CITY COUNCILS

CARLSBAD

The Carlsbad City Council met Tuesday and gave final approval, 4-1, to its hotel employee recall rights ordinance. Reports were presented on the city's 2019-20 annual financial audit results and on upcoming municipal service reviews by the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) of the city of Carlsbad and Carlsbad Municipal Water District. Marissa Steketee was appointed to the Parks & Recreation Commission.

DEL MAR

The Del Mar City Council met in closed session Monday to discuss litigation. In open session, the council discussed its 6th Cycle Housing Element and the penalties involved for not fulfilling its obligations, which could include reduced state funding, increased legal costs and financial penalties, and less local control over development. Planning Department staff also answered questions submitted by the community about various housing sites and alternatives.

ENCINITAS

The Encinitas City Council met Wednesday in closed session to discuss litigation. In open session, the council gave final approval to an ordinance regulating group homes, including sober living homes, and establishing permit fees for group home permits. The council also gave final approval to an ordinance adopting a program to encourage affordable housing by increasing density bonuses up to 41 percent. A density bonus lets developers increase the housing units they may build in return for building more units of affordable housing. The council approved the city's Rail Corridor Cross-connect implementation plan, and approved a recommendation from the Environmental Commission to declare a climate emergency. The council also heard a presentation on the pavement program for the city's streets and sidewalks.

ESCONDIDO

The Escondido City Council met in closed session Wednesday to discuss litigation, property negotiations and labor negotiations. In open session, the council gave final approval to a master development plan for the Nutmeg Homes project on the south part of the project site. The council held a hearing and approved a tentative subdivision map and condominium permit for 10 units at 245 E. El Norte Parkway, developed by Habitat for Humanity. All units would be reserved for low-income households.

OCEANSIDE

The Oceanside City Council met in special session Tuesday to certify its election results and swear in newly elected officials, including Mayor Esther Sanchez. Outgoing Councilmember Jack Feller was recognized for his 20 years of service. The council also met in closed session Wednesday to discuss property negotiations and litigation. In open session, the council decided to fill its vacant District 1 council seat by taking applications. They are available at ci.oceanside.ca.us under “City News” and are due by Jan. 8. The council also held a hearing and set tax rates for cannabis manufacturers to 2.5 percent, distributors to 2 percent, and cannabis cultivation to 1.5 percent.

POWAY

The Poway City Council met Tuesday to certify its election results and swear in re-elected Councilmember Barry Leonard and newly elected Councilmember Caylin Frank. Leonard was appointed as deputy mayor. The council directed staff to proceed with sending out requests for qualifications for development of the Monte Vista affordable housing site. The council held hearings and approved a request to allow four more wall signs and three more monument-style signs at 14400 and 14500 Kirkham Way; and a request to allow subdivision of two parcels into six single-family residential lots at 12102 and 12118 Poway Road.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS BONSALL

The Bonsall Unified School District board met Wednesday for its annual organizational meeting. Board member Larissa Anderson was voted president. Outgoing board member Richard Olson was recognized for his 28 years of service. The board held a closed session to discuss personnel. In open session, the board agreed to change student schedules because of the potential for an increase in COVID-19 cases after returning from holiday break. The board approved distance-only teaching for the first week back from break (Jan. 4-8). Starting Jan. 11, students will return to normal schedules (hybrid cohorts and distance-only). The board also authorized the district to issue Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes to pay costs until state reimbursement comes in, and heard a presentation on its transportation budget.

CARDIFF

The Cardiff School District board met Tuesday for its annual organizational meeting. Siena Randall is the board president. The board approved its first interim budget report and its budget overview. A closed session followed to discuss litigation and labor negotiations.

CARLSBAD

The Carlsbad Unified School District board met Wednesday and elected new officers: Claudine Jones, president, and Elisa Williamson, vice president. The board met in closed session to discuss personnel. In open session, the board heard reports on the modernization projects for Aviara Oaks Elementary and Buena Vista Elementary schools. The board heard a report on school reopening and approved delaying the return date to Jan. 25 for secondary students in hybrid learning mode. The date for elementary students returning full time will also be moved to Jan. 25 with the possibility of earlier return.

DEL MAR

The Del Mar Union School District board met Wednesday for its organizational session. Board member Erica Halpern was elected board president. In closed session, the board discussed litigation. In open session, the board approved joining the School Project for Utility Rate Reduction (SPURR) joint powers authority during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school year. The board also approved adoption of the Amplify Science curriculum for an estimated $850,000 for five years.

ENCINITAS

The Encinitas Union School District board met Tuesday for its annual organizational session. Emily Andrade was elected board president and Marla Strich was elected vice president. The board heard a report on the EUSD Cloud Campus, its virtual learning program. The board also approved the collective bargaining agreement with the Teachers of Encinitas effective 2019-2022, and agreed to offer an early retirement incentive to eligible certificated employees. A closed session followed to discuss litigation.

ESCONDIDO

The Escondido Union School District board convened Thursday for its organizational meeting. The new board president is Doug Paulson and the vice president is Joe Muga.

The Escondido Union High School District board met in closed session Tuesday to discuss labor negotiations and litigation. In open session, board members were sworn in. Tina Pope was elected board president and Christi Knight as vice president. The board approved adjustments to contracts with the California School Employees Association, Escondido Chapter 219, and with the Escondido Secondary Teachers Association.

FALLBROOK

The Fallbrook Union Elementary School District board met Monday to swear in its members and conduct annual organizational duties. Caron Lieber was elected board president and Suzanne Lundin was elected vice president. The board approved initial contract proposals to and from the California School Employees Association, Fallbrook Chapter. The board also approved its Phase Three school reopening plan, which will begin Feb. 1. All students will be in virtual learning for two weeks after the winter break, then on Jan. 19, will return to the current schedule (Tk-grade 1, four days in person and grades 2-8 hybrid). On Feb. 1, Tk-grade 3 will attend class daily in person, special education grades 4-8 will attend four days in person, and the rest of those in grades 4-8 will stay on the hybrid schedule. The Fallbrook Union High School District board met Monday in closed session to discuss litigation and labor negotiations. In open session, board members were sworn in. Diane Summers was elected board president and Eddie Jones was elected vice president. The board approved the 2020-21 contract with the Fallbrook High School Teachers Association. The board also approved $35,000 to remove some trees on campus to increase sunlight on its new solar array.

OCEANSIDE

The Oceanside Unified School District board met Tuesday in closed session to discuss litigation, property negotiations and labor negotiations. In open session, board members were sworn in. Stacy Begin was elected president and

Eric Joyce as vice president. The board approved a resolution allowing the sale of the Ocean Shores High School property to the city of Oceanside for $1.83 million. The board also approved issuing $25 million in Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes for 2020-2021. The notes are repaid from general fund revenues earned in the fiscal year.

POWAY

The Poway Unified School District board met in closed session Thursday to discuss litigation. In open session, the board swore in its members, then elected Ginger Couvrette as president and T.J. Zane as vice president. The board approved borrowing roughly $20 million through the California Education Note Program to cover deficits until state reimbursements arrive. The board also voted to suspend on-campus learning from Jan. 4-15. All students will transition to virtual learning for those 10 days. On-campus programs will also be suspended for that period. Campuses would reopen Jan. 19. The board also approved an Ethnic Studies course and an Ethnic Literature course.

RAMONA

The Ramona Unified School District board met in closed session Thursday. In open session, board members were sworn in. Bob Stoody was elected board president and Daryn Drum as vice president. The board approved contract adjustments with the Ramona Teachers Association and the California School Employees Association Chapter 733. Consideration of new and amended board policies was tabled to the next meeting.

SAN DIEGUITO

The San Dieguito Union High School District board met Tuesday and elected board member Maureen “Mo” Muir as president and Melisse Mossy as vice president. The board voted 3-2 to expand on-campus instruction starting Jan. 27. After a lengthy meeting, the board voted to adjourn and meet again on Dec. 17.

SAN PASQUAL

The San Pasqual Union School District board met in closed session Tuesday to discuss labor negotiations. The board's new members were sworn in. Angie Baker was re-elected as board president and Tim Spivey was elected as vice president. The board reviewed and approved its first interim financial report and its budget overview for parents.

SOLANA BEACH

The Solana Beach School District board met in closed session Thursday to discuss litigation. In open session, board members were sworn in. Julie Union was elected as board president and Debra Schade as vice president.

VALLECITOS/RAINBOW

The Vallecitos School District board met Tuesday for its annual organizational session. Michael Darnley was elected board president and Martin Kurland as vice president. The board also approved its first interim financial report and its budget overview for parents. A closed session followed to discuss labor negotiations.

VALLEY CENTER-PAUMA

The Valley Center-pauma Unified School District board met Monday to swear in its members. Craig Adams was elected president and Julie Stroh as vice president. The board met in closed session to discuss litigation, labor negotiations and personnel. In open session, the board held a hearing and gave final approval to policies and procedures for education of district children living on Indian lands. The board also reviewed and approved its first interim financial report and its budget overview for parents.

VISTA

The Vista Unified School District board met Tuesday to swear in its members. Cipriano Vargas was elected board president and Debbie Morton as vice president. A closed session took place to discuss labor negotiations and litigation. In open session, the board heard a mid-year review on health and safety and school reopening; reviewed and approved its first interim financial report and its budget overview for parents; and approved borrowing funds by issuing $32 million in Tax Revenue Anticipation Notes. The board also met Thursday to continue the review of school reopening. The board decided that all schools will return to virtual learning starting Jan. 4. Elementary schools will do that for one week, then Vista Classic students will return to in-person learning on Jan. 11. The board discussed learning model revisions for spring and approved the elementary level model. The board set a special meeting for Jan. 14 to reconsider the middle and high school learning models.