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THE RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS
.com THE RANCH’S BEST SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS
VOL. 8, NO. 9
JUNE 15, 2012
THISWEEK Student art is toast of the town Parking in Village still a problem By Patty McCormac
OPEN CHAMP Rancho Santa Fe resident
Gabriella De Simone wins the USTA National Open Hard Court Championships at the Balboa Tennis Club. A18
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RANCHO SANTA FE — It was a perfect spring evening at the gorgeous Inn at Rancho Santa Fe to host the Toast of the Town and Kids Art Auction. This annual event brings together school officials, volunteers and donors from the community who have been helpful all year long. It is also an opportunity for everyone to partake in food and drink and have the chance to see and bid on artwork. A standout piece was an American Flag constructed from soda cans by a sixth-grade class. Another piece was a hanging work of art built by second-graders. “The driftwood is from Massachusetts,” said parent Alex Johnson. “The shells are from Florida and the rocks from California,” said Johnson, explaining that the pieces were collected and given by family members for the class to paint TURN TO ART ON A13
By Patty McCormac
ject’s completion,” said Kirk Dakan, senior planner in a report to the Association. During the discussion, Director Eamon Callahan said the restoration process should continue. “If it were your house, would you want to wait five more years?” he asked. “I think it needs to be done now.” On the other hand, Director Ann Boon disagreed saying the project should be put on hold until the funds become available. “Nothing will be lost by waiting,” Boon said. Director Anne Feighner, who said she comes from a long line of historians, said she is in favor of restoring the adobe, but is uncomfortable spending funds before the money is available. She said she would like to see more participation from the community. Community member Sam Rossini asked the Association not to do anything until the house on the Osuna property is sold. “I appeal to the
RANCHO SANTA FE — Parking in the Village, or the lack of it, continues to be an issue with the Association. At its June 7 meeting, Associate Planner Chris Livoni provided an update on how well the CHP crackdown on people who overstay the timed parking spaces is working. It apparently is providing a little relief in the turnover of the 471 parking spaces in the Village, he said. “Staff recommends that the board continue to authorize the CHP, through the Association’s current Agreement with the CHP for Overtime Traffic Enforcement, to enforce the timed parking regulations in addition to their ongoing traffic enforcement duties,” Livoni said. Last winter, when a parking survey was taken in the Village, it was determined that many of the parking shortages were caused by people who parked all day in timed zones. The survey was taken at various times of day in the core of the Village and on the perimeter from the intersection of Paseo Delicias and El Tordo on the east,to La Garcia and Linea Del Cielo on the west. The northern and southern boundaries of the survey were the intersection of Avenida de Acacias and La Granada and the intersection of Via de Santa Fe and La Granada. It showed the parking total was between 75 and 90 percent utilized depending on the area and the time of day. The Association decided to have the CHP use some of its contracted overtime to issue parking tickets to violators. In May, staff conducted a similar survey at the same times of day. “Even though some street segments exceeded the 90 percent parking demand threshold,there does not appear to be an overall parking shortage in the Village as a whole,” Livoni said. “Additionally, parking levels in the Village core are show-
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TURN TO PARKING ON A13
Greg and Alex Johnson stand near a driftwood piece done by second graders at the annual Toast of the Town and Kids Art Auction at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. Photo by Patty McCormac
Funds approved to restore Osuna Adobe By Patty McCormac
RANCHO SANTA FE — The Association board took a field trip to the Osuna Adobe during its June 7 meeting to determine whether the amount of deterioration to the structure would warrant money to stop it immediately. The subject sparked a lively discussion among board members, but in the end, the majority approved the money that would come from Open Space funds. Ron McMahon, president of the Osuna Committee, had appealed to the Association to approve $23,595 for wall surfacing renewal and $31,000 for construction documents for a total of $55,000. McMahon said the concrete stucco on the adobe is in very poor condition, allowing the intrusion of water and further deterioration of the original adobe walls, which in some areas is visible. He said that concrete stucco traps moisture, which hastens deterioration.
Ron McMahon (left), chairman of the Osuna Committee tells the gathering about future plans for the historical structure. Photo by Patty McCormac
The money will pay for the removal of the concrete stucco from the exterior and replacement with an adobe surfacing whitewash. The completion of the construction documents will allow the Association to obtain accurate bids, which will allow the restoration to be reviewed by the Art Jury
and approved by the country building division. With all this done, the restoration can proceed when funds become available, he said. “Having the construction documents completed at the time that restoration funds become available will serve to expedite the pro-