encinitasaction
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Boos at council meetings are bad – sometimes: 2/25/26 City Council meeting recap
Long night. Big votes. Real tension. Here’s what mattered. 💬 Quote of the Night: Immediately after a public comment supporting the redesign of Santa Fe Drive, there were some claps and some boos from the audience. Deputy Mayor O’Hara said: “[I]f you want to cheer for the person who comes up because they agree with your…
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Encinitas mom calls out City Council rudeness
2/18/26 council meeting recap Last Wednesday’s Encinitas City Council meeting featured a packed agenda, a packed room, and plenty of heat inside council chambers. Encinitas mother Meenal Patel spoke movingly during Oral Communications about her deep disappointment in the lack of civility from our current City Council. Citing the example they set for kids, she challenged councilmembers…
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Cardiff Train Station circa 1913
1913 – Many locals don’t know that Cardiff once had its own train depot. Located on the east side of the tracks, just north of the Chesterfield Drive crossing, it was built in 1913, closed in the ’20s, and torn down in 1943. Believe it or not, a recently uncovered slab from the original platform…
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Council Meeting Recap: Commission Appointments
Watch the full City Council meeting here. Surf Pride Moment: The night kicked off with recognition of the San Dieguito Academy Surf Team 🏄♂️ — coach, students, and proud supporters packed the chambers. A feel-good start. Oral Communications: Seven speakers tackled everything from cannabis retail and Highway 101 safety in Leucadia 🚗 to bike safety education 🚲 and even…
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City Council declines to reinstate the Safe Parking Program
Last Wednesday night, despite appeals from over 160 residents in letters and public testimony, the Encinitas City Council chose not to restore our proven Safe Parking Program.(Learn about Safe Parking Programs.) We’ll dive into that Special Meeting on the Homeless Action Plan (HAP), and then look at the subsequent regular meeting – during which city commission appointments were made.…
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Anonymous ‘outrage’ accounts are warping Encinitas discourse
Previously published as an Op-Ed in The Coast News on January 26, 2026 Anonymous grievance accounts on social media are attempting to influence Encinitas civic life without transparency or accountability. Debate is healthy. Anonymous manipulation is not. When an anonymous page presents opinion as fact, cherry-picks data, targets individuals, and manufactures outrage while refusing to…
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Meeting Recap: Process Matters, Residents Make that Clear
Oral Communications: Tensions High Residents called out: Consent Calendar Highlights ✔️ 8F – Glen Park Improvements: Resident requested redesign for ADA + drainage. Staff will follow up. Passed unanimously. ✔️ 8G – Offshore Drilling Opposition Letter: Resident thanked Council for taking a stand. Unanimous approval. Consent Items: Item 10A – Sewer Engineering Fees: First update in…
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We did it!
Most of the threats to our Encinitas values were reversed – for now. Wednesday night, a large crowd of Encinitas citizens held the line against the current City Council’s attempts to erase some of our most sacred ideals from the document that defines our city’s legislative priorities – including equality, inclusivity, gun safety and violence,…
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Encinitas’ priorities are being gutted. Let’s fight back on Wednesday!
Mayor Bruce Ehlers and Deputy Mayor Jim O’Hara have made disturbing edits to the City’s Legislative Program that do not reflect who we are as a community. This should concern every Encinitas resident, regardless of political stripe. The Ehlers/O’Hara subcommittee updated our legislative program, which will be up for review and a vote at this Wednesday’s City Council meeting. These changes don’t come…
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Encinitas City Council 2025 Report Card
One year in, this council has created flashes of progress – but also contradiction, hostility, and a growing chorus of residents who feel unheard. Even the council’s most loyal supporters call it a mixed bag. Leadership matters – and many Encinitans are asking whether the mayor and this council are up to the task. Mayor…
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Here’s Who We Are
January is a time for new beginnings, so we want to wish you a happy new year and share a few exciting updates. Over the past year, many of you have joined us at meetups and events, and we’re grateful for your friendship, support and participation. Our face-to-face conversations matter, especially as it becomes increasingly…
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Council Meeting Recap: Parks, Politics & Public Process
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…
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Encinitas commissions & committees provide opportunities for civic engagement
Applications for 28 commission seats are now available on the City of Encinitas website and are due by January 22, 2026. Learn more about the commissions and lend your talents to shape our city.
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Council Meeting Recap: Surf, Parks, Pavement and a new Deputy Mayor
🏄 Encinitas Surfboards celebrates 50 years🅿️ Residents urge council to save safe parking lot 🌳 L-7 park design approved amid tension 🚴 Bike lane bollard removed ⛺️ Stricter Vehicle Sleeping & Camping Rules Unanimously Approved🌊 Surf School Rules Updated; 10 Teaching Zones Approved🚸 Pavement Report Accepted👑 O’Hara Appointed Deputy Mayor Special Presentations: 🏄♂️ 50 Years of Stoke + a…
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Art, Drama & Action: Encinitas City Council Highlights
The Pacific View Arts Center (PVAC) is officially the artsy heartbeat of Encinitas. In just 10 months: 💬 Artists + residents say: It’s not about profit—it’s about connection.📣 “PVAC is like a public park: open to all, even if not all use it.” — Cardiff artist Rosemary KimBal 🧑⚖️ Council Reaction: 🎤 Oral Communications – Got Personal
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Council Meeting Preview 11/12/25:
Two City Council meetings this week back-to-back. The first is a special joint meeting with the Arts Committee regarding Pacific View Arts Center. After that it’s the regular council meeting.
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Santa Fe Drive Showdown: The Road that Keeps Dividing Encinitas
Council Meeting Recap: The battle over Santa Fe Drive was back — and it’s still spicy. 🌶️ In May, the Council rejected city staff’s recommendations to complete the project and make minor adjustments. The Council instead directed staff to evaluate three alternative options. At Wednesday’s Council Meeting, more than 40 residents, including many San Dieguito Academy…
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Council work plan progress, proclamations recognizing veterans and first responders, street & rail safety, and public arts refresh.
Dishing Up Safety for Streets and Rails! 🏗️ Special Meeting: Progress Check! ✅ 65 of 76 city goals on track — the rest in progress, none delayed! 👏Council celebrated strong momentum across all priorities — from the circulation element update to homeless services contractsand the native plant ordinance. 📊 The full FY 25–26 Work Plan is online and will soon reflect…
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Encinitacardihain?
Back in 1986 when 69% of Encinitas, Cardiff, Leucadia and Olivenhain voters chose to form a single city, their main motivation was familiar to us today – controlling local development. A more divisive issue also had to be settled – what were we going to call ourselves? If a majority of Cardiff residents had had…
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Public Safety, Mobility Upgrades, Ecofest & Environment Day, Wireless Facilities, Youth Commission x2, Habitat Stewardship Program, and the City Hall Shuffle
The highlights you need to know! Public Safety ⛑️ Mobility Upgrades 🚦 🌎 EcoFest & Environment Day 💭FFT: Do you support reducing opportunities to celebrate sustainability and environmental stewardship? 📡 Wireless Facilities (5G) Concerns over health impacts ⚡ from Councilmember Shaffer + public. Council voted to pause and hold a public workshop. 👧👦 Youth Commision x 2 💭 FFT (Food for…
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Recap: Public Safety, Mobility Upgrades, Ecofest & Environment Day, Wireless Facilities, Youth Commission x2, Habitat Stewardship Program, and the City Hall Shuffle.
The highlights you need to know! Public Safety ⛑️ Mobility Upgrades 🚦 🌎 EcoFest & Environment Day 💭FFT: Do you support reducing opportunities to celebrate sustainability and environmental stewardship? 📡 Wireless Facilities (5G) Concerns over health impacts ⚡ from Councilmember Shaffer + public. Council voted to pause and hold a public workshop. 👧👦 Youth Commision x 2 💭 FFT (Food for…
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Council Meeting: Sister City Visit Recap, Public Comments, CDBG Grant Funds Review, and more!
Encinitas brought heart and only a little heat to City Hall on Wednesday. Sister City Visit 🇯🇵 Student delegates from our sister city, Amakusa, Japan, shared their endless Encinitas summer including surf + skate lessons, fiestas, and a BBQ with our firefighters. Pure community magic. Public Comments: Traffic Safety + Political Fire 🚦 Clark Apartments…
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Variable messaging Systems
Recently, Council approved the use of Variable Messaging Systems (VMS) as a measure for improved safety on our roadways. We want to hear from you! Do you think these are effective? What are other measures that have been successful in road safety?
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Council Meeting Recap: Rules & Respect Reminder, Emergency Preparedness Month, Spicy Oral Comments, and School Resource Officers
Wednesday night’s City Council meeting was a packed house with heated topics 🌶️ 👩⚖️ Rules & Respect Reminder: With chambers overflowing, Mayor Ehlers kicked things off by reminding folks: be respectful, no shouting, no personal attacks, and no giant signs. 🚨 Emergency Preparedness Month Fire Chief Gordon + Emergency Manager Marie Jones Kirk rolled out tools to…
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Luke Shaffer briefly addresses his felony charges at City Council meeting
Councilmember Shaffer finally addressed the criminal charges filed against him:🚫 Not guilty.🛡️ Claims the accusations are false.💼 Says he won’t be deterred from serving. 🧑💼 Public comment? 🔥🔥🔥 A third: Cited past behavior—including a rifle comment and a previous assault on teens on ebikes—as a pattern. Time to go.
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90-Minute Council Meeting Delivers Maximum Drama
Wednesday night’s City Council meeting was short—but it didn’t lack fireworks. 💥 🗣️ Opening Act: Civility & Chaos Mayor Ehlers opened with a classroom-style reminder:🧑🏫 Be respectful, address the Council as a whole, and keep personal attacks out of it. 🎤 Councilmember San Antonio then jumped in, condemning the assassination of Charlie Kirk and criticizing the “angry tone” of August 20 public…
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Roy’s Market: Sooner or later your favorite store
Back in the mid ’40s, Gerard Roy emigrated from Quebec to New Orleans, then on to Encinitas. After he got here, he figured that Leucadia needed its own market, so he rented a classic building that might look familiar – it now houses Bing Surf Shop and Duck Foot Brewery. He called it simply Roy’s…
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Nine Hour Meeting: Encinitas Council Goes Spicy 🌶️ from Housing to Traffic Calming
August 27 was a long night with meetings spanning nine hours. Things continue to be spicy 🌶️ at City Hall! 🏛️ Special Meeting on REACH Codes: Council unanimously decided to keep local building rules that go above and beyond state code — covering fire safety, EV chargers, water-saving graywater systems , and energy efficiency . 🏛️ Regular…
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City Council Recap: ICE Emergency, Campaign Finance, Van Lifers and more
Emergency Item: ICE at Park Dale: City Hall overflowed after news broke of ICE detaining a man near Park Dale Elementary in front of school kids, including the man’s daughter. 200+ showed up to the Council meeting and nearly 40 residents spoke out, describing the trauma inflicted on kids who witnessed it. Deputy Mayor Lyndes…
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Let’s Talk About Greenways
These can really help us to create safer streets and more connected communities. We’ve seen their success in towns across the country and hope we can continue to incorporate this model into the plans for our city What are your thoughts?
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Encinitas City Council Scorecard
🤠 Encinitas City Council Scorecard (First Six Months in the Saddle – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly) January – June 2025 🤠 The Good — Tip Your Hat 🛏️ Retained Homeless Action Plan: Maintained previous plans to improve outcomes for unhoused residents, with an added emphasis on municipal code enforcement. 🏳️🌈 Continued Pride Recognition:Upheld the tradition of…
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City Council Meeting Recap: Aloha Shirts but No Action?
Pleas for Safety Fall On Deaf Ears, Climate Action Goals At Risk, and Tightening Screws on Unhoused 🚨 Aloha Shirts, But No Action?Encinitas City Council returned from summer break with leis around their necks—but left urgency at the door. 🌺 While Council showed up in Hawaiian shirts, 15 speakers—including the grieving parents of Emery Chelakian—showed up…
