January 2014
On the Internet at www.SEASIDECourier.com
Volume 1 – Number 2
TROUBLE BREWING AT DOWNTOWN ENCINITAS BARS By Joe Tash for the Seaside Courier
U Daley Double Saloon. Photo by Joe Tash
nruly bar patrons have landed at the center of a brewing debate between residents and business owners in downtown Encinitas that will soon come to a head. Residents want the City Council to pass new regulations
that would give Encinitas more options for dealing with problem bars. Bar and restaurant owners say the approach is heavy handed and would hurt local businesses that are still recovering from the Great Depression. Since the issue came up last year, they said, they have already acted to reduce the problems. Called a “deemed approved ordinance,” the regulations
would essentially allow the city to declare an establishment a public nuisance if its patrons caused problems. It also outlines possible enforcement actions that could include fines or revoking a city permit allowing alcohol. The proposed rules, which are still being tweaked, will most likely go before the Planning See BARS page 2
Making do with a dearth of tourists
For motel operators such as Todd Derr, winter is a balancing act. By Jonathan Heller for the Seaside Courier
H
e goes full-bore during the summer, trying to maximize occupancy at the Leucadia Beach Inn, where he’s general manager. That’s not so hard when the sun shines and people come from all over to visit the shoreline. But then he has to switch gears in the fall, trying to drive traffic to his motel through deep discounts catering to families of locals in town for the holidays. Then, as winter takes hold, he hangs on and hopes for the best. Typically, about one of every two rooms is unoccupied in the winter. “We definitely try to do our biggest months in June, July and
Segments along the planned 44-mile Coastal Rail Trail bike lane planned from Oceanside to San Diego, such as this link in Encinitas, have already been completed. Photo by Tom Roebuck Independent motels in coastal North County, such as Leucadia Beach Inn, often struggle for business during the slow winter months. Photo by David Ogul
August,” Derr said. “That helps us in the winter months for sure.” That’s the plight of virtually all independent mom-and-pop motels in coastal North County,
which typically see occupancy – and profits – plummet with the temperature. Some spend the See MOTELS page 14
San Luis Rey River getting a makeover By Joe Tash for the Seaside Courier
T
he Army Corps of Engineers has undertaken a five-year, $5-million vegetation management plan designed to keep the water flowing while protecting endangered species such as the least Bell’s vireo, a small insectPhoto by Joe Tash eating bird. The plan covers a 7.2-mile stretch of the river from The Army Corps of Engineers has undertaken a five-year vegetation manageCollege Boulevard to the ocean. ment plan at the San Luis Rey River in Oceanside. Photo by Joe Tash This fall, the Corps brought in contractors to water and giant reed that have choked the maintenance road that follows maintain native vegetation that waterway. the river through Oceanside has was planted in the spring of Since September (the end of been closed on alternating weeks 2013, after the removal of inva- the nesting season for the least See RIVER page 16 sive, non-native plants such as Bell’s vireo), the bike path/
Bike trails expanding along the coast By Tom Roebuck for the Seaside Courier
G
etting commuters to consider alternate forms of transportation has been a challenge for years - especially in car-crazy California. But with increasing traffic congestion and concerns over its impact on the environment, transportation planners are working to get people to choose two wheels instead of four. Slowly taking shape in North County is the Coastal Rail Trail, a series of bike paths that will eventually run 44 miles from Oceanside to San Diego, mostly beside the railroad tracks used by the Coaster and Amtrak. The project is part of a $200 million initiative approved by the San Diego Association of Governments in September See TRAILS page 5