Planning Group Meeting on Wednesday
County Planner Stephanie Neal, gave an informational presentation of the draft plan of the North County Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP). The MSCP plan is to acquire or permanently protect thousands of acres of parkland in the San Diego County unincorporated areas. Planning Group questions focused on which lands will & will not be included. See attached map.
The Fallbrook Village Association gave an informational update on The Fallbrook Railroad Park. The Village Association has received a grant funding stage 2 of this project. A covered ticket booth with a clock tower and displays will be built at the corner of Main and Elder, next to the red caboose that is there now. There is a plan to have solar panels on the roof to provide power to the clock and light posts that will surround the area.
The Planning Group heard a request for waiver on fencing around the Crestwood Behavioral Health facility (formerly Fallbrook Hospital on Elder), plus a request by a resident for the County to install guardrails on Carriage Lane, and a request by community members for the County to install public toilets, and a community complaint of daily loud noise near their back yard. Kathleen Lippitt spoke about her desire for the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) to close down THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) operations. Lippitt (who lives in Poway) makes frequent public comments against marijuana in communities throughout the County, including Vista, Santee, Lemon Grove, San Bernardo and San Diego County. Fallbrook Planning Group has zero influence with the DEA.
The Planning Group is only been an advisory committee to the County Planning and Development Services. Recently the members have taken several steps attempting to increase their authority. The Planning Group has created subcommittees chaired by their own members to monitor and report on activities of other local special districts and nonprofits. The Fallbrook Planning Group wastes their meeting time mostly deluding themselves that they have any authority at all in these areas; Special Districts, such as NCFPD (Fire Protection), FRHD (Health) Schools, SANDAG, and incorporated nonprofits such as Trail Council and Historical Society are all self-governed according to existing laws.
Meanwhile, the Planning Group spends an extraordinary amount of time debating their own administrative processes and bylaws.
North County Fire Protection District Met
Board heard a presentation about first aid classes and Disaster Preparedness classes. There will be a symposium at the High School on March 25 on Wildfire Preparedness. There have also been First Aid Classes at the Wellness Center. Board President Acosta asked if any classes are in Spanish. They are not but translation is available if requested.
A contract with U.S. Digital Design was approved to upgrade the alert system. It includes an LED display plus time clock which will assist in meeting the strategic goal of decreasing response times. They voted to surplus 2 vehicles to be sold at auction and to proceed with a rain related emergency roof repair contract with Sylvester Roofing of $114,000 which is exempt from CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act).
The Board met out of sequence because they will be in Palm Springs this week for a retreat.
Fallbrook Elementary Board to Meet Monday, February 27th at 6 pm
The agenda is here. Two firms will make presentations to the Board on their proposals for a Superintendent search.
Fallbrook High School Board to Meet Tuesday, February 28th at 5:30 pm
The agenda is here. The Board will decide on the appeal of retaining the book, Beyond Magenta, on the shelves. Another book, Fun Home, was removed from Ivy School. Critics belonging to the Christian Nationalist group, Fallbrook Freedom Fighters called the book “pornography”.
Discussion of the need to hire and retain fully qualified teachers is on the agenda.
Also on the agenda is approval of a contract with a private school in Del Mar for one student for the balance of this year in the amount of $18,000.
