PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
.com MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 31, N0. 36
SEPT. 8, 2017
SAN MARCOS -NEWS
Unstable bluffs to get fixed
Parents continue criticism of SDUHSD . board; recall floated
com
By Aaron Burgin
By Aaron Burgin
ENCINITAS — Encinitas’ new plan to fix an unstable coastal bluff at Beacon’s Beach is straightforward: don’t fix it at all. Rather than the city’s previous plan to stabilize the bluff with an erodible cement wall, which the Coastal Commission said would limit the amount of sand returning to the shoreline, the city’s new plan is to let the bluff — and its iconic switchback staircase — go by the way of nature. As part of the plan, the city would relocate the bluff-top parking lot, which visitors use to access the TURN TO BEACON’S ON A5
Vikings to Invade North County
The Vista Viking Festival celebrates its 15th anniversary during its Sept. 23-24 event. See story on page B8. Photo by Julie Watts
Proposal to curb late-night bar noise falls flat Del Mar staff turmoil worsens By Bianca Kaplanek
By Bianca Kaplanek
DEL MAR — The Sept. 1 release of an investigator’s report into workplace misconduct and a misuse of public funds in the Community Services Department did little to convince residents — as some city officials claimed it would — that firing its director was justified. In fact, the voluminous document motivated residents to fill City Council Chambers at the Sept. 5 TURN TO TURMOIL ON A11
DEL MAR — Proposed new rules aimed at reducing early-morning bar-related problems failed to move forward at the Sept. 5 meeting after three council members did not support the suggestion made by their two other colleagues. People who live near downtown have for decades voiced concerns about noise, trash, public urination and other nuisances caused by drunken revelers leaving the city’s handful of bars and restaurants that serve liquor after 11 p.m. According to the staff report, efforts to address the issues historically had “mixed success.” Despite filing complaints with the
city and Alcoholic Beverage Control, residents remain frustrated that problems continue. Owners say they do their best to minimize the impacts and point out their businesses provide tax revenue for the city and latenight opportunities for residents and visitors. To address the issues, Councilmen Dwight Worden and Dave Druker recommended adoption of a “deemed approved” ordinance, a law recently approved in neighboring Encinitas to solve similar problems there. Currently under Del Mar law, restaurants and bars that serve alcohol after 11 p.m. in the downtown
area can only do so with a conditional use permit, which allows concerns to be addressed at hearings and gives the city an opportunity to impose conditions of approval to address those issues. The three businesses that predate the current code -- Bully’s, Jimmy O’s and En Fuego Cantina and Grill -- aren’t required to have a CUP so the ability to limit activities there are limited. (Bully’s is being sold and any new establishment will be required to obtain a CUP.) A deemed approved ordinance, or DAO, specifies generally applicable TURN TO PROPOSAL ON A9
JAMES JAM
SOLANA BEACH — A group of parents has increased its drumbeat of criticism about the current San Dieguito Union High School District board majority and superintendent, which has raised speculation within the community about a potential recall campaign. The group of parents has been critical about a number of decisions made by the district over the past year, including the decision to give teachers and staff members 12.5-percent pay raises and the timing of the board’s 3-2 decision to promote Eric Dill to superintendent. But the criticism recently reached its height over the school district’s decision to house its adult transition special education program in two modular units adjacent to the multi-million dollar renovated Earl Warren Middle School Campus. Despite the district’s
recent decision toTHE relocate the program to La Costa Canyon High VISTA School, the group of parents has conNEWS tinued to raise concerns about the board majority and superintendent’s actions. They have regularly attended board meetings and asked questions of the school board and superintendent about the various issues, only to have district officials not answer the questions due to board RANCHO meeting policy. SFNEWS Most recently, parents questioned the makeup of a proposed special education task force formed in the wake of the issues with the adult transition program. In recent months, a website was launched called “SDUHSD Watchdog,” which purports to shed a light on the school district, focusing on several of the issues recently raised, including the adult transition program and the
.com
.com
TURN TO SDUHSD ON A7
SDUHSD Superintendent Eric Dill spoke at last month’s ribbon-cutting at Earl Warren Middle School in Solana Beach. Photo by Aaron Burgin
OPEN HOUSE 9/9 & 9/10, 1-4 . 1787 BLACKBIRD CIRCLE CARLSBAD . $975,000 . 4 BED . 3 BA . OFFICE OR 5TH BEDROOM
#1 Individual BHHS Agent, in San Diego County
858.210.0509 james@jamesjam.com
CalBRE 01053459
Have it all! Enjoy the Oceanside lifestyle Magnificent 2+ bedroom, 2.5 bath luxury townhomes at Sombrilla, located just steps from the sand. These impressive townhomes are a tribute to modern excellence through stunning design, high end finishes and captivating ocean views. 311 S. Myers St. Oceanside, CA • SombrillaOceanside.com
Joseph Arendsen 760-209-8333
joseph@arendsengroup.com CalBRE #01841681
www.SellWithJoseph.com