The Paper
• Page 10 • July 13, 2017
A Weekly Memo from the Councilmembers of Your Community published in the belief that it is important for elected leaders to communicate with their constituents and that constituents have a means of hearing from their elected leaders.
Olga Diaz
Council Member, Represents District 3
Social Butterfly Cont. from Page 8
East End Club of Escondido To Celebrate Birthday – On July 25, the East End Club of Escondido will celebrate its 110th birthday. It is the oldest social organization in Escondido, formed by women living in the east end of the valley who wanted closer friendships with neighbors. At the first meeting on July 25, 1907, officers were elected, a committee was appointed to create a constitution and by-laws: “The object of the meetings shall be for pleasure and self-improvement.” Annual dues of 10 cents were assessed which met the expense of compiling a membership directory. Annual directories as well as minutes from every meeting plus scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, letters, cards, and obituaries – inevitable at age 110 – are stored in the archives of The Escondido History Center at the Pioneer Room, Escondido Public Library.
History comes alive in the old minutes: excerpts from Minutes of April 22, 1909, read: “. . . while refreshments were being served, we were delightfully entertained by choice selections from the phonograph”, and June 8, 1909: “. . . the most delicious refreshments were served, the delicacy being known as ‘fruit cocktail’.” Inflation has affected the club. Dues have increased to $3 annually. The purpose leans more
Proposed Downtown Escondido Housing & Parking Project
If you’ve lived in Escondido for any length of time, you have surely seen historic photos of Grand Avenue. It is a fun activity to identify existing buildings that used to be something else. A heads up that you may want to visit Downtown Escondido soon to take a few photos of the way it looks now because it might look very different shortly – not bad, just different.
toward pleasure than self-improvement. Our membership is smaller but still meets monthly to enjoy our friendship and our fabulous history.
Picnics were a popular activity and family members were included. Everyone dressed for the event, usually held under a large tree at someone’s ranch home. Women wore hats and men wore ties for this special event. The afternoon gathering usually concluded with singing of patriotic songs.
Proposed development of condos and parking on several parcels may change the skyline and bring hundreds of new residents to the urban core of Escondido. Under an early proposal, downtown public parking lot 1 (behind Filippi’s) will be transformed into a six story condo project with limited public parking. Public parking lot 4 (across from EscoGelato) will be a four story parking structure.
General Plan and Downtown Specific Plan. Because this proposal involves publicly owned parcels, the City will have to negotiate a contract with the developer to ensure a fair deal for taxpayers. I anticipate some concerns about parking and building heights. Public participation is always vital to making sure impacts to current uses are positive. Access the Downtown Specific Plan at: Proposed housing density is pre- https://www.escondido.org/specificapproved through our current plans.aspx Escondido Senior Travel Trip of the Week – Del Mar Horse Racing, Thursday, August 31st. Cost is $79/person, includes lunch at the Hunter Steak House. First stop will be lunch at Hunters Steak House where you have your choice of three entrees (sign up when you pay). Then off to the Del Mar Race Track. It will be clubhouse seating with your own racing program so you can plan your bets. First race is at 2pm. Bus will depart from the race track at 6pm and be back at the Center around 7pm. Join us and have a fun, exciting day at the track. For reservations/ information, call 760.745.5414. Save the Date: Phantom of the Opera Gala – The Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside (BGCO) will hold their 30th Annual Boys and Girls Night Out on Friday, October 13th, from 6-10pm, at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside. The Gala is their largest fundraiser of the year. There are several ways you can make a difference and help support the Club: 1. Attend the event; 2. Become a sponsor; 3. Donate auction items. 1. Attend and enjoy a culinary experience, youth performanc-
Letters to the Editor
Missy is pet of the week at your Rancho Coastal Humane Society. She’s a 1 year old, 10 pound, Domestic Short Hair cat with a Calico coat.
The care providers in the cattery say that Missy is sweet and a little bit sassy. She was surrendered when her previous family was no longer able to care for her. Missy will need to be the only cat in her new home. Â
The $100 adoption fee for Missy includes medical exam, vaccinations, spay, and microchip. For more information call 760-753-6413, visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society at 389 Requeza Street in Encinitas, or log on to SDpets.org.
Duke, an 8-year-old Rottweiler mix, is looking for a new family to love! He’s a sweet old gentleman with a heart of gold. He’s a great co-pilot during car rides, and loves to play with tennis ball and chew on sticks. He’s not always a big fan of strangers and may bark to introduce himself but settles down once he gets to know them. Duke would also prefer a home with older, studier children due to his size, and no cats or small animals. Come meet this lovable goofball today! Duke is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society’s Escondido Campus at 3450 E Valley Parkway. To learn more about making him part of your family, please call (760) 888-2275.
Possible Outsourcing of Escondido’s Public Library
Escondido’s proposed 2017/18 budget projects library expenses at $3.670,055 with little income other than for fines estimated at $62,000. Without much income the library is a significant claim on the city general Fund. This makes it easy to see why the City wants to explore outsourcing. The library’s compensation expenses (labeled “Employee Services”), including proposed pay increases for staff totals $2.8 million of the $3.7 million total budget; that’s a whopping 75%.
Seemingly municipal compensation packages are built upon “Step increase" models (the longer you’re there, the more you make). So the presumption is that compensation expense as related to total expense gets worse over time. Outsourcing basically removes employees from
es, live and silent auctions, and bring your dancing shoes for live entertainment by The Little Kings, back by popular demand. Tickets are $200/each or $2,000 for a table of ten. 2. Sponsorships – marketing opportunity for your business and support the BGCO at the same time; sponsorships start at $1,500. 3. Donate auction items for both silent and live auction packages. Gift cards or in-kind donations are gladly accepted. Contact Hannah Moss at 760.433.8920, x 115, or HMoss@BGCOceanside.org for tickets or more information on sponsorships or donations. BGCO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Visit the website at BGCOceanside.org.
American Cancer Society to Host a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Kickoff Breakfast – The community is invited to help create a world free from the pain and suffering caused by breast cancer.
‘Social Butterfly’ Cont. on Page 12
the City payroll. And after some buyouts and adjustments for retirement benefits for senior staff, employees become a part of the outsourcing company. Going forward this fixes costs for the city. No doubt it helps city finances, though it may not be in the best interest of proposed former city employees. City Manager, Jeff Epp, is doing his job and is right to research outsourcing library operations and to bring it before the City Council for discussion. However, it’s our hope that the Council will not look at the issue only through the lens of an accountant. There are significant less tangible points of view to consider; one being public perception that they are losing local control or that the new manager won’t show the same caring attention to residents or that some long-term employees got gypped in the name of saving a buck.
With City budgets balanced and reserves at an all time high Library “Out-sourcing” may be unnecessary at this time and could be a disservice unless there’s a significant savings for the General Fund and tax payers. /s/Sid Colquitt Escondido, Ca 92026
Editor’s Note: Long time friend and regular reader of The Paper, Mr. Colquitt is also a retired banker, comfortably retired and living in Escondido where he frequently comments on civic issues. Letters to the Editor should be sent to: thepaper@cox.net