The Coast News, February 22, 2019

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THE COAST NEWS

.com SERVING NORTH COUNTY SINCE 1987

VOL. 33, N0. 8

FEB. 22, 2019

SAN Task force MARCOS tackles Rancho -NEWS Santa Fe Road

Block grant program fights delays

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By Aaron Burgin

By Steve Puterski

CARLSBAD — The city’s Community Development Block Grant program will expedite its efforts to meet its 2019 goals. Approved on Nov. 27, 2018, the CDBG is a federal program distributing funds to develop viable urban communities by providing housing, sustainable living and economic opportunities for low and moderate income earners, according to the city’s website. The City Council approved, 3-2, to revise the membership to appoint resident representatives from the four City Council districts, in addition to the mayor appointing Housing, TURN TO BLOCK GRANT ON A9

Sand-ful

A sand replenishment project at South Ponto is nearly complete. Page A6

Photo by Gina Onori

Study: Energy options possible for North County cities By Steve Puterski

REGION — A draft technical feasibility study released on Feb. 15 reveals Community Choice Energy is financially possible and could yield considerable benefits. Four cities — Carlsbad, Encinitas, Del Mar and Oceanside — partnered in the study to determine whether an alternative power provider was an option. The Encinitas City Council received the report on Feb. 13, while Carlsbad, Oceanside and Del Mar city councils will receive it in the next week and in early March, respectively. The report was conducted by EES Consulting, Inc., in Kirkland, Washington. Each of the four cities contributed to the costs of the report, which totaled $104,515.20. Oceanside’s share was $41,689.60 followed by Carlsbad at $30,774.86, Encinitas at $20,721.09 and Del Mar at $11,329.65. Currently, there are 19 CCEs throughout the state covering dozens of cities and counties, according to

A DRAFT feasibility study released Feb. 15 reveals it is possible for the cities of Carlsbad, Encinitas, Del Mar and Oceanside to roll out Community Choice Energy, or Aggregation, over the next several years. Courtesy photo

the Clean Power Exchange website. The study also looked each city individually, and whether they could provide a stand-alone CCE, also known as Community Choice Aggregation, to its residents. Only Del Mar,

due to its small population, was found not to be feasible. If all four cities were to band together, the startup cost would be roughly $16 million. Currently, only Solana Beach has a CCE in San Di-

ego County, although several other cities including San Diego are exploring the option. Other than Solana Beach residents, residents and businesses must purchase their electricity from San Diego Gas & Electric.

CCE advocates consistently champion adding competition to the energy market, which results in financial savings for CCE customers and more local control over power supply sources and rate levels. The report for the four cities shows an overall 2 percent bill reduction, while also building reserves for local programs or additional rate reductions, according to the study. The study measured various issues such as exit fees (known as the Power Charge Indifferent Adjustment), renewable energy sources and future generation, non-renewable energy costs, capacity, reserves and operating, administrative and start-up costs. The latest ruling from the California Public Utilities Commission on exit fees has led to decreased revenue in Solana Beach, The Coast News reported in December. Additionally, the study found start-up costs could be “fully” recovered in the first three years and would TURN TO CCE ON A16

ENCINITAS — A group of Olivenhain residents has created a task force to address THE the numerous concerns about the VISTA town’s main drag, Rancho NEWS Santa Fe Road. Spearheaded by District 4 Councilman Joe Mosca and the Olivenhain Town Council, the group of 15 residents who live along or adjacentRANCHO to the arterial Mosca SFNEWS will meet for the first time March 2. “We’re looking at trying to come up with innovative ways to improve safety and walkability and traffic flow on the road,” Mosca said. For years, residents have urged the city to address a number of issues along the street, from pedestrian, equestrian and cyclist safety to the six stop signs that snarl traffic during peak travel times. Mosca said the idea is by having the community find the solution, as opposed to it coming from the city, there will be more community ownership of the fixes. “When folks are engaged in a bottom-up approach, they are going to be more of an advocate for it, it will be something they want and own,” Mosca said. Mosca alluded to the creation of the task force during the 2018 city council campaign. Shortly after that, he and members of the Olivenhain Town Council created a steering committee to identify Olivenhain residents to sit on the task force. At the Feb. 13 City Council meeting, Mosca asked — and the council OK'd for staff to send traffic engineer Abraham Bandegan to the task force's first meeting to provide the group with historical information on the road,

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