February 2025 Newsletter

Council Update

We had two Council Meetings in January, these are some of the items we took action on:

• City Council received an update on the Marine Debris Reduction Ordinance (MDRO).

• City Council adopted a resolution approving an employment agreement between the City of Oceanside and Ted S. Burke Jr., to serve as City Attorney.

• City Council approved Change Order 10 to EC Constructors Inc., in the amount of $48,311, for the completion of the San Luis Rey Water Reclamation Facility Maintenance Building Project; approved a budget change in the amount of $600,000; and authorized the City Engineer to execute the Change Orders upon receipt of all supporting documents.

• City Council received a staff presentation on Oceanside’s fire preparedness measures.

• Staff recommended the City Council adopt a resolution upholding Planning Commission Resolution No. 2024-P16 approving Development Plan (D23-00009), and Density Bonus (DB23-00004) on a 1.739-acre site located at 503 Vista Bella. City Council: motion to continue the matter to the April 23rd council meeting: Sanchez. Second: Joyce. Approved: 5-0.

Our next City Council meeting will be on Wednesday, Feb. 5th, 2024 at 5:00pm.

For summaries of all City Council meetings, please click here.

 Getting Out in the Community in January

Oceanside's Parks and Recreation Department recently held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of the new Libby Lake Futsal Court and security lighting. Starting in late 2021, the City hosted three community meetings to discuss what amenity could replace the sand volleyball court. The youth in the community selected a futsal court. The City received a Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to design a futsal court. While the funding allocated was for the design of a futsal court, the City was able to work with the US Soccer Foundation and Musco Lighting through their “Safe Places to Play” program to use the allocated funding to actually build the court. The fustal court will be open to the community for anyone to play and is not being permitted to organized groups. The project included replacing all of the light fixtures around the lake with LED lights, and added six new light posts. This is an amazing addition to District 2 and I extend a heartfelt thank you to the Parks and Recreation Department for all their hard work to bring this to fruition.

I was invited to attend the National Electrical Contractors Association's 2025 Gala in January. This event was held to celebrate the electrical industry and install the new Board of Directors. I was also given the opportunity to present a certificate to Craig A. Earley, recognizing him as the new President of the Board of Directors. Thank you to NECA for a great event!

I recently had the incredible opportunity to tour the Ivey Ranch Park. The Ivey Ranch Park Association is a non-profit organization in North San Diego County that provides recreational and educational programs for individuals of all ages with and without special needs. They are known for their Equestrian Center which provides therapeutic riding and equine assisted learning. They also provide daycare, in-home respite care, and even community gardening. These programs serve children with and without special needs, low-income families, at-risk youth, and veterans/wounded warriors.

The North San Diego County Branch of the NAACP recently hosted the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and Community Breakfast. While these events occurred on different days, it was a great weekend honoring the legacy of a great American hero. For the day of service, I was joined by various representatives of elected officials and officers from our Oceanside Police Department at the Ivey Ranch Park to clean their facility of debris and garbage.

The city recently hosted a ground breaking ceremony for the Crown Heights Community Resource Center Rehabilitation Project. Following City Council approval of the project’s construction contract, staff began coordinating the construction start date. Construction is anticipated to last one year. The project aims to revitalize the facility, enhancing its ability to serve the community with improved resources and services. 

The City of Oceanside was recently recognized at the 17th Annual Walter F. Pruter Project of the Year Awards and I was able to attend. The Walter F. Pruter Project of the Year Awards is an annual recognition program organized by the Western Wall & Ceiling Contractors Association (WWCCA). The awards celebrate outstanding union construction projects completed by WWCCA contractor members and their partners. Oceanside's Fire Station 01, with Schmitt Contracting, Inc. and STK Architecture, was honored and awarded Project of the Year in Public Safety. Congratulations to all our partners who helped bring this project across the finish line.

The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce recently hosted another Rising Star Student of the Month Award Ceremony! This is one of my favorite events to attend every month. I always leave feeling inspired by the incredible stories of our students who excel in their studies despite significant adversity. Congratulations to the students who were recognized:

• Eva LaCroix, Surfside Academy
• Jayden Hernandez, Oceanside High School
• Mariana Rosas Villalobos, El Camino High School
• Max Petrenko, Coastal Academy High School
• Jimena Espinoza, Pacific View Charter School

I had a blast attending the Women's Club of Oceanside's Annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser. This year the proceeds will be benefiting the Oceanside High School Choir to help them raise funds to help pay for this years travel expenses to the national competition. It was wonderful to see the community come together to support such a talented group of young performers. Wishing the Oceanside High School Choir the best of luck at the national competition!

The Oceanside Fire Department held a ceremony in January to recognize award recipients and celebrate the badge pinning of our new firefighters. The event brought together family, friends, and community members to honor the dedication, courage, and hard work of those who have committed themselves to serving and protecting the city. In addition to the badge pinning, several firefighters were recognized for outstanding achievements, years of service, and acts of bravery.

The San Diego Rescue Mission hosted their North County Huddle in January, featuring special guest Congressman Mike Levin. These gatherings provide a platform to discuss homelessness in San Diego County, learn more about the Rescue Mission, and explore ways to help. Attendees have the opportunity to network with community leaders and service providers who are committed to addressing homelessness. Huddles are held monthly and alternate between locations in North County and South County, taking place in our emergency shelter community rooms.

In addition to attending the North County Huddle, Congressman Mike Levin met individually with city leadership to discuss priorities and the different ways the federal government can make a positive impact in Oceanside. The discussions provided valuable opportunities to address local concerns and identify potential resources for community initiatives. Continued collaboration between federal and city officials remains essential for addressing Oceanside’s evolving needs.

I recently met with representatives from Waste Management to meet the new liaison to the city and discuss some concerns I had regarding the closure of the Buyback Center, among other issues. I always enjoy the opportunity to speak directly with the service providers in our city to hear the latest updates and advocate on behalf of our residents.

85 Degree Bakery Café recently opened their newest franchise here in Oceanside and I was able to attend the grand opening & ribbon cutting ceremony. The line was wrapped around the block to welcome this world famous bakery to our city! Known for its wide variety of freshly baked goods, including more than 50 types of bread, cakes, and pastries, as well as specialty drinks like coffee, tea, and milk teas, 85°C Bakery Café offers a unique and memorable experience. 

I recently participated in a San Diego County Blood Bank Blood Drive and I highly encourage you to donate too! San Diego Blood Bank Coastal Donor Center is open Sunday-Thursday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Red Cross hosts blood drives in the city on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at 511 Eucalyptus Oceanside, CA 92054. Donating blood is a selfless act that can make a significant difference in the lives of others. Help save lives and give back to your community!

I would like to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the retirement of our longtime City Attorney, John Mullen, who has dedicated 19 years of service to the city of Oceanside. During his time with the city, John provided invaluable legal guidance and helped navigate countless important decisions that have shaped our community. His expertise and leadership have left a lasting impact, and he will certainly be missed. We welcome Steven Burke as our new City Attorney, who has worked closely with John over the years. He spoke highly of him as a mentor and expressed gratitude for the example John set. On behalf of the city, I want to thank John for his years of service and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

I would like to express our appreciation and gratitude to Lindsay Leahy, our Director of the Water Utilities Department, as she prepares to move on to a new opportunity. Over the years, Lindsay has played a pivotal role in overseeing critical water infrastructure projects and ensuring the continued delivery of clean and safe water to our community. Her leadership and expertise have been instrumental in maintaining and improving our water systems. While we will certainly miss her presence and contributions, we wish her the best in her future endeavors and thank her for her years of dedicated service to the city.

What's New in District 2?