RB golf carts are decked out for parade
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High school soccer preview
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LIVING TRUST
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
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16776 Bernardo Center Dr., Ste. 203, San Diego, CA 92128
VOL. 56, ISSUE 28
Soitec coming to RB will mean 1,500 new jobs
RB/4S DIGEST RB timeline
BY ELIZABETH MARIE HIMCHAK
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the Rancho Bernardo timeline will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 in the Rancho Bernardo Historical Society Museum in Bernardo Winery, 13330 Paseo del Verano Norte, RB. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.
Share harvest
or Current Resident
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID San Diego CA Permit No. 2551
Due to the holidays, the Backyard Produce Project will accept homegrown fruits and vegetables a week earlier, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at Seven Oaks Community Center, 16789 Bernardo Oaks Drive in Rancho Bernardo. Produce will be donated to local families in need. The collection will return to the fourth Thursday starting in January. Contact Jane Radatz at jradatz@att.net or 858-485-5449.
13475 Danielson St. #110 Poway, CA 92064
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Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to be in Rancho Bernardo Friday to celebrate the dedication of Soitec’s new facility that will lead to 1,500 new jobs in the area. The France-based company’s new North American solar headquarters and manufacturing plant is expected to be operational by late 2012, said Clark Crawford, vice president of Soitec’s North American business and
sales. When the plant reaches its full production capacity, estimated to be in 2013, Crawford said there would likely be 450 positions, mostly for computer engineers and technicians taking care of the plant he described as “highly automated.” In addition, Crawford said company officials estimate its presence will lead to more than 1,000 jobs being indirectly created through various partnerships.
“Having the facility (in Rancho Bernardo) ... will create a ripple effect,” he said. The economic impact on the region includes an estimated $22 million via Soitec’s annual payroll and $23 million in annual sales tax revenue, according to company officials. The plant at 16550 Via Esprillo in the Rancho Bernardo Industrial Park — a former Sony building — will produce solar modular panels used on solar farms throughout the Southwest to
produce electricity distributed via San Diego Gas & Electric’s Sunrise Powerlink. The annual generating capacity will be 200 megawatts, enough to annually supply power to 75,000 homes in San Diego, he said. Crawford said California is suppose to have one-third of its electricity produced by renewable resources by 2020 and “solar is one of the ways of meeting that requirement.” As for why the company started See SOITEC, Page A24
Allegations fly in Rancho Bernardo Planning Board power struggle BY ELIZABETH MARIE HIMCHAK
HOLIDAY FUN — Among youngsters visiting with Santa at Rancho Bernardo Recreation Council’s annual party on Saturday were, from left, Sophie Halterman, 2; Hailey Halterman, 4; and Brooke Layne, 5. See more photos on Page A24. Photo by Elizabeth Marie Himchak
The latest development in what some participants see as a long-brewing power struggle within the Rancho Bernardo Planning Board has come in the form of formal complaints against the board. Board member Robin Kaufman, recently removed member Joe Dirks and non-member Harold Johnston in October SEE BOARD RESPONSE sent separate ON PAGE A12 letters of alleged violations by the board of the Brown Act (the state’s open government meeting law), City Council Policy 600-24 and board bylaws to city officials. When he wrote his first complaint, Dirks was on the board, but knew his removal was possible since he refused to meet with its administrative committee to settle differences
privately since August. He was voted off on Oct. 20. Dirks filed a second letter on Nov. 30. In their jointly signed Oct. 11 letter to Mayor Jerry Sanders, Dirks and Kaufman listed 30 alleged violations over the past 12 months and requested the mayor’s and city attorney’s offices launch an investigation since “many of these alleged violations have been brought to the attention of the Board Chair and ignored, or are only enforced when certain members of the Board violate any of the regulations.” The alleged violations include: • Subcommittees and ad hoc committees not posting or improperly posting agendas and minutes; • Board meeting cancellation notifications not being listed on the city’s website; • Board chairwoman providing insufficient information to the board regarding the welcome sign; See ALLEGATIONS, Page A24
december days & nights December 20 - 23, 5 - 8pm
Bring the family and make a night of it. The december days & nights package includes: one-night stay with S’mores and Snores for kids, breakfast and activities for two adults and two kids. All for $149. Walk-ins welcome - $15 per child (ages 14 and under)
R A N C H O B E R N A R D O I N N .CO M
JOB NO: JCR-3458
TITLE: RBI December (pomerado news) 12/15
COLOR INFO: COLOR
TRIM: 8.59” x 2”
BLEED: .125”
858 | 675 | 8500