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PAGE A22 - FEBRUARY 25, 2016 - NORTH COAST
FROM ROUNDABOUT, A1 and others questioned the need for a traffic-calming device in an area that can get heavily congested. “Let traffic flow,” he said. “We don’t want to slow it down and compound an already impossible problem. Have a heart. Let’s listen to the residents.” In response, Public Works Director Eric Minicilli said the project stemmed from the long-established community plan, which calls for citywide improvements that discourage vehicles and make Del Mar more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly. “There was a desire to see reduced speeds in the community, to make it safer for
FROM WATER, A1 change from month to month based on water use. The issuance of the draft report is only the first step in a lengthy, legally-mandated process that must occur before rates can be raised. Next month, the board is scheduled to formally accept the cost of service study. A notice of the proposed rate increase will be mailed to district customers in April, and a public hearing will likely be held in May, after which the board could give final approval to the rate plan. Under that scenario, outlined in a district staff report, the earliest that the new, higher rates could take effect would be June 1. On Oct. 1, the board approved the rate plan by a 3-2 vote, with directors Greg Gruzdowich and Marlene King opposed. If the rate plan is ultimately approved by the board, the panel would have to vote each year on whether to raise rates by a maximum of 9 percent. The district did not raise rates in 2014 or 2015, instead absorbing rate increases by its wholesale suppliers and using reserves to make up the difference. District customers saw annual increases on their water bills from 2004 through 2013. Under the proposed rate plan, customers who use the least amount of water — and those who use the most — would see the highest percentage increases in their bills. Low-end users would be impacted by an increase on the fixed portion of their bill, while high-end users would be impacted by higher water rates. Those who use 150 units of water every two months — just above the district average —
FROM AWARDS, A2 children and teens in preschool through 12th grade. Casa de Amistad offers its after-school program on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the school year. In August, the organization offers a summer enrichment program for kindergarten through sixth-grade students. “Casa de Amistad has made a positive impact in student achievement and learning by increasing homework completion and classroom participation, as well as improved grades,” the board said in its nomination letter. “Many of Casa de Amistad 12th grade students have applied to and have been accepted at a number of California’s top universities and the numbers continue to rise. Volunteers with STEM-based backgrounds help to reinforce the value of science and mathematics and encourage students to consider a career in STEM fields.” Casa de Amistad currently serves 204 students from Solana Beach School District, Del Mar
pedestrians and bicyclists,” Minicilli said. “That has always been a Del Mar goal, as far as I know, and it’s always been communicated to staff from council that that is something the folks in Del Mar want to see happen.” The intersection is already frequently used by pedestrians during the fair, racing season and special events, and now, River Path Del Mar is being extended. Minicilli pointed out that the city completed sidewalk improvements along a southeast portion of Jimmy Durante Boulevard toward the intersection last year. “Jimmy Durante Boulevard is a well-designed road,” Minicilli said. “It’s meant to carry cars at 40 miles an hour —
that’s what it’s been designed for. It does a good job of that. “Again, the thought process here was, we did want to make a change to that roadway to drop those speeds and make it more pedestrian-friendly,” he added. “That is truly why there is a project here.” An environmental impact report concluded that a roundabout is “environmentally superior” to other alternatives at the intersection. The report also looked at the possibility of installing a traffic signal as well as not making any improvements to the intersection. Speaking as a resident, Councilman Al Corti agreed that a roundabout is the best choice. “I think doing nothing is clearly not
would see their bi-monthly bills go up by 10.1 percent the first year, to $680.03, from the current $617.37. Also at Thursday’s meeting, officials discussed the Santa Fe district’s efforts to cut water use in response to mandates from the state of California, which were issued in 2015 as the statewide drought entered its fourth year, and water supplies reached critical levels in some parts of the state. In 2015, state water officials ordered local water districts to cut their water use by a range of targets, based on the districts’ per capita consumption of drinking water. Because Santa Fe was at the top end of per-capita water use in California, its reduction target was set at 36 percent. Districts that failed to meet the statemandated targets faced potential fines of $10,000 per day. A report on Thursday’s agenda said that between June and January, Santa Fe customers cut their water use by a cumulative average of 35 percent below the base year of 2013. Going forward, the district expects its reduction target to be lowered to 28 percent due to credit for the water produced by the new desalination plant in Carlsbad, which is shared by agencies throughout San Diego County. In January, the average amount of water used per person each day in the Santa Fe district was 163 gallons, less than half of the amount used in June, when the per-capita figure was 373. In September 2014, residents of the Santa Fe district were using an average of 584 gallons per person per day, according to a state report, which at that time was the highest in California. Union School District, Encinitas Union School District, Cardiff School District, Carlsbad Unified School District and San Dieguito Union High School District. More than 180 individuals volunteer weekly as tutors and mentors. “Thank you, truly, from the bottom of hearts,” said board member Julie Union. “We just really appreciate what you do to help our children.” In partnership with the Association of California School Administers, the San Diego County School Boards Association honors outstanding school board members, administrators, staff, college professors and community members for their dedication to public education every year. Last year, Stephanie Kowack was selected as the county’s “Parent Volunteer of the Year” for her work with Solana Beach School District, San Dieguito Union High School District and the greater community. The 2016 “Honoring Our Own” Awards dinner is March 18 at the Sheraton San Diego Resort and Marina on Harbor Island.
the right decision,” said Corti, who lives near the site. “In looking at the alternative, I think the roundabout is the better solution.” After reviewing the report, the committee voted 4-2 that the document was adequate, with members Robin Crabtree and Tracy Martinez voting against the motion. Committee member Jeffrey Dysart was absent from the meeting. Among other issues, Martinez said the roundabout might slow speeds at the intersection, but it will also likely cause motorists to accelerate when exiting the circle. “If the ultimate goal is for pedestrian safety, it needs to be something that we work on for the entire route, not just at that one intersection,” she said.
FROM RAISES, A1 of 7 percent raise for 2015-16 and an additional 5.5 percent effective July 2016, as well as increased compensation for extracurricular activities. Trustees John Salazar and Mo Muir voted against the increases, as they have for all district raises. SDUHSD Superintendent Rick Schmitt said the “dedicated” and caring classified employees have not received a master contract raise since 2007. “The agreement continues to provide budget stability for the San Dieguito Union High School District as well as financial security and stability for our hardworking classified employees,” Schmitt said. SDUHSD Vice President Joyce Dalessandro said the district’s classified employees represented the nuts and bolts of the district, the daily details and the “take for granted’s” — she said their list of contributions and areas of expertise are far too numerous for her to mention. “This group has been without a salary increase for the longest than any group in San Diego County, which says a lot about your loyalty, dedication and ability to hang in there knowing that in time we would do the right thing,” Dalessandro said. Schmitt said the district can afford the increase in salaries as it has budgeted conservatively and has healthy reserves. He said typically districts spend 85 percent of their budgets on personnel and even with the raises for all three SDUHSD employee groups, the SDUHSD is significantly under 85 percent for the cost of personnel. With growth in state revenue and increased enrollment, Schmitt said they expect to see their funding increase from the state. He said that the district is in a “healthy and — Rick Schmitt stable” position and is maintaining a Superintendent of San Dieguito healthy level of reserves, some of the Union High School District highest in the district’s history — after 2017-18, the reserve is projected to be at 13 percent, according to SDUHSD Associate Superintendent Eric Dill. “This raise is affordable and it is also equitable and fair,” Schmitt said. Muir reiterated her concerns about class sizes and about the language in the contract increasing class sizes to 38.4 and 34.6 for high school and middle school respectively. Schmitt stated that Muir’s numbers were not correct. As Jason Viloria, associate superintendent of administrative services, has explained in past discussions, the new contract language does not increase the maximums for class size averages, it simply clarifies the ratio and process — class sizes remain 32 students to one teacher for high school and 29:1 in middle school. Schmitt said there are no changes to class sizes in this contract. “Class sizes are the lowest they have been in a decade, I want to make sure that’s clear,” Schmitt said. Muir continued to disagree that class sizes won’t increase. After the 3-2 vote, Dalessandro expressed her frustration that the vote was again not unanimous and did not give full support to the district’s staff. “I don’t get this, this has pushed me to the edge here,” Dalessandro said, noting that her comments were uncharacteristic of her but she said she felt the need to speak up. “These are our employees,” she said to the loud applause of the employees in the crowd. Salazar dismissed Dalessandro’s comments as “grandstanding” and “pandering” to the crowd. “We’re not against the employees. We’re against it because we don’t think it’s fiscally responsible,” Salazar said, noting that he is only doing the job he was elected to do and that board members are allowed to think differently. The argument was interrupted by SDUHSD Board President Beth Hergesheimer’s gavel as she moved the meeting along.
agreement continues “toThe provide budget stability for the San Dieguito Union High School District as well as financial security and stability for our hardworking classified employees.
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