Civic sparks flew as Council tackled business boards, questioned volunteer committee effectiveness, approved trail stewardship, and discussed park amenities during the last meeting of 2025.
The TL;DR 🧵
🛑 ICE undermines transparency
🏕️ Restart of homeless services gets results
🌳 UFAC survives another round
🏗️ Pickleball vs. pools vs. open space TBD
💼 New Business Commission coming
🔥 Firefighters get raises
Oral Communications Highlight: Quail Gardens
A highlight from a passionate public speaker—
One speaker highlighted Deputy Mayor O’Hara’s adherence to transparent governance, given his comments last week that he was “getting ahead of the curve” on park design. She demanded clearer protocols and accountability, saying there’s been zero notice or open meetings.
Mayor Ehlers, with help from the new city attorney, clarified that councilmembers can briefly respond to speakers during oral comment—though “brief” was left undefined. He invited O’Hara to speak, who doubled down: “Yes, we’re on task,” claiming residents have reached out directly with questions.
Food for though (FFT) 🍽️ How will the addition of council response to oral comments impact already long, contentious council meetings?
🌿 Habitat Stewardship Plan Cost Increase — UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
Council approved a $100K increase to its contract with San Diego Botanic Garden for trail stewardship. But not without tweaks.
🔄 At public request, gravel bags and fencing were swapped for natural materials like logs, rocks, or brush.
🪧 Staff was also directed to explore signage and naming with Parks & Rec Commission input.
🧑💼 Business Commission Formation — UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
Encinitas will soon have a new Business Commission! Council finalized logistics:
- 7–9 members, with one member representing a business in each of the 5 city districts, and others at-large
- Business representatives don’t have to live in Encinitas
- Staggered terms + subcommittee flexibility
- Conflict-of-interest review for 101/MainStreet reps
- Mayor nominates, Council confirms
FFT 🍽️ Should reps shaping city economic policy be required to livein the city they serve?
🌳 Urban Forest Advisory Committee (UFAC) Survives — KEPT (4–1)
Committee chair Brad Lefkowits presented committee accomplishments through 2024, per staff request, oddly having been asked to leave 2025 out of the report. After multiple attempts to convince them otherwise, Council rejected calls from Councilmember O’Hara and a couple of his supporters to dissolve the highly talented volunteer commission.
🔁 Staff said UFAC costs just ~$11K/year in staff time; O’Hara called it inefficient and proposed folding it into the Environmental Commission, or otherwise dissolve the committee.
🌴 Others defended UFAC’s unique and valuable tree policy expertise, which they provide gratis, and the forum for public concern about tree actions.
Council voted to retain UFAC and revisit effectiveness in 2026—focusing on the Mature Tree Ordinance and species master list.
FFT 🍽️ Why does Councilmember O’Hara continue to debase citizen volunteers?
🧾 Legislative Affairs Update: Big Issues Ahead
Lobbyist Jonathan Clay previewed a chaotic 2026 legislative landscape:
- 💸 CA’s $18B deficit
- 🔥 Fire policy (Zone Zero), AI regulation, e-bike safety
- 🚰 Water/fire hydrant legislation, insurance reform
- 🏘️ Land use power grabs (SB 79) and redistricting shuffles
- ⚖️ 36 potential state ballot measures (!)
Council raised concerns about e-bike safety, wildfire resilience, and how to track 2,500+ bills. Updated legislative policy guidelines will come to council from the Ehlers/Ohara subcommittee in January for review and a vote.
🚒 Firefighter Pay Agreement — UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
Council ratified a 4-year MOU with the Encinitas Firefighters Association:
- Annual raises: 5%, 4.5%, 4%, 4%
- Additional 5% market adjustment in 2026
- Goal: recruitment, retention, and service excellence
Council praised the firefighters as essential community pillars.
FFT 🍽️ Should police/fire pay be benchmarked against market forces—or community sentiment?
🏞️ Encinitas Community Park Amenities — REPORT RECEIVED, NO ACTION
Staff unveiled feasibility studies for adding sand volleyball + pickleball courts at Encinitas Community Park. 💰 Options ranged from $500K–$3M. 🚧 No public outreach yet; study was technical-only.
Public comment was split:
- 🏐 Some backed new courts
- 🧒 Others wanted to preserve space for a long-promised aquatic center or a teen center
- ⚽ Sports groups pushed for field upgrades and lighting
- 🌳 Residents warned about parking, noise, tree loss, and turning ECP into a “mega sports complex”
Council agreed: Let Parks & Rec Commission finish its work before moving forward.
🛂 ICE Activity + Homeless Outreach: Mixed Results
📉 City Manager Campbell said federal agencies did not provide advanced notice on recent immigration activity, and that ICE refused sign the Memorandum of Understanding approved by council last month—undermining local accountability efforts.
📈 On the flip side, homeless outreach showed real success: San Diego Rescue Mission placed 16 unhoused residents in services since their contract began. The city had been without homelessness services personnel since late 2024, which was replaced by SDRM in November.
FFT 🍽️ Should Encinitas take more action to protect their residents when federal enforcement tactics bypass resident rights to due process?
👉 Final Word: Encinitas: Where trails, trees, and tennis courts collide with policy, politics, and public process. The council will be on break until well into the new year. Happy Holidays 🎄🕎 🎉