The Coast News, July 24, 2009

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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94

THE COAST NEWS

MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

VOL. 23, NO. 30

THISWEEK

JULY 24, 2009

Win, place, showtime

BALLGAME

Contestants in Del Mar match up in a less traditional sport — bocce ball — to help the Boys & Girls Club raise funds and continue supporting local children B1

Left, Los Angeles resident Audrina Patridge, star of the reality show “The Hills” came to Del Mar for Opening Day at the races on July 22. Below, Oceanside resident Tracy Pearson shows her entry into the hat contest.More photos on Page A16. Photo by Daniel Knighton

POST-PRISON VIOLENCE An ex-convict is accused of killing another former prisoner

.com

A6

SUPPORT

Local people concerned about health care rallied at the Solana Beach office of Congressman Brian Bilbray B1

INSIDE

TWO SECTIONS, 48 PAGES

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . A7 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . B19 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . B22 Letters to the Editor . . . A5 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A8 Doorman Diaries . . . . . . B3 Eye on the Coast . . . . . . A5 Hot Off the Block . . . . . . A6 Legal Notices . . . . . . . . A19 Odd Files . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Outside Perspective . . . . A4 Pendleton News . . . . . A15 Pet of the Week . . . . . . A18 Sea Notes . . . . . . . . . . . A11 Crossword Puzzle . . . . B22 Small Talk . . . . . . . . . . . B1 Taste of Wine . . . . . . . A10 To Your Health . . . . . . . B12 Who’s News? . . . . . . . . . A8

Attorney General asked to investigate vote

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Mobile home park conversion stirs up residents

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By Promise Yee

OCEANSIDE — Mayor Jim Wood asked the Attorney General’s office to investigate a 3-2 vote taken June 1 that left the waste hauling contract with Waste Management as is through 2012, and gave direction to the Integrated Waste Commission to look into a possible waste transfer station. Wood said the surprise motion by Councilman Jack Feller to vote on the multimillion dollar waste hauling contract and push forward the waste transfer station without input seems “fishy.” Wood and Councilwoman Esther Sanchez voted against the two motions that skirted Integrated Waste Commission and public input. Councilmen Jerry Kern,

By Wehtahnah Tucker

ENCINITAS — Despite the objections of several residents, City Council voted to allow the owner of a mobile home park to convert the rented lots to individual ownership during its meeting July 15. The motion passed 3-1 with Councilwoman Teresa Barth opposing out of concern for the residents’ health and safety concerns at the aging facility. Councilman Jerome Stocks was absent. The final parcel map for the Sands mobile home park conversion was approved by the Planning Commission on May 7, despite the protests from some people who complained that the owner, Sands Encinitas, LLC, was neglectful.

Jack Feller and Rocky Chavez voted in favor of the motions. Waste Management has previously requested city land to build a waste transfer and recycling station. While there has not been a decision to grant the land or approve building a waste transfer station, the OK to look into a transfer station raises some questions for Wood and others. Wood said if the city granted the land and OK’d a building contract it would take 20 years for the city to break even on the business deal. A 20-year business plan would likely mean a 20-year, multimillion-dollar-per-year contract with Waste Management. “The two motions are interconnected,” Wood said. “I think this is an inappropriate

The city has been interested in the status of mobile home parks as they represent affordable housing. During a public workshop in April 2008 on ways to preserve the affordability of mobile home parks, some residents asked City Council to become more involved. The Sands ownership opted for a conversion into subdivided lots in 2007. The subdivision will convert the park’s 56 individual spaces of land at 1624 North Coast Highway 101 in Leucadia into resident-owned plots. Built in 1947, the park is located just two blocks away from the beach. Currently, residents own their homes but not the land beneath them. Lots at the park range

thing taking place.” The present evergreen contract with Waste Management has three years left and sits at about $20 million a year. If the city decides to end the contract and open it up for bids it must give Waste Management a two-year notice because of the turnover time it takes to move a waste hauling company in. The big dollar waste hauling contract stands out as a major city expense. “Nothing can even come close to this contract,” Wood said. Wood gave a videotape of City Council’s discussion and vote on the items to the Attorney General’s office. Kern said the vote to keep the waste hauling contract as is and look into a waste

in size from 700 to 750 square feet. The Sands Residence Association, Inc. represents approximately 40 residents at the park and was formed in an effort to negotiate with park owner Patrick O’Malley who purchased the property in 2005. An initial offer was made by O’Malley to sell the lots for $325,000 — a price resident and president of the association Ken Stendel called “absurd.” Resident Chris Carbonel told the council that ongoing infrastructure problems at the mobile home park have gone unnoticed. He cited “unpotable water” taken from his kitchen sink. City consultant Gerald Gibbs told the council that

transfer station allows the city to concentrate its focus on recycling. According to Chavez, a mandatory percent of city waste must be diverted from landfills this year and that percentage will increase next year. Chavez supports the Integrated Waste Commission looking into the possibility of building a waste transfer and recycling station. Feller said a vote for a waste transfer station is a vote for Oceanside to control its destiny. He said he is in favor of allowing Waste Management to come up with a plan to haul and recycle trash. “I like Waste TURN TO INVESTIGATE ON A23

misunderstandings about the city’s role and actual authority have permeated the conversion process. “Unfortunately, the state has come out and said that they preempt all local jurisdictions when it comes to conditions for approval (of a mobile home park conversion),” he said. Stendel urged the council to be cautious in its approach to the conversion. “Make sure you know that you have done everything in your minds to protect mobile home park residents,” he said. The state’s Department of Real Estate will have the final approval of the standards for the mobile home park conversion as early as August according to the staff report.

City eyes buying SD Fair facilities By Bianca Kaplanek

DEL MAR — As the recent proposal to sell the Del Mar Fairgrounds moved forward with momentum not seen when similar plans were previously suggested, the city was positioning itself to ensure “a seat at the table.” Those plans haven’t changed even though the site is off the for-sale list. At their July 13 meeting, council members agreed to send Gov.Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office a letter stating the city is interested in possibly purchasing the property, either alone or by forming a joint powers authority with another agency.The letter was sent July 17. Council also authorized staff to begin making contacts to determine who in the financial community would be best TURN TO BUYING ON A12

Go-ahead given to new center in La Costa By Jeannie Sprague-Bentley

CARLSBAD — Dozens of residents from La Costa gathered at City Hall on July 15 in an effort to stop the Planning Commission from approving a new development they said will bring even more noise and traffic congestion to their rapidly growing community. After addressing several questions received prior to the meeting, staff recommended the commission certify the Environmental Impact Report for the proposed La Costa Town Square, a project to be located on an 83-acre parcel of land on the corner of Rancho Santa Fe Road and La Costa Avenue. After the item was continued from a previous meeting, the Planning Commission did vote to certify the EIR with the recommendation the developer make the project “solar ready.” The project will now move on to City Council for final approval. The planned development, in the works for several years, calls for a 284,400square-foot community shopping center, a 55,000-squareTURN TO LA COSTA ON A17


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