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Oceanside council tackles graffiti, design guidelines
By: MARGA KELLOGG - Staff Writer
Panel also backs senior shuttle pilot program | ∞
OCEANSIDE -- Senior transportation, a crackdown by the city on graffiti and the status of design guidelines for three blocks of North Pacific Street dominated City Council discussions Wednesday night.
With all five council members lauding the work of Oceanside's Senior Citizens Commission and staff, the council unanimously approved a contract with Santa Ana-based American Logistics Company not to exceed $115,000 for a pilot senior citizen shuttle service that would provide direct-service rides for those 65 years and older.
Costs would be based on one-way service and the senior client would be charged a $5 co-pay per one-way trip.
The program will be paid for with a grant from Genentech, which will last for a year. After that the city will have to find other ways of paying for the program if there is enough demand to continue it, said Megan Crooks, a city management analyst.
"The word is out," Crooks said.
Councilman Jerry Kern suggested that Kaiser Permanente and Scripps Encinitas might be tapped to help pay for the program if numbers gathered over the next year show the demand is there.
With regard to graffiti, Councilman Jack Feller called Oceanside's situation the worst he's seen "in quite a few years."
He pointed, as an example, to Greenbrier Drive at Oceanside Boulevard where the Sprinter light rail line is under construction, saying "it's on everything."
Feller put the issue on Wednesday's agenda for discussion only.
Councilwoman Esther Sanchez said she was glad the council was talking about the issue, but that the council needs to be sure that it goes after those who commit the crime.
Mayor Jim Wood, who spent 31 years in law enforcement, said the biggest problem is a societal change that has high school and middle school students refusing to identify taggers.
"They don't tell us anymore," he said. "We need somebody to come forward who lives in the community and who can tell us what's going on."
The council also continued discussion about design guidelines for three blocks of North Pacific Street between Surfrider Way and Breakwater Way.
Councilman Rocky Chavez brought the discussion back after the council last month voted down a request by Sanchez to consider a zone change that would require a minimum of 5 feet between homes on the three blocks of North Pacific Street.
Sanchez put the item on the agenda at the request of resident Pamela Myers, who lives on the street and has fought to preserve the ocean view and keep it open to sea breezes. However, the council rejected that idea by a 3-2 vote, with Chavez, Feller and Kern all voting no.
The west side of the three blocks is lined with homes that sit atop bluffs and overlook the Pacific Ocean. The street runs between the city's downtown and Oceanside Harbor.
Downtown design guidelines have been discussed by the city's Redevelopment Advisory Committee for more than a year, and will be the subject of a workshop Oct. 18, said city redevelopment manager Kathy Baker.
Chavez showed the council examples of how La Jolla and Pismo Beach have preserved their views.
"I think we can get there. I think it's compromise," he said. "I know staff has been working on this, but I wanted to bring it back to talk about how we can get to that vision of capuccino on the beach."
Chavez said he hopes in addition to addressing side setbacks for future development, ideas for creating visual openness, trees, walls -- everything will be included in the workshop recommendations.
North Pacific Street resident Sharon Lucarelli told the council she would like no antennas on roofs of the houses on the west side of the street and was concerned about unsightly trash cans and keeping them concealed.
"I think those two things are very important," she said.
Feller pointed out that unless there is new development along the west side of the street, there won't be anything to change.
"You can't make them do something to an existing piece of property," he said, adding that the city has heard little testimony from property owners on the west side of the street.
-- Contact Staff Writer Marga Kellogg at (760) 901-4067 or mkellogg@nctimes.com.
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Randy wrote on Oct 4, 2007 4:15 AM:Now that the City Council is finished pouring time and effort into the Chargers' quagmire, perhaps they might address real issues and turn this graffiti-laden gangland into San Clemente!-
Steve Oceanside wrote on Oct 4, 2007 4:20 AM:That was a good discussion at the councel meeting on this issue. I really believe that if you attack this issue more on the Civil Lidigation point, the impact would be more sucessful. These Thugs, Hoodlums, Bangers, need to be held accountable for thier actions and if not them because of thier age then Damn right go after the Parents. Guidence, Respect and Morales traning begins at home and this is not accomplished then who failed the "PARENT", I know I would agree to start a Citizens Patrol Agency, to look specifically for these Graffitti,Taggers,Bangers as well as be a Consultant for all schools to assist the Oceanside Police Department in identifing these Criminals for prosecution. We as citizens have to get involved because it's our Community, it's someones business, it's your residence!!! -
Greg in Oceanside wrote on Oct 4, 2007 5:06 AM:It doesn't take a mental genius to figure out where the graffiti taggers are coming from. Just drive up Greenbrier and Apple Streets and you can see for yourself...-
Jake wrote on Oct 4, 2007 6:47 AM:I'm tired of seeing Pamela Myers continue to promote her self interest here. If she wants a better view and more Ocean breezes she needs to buy one of the houses on the other side of the street.-
Graffiti downtown wrote on Oct 4, 2007 8:15 AM:I caught four guys tagging an electrical box in front of my house downtown on N Tremont Street and called the police. These kids left the car in front of my house and ran off. I took pictures of the car and license plate and when the police arrived the car was still there. The police said the car was registered from Temecula and they took pictures of the tagging. The police left and the kids came back around midnight and drove off. The police never came back or contacted me about the tagging and I don't think they ever prosecuted them. What more can I do! I catch them in the act and nothing happens. The police need to make this more of a priority and take it serious when citizens go out of their way to catch these scum bags.-
Baby Steps: wrote on Oct 4, 2007 9:27 AM:It is nice to see the Council Agree on something to serve the community for once.-
To Graffiti wrote on Oct 4, 2007 10:58 AM:You should have called "Cars for Charity." They would have sent a tow truck and hauled that car off before you could blink your eyes!
Linda wrote on Oct 4, 2007 11:19 AM:To Graffiti downtown: That's a disgrace!! You have every right to be upset!!!
The police do make it a priority! wrote on Oct 4, 2007 12:15 PM:but even when they catch them. The Juvenile courts don't do anything! If it the damage value is low, then these kids are released to thier parents who didn't care to begin with! How about we have a stronger curfew law, that jails these kids in Juvenile Hall. Oh that's right, there is no room there! It cost money folks. Not to mention that there aren't enough cops here in this city that keeps on growing! Especially with illegals!
Response to : Graffiti downtown wrote on Oct 4, 2007 12:20 PM:It is, but we were handling the shotings, fights, stabbings first! Sorry we didn't catch the illegal that the federal government can't keep across the border after we have caught him a hundred times! It's like bailing out a sinking ship with a tea spoon! They know where they are, look at Center Street Neighborhood, the Posole Neighborhoodm,The Mesa Margarita Neighborhood to start with! These kids are the hoodlums that terrorize the community! They also cost us in the form of schools and health care! Then they leave there marks like dogs on the streets and walls of out city! It starts there! Besides, big deal for the little vandalism! Increase the penalty for the graffitti crime. Start making the parenst pay, if yu can get a real name or corect address for them. With their fake ID's etc. So move on!
Call Oceanside Eys and get it painted over! wrote on Oct 4, 2007 12:22 PM:Go to the city's web site. Get the tel. # for Oceanside Eyes and let them know it needs to be painted! That will get you more satisfactio! Calling the polcie is a waste. they can't handle it. Even if they di, the courts won't follow through! Your nice neighbors are casuing the problem! It is thier kids!
Bla Bla Bla! wrote on Oct 4, 2007 12:24 PM:City officials blowing steam! Nothing is going to change! Move on! I know lets elect Hilary Clinton to fix it! It takes a village! It really takes a community to walk the street and stop it!
Nice Quote Mayor Wood, wrote on Oct 4, 2007 1:01 PM:"They don't tell us anymore," Wood said. "We need somebody to come forward who lives in the community and who can tell us what's going on." Amen to that Mayor!
To All who wrote wrote on Oct 4, 2007 5:01 PM:Let's agree to disagree on both the Police Deparment and City Counsel, but lets all agree to Impact the Parents with Extreme Civil Lidigation and Punitive Damages, then just maybe we will get thier ATTENTION. $5,000.00 or $10,000.oo Dollars fines could be a great start. Emcourage your City Counsel to Back Councilmember Jack Feller with his Initiative to Fine the Parents!!!!
To Graffiti downtown wrote on Oct 4, 2007 7:13 PM:DON'T GIVE UP! I went through exactly what your talking about and after about six months of me calling in to dispatch about two times a week WE FINALLY CAUGHT THEM! It's not easy but IT DOES HAPPEN! The guys we identified finally and the OPD picked them up at thier homes. THERE WAS NO GRAFFITI AFTER THAT FOR 8 MONTHS! It eventually comes back, but now it's a lot less and far fewer because we call it in ASAP and it discourages the taggers.
FTM to Randy wrote on Oct 4, 2007 7:43 PM:Ha ha LOL I like that. We Ocenasiders can also preserve our views by following "Graffiti downtown"s example and CALL IN the Graffiti to police and not letting the tagger scare us. You know that most tagger are 13 years old? C'mon people, you don't need to fear a 12 year old, just call the police and tell them when you see them. Thanks "Graffiti downtown" your our hero!
FTM to Call Oceanside Eys and get it painted over! wrote on Oct 4, 2007 7:45 PM:Call Oceanside Eys and get it painted over! IS ABSOLUTLY RIGHT! The lady who runs that program with Mr. Mertz is TERRIFIC! They get on the graffiti ASAP! I alsmost forgot to mention it! Thanks "Call Oceanside Eys and get it painted over!" for reminding me! (The guys in Orange witll be there the very next day)
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