Schools reopen after San Diego area storm

By City News Service REGION — Schools in the Julian Union and Mountain Empire School Districts resumed regular schedules this week after having late starts due to the recent snowy weather conditions.

Schools in the Warner Unified School District had a late start Tuesday to ensure the safety to students and school staff, the San Diego County Office of Education announced.

The schools in the districts were closed for several days last week because of the low-elevation snow and rain in the areas.

Alpine received 1.07 inches of rain Saturday, breaking a Feb. 25, 2003, record of .77 inches. El Cajon received 1.12 inches, breaking a Feb. 25, 1996, record of 1 inch.

Vista hit a record low Saturday of 54 degrees, tying a Feb. 25, 1987, record.

The following snowfall amounts were recorded this past Saturday by the National Weather Service: Mt. Laguna (23 inches); Palomar Mountain (15 inches); Julian, 10 inches.

In San Diego, flooding occurred in low-lying areas around the San Diego River. Two people were rescued by lifeguards last weekend when their vehicle was trapped in flooding on Pacific Highway near the San Diego Airport. Lifeguards performed the rescues and the two people were assessed for injuries.

The Ocean Beach Pier was closed after being damaged during storms and high surf earlier this year.

While four cannabis retailers work to obtain state and local licenses, city officials are preparing to ensure these businesses follow local ordinances once their doors open.

Staff delivered an update on the four businesses to the Encinitas City Council on Feb. 22 at the request of Mayor Tony Kranz.

The four businesses, each selected by lottery, include Siesta Life Encinitas LLC to be located at 1038 S. Coast Highway (next to Trek Bicycle Encinitas); SGI Encinitas AP LLC at 1030 N. Coast Highway (A Little Moore Cafe); Humanity Encinitas 4 Inc. at 583 S. Coast Highway (Hart & Honey), and Ecrencinitas4 LLC at 211 N. El Camino Real (next to Cotixan Mexican Food).

The next steps for the four businesses include obtaining both a commercial retail license from the California Department of Cannabis Control and a city business license.

To earn a city license, the retailers must undergo a building plan check for commercial tenant improvements, obtain building permits, construct improvements and earn a certificate of occupancy.

“Once both the state and city licenses are issued, operations may commence,” said Planner Evan Jednyak.

In addition to standard building plans, the retailers are also required to create an operational plan covering deliveries, operating hours, customer check-in; a neighborhood plan that handles odor mitigation and waste management, and a site security plan that includes an alarm system, cameras and security guards.

Operating hours for retailers can only occur between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. In terms of signage, the businesses are only allowed to include their name and two colors.

According to Jednyak, currently only one applicant, Ecrencinitas4, has submitted for a city building plan check, and Siesta Life Encinitas has submitted a licensure application with the state Department of Cannabis Control.

While opening dates for the businesses have yet to be determined, members of the City Council want to ensure the city’s program is robust enough beforehand to make sure the businesses comply with city code.

Kranz noted his concerns regarding potential queue buildups as customers wait to be allowed access into the retail shops.

Kranz and Councilmember Bruce Ehlers were interested in requiring the businesses to build vestibules — or a lobby area — acting as a buffer between access from the outside and into the main retail area. Customers would have their IDs screened and wait for service in the vestibule, rather than outside.

Several members of the public were also concerned about minors potentially accessing cannabis at the new retailers.

Peggy Walker, who works in drug prevention education, said she would like to see minor decoy operations conducted at the