Encinitas Residents Weigh In on Public Health

About 40 residents turned out Monday night to discuss the future of public health in Encinitas and what role the city should play in facilitating it. 

The was part of an ongoing public health study that is being funded by a planning grant from the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). This public health study is happening as the city also updates its general plan, a long-term vision that guides land use and communitywide decisions for the next couple of decades. Though cities are not legally required to study public health, many across the state are electing to do it in conjunction with general plan updates, as several of the issues overlap. 

During the workshop, residents weighed in on dozens of public health-related issues, including potential sites for a community garden, the need for safer pedestrian and bicycle routes, and the idea of adopting a communitywide dark sky policy, which could reduce nighttime light pollution and save energy. 

Several residents said before adopting any new policies, they would like to see the city become more vigilant about enforcing the ones already on the books, such as its parking requirements for businesses. Many residents also said they would like to see the city focus on more pressing public health matters, including how to handle contaminated soil from several old nurseries. 

During the workshop, city staff also presented results from its recent public health survey, which 381 people participated in. Those results will soon be available for review online at encinitas2035.info. All of the city's general plan materials are available for public review online or at the Planning and Building Department, 505 South Vulcan Ave. 

Encinitas at a Glance

Below are just some of the existing conditions in Encinitas, and results for the public health survey:

• Beach water quality: In 2004 and 2005 there were 155 beach closure days in Encinitas. Between 2006 and June 2011, there have been only two. 
• Community gardens: More than 80 percent of survey respondents said they felt the city should provide more opportunities for community gardening, local growing programs, and farmers markets. 
• Homelessness: There are approximately 184 homeless community members in Encinitas, which accounts for 2.1 percent of the county's total homeless population.
• Transportation: A total of 57 percent of survey respondents said they feel that their transportation needs are adequately met in Encinitas. 
• Civic participation: About 72 percent of registered voters in Encinitas voted during the November 2010 gubernatorial election, compared to 64 percent in San Diego. 
• Public schools: The dropout rate for Encinitas high schools is nearly 20 times less than the San Diego County average. However, the average Encinitas high school student dropout rate is six times higher for Hispanic students than for white students.