When the Valley Center Fire Protection District (VCFPD) builds a third station, it will probably be on White Star Lane, just off Cole Grade Road, on land that it owns.
Thursday night the fire board accepted the "gap analysis" prepared by the consulting firm of Emergency Services Consulting Inc. (“ESCi”).
ESCi recommended that the district should select the White Star option because that part of town is currently “underserved, even by world standards,” quoting from the report, and because “this is a mature residential area that is contributing to both the revenue and demand of the district. Both will increase with the planned infill.”
The report recommended that the district “be prepared to add an additional station at Lilac-Keys Creek Road that is linked directly to the actual development of the projected housing project in that area.”
The developers of the proposed Lilac Ranch have offered to build a fire station for the district; however, the real cost of a station is manning it, not building it. It is comparable to having the money to buy a car, but not having the money to fill the tank or hire someone to drive it day after day.
The report notes that the fire district has established a level of service that matches the demographics and demand of its essentially rural nature. It notes, "the influx of new development is altering the distribution and concentration of the risk that is not necessarily changing the community into a suburban area." However the report does say that the uncertainty of future development creates problems for the district.
“One question that begs an answer is whether or not the growth will actually occur,” says the report.
Ron Coleman, who presented the ESCi report to the board, said it was very important for the board to receive updates on the gap analysis about every year.
Coleman said they have predicted the growth in the report, they just don’t know exactly when and where it will occur. That is why it is necessary to have periodic reports on what is essentially a moving target.
Fire board directors discussed the ramifications of the “gap analysis” report. “Gap” refers to the gap between what the district would like to provide in terms of services and what it actually provides.
Director Oliver Smith said that now that they have a good idea where to put the new station, they need to decide exactly what kind of station they want. They will have to decide what trade offs they have to make, he said.
“We will have three fire stations. What will the mix of those stations be? Will they be all reserve or paid call. To me that is the next step: what is it that we want at this station?” he said.
Director Dan Thornton said that they have two issues to decide. “We have the property and it has been reaffirmed that that is the right location. The details need to be worked out on staffing. There is nothing to keep us from moving forward on the station.”
Directors agreed that they have the money to build a structure. “It’s going to be like a mortgage on a house. We can use our incoming income to pay that out,” said Thornton.
The issue now to be decided is the Bureau Veritas Benefit Assessment Methodology Analysis. This is an analysis of various funding mechanisms that the district could use to raise money for operations. That is, to be able to man the station once it is built.
Very likely this consulting group will present the board with three possible funding options. It will pick one to go to the public with.
Thornton said he would hate to see that analysis postponed again.
It was postponed over a year ago when the County first began discussing a countywide fire department. The possibility existed that VCFPD would be folded into that. However, last year VCFPD, and several other Backcountry fire departments, were allowed to opt out of the county fire district.
Now that it is known that VC won't be part of that district for the foreseeable future, Thornton said that it is time to go ahead with an analysis so that homeowners will know how much it would cost them if they support a new funding mechanism.
Directors said they would like to be able to present a menu of different funding mechanisms and show the various ways to distribute the costs and how that would impact different individuals.
“Then at that point we will choose a method and go forward,” said Director Weaver Simonsen.
Thornton agreed that the next decision was to decide what methodology to use.
“How do we create something that people perceive as equitable? That is the question.” he said.
Board Pres. Mel Schuler added, “We owe it to the community to say, ‘If you want a third fire station, and if you are gong to support it, this is what it’s going to cost.’ ”
Directors clarified again that they are not talking about an assessment to build a fire station, “We’re talking about an assessment to operate it. The concern we have is the ongoing operational costs,” said Simonsen.
“Maybe one station will need to go to an all volunteer basis,” said Simonsen. “These are all things we will have to look at in the future.”
Directors also discussed what effect the county Prop. A might have on this process.
Prop. A, “An Ordinance to Improve and Enhance Firefighting Resources & Services by Adoption of a Regional and Local Fire Protection Parcel Tax,” would tack on an additional $52 tax per parcel per year to raise $50 million to fund a regional fire agency. That agency would be governed by a governing body consisting of ten members, including one member from the Board of Supervisors, the Mayor of San Diego, four city council members from four of the other 17 cities, and four members from Backcountry fire agencies.
Schuler said he didn't think that Valley Center would get much out of Prop. A.
Simonsen commented, “You pay a dollar and you get fifty cents of it back. What a deal!” He added that upon analysis of the recent grand jury report on fire services and the County’s answer to it, that it appears as though Prop. A was designed to make up for funding gaps in the City of San Diego’s fire protection services.
Another concern, is that Backcountry fire agencies, such as Valley Center, will be underrepresented on the governing board of the regional agency.
Thornton’s motion, which the board tabled until next month’s meeting, was to bring Bureau Veritas back, to discuss the three different alternatives and the ramifications of each.
Smith said that in his opinion, that the building of the fire station needs to proceed in tandem with the funding mechanism.
Thornton agreed, “There is no doubt in my mind that we are running out of room, we certainly need more space. We can certainly build it. I think we are in exciting times.”
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In the closed session that began the meeting directors apparently discussed hiring a new fire chief.
Schuler announced that the closed session had been spent going over the situation of having to replace the chief. There was nothing to report as yet, he said, and when they had something to report the press would be notified.
Harrah’s Rincon Casino opened its new sports bar, the Sports Pit, Friday night as part of a weekend celebration that included appearances by NFL stars Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin.
The Sports Pit has a lot to catch the eye, including 50 plasma TVs. One wall is dominated by about a dozen large TVs, each of them tuned to a different sports channel. It is possible for patrons to get headsets that will allow them to listen to their favorite game while they play some of the slot machines that are placed throughout the sports bar.
Other entertainments include the “19th Hole”, a golf simulator, the state-of-the-art World Series of Poker Room, Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, Golden Tee, Heads Up Poker, food and drink specials including assorted types of wings, nachos, burgers, sliders, pizzas, about 40 different beers, and $1.75 Miller Mondays.
On opening night people were lined up to try the golf simulator and the sliders and wings were also a big favorite.
Saturday afternoon former Oakland Raiders’ wide receiver Tim Brown signed autographs session with guests.
The Roadrunner was told that on weekends that the local ESPN radio station will broadcast from the “pit” and there will be frequent guest appearances by well-known sports figures.
“We hope to have more athletes and sports media at the Sports Pit and are working on setting up live broadcasts with various radio and television sports shows. This will add to the party atmosphere and continue to emphasize that if you’re a sports fan looking for a great time, then the Sports Pit at Harrah’s Rincon is the place for you,” said Vice President of Marketing Marcus Higgins.
Friday included a ribbon cutting for the new attraction, attended by casino and tribal officials, and presided over by Sanders and Irwin.
The VC Rotary Club’s third annual wine tasting, held in the Bordeaux Room of Harrah’s Rincon Casino, raised over $12,000.
It was, according to organizer Chelsea Good, the largest turn out ever for the event, with over 160 turning out to sample the hand-picked wines from all over the world, and to revel in the special cuisine donated by Harrah’s that included dim sum, rare roast beef, marinated vegetables and a selection of decadent desserts such as creme brulee and pumpkin tarts.
“The addition of the art auction this year was a wonderful feature and brought a new dimension to the event,” commented Miss Good. “Everyone was raving about the food that Harrah’s donated for the event.”
Top items purchased included several art pieces, a coach purse, a 7-day cruise and an all inclusive trip to Jamaica.
Some of the favorite art pieces included pieces of work from VC resident, Carol Bose, such as the chest that several grandparents envisioned in their granddaughters’ rooms.
The wide variety of wines featuring over 22 types from around the world were fun for everyone to sample and the beer lovers enjoyed the creations from the local Stone Brewery.
The newly completed Bordeaux Room was a good location with its view of Pauma Valley. Attendees wandered out on the deck or sat at tables and enjoyed the cooling evening.
Everyone seemed to have a good time with their friends, neighbors and meeting new people.
“Rotary views the event as a tremendous success in raising funds for local causes such as providing local high school seniors with college scholarships and international causes including and the fight to eradicate Polio,” said Good.
Primary school teacher Bill Kvitli was one of five honored Saturday night as San Diego County’s Teachers of the Year.
The five were chosen from a field of 43. The five teachers of the year will go on to represent San Diego County in the California Teacher of the Year program, which will be announced later this year.
This is the first time that someone from Valley Center has won this honor.
Earlier this year Kvitli, who is a a second grade teacher, was named Teacher of the Year for the district.
Bill Kvitli has, ever since he became a teacher 14 years ago, been the go-to-guy at the various Valley Center-Pauma school campuses where he has served, including the upper and lower elementary schools, Lilac School and the Adult Education School.
Coworkers are lavish with their praise of Kvitli. They will say that he’s wonderful with kids. Parents love him. He listens. He goes above and beyond the call of duty. He’s been on every committee in the district. He loves what he does and it shows.
Kvitli became a teacher late in life. He at first managed a wholesale produce company.
“I always knew that someday I would end up teaching. I got older and decided if I made a change I would have to do it soon,” he recalls.
He called the VC school district and asked to sit in classrooms. That turned out to be Patty Christopher’s first grade classroom. He ended up observing her one day a week for a year.
“I decided that was what I wanted to do,” he recalls.
After he finished student teaching he got a call from then Supt. Jeff Mulford telling him that he didn’t want Kvitli to go anywhere else.
Mulford liked Kvitli for his life experience.
Kvitli likes “seeing the light bulb when it comes on, when they really start to ‘get it.’ The kids are so responsive to learning. I’ve taught kindergarten through sixth grade. It doesn’t matter what their age, the majority are excited to learn. Really grabbing them is what I like.”
Last year when the primary school applied to be a California Distinguished School, an honor that it later won, Kvitli and Susan Barry were picked to write the application. Writing that application helped Kvitli to appreciate the school even more.
He believes that what makes the primary school special is dedication to the kids.
“No matter who you talk to, the custodian, or the lunch lady, everyone is involved with the kids. All feel that they have a part in those kids’ education. We all take it very seriously,” he says.
He loves what he does and wants to keep doing it, although he has a degree in administration. “I like the classroom.”
You’ll occasionally see Kvitli playing small parts in local theatrical productions. He has appeared in several student-produced films. He also sings, paints, does stained glass and belongs to several book clubs.
You are invited to learn about incorporating Valley Center at a meeting to be held Oct. 6, 7-9 p.m. at the primary school’s multipurpose room.
A committee of Valley Center community leaders has formed to study the feasibility of incorporating Valley Center.
Incorporation is a process by which a community removes itself from the County’s administration, and, for instance, makes its own land use decisions, but also has to pay for its own law enforcement.
The first meeting of this committee will be at the primary school.
Phil Carter, a consultant for the firm, Pacific Memorial Consultants World, will address the committee from 5:30–7 p.m. and then address community members from 7-9 p.m.
Carter has been instrumental in incorporating several California cities including Rancho Cordova, near Sacramento and most recently Wildomar in Riverside County.
Local resident Keith Davis has spent time with Carter and told The Roadrunner that he is enthusiastic about the opportunity for the committee and the VC community to learn what the “Road Map for Incorporation” looks like, ask questions and learn what will be entailed for success.
Some new twists have been added to the Pauma Fest to be held Sept. 27 at the park and playground that is operated by the Pauma Valley Community Assn. (PVCA).
The event will be hosted by the PVCA and the Pauma Valley Lions Club.
The park is located on Hwy. 76 one mile east of the Pauma Valley Country Club. Roadway signs will guide the visitors.
The event includes a pancake breakfast from 7–11 a.m. at the PVCA clubhouse (indoors).
The rummage sale (outdoors) begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at 11 a.m.
The expanded range of activities and attractions includes a smaller version of the farmers market which opened recently in Valley Center. There also will be fresh bread sales from Artisan Bakers of Escondido, and the sale of animal leashes that will benefit the Escondido Humane Society.
The Lions Club will have booths set up for art, music and Christmas decorations, plus provide face-painting for children. The Lions also will be promoting its 58th annual white cane/community fund-raiser.
Both hosting groups will have antique furniture for sale.
Pauma Fest funds received by the PVCA go toward improvements in the park. Its most immediate goal is to construct bathrooms to replace the portable ones.
The association has already received grant money from Supervisor Bill Horn’s office.
Presidents Tamara Kelich of the PVCA and Miriam Rutz of the Lions Club say there will be ample amounts of clothes, furniture, appliances and other items available for sale.
They have been soliciting rummage in and around Pauma Valley and Valley Center for weeks and have trucks to pick up the goods.
The Valley Roadrunner
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
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