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T he C oast News
NOV. 20, 2015
$5.7M project to improve roads and sidewalks CALENDAR By Bianca Kaplanek
REGION — Council members at the Nov. 16 meeting unanimously awarded a $4.1 million construction contract to PAL General Engineering Inc. for improvements in the north end of town that will narrow roads and widen bike lanes, add sidewalks, crosswalks and some backin angled parking spaces and bring in recycled water for irrigation. The 2015 sewer, water and arterial paving project, estimated to cost just under $5.8 million, includes approximately 4,500 feet of new curbs and gutters, 24,000 square feet of sidewalks, 1,800 square feet of retaining walls, 900 feet of aluminum fencing, 20 pedestrian ramps, 533,000 square feet of pavement rehabilitation and five pedestrian crossings. Beginning at the intersection of Via de la Valle and Valley Avenue, about 11,500 feet of pipeline will be installed to connect the city to Solana Beach’s wastewater and recycled water systems, allowing Del Mar to use reclaimed water to irrigate medians in the beach colony. The long-term plan is to
also use the system to water Powerhouse and Seagrove parks. “This is as big as it gets for us,” Public Works Director Eric Minicilli said at a Nov. 10 open house to inform residents about the upcoming project, which is slated to begin next month. According to the staff report the project will be completed in June, but Minicilli said crews will be off the streets before Memorial Day, the last weekend of May, just before the opening of the San Diego County Fair. Minicilli said it could be done sooner, depending on the weather and how much rain results from the expected El Niño conditions. The total project cost of $5,748,453 will be paid for by capital improvement program funds, grants, TransNet money and about $1 million from Solana Beach to cover the adjacent city’s portion of the recycled water system along Via de la Valle. The estimate includes a $750,000 contingency. The recycled water line will connect to the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority pipe on Valley Avenue and run west on Via de la Valle, with feeder pipes going north on
South Cedros Avenue, Solana Circle, Del Mar Downs Road and South Sierra Avenue in Solana Beach. It will serve the Coastal Rail Trail in Solana Beach and run south on Camino del Mar. The project includes a new sidewalk along the south side of Via de la Valle adjacent to the fairgrounds from Camino del Mar to Jimmy Durante Boulevard and on the east side of Camino del Mar from the San Dieguito River Bridge to Via de la Valle. Parking spaces will be added to the northbound lanes of Camino del Mar south of the Brigantine restaurant. On the west side some angled back-in spaces will also be added, which Minicilli said “was the safer way to go there.” Overall the project will create 151 new parking spaces. Southbound Camino del Mar will narrow to one lane sooner. Bike lanes on Camino del Mar, Via de la Valle and Coast Boulevard will be enhanced. Additionally, three midblock pedestrian crossings are planned on Camino del Mar near the San Dieguito River Bridge. One will be lo-
cated south of the bridge, a second immediately north of the bridge and a third near the northern entrance to North Beach. Two midblock crossings will be added on Coast Boulevard near the Powerhouse Community Center. One will be adjacent to the existing loading zone, and the second will be across from the Jake’s Del Mar parking lot. Once the underground infrastructure and new sidewalks are complete, the affected areas of Via de la Valle, Camino del Mar and Coast Boulevard will be repaved and new markings will be painted to improve mobility and safety for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Del Mar received five bids for the work ranging from PAL’s $4.1 million to a $6.4 million estimate from TC Construction. Minicilli said traffic during construction will be most impacted along Via de la Valle, but because the road is so wide it will be easy to close lanes. “But there’s no doubt it will slow people down,” he said. Solana Beach council members approved the project at the Nov. 18 meeting.
Carlsbad water reduction efforts fall short again By Steve Puterski
CARLSBAD — Efforts in water reduction came up short again of the state’s 28 percent benchmark for the city. During the Nov. 10 Municipal Water District meeting, which is run by the City Council, Wendy Chambers, the district’s general manager, reported a total reduction of 25 percent compared to October 2013. In addition, the city also
levied its first fines since Gov. Jerry Brown mandated statewide water cuts. In total, four “agencies” were cited for a combined $61,000. The names of the agencies were not disclosed. Those agencies not in compliance were fined $500 per day, according to Chambers. “The state board said ‘too little, too late,’” Chambers explained when those entities challenged the fines.
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“They were eight to nine percent off target.” Mario Remillard, meter and customer service supervisor for the district, told the board the “Carlsbad Conserves” campaign is sending out 24,000 mailers to homeowners detailing the city’s use of recycled water. Also, as winter nears and with expected rains to increase, the water district will again make further cuts. Residents will only be allowed to irrigate once per week, down from the current twice-per-week policy. The new policy begins Dec. 1. Customers will smart controllers are exempt from the policy, Remillard said. Remillard also noted one factor working against residents as to why consumers fell short. Last month was an average 10 degrees warmer than two years ago. But despite aggressive efforts to reach the city’s 28 percent mandate, Mayor Matt Hall expressed frustration with the state’s broad cuts.
Hall said this is the between three and five times Carlsbad residents have been required to reduce water consumption over the past 20 years. This year, however, struck a cord with Hall as numerous property owners cannot cut any more, thus affecting the city’s numbers. He said the state did not take into consideration several factors of not only Carlsbad, but other Southern California cities when creating the reduction plan. “Homes should be allocated,” Hall said. “We do all this and have to ask citizens (to cut) for a fifth time.” Chambers agreed stating, “25 percent across the board really is not fair.” Hall, using 1990 as a measuring stick, said the city used more water 25 years ago than it does today, even with a much larger population. In addition, he said the state does not credit the city even with the desalination plant coming on line next month. “We should draw a line in the sand until a judge tells us (otherwise),” Hall said. Chambers, meanwhile, said the city is trying to push a regional outlook to water conservation adding, “There is no rhyme or reason for this whole thing.”
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NOV. 20 BACKING THE BAND Support the La Costa Canyon High School Maverick Brigade marching band at 5 p.m. Nov. 20, at the Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach, with faculty bands Super Nacho and Dollar Bill. Cost is $7, 21+ venue. Tickets can be bought at the door or through the Belly Up Web site. ALWAYS INTERESTING The LIFE Lectures at MiraCosta College lifelong learning group is hosting two speakers starting at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at the college’s Oceanside campus, 1 Barnard Drive, Admin. Bldg. #1000. Purchase a $1 parking permit at the machine in Lot 1A, and park in lots 1A or 1B. Visit miracosta.edu/life or call (760) 757-2121, ext. 6972. NOV. 21 NOV EM BER F E ST The Amigos de Vista Lions Club host a beer & wine festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 21 at Alta Vista Botanical Gardens, 1270 Vale Terrace, Vista. The day includes live entertainment, food concessions, craft booths, classic cars on display. Must be 21 to attend. Purchase tickets online at avbg.org. WALK INTO HISTORY The Encinitas Historical Society will host a docent-led historical walking tour of Old Encinitas at 10 a.m. Nov. 21 at the 1883 Schoolhouse, 390 West F St., Encinitas. Find out where movie stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood used to live and play. Learn why the town of Encinitas was developed. For more information, call docent Barbara Vilardo at"(661) 992-5740. GENEALOGY SOCIETY The Escondido Genealogical Society will meet at 10 a.m. Nov. 21 in the Turrentine Room of the Escondido Public Library, 239 S. Kalmia St., Escondido. There will be a round table discussion, elections and a bake, craft and book sale. WINTER BIRDS Join Buena Vista Audubon Society on a bird walk at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 21 the San Dieguito River Park (Lower Crest Canyon trailhead on San Dieguito Road) to see birds that spend the winter at North County’s coastal wetlands. For more information, visitbvaudubon. org/. PANCAKE BREAKFAST Oceanside Womans Club Pancake Breakfast final fundraiser to be held from 7 a.m. to noon Nov. 21 at the Veterans Building, 1617 Mission Ave., Oceanside. Cost: $15 for adults, $10 for children. For more information, call (760) 439-6514. C ON T E M P L AT I V E RETREAT Contemplative Outreach of North San Diego will present retreat on “The message of St. Therese of Lisieux, The Little Flower: Trust,
Surrender and Gratitude” from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at San Dieguito United Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena Road, Encinitas. For more information, email leeleeko@cox.net. NOV. 22 STREET FAIR The Encinitas Fall Street Fair will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 22 from D Street to J Streets. A Kids Zone at H Street, a Dog Zone at I Street and cyclists can leave their bikes at D Street or J Street. Parking in the Civic Center lots and Moonlight Beach lot. For more information, visit encinitas101.com. GRIEF RECOVERY Lighthouse Christian Church in Oceanside will host a grief recovery workshop, Hope for the Holidays, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 22. The workshop is free but advance registration is requested. Call (760) 726-0590 to register or visit lightcc.org. MAKING NEW FRIENDS The Catholic Widows and Widowers of North County support group, for those who desire to foster friendships through various social activities, will walk at Quail Hollow and lunch in Leucadia Nov. 21. Members will attend Mass at St. Timothy's Catholic Church and lunch at Vintana Restaurant, Escondido Nov. 22 and gather for dinner at Akai Hana Restaurant, Rancho Bernardo Nov. 24. Reservations are required, by calling (858) 674-4324. NOV. 23 GENEALOGY AT DOVE Until the Cole Library reopens in early 2016, Carlsbad City Library’s Genealogy Division is offering the “Ask a Genealogist” service at Dove Library, 1775 Dove Lane on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the library’s second floor computer lab behind the reference desk. Learn more at nsdcgs.org, or pick up a flier with program information at the library. NOV. 24 U N DERSTA N DI NG E-READERS Escondido Public Library offers “eReaders eXplained,” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24 at 239 S. Kalmia St., Escondido, For more information, visit library. escondido.org or call (760) 839-4839. FIND YOUR ROOTS North San Diego County Genealogical Society will meet at 9 a.m. Nov. 24 at the Carlsbad City Council Chambers, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, For information email jtempke@roadrunner.com or call (760) 632-0416. NOV. 25 TASTY TURKEY Make reservations now for the turkey dinner at noon Nov. 25 at the Gloria McClellan Center, 1400 Vale Terrace Drive Vista. Entertainment by the Sophistocats begins at 11 a.m. For reservations, call (760) TURN TO CALENDAR ON B15