Two Meetings – Big Takeaway? City could spend $2.2m annually on street sweeping but will likely spend only $600k annually on Climate Action Plan implementation if the updated plan is approved.
💬 Quote of the Night
“When you discount a group, like my representative did last week by his own admission, you’re not filtering out bias. You are silencing a synchronized community… Having a shared agenda is not a conspiracy. It is civic engagement.”
Resident Beth Whitaker referring to the Deputy Mayor’s September 16 statement setting aside Safe Street speakers as an advocacy group.
Special Meeting – Climate Action Plan @ 4PM. ✅ No vote taken. Councilmember Lyndes absent.
City’s Council Rundown: Staff presented the draft updated Climate Action Plan (CAP) and cost analysis, which includes 32 measures and proposed greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2030 and 2045. The analysis estimates approximately $600,000 annually from the General Fund over 20 years to implement the proposed measures, not including potential grants or other funding sources. Staff also reviewed the estimated costs, emissions reductions, funding sources, and other considerations associated with each measure. City Council discussed the proposed measures and implementation costs, including opportunities to expand solar energy at City facilities and evaluate school busing as an additional transportation measure. City Council supported moving the draft CAP forward with further analysis of these potential additions before the plan returns for future consideration.
📌What Else? Eighteen speakers, nearly all urging all 32 measures. A 15-year-old called in. A Scripps PhD candidate biked 20 miles. Sierra Club showed the margin is razor-thin: 401 metric tons in 2030. Cut one measure, you miss.
UCSD professor Craig Callender dropped the grenade — Council was “swayed by” the CO2 Coalition, and “our mayor tried to install a member of this fringe group on our environmental commission this past June.” His math: a $280,000 report that priced only costs, versus $52,000/year for the new measures. “The price of this one-sided report would have paid for six years of implementation.”
Ehlers moved to approve with two additions — solar on fire stations, school busing. Then staff noted it was only a workshop. Motion withdrawn. And the consultant budget is fully spent. Pricing those additions needs a contract amendment. 🫤
- 🌮 Food For Thought: Five years of work, a packed room, 4-0 agreement — and the holdup is a consultant invoice. What does “moving forward” actually mean?
⚡ Regular Meeting @ 6PM. Councilmember Lyndes absent.
🕯️ National Recovery Month Proclamation
The most human moment of the night…
Council proclaimed September as National Recovery Month, honoring the San Diego Rescue Mission’s treatment-first approach — and honoring Jeff O’Dell, who died of alcohol use disorder. The family held a paddle-out in his honor the night before, and has designated September 22 a day of solidarity for loved ones lost to alcoholism. 🤍
🌊 Citywide Storm Action Plan — ✅ No vote (receive and file)
City’s Council Rundown: Staff presented the Citywide Storm Action Plan, outlining how City departments will prepare for, respond to, and recover from significant storm events. The plan addresses potential impacts including heavy rainfall, localized and coastal flooding, erosion, downed trees and roadway impacts, with the greatest potential for heavier rainfall expected during the winter months. Staff reviewed existing and planned drainage and coastal projects, emergency response procedures, equipment and staffing preparations, and coordination among City departments and regional partners. Staff also emphasized community preparedness and communication, encouraging residents to prepare emergency kits and plans, sign up for emergency notifications, maintain drainage areas around their properties, and use City sandbag resources when needed. Moving forward, staff will continue evaluating staffing, equipment, contractor availability and communication needs, including securing additional resources in advance of major storms. City Council also discussed providing clearer information for residents who may be affected by power outages and exploring opportunities for additional volunteer emergency response support.
📌 What Else? The City staff deserve credit for bringing this item forward, unasked. The Council Rundown was light on the fact that the City is short on staff and on-call contractors to man the pumps and respond in emergencies. 😬 Worst window: January–March. Sandbags at Leucadia Roadside Park. Get Alert San Diego app now.
🏫 Paul Ecke Central School — ✅ No vote (not agendized)
City’s Council Rundown: The City Manager provided an update on the Paul Ecke Central School project, emphasizing the City’s ongoing collaboration with the school district to move the project forward. City staff have met with the district and are expediting plan reviews while working through remaining issues related to traffic circulation and student drop-off/pick-up, roadway improvements along Vulcan Avenue, right-of-way, and drainage and water quality requirements. The City has the created a Paul Ecke Central School Project webpage which will be updated regularly with project information and outstanding items. Staff and City Council representatives will continue meeting with the school district with the goal of reopening the school in a timely manner while addressing required safety and development standards.
📌 What Else? Eight of eleven speakers were PEC families. Theo Camacho Stone, a fifth grader: “We were supposed to be the first class to graduate from the new school. Now no one knows when we will return. Many students, including me and my friend Jack, have been separated from our siblings.”
- 🌮 Food For Thought: Can the City and the School District collaborate effectively and quickly to get this project back on track?
🧹 Street Sweeping Contract. ✅ Unanimous (4-0), as amended. $2.2 million for street sweeping — on the consent calendar. Cost more than doubled after a state prevailing-wage determination. As resident Fabian Gonnell pulled it: “If the cost of a city service is more than doubling, the item should not be on consent.” Deputy Mayor O’Hara noted it exceeds the entire annual CAP cost and won an amendment for an in-house-versus-bid comparison before budget season.
⚖️ Board of Appeals (2026-21) — ✅ Unanimous (4-0)
City’s Council Rundown: City Council introduced Ordinance 2026-21, updating the appeal provisions of the 2025 California Building Standards Code. The amendment simplifies the City’s Building Board of Appeals from up to 10 members with specific professional qualifications to a three- to five-member volunteer panel with relevant building code experience, intended to make the board easier to assemble when an appeal is filed.
📌 What Else? This topic spanned two agenda items: a consent item staffing the Board and an action item revising the ordinance, including reducing the number of Board members needed. The City is trying to staff this appeals board it is legally required to have to hear appeals of certain permit denials. The developers of the Clark Avenue Apartments filed such an appeal in March and the City still does not have the Board in place. The consent item was to appoint 6 members, which would be the minimum required for a quorum. The attorney for the Clark Avenue developers asserted that one of the six would be unable to hear the appeal because of a conflict of interest and that the failure to deal with the appeal would lead to further litigation between the developer and the City (the City is currently appealing the case it filed against the developer in 2025 and lost this year). Both items passed 4-0 . 🤔
📋 Planning Commission Work Plan — ✅ Unanimous (4-0), as amended
City’s Council Rundown: City Council received and approved the Planning Commission Work Plan for FY 2026-27.
📌 What Else? 🔥 Deputy Mayor O’Hara to this volunteer commission: “The number of times where I felt the planning commission should have said no, and they didn’t because they’re afraid.” And as to their training? “Anybody — AI — can follow a flowchart…I would like to see staff teach you Encinitas 101.” Chair Dalton fired back: “All the commissioners are Encinitas citizens….We understand Encinitas. We live here. We have neighbors here. We live in the place where we’re making these decisions. We follow the law…[The Council has] supported our decisions 95% of the time.” O’Hara cut him off: “I haven’t supported your decisions and I think YOU have made some bad decisions.”
🚸 SANDAG & HSIP Grants — ✅ Unanimous (4-0)
City’s Council Rundown: Staff presented potential projects for two upcoming transportation grant opportunities: the SANDAG Active Transportation Program and the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). Proposed projects include Trail 82 along Rancho Santa Fe Road, citywide pedestrian safety improvements, sidewalk infill along Leucadia Boulevard and Nardo Road, and citywide guardrail upgrades. The grants would support project design and construction, with the City providing required local matching funds. City Council discussed the proposed projects and application requirements, including potential pedestrian safety improvements and future sidewalk projects. City Council approved moving forward with the grant applications.
📌 What Else? ~$80,000 in applications chasing $14 million. Trail 82 alone: $6M. Mayor Ehlers pushed for real red-light signals instead of flashing beacons. Staff said the state’s calculator gives signals barely more safety credit while costing far more — pushing our match from 10% to possibly 80%. 🚦
🏘️ Short-Term Rental Ordinance (2026-15) — ✅ Unanimous (4-0)
City’s Council Rundown: City Council introduced Ordinance 2026-15, updating the City’s short-term rental regulations and transient occupancy tax (TOT) requirements. The ordinance extends the short-term rental permit renewal cycle from one to three years and implements new state requirements allowing the City to require rental platforms, such as Airbnb and VRBO, to collect and remit TOT and provide quarterly rental data. The City is proactively enforcing a backlog of unpermitted short-term rentals and is seeking compliance and payment of unpaid TOT. The City will update progress on ongoing basis.
📌 What Else? The number: 285 unpermitted rentals found this summer, down 43% after violation notices. But staff was blunt — those are “addressed,” not resolved, and all still owe back taxes. “That’s the tip of the iceberg.” 💰
- 🌮 Food For Thought: While short-term rentals are a huge industry, is a 43% drop a win or just a reflection of how long nobody was looking?
💆 Massage Ordinance (2026-20) — ✅ Unanimous (4-0)
City’s Council Rundown: City Council introduced Ordinance 2026-20, updating the City’s regulations for massage businesses and massage technicians. The amendments respond to San Diego County ending its massage business permitting and inspection program and would require massage technicians operating in Encinitas to maintain a valid California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) certification. Existing businesses and technicians would have one year to comply, with City outreach and quarterly notices provided during the transition.
📌 What Else? The County quit inspecting massage businesses entirely and told the city to scrub every reference to its health department. That’s a regulatory gap landing on us.
🛝 Wiro & Orpheus Park — ✅ Unanimous (4-0)
City’s Council Rundown: City Council reviewed the Wiro and Orpheus Park project as it moves toward the bidding process. The Orpheus Park project includes three components: playground equipment replacement, gazebo replacement and an adult fitness area. The Wiro Park project includes swings and playground equipment. Current grant funding is designated for the playground equipment, which will serve as the base bid. The gazebo and fitness area will also be included in the bid process and could move forward if funding allows; otherwise, they may be considered as future projects.
📌 What Else? Staff said plainly they don’t expect bids low enough for the gazebo, and “not really anticipating” the fitness area at all. One component, not three. 🎠
🌌 International Dark Sky Week — ✅ Unanimous (4-0)
City’s Council Rundown: City Council approved the official City participation in International Dark Sky Week, April 12–19, 2027. The City’s participation could include reduced municipal lighting, community astronomy and stargazing events, guided walks, public education, business engagement, and a residential lights-out campaign. The week will also provide an opportunity to introduce the community to dark sky practices and build awareness as the City develops a potential citywide Dark Skies ordinance, while maintaining the existing Olivenhain Dark Skies policy.
📌 What Else? A resident pointed out that the Pacific Flyway runs directly over Encinitas. 80% of migratory birds fly at night. 59 million crossed San Diego this spring — 3.9 million on May 7 alone. Artificial light brighter than the moon disorients them: up to 1 billion US bird deaths a year. We sit between two lagoons they must rest in. 🦅
📅 Coming Up
- September 27: Encinitas Oktoberfest
- October 3: City of Encinitas 40th Anniversary Celebration
- October 5: Ballots mailed for November 2026 election
- October 6: Quail Gardens Park Design Workshop
Thanks for staying engaged.
— Encinitas Action