in the spring. In December, the nonprofit also champions a holiday party. With Dia Del Sol approaching, both first-time and longtime attendees TURN TO GALA ON 16