PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
.com MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 30, N0. 50
DEC. 9, 2016
SAN MARCOS -NEWS
EUSD swearing in scheduled for Dec. 13 Newly elected EUSD Board member Leslie Schneider will find herself in the super minority By Aaron Burgin
A debt of gratitude Carlsbad resident and World War II veteran Walt Travis, left, stands with Navy Capt. Steve Shepard in front of the USS Missouri on Wednesday after the 75th anniversary ceremony for the attack on Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. Travis traveled to the island with about 150 other WWII veterans and remaining Pearl Harbor survivors to commemorate the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese surprise attack. Courtesy photo
Council denies request to review ruling on eucalyptus trees By Bianca Kaplanek
DEL MAR — Requests to appeal a Planning Commission decision about view blockage caused by eucalyptus trees were denied by the City Council at the Dec. 5 meeting, ending a dispute that began more than a decade ago unless the homeowners decide to spend more money on attorney and court fees. At least two council members had to agree to review and possibly overturn the commission’s recent decisions at a future public hearing. None did. Terry Sinnott could not participate because he lives near the property being discussed. “At least hear out your citizens,” said Sam Blick, a lawyer representing a group of condominium owners from Del Mar Woods. “All we were asking for was a little courtesy, and we didn’t get it.” At issue are several blue gum eucalyptus trees located on a 5.8-acre lot at 110 Stratford Court. Ralph and Marian Staver, who have since passed away and left the parcel to their children, bought the property in 1950. Some eucalyptus trees existed at the time. Others were planted in the early 1970s, when Del Mar Woods was built. The current problems began in 2003, when a group of homeowners submitted an application under the trees, scenic views and sunlight or- Del Mar City Council members decline to set a future public hearing to review and possibly overTURN TO TREES ON A16
turn a Planning Commission decision to trim rather than remove several blue gum eucalyptus trees on property located at 110 Stratford Court. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek
BRIAN STRANGE
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ENCINITAS — When Leslie Schneider is sworn into office Dec. 13, she will be in a position that only a handful of board members throughout the county find themselves in: the super minority. And Schneider said that is something that she is prepared for. “That’s a good question,” Schneider said about being in that position. “It might be difficult to get things done, but it won’t stop me from representing the parents who voted for me and supported me.” The Encinitas Union School District board for the past two years has largely been a harmonious one, with all but one of the significant board votes being unanimous. Some of the unanimous votes have come in the face of significant opposition from a large group of parents who ultimately rallied around Schneider and Anne Katherine Pingree during the election. Even had Pingree succeeded in being elected, the two would have been in the minority. But with Rimga Viskanta winning the other seat up for grabs during the Nov. 8 election and having the backing of several current board members, the board will likely have a four-member voting majority composed of board members Viskanta, Marla Strich, Gregg Sonken and Emily Andrade. Across the county, there have been several high profile examples of this. Outgoing Dist. 3 Supervisor Dave Roberts was the lone Democrat on the five member Board of Supervisors for his single term. Teresa Barth was on
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the losing end of many 4-1 votes after the death of Maggie Houlihan in 2011, when the Encinitas City THE Council appointed Mark Muir to replace her. The VISTA 2012 election, however, NEWS turned the tables on the council and Barth served out her final term in the voting majority. Vista’s Cody Campbell was the lone registered Democrat on the Vista City Council until he was voted out of office this fall. The Tri-City Healthcare District had an extremeRANCHO example several years ago, when board SFNEWS member Kathleen Sterling was the subject of board discipline by a super majority of the seven-member
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It might be difficult to get things done, but it won’t stop me from representing the parents...” Leslie Schneider EUSD Board Member
voting panel. Schneider said her goal when in office will be to continue to represent the views of her constituents when it comes to issues of transparency and fiscal responsibility, even if it means casting “no votes” that are symbolic in nature. “The hope is that people will look at these 4-1 votes and start asking, ‘Why is that person voting no?’” Scheinder said. “And if more attention is paid to the issues, then I have done my job.” Schneider said she is grateful to serve and bring a parent’s voice to the board. Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony takes place at 6 p.m. at the Encinitas Union School District boardroom at 101 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road.
WINDSOR ESTATES
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