PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
.com MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 31, N0. 38
SEPT. 29, 2017
SAN Councilman’s attempt to stop MARCOS -NEWS district elections process fails By Aaron Burgin
KAABOO’S IMPACT?
STORY ON PAGE B1. According to early reports, this month’s festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds had the most attendees but the fewest complaints since it began in 2015. Above, the Shadowboxers perform on Day 3. Photo courtesy KAABOO
ENCINITAS — An Encinitas councilman’s attempt to pause the city’s move toward district elections was thwarted last week when the City Council voted down his proposal behind closed doors. Councilman Tony Kranz was joined by Councilman Mark Muir in supporting a vote that took place in closed session Sept. 20 that would have put the districting process on hold in favor of a different strategy. What that strategy would be is not clear as the discussions took place in closed session. But Kranz said that his comments in closed session were consistent with his public comment “that I don’t think districting is good for the community.”
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“What we discussed in closed session is an approach different than the one we are currently taking,” Kranz said. “A vote THE was taken to put the process on hold, and it VISTA failed 3-2.” Mayor Catherine BlakeNEWS spear and council members Tasha Boerner Horvath and Joe Mosca voted against the proposal. Encinitas is currently weighing whether it should change its election system from its current “at large” system to one where voters elect council members by district. The city is conRANCHO sidering the change after receiving a demand letter SFNEWS from a Malibu-based law firm that contends that the city’s voting system disenfranchises Latino voters. Kranz said that he feels
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TURN TO COUNCIL ON A6
Carlsbad begins plans for new city hall Motorists seem OK with parking increases By Steve Puterski
By Promise Yee
OCEANSIDE — Oceanside finished its first summer season with increased public parking lot and city meter rates, and heard minimal objections. Kiel Koger, city public works director, said there has not been much feedback on changed parking rates. “The new rates are in line with the average for other coastal cities in San Diego and Orange Counties,” Koger said. New city parking rates vary by beach proximity
CARLSBAD — A funding analysis conducted by the city for a new city hall was recently released showing a price tag of between $72 million to $114 million. Based on estimates, city staff is projecting a 120,000-square-foot building to replace the aging facility on Carlsbad Village Drive and Pio Pico, which was built in 1967. The city has about $50 million that may only be used for community facilities, such as a new city hall. It also could generate an additional $37 million
and time of year. Pay parking lots that formerly charged $2 an hour, now cost $3 to $4 an hour. Rates for all-day lot parking range from $8 to $10 and $15, depending on lot location and time of year. Higher rates are in effect from mid-May to mid-September. Meter rates increased from $1 an hour to $1.50 an hour year-round. A convenience for drivers is pay parking lots and meters in high-use areas TURN TO PARKING ON A7
The current facility at Carlsbad Village Drive and Pio Pico was built in 1967. Courtesy photo
to $61 million from selling or leasing other city-owned properties. “As part of our Growth Management Program, the city collected fees from developers to pay for anticipated future facility needs,” said Assistant City Manager Gary Barberio, who is overseeing the project. “This money is ‘use it or lose it,’ meaning it can only be spent for the specific public facilities identified when the fees were established. If we don’t use this money, it would be refundTURN TO CITY HALL ON A5
• POT BAN: Carlsbad City Council says no to commercial marijuana. Story on Page A9
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