PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
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MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 27, NO. 51
DEC. 20, 2013
The Staples store on W. Valley Parkway is participating in a USPS pilot program expected to last for a year. Photo by Tony Cagala
USPS, Staples team up for pilot program By Tony Cagala
HOLIDAY CHEER Joanne Smith said she thinks the neighbors of Village Park in Encinitas have outdone themselves with this year’s Christmas decorations on a pine tree in a community park. See the full story on page B1. Photo by Rachel Stine
Search is on for new chief of police By Promise Yee
OCEANSIDE — City Manager Steve Jepsen began the search for a new police chief Dec. 16. Frank McCoy, current police chief, gave notice that he is retiring in late October. Since then Jepsen began his position as city manager on Nov. 18, and met with human resources staff on Dec. 2 to prepare for the hiring process. Jespen selected Bob Murray and Associates executive recruitment services to conduct a nationwide search for the best candidate. On Dec. 16 Jepsen and McCoy will meet with Bob Murray and Associates head-
hunters to define job qualifications and initiate advertisement for the position. Jepsen served as Oceanside city manager from 2000 to 2006, and hired McCoy in 2006. Then he served as city manager for Yuba City from 2006 to 2013. Now he is back serving Oceanside and once again hiring the city police chief. Pat Nunez, city human resources director, said the process to hire the police chief usually includes the city manager meeting with City Council for input and at some point providing an opportunity for community input. Exactly what opportunities will be provided for City
Raising the bar
Encinitas bars may face tougher measures if a deemed-approved ordinance is passed. B4
Council and the public to express their comments and concerns is up to the discretion of the city manager. “It starts (Dec. 16),” Nunez said. “It couldn’t move forward until he (Jepsen) was on the ground.” The position will be open to interested applicants for about six weeks. Then the recruitment service will narrow down the applicant pool, and Jepsen will conduct the final interviews. He will also make the hiring decision. “The goal is to get the most qualified candidate,” Nunez said. Mayor Jim Wood, an Oceanside police officer and
detective for more than 30 years, said city council members, by policy, have little say in who is hired as police chief. Wood added that the position is critically important. Minimum qualifications for the position have not been formally set, but will include the requirement that applicants have served at a responsible level in the police department, such as captain or chief. Wood said it is also critical that the chief be able to work with the public and police rank and file, and have
Two Sections, 48 pages
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Arts & Entertainment . A16 Food & Wine . . . . . . . . . B1
Without a bag Dec. 19 was Day Without a Bag.The message behind it: Reduce, then recycle. B1
After raising funds at their inaugural race, the people behind the Surfing Madonna give back to the city. A7
Legals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A21 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A18
TURN TO CHIEF ON A19
Calendar: calendar@coastnewsgroup.com Community News: community@coastnewsgroup.com Letters to the Editor: letters@coastnewsgroup.com
REGION — Since November, the USPS (United States Postal Service) and Staples have been studying a pilot program in North County. In what’s being called a Retail Partner Expansion Program pilot, Staples in Escondido, Vista and Temecula will be providing post office services and products in their stores. Expected to last through Sept. 30, 2014, the USPS will then determine whether the program is feasible to expand to a full-scale launch. At the select Staples locations, customers will have access to some of the more “popular” products and services, which includes stamps, First Class Mail (Domestic TURN TO POSTAL SERVICE ON A20
ArtSplash treasurer arrested for grand theft By Rachel Stine
CARLSBAD — James Comstock, the treasurer for ArtSplash and former Carlsbad treasurer, was arrested Wednesday morning for allegations of grand theft and misappropriation of funds. Comstock, 53, has served as the volunteer treasurer for the nonprofit ArtSplash since 2003. He was elected treasurer for the city of Carlsbad in Nov. 2010, but resigned in January before the end of his four-year term. The Carlsbad Police began an investigation on Jan. 31 into accounting discrepancies of ArtSplash, which hosts an annual twoday community art event in Carlsbad, according to a press release from the
Carlsbad Police. The investigation does not involve Comstock’s management of funds for the city of Carlsbad. An ArtSplash board member noticed inconsistencies with the organization’s funds and brought it to the attention of Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall. These concerns were passed onto the City Attorney who then notified Carlsbad Police. Investigators searched all financial records involving Comstock’s Bank of America accounts from Jan. 9, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2013. Comstock turned himself in this morning at the Carlsbad Police Station after the District Attorney’s TURN TO THEFT ON A23