The Escondido Discussion – Maintaining our Local City Services

As part of this year’s budget process and to further engage Escondido residents CityWide, the City has launched The Escondido Discussion to hear local community priorities and City service needs.

The City is continuing to recover from the long-term effects of COVID and potentially faces an $8 million budget gap this year, we want to hear from YOU what local priorities you have and the City services you rely on as we strive to continue to provide the level of service residents expect and deserve.

 

Some of the priorities your neighbors identified include:

• Addressing homelessness
• Attracting businesses and jobs to the City
• Improving public safety and police services
• Maintaining and repairing local streets, roads and sidewalks
• Keeping public areas clean and free of graffiti

 

Now we want to hear from YOU! Please take a moment to join The Escondido Discussion.

 

Multiple Water and Wastewater Industry Awards Won by the City of Escondido

Great work team! The City scored wins in three categories at the annual California Water Environment Association awards on January 29. CWEA is California’s oldest and most prominent association of water protection professionals. Read the full story on the Water News Network.

Lab Technician Jorge Hutiron

Escondido Hero Banners

The City is now taking orders for the 2022 Escondido Hero banners. The Escondido Hero banner program honors men and women who serve, or have served, in the U.S. Armed Forces, and First Responders by offering personalized banners that will be hung around downtown Escondido.

 

Banners include a photo of the hero, their name, and text that includes their branch/agency.

 

They are on display from approximately Memorial Day (mid-May) to Veterans Day (mid-November) in Downtown Escondido along Valley Pkwy and 2nd Avenue. For questions or more information visit:

https://www.escondido.org/herobanner

 

 

Youth Symphony Concert

Pacific Lyric Association Opera Youth Symphony is offering free tickets to school children and their chaperones for their inaugural concert on Friday, February 18 at 8 p.m., in the Center Theater at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.

 

To put your name on the guest list, please contact Justin Gray atjustin.pacificlyric@gmail.comor call (619) 977-0827. More information at:

https://www.pacificlyricassociation.org/youthsymphony.html

 

Bike Path Closure - Extension

Due to construction work involving tree removal for the MFRO project, the bike path will be closed for safety reasons until Friday, April 30. This closure will affect bike and pedestrian traffic along the Inland Rail Trail, between the NCTD rail crossing and West Washington Ave. This closure is essential to the future construction work, detours will be in place for those heading east. Pedestrians and cyclists heading west from North Quince St. (at the NCTD bridge past the Public Works Yard) will be blocked. Persons with questions or comments may contact Eric Iglesias (760) 504-9373 or Sam Lopez (442) 777-8842. After hours, please contact the non-emergency line at (760) 839-4722.

 

Residents Needed to Serve on Community Advisory Committee

The Clean Energy Alliance iscurrently accepting applications from Escondido residents and business owners to serve on CEA’s Community Advisory Committee. Information about the Committee and application can be found on CEA’s website. The application deadline is February 28.

 

 

 

 

 

BY THE NUMBERS

Business License:

 

Code Compliance:

Total Code Cases (Year to Date)

125

 

 

Public Works:

 

Graffiti Restitution:

 

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATES:

 

Felon with a Firearm

On January 31, officers were conducting extra patrols at the Motel 6 due to ongoing drug sales and prostitution activity. Officers observed a silver BMW SUV with missing plates in the parking lot. Upon contact, officers observed the driver of the vehicle with a backpack between his legs with the handle of a shotgun sticking out. The suspect also had live rounds of shotgun ammunition in his backpack. The suspect is a convicted felon and was arrested in 2020 for being a felon with a firearm.

 

Welfare Check

On February 4, officers were dispatched to a welfare check on a 93-year-old man who lives alone and hadn’t been contacted in a week. The man appeared to be deceased but was in fact alive. He was transferred to Palomar Medical Center to receive medical attention.

 

Did You Know?

A welfare check, also known as a wellness check, is when police stop by a person’s home to make sure they are okay. Requests for welfare checks are made by friends, family, and neighbors, typically after someone unexpectedly stops answering their phone or getting in touch with others. You may call 911 if you have reason to believe that there may be an emergency situation in progress. However, you can also contact the police through a non-emergency phone number. The Escondido Police Department’s non-emergency phone number is 760-839-4722.

 

Community Resources:

 Anonymous Tip Line: 760-743-8477 (TIPS)

 Crime Data/Mapping:https://www.crimemapping.com/

 Helicopter Announcement Transcription:

 Call 858-866-4356or text “Hello” to 858-866-4356

 Megan’s Law Information:https://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/

 Mental Health & Crisis Intervention:

 Access and Crisis Line: 888-724-7240

 It’s Up to Us Campaign:www.Up2sd.org

 Get Connected. Get Help: Dial 211

 National Drug Helpline:https://drughelpline.org/contact/or call 844-289-0879

 Non-Emergency Line: 760-839-4722

 

 

 

January Abandoned Vehicle Data

 

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT UPDATES:

 

On January 31, the Escondido Police and Fire Communication Center received a report of a fire in a two-story commercial building located at 201 West Grand Ave. The first arriving Engine Captain reported smoke showing from the roof from a distance and requested additional resources. The two-story structure sustained smoke and fire damage to the second floor, with some smoke and water damage to the first floor. Aggressive action by the firefighters contained the fire in approximately 24 minutes, however the building required extensive overhaul to ensure the fire was completely extinguished. Fortunately, there were no injuries to firefighters or civilians. In all, 34 firefighters and one fire prevention specialist responded to the fire. Assistance was provided from San Marcos and Rancho Santa Fe Fire Departments. Escondido Police provided scene safety and road closures. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

 

 

A huge thank you to the Escondido Rotary Club for making donations to the Escondido Police Cadet and Fire Explorer Posts on February 3! The Rotary Club conducted a fundraiser and President Ray Diciccio and Holly Stuard presented each post with a donation to support their programs. Escondido Cadet Sergeant Stephanie Leon and Cadet Julian Ortega received the donation for the Police Cadets. Escondido Fire Explorer Damian Kapity and Escondido Firefighter Pat O’Connell received the donation on the behalf of the Fire Explorer program. Both programs are thankful for the donation provided by the Escondido Rotary club and the funds will go to equipment, uniforms, and training activities.

 

 

 

 

 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & ENGINEERING

 

Permits and Inspections:

 

Building Division:

1.The counter staff conducted in-person meetings with 110 applicants, processed 89 applications, and issued 74 permits.

2.The total permit valuation for the week was $4,072,358.

3.Building inspectors completed 221 inspections.

 

Field Engineering Division:

1. Field Engineering processed 20 permits.

2. Field Engineering Inspectors completed 11 inspections.

3. Field Engineering has 138 active permits.

 

Development and Capital Projects Update:

 

Curious what’s happening with development projects around the City? The link below directs to an interactive dashboard of projects currently in various stages of the development process. Browse project descriptions, see locations on the map, browse photos and more.

 

City of Escondido Development Project Dashboard

 

 

A short overview video of the Dashboard features can be watched here.

 

To learn about previous applications for residential and commercial development permits, please visit the Development Project Information Archive page or contact the Planning Division.