Volume XV, Issue 36
■ Former TPHS student named American Film Institute Conservatory Fellow. Page 8.
■ Sisters go to new heights to help others. Page B1.
■ High school football is back! Page 17.
www.solanabeachsun.com
Solana Beach opposes Del Mar Fairgrounds deal BY CLAIRE HARLN STAFF WRITER Following possible rumors that a group of horse owners pulled out of a deal to invest $30 million into the City of Del Mar’s purchase of the Del Mar Fairgrounds from the state, the Solana Beach City Council released a letter last week clarifying its position — one of opposition — on the potential transaction. “We have tried to make it clear that we don’t support a single city owning it, and they said they want to work together, but they haven’t gotten back to us,” said Solana Beach Mayor Lesa Heebner, who sent the letter, dated Aug. 3, to Del Mar officials but said the council got no response. Signed by Heebner and Solana Beach Councilman Dave Roberts and addressed to Del Mar Mayor Don Mosier and Del Mar Councilman Mark Filanc, the letter was in part a response to a staff report issued by Mosier and Filanc on July 25 to update the community on the fairgrounds purchase proposal. The report stated that the City of Del Mar “continues to move forward on the proposed purchase, reach out to regional stakeholders and have discussion with the City of Solana Beach and organized labor.” Talk of the investors — three horse owners led by Mike Pegram — backing out of the deal began with a Thoroughbred SEE DEAL, PAGE 6
Sept. 1, 2011 Published Weekly
Back to School in Solana Beach
After enjoying the summer, Solana Beach students, including those at Skyline Elementary School (above), were ready to hit the books Aug. 29. See more on page B13. Photo/Claire Harlin
API scores rise at high school district; Canyon Crest tops 900 BY MARSHA SUTTON SENIOR EDUCATION WRITER Academic Performance Index numbers were released this week by the California Department of Education, and the San Dieguito Union High School District reported significant increases over last year at nearly every school. Canyon Crest Academy, in Pacific Highlands Ranch, gained 18 points, to pass the 900 mark. CCA’s 910 API makes it the highest-scoring comprehensive public high school in the county and one of the highest in the state. CCA’s enrollment is about 1,875 students in grades 9-12. Carmel Valley’s Torrey Pines High School, with about 2,700 students in grades 9-12, also made gains this year, scoring 880, nine points higher than last year.
Carmel Valley Middle School scored 971, up four points from last year, while Earl Warren Middle School in Solana Beach, the only school in the district to see a lower API this year, dropped four points, to 925. Both are grades 7-8 schools. The district’s two middle schools in the north – Diegueno and Oak Crest – increased their API scores, Diegueno up 19 points to 908 and Oak Crest up 13 points to 902. Scores also climbed for San Dieguito’s high schools in the north. San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas scored 854, up nine points over last year, and the API for La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad came in three points higher than last year, scoring 818. Of the district’s eight
SEE API, PAGE 6
Solana Beach tables decision on reverseangle parking BY CLAIRE HARLIN STAFF WRITER The Solana Beach City Council postponed making a decision on restriping the front-angle parking spaces on the west side of South Sierra Avenue in front of the post office, which would convert them to reverse-angle — back-in, head-out — parking spaces. The idea was presented to the council as a traffic-calming measure on Aug. 24, and even though councilmembers were welcoming to the idea for the sake of being progressive, the community so far has been overwhelmingly opposed. The idea came about in 2005, said City Manager SEE PARKING, PAGE 15
SB officials work $800K in savings into budget BY CLAIRE HARLIN Staff Writer After postponing budget approval for the first time in the city’s history, the Solana Beach City Council passed its 2011-12 budget on Aug. 24, reducing the general fund by about $800,000. Citing a nearly $700,000 deficit, with revenue coming in at about $13,700 and expenditures totaling almost $14,500, City Manager David Ott plans to operate this year at a $124,100 surplus. Much of the savings came from the decision to not fill two key, recently-vacated positions and distribute the workload to other employees or himself. The city’s community development director retired, saving the city $195,000, and the finance director resigned, saving $99,700. “These are not easy times,” said Ott, adding that the workload is actually growing at the same time that the number of employees is dropping. “I have to thank the many employees who have stepped up and said, ‘I’ll do it.’” Solana Beach is also saving about $300,000 by reducing the scope of its general plan and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) projects — renovations officials said can be reassigned later, if and when Highway 101 upgrades are passed and Suburban Transit Network (TransNet) money can be used. In planning for the upcoming year, the city also has to take into consideration that it will have to pay out $269,000 SEE BUDGET, PAGE 6