January 6, 2022
New Year, New Recreation Activities!
The 2022 Winter/Spring Escondido Recreation Guide is out now! It is the perfect time to kick start your New Year's resolutions with new activities and programs. You can view the digital version at: recreation.escondido.org/recreation-guide
New activities include:
- Free weekly fitness classes hosted by our in house fitness specialist
- Youth piano and youth Mariachi music classes
- Preschool youth soccer makes its return back to the East Valley Community Center (EVCC)
- Pickleball lessons have expanded and will now include a 20-team round robin match play at Mountain View Park
- New badminton classes will be held at the EVCC on Wednesday mornings from 10-11 a.m.
- AMPD Fusion workout classes will launch this Spring
- Belly dance instruction will begin at the new DNZ Cave Studio off of Grand Avenue and Broadway
- Afternoon Aquafit Boot Camp class on Mondays from 1:30-2:30 p.m.
- Spring swim lessons will begin in April 2022
Grand Avenue Vision Project Reminder
Grand Avenue is about to undergo construction improvements! On January 10, 2022, the City will begin the Phase 1 construction of the Grand Avenue Vision Project .
Renovations will include: new string lighting, sidewalk widening, new light posts, and improved parking that will increase the number of spots by implementing diagonal parking. Businesses will remain open and accessible during construction. For more information and a detailed construction schedule, click here.
Escondido Independent Redistricting Meetings
The City of Escondido and the Independent Redistricting Commission are updating the City Council district lines to reflect data from the 2020 Census. Meetings to gather feedback are running through February 2022. Can't attend in person? Meetings will also be available over Zoom. You can get involved and learn more by visiting escondido.org/independent-redistricting .
BY THE NUMBERS
Business License:
Code Compliance:
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Total Code Cases (Year to Date)
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19
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Graffiti Restitution:
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Collected Last 3 Weeks of 2021
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Collected Year to Date
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$574.43
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$13,348.97
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POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATES:
Officer Involved Shooting
On December 26, 2021, a homicide occurred in Vista. The homicide is being investigated by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. The Sheriff's Department released a wanted person bulletin for the homicide suspect, Roberto Salgado, a 39-year-old resident of Ramona. Included in the bulletin was a description of the vehicle Salgado was driving, a 2018 Chevy Silverado. An Escondido Police Officer spotted the vehicle, which turned into a lengthy pursuit. After the use of spike strips and OnStar deactivation, the suspect's car finally came to a stop. When Salgado exited his vehicle, there was an exchange of gunfire between him and two Escondido officers. One officer was shot on the left side of his chest and treated and released at Palomar Medical Center. The suspect was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. There was a female passenger in the vehicle and she was not injured.
Lo-Jack Localization
On December 29, 2021, officers tracked down a stolen vehicles that was equipped with Lo-Jack. The 14-year-old driver and two other male juveniles and three female juveniles were all detained without incident. One suspect was processed at EPD before being released home. The other juveniles were released to relatives from the scene or driven home.
Did You Know?
If your child is arrested , the police can:
1. Make a record of the arrest and let your child go home.
2. Send your child to an agency that will shelter, care for, or counsel your child.
3. Make your child come back to the police station. This is called being "cited back."
4. Give you and your child a Notice to Appear. Read the notice and do what it says.
5. Put your child in juvenile hall (this is called "detention"). Your child can make at least 2 phone calls within 1 hour of being arrested. One call must be to a parent, guardian, relative, or boss. The other call must be to a lawyer.
Community Resources:
o Call 858-866-4356 or text "Hello" to 858-866-4356
o Access and Crisis Line: 888-724-7240
o It's Up to Us Campaign: www.Up2sd.org
o Get Connected. Get Help: Dial 211
o Non-Emergency Line: 760-839-4722
Police Athletic League (PAL) Sponsored Christmas Party
Each year, Victory Outreach Church holds a Christmas party for low-income families. PAL and the EPD have participated in this program for the past four years. This year, PAL handed out $50 and a toy to each family. Chief Varso, Volunteer Dee Russell, PAL Volunteer Rick Hernandez, and Retired Lt. Al Owens participated.
Field Training Completion
Congratulations to Officer Lehi Jimenez (pictured left) and Officer Hermilo Munoz (pictured right) on their completion of field training. Officer Jimenez is a lateral hire from LAPD and Officer Munoz is a lateral hire from Sacramento County Sheriff's Department. Both officers have been assigned to graveyard shift.
FIRE DEPARTMENT UPDATES:
On December 14, 2021 the Fire Department was busy with weather related and other emergency calls including ringing fire alarms at six different commercial buildings (all false alarms), two reported natural gas leaks and two calls for downed wires.
Also on December 14, 2021 the Fire Department responded to a report of a person being swept down the flood control channel near Mission Ave and Quince Ave. A full water rescue response was dispatched and with the assistance of the Escondido Police Department, an adult male was located at the Mission Avenue overpass of the flood control channel. Firefighters were able to secure him with a Swift Water Rescue throw bag and he was able to climb out of the channel utilizing the throw bags and the rope. He was transported to Palomar Medical Center where he was treated for hypothermia and minor cuts and scrapes.
On December 17, 2021, Firefighters responded to the 1200 block of N. Broadway for a reported structure fire. Upon arrival, smoke was observed coming from a single unit of a one-story apartment building. Firefighters extinguished a fire that had destroyed one bedroom in the apartment. No other dwellings were damaged during the incident but three adult males were displaced who declined the assistance of the Red Cross. The Escondido Police and Fire Department Investigators were requested to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
On December 17, 2021, Firefighters responded to a fully engulfed pick-up truck next to a structure. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire and minimize damage to the structure. The fire is under investigation.
On December 19, 2021, Firefighters were dispatched to a commercial structure fire located at 460 W. Washington Avenue. Escondido Police Officers located a shed that was burning to the rear of 662 Park Place. The fire was extinguished with no damage to any adjacent structures and the incident is under investigation.
On December 20, 2021, the Fire and Police Department responded to a report of a vehicle versus train collision at the intersection of Enterprise Street and West Mission Avenue. As the Sprinter train headed toward the intersection, the driver of the vehicle accidently hit the accelerator instead of the brakes, which put the vehicle on the tracks. The train attempted to stop, but struck the vehicle. The Dodge Ram 1500 truck was struck in the left bed portion of the truck, which caused it to veer and shear off a fire hydrant. The driver self-extricated from the truck, sustained minor injuries, was assessed and treated on scene without transportation to the hospital. The Utilities Department responded quickly and secured the water flow before it flooded the neighboring businesses.
Om December 20, 2021, the crew at Fire Station #1 visited the Oak Hill Residential Care facility on Ash and Oak Hill Drive. Firefighters provided safety information and gave a tour of the fire engine and its equipment. The residents and staff appreciated the visit and the Firefighters enjoyed being there!
On December 27, 2021, the Fire Department responded to a vehicle accident involving a pedestrian at the 500 block of N. Midway Drive. Upon arrival, an elderly male was found unresponsive with significant signs of trauma. He was transported to Palomar Medical Center for treatment.
On December 27, 2021, Firefighters responded to a vehicle accident on the eastbound Interstate 78 freeway transition to the southbound Interstate 15 freeway. A single vehicle roll-over with four occupants was found. All occupants were assessed and treated for injuries, with two adults being transported to an area hospital and two adult males treated and released on scene.
On December 30, 2021, the Fire Department and Waste Water responded to the area of Harmony Grove Road and Howard Avenue for an unknown material spilling into the flood control channel. Firefighters requested San Diego Hazardous Incident Response Team, San Diego County Hazmat and City Storm Water personnel. The material was determined to be a spray on type insulation that was being improperly disposed of by a nearby business. Waste Water, Police, Environmental, Code Compliance and Fire Departments all worked together and developed plans for mitigation of the substance.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & ENGINEERING
Permits and Inspections:
2021 proved to be a very busy year in the homebuilding industry, which led to the Building Division issuing permits for 281 single family homes, 94 multi-family units, and 57 accessory dwelling units. In addition, more than 1,700 photovoltaic (solar) permits, 15 permits for new commercial structures, and 89 tenant improvement permits were issued (amongst others). All told, 4,171 building permits were issued in 2021, with a total permit valuation of $218,325,974. Based on projects currently in the plan review and entitlement processes, 2022 is anticipated to be another strong year for homebuilding in Escondido.
Numbers for the past three weeks:
Building Division:
1. The counter staff conducted in-person meetings with 264 applicants, processed 187 applications, and issued 163 permits
2. The total permit valuation for the period was $16,168,165
3. Building inspectors completed 445 inspections
Field Engineering Division:
1. Field Engineering processed 54 permits
2. Filed Engineering inspectors completed 137 inspections
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.
