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. The city council’s final vote on the overall budget will happen at its Wednesday, June 11, meeting.
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.
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 U-T San Diego story about the Purchase Agreement approval is here.
A Coast News article about the mayoral controversy can be found here, along with a U-T San Diego story here and a Seaside Courier article about the same topic 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? Click here to Share Your View!
The discussion about what we’d all like to see happen at the Pacific View site has begun in earnest.
Here are some excerpts from Share Your View posts and comments so far:
Given that there is no current funding to build a state-of-the-art arts center immediately, why not focus on what we do have and build from there? While there must be long-range planning and vision, there is no reason not to tap available assets on the site to start a limited number of cultural activities and create community buy-in and use within 2014. —Steve Barilotti
The development of the Pacific School site will take time and energy, but what I would love to see, as soon as the transfer of property is realized, is a small “Legacy Garden” started somewhere. It doesn’t have to be huge, and it doesn’t have to edibles. The asphalt could be torn up, chopped into manageable pieces, and stacked for a raised growing area without use of concrete. A garden such as this could be modified or removed to suit other plans and designs. If there ever was a kid friendly project, this is it! —Mary Fleener
Sure, it’d make a nice garden and I’m glad the money will go to our school system but I don’t think the city is the best owner… Why not change the zoning of this land such that it protects the school. Let developers develop the other half of the land. The taxes from the development will pay for the maintenance of the historical school site. —surf1680
I also am in favor of using the building and property to provide a home for for various community groups. I would like to see some art elements but NOT just/mostly art. I want a community center for the downtown, something that becomes a social hub for the kid with after school programs and other families programs. —Christian Marcotte
Turn the old classrooms into dance and yoga class rooms, community art night rooms, etc. Use all the outside area for a weekly farmers market. Incorporate the previous ideas of the tribute/community gardens. —Cheyenne Arnold
I would like part of it be an Artist colony with classes for adults and children. and art shows. The Artist Colony would pay rent. Check out the Virgina Beach Arts Center which started extremely small with a few classes and shows. Now it is huge with lots of support. A Community Theater which would also pay rent. Different groups could rent the theater like they used to do with La Paloma. I would like to see venues like this maybe 6 so the city could get $10,000 plus a month rent from the property. —Beverly Goodman
It will take years before anything new will be approved and built, so meanwhile it should be revamped until further remodeling is eminent. Time is money and we have lots of space to work with! —Fred Caldwell
The existing classrooms and equipment on site should be surveyed and inventoried. The most logical process would involve rehabbing the classrooms, removing excess blacktop, and getting underway ASAP. —Lynn Autumn
Creating rental lockers and work areas for artist who are creating BIG projects could help too. Very Large sculptures that need “yard-space” in a secure area would be suitable in the parking area, charging by the square foot. Coming from the education world, my ideas are for after Pacific View gets “Cleaned-Up”. Let me know when you need an extra broom, I will be right there. YEAH! —Judy Salinsky
I had suggested we keep maximum zoning flexibility, also to include the option of moving the one room schoolhouse to the Historical Museum next to the Botanical Garden. This would enhance what would be a Museum-Botanical area, while giving full scope to an imaginitive ultimate project that could provide revenue along with a mix of functions. —Al Rodbell
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.
SavePacificView.org thanks…
All 724 people who sent a SavePacific View email– without you, the city’s purchase of this treasured site would not have happened!
Special thanks to:
- Antal Adriaanse
- Barbara Aplington
- Teresa Barth
- Catherine Blakespear
- Bob Bonde
- Robert Bush
- Fred Caldwell
- Sheila Cameron
- Bennett Chatfield
- Chris Chatfield
- Kay Colvin
- Carolyn Cope
- Dody Crawford
- Darius Degher
- Mary Fleener
- Sarah Garfield
- Anton Gerschler
- John Gjata
- Linda Huston
- Dan Jaoudi
- Stephen Keyes
- Tony Kranz
- Annie Leaf
- Kathleen Lindemann
- Tim Lueker
- Mail Dog Email Marketing Tools
- Lynn Marr
- Maureen Muir
- Pat Muller
- Robert Nichols
- Lili Noden
- Lucille Noden
- Mary Oren
- Treggon Owens
- Mark Patterson
- C Clark Porter
- Jean Radakovich
- Claudia Russell
- Deanne Sabeck
- Danny Salzhandler
- Jesse Schluntz
- Blair Schultze
- Lisa Shaffer
- Tricia Smith
- Elizabeth Wallace
(If we missed you, we apologize— we don’t have all the names of those who spoke at city council and school board meetings— please send us an email at info@SavePacific View.org and we’ll add your name!)
News media:
- Chris Ahrens
- Rachel Bianco
- Kay Colvin
- Ronnie Das
- Mary Fleener
- Alex Groves
- Barbara Henry
- Logan Jenkins
- Roman Koenig
- Michelle Mowad
- Hayne Palmour IV
- Gary Warth
- Jared Whitlock
