OCEANSIDE - The City Council on Wednesday got behind the Sunrise Powerlink, but it wasn't without some sparks flying.

The Oceanside council voted 3-2 to support the controversial 150-mile transmission line that would stretch from Imperial Valley to a new substation southeast of Interstate 5 and Highway 56. Mayor Jim Wood and Councilwoman Esther Sanchez voted no.

"To say we're going to support this project when we don't even have the impacts, that doesn't make sense," said Sanchez, adding that a public hearing should be held before the council took a position.

Wood said he wants to see the information in a 7,000-page environmental report on the project that is to be released in January before making a decision.

The $1.4 billion line has strong support from the region's business community, but has been heavily criticized by environmentalists. While the proposed route largely avoids Julian by looping north around the popular resort town, the path for the project's 160-foot-tall poles slices through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Ramona, Poway, Scripps Ranch, Rancho Penasquitos and Carmel Valley.

The vote directing city staffers to prepare a resolution of support for the transmission line came after a presentation by J.C. Thomas of San Diego Gas & Electric Co. The utility says Sunrise Powerlink, which will transmit electricity generated by solar, wind and geothermal sources to the area, is necessary to ensure the region has enough electricity in coming years.

Deputy Mayor Rocky Chavez, who brought the issue forward, stressed that the council's vote was not about a route for the transmission line.

"Everybody knows we need to get off fossil fuels," said Chavez. "The question is, how we do it? My position is we just need to be supportive of transmission lines."

Councilmen Jack Feller and Jerry Kern agreed that there is a need for alternative sources of energy, but noted that regardless of how it's generated, there has to be a way to get it to residents.

"I really believe we need a transmission line," Kern said. "How do you get wind power to your home? This is how you do it."

Also Wednesday, in what Kern described as "the opening salvo of the silly season," the traditional rotation to the deputy mayor's seat collapsed when Wood nominated Kern for the seat rather than Feller, who was next in line. Both Wood and Feller have announced they will run for the mayor's seat in November. Sanchez's seat will also come open.

"Next year will be a very complicated year," said Wood, explaining his decision. "There are three people up for re-election. I wanted to pick somebody who would be available while the rest of us are running. He (Kern) is involved in the community and I thought he would do a great job."

The title of deputy mayor carries little weight and is more ceremonial than a working position.

However, Kern declined the nomination, saying Feller deserved the nod.

"This is my first year on the council," said Kern, who was elected in November 2006. "The mayor's going to have to make a tough decision on this one. The only person I'll support for deputy mayor is Jack."

Wood then pulled the item from the agenda pending further consideration. If Wood cannot get the council to support his nomination for the position, it reverts back to the sitting deputy mayor, Chavez.

In other business the council heard the first quarterly report on the new Community Safety Partnership, created to coordinate resources in the fight against gang activity in the city.

After two meetings, the group has developed a structural outline and a set of priorities.

Wood said the partnership is on the right track, but wanted to make sure that members of the city's commissions are not left out. Feller said he wanted to make sure the group is kept at a manageable number of about 10 members, and Sanchez said she wanted to make sure all the neighborhoods are represented.

The council also approved a new game center with 18 coin-operated electronic video games in conjunction with a new Shakey's Pizza Parlour at 4141 Oceanside Blvd.

- Contact staff writer Marga Kellogg at (760) 901-4067 or mkellogg@nctimes.com.