PACIFIC VIEW PURCHASE AGREEMENT APPROVED

Pacific View Purchase Agreement approved

Jax Meyers of PaintEncinitas.org, a new arts advocacy group, asked the Encinitas City Council to expedite the Pacific View purchase. “I urge you to unite and push forward with the purchase so that we as a community can come together and build a culturally rich future for Encinitas,” she said.

In an epic meeting dominated by public reaction to a perceived threat against councilmember Kristin Gaspar's mayoral succession, the Encinitas City Council on Wednesday, May 28, voted to accept the Pacific View Purchase Agreement as drafted.

Due to the lateness of the hour, they also decided to move the discussion of an Activation Plan for the site to a future meeting.

Acknowledging the size of the overflow crowd, the council moved the mayoral succession review item to earlier in the meeting, resulting in the Pacific View Purchase Agreement not being approved until 11:20 p.m.. The final vote was 3 to 2, with Gaspar and Deputy Mayor Mark Muir voting no.

As a result, the city has been authorized to sign the Pacific View Purchase Agreement, secure financing and analyze reports already received regarding environmental, geotechnical, and title analysis.

Before the vote approving the Purchase Agreement, Encinitas resident Al Rodbell decried the $10 million purchase price and what he described as a lack of research, planning and future funding for the Pacific View site. "Yes, it may be wonderful, but then again, all we have is a concept," he told the council. "This is a prescription for a downfall."

Councilmember Tony Kranz, a key architect of the purchase, responded, "I am still enthusiastic about this purchase, [but] there won't be a performing arts center there anytime soon; we're not going to have the money for that. We're going to do our best to raise money privately and whatever is proposed for that site will have to go through the typical planning process that includes traffic studies and other things. My goal is to get the site open to the public as soon as possible."

Before voting against approval of the agreement, Deputy Mayor Mark Muir said, "whether we agree or disagree on the purchase price, I think we're all united in making the community vision of the property a reality."

City Manager Gus Vina suggested that his Pacific View Activation Plan be given its own agenda item "soon" at a future council meeting so it can be considered in greater detail.

"I would like to get your input on what's important to you as we move forward," he said to the council. "It's important… that we are thoughtful about how we want to clean up the property and evaluate the structures and decide what you want to keep and what comes down, that we have a conversation about your view for interim uses, then of course your ultimate vision for this property. I imagine you would want to develop a pretty robust public outreach program."

The mayoral succession item ended when the council voted unanimously to make no changes to the original sharing agreement, meaning that on June 11 Gaspar will become mayor, Kranz deputy mayor and current mayor Teresa Barth will return to a regular council seat.

Several speakers passionately opposed what they feared was a return to the acrimony of previous city councils and an attempt to block Gaspar's six-month term as mayor. Among those addressing the council were Gaspar's eight-year-old son and her mother, who, defying protocol, singled out individual council members for scorn and praise.

Councilmember Lisa Shaffer, who initiated the controversial item, attempted to clarify her intentions. "Believe it or not, I really wanted to have a chance to openly discuss the mayoral transition before it takes place. To do that, under the Brown Act, requires us to put it on the agenda."

In her newsletter the following morning, Shaffer wrote "I certainly could have done a better job of expressing myself. This agenda item consumed a lot of time and brought a lot of negative energy into the proceedings, which I regret."

Video of the May 28 meeting can be viewed here; Pacific View is discussed in Items 10 A & B and the mayoral succession discussion comes up as Item 12A. A Coast News article about the mayoral controversy can be found here, and a San Diego U-T story about the same topic is here.

Since the deal isn't closed yet and obstacles remain, supporters of the Pacific View purchase are encouraged to stay engaged by attending or watching Encinitas City Council meetings online or on cable.

Letters to local media (such as this one from Ron Ranson) to keep the spotlight on completing the purchase are also helpful.

SavePacificView.org will stay on top of developments and send email updates when new Pacific View events occur. You're also invited to stay up-to-date on Pacific View news by joining the SavePacificView.org email list here. Your name and email address will only be used by SavePacificView.org. The SavePacificView story as told by local media can be read here.

The discussion has begun. What are your Pacific View ideas? Share Your View!

The discussion about what we'd all like to see happen at the Pacific View site has begun in earnest.

You and your friends are invited to have your say and Share Your View on the SavePacificView.org website. You can login there directly or use your Facebook, Twitter or Google+ ID to post and comment. Your input is much appreciated, and essential to helping create a place that can be enjoyed for generations to come.

Share Your View– visit SavePacificView.org
and tell us your ideas for Encinitas’ newest public site!