Following each election, the Escondido City Council holds a workshop to develop its Action Plan for the next two years.  The Action Plan represents the City Council’s collective vision for Escondido’s future and the strategies that will be used to achieve that vision. 

On February 27, the City Council held a nearly five-hour workshop to identify and discuss key policy goals. During that meeting, each council member was able to elaborate on their ideas for city priorities. At the conclusion of the workshop, the City Council approved the following categories (in alphabetical order) for the 2013-2014 Council Action Plan:

• Economic Development
• Fiscal Management
• Neighborhood Improvement
• Public Safety

 Over the next few months, City staff members will identify the current reality in each of those areas and develop strategies to achieve the City Council’s goals, as well as evaluation measures.  A draft of each of the four categories will be scheduled separately for City Council review.  Then a final document will be prepared by early summer for final Council approval.

I have been very pleased by the progress we have achieved through our 2011-2012 Action Plan and look forward to continued success with our new plan.  By the way, if you are interested in knowing how successful the 2011-2012 Council Action Plan was, the Council will hear a final report on it at the March 20, 2013 City Council meeting at 4:30 p.m.

Helping small businesses be successful is crucial to Escondido’s prosperity.Thriving local business  not only means services and jobs for our residents.  It also means revenue for our city for public safety, streets and improving our quality of life. 

The City of Escondido, in partnership with the State Board of Equalization and the Escondido Chamber of Commerce, will hold a Small Business Seminar and Expo on Thursday, March 7, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Boulevard.  Participants may register either online at www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/sbf.htm or by calling 1-888-847-9652

Topics will include: Avoiding Common Sales and Use Tax Problems; Forms of Ownership; Better Business through Better Records; Employee or Independent Contractor; and Marketing for Small Businesses.  In addition, representatives of the following agencies will be participating in the Expo area: California Franchise Tax Board;  Employment Development Department; Board of Equalization (Sales and Use Tax Division, Investigations Division and Special Taxes and Fees Division); Internal Revenue Service; Small Business Development Centers; California Taxpayers Rights Advocates and the Escondido Chamber of Commerce.

Congratulations to the following Escondido residents who were honored at the annual State of the City meeting on February 20, 2013, as recipients of the 2013 City Council Awards for their outstanding volunteer efforts:

Name: Karen Jobe
Field: Arts Education

Name: Scott Kolod
Field: Performing Arts

Name: Victoria Muschek
Field: Business Leadership

Name: Daniel Hurd
Field: Business Leadership

Name: Julie Hurkman
Field: Business Leadership

Name: Arline Whited
Field: Charity

Name: Jim Schneider
Field: Citizenship

Name: Rich Aeling
Field: Community Service

Name: The Hofstetter Family
Field: Diversity

Name: Corie DeAnda
Field: Education

Name: Betty Lou Gibbs
Field: Youth

In addition, this year we introduced a new “Mayor’s Award” which was presented to Alfredo Velasco.

Planning on going on vacation?  Then you may want to sign up for the Police Department’s Vacation House Check program.  Vacation House Check is a community-wide service provided by the Escondido Police Department’s Volunteer Patrol. Homes may be checked periodically, as staffing allows, by an Escondido Police Department Volunteer Patrol unit during the specified vacation time.

The Volunteer Patrol will provide the following service: Check the perimeter of your home, i.e., locked doors and windows, closed garage door(s), including your backyard (if accessible).  If the Volunteer Patrol unit notes a problem, appropriate action will be taken. The Volunteer Patrol will not be responsible for providing the following: feeding your animals, or picking up your mail, newspapers, and/or other deliveries. Unoccupied houses for sale, rental units, and houses with a house sitter are not eligible for this program.

For more information or to request this service call the Volunteer Coordinator at (760) 839-4792  at least two weeks before your planned vacation and complete a Vacation House Request Form in order to be accepted into the program.