2009-02-05
CITY OF ENCI N ITAS
CULTURAL TOURISM COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
Poinsettia Room, Civic Center
505 South Vulcan Avenue
Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 8:00 a.m.
THE CITY OF ENCINITAS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC ENTITY AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX,
RELIGION, AGE OR DISABILITY IN EMPLOYMENT OR THE PROVISION OF SERVICE. PLEASE NOTIFY THE COMMITTEE SECRETARY AT LEAST 72 HOURS BEFORE
THE MEETING IF DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS ARE NEEDED.
PRESENT: Council Member Dalager, Council Member Barth, Arts Administrator Gilliam, Michelle
Johnston, Paul Davis, Grace Swanson, Christine Beathard, Shari Fortmueller, Tess Radmill, Sandy Shapiro,
John McIsaac, Sally Foster, Peder Norby, Pat hammer, Joe Koch, Reesey Shaw, Paula Kirpilani, and
committee secretary Lewis„
CALL TO ORDER - INTRODUCTIONS
Council Member Dalager called the meeting to order at 8:02 a.m. Self-introductions were made.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - DECEMBER 4, 2008 MEETING
Committee consensus to approve the minutes of the December 4, 2008 meeting.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
REGULAR AGENDA
1. SHUTTLEBEACH BUS UPDATES - P. HIRPILANI
Paula Kirpilani with Leucadia 101 Mainstreet Association reported they had a shuttle bus test drive in
November and would have a contract with Wherever Shuttle for a 14-passenger shuttle bus. The bus runs on
bio-fuel and would be working with local restaurants to provide the fuel. A bus route has been established
covering north Leucadia and running down to Cardiff Town Center. One loop takes approximately 45
minutes to complete and they anticipate that the bus would run the loop once every hour. Paula reported that
in addition to the grant from the City of Encinitas, they received a grant for $5,000 from the County of San
Diego, bringing the total seed money to $10,000. A name has been chosen for the beach shuttle bus: The
Coast Cruiser. The Cruiser would run on weekends only for 12 weeks throughout the summer, starting
Memorial Day and ending Labor Day weekend. This effort has been a working partnership with NCTD and
the City and has been a collaborative effort with DEMA, Leucadia 101, Cardiff 101 and various community
members.
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Peder Norby commented that the board members just did a retreat in Santa Barbara, where they have an
established shuttle bus. He believes Encinitas to be uniquely situated to provide this service and presented '
several factors and that would contribute to the success of the shuttle bus pilot project. He stated the pilot
beach bus project was started in Cultural Tourism and championed by Teresa Barth. They were hoping to
do this in a cost neutral way through grant money, fare box. recovery, sponsorship, and advertising. The fare
box should recover between 10 - 20% of cost. The pilot project would help to work out the details. A
question was asked regarding being able to supply additional buses as needed to meet demand. Peder stated
they were planning a contingency of having a second bus, but that it was revenue dependent.
Peder reported there was video equipment on the bus and that they were exploring the possibility of
featuring programs on Encinitas, such as the Heritage Museum documentaries; or other advertising shown to
riders. There would be advertising opporlunities on the route map, as well as advertising opportunities on
the outside of the bus with possible use of large magnets for the bus exterior. The County and City logos
would be displayed along with four additional advertisers. Peder also stated that they were planning for nine
bus stops and there may be an opportunity to sponsor those bus stops, pending NCTD approval. They were
also looking into additional sponsor advertising opportunities along the bus route, which would be a similar
format to what was done at the Leucadia Art Walk.
2. INFORMATION SHARING - ALL
Paula Kirpilani reported the Leucadia 101 Mainstreet annual membership meeting and goal setting session
would be at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 12, 2009 in the Poinsettia Room at City Hall. Diane Langager, Senior planner
with the City of Encinitas would be attending to give an overview of the Leucadia 101 streetscape project. I
Christine Beathard representing Sea Coast Preservation discussed the sand transfer to beach project and
stated she would have more details about the project once it was finished.
Dan Dalager reported on the progress and history of the opportunistic sand which was being placed on the
beach in cooperation with John DeWald and the Pacific Station project. Sea Coast Preservation provided
some of the funding to assist with the efforts. Dan stated that there would be two more weeks on sand
transfer and that he has been watching the progress daily.
Peder Norby commented on the beaches being an economic driver for Encinitas. He reported that DEMA
was recently awarded a grant for $85,000 through a competitive grant process by the Department of
Conservation. The grant was for installation of permanent recycling containers next to the trash cans in
downtown Encinitas. Peder stated that the economic impact report establishing the beach as an economic
driver and documenting beach visitors was a key component in the grant application. The grant application
was written by Dody Tucker and Carris Rhodes at DEMA, Tess Radmill as well as input from the city and
Jacy Bolden. The recycling structures are permanent and custom made for this area, and the grant would
also provide 120 or 130 clearstream recycling containers that would be made available citywide.
Grace Swanson with the San Dieguito Art Guild reported that there was a demo scheduled at Quail Gardens
in the Ecke building at 1:30 p.m. today. Grace announced that they have contracted with a consultant to start
promoting and selling the artwork done by Roy Soravia and donated to the Art Guild by his niece. Over 400
pieces were donated the art guild and a portion of them are on display at the Encinitas Library. Grace also
distributed copies of a promotional card for the Off Track Gallery which they have been distributing to the
local hotels.
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Paul Davis displayed an issue of AAA's Westways Magazine featuring an article on Encinitas. He also '
reported on the grand opening event for the new San Elijo Lagoon visitor's center. Paul provided an update
on the Fourth of July event planning. He stated they were working to have writings from George
Washington read aloud, in addition to the reading of the Declaration of Independence. He reported that on ~
Apri125, the Encinitas Rotary would be working at Quail Gardens and all volunteers were welcome. April
25th was mandated as a day of Rotary Service. The Rotary Wine Festival was scheduled for June 2009.
The planning committee hasn't started working on that event yet but planning would begin soon.
Sally Foster with Mira Costa College reported that there were numerous events takirig place throughout the
spring. She displayed a copy of an arts mailer listing all of the events taking place and passed around a sign-
up sheet for anyone interested in receiving a copy. She announced that Mira Costa College's 75th
Anniversary was coming up. She noted that the local Cardiff campus was only 20 years old. Sally reported
on a few of the activities planned for February. On February 21, there would be a free film event featuring
the 1934 Academy award winning film, It Happened One Night. This f lm was out the same year that Mira
Costa College was formed, 75 years ago. KPBS film critic Beth Accamando would be there to review the
film, and to talk about that era of film and about the director. Also at the Oceanside Campus they would be
doing a musical production of the 1934 Musical Anything Goes by Cole Porter.
Sally also discussed the International Foreign Film Festival taking place on Fridays. Films were selected by
the language professors and are shown free of charge. On February 27, the Mexican film Al Otro Lado ~
would be featured.
Dan Dalager reported that the French Ambassador was interested in coordinating a small film festival in j
conjunction with a program the French government was doing through the Cultural Ministry. They were ~i
interested in Encinitas because of the surf, skate, and snow culture here and in France. Dan stated he i
thought DEMA could take the lead in coordinating that event.
Sandy Shapiro reported that he attended the grand opening of the new San Elijo Nature Center.
Approximately 2,000 people attended the grand opening event. Sandy distributed handouts and reported on
the Encinitas Garden Festival taking place in Cardiff by-the-Sea on Saturday, Apri125, 2009. The
marketplace would be at Cardiff Elementary school. Tickets were on sale and there was information
available on their website. Sandy also reported on the Beach Cities Historic Hwy 101 marathon that he was
working on through the Parks and Recreation Commission. The event would have been done in conjunction
with the Carlsbad half marathon; however, for various reasons a decision was made not to go forward with
the event.
Tess Radmill with the Cardiff 101 Chamber reported that the Arts Alive Banner unveiling was taking place
on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the Cabo Grill featuring 101 original works of art. Bookmarks of the artwork
would be available at that event. The banners would be hung along the Coast Hwy 101 the following
weekend.
Michelle Johnston, Executive Board Member for the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce introduced herself to
the group. She announced that they would have either an Executive Board Member or Board Member
representing the chamber at these meetings in the future. She announced that the Visitor's Center would go
back to being open on Saturdays, beginning this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and the Visitors
Center would be manned by an Executive Board Member and a Board Member. Michelle announced the
next Sundowner was scheduled for February 17 at the Luxus 101 Bistro. Sundowner events always take
place on the third Tuesday of each month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
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Shan Forhnueller with the San Dieguito Heritage Museum announced that the museum has a few new
programs starting. They are open on the last Saturday of the month with a program called "Families make ~
History". The idea behind the program was for families to come and do a history experience together. The
first event was scheduled for Saturday, February 28, and would feature a pioneer one-room school house
with a schoolmarm who does a sirnulation exercise with the families. She also brings her service dog that is
incorporated into the lesson. On Saturday, March 28, there would be a Native American Storytelling event,
featuring Native American stories by the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians. The storytelling would be
done as a series of one act plays. There would also be a sand painting craft activity. Shari also announced
that the Annual Deep-pit Barbeque event would be on May 16, 2009. This year the Barbeque would be done i
by Brett's BBQ, featuring a traditional Santa Maria style barbeque along with entertainment including an
equestrian trick show, as well as a rodeo and roping show in the tradition of the Ranchos.
Peder Norby discussed the Arts Alive Banner project. This was the 10t' year of the Arts Alive Banner
project in Encinitas. Peter discussed the history and importance of Mainstreet conferences and stated that ~
two communities in Wisconsin have done art banner projects modeled after the one started in Encinitas.
One of those cities just won a state-wide award for their Art Banner project. He reported that Paula and
Dody would be going to a State Mainstreet conference next week. In March; Tess, Dody and a few others
would be going to the National Mainstreet conference in Chicaga
Pat Haininer with Quail Botanical Gardens introduced herself to the group and distributed handouts
detailing upcoming events at Quail Gardens. She provided an update on the work taking place along Quail
Gardens Drive for the new Children's Garden which they are hoping would open in late spring or early
suminer. Pat reported that at 10:00 a.m. on the last Saturday of the month they give free.guided tours with
paid admission. There has been increasing interest due to the water wise gardens. Pat announced the annual
herb festival was coming up and discussed the Tomato Mania event. Pat discussed several of the classes
. taking place at the gardens, including, Every Man is Vegetarian on Saturday, February 7; A Chocolate
Valentine on February 10; Native Plants class on March 12; a wood and clay class on March 13; and Fabric
Baskets foY Spring on March 29. Pat noted that all of their classes require registration.
Arts Administrator Jim Gilliam reported on several of the exiibits on display. Derek Tarr featuring
underwater photography was on display in the Civic Center gallery along with a display in the 3-D case by
Jim Hornung featuring artwork created from bones covered in gold and silver. At the Encinitas Library
there was a stained glass exhibit on display and in the library Community Room there was an exhibit by the ;
Russian Academy of Arts which would also feature a series of lectures and workshops done by the Academy
as part of the Community Grant Program.
The unveiling event for the Arts Alive Banners would be on Saturday, and the 101 banners would be on
display from Cardiff to Leucadia for four months. The banner auction was scheduled to take place on May
31 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cardiff Town Center. Jim also announced that on the second Saturday of the month,
at 10:00 a.m., there would be a free concert series by the Hutchins Consort in the community room at the
library. There was also a monthly opera series taking place at the library, but those events were ticketed.
Tonight at 6:00 p.m. the San Diego Jewish Film Festival would feature a screening of the foreign film, The
Beatle. Tickets were selling in advance on-line at the San Diego Jewish Film Festival Website. The
reception would be at 6:00 p.m., with screening at 7:30 p.m. \
Jim also reported that the City's Community Grant Program applications would be available starting Apri16,
and were due by the end of May.
Reesey Shavv with the Lux Art Institute announced that Jolynn Krystosek, an artist from New York, was
their latest Artist in Residence. Her artwork features paper displays as well as drawings featuring native
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plants and landscape from the site which were incorporated into her artwork. Her artwork would be on
display through March 18. Reesey provided a history and background on the native landscape at the Lux Art
Institute and announced that the Lux building was a green building which recently won the grand Orchid
Award from the San Diego AIA, partly based on the native landscape on the site.
Reesey announced that the Lux at Night events take place on the third Wednesday of every month. This
month the event falls on Wednesday, February 18, She also announced the last Saturday of the month
features free admission to the Lux. The next artist, Victoria Adams would be in studio starting March 26
and would be on display through Apri14.
Reesey also discussed the traveling exhibits commissioned by each artist as part of the exhibit. The valise
projects then goes out to the classrooms to teach the children about art. They also do a progam called Lux-
cursion where the kids come to the Lux Art Institute to meet the artists and to see the art work. Reesey
discussed the adjacent property which was recently purchased. They were working on a strategic planning
for the building.
Group discussion ensued regarding various conservation efforts, including new progams to facilitate the
acquisition of solar panels.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS
None discussed.
NEXT MEETING: THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2008 AT 8:00 A.M.
ADJOURNMENT
Dan Dalager adjourned the meetings at 9: 20 a.m.
By: Brandi Lewis, Committee Sec tary
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