Council earmarks money for field lights at Leo Mullen Park

By Aaron Burgin ENCINITAS

— The Encinitas City Council recently earmarked money to install artificial turf and 25-foot field lights at Leo Mullen Sports Park as part of its six-year big-ticket budget plan.

The City Council on April 29 advanced its $47.7 million capital improvement budget, which earmarks money for major infrastructure, planning, construction and maintenance projects from 2015 to 2021.

The current iteration of the budget includes a $1.14 million project to install artificial turf and lights at the sports field, in response to the Encinitas Soccer League’s lobbying efforts to improve the organization’s home field in the wake of imminent loss of field space at the Magdalena Ecke YMCA.

Soccer league representatives implored the council on March 25, and again on April 29, to consider the project.

Before the council revised the most recent budget, staff originally proposed only earmarking money for the field turf installation.

However, following discussion among the council, staff and council agreed that it could find the additional $130,000 to do both turf and lighting.

“I think that is a number we can work with and try to fine tune some of our estimates a little bit and get that,” Finance Director Tim Nash said.

The lighting and turf installation, however, is contingent on two major the soccer league pledged $100,000 towards the project, and the city is pursuing a $368,000 grant from the Metropolitan Water District for pulling out the grass and replacing it with artificial surfacing. soccer league officials were pleased that the item was included in the budget.

The regional’s primary water wholesaler provides rebates of $2 per square foot or more for turf removal, but the city must apply for the approval.

“It’s a great first step for us,” interim President Rick Lochner said.

The revised capital improvement budget also includes funding for several other key projects: sources of outside funding that are not guaranteed —

• An increase of $300,000 toward the construction planning of the second phase of the North Coast Highway 101 streetscape.

By Bianca Kaplanek SOLANA BEACH —

From a field of 120 applicants during two recruitment efforts in the past year, Greg Wade was selected as the new city manager, replacing David Ott, who retired from the position twice in the last five years.

Wade, 50, is currently the assistant city manager and community development director for Imperial Beach, a city similar to Solana Beach but with a population about twice its size.

“We found a really good one,” Solana Beach Mayor Lesa Heebner said.

“It was important that he has Coastal Commission experience, which he has. It was important that he has Army Corps (of Engineering) experience, and he has.

“It was important that he understood a small coastal city that is trying to balance development needs with maintaining the quality of life and scale of what’s here already,” she added. “He gets that. Another thing that’s great about him is he was a lifeguard so he understands that group and public safety.

“He also understands an engaged community,” Heebner said. “All those were in place. He’ll understand us. I think he’s just a really good fit.”

“It’s flattering to be se- lected out of that many people,” said Wade, who has been with Imperial Beach since 2001, serving as assistant city manager for the past four years. “As coastal cities we face a lot of the same issues. We share the desire to maintain a smallscale community character. We deal with coastal erosion issues. We deal with the Coastal Commission. We deal with environmental protection.

“Those are important elements of both of our communities,” he added. “I’m looking forward to working in another coastal city with a very active and engaged community. … It just seemed like a good fit and a logical step in my ca- reer. I’m excited about it.”

He said both cities also maintain firefighting and lifeguard divisions and contract with the county Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement.

Ott began working for Solana Beach in 2003 as fire chief and director of public safety. He was named deputy city manager in 2005 and city manager the following year.

He first announced his retirement in late 2010 but returned the following January as interim city manager. He was rehired that December under a two-year contract with an option for a one-year extension.

When he announced his second retirement in May 2014 the city began actively looking for a replacement. Several candidates were interviewed but council could not reach consensus on a candidate.

Ott agreed to return again as interim city manager this past December. New proposals were solicited and the city opted to work with Ralph Andersen & Associates, the same company Carlsbad used in its search for a city manager last year.

Heebner said that search yielded six potential candidates. The field was TURN TO WADE ON A16

By

Aaron Burgin ENCINITAS

— Sewer rates will increase for property owners in Cardiff and Olivenhain starting in July, as the City Council recently voted in favor of a series of annual increases over the next four years.

The City Council unanimously voted on April 22 to approve alternating rate increases of 4 percent and 3 percent between July 1 and the 2018-19 fiscal year for property owners in the Cardiff Sanitary Division — the largest of the city’s two sanitary divisions, which encompasses the communities of Cardiff-by-the-Sea and Olivenhain.

A study of sewer fee rates in the city’s two sanitary divisions and a companion “sewer asset management plan,” both done by the contract firm Atkins, found that Cardiff Sanitary Division’s rates needed to be increased to fund several major projects the report says are necessary to maintain the level of service in those areas.

The last time the city comprehensively reviewed its rates was in 2003, when the council adopted the current rate structure, which runs through June 30.

Before approving the rate increase, the City Council held a public hear-

“I just want to clarify that none of this money is for sure, and that we are not committing to doing this even if these funding sources fall through,” Councilwoman Lisa Shaffer said to staff, which reaffirmed that the project hinges on those funding sources.

Despite the conditions,

• $1.5 million for a roundabout at Hygeia Avenue and Leucadia Boulevard, contingent on the city receiving a $1.3 million grant.

• $150,000 toward traffic safety improvements around Paul Ecke Central Elementary

• $500,000 toward the restoration of sand dunes at Cardiff State Beach, which will largely be grant funded ing — as mandated by state law — and no speakers spoke for or against the increases. Seven property owners did submit written protests.

The City Council will vote on a final draft of the capital budget May 27, and final approval is expected in early June.

Currently, the average property owner pays $52 a month for sewer service in the Cardiff Sanitation Division, which encompasses 84 miles of sewer pipeline.

According to the management plan, the rate increases would fund the replacement of 17,308 feet of existing sewer pipe, rehabilitation of another 188,000 feet, rehabilitation of 114 manholes, and replacement of a pump station and three sewers.

By Ellen Wright CARLSBAD — On

Tuesday night, the City Council voted to approve a city ordinance change, allowing The Grand Pacific Resort to include four stories in a 45-foot building instead of three.

Height limits did not change, just the amount of floors that can be built in Carlsbad Ranch Planning Area 5, which is the small area along Grand Pacific Drive north of Legoland and south of Cannon Road.

The height limit is 35 feet unless an applicant gets a site-specific plan approval for 45 feet.

The maximum amount of rooms in the hotel will also stay the same, at 700, half of which can be hotel rooms and half of which can be timeshares.

Senior Planner Christer Westman said the fourfloor buildings are common.

“There are several zones that allow 45 feet, so that’s not uncommon for other parts of the city of Carlsbad,” said Westman.

The ordinance change allows the Grand Pacific Resort owners to put in extra meeting space and food service amenities, said Bill Hoffman with Hoffman Planning and Engineering.

“It will be a much more enhanced site and a much better experience for a lot of clientele there,” said Hoffman.

He also said it will decrease the number of vacation villa buildings.

“The reason we want to have four levels instead of three is the additional level will allow us to decrease the footprint of these buildings and decrease the total number of vacation villa units by two buildings,” said Hoffman.

The top floor will also likely have better ocean views.

Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce President Ted Owen spoke in favor of the increase for the same reasons.

“The approval of the amendment will allow more open space on the sight because there will be less of a footprint,” Owen said.

The Planning Commission approved the level change in March.

Three people spoke out against the level change then but nobody spoke at the City Council meeting.

According to the report created by city staff, the hotel will cater to large groups of business professionals and the meeting market.

The visits generally combine business and recreation.

The hotel will be able to accommodate groups from 10 to 2,700 guests on the 52.8-acre parcel.