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LOCAL REAL ESTATE LISTINGS PHOTO PAGES & FEATURES
Boxholder Rancho Santa Fe CA 92067
SECTION B
ECRWSS
Volume 30 Number 51
Providing The Ranch with Three Decades of Quality Journalism
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID RSF, CA PERMIT 26
Sept. 8, 2011
Osuna Ranch riding arena renovation approved BY KAREN BILLING CONTRIBUTOR The Rancho Santa Fe Association board voted 4-1 Sept. 1 to approve a renovation of the Osuna Ranch’s riding arena, not to exceed $48,000. Larry Spitcaufsky issued the sole opposing vote, raising concerns about a warranty and some guarantee about annual maintenance costs from the bidder, California Custom Arenas. Spitcaufsky drew on his knowledge going through similar arena upgrades with the Rancho Riding Club, where he serves as its board president. “I’d make sure we knew the answers to those two questions before we approve it,” Spitcaufsky said. “ It can get out of hand if you don’t put it down right.” While a warranty and maintenance costs were not known at the Sept. 1 meeting, it could be included in the final bid. The arena at the ranch is in poor condition, with the sand breaking down, according to the report by Daria Quay, ranch manager. It has been five years since the arena was scraped, leveled and filled with new sand. Even though new sand has been added to the arena every year, “The sand is so old it turns to concrete when it gets wet and the drag teeth are penetrating the DG (decomposed granite) base and mixing with the sand so the base is also deteriorating,” Quay reported. The renovation project would remove the top layer of sand, repair the base layer with three feet of DG and bring in new sand. The discussion on improving the Osuna Ranch raised See ARENA, page 26
Fill a backpack... Feed a Mind Kids Korps USA recently presented “Fill a Backpack...Feed a Mind.” Over the past several weeks, backpack and school supply donations were made at participating San Diego Starbucks locations throughout San Diego County and Kids Korps (co-founded by RSF resident Joani Wafer). On Aug. 27, more than 100 volunteers came together to fill and prepare backpacks for donation to Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA and New Alternatives, Inc. These organizations will distribute the backpacks to children and teens throughout San Diego. The event provides children in need with the opportunity to flourish in school. (Left) Alexa Mikalaski, Weston Lowe; (Above) Kids Korps members from chapters all over the county joined to “Feed a Mind.” (Right) Justin Foster. Photos/Jon Clark
Mountain lion spotted San Dieguito Watershed tests ‘better than most’ in Rancho Santa Fe On Sept. 2, at 7 a.m., a gardener working in the area of 4700 El Mirlo spotted what appeared to be a mountain lion in the orange grove between the two properties, according to RSF Patrol Chief Matt Wellhouser. “We contacted wildlife officials, San Diego Sheriff’s Dept. and advised them of the sighting,” Wellhouser said. “The animal did not attack or approach the gardener.” RSF is home to many species of animals, including coyotes, bobcat and mountain lions, Wellhouser said. “These animals are native to the area and can be attracted around homes by
leaving pet food out, the presence of small pets, etc.” Wellhouser said. “State Fish and Game warn people to not leave food or pets outside and keep a close eye on small children — especially during early morning or late afternoon times. In addition, do not jog, bike or hike alone; do not approach a coyote, bobcat, or mountain lion.” Wellhouser added that sometimes the attraction of smaller wild animals attracts the bigger animals, as well. These animals are most active at dawn, dusk and at night. Often deer are attracted to the area because of food sources, same with oposSee LION, page 26
BY CLAIRE HARLN STAFF WRITER As part of the largest volunteerbased water quality monitoring program in the state, Coastkeeper tested waters recently and their results for the San Dieguito Watershed show local oceans are in relatively good condition compared to other areas of San Diego. The San Dieguito Watershed includes Del Mar and stretches north to Solana Beach and east through Rancho Santa Fe to State Route 79. “The watershed shows some problems typical of urbanization, such as slightly elevated concentrations of some nutrients,” said Coastkeeper
spokeswoman Nicole Lee. “This is typical of irrigation of agricultural land or overwatering of lawns.” The local sites tested are downstream from agricultural land and gold courses, which could be the reason for the elevation in nutrients, she said. However, she said, these levels are only slightly elevated, she said, and “mostly do not exceed the standards set in the San Diego region basin plan.” One particularly noteworthy data point was in on the Del Dios Highway next to the fruit stand, she said. There, low levels of dissolved oxygen were recorded. The dissolved oxygen levels were 4.60 mg/L, and the basin plan
standard is at least 5.0 mg/l. “This low level of oxygen in the water will stress aquatic organisms,” Lee said. According to Project Clean Water, an organization set up by the various storm water departments and other regulatory agencies, the San Dieguito River watershed is a drainage area of approximately 346 square miles in west-central San Diego County, including portions of the cities of Del Mar, Escondido, Poway, San Diego and Solana Beach. “This rapid urbanization and development of the open space will cause See WATERSHED, page 26
Number of liens placed on Covenant properties down Only nine properties in the Rancho Santa Fe Covenant will have liens placed against them after several homeowners paid their outstanding dues. In July, the Rancho Santa Fe Association suspended the privileges of 15 property owners who were delinquent on their 2010-11 assessment payments with liens scheduled to be placed on Aug. 31. Six of those owners made enough required payments by Aug. 31
to avoid liens and Association Manager Pete Smith gave credit to the Association staff for tracking down the money. “To have only nine properties in today’s environment within some 1,900 homes, that’s commendable,” Smith said. Last year liens were placed on 17 Covenant parcels. — Karen Billing