August 9, 2006 - Top Stories
The Board of Supervisors Wednesday approved a General Plan 2020 road network that projects several sections, including parts of Valley Center Road with a level of service of “F”, the worst possible.
Sections with an “F” rating would be at gridlock conditions most of the time once the projected growth occurs here, according to County traffic engineers. Some estimates say that will happen within five years.
The road section projected to be an “F” that would most affect Valleyites is the stretch along Valley Center Road between Cole Grade and Lilac.
The vice chairman of the VC planning group, Larry Glavinic, told supervisors before the vote: “You’re building a system from the get-go that has bottlenecks in critical links.”
The reasoning of staff, and the supervisors who voted for the plan, is that the County won’t have the funding to fix some roads that are projected to fail.
Staff proposed, and the supervisors went along with, the logic that 90% of the roads in the unincorporated area will operate at a level of service of “D” or better. “A” is the best level.
The plan that the supervisors passed was $7.4 billion leaner than the previous road plan.
Glavinic called the money-saving measure “a penny wise and pound foolish solution.”
Planning group Chairman Keith Simpson put a less harsh spin on the vote: “The planning group is very pleased that the board of Supervisors adopted the GP2020 Circulation Element plans for Valley Center because we worked very hard with the DPLU (Dept. of Planning & Land Use) to formulate those plans. While there are still a few segments of our road network that, according to traffic modeling, will have failing levels of service, we also avoided large freeway-like roads in the middle of our town.”
Staff also argued that because of improved road standards for many of the 92 road segments in the County that roads with “F” levels of service could accommodate more traffic before they fail.
In other words, the “F” rating wouldn’t actually be that bad in practice.
This prompted Supervisor Pam Slater-Price to comment, “You can’t get 44,000 ADTs (average daily trips) out of a two lane road.”
The vote comes after the County has wrestled with GP2020 for eight years.
County Deputy Planning Director Ivan Holler said he anticipated that the entire GP2020 plan may come to a vote within a year now that the road network has been adopted.
The board was voting for the entire county circulation map, of which VC’s roads were but a small component.
Supervisors approved the following instructions to dealing with Valley Center:
1. Look at Valley Center Road alignment east side at Steve Flynn’s (Bell's) Property across from the dairy.
2. Give Susan Barry a commercial not a residential designation.
3. New road segment 3A to Old Hwy 395 (formerly Nelson Way) some urgency in construction. It would provide Lilac Ranch westerly access to Old 395.
4. Delete Betsworth connection to Hidden Meadows.
5. Keep Mirar de Valle at two lanes, but instruct County Staff to contact CalTrans about a major redesign to the I-15 and Mountains Meadow / Deer Springs interchange.
Several speakers, including a Pauma man who said he is a traffic engineer with 30 years experience, said that the County was downplaying the existing conditions .
The speaker asked, with the number of planned level of service of “F” roads, will this require every project to get an exception for approval because of “special and unusual circumstances?”
Simpson made a pitch to the supervisors to adopt a road that would divert traffic around Valley Center to serve casinos. He called this concept “a necklace of diamonds.”
Predictions of “F” levels of service are at best educated guesses of traffic engineers. They indicate potential choke points (bottlenecks/gridlock).
Hidden Meadows residents got what they wanted when the Board of Supervisors acted on their quest not to include the Betsworth connection. The Meadowites felt that this would burden their community with too many motorists going from Valley Center to I-15 and vice versa.
However, some observers noted that unless Hwy 76 is improved concurrently with the extension of Mirar De Valle, that Mountain Meadows Road could become a “casino gateway” from I-15.
Although the supervisors directed staff to look at a scenic type designation for east Hwy 76, there are no construction dollars for improvements to this road.
Although the VC planning group did not get everything it wanted, Simpson credited the group with getting a lot of it.
“The planning group was very effective in developing plans that create additional road capacity, while also getting the County to adopt rural road standards that will protect our rural characteristics.
“The good news is that the plans will provide additional connections to I-15 and more roads around our community center; the bad news is that we were unsuccessful in our attempt to get county officials to develop more solutions for the failing levels of service on Valley Center Road.
“I guess the old adage is still true: you can’t have your cake and eat it too. In the end, we didn't get everything, but we got a lot.”
Glavinic blamed many of the road network’s problems on the fact that the planning group and County staff were working under a deadline.
“The link between the north and south village ought to be enhanced with alternate routes that only became apparent with the artificial deadline that the County put in the iterative process. They said ‘We are going to the Board of Supervisors and here’s the date and we’re going to work everything into that date.’
“This became apparent with the last iteration on the network circulation. They stopped entertaining solutions. It’s sort of the mantra of the ninety percent solution. Ninety percent of roads will be a “D,” (one level down from previous plan) but that’s a stupid way to look at. They are not looking at throughput.
“Their excuse is they are never going to solve the problem, so they are going to take an arbitrary point in time and say ‘stop.’”
Some critics of the road plan noted that there was at least one exception to the “on the cheap” philosophy.
The subject of the new road that will serve the Lilac Ranch development was discussed. This road will go west from Lilac to Old Highway 395, just north of Nelson Way.
During this discussion Supervisor Bill Horn, who lives a quarter mile from the road in question, commented: “Yeah, you need to do this road right away!”
A year ago this week the California Highway Patrol announced that it would begin a year of aggressive enforcement to battle the problem of “Ninja” bikers on Palomar Mountain, Valley Center Road and Hwy 76.
The CHP announced the beefed up police presence with a dramatic press conference held at the summit of Palomar Mountain.
“Motorcyclists, beware! We’re going to be there!” announced Lt. Rich Renniea a year ago.
The County Dept. of Public Works also announced that it would add mile-markers every tenth of a mile to help firefighters locate accidents quickly.
A year later residents of Palomar Mountain haven’t noticed that much has changed, although the mile-markers were installed.
Tom Kerns, public affairs officer for the Oceanside office of the CHP, speaking about the additional enforcement, says, “It did make an impact.”
He notes that during that period of a year that the number of fatalities on South Grade and East Grade have been zero.
Kerns told The Roadrunner: “Because of our requirements to cover Fallbrook, we have continued to cover Palomar Mountain since August [even though the grant has run out]. Officers go up and down the mountain every day. As far as the amount of collisions, they have been minimized.”
CHP Senior Volunteers also drive up and down the mountain on a daily basis, said Kerns.
The enforcement, paid for by a grant of the Office of Traffic Safety, was supposed to consist of at least 14 strike force operations.
The CHP provided us no information as to whether those strike force operations actually took place.
The additional police presence was to be enhanced by assistance from agencies such as the Sheriff’s Dept. and local police departments.
Lt. Sean Gerrity, commander of the VC Sheriff’s substation was asked by The Roadrunner what traffic enforcements his officers have participated in.
“Thus far, I am not aware of any enforcement details that involved deputies out of my station. This does not mean they didn't happen though, since all I have to offer here at this station are 4-wheel drive vehicles and very few ‘traffic trained’ deputies,” said Gerrity.
He added, “CHP has the grant, and intended to also work with other agencies, such as Escondido Police Department and perhaps the Sheriff's San Marcos Station—the San Marcos Sheriff's Station and Escondido Police, both close to Palomar, have traffic divisions that include sedans and motorcycles (as I said, something that I can't offer).”
However, “According to the traffic sergeant at the San Marcos Sheriff's Station, none of his personnel, to his knowledge, have been involved in any Palomar Mountain enforcement details to date,” said Gerrity.
Rhonda Black, a mountain resident, told The Roadrunner: “I haven’t noticed any enforcement going on. I don’t see any change. The only sign I’ve seen of CHP up here is when they are shooting car commercials.”
Barbara Symons, who owns property on the mountain, but lives in Oceanside, says she has been afraid for two years to venture up there.
“I have not noticed any enforcements,” said Symons. “After my car was totaled up there in November of 2004 by motorcycles on the wrong side on a blind curve, I’m afraid to drive up there on the weekend. Since I work it really limits how often I go up there.”
She was hit when a group of bikers were racing down the mountain. “I guess the guy who came around the turn smacked into me instead. It’s a horribly dangerous situation up there. People pass on the right or on the right and left at the same time!”
Larry Read, owner of the Oak Knoll Campground at the foot of Palomar Mountain said, “Actually, I’ve noticed an increase in numbers. I call the CHP until I’m blue in the face and they take my name and number.”
According to Read, “The CHP has been out here twice in the last year and they do what I call a blitz or a token enforcement. They come out and enforce for a half day with six cars and they nail them down good and then they don’t come down for another six months. They are reeactive, not proactive. I call those token enforcments. They come out to appease the public and then they go away.”
“Nope, no changes and very few sightings of CHP,” said Louise Walls, a Crestline Road resident.
Donna Rosiar, who works at guest services at the Christian Conference Center on the mountain, commented, “I don’t believe I’ve noticed any enforcments. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened. But the motorcycles still go up and down the hill. They’re still pretty fast and hanging on over that line. It’s a subculture up here and those of us who live up get used to it. Those of us who live here learn to drive on the white line.”
It worries Rosiar that her teenage daughter will soon go for a driver’s license. “That makes me really nervous,” she said.
Bonnie Phelps, a Realtor who lives on the mountain, commented: "We did see CHP activity for a while but when the CHP isn’t visible, the bikers take over again.
“One couple came up to see property on a weekend. They were late because of an accident and so frazzled by the time they got here, they decided that Palomar was not for them at all. It wasn't so much the accident that scared them away, but the many bikers that seemed so impatient because of the delay and passed them on their drive up, racing over the double yellow line on blind curves. They also commented on how extremely loud the bikes seemed to be. Apparently some have been modified to run faster and are not even street legal. We have asked the CHP for decibel meter check points.
“Rather than a token few guys getting a ticket occasionally, if the illegal bikes were hauled off Palomar, it might make more of an impact to make our community safer and quieter for all,” said Mrs. Phelps.
Resident John Black commented, “I was always wondering why they haven't posted a speed limit on the grade so it could be enforced a little easier, probably the ninja bike riders wouldn't pay attention but it would be easier for the CHP to give tickets. I have noticed a lot more riders instead of less and they all ride like maniacs on a self-destruct mission.”
Rick Kneeshaw, another owner, told The Roadrunner, “I did notice one weekend a few months ago when I counted three CHP units on South grade and Hwy. 76.
“I drive a 30 foot motor home up and down the mountain about every three weeks and have on two occasions had motorcycles pass me on both sides simultaneously.
“Many other times motorcycles will encounter my motor home on a curve when they are leaning their bike over on my side of the line at high speed. Once they see the motor home they will attempt to straighten up vertically to avoid hitting me and that maneuver causes them to temporarily lose control of their bike. I can see them wobbling and swerving in my mirror as they attempt to regain control. We live in fear of one of them hitting us,” said Kneeshaw.
Mountain resident Linda Thorne commented, “I have watched motorcycles running the grade for many years. The problem is getting much worse!
“The motorcyclists are arrogant and have little regard for anyone else on the road. I have overheard cyclers conversations at the Summit, ‘I don't worry about cars on the road anymore,’ ‘It’s everyone for himself!’ ‘Anything is worth a good run’ and ‘Cars should get out of the way, or pull over if we need to pass.’ ”
Friday at 5 p.m. is the deadline to file for various electoral offices in Valley Center and Pauma Valley.
Most of them require that you travel to the Registrar of Voters office in San Diego to get papers and file. The Registrar’s office is located at 5201 Ruffin Road, Suite I, San Diego. Call them at (858) 565-5800 or toll free at (800) 696-0136 if you have questions. Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
A few local agencies offer the papers, but you still need to file them in San Diego.
VC-Pauma Unified School District: The seats of Henry Van Wyk, Lori Johnson and Barbara Rohrer are up for election. As of Monday, all three incumbents had picked up papers. Local pediatrician Doug Dechairo has also picked up papers, although he has not yet filed. Johnny Sowers, a longtime teacher in another district, told The Roadrunner this week that he intends to file before the deadline.
VC Planning Group: Seven seats are open for this advisory council to the Board of Supervisors. As of Monday, Susan Simpson, appointed incumbent, Cindy Wallace, education director, David A. Montross, contractor, John Coulombe appointed incumbent, Eric Laventure, a water district tech and former member of the planning group, had picked up papers.
Valley Center Municipal Water District: Three seats are up for grabs in this district, which includes Valley Center and parts of the I-15 Corridor. Incumbents are Randy Haskell, Div. 2, Gary Broomell, Div. 3 and Merle Aleshire, Div. 5, are up for election. All three have picked up papers and filed them.
Pick up filing papers at the VCMWD office located at 29300 Valley Center Rd. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. M-F. To find out if you are a resident of any of these divisions, call Gen. Mgr. Gary Arant at 749-1600.
Yuima Municipal Water District: Two seats are up for election. The incumbents are Bill Knutson in Div. 4 and Doug Anderson in Div. 1. Both have picked up their papers and filed.
Valley Center Fire Protection District: All five seats of the VC Fire District are up for election this year. Two of them are two-year terms. The rest are four-year terms. So far one person, Oliver Smith, an electrical engineer who also serves on the VC Planning Group, has picked up filing papers. He has not yet filed them.
VC Parks & Rec District: The seats of Tom Bumgardner, Eric Jockinsen, and Fran DeWilde are up for election. Eric Jockinsen and Tom Bumgardner have picked up papers and filed them. Call Tiffany at 749-8852 for more information.
Deer Springs Fire Protection District: Three seats are open on the board of this district, which serves parts of VC and the I-15 Corridor. Tom Bumgardner, incumbent, has picked up papers but not yet filed.
Pauma Valley Community Services District: Three seats are up for election is this district. Incumbents are Ronald Stewart, William Taylor, and Richard Meyers. Filing papers can be picked up at the district office, located at 33129 Cole Grade Road. You can call the district at 742-1909.
Pauma Valley Community Services District: Three seats are open on this district. So far no one has pulled papers or filed.
Pauma Municipal Water District: Two seats are open on this governing water district board. So far, Yoneo Kariya, a farmer, has filed.
Rincon Ranch Community Services District: This Pauma Valley District has four seats available. Three are long terms, and one is a short term. Manny Grey and Bernard Jensen have filed for the long terms. No one has picked up papers for the short term.
Mootamai Municipal Water District: Two seats are open on this board whose district serves part of Pauma Valley. Incumbent Don Cline has filed for one seat. Michael Biondi has filed for the other seat.
At their special meeting Aug. 3 directors of the VC Fire Protection District board and County representatives agreed in principle to a contract where the County will pay the district $721,972 for extra fire protection every year for three years.
The money, which the Board of Supervisors authorized two months ago, will be spent on two items:
• $184,066 for the Amador program. This program pays California Dept. of Forestry & Fire Protection (CDF) to man its fire stations when there is no official fire season. Although the fire district had been told that it no longer needed to pay CDF for stationing personnel year-round because of a decision by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, it learned recently that the State probably won’t have enough funds to cover the extra personnel.
• $537,906 for Schedule A purposes, i.e. to pay for an extra CDF firefighter per engine 24/7. This works out to be five extra firefighters. Once this is in place each engine company will have three firefighters at all times.
The contract, which the fire board is expected to sign on Aug. 17, would commit the County for the next three years.
The money will be disbursed to the fire district, which will then negotiate a contract with CDF for the extra firefighters.
At the Aug. 3 meeting the board signed an interim contract that the VCFPD agrees to negotiate in good faith with CDF for the next contract.
The County’s final contract with VCFPD cannot be signed until the CDF contract is completed and signed. At that time, if the board of directors chooses, the final contract will be signed which will supersede the interim contract and the funds will then be available.
Fire Administrator Steve Mahady told The Roadrunner, “If all goes as planned we should have the CDF contract ready to be signed at the Aug. 17 meeting as well as the final County contract.”
The Valley Roadrunner
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Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
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