PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
bratin ele
25
t
Professional golfer and Carlsbad resident Jennifer Johnson is competing in the 2012 KIA Classic at the La Costa Resort and Spa, which began Thursday. Johnson grew up on the course and learned to hone her golfing skills there with her father Mike. Johnson said she was excited at the chance to compete in her home town in front of her friends and familiy. The tournament features 144 of the best female golfers in the world, including Rancho Santa Fe resident In-Kyung Kim. For more on Kim, turn to page A15.
n
in
ity
years
Commu
THISWEEK TOUGH SELL Two iconic stores in Encinitas are struggling to stay in business following the tough A6 economic times.
INSIDE
TWO SECTIONS, 48 PAGES
Arts & Entertainment . A11 A Brush with Art . . . . . . A11 Baby Boomer Peace . . . . A23 Camp Pendleton News . . A22 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . A35 Comics & Puzzles . . . . . A38 Hit the Road . . . . . . . . . A10 Legal Notices . . . . . . . . A25 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . A24 Odd Files . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . A15 Taste of Wine . . . . . . . A17 Who’s News? . . . . . . . . . A8
FREE CLASSIFIED ADS Sell your car at any price, or any one item $150 or less for free! Go online to www.coastnewsgroup.com or call our free ad hot line at (760) 436-1070. Deadline is Monday at 4 p.m.
MARCH 23, 2012
Council bans texting, cell phone use during meetings
g
C
VOL. 26, NO. 12
he
.com By Wehtahnah Tucker
ENCINITAS — The City Council voted to ban texting and the use of other electronic devices during Wednesday’s council meeting. In a 4-1 vote, with Mayor Jerome Stocks opposed, the council made it one of the few bodies with a policy that prohibits popular forms of communication while on the dais. The council voted on July 20 to form an ad-hoc committee to review its policy regarding public records retention after the city lost a lawsuit brought by resident Kevin Cummins over a draft policy it refused to release. Council members Teresa Barth and Jim Bond made up the subcommittee. “I had to go back to the tape of that July 20 meeting several times to review what we were actually asked to do,” Barth said. “It morphed a little into what we have presented tonight.” The subcommittee met on four occasions to discuss procedures for council meetings, email policy and retention of public records, according to Richard Phillips, assis-
tant city manager. “We’re trying to get in front of these issues,” Barth said, referring to the lack of precedent in other municipalities on electronic communication from the dais. “We want to ensure the public that while we’re up here deliberating, we are really paying attention,” she said. Two speakers agreed. “This is my three minutes, nobody else,” said resident David Smith. “Go home and take care of your kids if you think that the important thing for you to do.” Deputy Mayor Kristin Gaspar said she wondered who the “cell phone police” are, while the council was in session should the policy be adopted. “I’m not sure how this practically works,” she said. As the mother of three young children, she said she would not be able to participate in council meetings without having her “lifeline” in case of an emergency. “I think we’re kind of TURN TO BAN ON A24
City reluctantly gives OK to traffic calming plans By Bianca Kaplanek
SOLANA BEACH — Although City Council members support plans to reduce Lomas Santa Fe Drive from four lanes to two near Highland Drive, they unanimously approved a revised project at the March 14 meeting that eliminates that traffic-calming element. Preliminary plans to improve traffic along the two roadways and where they intersect were initially presented during an April 2011 meeting. Since then staff discussed the project twice with the Public
Safety Commission and held three meetings with homeowners associations and area residents. Some community members strongly opposed the lane reduction, claiming it would increase traffic on Lomas Santa Fe and cause drivers to use the Via Mil Cumbres neighborhood as a cut-through route. Some residents said speeding could be resolved with increased signage, while others said problems didn’t exist and changes weren’t needed. Mo Sammak, the city engineer, said traffic consultants
didn’t agree with those comments. “However, the city manager directed us to change course and simply eliminate the work that was proposed on Lomas Santa Fe,” Sammak said. “That’s exactly what we did.” Councilman Tom Campbell, who lives in the project area, sided with the engineers. “There is no statistical information at all to support (those claims),” he said. “It’s a racetrack and it’s dangerous sometimes…we have to do something.”
Residents and Campbell’s colleagues agreed. “I was so confused when I heard about the outcry at that meeting because over the years we’ve heard so many complaints about the speeding and here there was a solution being offered,” Councilwoman Lesa Heebner said. “I just don’t understand it and I think it’s an unfortunate lost opportunity.” “There is a great need to improve this intersection and this street to make it safe,” Mary Jane Boyd, who lives in the area, said, adding that a radar device was effective in
$100 OFF with this ad. Expires 3/31/12
slowing traffic, but speeds increased when it was removed. “This could be a beautiful street in the community,” she said. “The city really needs to take responsibility for slowing the traffic on that street.” Campbell said one way to do that is increased enforcement with officers issuing tickets. “That is the only thing that is going to slow people down,” he said. “We could balance the budget in a couple of months (with revenue from tickets). I’m TURN TO TRAFFIC ON A24