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As we celebrate 250 years as a nation, I find myself reflecting on just how fortunate we are to call Oceanside home. This Fourth of July, I hope you get to spend time with family and friends, enjoy our beautiful coastline, and take a moment to appreciate the freedoms we often take for granted. Whether you're watching fireworks, gathering for a barbecue, or spending the day at the beach, I wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy Independence Day. This milestone anniversary speaks to how far we've come as a country, and how much of that story has been shaped by communities just like ours. It's an honor to serve this community, and I'm grateful every day for the privilege of calling Oceanside home.
Happy Independence Day!
Rick Robinson
Oceanside City Council, District 2
| Join us for a night to remember as Oceanside celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 138th anniversary of the City's incorporation. Head to the SoCal Soccer Complex on Friday, July 3rd from 4:00-10:00 PM for an evening of family-friendly fun, including games, crafts, live music starting at 5:30 PM, and food vendors on-site. As the sun sets, enjoy a drone show at approximately 9:00 PM, immediately followed by a spectacular fireworks display. The event will be held at the SoCal Soccer Complex, 3300 El Corazon Drive, admission is free, and parking is available onsite for $15 per vehicle. Bring the whole family and join your neighbors for an unforgettable night under the stars celebrating our nation's birthday and Oceanside's rich history. For more information please visit the event page here. | | |
The Manufactured Home Fair Practices Commission held its regular meeting on July 2nd, taking action on several items affecting mobile home park residents. Commissioners approved a Park Rent Schedule for Mira Mar Mobile Community, including a permissive rent increase (4-0-1), but also voted to continue further discussion of the rent schedule to the next meeting and directed staff to meet directly with Mira Mar residents to provide education and gather feedback before final action. The Commission also approved its semi-annual report to City Council and received a presentation from the City Attorney's office on special adjustment applications and fair return hearing procedures. The next MHFPC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 6th.
If any residents would like to set up a meeting with me, please reach out to me at RWRobinson@OceansideCA.org or call (760) 435-3033. I would be happy to meet with you and your neighbors to answer any questions, discuss any issues, or listen to any concerns you have.
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Getting Out in the Community in June
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| What a fun weekend ahead of the Fourth of July! I marched in the Oceanside Independence Parade downtown, waving to neighbors as we celebrated our great country. Afterwards, I went down to the USA 250 Festival at Pier Amphitheatre where I hosted a table for the afternoon. I really enjoyed talking with so many of you, answering questions, and hearing what's on your minds. Thank you to the Chamber of Commerce for a great event, it was a great way to kick off our celebration of the country's 250th birthday. | North San Diego County NAACP hosted the Annual Juneteenth Multicultural Celebration in Downtown Oceanside. I walked through the vendor marketplace, stopped by several of the health and informational booths, and watched some of the day's performances. It was a meaningful way to spend part of the day, and good to see so many families and community members out enjoying the Youth Zone and festivities together. | I attended the League of California Cities San Diego County Division virtual meeting and the League's statewide Policy Committee meeting on public safety. At the San Diego County Division meeting, we heard updates from the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority on current and future operations, along with a Cal Cities legislative update on key bills moving through the final months of the legislative session. At the Public Safety Policy Committee meeting, presenters from Cal FIRE and the California Department of Insurance walked through wildfire mitigation strategies, home hardening standards, and the state's new "Zone 0" defensible space regulations, along with updates on fireworks prevention and jail litigation issues affecting local government. | | I had the chance to attend the 2026 Oceanside Tourism Summit at the historic Star Theatre, hosted by Visit Oceanside. This year's event brought together hospitality partners, business leaders, and community stakeholders to celebrate another strong year for our local visitor economy. Oceanside saw a record-setting $622 million in visitor spending in 2025, with the tourism industry supporting more than 4,000 local jobs, and generating $26 million in local tax revenue that helps fund essential city services and infrastructure. It was a great opportunity to connect with the local businesses and organizations that make Oceanside such a special place to live and visit. | |
The Economic Development Commission met in June, where staff presented the city's required five-year subsidy reports on the Oceanside Pier Resort Hotel (Seabird Resort and Mission Pacific Beach Resort) and CarMax deals. Both have outperformed projections: the hotel subsidy is on track to pay off ahead of the original 15-year schedule, with job creation exceeding projections across full-time, part-time, and temporary positions, and CarMax has met its revenue targets since opening in 2023, even as job numbers came in slightly below projections due to broader shifts in car sales. Commissioners also voted to amend the bylaws so quorum is based on filled seats rather than the full 11-seat roster, addressing an issue that's caused several meetings to be canceled. Staff closed with updates on new business openings, declining crime rates, and upcoming events. | The Veterans Association of North County's 8th Annual Car Show took place in June, which brought out an impressive lineup of classic cars, trucks, and modern rides for a great cause. Between the pancake breakfast, live music, and trophies awarded across several categories, it was a fun morning out in the community, and all proceeds went to support local veterans, military members, and their families. It's always a pleasure to see VANC's work in action and to support an organization that does so much for those who've served. | | I attended the Oceanside Community Foundation's Grants Celebration at the Veterans Association of North County, where the Foundation recognized this year's grant recipients making a difference across our community. It was a great chance to connect with local nonprofit leaders and see firsthand the range of organizations doing meaningful work here in Oceanside. Congratulations to all of this year's grant recipients. | |
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We had two Council Meetings in June and a special meeting to discuss the General Plan Update, these are some of the items we took action on:
- Staff recommended the City Council adopt a resolution placing a temporary half-cent sales tax measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot, and introduce the enabling ordinance, to fund critical infrastructure (Fire Station 8, RE:BEACH sand retention, Pier Bridge replacement, paving expansion, and a new police headquarters), with a 10-year sunset and citizens oversight committee.
- Motion: Adopt resolution and introduce ordinance. City Council. Approved: 5-0.
- Staff recommended the City Council certify the Final EIR and adopt a General Plan Amendment for the Onward Oceanside Project (Phase 2 of the Comprehensive General Plan Update, Smart and Sustainable Corridors Specific Plan, and Climate Action Plan Update), the city's first comprehensive general plan update since 1994.
- Amended Motion: Reduce the general plan designation for a parcel near Carolyn Circle on Mission Avenue from high density to medium density residential, and incorporate a request from the Rancho del Oro Preserve. Approved: 5-0.
- Motion: Adopt resolutions, findings, and General Plan Amendment, as amended. City Council. Approved: 5-0.
- Staff recommended the City Council confirm a statutory CEQA exemption and introduce an interim urgency ordinance excluding and deferring eligible sites from SB 79, closing a loophole window before the city's implementation ordinance takes effect.
- Motion: Confirm exemption and introduce urgency ordinance (required 4/5 vote). City Council. Approved: 5-0.
- Staff recommended adoption of the FY 2026-27 Operating, Measure X, Capital Improvement Program, CDC, and Small Craft Harbor District budgets, and a $25.97 million lump-sum CalPERS unfunded liability prepayment.
- Motion: Approve staff recommendation and add design of the El Corazon entrances to the unfunded CIP list for future consideration: Sanchez. Second: Robinson. Approved: 5-0.
There are no City Council meetings in July!
Our next City Council meeting will be on Wednesday, August 5th at 5:00pm.
For summaries of all City Council meetings, please click here.
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