Tuesday is Dues-day: Developer's Agreement

Tuesday is Dues-day.  The dues?  Paying attention . . . Yes, by simply schooling yourself on how our local governance is organized, who are the players, what are the screw-ups, where is the money and what things get reported you can legitimately call yourself a citizen, an advocate for democracy.

Today's citizen tip was mined out of the early treasure trove of video archives circa 2007.  We owe a debt of thanks to Sheila Cameron and any other local activists and public servants in the early days of Encinitas local government for pushing videotaping of meetings.  This tape was one of the first videos, as videotaping meetings began in September of 2007.

Developer Agreement

Let's put it this way, we are the 99% and the large land owners and developers are the 1% - in the relative measure that is Encinitas.  More than four years of video recordings make the position of the council majority's serving the 1% over the 99% fairly obvious.  But, don't take anyone's word for this.  Watch the actions of our council members, listen to the public speakers and judge for yourself.  Take your time, talk to friends, talk to neighbors and talk to the candidates for city council; Lisa Shaffer and Tony Kranz.  They have been dues-paying citizens for years.

Acronyms and planning terms abound:

IOD - Irrevocable offer of Dedication. When an agency requires a developer or landowner to give certain things to the agency, often as a component of development, such as land for open space or for a sidewalk, an entire street, a streetlight, a pipeline or other infrastructure, etc., the property is granted through an IOD.

CEQA – California Environmental Quality Act

Upzoning -A change in the zoning classification of a property from one of lower use to one that is of higher use; for example, a change from residential to commercial use.

There are three more clips from this November 2007 meeting with well articulated dissent from the public.  These citizens bring a wealth of information to us via their public speeches in 3 minute intervals.  All will be posted this week because it may be very timely.  The super majority on the council are positioning a new advisory group, ERAC, heavily seated with developer, realtor and commercial interests, to be scrutinizing the General Plan update.

Paul Ecke III is scheduled with the Planning Commission regarding his agriculturally zoned land. More details will be forthcoming because . . . forewarned is forearmed. 

Previous Dues-day citizen tips: Mayoral Rotation, SANDAG Growth Forecast 2050
Cross-posted at Our Mayor Stocks blog and Encinitas You Need Us blog

Update, Today's details:
City of Encinitas Planning and Building Department

NOTICE OF PENDING ACTION ON ADMINISTRATIVE APPLICATION AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT

The Planning and Building Department of the City of Encinitas is currently reviewing the following Administrative Application request for a project located within the Coastal Zone of the City of Encinitas:

CASE NUMBER: 11-113 TPM/CDP FILING DATE: 7/18/11 APPLICANT: Paul Ecke Ranch

LOCATION: 810 Ecke Ranch Road

PUBLIC HEARING: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 5:00 p.m., to be held at the Planning and Building Department, Lilac Room, 505 South Vulcan Ave, Encinitas.

Union Tribune article, Hearing set on Ecke Ranch Plan

According to Mary: King and His Lap Dogs

Encinitas' own Mary Fleener, nationally recognized cartoonist presents her view of our Mayor Stocks.

Quote of the Day

"Since you have 3 out of 5, you do indeed represent the greatest majority of the public." Jerome Stocks

Preceded by the verbal insurance coverage for all consummate liars is the phrase, "One could make the assertion that . . ."  This gives the Stocks the plausible deniability, to be able to walk away from a lie by first setting up the condition that the statement was actually quoting another or a theory or a even a mistaken argument.

Weasel talk.



Tonight is another opportunity to witness the Crony Club and Councilwoman Teresa Barth at City Hall. Big night for Firefighters regarding labor negotiations, big gift from Homeland Security and there is Councilman Muir, the ex-fire chief front and center this time around.

Tuesday is Dues-day: SANDAG Forecast 2050

Today is Dues-day, introduced last week, featuring Mayor Rotation. 

The dues?  Paying attention . . . Yes, by simply schooling yourself on how our local governance is organized, who are the players, what are the screw-ups, where is the money and what things get reported you can legitimately call yourself a citizen, an advocate for democracy.

For most people local politics only becomes a reality when you are afraid for your home, your property or your neighborhood. Fears can be physical, financial and cultural.  Fears can be great motivators, as so many activists' stories of initial involvement attest.  Fears can also be manipulated with lies, so some video evidence might help set some records straight.


First, SANDAG is the acronym for San Diego Association of Governments.

In October 2009 a demographer from SANDAG gave a comprehensive presentation of the region's Forecast 2050 land use strategy.  This plan was and is the driver for all of the land use controversy going on now across all of Encinitas and with newborn activist ferociousness in New Encinitas.  It doesn't help that misinformation is throwing fuel on this fire to distract people's passions toward the wrong targets. The clip below should clarify some of this deliberate confusion.



SANDAG is essentially a shadow regional government made up of area mayors, council members, county supervisors and policy planners. Although many members were voted into their community offices, they are appointed amongst their councils to hold a seat on SANDAG, like Jerome Stocks was in Encinitas. Stocks has been appointed by his council cronies for 6 years. He now chairs SANDAG, ironically through simple rotation method.

SANDAG planning is behind this Dues-day Citizen Tip.  Mayor Jerome Stocks, the Encinitas city planning staff, the city manager, the city attorney and the rest of the city council are all aware of these facts and this background.  There is no confusion, only super majority council misdirection, drama and blaming about who or what is directing land use, housing and traffic elements in the General Plan Update.

Cross Posted at Encinitas You Need Us Blog.

A "So Much for Democracy" Raspberry

A sour, thorny raspberry to the Encinitas City Council majority that voted to extend the term of the appointed mayoral seat from one year to two. Originally designed to make the mayoral title an honorific that would rotate among the five council members, the position has morphed into something uglier and far less representative. Over the past few years, the position of mayor has gained more political clout ---- and also become a political football, in which apparently personal grudges are coming into play. Councilwoman Teresa Barth has yet to serve as mayor or deputy mayor ---- yet the last time we checked, she is every bit as legitimate a representative of Encinitas voters as are her colleagues. Rather than making the mayor a separately elected position, as should have been done, the City Council majority devised a convoluted system that all but ensures Barth will not serve as mayor or vice mayor in upcoming years, either. The whole thing stinks.
Source North County Times

Phrase of the Day: Casper the Friendly Ghost

Can’t shake this image from another generation’s comic book favorite, Casper the Friendly Ghost, every time Gaspar comes to mind. Why? Of course it’s probably just the similar sounding name.  But maybe it it took shape first with Kristin Gaspar's 2010 campaign kickoff with a bare bones website without any ideals or issues fleshed out. She was presumably raising funds as her public presentation came from her Rotary claim to fame, as a smiling hostess and fund raiser.

Gaspar materialized from nowhere at city council oral communications just before the campaign. She spoke about wayside horns to solve railway noise as though Councilwoman Barth hadn’t initiated this topic or researched it with the city staff. It was a little scary to watch someone publicly rip off an idea wholesale without blinking.

Besides the scheduled public forums, Gaspar's campaigning was the stuff of illusion.   Well, it appeared this way. When in fact her campaign may have only been in private homes, private setting, private events and OMG those mendacious mailers.  Nowhere is it written that one has to actually meet, greet or even care about individuals who vote, but are unknown to the candidate.  This is conventional politics millions would like to see raised from the dead.  But the frightening truth lies in high stakes campaign magic via the specter of big money interests.

Caspar the friendly ghost as a metaphor for that smiling being without substance, depth or solid platform during the 2010 election might just be an apparition . . . though this phrase may continue to haunt. Council majority phantom representation and campaign money have both only grown more diabolical. That is all.

Mayoral Mambo

The dance team of Mayor Jerome Stocks and Deputy Mayor Kristin Gaspar showed highly choreographed routine at the Feb. 15, 2012 council meeting's "discussion" of the mayor selection process. Their fancy footwork kept a fast tempo.  From start to finish, after the public speakers, the entire dais ensemble clipped through this mayoral "discussion" in less than 39 minutes.

This video clip below only includes the leading mayoral mambo, excluding Bond's mumbo jumbo ballot measure distraction (18 minutes), Muir's pirouettes via his role to make motions, turn the tables and stay in the background (under 4 minutes). Teresa Barth was ignored; move along folks nothing to see here. But, do look here for her dramatic solo. (plus other questions = 6.5 minutes) All of this was outside the featured principals' dance number shown below.



With real flourish the team hit their rhythmic drum beat again and again, that the mayoral selection process was broken and needed to be fixed. They have that backwards because the fix needs to be broken up. If this vote isn't upturned, eliminated or disallowed, no challenge to the council majority may have the power of the mayoral position for years.

The next mayor would have to be Gaspar as she had more votes than Barth in the last election.  This was assured by Gaspar's-Stocks' framing. Leading with the concept of highest vote getter as the measure of voter participation - which they assure us (like an immutable fact) is the solution to citizen's criticism.  (Speaking of which, remember when next highest vote getter, Tony Kranz, was overlooked in favor of friend Mark Muir in filling Maggie Houlihan's vacant seat?)

But, they add another obstacle qualifier, consistency. This would disallow any new election winner with the highest votes who wasn't an incumbent.  Finally, Gaspar-Stocks trot out operational experience in order to position the last 2 years of a 4 year term for the top vote getter as a condition.  This shoehorns Gaspar alone into the mayor seat in 2013-2014.  And, big leap finish . . . in the mayor seat to campaign for 2015.  And remember, they have included in the mayor mambo the turns for deputy are totally decided by the mayor.  Our girl, Gaspar has already proven that with enough money behind a candidate, he or she doesn't have to have any political experience, knowledge of issues or grassroots community support as long as there are big dollars, political moves and a script.  Classy.  That's some fancy sidestepping of our democratic principles with a smile right there, folks.

Mayor Hair

One has to wonder if Mayor Stocks is going for a outdated Gordon Gecko, “Greed is good” look from the 80’s “Wall Street” movie? Or maybe the robotic Willard Romney is who he is trying to copy? That one is listed as Stock’s Facebook interests.
 
According to Salon, the GQ style writer O’Brian states,

“I think that in politics, you’re supposed to be real; you’re not supposed to be styled and groomed. And Mitt Romney sort of looks like he’s been groomed professionally. It’s like John Edwards’ $400 haircut; if you look narcissistic — if you look like you pay too much attention to your appearance — then I think that’s sort of supposed to be a bad thing."

"Are the slicked-back style’s present pop-culture associations primarily positive or negative. [ . . . ] historically will say that characters with slicked-back hair are the antagonists in films, whether they be villains, whether they be greedy, whether they be untrustworthy, whether they be killers, whether they be shysters — any of the above.”

In this regard, the mayor is really way too bulky to be doppelganger to Gecko or Romney.  This rogue gallery is more fitting for an ambitious politico; Sen. Joe McCarthy or Gov. George Wallace. 

"The phenomenon is pronounced enough to have earned a satirical citation in the Onion: 

"According to statistics released by the [National Organization of Men with Slicked-Back Hair], five out of every six characters with slicked-back hair are cast as the primary antagonist. Of this group, 29 percent are depicted as greedy and manipulative Wall Street sharks, 22 percent as cold, emotionless murderers, 19 percent as evil coaches or mentors, 12 percent as corrupt mafiosi, 8 percent as undead creatures who feast on human blood, and the remaining 10 percent fall into the general category of jerks/pricks/John Travolta."

On the Other Hand . . .

And on a continued shallow observation of physical presentation, the new City Manager, Gus Vina, sports the look of the Guy Fawkes mask.  This look conveys the polar opposite message of capitalist empire.

“A Guy Fawkes mask represents anarchy and the attempted overthrow of a government. It's also used on the internet and in protests to simply hide someone's true identity.”

Ah, a delicious contrast at city hall would be a hopeful sign of a power grab being challenged.  That is a plot line we might hope for in Encinitas.  Remember, that “Wall Street” and “V is for Vendetta” were works of fiction and entertainment.  Encinitas city government is anchored in a kind of sickening reality.  Tonight's display of incivility slathered in polite wasn't the least bit entertaining.  Even so, Jerome Stocks laughed a great deal.  (Caution, he isn't laughing with us all.  He's laughing at us . . . openly).  We can hope though for a valiant struggle.  At least the city manager has “US” in his name.

Tuesday is Dues-day: Mayor Rotation

We are at a critical place in Encinitas.  The next 9 months demand dues. Today is Dues-day.

Our dues?  Paying attention . . . Yes, by simply schooling yourself on how our local governance is organized, who are the players, what are the screw-ups, where is the money and what things get reported you can legitimately call yourself a citizen, an advocate for democracy.

Being vigilant is being an activist, not the crazed lunatic portrayed by those in power.  If larger numbers of people are informed and paying attention, we make changes. Simple math.  There are only a tiny minority trying to garner power, land and influence over the many thousands simply wanting to live a quality life.

Each Tuesday is Dues-day and a post on some basic aspect of local government will feature some facts, a video clip (called Citizen Tip), some links or images to build up our sense of the process and how this has historically played out at city hall.  This week the mayor rotation is one of several important agenda items for the Wednesday city council meeting at 6 pm.

This clip shows how year after year the council majority have kept Teresa Barth from assuming the role of mayor. If letting a majority keep someone from serving as mayor is the current policy, it may be legal. It isn't ethical or representative. As James Bond says, "that's okay, but it's not good policy."



This post isn't offering the solution, just engaging the conversation and providing the background. These last three years show mean spirited displays of political power and failures to match words to deeds.

Our Mayor Stocks blog has written almost a half dozen posts on mayor selection seen here. We must demand much more and demonstrably a whole new batch of council members.

Democracy isn't free.  We're all paying the price of turning a blind eye to the goings on around us in our government.  So much has been trashed, so much done in our names that neither benefit us or our communities or the resources all around.  Locally this has cost us representation of growing majority of voters as the city council is made up of a super majority serving primarily commercial, developer, wealthy investors over the majority of residents or the common good.  Even if these four council people believe they are doing the work of the people, they have consistently marginalized and silenced Teresa Barth as well as dissent, minority views and transparent government practices in general.  And that is not democracy, even if they wrote a code or ordinance saying it is.

Teen Film Maker - Arts Alive Banner Coverage

New Encinitas resident, Patrick Canler, made the following video at the Arts Alive Banner unveiling this last Saturday and has submitted it for online publication at Coast News. Good job!

 

Go visit this at Coast News to give some traffic figures to this talented young man, our next generation community activist. 

Blog note:  Editor will be happy to front page any video clips this young man produces during this critically important election year.  He has a real talent and vitally important perspective we don't want to miss. 

NCTD Overlord

The clip below captures our mayor seizing another opportunity to belittle Teresa Barth's reasonable points. The issue at hand is the item before the council regarding a piece of land at the north end of Vulcan Ave.  The developer wanted a vacation from an IOD.

Civics 101: IOD = Irrevocable offer of Dedication. When an agency requires a developer or landowner to give certain things to the agency, often as a component of development, such as land for open space or for a sidewalk, an entire street, a streetlight, a pipeline or other infrastructure, etc., the property is granted through an IOD.

The Planning Dept. recommended that the council approve this without discussion; that is, it was part of the Consent Calendar of issues deemed routine.  But, a member of the public "pulled this item" which means it was placed on the agenda to be discussed instead.  The clip begins as a city staff is flipping through maps and giving a sort of unintelligible description.  As is often the case, Teresa Barth attempts to clarify what is being presented.

Yet that isn't the real story of this post.  The story is the behavior and an awareness that we individuals are watching, entitled to information and explanation regarding the governance of the city.  This includes  balancing the public good against individual's or private companies' interests. 

Anything is fair game if a point of view from Barth  or the public is different than his own or that of the council majority. It seems clear if one watches enough city council meetings, he doles out his vindictiveness in an intensity based on who the person is. It’s what he does and he rarely deviates from this template. The 2012 version, from this last council meeting on January 25, also features the deputy mayor acting very much like a spokesmodel to set up the mayor’s response and to patronize Barth following the mayor's speech.  It's almost like a duet.

Anyone else wondering just when Stocks was going to let citizens know about magnanimous NCTD rail kingdom granting Encinitas serfs the right of way ribbon of land for bike/pedestrian paths, fences and landscape? How about any great and powerful OZ SANDAG news? Sheesh. You've got to watch closely, because you might blink and see more handed to developers or other private players.  We have a right to lack trust.

The challenge remains, to get as many people to the city council meetings as possible.  Besides making these people with the titles have to perform their duet (or quartet) in front of many witnesses, it gives councilwoman Barth some knowing faces in the room.

Wednesday Night's City Council Agenda  - February 8th at 6 pm
From the City of Encinitas website:
 

6. Council to make an appointment to the Element Review Advisory Committee to fill the New Encinitas resident position. Vote by council  ballot to make an appointment to the Element Review Advisory Committee to fill the New Encinitas resident position.

7. Council to meet with applicants for Commission for the Arts, Environmental Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, Senior Citizen Commission, and Traffic Commission. Appointments are scheduled to be made by Council on February 22, with an effective date of March 1, 2012.
Hear each applicant briefly explain his/her qualifications and interest in serving on a commission.

Item 6 is needed because none of the applicants for ERAC were vetted properly, so there was a ringer in the New Encinitas resident position.  This sadly, makes all of the ERAC members vulnerable to doubt.  This is a city clerk screw up, whether deliberate, directed by others or simply incompetence.

Lisa Shaffer recently challenged the process of commission appointments in general.  This is a theme for this blog to pursue because our mayor and friends have increasingly ignored quality applicants in favor of friends and backers.

Shaffer also spoke to the subject and substance of this post among other things in her letter to the San Diego Union Tribune Editors.   The relevant excerpt regarding Mayor Stocks recent email to some that he was going to begin sending a newsletter:

"I want to know how he’s working to improve the atmosphere in City Hall to one of respect and collaboration. Stocks is the mayor of all of Encinitas, and I think that role comes with a responsibility to communicate regularly with the citizens". – Lisa Shaffer, Encinitas

Power to the Poeple

Update at end.
So the song says . . . or something kind of similar, maybe. This is in jest because our mayor decided to send out a slap dash email calling itself a newsletter to a random group of email addresses.  Does it look to you like it was sent without any spellcheck, proofreading, content acuracy, purpose or sense of format? The first line alone sounds like some made up Eddie Haskell filler.  For this editor it is a sorry-assed communique.

Hi, 

The other day I ran into one of our neighbors at Von's. 

She was surprised to hear that 5.8 acres of land near the San Elijo Lagoon have been purchased for permanent open space. 

She had not heard about it. And asked if she could be included in future emails that I send out. 

I told her I did not do an email newsletter to poeple (sic) in Encinitas, but that this would be a good excuse to start one. 

So here is my first email. 

If you do not wish to receive news from me about Encinitas, let me know, I will gladly remove your name from this list. 

In the meantime, I hope you are having a great New Year. 

Jerome Stocks Mayor, City of Encinitas 

p.s. Not produced or sent at government expense or using government exquipment. (sic)

The nod to John Lennon's Power to the People was sarcasm.  Our mayor Stocks' focus never has been the people and especially not empowered people. This email is indicative of someone who can't be bothered to show respect for those he is contacting by even rudimentary regard for spelling or message. And, to that end the spelling of people as poeple in the title is to mock Stocks.

Update: Excellent letter to the editor at the Union Tribune this morning by Lisa Shaffer. who is running for a seat on the Encinitas City Council.  Go read the whole thing.  Here is an excerpt:

"I would welcome a newsletter from the mayor, and if he’s going to use his mayor title, he should produce and send it at government expense to everyone. I want to know what the budget priorities are, since there isn’t enough money to do all the things that have been promised." [ . . . ] "I want to know how he’s working to improve the atmosphere in City Hall to one of respect and collaboration."

Waking Up

The most exciting political news in Encinitas is the waking of the giant, New Encinitas. Despite this being achieved in part through the dissemination of misinformation and appealing to all kinds of fears, there are New Encinitas people meeting, talking, organizing – awakening. Parallel to the excitement are attendant emotions of anger, confusion, fanciful dreaming, resentment, urgency and . . . well, you get the point.

In fact, this community consciousness awakening is a fair comparison to people waking from sleep. First and foremost, not everyone is the same. Can you spot yourself in any of the first states described below? Waking up:

Crabby

Numb

Chirpy 

Disoriented 

Blaming 

Sluggish 

Serene

Clumsy

Confused 

Wired 

Some of those even sound like the person might be heading back to bed.  The last could also be another way of looking at those who wake with great urgency. Although some people wake without this, some of the most urgently felt “need to do” first acts:

• Relieve oneself or other body hygiene routine
• Down coffee or other stimulant
• Feed oneself 
• Responsibility to feed or tend to others – kids, pets, etc. 
• Domestic tasks
• News (brain) –papers, internet, television, radio or other people 
• Sounds (senses) – music, television, radio or other people 
• Work one loves or . . . 
• Personal mission (reason to get out of bed) 

First tasks can make or break the day to come. Nobody wants a bad day. It might help to think of the diversity of responses in these lists when we think of all these people in Encinitas waking up to what is going on at city hall. Each person will probably be focused on what is closest to home. If you have been actively involved in vigilantly watching our city council majority’s antics (and Teresa Barth marginalization); try and remember what your overriding emotions, insights and first actions were all about at that beginning place. Many of us blush at our complete ignorance of how systemic the indifference to our outlooks and values were from these public officials despite heavy use of loaded words like folks, public input, feedback, deliberation and disclosure.

As much as it is fun to oversimplify, some of these issues within our city’s governance are not quick fixes. (I refuse to make a bumper sticker comment out of that last word. *mutters to self*). The overall General Plan Update is one of the most complex things within all that is going on currently, with heated buzz phrases about land use and traffic in New Encinitas, the many elements undergoing scrutiny and revisions are getting lost or 'erased' (ERAC'd) in the process.

These new advocates for public involvement from New Encinitas and other neighborhoods may well be progressing towards fully conscious understanding of the bigger picture with each meeting attended, public commentary comment, neighbor conversation, petition signed, campaign volunteer task and blog post read. There will be the eccentrics, the purists, the bigots, the experts, the liars, those believing in unicorns and rainbows and those who encourage . . .  all ‘advising’ neophytes. People will hurt each others feelings, blame the innocent and betray boundaries.  And all too often people will be to told how someone should be feeling. 

A healthy and productive reaction to someone expressing hurt or offense is not to audit whether that reaction meets our standards of acceptability (again, with caveat that no one is required to tolerate abuse), but to try to understand why it is that the person is reacting the way [he or she] is. Empathy is the best response to causing unintentional hurt.

Empathy and respect are the ultimate goal for a city council made up of thoughtful people who empathize and respect the citizenry. So, this consideration isn't something that we put on the back burner until we have the council we desire. It starts at the beginning.  When all is said and done, 2012 may well be the year Encinitas woke up to find a hundred activists looking for the sunshine and transparency promised to us all.

hat tip: Melissa McEwan for quote

Quote of the Day

"I offer my opponents a bargain: if they will stop telling lies about us, I will stop telling the truth about them." ~Adlai Stevenson, campaign speech, 1952

Not that I believe Mayor Stocks or the his posse would or could stop.

Deputy Mayor's BFF*

* Best Friends Forever

I'm shocked, shocked I say that one of the Deputy Mayor's friends was selected for the ERAC group last night.  (Pronounced erase at this site.) The council majority selected Roger Bolus for the New Encinitas Representative.  Thing is, it isn't a bit clear that he even lives in New Encinitas.  Quail Gardens area is considered Old Encinitas.

And that is only the beginning.  Does the name ring a bell for anyone?

Here is a clue - a Gaspar team member allegedly yelled out at a Leucadia candidate forum in 2010.  Those close by said he called Teresa Barth a whore, stupidly misogynist hatefulness considering she was defending Kristin Gaspar against discriminatory remarks about her being a mother.  She looked right at the man and asked, What did you say?  And, no, he didn't reply; he left the forum with his buddies. Here's a clip snippet.


From an observer at the forum:

When these guys came into the room they drug extra chairs up from the back and took over two seats reserved at the front by event organizers. So, sitting behind them it was clear they were belligerent and bullying before anyone even started to speak. Did anyone else notice (or get video coverage) of one or two taking off the Gaspar shirt while walking out? Was that an attempt at stealth or a rejection of their candidate? This same crew was at the Olivenhain forum.

During that time, Leucadia Blog identified Roger Bolus, Rotary Club President, as the central figure above, while local papers hadn't even asked the questions.

But, just because Roger and his cohorts allegedly acted like bullies and attempted to harass and strong-arm Kristin Gaspar's opposing candidate they were not arrested or even accused of doing anything illegal.  So, by the kind of narrow reasoning so favored by the deputy mayor, mayor, councilmen Bond and Muir and the city attorney; justice can be reduced to Just Us.

As citizens we all have the responsibility to be vigilant.  Jean-Bernard Minster demonstrated that last night when he demanded the criteria for ERAC selection and exposure to the public's scrutiny.  This week's public demands for open government is only the first ripple in a great wave of dissent coming.

ERAC - Majority Armed

Sloppiness or secrecy, that is the question.

Editor Note: ERAC - at this blog - is pronounced erase, with a soft "C", as in Encinitas rather than a hard "C" as in club.

ERAC = Do Over? or Disappear?

ERAC (Element Review Advisory Committee) note of concern received this weekend:

"[ . . . ] looking at the agenda for the January 25 Council Meeting Item 6 addresses the staff recommendation that Council make appointments to the Element Review Advisory Committee with an effective date of January 26, 2012. I accessed the staff report associated with this agenda item and noted the following:

• The report consists of an email to Council from Patrick Murphy, Diane Langager, and Mike Strong. In the Background section it states, "Council reviewed the applications at their January 18, 2012 meeting." Those of us at the January 18 meeting know that this is not the case.  Agenda item (Item 4), which stated "Council to meet with applicants for Element Review Advisory Committee (ERAC)" was tabled. In regard to the wording of Item 4, Gus Vina stated that "the item in error says that we were going to hear the applicants, and that's not what we are going to do tonight."  

• There is no list of applicants or the positions on ERAC for which they applied accompanying this report. The public was not allowed to hear the applicants and now the public isn't even given a list of who applied to review before the meeting? Sloppiness or secrecy, that is the question."

 Editor Note: List of applicants was included in January 18, 2012 staff report. The point being, this list should have also been included in this week's agenda packet. Was it only a week ago that this funny smell was named?

Update: Lisa Shaffer's excellent summary of this gigantic screw-up at City Hall is now posted at Encinitas Patch.  Go read the whole thing for a condensed version of the whole sordid story.  Here is a sampling:

COUNCIL CHAOS: When the draft update was released, Council members Jerome Stocks and Kristin Gaspar disowned what had been done and prior Council direction. Stocks berated the staff for bringing their “ugly baby” to the Council, asking everyone to say how beautiful the baby is. Ms. Gaspar pushed for a new round of public meetings and another advisory committee, the Element Review Advisory Committee (ERAC). On Dec. 15, the Council agreed to create Ms. Gaspar’s proposed Element Review Advisory Committee (ERAC), and another round of public meetings. However, the Gaspar proposals were not well thought out, and implementation of them is again creating some chaos.

The Ego Soars

Breaking News! Via über crony club

ENCINITAS MAYOR, SANDAG CHAIR JEROME STOCKS TO HEAD DANON FOR SUPERVISOR CAMPAIGN

Encinitas, CA – Jerome Stocks, Encinitas Mayor and San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) chair, representing all 18 cities throughout the region, today announced he will chair the Steve Danon for County Supervisor campaign.

Can't wait to see & hear what our mayor may have to say at city council meeting tonight or in the press tomorrow.  I guess Encinitas isn't big enough to contain our mayor's ambitions.

Stay tuned.

Today Wikipedia has gone dark in protest of the Sopa bill in congress. 

"For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Right now, the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open Internet. For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia.

If you are in support of this fight, want to join in or just want to learn about internet freedom, visit this site or use a Google search for more.

KC and the Sunshine Band

Musical homage to Kevin Cummins and the many other advocates for Sunshine Ordinance in Encinitas. See further information about tomorrow's, January 18th meeting below.

More seriously, open government is well and truly the most fundamentally important issue in all of the city issues. Councilwoman Barth has consistently spoken out for open government. This video clip spells out her views on the public's right to know.

January 18 Council Agenda Packet

• Item # 4 Council to meet with applicants for Element Review Advisory Committee (ERAC)
• Item # 5 Review public notice mailer for the Comprehensive General Plan Update
• Item # 6 Report from Commission for the Arts FY10/11 accomplishments and consider and approve FY11/12 proposed Work Plan
• Item # 7 The Sidewalk Café Policy

The whole KC and the Sunshine Band intro relates to what's lurking in the Consent Calendar where it doesn't belong?

Calendar definition: "Items on each Consent Calendar are matters which are routine, and it is anticipated they will not be discussed separately. With a motion "to adopt the Consent Calendar" the City Council approves all Consent Calendar Staff recommendations, as shown on the agenda. Items may be removed for discussion by submitting a "PINK" speaker slip to the City Clerk".

If you guessed "Destruction of records in accordance with retention guidelines and pursuant to Government Code." you'd be right. By no stretch of the imagination could record destruction be considered routine or unworthy of public discussion. Citizens and Candidates have championed open government and the need for sunshine ordinances for years.

We as citizens have the right to our distrust. This council majority has consistently failed us. Their votes tell us they want us to keep our expectations tiny. This council majority headed by Mayor Stocks have battled sunshine ordinances and recently cost the city taxpayers thousands and thousands of dollars by refusing to be open and forthcoming with a single pavement report. Kevin Cummins' lawsuit has been covered several times already at this blog here, here & here.

So, no doubt Kevin and others will pull this item from the Consent Calendar and be present for the other agenda items. Update: Schedule conflict with event to unveil art banners may empty the room.

Whoops! Another confusing message from city staff. And this is most critical for New Encinitas residents becoming involved in city government through the General Plan Update. First applicants are on the agenda to interview with the city council and then essentially told they are NOT needed for the council to make decisions. Sit down and be still? The applications were received more than a week before this meeting and only now volume and time constraints are considered?

Dear Applicants for the Element Review Advisory Committee (ERAC):

Due to the volume of applicants and time considerations, the applicants will not be interviewed on January 18, 2012. On January 18, the City Council will receive the applications and provide direction. You are welcome to attend the January 18, 2012 meeting. You will be notified of the date the Council makes the appointments.

Thanks.

Patrick Murphy

Director of Planning and Building

City of Encinitas