•  Trash,  debris, and other combustible materials that create a fire hazard must be removed from the property.
•  Properties of one acre should be cleared of hazards in their entirety (weeds).
•  Properties of more than one acre should have one hundred feet clearance from structures and fifty feet clearance around the perimeter.
•  Roadways and/or driveways shall be cleared of vegetation to at least the width of the roadway plus ten feet on each side, and a height of thirteen and one-half feet above the road surface.
•  Storage of firewood material shall be located a minimum of thirty feet from structures and separated from the crown of trees by a minimum of fifteen feet. 
•  Property owners should clear any combustible material, weeds, brush, trees or other vegetation (including mulch) that is, or could become, dry and could be capable of transmitting fire.

 For further information, please contact the Escondido Fire Department (760) 839-5417, (760) 839-5400 or email weedabatement@escondido.org

The branding effort will promote North County’s economic development brand, encourage job creation, and improve and promote the region’s competitiveness among economic development interests, the business community, industry associations, and educational institutions. For more information regarding the branding effort, contact the Escondido City Manager’s Office at (760) 839-4587.

Movie schedule:

July 13        Despicable Me

July 27        Brave

August 3     The Lorax

August 17  Madagascar 3

All children must be accompanied by an adult. Families are encouraged to bring low backed chairs or blanket, a sweater, and flashlight.

“Movies in the Park” is sponsored by the Escondido History Center and the City of Escondido Recreation Division

Interested applicants and individuals or organizations desiring to nominate persons for appointment to the Commission must submit an application.  The application is available online at www.escondido.org/  or by request to the City Clerk at cityclerk@escondido.org.  You may also call 760-839-4617 should you have any questions. 

Under the Consent Decree, Escondido will be divided into four districts with each district to be represented by a Council member living within that district.  The Mayor will continue to represent the entire City. The districts will be determined by a Districting Commission consisting of 7 members.  The members will be chosen by a selection panel of retired San Diego County judges.   After the District boundaries are drawn, they will be submitted to the City Council for final approval.  Districts may be re-drawn every 10 years if required by changes in the population as reflected in the census.   

David & Rebecca Vigil, Deanna’s Gluten Free Bakery, BikeBling, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, William Lyons Homes, Cox Communications, SDG&E, Crossfit Xystum Escondido, Escondido Police Officers Association, FLEXR Sports, Kinetik Sportswear, Latitude 33 Apartment Community, Welk Resorts, Beachfront Only Vacation Rentals, Kirk’s Bike Shop, KVA Stainless, Inc. San Diego North EDC, Rosa Ruiz –Re/Max United Real Estate, West Escondido Automotive, Scott and Martha Christie, Escondido Sunrise Rotary Club and Deborah’s Next to New, Escondido Disposal, California Center for the Arts, Escondido, Escondido Magazine, Escondido Chamber of Commerce, Visit Escondido, Dennis Roach, Swirlz Candy and Wonder Emporium, Joor Muffler, Medicine-in-Motion, Altipiano Winery, Coyote Oaks Vineyards, Deer Park Winery, San Diego Union Tribune, Datron, Los Ponchos Mexican Grill and Seafood Restaurant, Kickbike America, Liljegren Law Group, Palomar Health, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Third Bloom, Jersey Mike’s Picnic People, Home Depot (East  Valley Parkway), Aaron’s Rental’s Waterwise Botanicals, T10 Events and Xerox Corporation.

Overview of events:

Friday, May 10: Cruisin’ Grand (Free);Team Presentation Gala ($125); Kick Off After-Party ($20)

Saturday, May 11: L’Etape du California – “Rules of the Road” Ride

Sunday, May 12: Race day events start at 9:30 a.m. You can experience the opening ceremonies and the official start of the race at 11 a.m…. then stay downtown for the day-long events, watch the race on jumbo screens, and be there for the exciting finish (approximately 3:30pm).Here are some of the events: Good Morning Amgen!; Lifestyle Festivals and Kids’ Zone; Food Truck Village, Mother’s Day Home Tours; Music by “Dead Feather Moon” at 11:30 a.m. and “Sue Palmer and Her Motel Swing Orchestra at 1:30 in Grape Day Park; Honor Ride: Ride 2 Recovery; Break Away From Cancer® Mile; and the Amgen Tour of California – Stage 1 Finish!

For a full list of race day events and updates visit http://visitescondido.com/ and www.amgen2013escondido.com

I encourage you to attend and participate in the discussion, or even just say hello and introduce yourself.  Working together we can help Escondido become a better city.

Library Friends and Foundation supporters invite the public to participate in two special events during National Library Week:

The Friends of the Escondido Public Library will hold a 50% Off Everything Sale April 15 through April 20th in the Friends Book Shop (inside the Library).

The Escondido Library Foundation, in partnershipwith McDonald's restaurants, will hold a fundraiser on April 17th, to benefit the Library. Visit participating McDonald's at 340 West Mission Avenue in Escondido and two locations at 701 Center Drive in San Marcos (one restaurant is inside the Walmart store). A portion of the sales between 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. will go to the Library.

Preparing the Housing Element involved extensive community outreach with workshops, surveys, study sessions and public hearings that included residents, developers, service organizations, non-profit groups, and decision-makers to establish Escondido’s three broad housing goals:

1)    Plan for quality, managed, and sustainable growth;

2)    Provide a range of housing opportunities for all income groups and households with special needs;

3)    Enhance the quality of the City’s housing stock, preserve the integrity of neighborhood character and encourage home ownership.

State approval of Escondido’s Housing Element also affords the city certain economic benefits. A variety of grants for enhancing/improving infrastructure, recreation, transportation and other municipal services are designed to reward local governments for compliance with State Housing Element law. Escondido’s Housing Element will serve the City through December 31, 2020, with policies that guide the City’s approach to resolving housing needs and programs for implementing the General Plan’s long-term vision.

The On Track Kid’s Camp is for children ages 5 to 12 and is packed with games, arts & crafts and special events. Weekly field trip packages are available too.

If your teen is looking for a great way to have fun while gaining valuable work experience, the Counselor in Training Program is the perfect opportunity. The program teaches teens ages 13 to 15 the importance of communication, teamwork and responsibility. The teens will be able to use their skills by volunteering in the On Track Kid’s Camp Program.

This year Escondido Recreation is committed to providing the same high quality programs at a new lower cost. Your child can attend the On Track Kid’s Camp or the C.I.T. Program for as low as $85 per week.  Financial assistance is available for families with low to moderate income levels through the City of Escondido’s Share a Dream Scholarship Fund. Scholarship applications are available at City Hall, the East Valley Community Center, or online.

To register, please contact Escondido Recreation at (760) 839-4382 or visit  www.recreation.escondido.org

Additional resources also are being devoted to our Fire Department.  The first group of twelve non-safety paramedics started work on February 25.  We intend to hire a second group of twelve later this Spring.  On April  19^th, our seventh Fire Engine will go into service at Fire Station 6 on Del Dios Road. 

Your city government is committed to keeping Escondido a safe city for all to enjoy.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Also, you can spend the day shopping at “Sweet Street” ( Maple Street Plaza),  taking a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride down historic Grand Avenue, or enjoying live music by  Slowburn.  B e sure to come back to the Plaza after your chocolate tour and enjoy more at the Champagne Garden with dancing until 8:00 p.m.

The festival will be held on Saturday, February 9.  Admission is free to Sweet Street. The cost for the chocolate pairings is $35  per person for 10 Beer/Wine & Chocolate Pairings & multiple Restaurant Samples from great restaurants like:California Avocado Grill. Vinz, Esco Gelato, La Farfalla.

This is a great way to indulge your love of chocolate and enjoy the beautiful new Maple Street Plaza.  For more information about the event, please visit www.escondidochocolatefestival.com

The driving force behind this transformation has been the City Council’s emphasis on economic development and its commitment to being a business-friendly community.  As a result, it is important to me to personally reach out to businesses. I meet with local businesses almost every week to learn more about them, to see how they are doing, and to find out what we can do to help keep them here and help them grow. Having a thriving business community not only means services and jobs for our residents, it also means revenue for our city which in turn can be spent on public safety, streets and parks and other quality of life amenities.”

If you are a business owner in Escondido and would like to have me visit your business, please contact Michelle Geller, Management Analyst, at 760-839-4587 or mgeller@escondido.org

The event is co-sponsored by the Escondido Chamber of Commerce and will begin with an optional breakfast at 7:45 a.m. followed by the program at 8:30 a.m.  The program will include awards to outstanding community volunteers as well as brief remarks by my colleagues on the City Council and conclude with my address.  Financial expert, George Chamberlin will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

The breakfast is available for $15 per person. To make your reservation for breakfast, please contact the City Manager’s Office at 760-839-4631 or bbjork@escondido.org  or you may register online at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=eoyxpfjab&oeidk=a07e6o6w3et8a81b7d1

The deadline to reserve breakfast is 5:00 p.m. February 11, 2013.  Persons wishing to attend the program may do so at no cost, if they are not eating breakfast.  If you would like information about sponsoring the event, please contact the Escondido Chamber of Commerce, 760-745-2125.

The Escondido Technology Center will be open Monday through Thursday from noon to 6:00 p.m.  The Center consists of 30 computers which may be accessed by residents in the same manner as those at Escondido Public Library at 239 S. Kalmia Street.  For more detailed information about how to use a computer at the library or Technology Center please visit  http://library.escondido.org/computers.aspx

Funding for the Technology Center was provided by Community Development Block Grant Funding ($60,000), Recreation Reserve Funding ($75,000) and a $25,000 grant from Cox Communication.